Recaps

Austin let the four rookie Great Pirates take the blame for their escape and subsequent attacks on World Government member nations, while the Five Elders concluded he had no motive to help them. The chapter ended with the Five Elders trusting Austin because he had no interest in promotion, unaware that he also wanted the Navy’s resources.

• Austin casually told reporters he might not have been paying attention when the four pirates escaped, then went to buy candy.
• Austin’s guards caught a reporter preparing to blame him and forced him to write that the pirates had taken Marines hostage and defected through a conspiracy.
• The four pirates ignored the news, and Doflamingo laughed that Austin’s conduct suggested he had enormous ambitions.
• The Five Elders reviewed intelligence linking Austin to the pirates’ escape but decided he lacked a motive because the stolen wealth had benefited the poor.
• The Five Elders felt reassured by Austin’s bonds with the Navy and his refusal to become an Admiral, while Austin also had his sights set on the Navy’s resources.

Austin explained his vision of justice to children, believing the world's oppression made both Marines and pirates capable of right and wrong. He resolved to impose his ideals on the sea through strength, then spoke with Kuzan about whether they would become enemies.

• Austin listened as a Marine orphan declared that he wanted to become a Marine and wipe out pirates, then asked the children why pirates and Marines existed.
• Austin recalled T Bone's death and concluded that oppression made the world responsible for forcing the weak to harm one another.
• Austin told the children that Marines were not always just and pirates were not always evil, urging them to judge the world for themselves.
• Austin resolved to use his strength to make justice cover the sea and headed to train with Garp.
• Kuzan met Austin on the way, and Austin asked whether Kuzan would become his enemy; Kuzan said he did not want to.

Austin decided to seek stronger opponents at sea to improve his Haki and willpower, but he instead reunited with Charlotte Linlin, who was frustrated that they had not conceived a powerful child. Austin suggested that their difficulty might require scientific help, and he proposed seeking Dr. Vegapunk.

• Austin realized that training alone would not strengthen his Haki enough and considered seeking battles that could pressure him.
• Garp recalled that Austin, as [Kong Ao], had been popular among the Rocks Pirates, making Austin worry that others would give him too much face to provide a challenge.
• Austin set out to sea to find powerful opponents, hoping that fighting several monsters would improve his willpower and physique.
• Charlotte Linlin appeared on her Cake Ship and reminded Austin of his promise, while Austin complained that their efforts to have a child had become too frequent.
• Austin suggested that they seek a scientist rather than an ordinary doctor to investigate why they could not conceive, and he wondered whether Dr. Vegapunk could help.

Austin left Big Mom to find Vegapunk and sought Borsalino’s help locating him. When Borsalino received orders to join a Buster Call against Douglas Bullet, Austin offered to capture Bullet himself.

• Austin explained to Big Mom that advanced technology might be needed to produce the powerful child she wanted and decided to seek Vegapunk.
• Austin flew away and told Big Mom to return to Cake Island while he looked for a suitable method.
• Fleet Admiral Kong ordered Borsalino to join a Buster Call and capture Douglas Bullet.
• Austin arrived at Borsalino’s warship and asked for help meeting Vegapunk, but Borsalino said he could not reveal the World Government’s secret location.
• Austin learned that Borsalino’s mission was to capture Bullet and said he would take Bullet down himself.

Austin volunteered to join the Buster Call against Bullet, a former Roger Pirates crew member, and took command of the Marine fleet. He confronted Bullet alone on the island, and their fight was about to begin.

• Austin told Borsalino he would replace him in the Buster Call so he could fight Bullet himself.
• Kong approved Austin’s transfer request, and Sengoku removed Sakazuki and Kuzan from the operation; Sakazuki accepted the decision when he learned Austin was going.
• The Marine fleet surrounded Bullet’s island, and Austin ordered everyone to stay at least fifty nautical miles away.
• Austin flew from the flagship and landed before Bullet with a devastating shockwave.
• Bullet recognized Austin as a former central figure aboard the Roger Pirates, and Austin challenged him to try not to die too quickly.

