One Piece - Chapter 638 [manga]

[marvelB]

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As I'm sure you'll all recall, the last chapter left us at a thrilling cliffhanger where Luffy was ready to save the princess from the wily Van der Decken's wrath. Furthermore, Hody Jones also managed to stow away on the ancient ship that now serves as a doomsday weapon. How will the supernova deal with this threat? Well, perhaps this summary shall give us some answers (credit goes to the usual sources, of course):




-Chapter title is "Runawayhoshi". The ministory now takes us to the kingdom of Alabasta, where it's revealed that former rebel leader Kohza is now the royal minister of the environment.


-Shirahoshi attempts to escape to the sea, but as the front gate is too far she's forced to locate an alternate exit. Jinbei warns Luffy that a fish-person's strength is even further amplified when fighting underwater, and Sanji launches him towards the ship (with that same technique he used with Luffy way back in the Drum arc). He manages to reach the ship's chains, but Hody is actually a bit further ahead than the super rookie......



-Luffy notices that the townsfolk are trying to help him by slowing down Noah, but Hody once again resorts to his water bullets to stop them, which enrages the supernova. Meanwhile, Shira manages to escape to sea through the Ryuuguu palace entrance, and Luffy uses the coral to make himself a protective bubble in the ocean depths. However, Hody uses this opportunity to make a counter-strike.....


-While the two captains clash, Decken throws more knives at the princess. However, before she gets harmed even further, she's saved by..... her brothers! They reveal that Neptune instructed them to cause no damage to the ancient ship, and two of the brothers (along with Hoe) take on Decken while Shira makes her escape. Meanwhile, Fukaboshi helps out Luffy, which forces Hody to bring out a secret weapon: Kirisame, a shark fin-shaped sword! Luffy tries to reach Noah's deck, but the fish-captain beats him to it. His first action onboard the ship is then to...... stab Decken with a spear! He then asks his former partner what would become of the ship if its manipulator were to perish.....





Hmm, looks like there's a good dose of action this chapter. The only thing that confuses me is that Hody apparently stabs Decken with a spear when he just brought out a sword (which sounds like it's totally ripping off Arlong's kiribachi, BTW ). Well, at least now the punching bag stands a better chance against Luffy since he's fighting in his element. Oh, and I guess I can drop the notion of both enemy captains teaming up now, considering how the chapter ends......



And of course, it's great to see that we're at Alabasta now! Personally, I'm looking forward to Gedatsu's update more than anyone else's!

[SOGESNAKE]

Huh.... can't wait to actually SEE the ending there. Is Decken cowering in fear? Or does he have more tricks up his sleeves~?

[PixelCreek]

Originally Posted by SOGESNAKE

Huh.... can't wait to actually SEE the ending there. Is Decken cowering in fear? Or does he have more tricks up his sleeves~?

He got stabbed by a spear. So I'd imagine he'd be coughing up blood n' stuff. Although, I'd like to see this chapter right now too. There's so many things happening. It'll be nice to have some art to go with it

[kiak666]

Ha ha, as timid as our Mermaid Princess is, I'm glad that Shirahoshi's actually smart enough to use an alternate escape route since she knows that using the gate would cause Noah to destroy the bubble protecting Fishman Island. I also like how she rejects Decken AGAIN (That face of DECKEN )!!!

[Eleutheria]

Did NOT expect that last panel (at least not so fast, so soon, and so brutally).

I also feel that Noah will reach the surface, as in the last page, the waters around the mermaid princess seem to be lightening.

[marvelB]

Well, haven't seen any English scans yet, but the Chinese version is out now. Wow, dare I say that this chapter made Hody look like..... a credible threat for once?


Also, to clear up the confusion about the sword: It turns out it's actually a huge scythe-shaped blade that Hody wears on his back like a shark's fin (hence the name "Kirisame"), which doubles as a weapon and as a means of increasing his speed. Boy, ol' shark-boy suddenly became a lot more competent once he escaped to sea, huh.....?

Originally Posted by kiak666

I also like how she rejects Decken AGAIN (That face of DECKEN )!!!

Actually, I had the impression that he was shocked by the appearance of the princes (who actually looked pretty badass protecting their sister), but yeah, the face is still hilarious nonetheless. As I said before, the chances of both captains teaming up against Luffy is pretty much nonexistent at this point, but I still think there's a possibility of the conflict turning into a 3-way battle royale.....



Edit: Okay, NOW the English version is out. And yeah, turns out Shira DID reject Decken again (my bad for my earlier assumption!). Y'know, I'm actually starting to wonder if Shira will lead Noah to the other side of the Red Line, aka the New World......

[kakakka]

This is a good chapter.

