Chapter 647: Stop, Noah

As the colossal ark Noah plummets toward Fish-Man Island, the Straw Hats finish off the last New Fish-Man Pirates officers — Sanji and Franky knock the giant Wadatsumi out of the sky — while Luffy, grievously wounded, hurls himself at Noah’s hull trying to shatter it before it crushes the island. The terrified citizens, who days earlier despised humans, now cheer “Straw Hat” and stake the island’s survival on him. In the deep below, giant Sea Kings (Neptunians) lament that they must destroy the “ship of promise” to save lives — “Forgive me, Joy Boy… I will be unable to fulfill the promise…” Then a voice cries STOP: it is Shirahoshi, and Noah has already stopped — the Sea Kings have descended and caught Noah’s chains in their jaws, halting it intact. They reveal they came because Shirahoshi called them, guided by Luffy’s powerful desire to save the island. Noah is preserved, the island is saved, and Luffy collapses in relief.

• Noah is “the ship of promise” — explicitly tied to the legendary Joy Boy (p. 11).
• The Sea Kings (Neptunians) speak, and are bound to an ancient, still-unfulfilled promise to Joy Boy concerning Noah; an elder apologizes — “Forgive me, Joy Boy… I will be unable to fulfill the promise…” — as they prepare (reluctantly) to destroy Noah (p. 11).
• Shirahoshi’s Neptunian-summoning power is shown as directable, not merely an unconscious trauma rampage: “that Princess Shirahoshi called us… We lent him our aid because you called us. Our power is your power” (pp. 16-17). The summons was triggered by her prayer, moved by Luffy’s desire to save the island.
• The Sea Kings catch Noah’s chains and stop the ark intact — saving both the island and the ship of promise (pp. 14, 18).
• The Sea Kings marvel at Luffy: “What a mighty little man… what a human he is…” (pp. 16-17).
• Fish-Man Island is saved; the formerly human-hating crowd openly cheers Luffy — “We know there are humans on our side now!!” (pp. 9-10, 19).

• Characters: Luffy, Shirahoshi, Sanji, Franky, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Nico Robin, Tony Tony Chopper, Brook, Wadatsumi
• Referenced (unseen): Joy Boy (addressed by the Sea Kings)
• Races / groups: Sea Kings (VIZ: “Neptunians”)
• Ships / locations: Noah, Fish-Man Island, Fish-Man District
• Cover story (Decks of the World, Vol. 30 — Skypiea): Raki, Conis

• Page 1 (cover-story title page): “Decks of the World, Vol. 30: Skypiea — Raki and Conis’ Pumpkin Café Specialty: Pumpkin Noodles.” Color cover, Skypiea B-plot.
• Pages 2-5: the Straw Hats finish the New Fish-Man Pirates officers; Sanji + Franky’s laser combo drops the giant Wadatsumi; crew banter (Brook: “Would you wear a miniskirt for me, Nami?” / “Silence.”).
• Page 11: the Sea Kings grieve over the “ship of promise” and apologize to Joy Boy — the chapter’s load-bearing reveal panel.
• Page 14 (splash): the giant Sea Kings (whale-, pufferfish-, and shark-type) holding Noah’s massive chains in their jaws — “NOAH HAS ALREADY STOPPED!!!”
• Pages 18-19: the island-saved splash over Fish-Man Island — “Fish-Man Island is saved!!”
• Page 20: SBS Question Corner column page.

• What exactly is the promise the Sea Kings made to Joy Boy, and what is Noah for?
• Why is Noah “the ship of promise” — what role did Joy Boy intend it to play for Fish-Man Island?
• If Shirahoshi can direct the Neptunians, is she the being the Ancient-Weapon legend describes? (Name still withheld — see Ancient Weapons.)
• Cross-link: Luffy Will Re-Complete Joy Boys Fishman Island Promise — Luffy unknowingly preserves Joy Boy’s ship of promise here.