Good Morn-Maid

A horned warrior with flowing white hair glares intensely. 'ISN'T THAT RIGHT?!' he demands. Another speech bubble reads '...FOR ONE WHO COULD STRIKE BACK AGAINST ME. RAGNIR, THOU WERT WAITING... HUFF, HUFF...'. Below, a fierce black dragon with horns and wings rears up as 'KURI RIRI!!!' rings out. 'I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMEONE ABSORB SO MUCH DAMAGE!!' and 'WHAT NONSENSE ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!' are shouted. The warrior declares 'SO I SHALT ELIMINATE THEE INSTEAD!!!' while glaring. The dragon roars 'GWOHH...' as a voice states 'LOKI... STRAW HAT LUFFY... IN ANY CASE, THOU WILT NOT BE MY SOLDIERS!!'. The chapter title 'CHAPTER 1183: GOOD MORN-MAID' appears in the middle.

The black dragon Nidhogg unleashes a powerful attack. 'HUFF, HUFF...' it pants as 'RAGNA DUAL...' is announced. A massive impact strikes with 'HEIM !!!' as the dragon's jaws open wide. The horned warrior Loki looms in the background with 'FWM' and 'OTO' effects. A small figure is sent flying amid debris and motion lines. The dragon charges forward with claws extended, shattering the ground in a huge explosion of water and rock.

The Western Village of Elbaph shakes under a massive assault. Explosions rip through the wooden houses as a giant black horned creature with countless eyes bursts from the ground, roaring and scattering debris. Villagers scream in terror while a horned warrior wielding a massive hammer charges forward. "TAKE BACK THE CHILDREN !!!" the warrior bellows. With a fierce swing the hammer wielder shouts "BLADE OF WRATH--GRAM!!!" as the weapon transforms and slams into the creature with a resounding "GWANG!!"

Elbaph villagers fight desperately to protect their children from the rampaging creature. A sword-wielding woman with long hair yells "AFTER ALL WE DID TO SAVE THEM!!!" while another fighter adds "WE'RE NOT LETTING THEM BE TAKEN AWAY!!" The beast stomps heavily, sending shockwaves labeled "STOMP-TROMP" through the village. A mother clutches her child and screams "...IF MY SON IS RIPPED FROM MY ARMS!!!" as terrified children cry "WAAAH !!" and "AAAAH !!" "EEEK!!"

Chaos spreads as Elbaph warriors clash with the creature. One fighter shouts "YOU REALLY WILL DIE!!" while another warns "I HAVEN'T FINISHED YOUR BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS!!" and "YOU SHOULDN'T BE MOVING AROUND!!" A determined warrior with goggles and black hair grins inside a bubble, declaring "ONLY SEVEN OF THEM?! IT'LL HAVE TO DO... LET'S GO, ZAZA!!" Nearby fighters yell "WAIT, YOU GUYS!!" "YOU'RE NOT TAKING OUR KIDS!!!" and "HELP USSS!!!" as the creature continues its rampage. An observer asks "WHAT'S HAPPENING OVER THERE?!!"

In the aftermath of the village destruction, Brook stands on a rocky outcrop and asks "WHY DID YOU RUN OFF..." A small figure replies "BROOK..." while another voice questions "DO YOU KNOW HER, BROOK? WAS SHE... SOME ENEMY YOU FOUGHT AGAINST IN THE PAST?" The scene shifts to a grassy field where a large curly-haired warrior lies injured, muttering "OR SO I THOUGHT. I'M SO... CONFUSED RIGHT NOW." Beside him another fighter says "NO...NOT AN ENEMY. BUT... ...A PERSON I DID NOT WANT TO SEE..."

The horned warrior reacts in shock as the conversation turns to the girl. "AND I LOST CONTACT WITH HER WHEN SHE TRAVELED TO SACRED MARIJOA..." "YES. AT THE TIME, SHE WAS THE PRINCESS OF MY HOMELAND." "I MEAN... SHE'S A CELESTIAL DRAGON, RIGHT?!" "SO IT MUST BE SOMEONE ELSE, RIGHT?!" "IF IT'S REALLY HER, THEN SHE MUST BE 77 YEARS OLD RIGHT NOW." Brook's skull face appears with a startled "?!" The group debates further in the open landscape. "DOESN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT SHE CAME HERE TO ATTACK ELBAPH!!" "YES, BUT..." "WHAT I'M SAYING IS, SHE'S A CELESTIAL DRAGON WHO LOOKS EXACTLY LIKE SOMEONE YOU KNEW!!" "CAN'T TELL IF SHE'S ALIVE OR DEAD... WE CAN JUST LEAVE HER THERE, YEAH?!" "HEY, BROOK!! THAT CHICK'S STILL FROZEN!!" In a separate scene, the girl cries out with swirling effects, "I FEEL LIKE MY MENTAL POWERS DID THAT!!" "YESSS!! I'M FREE!!" "ESCAPE!!" Brook reacts with "?!" while recalling, "...SHE WAS THE ONE WHO UNTIED THE ROPE..." "...WHEN WE WERE TIED UP EARLIER..."

