Chapter Summaries

Vivi, Zoro, and Usopp debated whether to climb toward the castle while Dalton recovered from his injuries and insisted on confronting Wapol. The group was left facing Dalton’s determination to fight for Drum Island despite his condition.

• Vivi urged Zoro and Usopp to climb the mountain and check on Luffy, Nami, and the others.
• Usopp reminded Vivi to trust her companions, while Zoro teased him for being afraid of the mountain.
• Dalton finished receiving emergency treatment and stood up despite his serious injuries.
• Dalton insisted that he had to confront Wapol’s group immediately, calling it Drum Island’s last chance.

Vivi and the others climbed to Drum Island’s castle after Zoro carried Dalton and the villagers offered a repaired cableway. They found that Luffy had already defeated Wapol, while Bai Hao and Kuina waited nearby for a chance to speak privately with Vivi.

• Usopp struggled to carry Dalton, but Zoro took Dalton over his shoulder, prompting Usopp to complain that Zoro had spoiled his moment.
• Vivi considered using her newly acquired Feather Transformation to fly everyone up the mountain, but worried it would raise questions and strain her friendship with the crew.
• Villagers offered to let the group use a cableway they had rebuilt near Kestard, and Vivi accepted their help.
• Vivi and the group reached the castle and discovered that Luffy had already defeated Wapol.
• Bai Hao and Kuina returned to the castle, and Bai Hao decided to wait until the crew’s commotion ended before finding a private moment to explain things to Vivi.

Bai Hao told Kuina about the cherry-blossom snow and later drew Vivi into an illusion to introduce the two Spirit Pavilion members. He revealed that the organization spanned multiple worlds, leaving Kuina and Vivi astonished and Vivi newly confident that following him would benefit Alabasta.

• Bai Hao told Kuina that they could watch cherry-blossom snow that evening while eating together.
• After Luffy defeated Wapol, the Straw Hat Crew regrouped at the castle, but Chopper fled when the guards tried to attack him.
• Dr. Kureha took the injured Nami and Sanji away, while Zoro, Usopp, Vivi, and the others helped the guards move Wapol's weapons.
• Bai Hao quietly pulled Vivi into an illusion and introduced her to Kuina as the Spirit Pavilion's other member in their world.
• Bai Hao revealed that the Spirit Pavilion had members in other worlds, and Vivi felt embarrassed about doubting him before trusting him more.

Bai Hao gave Vivi Spirit Pavilion equipment and assigned her to protect Luffy and his group in Alabasta. Vivi accepted the mission, and Bai Hao told her to watch for a beautiful cherry-blossom snow that night.

• Bai Hao explained that the Spirit Pavilion ring could store lifeless objects and let him track and observe its wearer.
• Vivi accepted the equipment and thanked Bai Hao.
• Bai Hao told Vivi to make sure Luffy was not captured or killed while in Alabasta.
• Vivi resolved to protect Luffy and his group, believing they would face deadly danger from Crocodile.
• Bai Hao told Vivi that a beautiful cherry-blossom snow would fall that night.

Vivi recalled the secret meeting she had witnessed and felt smug about belonging to the organization. Chopper left Doctor Lina and Drum Island with Luffy’s crew, while Lina stayed behind and ordered the guards to fire cannons that turned the falling snow pink.

• Bai Hao dispelled the illusion and left, and Vivi resumed her conversation with Usopp while privately feeling superior about her organization’s secret meeting.
• Chopper told Doctor Lina he planned to become a pirate and travel with Luffy’s crew as their ship’s doctor.
• Doctor Lina refused to let Chopper leave and threw kitchen knives at him, prompting him to flee toward the waiting crew.
• Chopper pulled the crew away on a sleigh as Doctor Lina watched them go in tears beside Dalton.
• Doctor Lina ordered the guard squad to fire, and the cannon fire dyed the snowfall pink.

Bai Hao caused an earthquake and avalanches on Drum Island while promising Kuina more gifts. As the island’s temperature began to rise and its snow melted, Dr. Kureha suspected its magnetic field was changing.

• Bai Hao clenched his hand, and Drum Island began trembling as snow slid down its slopes and avalanches formed.
• Civilians panicked and fled, while Dr. Kureha and Dalton prepared to help people after the quake.
• Luffy, Nami, Chopper, Vivi, and Usopp tried to escape the avalanches, disappointed that the disaster interrupted the cherry-blossom snow.
• Kuina questioned Bai Hao about the earthquake, and he told her to watch before slamming both hands onto the ground.
• The quake intensified, the island warmed, and its snow began melting; Dr. Kureha wondered if Drum Island’s magnetic field was changing.

Bai Hao’s power transformed Drum Island with warmth, rapidly growing trees, and falling cherry blossoms, leaving its people marveling at the spectacle. Dalton and Dr. Kureha recognized that Bai Hao had caused the miracle, and Dalton proposed naming the reborn country the Cherry Blossom Kingdom.

