Chapters · Final Saga › Egghead

Chapter 1078: Escape Limit

Arc: Egghead · Saga: Final Saga · Released: 2023-04-09

Summary

Across Egghead’s Labophase, the rogue Seraphim are tearing through the lab while the Straw Hats and the surviving Vegapunk satellites scramble. CP0’s Stussy and Rob Lucci lay out the government’s reasoning: CP0’s mission is to eliminate Dr. Vegapunk and hold the island until Kizaru arrives, and the WG views Egghead as graver than Ohara because Vegapunk carried on the very forbidden research that doomed Ohara — and because Egghead, unlike Ohara, has military power (pp. 2). At the Fabriophase, with comms down, Sentomaru drives the residents to evacuate onto ships before the Navy lands “look at history!!” (p. 3). Inside the buildings, Usopp and Lilith face the snake-Seraphim S-Snake, who has petrified Lilith’s right side and crushes Pythagoras (“Who ordered you to—”); Nico Robin, Chopper and Atlas resolve to go find Vegapunk; Sanji defends Edison; and Zoro chases the vanished S-Hawk (with Usopp dragooned as a guide) while Luffy uselessly batters at flames that won’t go out (pp. 4-9). The chapter then becomes “a record of the events before the day”: three months ago a call from Egghead told Mariejois that Vegapunk is studying the Void Century; CP5, CP7 and CP8 agents were sent and never returned, so CP0 (“Cipher Pol Aigis-0”) took the job, the Five Elders ordered the assassination after a discussion with an unknown figure, and the Navy deployed for war — into which the ship of “Emperor of the Sea” Luffy sailed (pp. 10-12). Finally the traitor is named: confronted over the carnage, York smiles at the original Vegapunk (“Stella”) that “one Dr. Vegapunk only needs the world,” and declares she is going to become a Celestial Dragon (pp. 13-15).

New reveals

• CP0’s Egghead mission, stated plainly. Stussy and Rob Lucci (CP0): the mission is to eliminate Dr. Vegapunk and wait for Kizaru to arrive (p. 2).
• Why the WG rates Egghead worse than Ohara. (1) Vegapunk picked up and continued the forbidden research that doomed Ohara; (2) Egghead has military power that Ohara did not (p. 2).
• The three-month backstory. A call from Egghead three months ago told Mariejois “Dr. Vegapunk is studying the Void Century.” CP5 was dispatched and found no evidence but their ship mysteriously vanished after leaving Egghead; subsequent agents from CP7, then CP8 were sent and none returned (pp. 10-11).
• CP0 / Cipher Pol Aigis-0 took the job. The Five Elders ordered Vegapunk’s assassination; “after a discussion between the Five Elders and an unknown figure… the genius scientist’s betrayal had been made clear.” Reinforcements were pulled from naval bases far and wide and the Elders chose to visit in person, with Kizaru as protection, anticipating a counterattack — “the deployment made it clear that they were expecting war” (p. 11).
• The Straw Hats are the “unexpected variable.” The ship of “Emperor of the Sea” Luffy sailed into the situation, unsettling the government; the narration teases that the incident’s resolution “the following day… the world never saw coming” (p. 12).
• York is the traitor. York reveals to “Stella” (the original Vegapunk) that “one Dr. Vegapunk only needs the world,” that she went to Marijoa years ago, and that she is going to become a Celestial Dragon — the betrayal motive behind the assassination plot and the Seraphim turning on the lab (pp. 13-15).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

• Straw Hats (shown): Luffy (batters the flames; reacts to “Old man Kizaru?!”), Zoro (chases S-Hawk), Sanji (defends Edison; “power of love”), Usopp (with Lilith; sent to guide Zoro), Nico Robin, Chopper; referenced: Nami (“if Nami screams…”).
• Vegapunk side: Vegapunk (“Stella,” the original body), satellites Lilith (right side petrified), Pythagoras (crushed), Edison, Atlas, and the traitor York; Shaka (referenced as dead).
• World Government: CP0 agents Stussy and Rob Lucci (CP-0 / “Cipher Pol Aigis-0”); Sentomaru (SWORD/Marine science unit, ordering the evacuation); Kizaru (referenced, inbound); the Five Elders; an unknown figure (Imu, implied) consulted on p. 11; CP5/CP7/CP8 (referenced, vanished); the Marines (mobilizing for war).
• Weapons / units: Seraphim — S-Snake (snake/Hancock model), S-Hawk (Mihawk model, “Hawk-Eyes”).
• Locations: Egghead (Labophase Buildings A/B/C; Fabriophase), Mariejois (“Sacred Marijoa”), Ohara (referenced).
• Concepts referenced: Celestial Dragons (York’s ambition); the Void Century (Void Century and Ancient Kingdom).
• Cover-story cast: Vinsmoke Judge / Germa 66 (cover serial).

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Title page. Cover story: Germa 66’s “Ahh… An Emotionless Excursion,” Vol. 33: “The Formation of Neo MADS!!” — Vinsmoke Judge and a fellow scientist before the Germa castle.
• Page 2 — CP0 (Stussy + Lucci) deliver the WG’s reasoning over a Labophase building/floor placard (Bldg B, 2F).
• Page 3 — Fabriophase mass evacuation; Sentomaru: “Look at history!!”
• Page 5 — S-Snake crushes Pythagoras (“KRUNCH!”); “Who ordered you to—” cut off by a large explosion.
• Pages 10-12 — Flashback: Sacred Marijoa three months ago; the Five Elders in chamber consult an unknown figure; the Navy mobilizes; the Sunny sails in (large composition).
• Pages 13-15 — The traitor reveal: York smiles at “Stella,” “one Dr. Vegapunk only needs the world,” and the final-panel declaration “I’m gonna be a Celestial Dragon.” “To be continued.”

Open questions raised

• What became of the vanished CP5/CP7/CP8 agents and their ship — are they the B1 captives, and who took them?
• Who is the “unknown figure” the Five Elders consulted before ordering Vegapunk’s death?
• How long has York been the WG’s contact, and did she order the Seraphim to turn on the lab?
• Can the World Government actually confer new Celestial Dragon status, as York believes — and what is the rest of her bargain?
• What is the “resolution the following day” that “the world never saw coming”?