Chapter Summaries

Wes arranged a major deal with Giboson to acquire scarce goods and large quantities of resources, using a vast treasure hoard as a deposit. Tesoro agreed to help gather the supplies without taking a commission, and the parties reached a preliminary cooperation agreement.

• Morgans introduced Wes to Giboson as Mr. Erwin, and Wes handed Giboson a list of tightly controlled goods he wanted.
• Giboson questioned whether Wes could afford the payment, so Wes opened a spatial rift and poured out enough gold, silver, and jewels to serve as a deposit.
• Wes asked Giboson to procure not only the listed goods but also as much advanced equipment, materials, food, and weapons as possible.
• Giboson admitted that gathering so many resources would be difficult, and Tesoro offered to join the deal.
• Tesoro agreed to help without taking a commission, and Wes, Giboson, and Tesoro reached a preliminary agreement to cooperate.

Wes returned to Dressrosa as bounty hunters and pirates overwhelmed its defenders, with the Beasts Pirates also targeting him over the loss of Doflamingo’s trade routes. He used a Philosopher’s Stone to heal and strengthen Kyros and the soldiers, leaving them ready to defend the island.

• Giboson delivered the advanced instruments Wes needed, allowing Vegapunk to resume his experiments.
• Wes returned to Dressrosa and found Cull Obsidian and Law subduing pirates who had come after his bounty.
• Law told Wes that the island faced a growing influx of attackers and warned that the Beasts Pirates blamed Wes for disrupting their trade through Doflamingo.
• Wes summoned Kyros and the soldiers to the castle and praised them for their efforts defending Dressrosa.
• Wes used a Philosopher’s Stone and Magic Circles to heal the soldiers, restore Kyros’s left leg, and greatly enhance their strength.

The Big Mom Pirates attacked Dressrosa, but Wes froze their fleet and easily overwhelmed the officers who confronted him. With Katakuri badly injured and the other attackers unconscious, Wes left the remaining pirates in his hands as experimental subjects.

• Violet spotted dozens of Big Mom Pirates ships approaching Dressrosa and raised the alarm, prompting an orderly evacuation.
• Ra and Kyros hurried to the shore but could not see how to stop the fleet from landing.
• Wes appeared over the sea and froze the fleet in place, then Katakuri led officers to confront him after stopping Oven from melting the ice.
• Wes flicked a finger and sent Katakuri crashing through several pirate ships, leaving Oven terrified.
• The Big Mom Pirates officers attacked Wes, but he knocked them unconscious with the Dizzying Curse and kept them as experimental materials.

Owen escaped with the surviving ships while Katakuri stayed behind to face Wes. Katakuri’s attacks failed, and Wes demonstrated that he could deceive Katakuri’s Observation Haki, leaving Katakuri aware of the gulf between their strength.

• Owen prepared to attack Wes, but Katakuri threw him back onto the ship and stayed behind to cover the retreat.
• Owen melted the ice trapping the pirate ships and fled with the others as Katakuri removed his scarf and faced Wes.
• Katakuri attacked Wes with Nine Head Mochi and Mochi Ball Chant, but Wes dodged and blocked his blows without effort.
• Katakuri lost focus after feeling powerless, and Wes appeared behind him before revealing that Observation Haki could be deceived.
• Katakuri coated himself in Armament Haki and continued preparing to resist Wes despite realizing they were not on the same level.

Wes captured Katakuri and his brothers, then traveled to Totto Land to confront the Big Mom Pirates. He attacked Big Mom’s castle in his phoenix form, leaving the stronghold engulfed in golden flames.

• Wes made Katakuri collapse and drew him and his brothers into his world.
• Wes contacted Morgans and arranged to be taken to Totto Land in exchange for a major scoop.
• Wes jumped from the sky and transformed into a giant flaming phoenix as he flew toward Big Mom’s castle.
• Big Mom learned that Katakuri had been defeated, crushed Owen in her grip, then threw him to the ground and knocked him unconscious.
• Big Mom sensed an incoming threat, but Wes’s golden flames burst into the castle and swept across its highest floor, melting its occupants and steel.

Wes confronted Big Mom on Whole Cake Island and withstood her devastating attacks while testing his Haki coating. The clash left Big Mom furious and Wes standing unharmed, taunting her.