Austin confronted Bullet and overpowered him, urging him to abandon his obsession and return with him. Austin saw Bullet’s Combination Fruit as ideal for construction and left the fight determined to recruit him.

• Austin removed his Marine cape and challenged Bullet, questioning whether becoming the World's Strongest had ever been Roger’s goal.
• Austin caught Bullet’s punch and slammed him into the ground, forcing Bullet to escape by using the Combination Fruit.
• Austin recognized that Bullet’s ability could make him an extraordinary builder and imagined using it to construct cities.
• Bullet tried to assemble a massive war machine, but Austin struck the ground with Dragon's Breath, shaking the island and cracking the earth.
• Austin partially transformed, demanded that Bullet accept recruitment, and knocked him unconscious with a powerful attack.
• Austin carried the unconscious Bullet away, telling him to make surpassing Austin his reason to keep growing stronger.

Austin defeated and captured Bullet after explaining that he wanted to prevent others from suffering the wars and hardships that had shaped Bullet. Though shaken by Austin’s words, Bullet reconsidered whether to help him, while Austin told his soldiers to report that Bullet had escaped after being severely wounded.

• Bullet rejected Austin’s choice to serve the Marines and unleashed his Demon Form against him.
• Austin broke through Bullet’s Haki, seized him, and slammed him into the ground.
• After being captured and shackled, Bullet remained dazed as he considered Austin’s goal of preventing more people from becoming like him.
• Austin refused to take Bullet to Impel Down and ordered his soldiers to report that Bullet had escaped severely wounded.

Vice Admiral Austin refused to hand Bullet over to the World Government, despite a CP agent's objections during the Buster Call. After the agent attacked him and was beaten by Austin's soldiers, Austin stopped them only when Spandine invoked the Five Elders' order.

• Austin ordered his soldiers to proceed, while his veterans worried that the other Vice Admirals in the Buster Call fleet might resist.
• Austin warned his soldiers not to threaten their Marine comrades and noted that Cipher Pol agents would learn what was happening anyway.
• A young CP agent confronted Austin, accused him of defying the World Government, and ordered the Marines to stand down.
• The CP agent attacked Austin with Finger Pistol, broke his own finger, and was pinned down and beaten by the soldiers.
• Austin answered the agent's Den Den Mushi and told Spandine that the soldiers were beating his intelligence agent.
• Spandine said the Five Elders were watching and ordered Austin to stop the beating, so Austin told the soldiers to obey.

Austin intimidated Spandine into keeping quiet about Bullet’s escape, while Borsalino arranged for Dr. Vegapunk to meet Austin. Austin then went to speak with the person locked in a dark cage, asking whether they had made up their mind.

• Spandine threatened to report Austin to the Five Elders, but Austin warned that they might eliminate Spandine to protect their interests.
• Spandine backed down and praised Austin’s handling of Bullet’s escape before ending the call.
• Borsalino told Austin that Dr. Vegapunk was willing to meet him, and Austin thanked Borsalino for the favor.
• Austin entered the cabin, approached a figure in a pitch-black cage, and asked whether they had made up their mind.

Austin visited Vegapunk and proposed spreading technology and weapons among ordinary people, with safeguards to prevent misuse. He revealed plans to use Bullet’s abilities to provide homes for everyone, then told Vegapunk he had actually come to request a sterilization procedure.

• Austin questioned the gap between advanced technology and the weapons used by Marines and pirates, and suggested giving ordinary people access to technology.
• Vegapunk worried that universal access to weapons would plunge the seas into chaos, but Austin proposed intelligent restrictions for their use.
• Vegapunk asked whether Austin’s actions were for ordinary people and brought up Douglas Bullet; Austin recalled recruiting Bullet by promising an unprecedented goal.
• Austin told Vegapunk that Bullet could create buildings for people around the world, and Vegapunk eagerly asked how he could help.
• Austin told Vegapunk he had come to ask for a sterilization procedure, surprising him.

