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Chapter 953 - Please, Wear Your Sogeking Mask Again.

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Chapter's Events:

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"How is a human able to move faster than a fishman underwater?!!"

"What the heck is that guy?!!!"

The surrounding Fishmen nearly suffocated underwater from the sheer shock, forgetting to breathe as they witnessed this unbelievable scene unfold before their very eyes. Their minds struggled to comprehend the impossible feat they had just witnessed.

"All right, meeen!!! We are not letting that swordsman escape!!!"

"Take your energy steroids!!!"

Provoked by the audacious display, the Fishmen immediately consumed their energy steroids, their bodies tensing with newfound, artificial power. A dangerous glint appeared in their eyes as they prepared to retaliate with full force.

"What is this unnaturally twisted aura?!!!"

King Neptune quickly sensed the ominous change in the Fishmen's aura, a dark and unsettling energy emanating from them. His regal brow furrowed with concern as he recognized the dangerous implications of their enhanced state.

Zoro ascended to the surface, gasping for air after battling fiercely in the depths for some time. His chest heaved as he took in much-needed oxygen, his gaze sharp and determined despite the exertion.

"As I thought, I must evacuate all my men from the palace… One-eyed swordsman! It will not be long before the palace is submerged!! Grab onto my body!!"

"Over here, Zoro!!" Usopp, clinging precariously to Neptune's beard, shouted to Zoro, urging Zoro to join them.

"Now it is just a question of how long my poor old back will hold out… I am going to make a path! Come, my soldiers! This is not the time to fight!! Flee the palace!!!"

Using his formidable Merman Combat style, King Neptune unleashed a terrifying torrent of water, a powerful hydro cannon designed to clear a path for their escape.

Before they could make their escape, Hody Jones, who had consumed the energy pills, seized Neptune's fin with a vice-like grip. His eyes glowed with malevolent intent, his enhanced strength easily overpowering the king.

"Your Majesty!!!"

"Damn that Hody… I thought he was out for the count?!!"

"You must not turn back!!! Find the princes!!! Bring them here!!!"

"What are you hanging about for?!! Obey your king's orders!!!" the Right Minister shouted at the soldiers with a heartbroken wail, his voice filled with anguish and urgency. He implored them to prioritize the safety of the princes above all else.

"Y… Yes, sir!!!"

"My apologies… To you all…!!"

It seemed Neptune was apologizing to Zoro, Usopp, and Brook in that moment.

Zoro appeared to be losing his breath underwater, surrounded by Hody Jones's followers. The pressure of the water and the sheer number of enemies were taking their toll, and his movements were becoming sluggish.

"I will not allow you to die here…!!"

"What's this…?"

"Who knows…? Looks like some dead man's skeleton…"

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Back in the beautiful spring town of Shimotsuki, Terra placed her hand over her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears as she watched the unfolding scene. The emotional impact of the events was clearly visible on her face.

As Zoro choked on the seawater, she too felt an intense, suffocating sensation, a visceral connection to his struggle. Her heart ached with empathy for the swordsman.

"He won't die… He is the man who will become the greatest swordsman in the world, don't worry."

At that moment, Arashi placed his hand on his wife's shoulder, a comforting gesture meant to soothe her fears. His voice was calm and reassuring, a stark contrast to her distress.

But he wasn't just saying that to encourage her; he was confident in it himself. He had not a shred of doubt, no matter how bad the situation seemed, Zoro always survived. His unwavering belief in Zoro's resilience was absolute.

"He did it for the first time when he was tied up for more than 20 days in Shells Town without food or water…"

"He did it a second time when he suffered a terrifying cut to his abdomen from the strongest swordsman in the world."

"Don't forget that he endured all of Luffy's suffering and remained standing with his bloody body, saying that nothing happened…"

"Zoro has already, at this stage, overcome death many times without dying. Do you think he will die at the hands of some fish who rely on false powers?"

"This is impossible."

Terra looked with a resolute expression at Arashi, who brought her back with memories to all those old chapters… Indeed, Zoro had survived a lot, and this time would be no different. Her fear began to recede, replaced by a renewed sense of hope and faith in Zoro's indomitable spirit.

"Even if he can't breathe, he will live…" Terra said to herself as she hugged the infant Zoro, who was in her arms, even tighter. Her words were a silent prayer, a desperate plea for his survival.

One-year-old Zoro played with his hands, making gurgling sounds of laughter. He seemed very happy, oblivious to the dramatic events unfolding in the manga. His innocent joy was a stark contrast to the tension of the moment.

"Hehehe~, that's right... Even little Zoro agrees with me~ Don't you?"

Arashi smiled as he playfully tickled little Zoro, enjoying the moment of levity amidst the seriousness of the situation. His affection for his son was evident.

Furiko smiled as she watched the adorable scene. A sense of calm washed over her as she observed the tender interaction between father and son.

She was also confident that Zoro would survive, for after all, it seemed the enemy would not allow him to die easily. Her intuition told her that there was a greater purpose at play, and Zoro's journey was far from over.

"And this fatal mistake will end them all…" Furiko commented, a hint of grim satisfaction in her voice. She knew that the enemy's overconfidence would ultimately be their downfall.

In the quiet town of Syrup in the East Blue, both Banshina and Yasopp watched the scene with annoyance. Their expressions were a mixture of exasperation and disbelief at the unfolding events.

"Even after two years, he's still a coward…" Yasopp said, looking at Usopp, who raised his hands in terror at that moment, surrounded by a few fishmen. His disappointment in his son's apparent lack of bravery was palpable.

"And the strange thing is that Zoro was choking on water next to him…" Beckman exhaled smoke from his cigarette as he commented, his voice a low rumble. He found the situation perplexing, especially Zoro's predicament.