• Big Mom summoned Napoleon and unleashed an Elbaf Spear: Ikoku to break apart a golden-flame attack.
• Wes appeared before Big Mom, who recognized him and attacked with a Haki-coated Napoleon, destroying the surrounding castle and buildings without harming him.
• Prometheus attacked Wes with golden flames, but Wes stopped the fire with one hand and absorbed its energy.
• Big Mom used Prometheus's brief distraction to strike Wes from behind, but Wes raised a Magic Shield and blocked her full-power blow.
• The collision shook Whole Cake Island and sent towering waves toward shore, while Wes remained calm and asked Big Mom if that was all she had.

Wes fought Big Mom, dodging her lightning and turning her own slashes against her before trapping her in a barrier and binding her with soul-forged chains. Big Mom resisted with her Conqueror's Haki and activated her Soul-Soul Fruit, leaving the battle unresolved.

• Big Mom ordered Zeus to fire Thunder God's Wrath, but Wes teleported away and the lightning blasted through Whole Cake Island into a nearby island.
• Big Mom flew into the air and attacked Wes with Napoleon, but the slashes vanished and reappeared behind her, knocking her off Zeus and into a crater.
• Wes trapped Big Mom in a barrier and began contracting it, while her roar infused with Conqueror's Haki and the Soul-Soul Fruit knocked tens of thousands unconscious across Whole Cake Island and nearby islands.
• Perospero tried to calm the panicked Big Mom Pirates and insisted that Big Mom would win.
• Wes split into three clones and used four soul-forged chains to bind Big Mom's limbs inside the barrier.
• Big Mom's Conqueror's Haki shook the souls within the chains, and she activated her Soul-Soul Fruit against Wes.

Wes defeated Big Mom by destroying Whole Cake Island and extracting her soul, leaving her body for research. He then turned his attention to the surviving Charlotte Family, while Morgans arrived to report the shocking events.

• Big Mom used Jörmungandr’s venom and a powerful punch to break Wes’s barrier, but Wes’s tampered chains exploded as she charged him.
• The explosion shattered Whole Cake Island, and Perospero created candy ships to carry the Charlotte Family’s siblings to safety.
• Big Mom survived the blast but was gravely weakened, and she refused Zeus’s offer to flee.
• Wes used Magic Circles to strip the Homies of their souls and extract Big Mom’s soul, leaving her body lifeless.
• Perospero tried to lead the Charlotte Family away, but Wes had already targeted them.
• Morgans arrived and excitedly anticipated the worldwide impact of the news.

After Wes captured Big Mom and her crew, the Navy and World Government decided to name him a pirate and make him a new Emperor to preserve the balance of the seas. Wes accepted the title without concern, and Morgans announced him as “Outsider—Wes Erwin” with a 5 billion Beli bounty.

• Nami bought an unusually thick newspaper and read that Wes had defeated and captured Big Mom and the Big Mom Pirates.
• Kaido reacted to Big Mom’s defeat by abandoning the Dressrosa operation and flying into the sky in his Azure Dragon form.
• Navy leaders discussed the threat Wes posed to the world’s balance, and Tsuru proposed naming him a new Emperor despite his not being a pirate.
• Sengoku ordered Morgans to brand Wes as a pirate, citing the Navy and World Government’s decision.
• Morgans told Wes about the decision, and Wes accepted the title without concern.
• Morgans announced Wes Erwin as a new Four Emperor with a 5 billion Beli bounty.

Wes and Law visited the Sabaody Archipelago, where Wes took Law to observe a human auction. The Straw Hat Pirates arrived, and Luffy punched Saint Charlos after Charlos shot Hachi.

• Wes and Law reached Sabaody Archipelago and toured its bubble attractions and local shops while wearing masks.
• Wes and Law entered the island’s largest human trafficking shop and waited for an auction to begin.
• Law spotted kings, three Celestial Dragons, and Eustass Kid among the attendees.
• The Straw Hat Pirates arrived, and Wes showed unusual interest in them.
• Saint Charlos bought Kemi, humiliated her, and shot Hachi, enraging Luffy.
• Luffy leaped onto the stage and punched Charlos unconscious, plunging the auction house into chaos.

