One Piece Chapter 243: The Trial

Nami stands in the center of a large panel, arms thrown wide in alarm, sweat flying as she shouts, "YOU CAN STILL GO..." BUT ONCE WE DID, IT BECAME "ILLEGAL TRESPASSING"!I WE WERE TRICKED!! THIS IS A FRAUD!! THEY CAN'T DO THIS!! DIDN'T THAT OLD LADY SAY," while huge impact lettering erupts behind her. In the next tier, a bald man with an afro and thick beard sweats nervously and says, "--ANYWAYS, NOW THINGS HAVE BECOME REALLY COMPLICATED." Beside him, Nami turns sharply and yells "SHUT UP!!" A hooded figure with goggles and a headband gestures while saying, "--HOWEVER, EVEN IF SHE'D SAID, 'YOU MAY NOT PASS,' WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE USED FORCE TO GET THROUGH. THAT'S TRUE." Luffy appears in the background, peeking from behind a rock. In the bottom tier, Luffy grins widely under his straw hat and declares, "WE'RE ALREADY USED TO BEING CHASED BY THE AUTHORITIES! --OH WELL, IT DOESN'T MATTER." Nami, seen from behind, asks, "WHY DO YOU HAVE TO STAND SO FAR AWAY TO TALK!I" while two distant figures stand near a structure. A voice replies, "IF YOU'RE CLASS-2 CRIMINALS, WE CAN'T HELP YOU..."

Nami glares furiously with clenched fists, shouting, "YOU...ARE A REALLY BAD LIAR!" She continues, "FOR A BIG ADVENTURE...I MEANT TO GO THERE TO FIND YOU..." and "WE WERE JUST ABOUT TO GO TO 'THE PLACE THAT NO ONE SHOULD EVER ENTER'". Luffy stands in the background with Usopp as Nami asks, "HUHII" and "ALSO, WHY DID YOU COME BACKI" Nami kicks Luffy hard across the face with a flying strike, yelling, "AN ISLAND LIKE THAT...I WILL NEVER GO THERE A SECOND TIME!!!" while Luffy reels from the impact amid large sound effects. She adds, "THEIR SUPER AND ILLOGICALLY IMMENSE POWER IS REAL!" "EVEN THOUGH I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE REALLY GODS," "YOU'RE JUST SAYING THAT BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T SEE THEM YOURSELF!!" and "I TOLD YOU! THERE ARE SOME REALLY SCARY GUYS ON THAT ISLAND!!" Luffy shouts back, "BIG ADVENTURE!!!" In the bottom panels Nami panics, "JUST THINK! WHICH IS MORE IMPORTANT, ADVENTURE OR YOUR LIFEI!" as Luffy clutches his head replying, "LEAVE~~~~!I DON'T TALK CRAP!!" Nami cries out, "N-O!! PURSUERS ARE COMING!! WE'RE LEAVING THIS COUNTRY." Luffy answers, "FINE! WE'LL GO BY OURSELVES. YOU STAY HERE!" while Nami sweats, "MY LIFE!! FOLLOWED BY MONEY."

Nami stands on the shore with the others in the distance, saying, "WE KEPT TRYING TO GET TO SKY ISLAND, BUT WE NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT..." and "HOW TO GET BACK!" A voice replies, "--OH, BY THE WAY..." while another says, "AH♡ THEN FOLLOWED BY MEII" and "SHUT UP!" In the next panel a winged Skypiean man with goggles gestures wildly, explaining, "...WITH YOUR CURRENT SITUATION... A SAFE ROUTE IS NON-EXISTENT, BUT..." as Nami asks, "IS THERE A SAFE WAY BACK!I" and "CAN WE REALLY GO BACK TO THE BLUE SEAI" The Skypiean answers, "THERE IS A WAY TO THE BLUE SEA." Nami reacts with wide eyes, "TO A PLACE CALLED 'CLOUD END.'" and "CLOUD END...!I" while the man continues, "YOU MUST GO BACK DOWN TO WHITE SEA, AND THEN HEAD TO THE FAR EAST--"

