Chapter Summaries

Ronan defeated Miss Doublefinger with a punch that sent her crashing into the palace wall, while Zoro overcame Mr. 1’s steel body with a decisive sword strike. Both battles ended with their opponents incapacitated, leaving Ronan and Zoro standing amid the wreckage.

• Miss Doublefinger attacked Ronan with thorn-covered fingers, but her spikes bent against his unmarked body.
• Ronan struck Miss Doublefinger through her thorn defenses and sent her into the palace wall, burying her beneath rubble.
• Mr. 1 charged Zoro with blade attacks, but Zoro’s body withstood his slashes without injury.
• Zoro drew Wado Ichimonji and cut Mr. 1 deeply across the chest with Lion's Elegy.
• Mr. 1 collapsed in a pool of blood, and Zoro said he had become stronger than steel.

Sanji defeated Bon Clay while Crocodile watched Baroque Works’ reputation collapse before the rebels and the King’s Army. Luffy then faced Crocodile, dodging one sand attack and shattering another with his Armament Haki-coated fist.

• Sanji used Observation Haki to read Bon Clay’s movements and knocked him into the ruins with Level 1 Meat Grinder.
• Crocodile realized that Ronan, Zoro, and Sanji were far stronger than he had expected from an East Blue crew, as Baroque Works lost prestige before the gathered armies.
• Luffy told Crocodile to answer for the suffering of Vivi, the people, and Cobra, and Crocodile attacked him with Crescent Sand Dune.
• Luffy evaded Crocodile’s sand blade, prompting Crocodile to attack again with Desert Sword.
• Luffy coated his fist in Armament Haki and shattered Crocodile’s Desert Sword with Gum-Gum Bullet.

Luffy used Armament Haki and his Indestructible Vajra Body to withstand Crocodile’s strongest attacks, then defeated him with a series of powerful blows. Crocodile lay unconscious in a massive crater before the palace.

• Crocodile was shocked that Luffy could use both Observation Haki and Armament Haki.
• Crocodile launched four compressed sand blades at Luffy with Desert Grande Spada.
• Luffy’s body withstood the blades without injury, and he struck Crocodile in the abdomen with Gum-Gum Bazooka.
• Luffy followed with Gum-Gum Battle Axe, slamming Crocodile into the ground and creating a huge crater.
• Crocodile lay unconscious at the bottom of the crater, his golden hook broken.

After Luffy defeated Crocodile with his Indestructible Diamond body, Ace appeared in Alabasta and was stunned by how much his younger brother had changed. Ace challenged Luffy to test his strength, and their clash began with Luffy punching through Ace’s Fire Fist without being injured.

• Zoro dismissed Crocodile as weak, and Ronan teased him about continuing their sparring sessions.
• Ronan reflected that Luffy’s strength had changed the course of events and could reshape future battles.
• Ace called out to Luffy from the ruins, and the brothers happily reunited.
• Ace marveled at Luffy’s powerful body, while Ronan explained that Luffy had undergone grueling training.
• Ace challenged Luffy to prove he could survive the Grand Line’s second half, and Luffy accepted.
• Ace launched a massive flame attack, but Luffy split it with a Haki-coated punch and emerged unharmed.

Luffy and Ace finished their earth-shaking spar, and Ace reunited with Luffy’s companions before inviting them to join the Whitebeard Pirates. Ace then explained that he had come to Alabasta to hunt Marshall D. Teach, leaving Ronan aware that Ace’s pursuit would lead to a tragic turning point.

• Luffy used a Haki-coated Battle Axe to strike the ground, and Ace dodged before praising Luffy’s strength.
• Ronan told the Straw Hat Pirates that Ace was Luffy’s sworn older brother from Foosha Village.
• Ace thanked Luffy’s companions for looking after him and invited them to join the Whitebeard Pirates, but Luffy immediately refused.
• Ace said he wanted Whitebeard Edward Newgate to claim the throne, while Luffy insisted they would compete for it.
• Ace revealed that he was hunting Marshall D. Teach, a former subordinate who had killed a crewmate and fled the Whitebeard Pirates.

