One Piece Chapter 688: Mochya

The chapter returns to the aftermath of the fight in the Biscuit Room. The map marks the fight's location, and the result is given plainly: "WINNER: ZORO." But victory has not solved the larger disaster. The narration warns, "10 MINS UNTIL THE DEADLY GAS FILLS B-BLOCK COMPLETELY!!" and someone shouts, "THE GAS IS COMING IN...!! LET'S GO!!" Another voice adds, "BUT THE EXIT ISN'T OVER THERE!!" Zoro carries Tashigi over his shoulder while she protests, "ST... STOP IT!! THIS IS MORTIFYING!!" He answers, "YOU WERE FALLING DOWN BEFORE!! AND THAT GAS IS COMING!!" Tashigi says, "I WAS JUST A BIT LIGHT-HEADED," and begs, "PLEASE PUT ME DOWN ONCE WE CATCH UP WITH MY MEN!!" Zoro snaps, "QUIT BEING SO PRIDEFUL!! I'LL THROW YOU TO THE GROUND RIGHT HERE AND NOW IF I HAVE TO!!" Tashigi fumes, "WHAT A PAIN YOU ARE!!" and when Zoro touches Shusui she warns, "DON'T TOUCH IT!! JUST SHUT UP AND HANG ON!!" He recognizes the sword, "Huh...!! Is this really the legendary sword, 'Shusui'?" The page mixes their bickering with the urgent fact that Shinokuni is closing in.

On B-Block's third floor inner passage, Nami uses "Milky Ball!!" to throw cloud-like obstacles into the path of the charging children. The puffs burst with "FWOOMP," and someone cries, "UWAH! NOT AGAIN!" Nami calls to Mocha, "MOCHYA, GO ON AHEAD!!" and Mocha, panting, answers, "OK, MISS!!" But the giant children are too strong and too desperate for the candy. One slams through the cloud barrier with a heavy "THUMP," shouting, "THIS WON'T STOP US!!" and another demands, "HAND OVER THE CANDY!!" Nami realizes the scale of the problem and asks, "HAA... HAA... NOTHING IS SLOWING THEM DOWN. HOW FAR DO WE HAVE TO RUN!?" The page shows that the Straw Hats are trying to delay the children without hurting them, but the drugged craving makes even harmless barriers nearly useless.

Robin and Chopper join the effort to restrain the children gently. Robin uses "Cien Fleur!!" and "Dos Mano!!" to bloom enormous arms over the children, pinning them down with a "THUD." Chopper follows with a syringe and says, "STAY STILL NOW, HERE'S A SEDATIVE!!" One child screams, "GET OFFA ME!!" while another groans, "GET OFF..." Chopper works fast, saying, "IF I CAN JUST KEEP THIS UP... THAT'S ONE MORE DOWN...!!" Mocha, meanwhile, has separated from the others and runs alone down the stairs, exhausted and unsure where to go. She thinks, "THIS PLACE... I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO NOW...!!" The page splits the crisis in two: the crew is sedating children one by one, but Mocha still has the candy and is isolated in the maze-like lab.

The children break past the Straw Hats and catch up to Mocha. Nami sees the danger and cries, "OH NO!! MOCHYA!!" Robin notices movement behind them and asks, "WHAT'S THAT?" as some children slip by. Chopper realizes, "SOME OF THE CHILDREN GOT PAST US!!" and then, "EHH!?" One child warns, "THIS IS BAD! IF THEY TAKE THE CANDY FROM HER...!!" Another says, "WE'LL BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE!!" The children grab at Mocha and the candy. They shout, "KONBU!! BIYO!! STOP IT!! I CAN'T GIVE THIS TO YOU!!" and another screams, "THIS IS MEDICINE THAT'S HURTING OUR BODIES!! YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GO HOME!!" But the drugged children refuse to listen. One snaps, "SHUT UP AND STOP HOGGING IT ALL FOR YOURSELF!!" and Mocha cries, "NO!!" before the panic turns into a desperate decision.

Mocha makes her choice. With the children closing in and the candy about to be taken from her, she bites into it herself with a huge "CRUNCH...!!" The surrounding children stare in shock. Someone screams, "THAT MOCHYA-- SHE WENT AND ATE ALL THE CANDY!!" Another cries, "NOT FAIR!!" Nami is horrified and shouts, "MOCHYA!! YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!" while Mocha keeps eating, her face full of fear and resolve. One child yells, "GIVE IT BACK!! GIVE BACK OUR CANDY!!" and another accuses her of "TAKING IT ALL FOR YOURSELF." Nami can only wonder, "HOW COULD SHE--!!" The page lands the chapter's central act: Mocha protects everyone by taking the poison into her own body, knowing exactly how dangerous it is.

