Summary:
Now facing Dr. Hogback, Nami confronts the doctor about his work on the zombies and seeks confirmation that he is indeed reviving the deceased. Seeing that the “Night Attack” has begun, Hogback tells the Straw Hats that they can suspect anything they want because it’s too late for them. However, Hogback asks what Nami’s accusations are based on, to which she replies that she found Victoria Cindra’s obituary. Hogback is distraught at their discovery of his secret. He orders Cindra and the samurai to get rid of them. Ryuma emerges from the destroyed door behind the Straw Hats, laughing in typical Brook fashion. Ryuma notices Nami and asks to see her panties. Nami is incredibly angered by the question, but remembers having the exact same exchange with Brooke and wonders how that could be. Dr. Hogback explains that Ryuma is on a different level than the zombies the Straw Hats have encountered so far, as he is a “Zombie General” holding the body of a Wano Country warrior in the New World. Hogback points out that the legend of this samurai defeating a flying dragon has been passed down for centuries, and that the Straw Hats will not be able to escape. Ryuma unsheaths his sword and is behind the Straw Hats before they can react. He then tells Cindry to open a nearby path for him and that he would have his night meal. Confused as to why they weren’t cropped, the Straw Hats take the opportunity to run for the exit. However, they are suddenly incapacitated as Hogback explains the phenomenon of those cut by Ryuma buzzing obliviously for about three meters before realizing they’ve been cut. The technique is called “Three-Verse Humming: Arrow Notch Slash” (Hanauta Sanchou: Yahazu-Giri).
Luffy, Sanji, Robin, Franky, and Zoro finally enter the mansion after seeing that the lock on the door has been completely broken. They noticed that in such a large mansion, there didn’t seem to be a single person there, and the room itself looked like there was some sort of struggle. Luffy directly calls Gecko Moria while Sanji hopes that Nami is okay. Buhichuck notes from his post that Luffy knows the name of the “master” and is quite brave for entering the house. Luffy points to a talking pig on the wall and several more “Surprise Zombies” emerge from their picture frames to attack the Straw Hats. The pirates are completely unfazed, though Luffy is visibly amazed that zombies can crawl out of picture frames. The attacking zombies are dealt with effortlessly: Sanji kicks one of the zombies in the face and asks where Nami is, while Robin breaks all of her attacker’s bones with “Twist”. The zombies wonder if the new arrivals are members of the pirate crew that passed through earlier, which Franky confirms when he smashes two of their heads together. As Luffy and Zoro finish off the last of the attackers, Luffy laments that they could have been good friends with the zombies. Buhichuck is taken in for questioning regarding the whereabouts of Chopper, Usopp, and Nami. He tries to convince the crew that they are upstairs in the bedroom and sleeping safely, but Franky refuses to believe it as Luffy also looks skeptical. In the midst of this, they notice that Sanji is now gone. As the crew ponders Sanji’s sudden disappearance, Zoro notices several zombies laughing amongst themselves and figures that they have been planning something for some time. Luffy is not the least bit worried about Sanji’s safety, however Robin notes that their time may be limited to save Nami, Usopp, and Chopper. Pig warns the crew not to be cocky as he has some power, but becomes angry when he realizes the crew isn’t listening to him while Robin discusses the crew’s next course of action. He notes that the zombies have no real reason to tell them the truth, even with the threat of violence, to which Zoro suggests they take a pig as a guide to the mansion. The surprised Zombies lying defeated on the floor leave them with cryptic warnings about the power of Gecko Moria, telling them that their missing nakama are not safe. Luffy tells the zombies to tell Moria that he will throw him off the island if anything happens to his crew, completely blowing them away with his defiant will. Luffy reaffirms that Sanji will be fine as he picks his nose and leads his crew forward. As the crew leaves the room, several Surprise Zombies inform Gecko Moria that the Straw Hats have entered the mansion.
Outside the zombies’ mansion, they’re having some sort of disco ball dance festival as they celebrate the launch of “Night Assault”. Absalom enters the sanctuary and calls his zombie generals to wake up. When they rise from the ground, he tells them that the Straw Hats have barely eight members and orders them to capture them for their master.