After Ace gave Luffy a Vivre Card and departed, rain ended Alabasta’s drought and brought the opposing armies together in grief. Vivi proclaimed the war over and began a new reign as queen, while Luffy negotiated with Smoker over Crocodile’s capture.

• Ace gave Luffy half of his Vivre Card and said it would lead Luffy to him in the second half of the Grand Line.
• Heavy rain fell across Alabasta, and the Rebel Army and King's Army laid down their weapons as Vivi mourned King Cobra.
• Smoker and Tashigi arrived to arrest Crocodile, but Luffy demanded a spear made with Adam Wood and Seastone in exchange for handing him over.
• Smoker agreed to arrange the spear within three days and ordered Luffy’s group to leave Alabasta immediately.
• Vivi addressed the citizens from the Clock Tower Top, declared the war and drought over, and was acclaimed as Queen Vivi.

After Vivi took the throne of Alabasta, Ronan's Group returned to the Merry with Ronan's new spear and prepared to leave. They found Nico Robin waiting aboard, and Luffy welcomed her into the Straw Hat Pirates after Ronan explained why they needed an archaeologist who could read Ancient Script.

• Vivi inherited Cobra's will and became queen of Alabasta after five days of rain and the purge of Crocodile's remaining followers.
• Sanji, Usopp, and Ronan agreed it was time to leave, and Ronan examined the Eighteen-Foot Spear Smoker had sent him.
• Ronan's Group returned to the Merry, where Luffy, Ronan, Zoro, and Sanji sensed someone hiding in the cabin.
• Nico Robin emerged, introduced herself as an archaeologist who could read Ancient Script, and explained that the Straw Hat Pirates needed her to reach their goal.
• Ronan explained the Poneglyphs and Laugh Tale, and Luffy accepted Robin as a companion despite her warning that the World Government called her the Devil Child.
• Luffy ordered the crew to raise the sails and set off on a new adventure.

The Straw Hat Pirates arrived in the lawless Moku Town, where the locals recognized their enormous new bounties and feared their strength. Robin explained that the Navy had issued the bounties as warnings after the crew’s role in ending the Alabasta conflict.

• Luffy and the others spotted Moku Town’s pirate-filled docks and landed despite the town’s dangerous atmosphere.
• Ronan, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji walked through town, intimidating the pirates with their imposing presence.
• The pirates discovered that Luffy’s bounty was two hundred million belly and that Ronan, Zoro, and Sanji had bounties of one hundred million, one hundred twenty million, and eighty million belly.
• Nami warned the crew that their high bounties would attract the Navy and bounty hunters, while Zoro questioned whether Smoker had kept his promise.
• Robin said the Navy had inferred the crew’s strength from the end of the Alabasta conflict and had issued the bounties as a warning to the Great Sea.

Luffy defeated Bellamy with a single punch after Bellamy attacked him in a Moku Town tavern. Blackbeard arrived, found Wapol and Luffy together, and threatened to take them both prisoner.

• Satchys ordered the tavern patrons out and Bellamy challenged Luffy, offering him a drink before attacking him.
• Luffy's diamond-hard body stopped Bellamy's strike, and Luffy punched him through the tavern walls.
• Blackbeard entered with Van Augur, Doc Q, and Jesus Burgess, then spotted the hiding Wapol.
• Blackbeard asked Luffy to hand Wapol over and threatened to capture Luffy as well.

Ronan and the Straw Hats confronted Blackbeard Teach and his crew in a Tavern, while Nami resolved to seek strength of her own. As Luffy faced Teach and Usopp took aim at Van Augur, Ronan struck Burgess head-on with his new spear.

• Ronan warned Luffy that Teach and his crew were dangerous, and Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji prepared to fight them.
• Robin led Nami and Chopper out of the Tavern, and Nami vowed to gain strength rather than keep hiding behind her companions.
• Ronan assigned Usopp to fight Van Augur, while Luffy agreed to take on Teach and Ronan, Zoro, and Sanji prepared to face Burgess.
• Teach ordered Burgess and Van Augur to attack and demanded that they capture Wapol alive.
• Burgess charged Ronan with a Wave Elbow Strike, and Ronan met him with a Collapsing spear thrust that made Burgess's bones creak.