The children and Chopper shout for Mocha to stop. One screams, "YOU CAN'T! SPIT IT ALL OUT!!" and another asks, "DIDN'T I TELL YOU JUST WHAT KIND OF A DRUG THAT IS!?" Mocha, crying with her cheeks stuffed, thinks of the children and says, "CHOPPER-CHAN... THEY'RE MY FRIENDS!!" She refuses to let them eat it. The children keep demanding, "GIVE IT BACK!! MOCHYA!!" and "GIVE US THE CANDY," while another voice begs, "DON'T DO IT!!" As Mocha swallows, memories of the truth Chopper told her return. A child asks, "SO MASTER IS A BAD MAN?" and Chopper answers, "YEAH, HE'S A REALLY BAD GUY." The page shows Mocha forcing herself through terror because she has finally accepted the truth about Caesar. The candy is not a treat, and saving her friends means bearing the danger alone.

Mocha remembers Chopper explaining Caesar's deception. In the memory, the children pound at a door and shout, "OPEN UP, MOCHYA!!! WE'RE GOING TO THE BISCUIT ROOM!!" and "WE WANT CANDY!!!" Mocha still struggles to accept the truth, saying, "BUT HE WAS ALWAYS SO NICE TO US...!! AND THAT CANDY HE GIVES US EVERY DAY IS SO YUMMY! THAT'S PART OF HIS SCHEME!!" Chopper answers with the facts: "YOU GUYS ARE HIS EXPERIMENTS. NONE OF YOU WERE EVER REALLY SICK." He explains, "THAT BIG BODY OF YOURS IS PROOF. I'VE HEARD THAT ALL OVER THE WORLD FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, PEOPLE HAVE RESEARCHED 'GIGANTIFICATION' FOR THE PURPOSE OF WAR." Then comes the worst part: "NOW, IT MIGHT BE HARD TO HEAR THIS, BUT... IN OTHER WORDS, THEY'VE BEEN FAILING FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS...!! IT'S AN EXPERIMENT WITH NO RECORD OF SUCCESS. THIS EXPERIMENT WILL ALSO FAIL!!" The page turns the children's illness into a lie and their bodies into evidence of Caesar's war research.

Chopper continues explaining the full cruelty of Caesar's experiment. He says, "AND CAESAR KNOWS THAT!!" and tells Mocha that Caesar is only thinking about "WHAT SORT OF DATA HE CAN GET FOR THE NEXT TRIAL RUN...!!" Mocha asks, "WELL, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO US?" Chopper answers the truth directly: "...YOU'LL DIE. NONE OF YOU WILL EVER RETURN HOME." The words devastate Mocha. Chopper then explains the candy itself: "THAT 'YUMMY CANDY' IS REALLY A DEADLY POISON! YOU DIDN'T KNOW, OF COURSE, BUT YOU'VE BEEN DESTROYING YOUR BODIES BY EATING IT...!!" He adds, "BUT IN SPITE OF THAT, EATING ONE JUST MAKES YOU CRAVE THE NEXT. THE MORE YOU EAT, THE HARDER IT IS FOR YOU TO ESCAPE FROM CAESAR!!" Mocha hears that the sweet thing binding them to Caesar is both poison and addiction, and that makes her present sacrifice even clearer.

Chopper explains why the children must leave the locked room immediately. He says, "SO YOU MUST SEE NOW, WHY THE CHILDREN ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR ARE ACTING SO SCARY? I'VE ALREADY GIVEN YOU A TRANQUILIZER, BUT IF YOU STAY HERE, THE INEVITABLE SIDE EFFECT OF THE CANDY AND THIS EXPERIMENT WILL BE THAT YOU ALL LOSE YOUR LIVES, BEFORE EVER GROWING UP." Mocha thinks about the promise she once made with the others: "HEY, WHEN WE'RE ALL GROWN UP...!!" In the memory, the children dream together. One says, "WHEN WE'RE ALL GROWN UP, LET'S HEAD OUT TO SEA!!" Another asks, "THE SEA!?" and they joke, "YOU WANNA BE A FISHER-MAN?" "DON'T BE STUPID--WE'LL HAVE ADVENTURES." "WE'LL FIND THE ISLAND OF GOLD AND STUFF LIKE THAT." "SOUNDS AWESOME!" They imagine being cured, returning home, then meeting again at sea. The memory makes the present unbearable: Caesar stole not only their health, but their future.

