Chapter Summaries

After Doflamingo’s Moonfall crushed Charlotte Linlin, he accepted the Charlotte Family’s surrender and prepared to absorb them into the Dragon Hunting Pirates. Kaido learned of Linlin’s death while heading to Totto Land and turned back, grieving the loss of an old ally.

• Katakuri survived Moonfall with severe injuries, while Judge extracted Charlotte Linlin’s Devil Fruit from her remains.
• Katakuri surrendered the Charlotte Family to Doflamingo, who accepted and decided their members were more valuable alive.
• Kaido received news that Charlotte Linlin had been killed and halted his journey to Totto Land.
• Kaido told King they would not continue to Totto Land and reacted grimly to the death of his old friend.

Doflamingo used the Soul-Soul Fruit to revive Totto Land’s Homies and took control of the islands after Charlotte Linlin’s death. He left the Charlotte Family in place, abolished Linlin’s soul tax, and planned to send Yamato to help deter Kaido.

• Doflamingo drew on the sea of souls to generate power through the Soul-Soul Fruit.
• Doflamingo revived the dead Homies across Cake Island, and Katakuri and the Charlotte Family realized he had targeted Linlin’s Devil Fruit.
• Doflamingo decided to preserve Totto Land’s existing rule and abolish the soul tax.
• Doflamingo declared that Totto Land would fly the Dragon Hunting Pirates’ flag and said Yamato could come to help guard it against Kaido.
• Katakuri accepted Doflamingo’s control, knowing Totto Land could not oppose his strength.

Doflamingo returned to his base and began planning to build an army of powerful Homies while saving strength for two trump cards. At Navy Headquarters, Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru discussed the Navy's divisions and the danger of challenging the World Government, until an urgent report announced Charlotte Linlin's death.

• Doflamingo admired his five powerful Homies and decided to build part of a Homie army on the moon, while reserving soul power for two trump cards.
• Sengoku and Vice Admiral Tsuru discussed how the Navy had split between Kuzan's followers and Sakazuki's, as fewer recruits joined the Navy.
• Sengoku questioned whether maintaining the World Government's order still had meaning, while worrying that overthrowing it could destroy the world.
• Sengoku received an urgent call from a Navy base in the New World reporting that Charlotte Linlin was dead.

After Charlotte Linlin's death, Doflamingo let the Navy reclaim several outlying territories while his influence kept him informed of its plans. He considered the missing Fish-Man Island Red Poneglyph and the heavily altered Straw Hat Crew, and left their future uncertain.

• After Charlotte Linlin died, the Navy expanded into the New World, and Doflamingo ceded several remote countries without concern.
• Doflamingo reviewed the Red Poneglyphs he had collected and noted that the one from Fish-Man Island was still missing.
• Doflamingo considered how much stronger Robin and Nami had become and how other Straw Hat Crew members' lives had changed.
• Doflamingo recalled that Kuina had survived, Chopper was studying medicine under Doctorine, and the Straw Hat Crew might never form as expected.
• Doflamingo decided he mainly wanted to borrow Luffy's luck and might train the crew himself if necessary.

Luffy set sail in a small boat but quickly lost it, prompting Doflamingo to send soul power into his dream and create Oceanus to protect him. Oceanus carried Luffy’s barrel toward Rare Animal Island, where Zoro and Kuina were stranded after wrecking their ship.

• Luffy set out from Foosha Village in a small boat provided with help from Sabo and Ace.
• Doflamingo noticed that Luffy had lost his boat and sent soul power into his dream to protect him.
• Oceanus awakened as a giant made of seawater, startling Luffy and carrying his barrel toward the nearest island.
• Zoro and Kuina argued on Rare Animal Island after their ship was wrecked, and Kuina told Zoro to stay put while she searched for food.

Zoro and Kuina encountered Oceanus and the rescued Luffy after Oceanus swept them ashore. Luffy asked Zoro and Kuina to join his crew, while Oceanus considered how to fulfill his mission to join the Straw Hat Crew.

• Zoro tried to cut down Oceanus’s enormous seawater dragon, but Oceanus swept him into the current and spat him onto the beach with Luffy.
• Oceanus claimed to be a Logia Sea Fruit user, and Luffy immediately invited him to become his companion.
• Luffy grabbed Zoro and asked him to sail together, but Kuina arrived and attacked Luffy, mistaking him for a monster.
• After Kuina realized her mistake, she apologized, and Zoro complained until she hit him with a bump on the head.
• While eating roasted boar, Luffy praised Kuina’s swordsmanship and asked her to become his companion.