• Dr. Kureha suspected that the island’s magnetic field had changed as the temperature rose.
• Saplings rapidly grew into cherry trees, which bloomed as pink snow fell across the island.
• Luffy, Chopper, and Vivi admired the scene, and Chopper realized his adoptive father could not have created it.
• Dalton asked Dr. Kureha whether Hiruluk had caused the spectacle, and she said Bai Hao was likely responsible.
• Dalton felt healed and proposed naming the country the Cherry Blossom Kingdom, while Dr. Kureha wondered why Bai Hao had not made the island permanently warm.

After the miracle on Drum Island, Bai Hao and Kuina left for Alabasta. There, Smoker and Tashigi investigated the Blackbeard Pirates, but a new arrival caused chaos in the city.

• Bai Hao chose not to change Drum Island’s winter climate, then left with Kuina for Alabasta.
• A Marine told Smoker and Tashigi that the Blackbeard Pirates’ flag had been spotted at an Alabasta port.
• Smoker ordered the Marines to investigate and planned to capture Blackbeard while searching for Straw Hat.
• Smoker and Tashigi headed to Snack Street, where they found the area in chaos.
• A Marine rushed over and announced that a remarkable person had arrived in the city, leaving Smoker wondering who had caused the commotion.

Smoker investigated a report that Ace was in a tavern in Alabasta, where a crowd believed a diner had died from a poisonous Desert Strawberry. Bai Hao revealed that the man was not dead when he suddenly sat up, leaving the Marines approaching the tavern and the situation unresolved.

• Smoker learned that Ace was at a tavern and sent a Marine to contact headquarters while he and Tashigi went to investigate.
• Tavern patrons claimed a motionless diner had died after eating a Desert Strawberry and warned that the corpse could spread viruses.
• Kuina asked Bai Hao about the Desert Strawberry, and Bai Hao said the diner had not eaten one.
• The supposed dead man sat up, spat out food, and resumed eating, shocking the onlookers.

Bai Hao and Kuina found Portgas D. Ace, the sleeping second division commander of Whitebeard and son of Gol D. Roger, and Bai Hao claimed they were Witnesses of History. Their conversation left Ace curious about the historic event they had come to observe.

• Ace repeatedly fell asleep while eating, and Bai Hao identified him to Kuina as Portgas D. Ace.
• Bai Hao and Kuina sat with Ace, and Bai Hao handed him paper to wipe his face.
• Ace asked whether Bai Hao and Kuina were adventurers, and Bai Hao called them Witnesses of History.
• Bai Hao claimed they appeared to observe historic moments and hinted that Ace was an important figure in history.
• Ace guessed that they had come to witness Pops becoming the next Pirate King.

Bai Hao told Ace that Luffy was on the island and would soon come find him, while Smoker confronted Ace at the tavern. Luffy suddenly crashed into Smoker's Seastone weapon, disabling his smoke powers.

• Ace asked Bai Hao where Luffy was after believing his claim to have observed history.
• Bai Hao told Ace that Luffy was on the island and would come to see him soon.
• Smoker entered the tavern and challenged Ace, refusing to let him go because he was a pirate.
• Luffy rushed into the tavern and struck Smoker's Seastone weapon, stopping Smoker from transforming into smoke.

Luffy crashed into a tavern and began eating, where he reunited with Bai Hao. Ace climbed out of the rubble, recognized Luffy as his younger brother, and realized Bai Hao had accurately predicted events.

• Luffy and Smoker crashed through the tavern wall, and Luffy immediately demanded food.
• Luffy recognized Bai Hao and sat down to eat while the worried owner urged him to flee.
• Ace climbed out of the rubble, apologized to a nearby family, and headed back toward the tavern.
• Ace recognized Luffy as his long-lost younger brother and recalled Bai Hao's prediction about history.

Bai Hao paid for the damage at the tavern and took Kuina to a rooftop, where they watched Luffy flee and Ace pursue him. Bai Hao sent Kuina to keep Ace safe from Blackbeard, then settled in to observe what happened next.

• Smoker pinned Ace down and confronted Luffy, who kept eating before recognizing Smoker and running away.
• Ace got up, cursed the Navy, and chased after Luffy while the tavern owner cried out about the unpaid bill and damage.
• Bai Hao gave the tavern owner a gold bar as compensation, then took Kuina to a rooftop.
• Bai Hao asked Kuina to watch Ace and prevent Blackbeard from capturing him, and Kuina went to follow Ace.
• Bai Hao found a quiet place and watched the events unfold.

Blackbeard and his crew found Zoro and the other Straw Hat Pirates while both groups searched for Luffy. The Straw Hats reacted with alarm when Marshall D. Teach introduced himself as captain of the Blackbeard Pirates and they recognized the name and the initial D.