Luffy punched Saint Rosward at the auction, triggering panic and Rayleigh's intervention with Conqueror's Haki. Wes arrived, ordered Law to take the three Celestial Dragons, and left the auction house after revealing his identity, while the Straw Hat Pirates watched uneasily.

• Luffy punched Saint Rosward for bullying Kemi, and the auction crowd fled in fear of the Navy's response.
• Rayleigh released Conqueror's Haki, knocking out weaker people, then emerged and recognized Luffy's straw hat.
• Wes approached Rayleigh, flipped Shalria over, and told Law to take the three Celestial Dragons.
• Law carried the Celestial Dragons away as the crowd recognized him and inferred Wes's identity.
• Wes removed his mask and left with Law after looking back at the Straw Hat Pirates.
• Luffy said Wes was not a big deal, and Nami hit him for frightening her.

After Wes captured three Celestial Dragons, Sengoku sent Aokiji and Kizaru to Sabaody Archipelago to handle the crisis. Wes explained to Law why he had taken them, then calmly welcomed Aokiji into the café as the Marines surrounded it.

• Law carried the three captured Celestial Dragons through Sabaody Archipelago, shocking the people who saw him.
• Sengoku learned of the capture and, despite Garp refusing to help, decided to send Aokiji and Kizaru because the incident had been witnessed by civilians.
• Wes told Law about Bear and Bonney and explained that Vegapunk had asked him to help the father and daughter if he had the chance.
• Law sensed approaching Marines, who surrounded the café where Wes and he were waiting.
• Aokiji entered the café, and Wes offered him coffee while Law watched him warily.

Wes forced the Five Elders to accept his terms by killing Saint Charlos, then intervened in the battles on Sabaody and freed Bear from his obligations. Bear thanked Wes and disappeared, while Kizaru withdrew and Rayleigh was left alone.

• Wes killed Saint Charlos during his call with the Five Elders, and Saturn later agreed to Wes's terms.
• Wes left the café with Law while the Marines watched without intervening.
• Bear overpowered the Straw Hat Pirates, leaving only Luffy still fighting, while Rayleigh began to lose ground against Kizaru.
• Wes arrived with Law and gave Bear a Transponder Snail, through which Vegapunk told Bear that he and Bonney were free.
• Bear blocked Luffy's punch, sent Luffy away, thanked Wes, and disappeared after Wes said Bonney was on the island.
• Kizaru withdrew, and Wes left with Law while Rayleigh remained behind.

Wes and Law arrived on Fish-Man Island, where the wary locals reported them to King Neptune. While Marco visited on behalf of the Whitebeard Pirates to arrange ship coating for their planned attack on Navy Headquarters, he went to confront Wes at the Sea Forest and found him collecting samples from the Eve Tree.

• Wes and Law arrived on Fish-Man Island and noticed the locals' fear and hostility toward them.
• Neptune learned of their arrival while entertaining Marco, who had come to seek Fish-Man Island's help with the Whitebeard Pirates' preparations.
• Marco decided to investigate Wes's purpose and learned from Neptune that he had gone toward the Sea Forest.
• Wes collected samples beside the Eve Tree, hoping to plant it in his own world.
• Marco flew to the Sea Forest and confronted Wes and Law, and Wes told Law to handle him.

Marco defeated Law in their fight on Fish-Man Island and learned that Wes had come for Sun Tree Eve. Marco then hurried back to the Moby Dick with Law, where the Whitebeard Pirates gathered to greet them.

• Marco stopped Law from activating his ability and kicked him away, but Law recovered and launched a sneak attack that Marco evaded.
• Law fought Marco again and collapsed from exhaustion, while Marco remained unscathed; Law resolved to grow stronger despite the defeat.
• Wes thanked Marco and told him he had come to Fish-Man Island for Sun Tree Eve.
• Marco flew toward the Moby Dick with Law, and the Whitebeard Pirates gathered at the bow when Vista spotted them returning.
• Marco landed on the Moby Dick, changed back from his phoenix form, and was surrounded by crew members asking questions.

Wes confronted Whitebeard about refusing treatment for his injuries and revealed that Whitebeard intended to die rescuing Ace. Whitebeard admitted that his hoped-for outcome was to save Ace and let the Whitebeard Pirates retreat safely, leaving Marco and the others devastated.