Mocha remembers the children making their future promise more clearly. One says, "WHEN WE ALL TURN 20, THEN!!" and the others answer, "IT'S A PROMISE!!" "IT'LL BE GREAT!!" "THAT'S A LONG WAY OFF, THOUGH!" In the present, the children outside still shout, "OPEN UP!! MOCHYA!!" and another insists, "THAT'S RIGHT!! THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO GET AWAY, NOW." Mocha realizes the meaning of Chopper's warning: "...WE'LL NEVER GROW UP? ...AND WE'LL NEVER SEE OUR MOMMIES AND DADDIES AGAIN...?" She admits, "WE NEVER IMAGINED ANYTHING LIKE THAT BEFORE!!" Chopper's voice explains, "WE ASKED YOU TO SAVE US BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GO HOME... AND BECAUSE WE WERE SCARED THAT THEY STILL WOULDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG WITH US, AND THEN THEY'D BREAK THAT PROMISE OF 'JUST ONE YEAR.'" The page gives Mocha the emotional reason for her act: the children wanted rescue, but did not understand the horror they were being rescued from until now.

Mocha breaks down as the truth becomes undeniable. She cries, "WE NEVER THOUGHT THAT WE WERE GONNA DIE. WE THOUGHT WE'D ALL GROW UP SOMEDAY. THAT'S NOT WHAT HE PROMISED US AT ALL!!" She remembers that Caesar gave them candy and says, "HE GAVE US CANDY, SO WE ATE IT!! NO ONE THOUGHT THAT WE'D DIE!!" Yet even while devastated, she refuses to blame the children. She tells them, "I KNOW THAT!! YOU GUYS DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG!!" One child, still trapped by the craving, says, "AND THAT'S WHY WE CAN NEVER FORGIVE CAESAR!! I KNOW I NEVER WILL!!" Mocha finally says, "I'M SORRY!!" and Chopper's grief breaks through as he shouts, "THAT I DIDN'T FIND YOU SOONER...!!" This page turns the tragedy toward blame where it belongs. The children were deceived, and Chopper blames himself for not reaching them before the poison did.

Mocha, sick and shaking after swallowing the candy, says, "CHOPPER-CHAN... WE DON'T WANNA DIE!!" Chopper answers with fierce certainty, "I WON'T LET YOU!! I'M GETTING YOU OUT OF HERE NO MATTER WHAT!!" He acknowledges Caesar's danger: "...!! CAESAR IS REALLY BAD, AND REALLY STRONG!! HE'S A SCARY GUY, BUT" then declares, "OUR CAPTAIN IS STRONGER!! HE'S THE MAN WHO WILL BE THE KING OF THIS OCEAN SOMEDAY!!" Chopper promises, "LUFFY WILL TAKE DOWN CAESAR FOR SURE!!" Mocha, crying, asks him to confirm her name: "SO PLEASE, LISTEN TO ME, YOU SAID YOUR NAME WAS MOCHYA?" She nods, and Chopper says, "WE CAN'T LET THE OTHER CHILDREN HAVE ANY MORE CANDY!!" Mocha answers, "OK!! I'M GOING TO STAY HERE AND DO MY BEST TO SEDATE THEM!!" Even after poisoning herself, she chooses to keep helping Chopper save everyone.

In the memory, Chopper entrusts Mocha with a dangerous role. He asks, "SO MOCHYA, CAN YOU GO AND GUARD THE CANDY IN THE BISCUIT ROOM FOR ME!?" Mocha answers, "I GOT IT!!" and says, "I WON'T LET ANYONE EAT THAT CANDY!! WE'RE ALL GONNA GO HOME TOGETHER!!" Chopper smiles and says, "THAT'S RIGHT!" while the children outside continue pounding and shouting, "OPEN UP!! MOCHYA!!" and "I'M COUNTING ON YOU, MOCHYA!!" Back in the present, the cost of that promise hits. Mocha coughs, blood spills onto the floor, and someone screams, "MOCHYA!!" Another voice cries, "UWAH HHHHH!! BLOOD!!" The page connects her promise to the present consequence. Mocha succeeded in protecting the candy from the others, but the poison is now inside her.