Luffy, Zoro, Kuina, and Oceanus built a raft, bonded during their journey, and reached Syrup Village after Zoro and Kuina agreed to join Luffy’s crew. Luffy and Zoro began their duel on the island while Usopp mistook them for a real pirate threat and went to warn the village.

• Luffy’s group built a raft and, after a week of adventures together, Zoro and Kuina agreed to join his crew, with Zoro insisting that only the strongest could be Captain.
• Oceanus guided the group to Syrup Village, where Zoro challenged Luffy to a duel.
• Usopp saw the raft’s pirate flag and hid with his three underlings before witnessing Luffy and Zoro’s destructive fight.
• Usopp led his underlings toward the village to warn Kaya and the villagers that real pirates had arrived.
• Luffy proved stronger in the duel after developing Gear Three, while Zoro had not yet mastered Iron Cutting through real battles.

Luffy formed the Straw Hat Crew with Kuina, Zoro, and Oceanus after defeating Zoro in a fight. When villagers confronted them, Oceanus warned that Kuro of a Hundred Plans and the remnants of the Joker Party were hiding in Syrup Village, then drove the villagers away with his water powers.

• Luffy activated Gear Two and Gear Three, defeated Zoro, and declared that the Straw Hat Crew had formed.
• The villagers arrived with weapons, and Usopp tried to drive the crew away by claiming he had 8,000 subordinates.
• Oceanus told the crew that Kuro of a Hundred Plans and the remnants of the Joker Party were the real pirates threatening the village.
• Oceanus approached the villagers and flicked the terrified Usopp unconscious.
• Oceanus swept Usopp's three young followers into a water tornado, and the frightened villagers fled.

Kuro, enhanced by Joker and disguised as Kaya’s butler Klahadore, revealed his true nature and threatened the Straw Hat Crew with Kaya’s life. Luffy and his companions set out to rescue her while fighting Joker Party guards.

• Kuro surrendered to Joker, who enhanced him with Joker Poison, changed his face, and sent him back to Syrup Village.
• Kuro revealed himself to the villagers and attacked them after learning pirates had arrived.
• Oceanus told Luffy and the others that Klahadore was Kuro, a Joker Party remnant involved in smuggling and weapons deals.
• Kuro appeared through a projection Den Den Mushi, showed Kaya tied up with a bomb, and gave the group ten minutes to save her.
• Usopp joined Luffy, Zoro, and Kuina, and they headed toward Kuro while preparing to fight.
• The group battled Joker Party guards enhanced by Joker Poison, several of whom had awakened Haki, while Oceanus held back.

Doflamingo watched the Straw Hat Crew defeat Kuro and planned stronger opponents for their future journey. Meanwhile, Joker left Impel Down after handing control of the prison to Little Sadie, intent on joining the action himself.

• Luffy and the Straw Hat Crew defeated the enhanced Kuro after Usopp stopped the timed bombs and saved Kaya and the villagers.
• Doflamingo decided to send the Straw Hat Crew toward the Golden City and planned to pit them against strengthened enemies, including CP9 agents, Sand Crocodile, and Gecko Moria.
• Joker told Little Sadie he was leaving Impel Down and gave her control of the prison as his breakup fee.
• Joker walked out of Impel Down, declaring that the world’s game could not leave out its most charming villain.

Over a month after entering the Grand Line, the Straw Hat Crew reached Alabasta after recruiting Sanji and Chopper, while Robin prepared to investigate Luffy and the crew’s connection to the Final Island. Vivi and Robin believed there was little time left before a coming disaster and that the crew might be essential to the new era.

• With Oceanus's help, the Straw Hat Crew crossed Reverse Mountain, met Laboon, and promised to sail around the Grand Line.
• The crew endured the Grand Line’s weather, visited Drum Island, recruited Chopper, and arrived in Alabasta.
• Robin told Vivi and Baccarat that she planned to investigate the Straw Hat Crew because Doflamingo believed Luffy would find the Poneglyphs and the Final Island.
• Baccarat said Usopp’s luck grew stronger as his circumstances worsened, and Robin argued the Straw Hats might need her to reach the Final Island.
• Vivi said only two years remained before the coming disaster and believed her connection to Pluton and Shirahoshi’s power as Poseidon signaled a new era.

