What have I done?:
Chapter 1696: "The Racist Awakening! Zoro’s New Path and the Legend of Godhead Garling!"
The chapter opens with an intense stare-off between Zoro and Green Bull. Zoro’s intuition kicks in, and he grills Green Bull about his past. Green Bull, sipping a can of questionable green juice, nonchalantly admits,
"Yeah, I was a cop. Best job ever, y'know? Arresting all those troublemakers." Zoro’s eyes widen. The former cop's casual tone resonates deeply with Zoro, as he reflects on his own days as a Pirate Hunter.
The Godhead of Racism Emerges!
Meanwhile, St. Garling, adorned in his ridiculous celestial noble outfit (feathered hat included), struts onto the scene. A flashback reveals Garling’s terrifying feats at the Battle of God's Valley, where he was crowned "Ultimate Champion" for his sheer ruthlessness. The narrator drops a bombshell: St. Garling wasn’t just any Celestial Dragon. He was known as
the Godhead of Racism, whose doctrine spread fear and segregation like wildfire. He didn’t just fight pirates—he hunted anyone and anything that challenged the "natural hierarchy."
Zoro's Kindred Spirit Moment
Zoro, listening to Garling’s speech about "returning to the old ways," feels something stirring deep inside him. A tear rolls down his cheek.
"I thought I was just chasing strength all this time," Zoro whispers to himself.
"But...I was born to hunt." St. Garling sees the conflicted swordsman and immediately recognizes the racist potential within Zoro’s very soul. He approaches Zoro and casually slaps a "Slave Hunter" badge on his chest.
Betrayal of Luffy?!
The scene cuts to Luffy and the crew chilling on the Sunny. Zoro appears out of nowhere, swinging open the door dramatically.
"Captain," Zoro announces,
"I can’t do this anymore. The Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro is dead. From now on, call me… Slave Hunter Roronoa Zoro." Luffy, who stopped listening three words in, just smiles and nods, confusing Zoro into thinking he got his approval.
Sanji immediately tries to kick some sense into Zoro, but Garling swoops in, deflecting the attack and monologuing about how
"certain lesser races" are naturally subservient. Jinbei watches all this, clenching his fists. The Fish-Man’s patience snaps when Green Bull quips,
"Never did care much for Fish-Men anyway!" Jinbei lets out an anguished scream before literally exploding in rage, leaving everyone speechless.
Usopp’s Disease Strikes Again!
Usopp, completely unbothered by the chaos, sits in a corner.
"Man, this sure sounds like a lot of trouble," he mutters before collapsing with an
internal monologue explaining that he was
"just too useless to keep going in a manga like this." It’s later revealed he succumbed to the fatal condition known as
Bum Disease. Nami cries but then realizes that Usopp’s already dead, so she just moves on.
Yasopp’s Inevitable Fate
Word of Usopp’s death reaches Shanks, who breaks the news to Yasopp. Yasopp, already emotionally wrecked, whispers,
"It’s because I didn’t pay enough Chil D. Support…" and promptly perishes from the ultimate deadbeat affliction.
Mihawk’s Dark Secret Revealed
In a shocking twist, Mihawk appears from the shadows, revealing that he too shared Garling’s philosophy. He smugly recounts his old lesson to Zoro about not using cannons to hunt rabbits, revealing it was actually coded racism all along.
"Swords are meant to cut down the weak, Zoro. Not help them." Zoro’s admiration for Mihawk reaches new heights.
The final panel shows Zoro grinning wickedly, standing alongside St. Garling and Mihawk. He drops his black bandana over his eyes and says,
"It’s time to hunt."
To be continued…
End of Chapter.