Brook stares in disbelief. "HOW DOES SHE KNOW WHO I AM?" A massive impact sends him flying with "...BROOK!!!" and "RUN..." as he slips away with "ゆるっ...!! SLIP!!" The skull-faced Brook questions, "WHY WOULD SHE DO SUCH A THING...?" The braided-hair girl stands nearby as the discussion continues. "YOU THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THAT SHE'S BEING CONTROLLED?!" "IT FEELS AS THOUGH WE'VE SEEN THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN HER..." "HER ORIGINAL PERSONALITY. THE PERSONALITY THAT SAVED US. HER DEMONIC FORM." "...INTO THAT DEMONIC FORM AGAIN!!" "AND THEN SHE TURNED BACK..." In the distance, figures stand near structures. A large horned figure declares, "WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING BEFORE THAT'S SETTLED!!" "I HATE TO RUSH YOU, BROOK, BUT WE NEED A DECISION--DOES SHE LIVE OR DIE?!" Brook sits with others, admitting, "IT DID NOT OCCUR TO ME AT FIRST..." "...I MUST ADMIT, I FEEL DEEPLY DISTURBED IN MY CORE..." "...BUT AFTER SEEING PEOPLE TURNED INTO DEMONS TODAY..."

A panel shows the time and place: "WEST BLUE, 70 YEARS AGO 4:00 A.M." Brook clears his throat with musical notes, "AHH, AHEM! CHECK, CHECK. A-ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR... SHAKA SHAKA STRUM" The scene shifts to a vibrant city of domes and towers. A young Brook sings enthusiastically, "OH, THEY SAY THERE'S MANY SEAS THAT CAN BE SURVEYED...!!" "...BUT ALL I NEED IS A GOOD MORN-MAID! ♪" "WAKE UP AT THE CRACK OF DAWN AN' IT'S A GOOD MORN-MAID! ♪" "THE START OF A BRAND-NEW WORLD! ♪" Townsfolk react with "DEH HEH HEH... G'MORNING, BROOK!!" "WHAT ABOUT THE PORT?!" "HEY, ARENAAAAA !!!" "HOW YOU DOIN' IN THE BACK-STREETS?!" "IT'S TIME TO SET SAIL, BABY!!" "GOOD MORNING, ESPERIA!! NO MORE WAITING FOR FAVORABLE WINDS!!" "BE QUIET!!" "SHUDDUP... I GODDA HANGOVER..." A young girl with braids plays an instrument amid the lively morning in Esperia.

Brook leaps dramatically over the city of Esperia at sunrise with a massive musical explosion "シャカシャカシャカシャ～ン SHAKA-SHAKA-SHAAANG" as he sings, "OOOH, I'LL MAKE ME LOSE MY SOUL--NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL A BAD END-MAID! ♪" "HOPE YOU GET FIRED FROM THE BATTLE CONVOY!!" "EEEE! ♡ BROOK, MY FAV! ♡" "SHUT UP, BROOK!!" "OH, HOW I WISH TO SEE A SEXY MERMAID SOMEDAY...♪" "OH, BROTHER... GET ME MY GUN!!" "YEAH!!" The cityscape reveals instruments and architecture with the label "...ESPERIA." "THIS IS THE LAND OF INSTRUMENT MAKERS..." Below, townspeople train and complain, "LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS BEFORE YOU DREAM!!" "THIS IS PATHETIC... WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M TEACHING YOU NOW?!" "IT'S NOT FAIR THAT PRINCESS SHURI GETS ALL THE ATTENTION!!" "TEACH US HOW TO DO YOUR QUICK-DRAW TECHNIQUES!" "C'MON, CAPTAIN!" "GATHER UP ALL OF THE CREW...♪" "YEAH!! I'M STARVIIING!" "I WONDER WHAT OUR DINNER IS TONIIIGHT! ♪" A man with a star hat stands among the crowd near the palace and bar-racks.

