Arc 36Water Seven’s Great Battle

Maud defeated Bullet and Mihawk, then led his crew through a massive battle against the Pirate Alliance and the Marines. The arc left Maud fighting the Admirals and regenerative Pacifistas as his side struggled to withstand the Marine forces.

  • Maud defeated Bullet with Beli’s giant Gundam, then killed him and advanced his Devil Fruit ability to ten stars.
  • Maud defeated Mihawk in their duel, gained ten-star swordsmanship, and took his place upon the Throne of Heaven as the Whitebeard Pirates and their allies arrived.
  • The Maud Pirates fought the Pirate Alliance while Maud defeated CP0 agents who had threatened his family and learned the Marines were approaching.
  • Maud defeated Marco and overwhelmed the Pirate Alliance army, while Luo extracted Devil Fruits and Maud ended the broadcast.
  • Kizaru and Fujitora arrived with one hundred new-model Pacifistas, and Maud stopped their meteors before attacking the Marine forces.
  • The Pacifistas regenerated from severe damage and began overwhelming the pirates, while Luo disabled twelve of them at great cost to his stamina.
  • Maud trapped Kizaru and Fujitora, destroyed a Pacifista with one slash, and shattered a Marine attack as the wounded Admirals returned to confront him.
Chapters 878–902 Vol. 9 Read

Ch. 878Your Haki!!!

Hawk Eyes faced Cavendish, Lafitte, Shiryu, and Brook while waiting for a chance to fight Maud. Maud’s battle with Bullet left Bullet wounded and stunned when Maud’s Haki broke through his demonic armor.

  • Hawk Eyes told Cavendish, Lafitte, Shiryu, and Brook to attack him together so he could save time.
  • Bullet transformed into his demon form and tried to counter Maud’s shadow tide with Armament Haki-coated rocks.
  • Maud attacked Bullet with a Conqueror’s Slash, a Quake Slash, and enlarged bullets as Bullet advanced toward him.
  • Bullet deflected Maud’s giant bullets, but Maud appeared beside him and slashed through his demonic-armored guard.
  • Bullet retreated with bloodied arms and stared at Maud in shock, exclaiming over his Haki.

Ch. 879Lost Interest

After his Haki reached ten stars, Maud lost interest in fighting Bullet and offered him one last chance to show his full strength. Bullet awakened the Combine-Combine Fruit and unleashed a crystalline tide that spread across Water Seven Island, leaving Maud eager to see the power of Bullet’s ability.

  • Maud shattered Bullet’s Haki with a single slash, then decided he no longer needed to prolong the fight.
  • Maud offered Bullet a final chance to display his strength, and Bullet rethought his approach instead of trying to overpower him head-on.
  • Bullet explained that his awakened Combine-Combine Fruit could affect objects across Water Seven Island, though he could not fuse with the whole island.
  • Bullet unleashed a vast purple crystalline tide that spread across the island, absorbing weapons and racing toward the ships along the coast.
  • The Maud Pirates, Hawk Eyes, other fighters, and Marines watched the tide sweep across Water Seven Island.

Ch. 880The Possibility of Enduring One Punch Is 0%

Bullet absorbed weapons and ships across Water Seven to create a colossal, Armament Haki-covered giant, while Hawkins divined that Maud had a 0% chance of enduring one punch. Maud then had Beli transform into a giant Gundam of comparable size, leaving Bullet and everyone watching stunned.

  • Kizaru and the Marines watched Bullet’s awakened ability sweep weapons and hundreds of ships into a tide of crystallized matter.
  • Bullet gathered the material into a giant humanoid form more than a thousand meters tall and named it Massive Bullet Form.
  • Luo called the giant vulnerable because its size made it impossible to cover with Armament Haki, but Bullet covered its entire body in Haki within seconds.
  • Hawkins divined that Maud’s chance of enduring one punch was 0%, prompting disbelief from Urouge and Perona.
  • Maud had Beli transform into a Gundam, then used Shadow Flow, All Things Imitation and Beli’s Multiply Fruit to enlarge it to Bullet’s size.
  • Bullet stared at the giant Gundam and demanded to know what it was.

Ch. 881Ordinary Punch

Maud revealed that Beli could transform into a giant blue-and-white Gundam, then took control of it to fight Barrett’s Bullet Giant. Maud destroyed the Bullet Giant with one punch, leaving Water Seven stunned.