Luffy fought Blackbeard in Moku Town and was overwhelmed by the pirate’s superior Armament Haki, which sent him crashing into a crater. He rose in a new Second Gear—Vajra Giant Mode, and the battle entered a more intense stage.

• Blackbeard challenged Luffy’s Armament Haki and met his Gum-Gum Rocket Launcher with a powerful punch.
• Blackbeard’s greater strength and Haki overwhelmed Luffy, blasting him across the street into a large crater.
• Chopper cried out, while Zoro questioned whether Blackbeard had suppressed Luffy with Armament Haki.
• Ronan said Luffy’s extraordinary physique meant the impact was only the end of his warm-up.
• Luffy rose from the crater, activated Second Gear—Vajra Giant Mode, and prepared to attack Blackbeard again.

Luffy and Blackbeard clashed with overwhelming force in Moku Town while Van Augur nearly shot Usopp. Sanji saved Usopp at the last instant, and Usopp prepared to face the sniper again.

• Luffy struck Blackbeard with Rubber—Rubber Vajra Giant Spear, and Blackbeard met the blow head-on, flattening buildings in the shockwave.
• Luffy and Blackbeard staggered back from their clash, then continued fighting as Blackbeard tried to outlast Luffy's overtaxed form.
• Van Augur fired a powerful lead Bullet at Usopp while Usopp's attention was on Luffy's battle.
• Sanji appeared just before the Bullet hit Usopp and kicked it off course with his Armament Haki-coated shoe.
• Usopp thanked Sanji, steadied himself, and vowed not to let Van Augur fire again.

Ronan defeated Jesus Burgess while Luffy's exhausting fight with Blackbeard left him vulnerable to the Dark-Dark Fruit's gravity. Blackbeard dragged Luffy toward him and prepared a powerful Armament Haki strike.

• Ronan shattered Burgess's elbows with his spear and riddled his upper body with wounds, killing him as Zoro watched.
• Ronan told Zoro that Burgess was only a minor grunt and that Blackbeard was the real target.
• Blackbeard saw Burgess die, unleashed his darkness, and used Dark Water to pull Luffy toward him.
• Luffy, near the end of his Second Gear Vajra Mode, braced himself against the pull and coated his fists in Armament Haki.
• Blackbeard dismissed Luffy's resistance and swung his advanced Armament Haki fist at him.

Luffy survived Blackbeard’s full-power blow because his Indestructible Vajra Body remained intact even after the Dark-Dark Fruit stripped away his rubber abilities. Blackbeard lost his composure and unleashed a spreading darkness as Ronan and Zoro prepared to join the fight.

• Blackbeard struck Luffy with a full-power punch, driving him into a crater, but Luffy’s Armament Haki punch also wounded Blackbeard.
• Ronan explained that Blackbeard could suppress Luffy’s Devil Fruit but could not erase the physical strength Luffy had forged through cultivation.
• Ronan sent Sanji to support Usopp against Van Augur, then told Zoro to prepare to fight Blackbeard alongside him.
• Luffy emerged from the crater alive and complained that his head hurt, stunning Blackbeard.
• Ronan told Blackbeard that Luffy had become an Indestructible Rubber Man, and Blackbeard responded by spreading darkness that swallowed the surrounding ruins and light.

Ronan and Zoro fought Blackbeard while Luffy recovered, and Blackbeard unleashed Dark Hole to consume Moku Town. Ronan and Zoro broke through the darkness and grievously wounded Blackbeard, causing his dark domain to collapse.

• Luffy told Ronan he needed ten minutes to recover, while Zoro prepared to fight Blackbeard alongside Ronan.
• Blackbeard used Dark Hole, and Ronan entered Deathmatch Mode with a fivefold cultivation multiplier.
• Ronan held back the pull of Dark Hole with Tiger Hug Mountain Push to protect Luffy.
• Zoro unleashed One Great, Three Thousand, Great Thousand Worlds and split the Dark Hole vortex apart.
• Ronan's shockwave tore into Blackbeard, and Zoro's slash carved a deep wound across his chest and abdomen.
• Blackbeard collapsed to one knee in agony, and his dark domain began to collapse.