I am a bit disappointed that Hodi needs to go into the water to get some advantage, but if that would even the fight a bit, I guess it'll be okay(?)

And Hodi stabbing Decken means they have to get other way to stop that huge ship.

[SilverSyko]

This is quite a pickle, if Decken does indeed die and his ability disappears, judging from Noah's current position it'll sink straight back down and collide with Fishman Island. It's possible that Noah could be blocked and redirected in some way if that does happen, but Madame Shirley's prediction doesn't make me feel too confident about that.

Anywho, I found it funny how Luffy calls Decken, "that guy who throws a buncha shit everywhere".

Hody's dorsal-fin blade is pretty impressive too, but I wonder where he pulled it out from.

Really anxious to see what happens next.~

[Randrak42]

Love how Hody calls Luffy an inferior being...even-though that inferior being completely humiliated him a few minutes before.
But I must say, Hody's idea is good...kill Decken and Noah falls and crushes everyone.

[marvelB]

Originally Posted by SilverSyko

This is quite a pickle, if Decken does indeed die and his ability disappears, judging from Noah's current position it'll sink straight back down and collide with Fishman Island.

Actually, what if Hody killing Decken doesn't nullify his power? That would mean that Noah would be chasing Shira forever unless it's destroyed/stopped somehow. I mean, if Blackbeard's act during the war was any indication, it doesn't look like DF powers disappear immediately after the previous user's death.....

[james0246]

Don't worry. Next chapter Decken will "throw" his injury at Hody, effectively proving that he is the greatest villian of this arc ...

[ZGoten]

Lol, I love how it says "Murder!!" at the end.

So what's going to happen next? King Neptune doesn't want Noah to be destroyed. Yet it's the only way to stop it, unless it stops chasing after Shirahoshi since Decken might be about to die. This way, the Strawheads could stop the ship from moving entirely without destroying it, I imagine. Somehow Noah has to be related to the whole prophecy of Luffy destroying fishman island though, and the sea kings have yet to show up as well. There's no way Oda tells us of that ability and then decides not to show it at the end. Man, so many possibilities . . . but it's always this way at the end of a One Piece arc. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[Rainbowman]

Here are my thoughts on this chapter:

Originally Posted by marvelB

-Chapter title is "Runawayhoshi". The ministory now takes us to the kingdom of Alabasta, where it's revealed that former rebel leader Kohza is now the royal minister of the environment.

Good to see that Kohza is doing well. No need to have a ministory on Vivi as we already seen her a few times.

Originally Posted by marvelB

-While the two captains clash, Decken throws more knives at the princess. However, before she gets harmed even further, she's saved by..... her brothers! They reveal that Neptune instructed them to cause no damage to the ancient ship, and two of the brothers (along with Hoe) take on Decken while Shira makes her escape. Meanwhile, Fukaboshi helps out Luffy, which forces Hody to bring out a secret weapon: Kirisame, a shark fin-shaped sword! Luffy tries to reach Noah's deck, but the fish-captain beats him to it. His first action onboard the ship is then to...... stab Decken with a spear! He then asks his former partner what would become of the ship if its manipulator were to perish.....

Good to see Shirahoshi is getting good protection. As for Hody stabbing Decken, probably to get at him for his betrayal.

Originally Posted by marvelB

And of course, it's great to see that we're at Alabasta now! Personally, I'm looking forward to Gedatsu's update more than anyone else's!

Before seeing updates with Skypeia's characters, we would have to see an update with Montblanc Cricket and the residents of Jaya.

[PixelCreek]

Originally Posted by Rainbowman

Before seeing updates with Skypeia's characters, we would have to see an update with Montblanc Cricket and the residents of Jaya.

Due to the events of Gedatsu's cover story, he now lives in Alabasta. I have to say I can't wait to see him too But I'm mostly looking forward to Enel and the former CP9 agents!

[Xacual]

Originally Posted by Rainbowman

Before seeing updates with Skypeia's characters, we would have to see an update with Montblanc Cricket and the residents of Jaya.

Gedatsu is in Alabasta remember?

Anyway Hody is really a piece of shit which I'm not too surprised about since he resorted to using doping to power up. Like in this chapter he was all lording his strength over Luffy despite the fact that up until a minute ago he couldn't do shit to Luffy and if it was Zoro or Sanji up there they probably would have still beaten the shit out of him too.

I really can't wait for Luffy to get on the ship next chapter and Hody to act big like he was this chapter just to get smashed into the floor like what happened to Bellamy.

[Rainbowman]

You guys are right I take it. Of course while we're focused on Alabasta at the moment, we should at least have an update on the former members of Baroque Works. And if we're lucky with Vol. 64's SBS corners, we might find out about all of the real names of the Baroque Works members (Mr. 3's real name being Galdino).