  • Maud’s giant Gundam appeared, shocking Barrett, the Maud Pirates, Aokiji, Festa, and people watching the broadcast.
  • Franky explained that Maud had asked him to simplify a Pacifista blueprint and suggest weapons so Beli could transform into a war machine.
  • Maud took control of the Gundam from Beli and prepared to fight Barrett.
  • Barrett attacked the Gundam with the Bullet Giant’s Armament Haki-coated fist, and Maud answered with a Hundredfold Normal Punch.
  • Maud’s punch shattered the Bullet Giant, sending fragments flying toward Water Seven’s coastline, and Urouge concluded that surviving one punch was impossible.

Ch. 882You... Won.

Maud defeated Bullet by destroying the Bullet giant with a single punch, leaving Bullet gravely injured and ready to concede. Maud raised Shusui to finish him and claim his experience, while Hawk Eyes prepared to fight Shiryu, Cavendish, and Lafitte.

  • Beli exhausted himself enlarging the Gundam and delivering a hundredfold punch, then reverted to pistol form and went to sleep.
  • Maud realized Beli could manage only a couple of attacks at that power and flew toward the wounded Bullet.
  • Hawk Eyes moved after Maud, but Shiryu blocked him while Cavendish and Lafitte joined in, prompting Hawk Eyes to ready Black Blade Night.
  • Aokiji watched the confrontation and resolved to step in if Hawk Eyes threatened Shiryu and the others.
  • Bullet admitted that he had lost, and Maud raised Shusui toward him as the battle was broadcast live.

Ch. 883Three Ten-Star Attributes

Maud killed Bullet and gained his strength, bringing his physique, Haki, and Devil Fruit ability to ten stars. He intervened when Hawk Eyes nearly struck down Cavendish, then faced the world's greatest swordsman as powerful enemies began arriving along the coast.

  • Maud killed Bullet after Bullet accepted his defeat, then absorbed his gains and advanced his Devil Fruit ability to ten stars.
  • Maud stored Bullet's corpse in Shadow Box and turned his attention to Hawk Eyes fighting Shiryu, Lafitte, and Cavendish.
  • Hawk Eyes used Conqueror's Haki Coating to overwhelm the trio, and Cavendish charged at him despite the danger.
  • Maud intercepted Hawk Eyes's slash aimed at Cavendish and forced Hawk Eyes back with his superior Haki and strength.
  • Aokiji sensed powerful presences arriving along the coast, while Luo joined him and Aokiji wondered whether Sakazuki planned a last-minute entrance.

Ch. 884Looking Forward to It

Maud fought Hawk Eyes while the Maud Pirates watched the coast, and Festa faced an unexpected CP0 raid in the broadcast room. With the festival still underway, stranded pirates spotted a fleet approaching Water Seven Island, including fourteen ships of the Whitebeard Pirates.

  • Maud and Hawk Eyes exchanged powerful Conqueror's Haki attacks, and Maud wounded Hawk Eyes with Whistling Arrow.
  • Festa raged over Bullet's defeat but vowed that his celebration would succeed, then refused to give CP0 the Log Pose as eleven agents confronted him.
  • Pirates who tried to leave Water Seven Island discovered their ships had vanished and realized they were stranded.
  • The stranded pirates saw a fleet approaching and recognized the Whitebeard Pirates' flag on fourteen ships.

Ch. 885The Unparalleled Power

The Whitebeard Pirates arrived at Water Seven Island as Maud and Hawk Eyes fought, and Ace confirmed that Maud had the upper hand. Maud defeated Hawk Eyes in their prolonged duel, though Hawk Eyes's final slash also touched Maud.

  • Marco and Vista sensed the sword auras coming from Water Seven Island, and Vista identified Maud and Hawk Eyes as the fighters.
  • Ace emerged from the cabin and confirmed that Maud had the upper hand in the duel.
  • Maud overwhelmed Hawk Eyes with a succession of sword strikes and varied abilities, while Hawk Eyes struggled to defend and searched for an opening.
  • Maud recognized the danger in Hawk Eyes's potential finishing slash and pressed his attack without letting his guard down.
  • Maud landed a fatal slash, and Hawk Eyes's final strike touched Maud as the duel ended with Hawk Eyes defeated.