Austin asked Vegapunk to develop a way for him and Charlotte Linlin to have a child, and Vegapunk warned that the work required substantial funding. Austin called Big Mom and told her the procedure would cost ten billion Beli, which she happily agreed to pay.

• Vegapunk became discouraged after hearing Austin’s grand vision, but Austin reassured him that his scientific work would eventually matter.
• Austin told Vegapunk that the project was for him and Charlotte Linlin, and Vegapunk speculated about their powerful genes.
• Vegapunk explained that the procedures would require a large budget, and Austin realized Charlotte Linlin could provide the money.
• Austin called Big Mom and told her he had found a way for them to have a child, but that it would cost ten billion Beli.
• Big Mom agreed to transfer the money and said she would come over for the experiment.

Austin and Big Mom visited Vegapunk’s laboratory to create a child, but their extreme durability broke his equipment and forced Austin to cut himself to provide samples. Vegapunk began the experiment, wondering whether their child could be a god.

• Vegapunk agreed to help Austin and Big Mom conceive a child and prepared his laboratory.
• Big Mom arrived with hundreds of millions of Beli, and she and Austin followed Vegapunk to the experimental room.
• Vegapunk’s needles snapped when they failed to pierce Austin and Big Mom.
• Austin used a dragon claw to cut his abdomen and provide a sample, allowing Vegapunk to begin the experiment.
• Vegapunk examined their samples and wondered whether combining them could create a god.

Vegapunk created a boy who combined Austin and Big Mom’s exceptional traits, leaving them stunned by the news that they would have a son. Vegapunk considered the child imperfect because he would have pink hair, while Austin found the detail amusing.

• Vegapunk studied Austin and Big Mom’s cells and struggled to combine their many powerful genes.
• Vegapunk announced that he had created a life form combining every talent, and Big Mom and Austin reacted with excitement and disbelief.
• Vegapunk explained that their child was a boy with traits including double monster strength, innate observation Haki, steel skin, and conqueror’s Haki potential.
• Vegapunk revealed that the child would have pink hair and called it a flaw because he had designed him according to Austin’s appearance.
• Big Mom nearly fainted, while Austin said the idea of a pink-haired version of himself was interesting.

Austin watched Vegapunk implant Linlin’s fertilized egg, and Linlin celebrated her pregnancy by planning to indulge in sweets. While Austin and Vegapunk explored new technology, Linlin’s intense hunger left her repeatedly close to a Food Craving Syndrome episode.

• Vegapunk confirmed that Linlin was pregnant after implanting the fertilized egg, and she rejoiced at finally having the child she wanted.
• Linlin announced that she would eat sweets freely, but Austin questioned whether she would lose her figure.
• Austin named the child Dante and insisted that he would help guide the child, while Linlin objected and proposed the name Charlotte Sakima.
• Austin took leave from Marine Headquarters and discussed food production, Pacifistas, and artificial intelligence with Vegapunk.
• Linlin stayed at Vegapunk’s facility to nurture her pregnancy, but she remained ravenously hungry and repeatedly howled for chocolate caramel cake.

Austin helped Big Mom through her pregnancy-related hunger episodes, and she returned to Whole Cake Island with their unborn son Dante. Back at Marine Headquarters, Austin reunited with Kuzan and headed to a meeting for an urgent mission as Marines celebrated his return.

• Vegapunk concluded that the child in Big Mom's womb was consuming most of her food and triggering her hunger episodes, so Austin bought her enormous quantities of high-calorie food.
• After the first few months, Big Mom boarded the Cake Ship for Whole Cake Island and declared that Dante would help her become the World King.
• Austin returned to Marine Headquarters, where Kuzan questioned his long absence and Austin said he was back for an important mission.
• Marine recruits enthusiastically greeted Austin, whose prestige among the Marines had risen above that of his generation.
• Garp and Grandma Tsuru heard the commotion and recognized that Austin's standing could make him the future Fleet Admiral.