The Straw Hat Crew arrived in Alabasta and met Robin, Baccarat, and Princess Vivi at the docks. After Robin invited them to the Golden City and mentioned that Doflamingo had spoken about Luffy, the crew eagerly set off for the Dragon Hunting Pirates’ headquarters.

• The Straw Hat Crew excitedly arrived at Alabasta, where Usopp asked Sanji about the Golden City headquarters.
• Robin and Baccarat greeted the crew alongside Vivi, and Baccarat kicked Sanji after he flirted with the women.
• Sanji and Zoro brawled until Kuina recognized Vivi as Alabasta’s princess, prompting Luffy and Chopper to marvel at her.
• Sanji rushed to flirt with Vivi, but she kicked him and sent him sprawling.
• Robin said she and Baccarat had something to discuss and invited the crew to the Golden City, adding that Doflamingo had mentioned Luffy.
• Luffy and the crew eagerly agreed to head for the Golden City after learning Doflamingo was there.

Doflamingo met with Nami in the Golden City while awaiting the Straw Hat Crew, whom he hoped would find the Final Island and grow strong enough for the coming battle. The Straw Hats arrived and were impressed by the city’s diverse people and powerful security forces.

• Nami teased Doflamingo for rarely visiting the Golden City, and he said he had been busy preparing for the approaching battle.
• Nami detected the Straw Hat Crew nearing the city and questioned Doflamingo’s faith that they would find the Final Island.
• Doflamingo explained that strength was not everything and reflected on how he had failed to locate Laugh Tale despite searching the area marked by its three known coordinates.
• The Straw Hat Crew entered the Golden City, where Usopp marveled at its people and Zoro noticed the strength of its security personnel.
• Baccarat said the Golden City was unusually powerful even for the New World, and Robin noticed that Usopp’s Observation Haki seemed unusual.

Doflamingo met the Straw Hat Crew in the Golden City and told Luffy that Robin was essential to finding the Final Island because she could read Poneglyphs. He warned the crew that protecting Robin would bring danger from the World Government, and Robin ended the meeting by revealing her closeness to Doflamingo.

• Luffy greeted Doflamingo, who told him that Ace and Sabo had already reached the New World.
• Doflamingo explained that Luffy would need a skilled Navigator and someone who could read Poneglyphs to find the Final Island.
• Doflamingo identified Robin as the only scholar able to read ancient Poneglyph text, and Luffy briefly despaired before renewing his resolve to become the One Piece.
• Doflamingo offered to lend Robin to Luffy so she could search for the final Red Poneglyph, then warned that World Government agents would continue targeting her.
• Luffy promised Robin would be safe, while Zoro and Sanji vowed to protect her.
• Robin said she was not single and wrapped her arms around Doflamingo, leaving Sanji devastated.

At the banquet, Doflamingo challenged Zoro and Kuina to test their swordsmanship and give them guidance. He left them with lessons about their weaknesses and what they needed to improve.

• Doflamingo invited Zoro and Kuina to attack him together, provoking them by saying they were not strong enough to catch his eye.
• Zoro charged first, but Doflamingo wounded him with a Finger Pistol—Finger-Flick Sword Aura before he could complete his move.
• Doflamingo explained that Zoro had left himself unguarded and advised him not to use attacks that left no room to retreat against stronger opponents.
• Kuina fought Doflamingo with Wado Ichimonji, but he forced her back and knocked her sword from her hand.
• Doflamingo told Kuina that her rigorous swordsmanship lacked the ferocity to risk everything for victory, and she bowed to him, visibly shaken.

Doflamingo gave the Straw Hat Crew access to the full Illusion Space and put them through months of near-real combat training in a single night. They emerged much stronger, with Luffy unexpectedly using Conqueror's Haki Infusion, and found Nico Robin sitting atop a tall mechanical figure.