Small figures flee across the clouds as voices call out in panic. "WHAT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN!I" "SKY OCEAN IS VERY BIG..." "--YES. ALTHOUGH...I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD TRY TO RUN..." "ARE YOU SAYING WE CAN'T ESCAPE FROM THOSE GUYSI" A small creature darts away with "SUUU!" In the next scene Nami stands among the trees, raising her hand. "NOW THAT WE HAVE NO PLACE TO HIDE...LET'S JUST GET SAIL!" "CONIS! MISTER! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING." A voice replies, "IF THAT'S SO, THEN IT'S THE SAME WHEREVER WE GO. AND IF WE STAY HERE, WE'LL JUST CAUSE YOU MORE TROUBLES." Below, an older bearded man speaks to Sanji: "CAN I HAVE SOME TOOLS AND MATERIALS FOR FIXING THE SHIPI" Sanji answers, "I HAVE A REQUEST, TOO! MISTER, YOU'RE AN ENGINEER, RIGHTI" Usopp shouts, "ALL RIGHT! SANJI, GET THE LUNCH BOXES!!!" Sanji replies, "OH, OF COURSE." Luffy, wearing his straw hat, asks, "AH!! MISTER, CAN I TAKE ALL THE FOOD FROM EARLIERI" The man answers, "OH, NO PROBLEM...JUST COME TO MY PLACE AGAIN!" Usopp warns, "YOU DON'T MISS A THING, DO YOU!I"

Nami and Luffy stare ahead with worried faces. "IT'S REALLY SCARY THERE!!" "THAT IDIOT...!! HE STILL WANTS TO GO!I" "HOW WOULD I KNOW!I" Luffy runs off shouting, "YOU GUYS GO AHEAD AND PREPARE FOR OUR ADVENTURE!! I'M GONNA GET SOME FOOD." Nami calls after him, "WAIT, WHERE ARE YOU GOINGI" "ARGH!!" In the next wide panel the Going Merry sits on the clouds. Chopper cries, "EHI RIGHT...I" A voice says, "CHOPPER! YOU'RE ON MY SIDE." Nami warns, "DON'T SCARE HIM!" Luffy insists, "YOU KNOW IT YOURSELF. ONCE LUFFY IS SET ONE DOING SOMETHING, HE'LL DO IT EVEN IF WE ALL PROTEST AGAINST IT." Nami turns away, replying, "I DON'T CARE EITHER WAY." At the ship Nami climbs aboard, saying, "I JUST PUT DOWN THE LADDER..." A small figure yells, "WAH!" Another voice answers, "FINE, DO WHAT YOU WANT." Nami states, "OKAY, THEN I'M NOT GOING." Chopper leaps with "HYAH!" as sound effects ring out: "GACHAN...", "ポテッ", and "ジリリリリ..."

The small boat glides through tall reeds as rustling sounds echo: "GASA...GASA..." Inside the vessel, voices argue urgently. One crew member snaps, "YEAH... WHATEVER. DO WHAT YOU WANT... I DON'T WANT TO GET KILLED BY THOSE PURSUERS!!I" Another pair debates, "THE TWO OF US TAKE DOWN LUFFY!! IT'S IMPOSSIBLE" and "ROBIN!! HOW ABOUT..." A winged man wearing a hat marked "U・P・E" smirks from the reeds, thinking, "...HEHEHEHE... PURSUERS...!I STUPID... GOD AND HIS PRIESTS ARE LIKE IMMOVABLE MOUNTAINS. THEY WAIT IN THE HOLY LAND TO JUDGE THOSE FOOLS WHO DEFY THEM." The scene widens dramatically to reveal a massive forested island rising from the clouds, framed by heavy sound effects "ゴォォォォォォォ" and narration declaring, "YOU WILL BE GUIDED TO... THE FORBIDDEN HOLY LAND, 'UPPER YARD'!!!"

