## One Piece Chapter 288: Curse - Chapter: 288 - Pages: 0-18 - Characters: Ace, beaten man, Marines, Mont Blanc Noland, Shandia Villagers, Noland's crew, Kalgara, Mousse, Shandia Chief, Shandia elders, Seto, Giant Snake ### Summary Page 0: Title page. Chapter 288 "Curse". The cover story "ACE'S GREAT SEARCH FOR BLACKBEARD VOL. 14 'ACE THE MARINE COMMANDER'" shows Ace disguised as a Marine commander. He is holding a tray of food and eating, standing over a beaten, bloody man on the floor. In the background through an open doorway, Marines are running around in a panic, carrying weapons. Page 1: The Shandia villagers are in an uproar after Noland decapitated the giant snake they worshipped as a god. They scream in terror and anger, shouting, "HE KILLED OUR GOD!" and demanding retribution: "SLIT YOUR THROAT! SPILL YOUR BLOOD ON THE ALTAR!" They beg for forgiveness from the slain beast, crying, "FORGIVE US, LORD KASHI!" and "LORD KASHI!" They threaten Noland, "DO IT OR YOU'LL CURSE THE REST OF US VILLAGERS!" and urge each other to "OFFER MORE SACRIFICES TO GOD! BEFORE WE PROVOKE HIS WRATH!" Noland stands calmly with his sword drawn, facing the massive severed head of the snake as blood pools around it. The villagers continue to panic, "WE NEED BLOOD!" "HOW DARE THAT MAN!" "AHH! WHAT DO WE DO NOW? THOSE WERE PANTORI'S LAST INSTRUCTIONS FOR US BUT WE FAILED...!" Noland's crew watches from a distance, sweating nervously. One says, "This is exactly why you don't get involved in the natives' rituals..." Another asks, "They're shouting deicide! Just what's going on...!?" A third complains, "Admiral... Why you gotta be like that!?" and another concludes, "Oh crap, looks like he did something to cause a panic." Page 2: The villagers call upon their greatest warrior to intervene, shouting, "GREAT WARRIOR KALGARA! PLEASE!" "KILL HIM TO CALM GOD'S FURY!" "KILL HIM!" "KALGARA!" Kalgara leaps down from the top of the massive stone altar, his spear ready. He glares furiously at Noland, who stares back with a serious expression. Kalgara lunges, thrusting his spear at Noland, who blocks the heavy blow with his sword. The impact creates a shockwave. Kalgara roars, "I DON'T CARE WHERE THE HELL YOU'RE FROM! YOU MUST BE PURGED!" Noland calmly introduces himself while holding off the attack, "I'm an explorer from the Lvneel kingdom of North Bl..." Nearby, Mousse, the intended sacrifice, watches the clash in shock, tears streaming down her face. Page 3: Kalgara and Noland are locked in a fierce clash, Kalgara's spear pressing hard against Noland's sword. Kalgara questions Noland's actions, shouting, "PURGING EVEN THE TINIEST... BUT IMPORTANT STEPS OF PROGRESS!?" Noland retorts, questioning the Shandia's way of life, "IS THAT HOW YOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LIVING...!?" Kalgara pushes forward with immense strength, forcing Noland back as he yells, "ATONE YOUR SINS TO THE GODS!" Noland stands his ground, his sword sparking against the spear, and fires back, "YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO TALK HERE!" Page 4: The battle between Kalgara and Noland continues fiercely in the pouring rain, thunder rumbling overhead. Noland's crew watches in awe from afar. One remarks, "HE'S FIGHTING EVENLY WITH KALGARA!" while another wonders, "WHAT'S WITH THAT MAN...!?" Mousse stands nearby, trembling and clutching her hands as she watches the fight. While parrying Kalgara's relentless strikes, Noland turns his attention to Mousse and tells her, "Take that knife and end your life. The village sacrifice should not be so desperately clinging onto her life as to even shed tears!" Mousse is stunned by his words, gasping, "WHA-" Noland deflects another heavy blow from Kalgara, the impact ringing out. Noland then shouts at Kalgara, "DON'T BE STU-" but Kalgara interrupts him with a furious roar, his face contorted in rage, "HAVE YOU NO SHAME!?" Page 5: Noland swiftly counters Kalgara's attack, striking him hard in the chest with the hilt of his sword. The blow knocks Kalgara backward as Noland commands, "STOP THAT AT ONCE!" Kalgara looks stunned, blood dripping from his mouth, while Noland glares at him with intense anger. Mousse, overwhelmed by the situation, collapses to the ground with a cry, "Aghh!" "FALL!" Kalgara recovers and thrusts his spear at Noland again. In a shocking move, Noland doesn't dodge; instead, he catches the spearhead with his bare hand, letting the blade pierce through his palm and into his shoulder to stop the attack completely. Mousse watches in horror, gasping, "...Ahh!" Page 6: Noland begins to speak, his voice steady despite his injury. "For centuries, We have strictly maintained the law forbidding all outsiders to this island." His crew watches anxiously, calling out, "My men...!" "ADMIRAL!" "A..." Kalgara, still holding the spear embedded in Noland's shoulder, yells furiously, "100 OF YOU AND YOUR MENS' LIVES WILL BE OFFERED TO THE GODS!" Noland replies calmly, "Your death alone will not be enough! For the crime of trespassing and deicide... Do...