Chapters · Dressrosa › Dressrosa

Chapter 777: Zolo vs. Pica

Arc: Dressrosa · Saga: Dressrosa · Released: 2015-02-23

Summary

A flashback shows Lady Scarlett’s death ~10 years ago — gunned down by Diamante’s men while she tried to buy food at the market — and young Princess Viola being restrained by Tank Lepanto and the Riku guard. In the present, a battered Kyros, having just beaten Diamante, recovers in the flower field, thanks Robin for shielding Rebecca, and stands with Viola at Scarlett’s grave. Viola broadcasts to the despairing townsfolk that the Donquixote officers are falling one after another — only Doflamingo, Pica, Trebol, and Bellamy remain — while King Riku descends into town, refusing Marine help, to gather every citizen at the New Palace Plateau where they can be protected. On the King’s Plateau, Pica (the Ishi Ishi assimilation user) keeps sinking into the stone and re-emerging between the Flower Hill steps, battering weakened fighters like Sai, until Zoro realizes Pica’s true goal: reach the Royal Plateau and smash King Riku, Kin’emon, Usopp, and the assembled people. Boxed into a corner and unable to reach the colossus in time, Zoro cycles through five plans and settles on the only one that works — leap into the air and cut Pica down.

New reveals

• Scarlett’s death dramatized. ~10 years ago Lady Scarlett (Viola’s sister, Rebecca’s mother) was riddled with bullets by Diamante’s men while stocking up on food at the market; Tank Lepanto and the Riku guard physically restrained the grieving Viola in the palace (p.2).
• Kyros beat Diamante. Word spreads that “Brother Kyros won” — the original undefeated Hero of the Coliseum, a former Donquixote supreme officer, has felled Diamante; Rebecca is safe, protected by Nico Robin (p.5–6).
• Donquixote officer attrition. Señor Pink (at the factory) and other officers have fallen to Straw-Hat-aligned warriors; only four major powers of the family remain — Doflamingo, Pica, Trebol, and Bellamy the Hyena (p.7).
• Riku’s evacuation plan. King Riku Doldo III refuses government/Navy aid, descends into town, and orders all townsfolk gathered in one place (New Palace Plateau) to keep them safe from the closing Birdcage; the Naval Admiral (Fujitora) has also gone down into town (p.8).
• Pica’s strategy & objective. Pica merges with the stone of the King’s Plateau, moving unhittably through the earth between its steps and striking the wounded; his real target is the Royal Plateau holding Riku, Kin’emon, “God Usopp,” and the people who want Riku restored — “This kingdom belongs to Don Quixote!!” (p.9–16).
• Baby 5 has switched sides. “You have betrayed us, Baby 5” — Baby 5 now stands against the family, shielding allies (p.12).
• Zoro’s Plan 5. After rejecting four options (range slashes, jump onto Pica’s back, shout a warning, use a Den Den Mushi), Zoro commits to flying through the air to cut Pica down (p.17–19).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

[[Characters/Zoro]] · [[Characters/Pica]] · [[Characters/Kyros]] · [[Characters/Rebecca]] · [[Characters/Violet]] (Viola) · [[Characters/King Riku]] · [[Characters/Tank Lepanto]] · [[Characters/Scarlett]] (flashback, dead) · [[Characters/Diamante]] (defeated) · [[Characters/Trebol]] · [[Characters/Bellamy]] · [[Characters/Pink]] (mentioned, defeated) · [[Characters/Sai]] · [[Characters/Baby 5]] · [[Characters/Nami]] · [[Characters/Nico Robin]] · [[Characters/Usopp]] (“God Usopp,” mentioned) · [[Characters/Kin'emon]] (the samurai, mentioned) · [[Characters/Fujitora]] (the Naval Admiral, mentioned) · [[Characters/Doflamingo]] (mentioned) · [[Devil-Fruits/Ishi Ishi no Mi]] · [[Crews/Donquixote Pirates]] · [[Locations/Dressrosa]]

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Chapter title page + cover-story installment: “The Solitary Journey of Jimbei, First Son of the Sea, Vol. 22: ‘A Big Mess of Apologies, Understandings and Reunions’” — sea creatures (a Kung-Fu Dugong, a large round-faced fish-creature, smaller fauna) before a coastal tower.
• Page 2 — Flashback: Scarlett’s death reported; Viola restrained by Tank Lepanto.
• Page 4–5 — Wounded Kyros recovers in the flower field, thanks Robin (bubble renders the name “Robiland”); he and Viola at Scarlett’s grave; Nami in tears.
• Page 14 — Zoro: “One Sword Style… Bite Stone!!!” / “Demon Horse!!!” cutting into Pica’s stone.
• Page 16 — Pica’s stone form mobilizing toward the Royal Plateau: “This kingdom belongs to Don Quixote!!”
• Page 18–19 — Splash-scale spread: Pica’s gigantic spiked stone golem rises over the plateau and colosseum; Zoro commits to Plan 5.
• Page 20 — SBS Question Corner (Vol 78): “adventure” antonym gag; the Gimlet cocktail / Raymond Chandler etymology for Ch. 755’s character; the recurring “big boobs” joke.

Open questions raised

• Can Zoro actually catch and cut a ground-fused stone colossus in mid-air before it reaches the Royal Plateau?
• Will the New Palace Plateau gathering protect the townsfolk, or concentrate them as a target?
• How will Baby 5’s open defection against the family develop alongside Sai?