In the Kingdom of Esperia, Brook stands tall in his battle convoy uniform, singing with gusto as he holds young Shuri's hand. 'SEA WIND BLOWS TO WHERE, WHO KNOWS? THE WAVES WILL BE OUR GUIDE... ♪' he croons, followed by 'O'ER ACROSS THE OCEAN TIDE, THE SUNSET IS GOIN' WILD! ♪' and 'TIME TO SHIP OUT BINKS'S BREW! ♪'. Shuri beams up at him, adding her own lines: 'SEE THE SKY! BIRDS SINGING... ...IN CIRCLES PASSING BY! ♪'. The young swordsman laughs heartily, striking a pose with his blade. 'DEH HEH HEH! I WORKED HARD TODAY! YOU THINK I GOT ANY STRONGER? JUST LIKE MAMA!!' A large sign identifies the scene as the Kingdom of Esperia, with Brook listed as leader of the raider squad battle convoy at age 20 and Shuri as the princess at age 7. A deep 'DA-DOOM' echoes in the background.

Brook's eyes turn to hearts as he gushes, 'AHH, QUEEN CANDELLE, LIGHT OF MY LIFE...♡'. An unseen voice warns, 'IT'S NOT GOOD TO FALL IN LOVE WITH A MARRIED WOMAN, BROOK.' Brook retorts, 'WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! LOVE IS FREE!!!' while another voice agrees, 'YES, HER MAJESTY IS VERY POWERFUL!!'. Suddenly King Reuven looms over them, furious, declaring 'I SENTENCE YOU TO DEATH FOR CONSPIRACY!'. His aides plead, 'PLEASE, BOSS... I MEAN, YOUR MAJESTY!!! TOO HARSH!!'. Young Shuri cries 'PAPA!' as Brook desperately denies any plot: 'OF COURSE NOT!! DON'T EVEN SUGGEST IT!'. The king growls, 'YOU WERE PLOTTING TO KILL ME, WEREN'T YA? I'LL WAIT UNTIL DEATH TAKES YOU.' Shuri tugs at Brook, 'C'MON, BROOK, FORGET ABOUT MAMA!!'. A sign labels the towering figure as Kingdom of Esperia King Reuven.

Shuri flatly rejects the idea: 'OH, NO THANKS. I'D PREFER A WIFE WITHOUT THE RUNNY NOSE!!'. King Reuven scolds her, 'NO, SHURI!! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SAY GOOFY STUFF LIKE THAT TO ME AND MELT MY HEART!!'. Shuri turns to Brook with a bright smile, 'I'LL MARRY YOU INSTEAD! ♡ DON'T WORRY, BROOK! WHEN I GROW UP...'. A tall man in a wide hat interrupts the moment, shouting 'I HATE TO INTERRUPT THE FUN, YOUR MAJESTY!!' as he kicks Brook aside. Brook rolls with the blow, laughing 'DEH HEH HEH HEH!! I'M NOTHING IF NOT FAITHFUL!!'. The king roars in outrage, 'HOW DARE YOU TURN DOWN MY DAUGHTER IN FRONT OF ME!! WHAT?! YOU PICKY OAF!!'. In a separate panel, the same man in the hat asks urgently, 'WHAT ARE THEY AFTER?!' while a map of the city shows the Opera House, Palace, and Port. Soldiers report, 'WE'VE SENT MORE FROM THE CASTLE, BUT I DON'T THINK THEY'LL MAKE IT IN TIME!! SOME OF THE BATTLE CONVOY IS IN TOWN, BUT THEY'RE OUT-NUMBERED!! THERE'S A GANG ON HORSEBACK RIDING THROUGH THE CITY FROM THE PORT!!'.