• Kuina and Zoro felt frustrated after Doflamingo easily defeated them, but he prepared to strengthen the crew.
• Doflamingo explained that their Dreamscapes were only the second layer of the Illusion Space and granted the Straw Hat Crew access to its intensive training features.
• Doflamingo separated the crew into different Illusion Spaces, then sent Talent Pearls into their bodies to boost their abilities.
• Luffy unleashed Conqueror's Haki Infusion while fighting, and the crew trained for one or two months in the Illusion Space as one night passed in reality.
• The crew woke up with greatly improved strength, while Chopper and Usopp complained about the frightening training.
• The Straw Hat Crew left and saw Nico Robin sitting atop a tall mechanical figure, prompting Luffy and Usopp to rush toward it.

Robin gave the Straw Hat Crew Franky Grand General as a shipwright, Navigator, and bodyguard, while Doflamingo quietly nurtured the Going Merry’s developing Ship Spirit. After sensing a powerful stranger approaching Alabasta, Doflamingo headed into the desert to keep a possible battle away from the port.

• Robin introduced Franky Grand General as the Dragon Hunting Pirates’ gift to Luffy and his new bodyguard.
• Luffy and Usopp praised Franky Grand General until he nearly demonstrated his Plasma Destruction Cannon, and Robin stopped him to prevent damage to the Golden City.
• Doflamingo found the Going Merry beginning to develop a Ship Spirit and gently infused it with soul power, intending to let it mature naturally.
• Doflamingo sensed a powerful, unfamiliar presence approaching and suspected the visitor’s identity.
• Doflamingo headed into the desert to prepare for the visitor and keep any fighting away from Alabasta’s port.

Doflamingo met Navy Admiral Issho after misleading the blind man toward him in the Alabasta desert. Issho explained that he had come to judge Doflamingo for himself, and the two traveled together toward the Golden City.

• Doflamingo sensed Issho approaching and used an illusion to guide him toward the Golden City.
• Issho arrived on a floating rock, and Doflamingo recognized him as the blind Navy Admiral.
• Doflamingo asked why Issho had come to Alabasta, and Issho said he wanted to see what the Dragon Hunting Pirates' captain was truly like.
• Doflamingo objected to Issho probing the Golden City with Observation Haki, but Issho explained that he relied on it because he was blind.
• Issho assured Doflamingo that he could distinguish good from bad, and the two flew together toward the Golden City.

The Straw Hat Crew fought Sand Crocodile and CP9 over Nico Robin in Water 7, then lost the Going Merry and gained a new Ship Spirit aboard the Thousand Sunny. Meanwhile, Doflamingo discovered that Space Pirates had arrived on the moon and went to inspect them.

• Issho gambled in the Golden City for a month or two before the Straw Hat Crew left Alabasta and visited Sky Island on their way to Water 7.
• Doflamingo lured Sand Crocodile and CP9 to Water 7 with fake Pluton blueprints, and both groups fought the Straw Hat Crew over Nico Robin.
• A Water Gods megatsunami helped the Straw Hat Crew defeat their opponents, and Oceanus helped them bring their ship to safety.
• The Going Merry broke in two, and a Ship Spirit named Merry emerged from its flames and attached itself to the Thousand Sunny as the crew mourned.
• Doflamingo went to the moon to inspect the captured Space Pirates, and Franky rushed to study their spaceship.

Doflamingo learned from the Space Pirates that the universe held no powers far beyond the Blue Sea, while uncovering clues that Imu may have been an ancient spacefaring overlord behind the Cosmic Storm and the planet’s former single continent. Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Crew defeated CP9 in the Misty Sea Area, where Doflamingo reclaimed the Soul Fragments he had lent the agents.

• Doflamingo used hypnosis and mind control to interrogate the Space Pirates and learned that their crews were not much stronger than the Blue Sea’s top pirates.
• Doflamingo studied the pirates’ old planetary maps and discovered that the world had once been a single continent, then found evidence that an ancient Space Pirate overlord named Imu had existed.
• Doflamingo considered how the pirates’ spaceship and Tom’s Pluton blueprints could help him build powerful space battleships, and left Imu’s defeat to Luffy and the others.
• After Water 7, the Straw Hat Crew fled CP9 into the Misty Sea Area, encountered Thriller Bark, and defeated the agents while Gecko Moria and Sand Crocodile waited there.
• Doflamingo met the injured CP9 agents as they tried to escape by lifeboat and used Soul Retrieval to reclaim their Soul Fragments, sensing that his physique had advanced slightly.