Dr. Stone: [SPOILER] Launches a Devastating Surprise Attack on Senku

The clash between the old world and the new comes to the fore in the opening battles of Dr. Stone, Chapter #165.

Not long ago, we were watching Senku on the verge of death after being shot by Stanley. Now, after being nursed back to health by Luna, the Kingdom of Science's leader is back and fighting in the air alongside Ryusui. But while all the attention is in the sky, Xeno brings a submarine equipped with a bomb to disrupt the forces on the water in Chapter #165. As the battle begins in earnest, Xeno and Senku start a tactical chess game with their followers' lives on the line.

The chapter opens with Ryusui and Senku continuing their fight against Stanley in the air, but Matsukaze sees the battle for what it really is: a diversion. He quickly casts his eyes to the water, but having lived in the new era for his entire life, he's never seen underwater attacks -- other than primitive ones. An explosion rocks the ship, and the crew quickly realize that Xeno's built a submarine -- one that evidently makes reference to the 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Burly Americans jump onboard with guns and swords, not unlike what might be seen in One Piece, and take the on-deck crew as prisoners.

In the sky, the battle continues. Stanley, having seen the machine gun, quickly resorts to evasive maneuvers which slow him down, too. Normally, the "rules" of aircraft warfare would dictate that Senku and Ryusui pursue him while firing. However, the Kingdom of Science's plane jumps in altitude before letting chemical compounds fall out of the box in an image reminiscent of bombers bombing a city. It's a reminder that although the battle is primitive, it's still very much real -- a fact accentuated by one panel showing the bombing has a real-life background of the clouds. The compound is acetylene gas, a colorless hydrocarbon gas. It won't harm people, but it can stall engines -- and that's exactly what Senku's going for.

Meanwhile, belowdecks, Mozu and Matsukaze are faced with gun-wielding Americans. Oddly, they're not afraid because they have no idea what guns can actually do. Matsukaze asks, "According to your rules, we're supposed to tremble in fear and surrender the second you point [guns] at us, correct?" But without knowing what they really do, the two fearlessly give the invaders a beatdown.

Even though the Kingdom of Science has held out, their challenges are just beginning. If Senku and Ryusui can't finish Stanley in the brief window they've bought, Stanley will realize that the machine gun is fake and eventually outmaneuver the two to take complete air supremacy. From there, he's in the perfect position to destroy the Perseus from an uncontested position. As it has so many times, the burden of victory once again lies on Senku's shoulders.