The man in the hat continues, 'THEY'VE BEEN AFTER CANDELLE FOR YEARS!! WHEN DID THEY LAND AT MY PORT?!'. A soldier answers, 'YES, SIR!!'. King Reuven demands, 'WHAT?! IS IT THE MOULON FAMILY?!'. Another voice notes, '...WHO IS ENJOYING AN OPERA IN TOWN... THEY'VE BEEN SHOUTING FOR QUEEN CANDELLE...'. The king orders, 'SEND WORD TO CANDELLE NOT TO LEAVE THE OPERA HOUSE!!'. Brook, hand to his head, remarks, 'THE MOULON ROGUES, YOU SAY? WHY, THAT'S ODD. I SAW THEM IN THE PORT EARLIER TODAY.' Shuri cries out in panic, 'THEY'RE GOING TO KIDNAP MAMA!! DO SOMETHING, BROOK!!'. A guard reports, 'THE OPERA HOUSE'S TRANSPONDER SNAIL IS ON SILENT MODE DURING THE SHOW!!'. The scene shifts to the streets where the same man grins, 'IT'S A HORSE-BACK GANG!!'. Chaos erupts on Theater Street as mounted figures charge, civilians flee, and impact sounds 'DAKADUN' and 'DODODON' ring out amid the panic.

Inside the grand opera house, a beautiful woman with long wavy hair smiles as she watches the performance below. "AHH... A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE..." she says. The massive theater is packed with cheering spectators, their voices echoing with "RAAAAAH" and "あああああ" as the show reaches its climax. Outside the ornate building labeled "OPERA HOUSE," a chaotic scene unfolds. Armed men in cloaks and hats surround the entrance, shouting threats. "MAKE SURE HER MAJESTY DOESN'T LEAVE THE..." one orders. "YOU'RE GONNA BE THE DON'S WOMAN ONCE AND FOR ALL!!" another declares. "TODAY'S THE DAY WE SETTLE THIS!" "WE HAVE PERMISSION TO SHOOT FROM DON MOULON IF YOU DON'T!" "COME ON OUT, CANDELLE!" Gunfire erupts with "BANG!" and "BLAM!!" as a man cries out "AARGH!!" In the foreground, a blond man in a dark coat looks stunned, sweat dropping. Beside him, a large man with wild hair and a chain necklace grimaces. A curly-haired man stands with his back turned. The large man suddenly panics, shouting "HELP, BROOK!!" while the blond man adds, "...WELL, I'M RATHER STUNNED THEY HAVEN'T NOTICED YET. YOU SEE, BY THE TIME THEY LEFT THE PORT... PLUS... THEY CAN'T TAKE HER AWAY!! ...SHE'S VERY STRONG !! IT'S GOING TO BE FINE, BOSS. FOR ONE THING..."

Brook appears with a wide grin, declaring "...CUT THEM ALL. ...I'D ALREADY ..." as chaos erupts around him. A massive impact "ZWA-BA-BAM!!!" sends a striped-hatted fighter flying backward with a rifle, eyes wide in shock. "HUH?!" and "?!!" fill the air. From above, the view shows the opera house grounds in disarray, bodies and debris scattered as "DOOM!" echoes. A cloaked figure wonders, "..."THEY WERE ALREADY CUT" THINGS?!" while another exclaims "OH... WAIT. IS THIS ONE OF THOSE..." A fallen man groans "WHAT JUST... HAPPENED..." as "THUD" and impact effects mark the destruction. The scene shifts to the opera house exterior where admirers gush "WHAT A BEAUTY SHE IS! ♡" and "LOOK, THERE'S HER MAJESTY! ♡" Candelle stands dramatically with her sword drawn. Brook's voice rings out: "THREE-PACE HUM NOTCH SLASH!!!" The crowd reacts with hearts and cheers of "OOH, SIR BROOK! ♡ HE'S SO DASHING!" as the massive building shakes under the attack.

Candelle stands confidently in the center, sword in hand, surrounded by floating text boxes detailing her past: "THE OTHER, AN UNPOPULAR MUSICIAN, BUT MASTER OF THE QUICK-DRAW SWORD TECHNIQUE..." "...THAT LEFT ITS VICTIMS UNAWARE THEY'D BEEN SLASHED--THE LEADER OF THE RAIDER SQUAD, HUMMING BROOK." "ONE, THE FORMER CAPTAIN OF THE BATTLE CONVOY AND CURRENT QUEEN, CANDELLE." She smirks, remarking "HAH... WHAT A SCENE OUT HERE." Brook's quick-draw technique is highlighted as "IT WAS CAPTAIN BROOK'S QUICK-DRAW!!!" In the background, the opera house battle continues with fighters tumbling through the air. A sign reads "KINGDOM OF ESPERIA QUEEN CANDELLE." Additional narration explains: "IN THIS ERA, THE KINGDOM WAS AT PEACE..." "SEVENTY YEARS AGO, THE KINGDOM OF ESPERIA... ...HARBORDED TWO GREAT STARS." The page ends with "To be continued!" as the chaos peaks.