Mocha collapses and coughs up blood while the other children stare in horror. Someone asks, "WHAT'S WRONG WITH HER...!? SHE COUGHED UP BLOOD!!" Another says, "LOOKS LIKE SHE GOT HURT!? BUT WHY!? FROM THAT YUMMY CANDY!?" A child snaps cruelly, "SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU'RE SO GREEDY...!!" but another realizes, "WHOA, THERE'S REALLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH HER...!!" Chopper shouts the truth so everyone can hear: "THIS IS WHAT THAT CANDY REALLY DOES TO YOU!! MOCHYA SACRIFICED HER OWN BODY TO SAVE ALL OF YOU..." The children finally stop in their tracks. Someone calls, "THE KIDS HAVE STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS!!" and another says, "IF WE WANT TO SEDATE THEM, THIS MIGHT BE OUR ONLY CHANCE...!!" Chopper wants to go to Mocha first, crying, "BUT...!! I HAVE TO TEND TO MOCHYA FIRST!!" but there is no time. Mocha's sacrifice has created the only opening to save the others.

The Marines arrive in force and turn Mocha's sacrifice into action. Nami spots them and cries, "SANJI-KUN!?" Robin says, "THE MARINES!!" Sanji understands the situation and asks the G-5 men, "BIG BRO!! WOULD AIMING FOR THEIR FAMILY JEWELS COUNT AS 'VIOLENCE'!?" The answer comes back instantly: "OF COURSE!! THAT'S OUT OF BOUNDS!!!" Sanji redirects them: "CHOPPER, USE THESE GUYS!! THEY CAN AT LEAST HELP WITH INJECTIONS!!" Chopper answers, "YES, SIR!!" and tells the Marines, "MEDICAL SQUAD TO THE FRONT!!" The Marines charge the giant children with absurd enthusiasm, shouting, "HOLD BACK ON THE VIOLENCE, YOU BASTARDS!!" "HOLD THEM DOWN!!" and "GOTTA FIGHT THEIR STRENGTH IN NUMBERS WITH OUR OWN!!" The double spread turns chaos into coordinated rescue: Sanji, Nami, Robin, Chopper, and G-5 use numbers and restraint to hold the children down for sedatives instead of hurting them.

The Marines carry Mocha toward medical help while Chopper follows close beside her. A Marine announces, "THERE WAS AN EXAMINATION ROOM IN THIS AREA!! CARRY THIS GIRL THERE, FOR ME!!" Another answers, "ALRIGHT, WE'LL DO IT!!" while a third warns, "BUT THERE'S NO TIME!! DON'T YOU GET THAT, TANUKI!?" Chopper snaps back, "I'M WELL AWARE!!" Mocha weakly says, "CHOPPER-CHAN, I..." and then, while being wiped down, coughs, "I DIDN'T GIVE THEM... ANY CANDY...!!" Chopper breaks down but keeps his promise: "THAT'S RIGHT!! YOU PROTECTED YOUR FRIENDS!! THANK YOU! THANKS TO YOU, YOU CAN ALL RETURN HOME!!" He cries, "SHIT!! THIS IS ALL MY FAULT!! BECAUSE I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO SAVE YOU!!" and tells her, "YOU'LL GROW UP, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT!!" The page makes Chopper's responsibility personal. Mocha did her part; now Chopper must keep her alive.

The chapter shifts to C-Block, first floor. People stare at the wreckage near a dust-covered exit and ask, "...WHAT THE... A PERSON JUST CAME OUT OF THE GARBAGE CHUTE!? NO... A PERSON AND A DRAGON!?" Another voice recognizes Luffy and shouts, "YOU'RE 'STRAWHAT' AREN'T YOU, YOU BASTARD!!!" Luffy has emerged riding or carrying Momonosuke's dragon form. One panicked figure cries, "EEK!!" while Luffy asks, "WHERE'S CAESAR?" Someone answers, "GO STRAIGHT DOWN THIS PASSAGE AND HEAD TOWARDS 'R-BLOCK'!!" The page notes, "ONE PIECE IS ON BREAK NEXT WEEK." Then Luffy, battered but focused, raises his hand and says, "GOT IT!!" The chapter closes by moving from Mocha's sacrifice back to the main objective: Luffy is out of the trash chute, Momonosuke is with him, and Caesar is now the target.

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