• Whitebeard emerged and questioned Wes about defeating Linlin, then refused treatment for his old injuries despite Marco and the crew urging him to accept it.
• Wes asked Whitebeard to speak privately, and Whitebeard led Wes and Law to his quarters with Marco, Jozu, and Vista.
• Wes accused Whitebeard of having resolved to die, and Whitebeard admitted that he had.
• Wes argued that the Whitebeard Pirates could not defeat the Navy and World Government forces assembled against them.
• Whitebeard revealed that he planned to die in battle so Ace could be rescued and the Whitebeard Pirates could retreat unharmed, making Marco, Jozu, and Vista cry out in anguish.

Wes offered to heal Whitebeard in exchange for his corpse, and Whitebeard agreed after privately discussing the price with Marco, Jozu, and Vista. As Law and Wes examined Whitebeard, they found his condition too fragile for ordinary surgery, leaving them to seek a way to treat him before the Navy's public execution.

• Wes warned Whitebeard that the best likely outcome against Navy Headquarters was his and Ace's deaths while half the Whitebeard Pirates escaped, then offered to restore Whitebeard's strength in exchange for his corpse.
• Vista and Jozu prepared to attack Wes when he stated his demand, but Whitebeard stopped them and asked to discuss the offer privately.
• After half an hour, Marco told Wes and Law that Whitebeard had agreed to let Wes use his body after his death.
• In the Moby Dick's medical room, Law and Wes examined Whitebeard and learned from Marco that his many injuries and illnesses made conventional surgery too dangerous.
• Law considered a risky operation, but Whitebeard's weakness and the imminent execution left no time for recovery, so Law and the others looked to Wes.

Wes supplied medicine that made Whitebeard fit for surgery, and Law successfully operated on him with Marco’s help. As Whitebeard celebrated with his crews, the Navy prepared for the coming war over the planned execution of a Whitebeard Pirates commander.

• Wes gave Whitebeard medicine that restored his condition enough for surgery, and Law operated on him with Marco assisting.
• After a day and night, Law announced that the operation had succeeded and asked Whitebeard’s crew to let him sleep.
• Law woke to a grand banquet attended by Whitebeard’s allied crews, where Wes asked Whitebeard whether he could bear to leave his children behind.
• Whitebeard said the Navy would not leave him alone and that he wanted to enjoy his remaining time with his crew; Wes and Law later slipped away from the celebration.
• People across the world reacted to the Navy’s planned public execution of a Whitebeard Pirates commander and anticipated a major war.
• Navy Headquarters mobilized one hundred thousand Marines and gathered all Three Admirals to prepare for the battle.

Whitebeard’s strength had returned to its peak, and the Navy’s plan to turn his foster son Squard against him backfired when the attempt was exposed to the world. Enraged, Whitebeard struck Akainu down and summoned towering waves to engulf Navy Headquarters.

• The Navy revealed that Ace was Roger’s biological son while broadcasting his execution to the world.
• Whitebeard saw through Squard’s attempt to stab him, and the broadcast audience condemned the Navy for exploiting their family bond.
• Whitebeard leaped over the Navy’s defensive line and clashed with Akainu, splitting the battlefield and sending Akainu crashing through buildings.
• Whitebeard roared that the Navy had accused him of betraying his children and threatened to destroy Navy Headquarters.
• Whitebeard cracked the air with both fists and raised enormous waves to flood Navy Headquarters.

Whitebeard fought to hold back the Navy so the pirates could escape after Luffy rescued Ace, but Akainu caught up with the brothers and attacked them. Ace shielded Luffy, and Akainu’s magma fist stopped just before hitting him, revealing that someone had intervened.

• Aokiji froze the sea as Whitebeard reached the execution platform, where Sengoku transformed and joined the Admirals in confronting him.
• Luffy rescued Ace, and Whitebeard split Marineford apart and ordered the pirates to flee while he stayed behind to cover their retreat.
• Akainu broke through Whitebeard’s defenders and pursued Ace, then provoked him into stopping to fight.
• When Akainu struck at Ace and Luffy with a magma fist, Ace stepped in front of Luffy to protect him.
• Akainu’s fist halted just before reaching Ace, indicating that someone had stopped the attack.