Inside the ship, Sanji works at a table covered in food trays while declaring, "BUT WITH MY ALMIGHTY RESOURCEFULNESS TO FIX THINGS, EVERYONE DEPENDS ON ME." Usopp replies from off-panel, "OUR SHIP DOESN'T HAVE A CARPENTER, YET." Sanji corrects, "NO, THAT'S NOT IT. I'M THE SNIPER." A small creature asks, "YOU'RE THE SHIP'S CARPENTERI" Sanji continues plating, noting, "IT'S A LOT OF PRESSURE! IF I'M GONE, THIS SHIP WOULD SINK." Later, Sanji arranges dishes while Usopp and Nami watch; he says, "THESE JADE GREEN BEANS SHOULD BE HERE..." and adjusts placements with, "OH~~...THAT'S NOT RIGHT. RED SHOULD BE HERE..." Usopp exclaims, "USOPP! AH, THE WAY YOU PLACE THE FOOD, IT'S QUITE PROFESSIONAL!" Sanji responds, "YES, THE PLACEMENT'S ALSO AN ART!" and "SO EVERYONE CALLS ME CAPTAIN" while noting his sniper duties. He presents a special lunch box to Conis, announcing, "THE TITLE OF THIS ONE IS 'LOVE IS A DILEMMA, THE LUNCH OF A DESCENDING ANGEL.'" Conis reacts with surprise, "EH!I FOR MEI" and "REALLY!I THIS IS FOR YOU, CONIS-CHAN!" as hearts float nearby. She adds, "IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE FOOD ANYMORE! I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BOX-LUNCH."

Usopp bursts in with a panicked expression, shouting, "HEY, SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH THE SHIP..." At the table, a crewmate lectures with chopsticks raised, "REMEMBER THIS, 'THE ART OF EATING' STARTS WITH VISUAL ENJOYMENT!!!" Another snaps back, "DON'T SAY STUPID THINGS THAT DON'T BENEFIT ANYONE!" while a third adds, "AFTER YOU PUT IT IN YOUR STOMACH, IT ALL BECOMES THE SAME THING." On the deck Luffy turns toward the railing as Usopp sprints forward yelling, "LOOK! THEY'RE YELLING OR SOMETHING!!" Nami glances over and asks, "WHAT IS IT, USOPPI" Luffy exclaims, "A PARTY!I" Suddenly the ship lurches violently; Nami is yanked off her feet with a startled "WHA..." as Usopp, now wearing goggles, lunges toward her shouting, "NAMI-SAN!!!" and an unseen voice cries "AH!!"

The deck erupts into chaos as the ship suddenly accelerates. Usopp yells, "EH, WHY!!!I" while Luffy shouts, "AH!! THE SHIP IS MOVING!!" and another crewmate demands, "WHERE WERE YOU LOOKING TO BE SAYING SUCH A THING!!" Usopp continues in horror, "WHY DID YOU PUT ON THAT T-SHIRTI AAAAAH...!!!!" accompanied by a large impact SFX. From the railing the crew spots the ocean receding; someone cries, "NO!!! THEY DIDN'T SET THE SAIL!!!" and "LOOK UNDER THE SHIP!!" Luffy points excitedly, "OOOH!I THEY'RE MOVING BACKWARDS. COOL!" as another asks, "WHERE ARE THOSE GUYS GOING!II" Below, a bald crewmate stares in shock, "THAT'S...!!!" while others scream "AAAAAH!!!!" and Nami grips the railing desperately, shouting, "HOLD ON!! WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!"