• Luffy ran through town to escape Smoker but could not shake the Marines pursuing him.
• Blackbeard and his companions learned that the Straw Hat Crew had arrived and went to find them.
• Vivi, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, and Nami discussed how to locate Luffy while he was missing.
• Blackbeard approached the group and said he wanted to meet their captain; Doc Q offered them apples.
• Marshall D. Teach introduced himself as captain of the Blackbeard Pirates, and the Straw Hats cried out in surprise.

Zoro and the others learned that Blackbeard wanted to meet Luffy, while Vivi noticed someone tailing their group. After the crew finished eating and went shopping in Alabasta, the unexpected disguises Sanji bought set up a sudden change in events.

• Usopp nearly agreed to Blackbeard's invitation, but Zoro stopped him and told Blackbeard they would meet at the Desert Rose Tavern after Luffy returned.
• Usopp and Vivi explained that the Blackbeard Pirates had destroyed the Drum Kingdom, and the crew agreed to stay cautious around them.
• Vivi spotted Mr. 3's ship in the harbor and then sensed someone following the group, but she remained confident in her strength.
• Lafitte followed Zoro and the others on Blackbeard's orders, waiting for Luffy to appear, but the crew went shopping after eating.
• Sanji bought Nami and Vivi beautiful dancer's outfits for their disguises, leaving Nami bewildered.

Luffy’s encounter with Marines in the perfume city brought Smoker after him, but Ace intervened and blocked Smoker’s attack. Ace told Luffy to run, leaving the brothers’ reunion unfinished as Smoker faced Ace.

• Zoro spotted the Marines and tried to hide the group behind a rock, but Luffy saw them and ran toward his companions.
• The Marines recognized Zoro and the others as Straw Hat’s accomplices, and Smoker charged after Luffy.
• Ace stopped Smoker’s White Wisp Bomb with a wall of fire and confronted him.
• Luffy recognized Ace and happily greeted him, but Ace told him to run instead of reminisce.

Luffy and his companions escaped the Marines with Ace’s help and reached their ship to travel inland toward Alabasta. As Vivi sent Black Duck ahead with a letter for her father, Blackbeard’s laughter reached the group, leaving them alarmed by his arrival.

• Lafitte reported to Blackbeard that Luffy and the Straw Hats were heading for the port and that Ace was on the island.
• Blackbeard decided to prioritize meeting Luffy and completing Bai Hao’s mission, while resolving to take the Tremor-Tremor Fruit later.
• Luffy and the others fled to the port, where Nami and Vivi explained they would follow the river inland toward the desert.
• Vivi gave Black Duck a letter for her father and water, then sent him north toward Alabasta.
• Blackbeard’s laughter sounded nearby, and Nami and the others recognized him as the pirate who had destroyed Drum Kingdom.

Blackbeard met Luffy and invited him to join his crew, but Luffy refused and declared he would become Pirate King. Ace arrived and confronted Blackbeard, learning that he had come specifically to find Luffy.

• The Straw Hats told Luffy that Blackbeard had destroyed Drum Kingdom and come looking for him.
• Blackbeard introduced himself to Luffy and said he wanted to chat, then invited Luffy and his friends to join the Blackbeard Pirates.
• Luffy refused, saying he would become Pirate King, and Blackbeard wondered whether Luffy might become his future rival.
• Ace arrived and confronted Blackbeard, who admitted he had planned to find Luffy before seeking out Ace.
• Blackbeard remarked that Luffy's hat looked familiar, and Ace recognized it as the hat Shanks had given Luffy.

Ace confronted Blackbeard, who tried to recruit him and declared his ambition to become Pirate King. Blackbeard’s Dark-Dark Fruit overwhelmed Luffy, but Ace rescued him with a fiery attack, leaving Luffy shaken by how weak he was against Grand Line opponents.

• Ace rejected Blackbeard’s invitation, insisting that Whitebeard would become Pirate King, while Luffy also claimed he would take the title.
• Two gunshots passed through Ace without harming him, and he told Luffy to go ahead while he dealt with Blackbeard.
• Blackbeard used his power to pull Luffy in and slam him to the ground, while Blackbeard’s crew blocked Zoro and Sanji from reaching them.
• Ace called Luffy his little brother and struck Blackbeard with Fire Fist, sending him flying and freeing Luffy.
• Luffy reflected on his defeats against Smoker and Blackbeard and felt that he was far too weak for the Grand Line.

Blackbeard revealed that he had killed Thatch to take the Dark-Dark Fruit and demonstrated its power against Ace and Luffy. As the darkness spread and the Straw Hat crew watched warily, Smoker noticed the disturbance from the harbor.

• Blackbeard admitted to Ace that he killed Thatch after recognizing the Dark-Dark Fruit he had long sought.
• Blackbeard demonstrated that his darkness could pull Luffy toward him and slam him into the ground, leaving him bleeding.
• Blackbeard unleashed a growing mass of darkness, prompting his crew to flee while Zoro and the others watched cautiously.
• The Straw Hat crew panicked as the black smoke spread beneath their feet and seemed to draw them in.
• Smoker spotted a strange spinning pillar of black smoke near the harbor and wondered what had happened.