Austin attended a Marine meeting where Sengoku announced a Buster Call against Ohara, then sailed with the strike fleet alongside Sakazuki and Kuzan. He accepted that he would not save the island’s people, but intended to obtain the books in Ohara’s library.

• Austin returned to Marine Headquarters and reunited with Garp and Zephyr before the meeting began.
• Sengoku announced that the World Government had authorized a Buster Call to destroy Ohara for suspected crimes.
• Austin decided not to oppose the destruction, but planned to secure Ohara’s vast library and its knowledge.
• Sengoku added Austin to the Buster Call’s vice admiral candidates alongside Sakazuki and Kuzan.
• At sea, Kuzan questioned the order, while Austin said Ohara had violated the World Government’s interests.

Austin took command of the Buster Call against Ohara and told Sakazuki he would go ashore himself. He transformed into a colossal Dragon King and unleashed an attack aimed at the great tree at the island’s center.

• Austin dismissed Kuzan’s objections and assumed command as the fleet entered the waters around Ohara.
• Austin threatened Spandine into silence after Spandine urged him to carry out the World Government’s mission.
• Austin boarded Sakazuki’s warship and told him to hold off attacking because Austin planned to act himself.
• Saul learned that the Buster Call was led by Austin and prepared to risk his life protecting Robin.
• Austin formed a colossal Dragon King with Haki and elemental powers and dived toward Ohara’s great tree.

Austin watched the World Government destroy Ohara and challenged Professor Clover’s idea of justice, believing the scholars’ sacrifice would not weaken the government. During the evacuation, he chose to spare Nico Robin, leaving her to survive with despair and hatred toward the World Government.

• Austin unleashed a devastating attack on Ohara and announced that its destruction had begun.
• As the Buster Call struck the island, Austin questioned Professor Clover about justice but left the scholars to their fate.
• Austin walked through Ohara’s destruction, witnessing the scholars’ deaths while continuing toward the civilian evacuation ship.
• Kuzan froze Saul and hesitated over the injured giant and Little Robin as civilians fled.
• Austin pointed at Robin and asked whether she wanted to live; after she said yes, he let her go, hoping she would one day oppose him.

During the Ohara Buster Call, Austin let a young girl escape but otherwise allowed the island’s destruction to proceed, then faced criticism from Sakazuki and Sengoku. The Five Elders learned of his disobedience and interpreted it as proof that Austin was back to his unpredictable, more familiar self.

• Austin knocked Saul unconscious and left with Kuzan, then watched Ohara’s destruction proceed as it had before while the girl escaped.
• Sakazuki confronted Austin for releasing someone without authorization, but Austin asked him to overlook it.
• Sengoku reprimanded Austin and warned that the Five Elders might be displeased and his future as Fleet Admiral could suffer.
• The Five Elders reviewed the report and concluded that Austin’s decision to let the girl go showed he was no longer unnaturally obedient.

After visiting Ohara’s ruins, Vegapunk defended Austin to Dragon, explaining that Austin had been forced to carry out the Buster Call. Dragon revealed that the giant-led search for Ohara’s books had failed, and suspected Austin had secretly taken them before destroying the island.

• Vegapunk visited Ohara’s ruins to mourn Clover and the people killed in the Buster Call.
• Dragon arrived and criticized Vegapunk for serving the World Government and Austin for commanding the attack.
• Vegapunk argued that Austin had been forced to allow the destruction and urged Dragon not to stand in his way.
• Dragon explained that the bandage-wrapped giant and the other giants were searching the ruins for Ohara’s books.
• Dragon said Austin’s dragon form had swallowed the center of Ohara, and suspected Austin had taken its books and preserved Ohara’s legacy.

Austin waited with Katakuri as Big Mom gave birth to Dante, whose first cries revealed faint Conqueror's Haki and whose tiny hand showed remarkable strength. Big Mom kept the newborn close, while Austin left his future ambitions uncertain; Dante's birth was kept secret on Cake Island.