"Even the strong and immensely huge King was defeated! What do you think my son should do in such a situation, huh!?"

A fist, seemingly coated in conqueror Haki, struck Yasopp's head, which immediately swelled. Banshina's anger was evident in the force of her blow, a clear indication of her frustration with Yasopp's insensitive remarks.

"Arrrgh! That hurts! I didn't say anything. Why did you hit me!?" Yasopp felt intense pain and rushed to take cover behind Beckman, seeking refuge from his wife's wrath. His yelp of pain was almost comical.

"I see that King Neptune was very strong in his youth… It seems he has grown older…"

Beckman paid no attention to the couple's quarrel, as he was simply focused on the events of the manga. His analytical mind was more interested in the narrative than the domestic dispute.

"Strange… This Hody Jones managed to overthrow the old king easily after swallowing one pill of these steroids… Do these pills accelerate muscle growth by consuming the user's lifespan, or do they work differently?"

"Let's forget this nonsense! I want to see Usopp do something useful, even if it's just once in his life!"

"I am not satisfied with his cowardly character design!!"

"Aren't you the brave sea warrior! Wear your Sogeking mask again and stop being Usopp!"

This time, Banshina didn't want to hit her husband; she also felt completely helpless. Her frustration was evident, and she longed for Usopp to live up to his potential.

The readers around the world went crazy at this moment! Their emotions were running high, a whirlwind of excitement, frustration, and anticipation.

Moments ago, Zoro's fans celebrated seeing Hody Jones being beaten by Zoro, even underwater, but now the situation seemed to have turned in favor of Hody Jones and his followers! The sudden shift in momentum left them stunned and bewildered.

"How did this happen!?" In Ohara, Brook's laughter choked, but he soon laughed again. His signature

"Yohohoho! They think I'm just a dead man's skeleton!"

"Dershishshi! Don't tell me they'll ignore Brook, thinking he's just dead bones!?"

Saul also laughed at the scene, finding humor in the absurdity of the situation. His booming laughter filled the air, a stark contrast to the tension of the moment.

"Zoro is suffocating… I hope he survives…" Professor Clover felt sad at the sight of this scene.

"Energy pills again… It seems that the end of this man named Hody Jones and his crew have already been determined."

Vegapunk's scientific intuition sensed it this way; he was sure that Hody Jones's end would not be very ideal for him. His analytical mind had already predicted the inevitable downfall of Hody Jones and his misguided ambitions.

Far from Ohara, in the depths of the sea, back at the entrance to the New World, Fish-Man Island, curses gathered towards Hody Jones and his crew because of what happened in the manga. The collective anger and frustration of the readers were palpable, directed squarely at the antagonist.

This time, even King Neptune couldn't do anything to stop them. He was powerless to intervene, forced to watch as events unfolded beyond his control. His usual regal demeanor was replaced by a look of helplessness.

Even he himself felt extremely annoyed.

(It seems my purification problems will worsen in the future…)

King Neptune looked at his fallen counterpart on the ground, holding his aching back. A sigh escaped his lips, a testament to the burdens of leadership and the inevitable march of time.

"Sigh… It seems nothing truly stands in the way of aging…"

King Neptune sighed amidst moral consolations from his two ministers. Their words of comfort, though well-intentioned, did little to alleviate his growing sense of weariness.

"Your Majesty is very wise! Your counterpart predicted the bad situation!"

"At least the soldiers managed to escape thanks to Your Majesty…"

"What tremendous power Your Majesty possesses!"

"Ah, if it weren't for aging, Hody Jones wouldn't have been able to stop Your Majesty even if he took a dozen of these power pills."

"Damn you, Hody Jones!"

Hody Jones felt a sense of exhilaration as he witnessed this turn of events for some reason. A smug grin threatened to spread across his face, but he quickly suppressed it.

But he didn't dare show any happy expression on his face; if he did, he would certainly lose the support of Fisher Tiger and Jinbe. He knew the delicate balance of power and the importance of maintaining appearances.

But he knew that Arlong had the same feelings.

("Look at this, you fools, the strong one is the winner in the end!")

He wanted to laugh wildly, but he prevented himself from doing so. The victory was sweet, but the time for open celebration had not yet arrived.

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Upcoming chapter titles (spoilers):

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Chapter 932: I want to see the future where I have my daughter, Shirahoshi.

Chapter 933: Jinbe's Regret.

Chapter 934: Sun Pirates.

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BlackStar_BH:

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BlackStar_BH:

Hello guys, I'd like to present to you my new fanfic, which I will be writing with the same passion as this one, but in a completely different style. It's a One Piece fafiction, yet it carries a lighthearted and exciting tone in every chapter. You can judge it for yourselves by reading the six chapters available so far.

Here is the synopsis of the novel:

One Piece: The Suicide Pirate!

I'm Clark… and I died by suicide.

There was no tragic reason—just the feeling that my life had lost all meaning.

But death wasn't the end… it was the beginning.

In the world of One Piece, I awoke with two absurd powers:

 • [Returner's Clockwork Watch]: Sends me 24 hours back in time.

 • [I Want to Become Just Like You]: Lets me copy any skill or ability… even Devil Fruits!

From that moment, my title was born: The Suicide Pirate.

A man who can die a thousand times… and return stronger every single time.

Luffy's Devil Fruit? If I want it, I'll take it.

Zoro's sword style? I'll master it.

Sanji's modified body? It will be mine.

Even the powers of the Emperors… won't escape my grasp.

But every return has a price… for my power itself is the greatest curse of all.

This is my journey across the seas—

a journey to carve my own legend, even if it means dying over and over again for it.

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