A massive mechanical shrimp bursts through the clouds with a thunderous "ドォ……!!", its shell emblazoned with "GOD" and a tiny winged vessel perched on top. Bold text declares "WHITE-WHITE SEA SPECIAL," and "SUPER-EXPRESS SPEED SHRIMP!!!!" as the creature surges forward at incredible speed. Below, the Going Merry races ahead while panicked voices ring out. A woman with long dark hair shouts, "HEY!! EVERYONE ABANDON SHIP!! IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!" Someone else cries, "WHERE'S IT TAKING US!I" In the next panels, a black-haired woman stares in shock with "!!I" as she realizes, "...wait, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY PREPARED TO STOP OUR ESCAPE, TOO." A blonde man with curly eyebrows yells, "WHAT!I WHAT CAN YOU DO BY YOURSELF!I" while a muscular figure with a scar growls, "DON'T WORRY!! I'LL STAY HERE!!" Luffy's wide-eyed face appears as he shouts, "AND THE SHIP!!I IF THEY TAKE OUR SHIP..."

The crew watches in horror as several enormous sky fish with gaping mouths pursue the ship, accompanied by SFX "バク……!!" and "バン……!!". A voice exclaims, "THEY'RE CHASING US WITH THEIR HUGE MOUTHS OPEN!!" while another notes, "THOSE GIGANTIC SKY FISH..." and "EVEN IF WE JUMP, WE WON'T SURVIVE..." On deck, Sanji mutters, "SO INSTEAD OF SENDING PURSUERS, THEY MAKE US COME TO THEM..." and "SUCH CUNNING BASTARDS." Robin wonders, "YOU MEAN 'HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT'...I" as Chopper panics, "MAYBE... IT'S STARTED!" and "IT'S USELESS, WHATEVER WE DO." Usopp screams, "WHAT IF WE JUST TAKE DOWN THE BIG SHRIMP!II" In the lower panels, massive explosions erupt as the shrimp is attacked, with cries of "SANJI-KUN!!!!...", "USOPP...!!", "LUFFY...!!!", and Nami shouting, "THEN WE'RE GOING TO THAT ISLAND AGAIN!!I"

From a high balcony overlooking the endless sea of clouds, several figures watch as distant specks fly away on strange winged creatures. Speech bubbles trail behind them with only ellipses. Below, a grand domed palace rises from the clouds, its long staircase leading upward. In the foreground, Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji react in panic. Luffy clutches his hat and shouts, "WHEREI WHEREI IT HAS TO BE..." Usopp screams, "HEY, LUFFY!!! THIS IS BAD! WHAT DO WE DO NOW!!I" Sanji yells, "GET OVER IT!!" Someone asks, "WHERE ARE THEY GOINGI" Another voice wonders, "WHY IS SHE WEARING A T-SHIRTI"

A bearded man with an antenna on his head explains, "THE SUPER-EXPRESS SPEED SHRIMP IS GOD'S SERVANT. ANYTHING IT TRANSPORTS IS ALWAYS A SACRIFICE FOR GOD." In the distance, Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp stand on a balcony as a large "ゴーン" sound effect echoes. The man continues, "IN OTHER WORDS, THEY ARE GOING TO THE NORTHEAST PORTION OF UPPER YARD. TO THE 'SACRIFICIAL ALTAR.'" Usopp's face twists in horror as he cries out, "NAMI-SAN AND ROBIN-CHAN AND THE OTHERS WILL BECOME SACRIFICES!!I SACRIFICES FOR THAT GOD!!I SACRIFICES!!I"

A mustached winged man explains the rules of Heaven's Judgement: "FOR SACRIFICES...I ONLY HEARD ABOUT IT. IN HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT, THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PUNISHMENTS FOR CRIMINALS. ONE IS 'SACRIFICE' AND THE OTHER IS 'TRIAL'." Shocked faces react with "!I" and "WHATI" as another voice cries out, "PLEASE WAIT!! IT'S NOT WHAT YOU THINK!!" An angry shout follows: "THAT ASSHOLE!! DON'T MESS WITH ME~~~!!!" The scene shifts to a massive serpent-like entity bursting through clouds near a grand building, with narration noting, "THEY'RE CALLED SACRIFICES, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY... THEY'RE NOW IN GOD'S HANDS." A voice clarifies, "THAT'S WHAT I HEARD. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'RE SACRIFICES, BUT THEY'RE ACTUALLY... HOSTAGES." The group reacts with surprise: "HOSTAGES!I" In the lower panels, a goggled man with a headband offers, "AH, IF YOU MEAN A MAP OF SKYPIEA, I HAVE ONE......IF I HAD A MAP..." A winged figure gestures dramatically, "ARE YOU THREE RIGHT HERE!!" while another asks, "HUH!I WHAT DOES THAT MEANI" The narration continues, "--WHICH MEANS, THE ONES BEING JUDGED..."