Ch. 886Hope So

Maud defeated Dracule Mihawk in their sword duel and prepared to finish him, while the Marines watched from offshore and placed their hopes in the completed New Pacifistas. The chapter ended with Maud bringing Shusui down and Mihawk collapsing, still gripping Black Blade Night.

  • Hawk Eyes' final slash wounded Maud, but Maud's Haki-coated strike drained Mihawk's strength and decided the duel.
  • Maud praised Mihawk's swordsmanship, then approached him and raised Shusui to end the duel as a swordsman.
  • The Maud Pirates and worldwide spectators watched Maud stand over Mihawk, while the Marines offshore debated waiting for Maud to tire.
  • Smoker told Hina that even victory against Maud would be disastrous, and Sentomaru claimed the improved New Pacifistas were now complete.
  • Maud brought Shusui down, and Mihawk collapsed while still gripping Black Blade Night.

Ch. 887Throne of Heaven

After Mihawk’s death brought Maud’s swordsmanship to ten stars, all four of Maud’s abilities reached their peak. As the Whitebeard Pirates and a huge allied force approached, Maud let his companions face them and ascended to the Throne of Heaven.

  • Mihawk’s life force faded, and his gains raised Maud’s swordsmanship to ten stars.
  • Maud recognized his immense new power and urged his companions to reach the summit with him.
  • Aokiji warned that at least twenty thousand fighters were approaching, led by the Whitebeard Pirates.
  • Urouge asked Maud to rest and leave the coming fight to the others, and Maud agreed.
  • Maud climbed a black staircase and sat upon the suspended Throne of Heaven.

Ch. 888How Could I Possibly Let You Get Past Here

The Whitebeard Pirates and their allied forces charged the Maud Pirates, but Aokiji froze over a thousand attackers before Ace freed them and engaged him. Marco flew toward Maud, only to be blocked by Lafitte, whose song disrupted him before an unseen attack cut him into pieces.

  • Ace ordered the Whitebeard Pirates to charge, and the Pirate Alliance followed.
  • Ace's Fire Fist clashed with Aokiji's Ice Stream, and Aokiji used the vapor to freeze more than a thousand Whitebeard Pirates.
  • Ace melted the ice with Fire Mayfly, then faced Aokiji while Marco flew toward Maud.
  • Lafitte intercepted Marco and used a melodious hum to disrupt his flight.
  • An unseen attack slashed Marco's Phoenix form into dozens of pieces, leaving him unable to identify its source with Observation Haki.

Ch. 889Dual Ability User

Lafitte fought Marco and revealed that he had a second Devil Fruit ability, while Shiryu and the Maud Pirates battled the Whitebeard Pirates’ vastly larger forces. As the fighting continued, Maud sensed activity inside the broadcast room near Navigation Mountain.

  • Lafitte used the Sound-Sound Fruit to slash Marco and trigger explosions, but Marco regenerated and worked out how to counter the attacks.
  • Marco saw that Lafitte’s explosions had also gravely wounded nearly a hundred Whitebeard Pirates and recognized the danger of his sound-based ability.
  • Shiryu charged into the enemy formation and used his venom to drive back the surrounding pirates.
  • Vista confronted Shiryu, but Shiryu revealed his second Devil Fruit ability and transformed into an Ancient Zoan saber-toothed tiger.
  • Cavendish intervened to stop Shiryu from focusing on Vista, prompting Shiryu to turn his venomous attacks toward the mass of enemies.
  • Maud judged that his crew could hold their own despite the numbers disadvantage, then sensed activity in the broadcast room near Navigation Mountain.

Ch. 890Terrifying Strength

CP0 tortured Festa for Raftel's Log Pose while Maud's crew fought the pirate alliance, but Maud appeared in the broadcasting room and overwhelmed the agents. The black-striped-mask leader survived and threatened Maud by invoking his family.

  • CP0 searched the broadcasting room and tortured Festa for the Log Pose, but Festa refused to reveal its location.
  • CP0 watched the Maud Pirates hold their own against tens of thousands of pirates and realized many of Maud's crew had two Devil Fruit abilities.
  • Maud appeared in the broadcasting room, tore off both of Sunflower Mask's arms when she tried to escape, and attacked the CP0 agents with Haki-coated shadow spikes.
  • The shadow spikes killed most of the CP0 agents, while the black-striped-mask leader and the Serpent Mask survived with severe wounds.
  • The black-striped-mask leader threatened Maud by saying his family was his weakness, and Maud's expression turned cold.