[marvelB]

^Yeah, I've been wondering about the former BW agents, myself. After all, with the exception of Crocodile and the top agents we saw at ID/Marineford, it's been a good while since we've last seen the rest of the former agents (which was, coincidentally enough, during a previous ministory). Perhaps the new Spiders' Cafe was built somewhere in the New World......



That also reminds me: We should see updates on most of the other past villains in this ministory, as well. We already had Wapol, so maybe we'll also see what became of Bellamy and his crew when we get to Jaya (that is, if the captain himself isn't dead). Of course, there's also the matter of Eneru and his moon army (and I guess the other priests aside from Gedatsu), Foxy (though I'd still prefer for him to get his own story), and of course, CP9 (I already said in a previous thread that I'm most interested in seeing what becomes of Spandam, after all.....).



I sorta have my doubts about Oda focusing on villains/characters from beyond Thriller Bark though, since I have the feeling that he's saving them for bigger surprises in the main story proper (for instance, I doubt he'll update us on Moria for a good while after this ministory's end). The supernovas in particular are pretty iffy at this point, since I think their positions in the NW would hold a lot more suspense than these one-page stories could contain. We just saw Amazon Lily and Sabaody right after the skip took place, so it would feel a little redundant for us to get updates on Rayleigh or Hancock so soon. I could sort of see Impel Down as a possibility (since I still suspect that Hannyabal will finally achieve his goal and succeed Magellan as warden), I guess. Anything involving the new marine HQ or the revolutionaries is definitely a no-no, for similar reasons as the supernovas and Moria. But despite that, I'm definitely excited to see what further developments have taken place in the post-skip world.

[Kanon]

Originally Posted by james0246

Don't worry. Next chapter Decken will "throw" his injury at Hody, effectively proving that he is the greatest villian of this arc ...

That's a brilliant idea. I'd love to see this happen. At any rate, I can't see Decken getting defeated this easily, he's always come across as a more credible threat than Hodi despite his goofiness.

[grey_1960]

Chapter 638
That was not a bad chapter. If that ship starts falling that is going to suck for the Palace and Fisherman Island. Calling the Sea King seems like the only option.

Shirley's Prophecy
If they do end up saving Noah, defeat hodi, and spare Fisherman Island. Then what will that mean for the the prediction? This is the best time if any for the Prophecy to truly happen. If she is has accurate has they say, then how or when will Luffy do it?

[Undertaker]

Originally Posted by marvelB

^Yeah, I've been wondering about the former BW agents, myself. After all, with the exception of Crocodile and the top agents we saw at ID/Marineford, it's been a good while since we've last seen the rest of the former agents (which was, coincidentally enough, during a previous ministory). Perhaps the new Spiders' Cafe was built somewhere in the New World......



That also reminds me: We should see updates on most of the other past villains in this ministory, as well. We already had Wapol, so maybe we'll also see what became of Bellamy and his crew when we get to Jaya (that is, if the captain himself isn't dead). Of course, there's also the matter of Eneru and his moon army (and I guess the other priests aside from Gedatsu), Foxy (though I'd still prefer for him to get his own story), and of course, CP9 (I already said in a previous thread that I'm most interested in seeing what becomes of Spandam, after all.....).



I sorta have my doubts about Oda focusing on villains/characters from beyond Thriller Bark though, since I have the feeling that he's saving them for bigger surprises in the main story proper (for instance, I doubt he'll update us on Moria for a good while after this ministory's end). The supernovas in particular are pretty iffy at this point, since I think their positions in the NW would hold a lot more suspense than these one-page stories could contain. We just saw Amazon Lily and Sabaody right after the skip took place, so it would feel a little redundant for us to get updates on Rayleigh or Hancock so soon. I could sort of see Impel Down as a possibility (since I still suspect that Hannyabal will finally achieve his goal and succeed Magellan as warden), I guess. Anything involving the new marine HQ or the revolutionaries is definitely a no-no, for similar reasons as the supernovas and Moria. But despite that, I'm definitely excited to see what further developments have taken place in the post-skip world.

I agree, I was thinking that will probably see the Supernovas as reaction scenes on this arc. Personally I doubt the mini story will extend beyond W7 and Iceberg. One thing I am a bit worried was that I was betting on this mini story to end alongside this arc. So I thought the mini-story is probably 10-15 chapters away (mix in with a few non-story covers) and that was like 5 chapters ago. But it seems to me the ministory is really taking its time on showcasing every minor character, which have me worried that this arc is still going to take a good while like another 40-50 chapters....