A detailed map of Skypiea is spread out, marked with labels like "SACRIFICIAL ALTAR," "UPPER YARD," and "ANGEL BEACH," along with a compass rose. A voice points out, "THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GET THERE, AND IT'S VIA THE MILKY ROAD FROM THIS ISLAND. YOU MUST USE THE DIAL BOAT AND PASS THROUGH THE FOREST, WHERE THE PRIESTS RESIDE." Another notes, "THIS MAP IS VERY OLD...BUT IT LOOKS CORRECT......HERE IS WHERE YOU ARE. THE SACRIFICIAL ALTAR IS IN THE UPPER YARD INSTEAD, WHICH IS THE NORTHEAST." The group leans over the map as discussion continues: "THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS OLD MAP AND THE CURRENT GOD'S ISLAND IS THE ADDITION OF THE MILKY ROADS." "THOSE CLOUD RIVERSI" "YES. I HEARD THAT THERE IS A MAIN CLOUD RIVER AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF OTHERS." A goggled figure asks, "AH, MISTER, WHAT IF WE GO AROUND THE ISLAND INSTEAD OF THROUGH IT!I" The reply comes, "NO...YOU CAN'T GET TO THE ALTAR ON FOOT IF YOU LAND NEAR IT." In the final panel, a blond man concludes, "I SEE...SO IF WE LAND DIRECTLY, WE WOULD GET BLOCKED BY THE RIVERS." A Straw Hat wearer adds, "YES. ALSO, IN THOSE RIVERS THERE ARE MAN-EATING FISH." The bald man finishes, "SO OTHER THAN ENTERING VIA THE CENTRAL MILKY ROAD, THERE IS NO OTHER WAY."

Luffy grins confidently as the crew discusses their next move. "AND KICK THEIR ASSES, RIGHTI --BUT WE JUST NEED TO DEAL WITH THE PRIESTS THAT NAMI TOLD US ABOUT..." Usopp sweats heavily, eyes wide with panic. "IT'S HEAVEN'S JUDGEMENT...!!! THAT'S OUR 'TRIAL'..." A crewmate with a long nose adds, "SUCH A HEARTY RECEPTION THOSE GUYS HAVE FOR US. ANYWAY, IF WE WANT OUR CREW AND SHIP BACK, WE CAN ONLY GO IN FROM THE FRONT..." Close-ups show tense faces. "THOSE FOUR PRIESTS ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK! DON'T BE CARELESS!!" "IT CAN'T BE THAT EASY..." Luffy laughs loudly in the background, "NAHAHAHA HAHAHA..." The scene shifts to a dramatic close-up of a large bearded man with antennae-like rods on his head, sweat dripping as he declares, "MOST IMPORTANTLY, GOD ENEL HIMSELF... IS IN UPPER YARD!!"

A massive explosion erupts across the page with the giant sound effect "KABOOOOOM!!" and "Boom!!" Trees and debris fly everywhere. In the aftermath, Luffy stands triumphant with a huge grin, raising his fist. "ALRIGHT! THERE'S LESS OF 'EM NOW! LET'S DO IT!" Behind him, a black-haired man comments, "SOMEBODY WHO LIKES TO SHOW OFF..." while a small figure on the ground asks, "WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU!I" The lower half of the page shifts to English magazine notes about Shonen Jump's American release and upcoming series.

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