Ronan used Blackbeard as a sparring partner, unleashing his spear techniques while the wounded pirate struggled to defend himself. As Blackbeard lost strength and could no longer maintain his Armament Haki, Ronan prepared to finish him.

• Ronan’s spear thrust nearly struck Blackbeard’s throat, but Blackbeard blocked it with his Armament Haki despite his severe wound.
• Ronan decided to practice the Xing Yi Thirteen Spears on Blackbeard and began a relentless series of attacks.
• Zoro stopped himself from joining the fight and watched as Ronan used Blackbeard as a sparring partner.
• Ronan’s attacks worsened Blackbeard’s injuries until blood loss made him sluggish and his Armament Haki flickered out.
• Ronan aimed his spear at Blackbeard’s heart and declared that Blackbeard’s strength could no longer match his ambition.

Ronan defeated Blackbeard, then offered to spare his life if he stripped the Munch-Munch Fruit from Wapol. Ronan planned to give the power to the Going Merry, and the group prepared to dig Wapol out of the rubble.

• Ronan smashed Blackbeard into the ground, and Luffy agreed to spare him despite Zoro's warning.
• Ronan demanded payment for Blackbeard's life: he had to use the Dark-Dark Fruit to strip the Munch-Munch Fruit from Wapol.
• Sanji and Usopp brought in the defeated Van Augur and Doc Q, and Usopp revealed that he had awakened Observation Haki during his fight.
• Ronan explained that he wanted the Going Merry to gain the Munch-Munch Fruit's abilities, while the others doubted that a ship could eat a Devil Fruit.
• Sanji said he had kicked Wapol into rubble, so Ronan ordered the crew to dig him out and warned Blackbeard not to interfere.

Ronan forced Blackbeard to extract the Munch-Munch Fruit from Wapol and used it to empower the Merry. The ship transformed and its Ship Spirit appeared before merging into the main mast, leaving the Merry able to repair itself and assimilate materials.

• Sanji dragged the unconscious Wapol from the rubble and brought him to Blackbeard.
• Ronan threatened Blackbeard with a Seastone spear and ordered him to extract Wapol's Devil Fruit as the price of his life.
• Blackbeard used the Dark-Dark Fruit to tear the Munch-Munch Fruit from Wapol, who died, then transferred it into an orange.
• Ronan brought the new Munch-Munch Fruit aboard the Merry and invited the ship to accept its power.
• The Merry absorbed the fruit, transformed its hull and bow, and revealed its Ship Spirit, which thanked Ronan and merged into the main mast.

Nami realized the Log Pose pointed to Sky Island and guided the Merry into the Knock-Up Stream. The ship escaped the rising current and soared toward the clouds, leaving the crew flying above the sea.

• Nami recognized the Log Pose’s upward-pointing needle as a guide to Sky Island and identified the Knock-Up Stream as their route there.
• Luffy ordered the Merry to head for the Knock-Up Stream, and the ship steered itself toward the towering water column.
• The Merry entered the current and rose vertically, but Sanji warned that its force was dispersing and the ship was drifting outward.
• Nami adjusted the sails and course, steering the Merry into the rising airflow and the storm’s eye.
• The Merry broke free of the water column and flew parallel to it as Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp cheered.

The Straw Hat Pirates reached the Sky Sea and encountered Amazon, the gatekeeper of Heaven’s Gate, who demanded an entry fee but allowed them to proceed without paying. An Express Shrimp seized the Merry and carried them toward the Divine Kingdom as Amazon called them sinners.

• The Merry broke through the thunderclouds and emerged onto the Sky Sea above the clouds.
• Luffy and the others discovered Heaven’s Gate and met Amazon, who asked whether they had come sightseeing or to wage war.
• Amazon said each person owed one billion Extol, but explained they could enter without paying and left registration to them.
• An Express Shrimp rose from the Sea of Clouds, grabbed the Merry, and carried the crew away as Amazon called them sinners.