• Austin reunited with Katakuri outside Whole Cake Island's castle while Big Mom's labor continued inside.
• Dante was born crying with faint Conqueror's Haki, frightening the doctor and startling Katakuri.
• Austin calmed Dante with a gentle touch, and Big Mom angrily warned him not to take the child away.
• Katakuri carried Dante to Big Mom and discovered the newborn had squeezed his gloved hand hard enough to leave a mark.
• Big Mom kept Dante's birth and exceptional talent secret, fearing the consequences if the outside world learned of him.

Austin returned to Marine Headquarters and confronted Kuzan, who had become disillusioned after the Ohara incident. He challenged Kuzan to follow him and ended their talk by asking whether Kuzan wanted to defect from the Marines.

• Austin left Cake Island after Dante was born, warned Big Mom to keep the child hidden from the World Government, and returned secretly to Marine Headquarters.
• Austin found Kuzan brooding and criticized him for abandoning his ideals because of the Ohara incident.
• Kuzan's chill spread through the area, but Austin shattered the ice with his Conqueror's Haki and slammed Kuzan into the ground.
• Austin got Kuzan riled up again and invited him to work with him, and Kuzan followed him to a tavern.
• Austin bought Kuzan liquor and asked him whether he wanted to defect from the Marines.

Austin got Kuzan drunk and recorded his angry denunciations of the World Government and Marine leadership, then used the recording to recruit him into a plan to reform the Marines from within. He asked Kuzan to help him gain power by obtaining the Munch-Munch Fruit in Drum Kingdom.

• Austin steered Kuzan into condemning the World Government’s proposed Shichibukai system and secretly recorded his drunken outburst.
• Austin carried the unconscious Kuzan back to his dormitory, then told him the next day that the recording captured his complaints about the World Government, Celestial Dragons, and Marine Headquarters.
• Kuzan asked Austin to hand over the video, but Austin refused and used it to ask him for help reforming the Marines from within.
• Austin explained that their first step was to gain power and asked Kuzan to help him obtain the Munch-Munch Fruit in Drum Kingdom.

Austin and Kuzan traveled to Drum Kingdom, where Austin obtained the Munch-Munch Fruit and tested whether fear could reform Wapol. Back at Marine Headquarters, Austin received Moria’s desperate plea to save his crew from Kaido, and prepared to face his old enemy.

• Austin and Kuzan sailed to Drum Kingdom, where Kuzan froze Wapol and Austin retrieved the Munch-Munch Fruit.
• Austin urged Kuzan to kill Wapol, but Kuzan spared him, and Austin warned Wapol to rule well or face death.
• Austin and Kuzan returned to Marine Headquarters without revealing their trip, and Austin gave Garp rice crackers and tea.
• Moria called Austin from Wano Country and begged him to rescue his surviving crew after Kaido and the Beasts Pirates defeated them.
• Austin considered that saving Moria’s crew could earn his loyalty and became interested in testing his strength against Kaido.
• Kaido learned that Moria had a powerful ally: Austin, the old friend who had once used Kaido’s face as a shoe insole.

Austin set out for Wano Country with Kuzan and a Marine crew after Moria asked for help, while Kuzan protested being forced to rescue pirates. A Beasts Pirates lackey recognized Austin and brought a Den Den Mushi call to Kaido, who began to recognize Austin’s voice.

• Austin agreed to help Moria in Wano Country and ordered Kuzan to come along.
• Austin boarded a warship with Kuzan, Momonga, Sea Ice, and his Marines, while Kuzan complained about the mission.
• Austin considered how he might recruit Borsalino and Sakazuki for his plans.
• A Beasts Pirates lackey recognized Austin on a Den Den Mushi and rushed to alert Kaido.
• King brought the Den Den Mushi to Kaido, who heard Austin’s familiar voice and tried to remember who he was.