Ch. 891The World Government Is Finished, I Said.

Maud learned that CP0 had targeted Sunny and brutally incapacitated Blackstripe, the Serpent Mask, and the Sunflower Mask. He tried to contact Sunny and Sabo without success, then rejected Festa’s offer to help overthrow the World Government as the battle continued to turn against his side.

  • Maud realized CP0 had made Sunny their target and seized Blackstripe, crushing his diamond-and-Haki defense while demanding a price for threatening his family.
  • The Serpent Mask attacked Maud with his blade-covered body, but Maud trapped him with shadow scimitars and knocked him unconscious.
  • Maud stomped Blackstripe unconscious and defeated the Sunflower Mask, then called Sunny and Sabo several times without getting an answer.
  • Festa admitted his plans to challenge Roger had become pointless and proposed that he and Maud work together to overthrow the World Government, but Maud dismissed him.
  • Maud watched the live battlefield broadcast and saw that his side was at a slight disadvantage despite its strength, while the Marines had yet to appear.

Ch. 892Maud Pirates

The Maud Pirates fought to hold off tens of thousands of Pirate Alliance enemies as their members battled powerful opponents and supported one another. Maud prepared to join the battle, while a fleet of warships appeared near Water Seven Island.

  • Ace fought Aokiji alone, using his awakened Flame-Flame Fruit to keep Aokiji occupied, while Marco gained the upper hand against Lafitte and Cavendish fought Flower Sword Vista evenly.
  • Shiryu used his poison to kill large numbers of enemies, while Jim and Urouge repeatedly charged into the enemy ranks and Luo rescued them with Room.
  • Brook froze dozens of pirates, Arthur sent corpse warriors into the melee, and Perona and Hawkins defeated a group of powerful pirates with Negativity Ghosts and Scarecrow Biscuit Warriors.
  • Jinbe helped Luo by scattering an advancing force with Water Gun, freeing Luo to use his stamina to support the crew.
  • People watching the broadcast marveled at the Maud Pirates' resistance, and Maud praised his crew as he prepared to head to the battlefield.
  • Warships appeared on the horizon in the waters near Water Seven Island.

Ch. 893You're Strong, But Still Far From Enough.

The Marines advanced toward Water Seven Island while Maud’s crew fought the Whitebeard Pirates and other elite enemies. Maud entered the battle, rescued Lafitte from Marco, and defeated Marco in a single slash.

  • The Marines sailed toward Water Seven Island in a fleet larger than a Buster Call and prepared to seal off escape routes while waiting for the pirates to weaken each other.
  • Maud watched the battlefield, knocked Festa unconscious with Conqueror’s Haki, and returned to the black throne before deciding to join the fight.
  • Marco severely injured Lafitte with successive attacks and prepared to finish him as Maud moved to intervene.
  • Maud’s slash forced Marco to retreat and carved a deadly scar through the battlefield; Maud reassured Lafitte and praised him as his guide.
  • Maud challenged Marco, then struck him down in one overwhelmingly powerful slash and declared that Marco was still far from strong enough.

Ch. 894Invincible

Maud crushed Marco in two moves, incapacitating him and taking his shadow while planning to obtain the Phoenix Devil Fruit. As the battle continued, Ace fought Aokiji with his awakened flames, while Marco’s defeat shook the Whitebeard Pirates and stirred unrest among the warships off Water Seven Island.

  • Maud’s slash badly wounded Marco, whose Phoenix flames slowly repaired his body at the cost of substantial stamina.
  • Ace was frozen by Aokiji, escaped with his flames, and unleashed Flame Emperor as their fight continued.
  • Marco recovered and tried to keep his distance, but Maud threw Shusui through his flame barrier and pierced his chest.
  • Maud used Shadow Shift to reach Marco, pinned him down, severed his shadow, and left him unconscious inside a shadow cocoon.
  • Maud planned for Luo to extract Marco’s Phoenix Devil Fruit and collect the fallen Charlotte Linlin and the others.
  • Marco’s defeat spread across the battlefield, and unrest began among the warships off Water Seven Island.

Ch. 895Outrageous to the Extreme

Maud’s crew withdrew from the enemy ranks while Luo and Hawkins helped hold back the pursuing Pirate Alliance. Maud then faced the army alone, nullified its barrage, and launched a devastating Tremor Slash.

  • After Marco fell in a single exchange, Maud ordered Shiryu and the others to retreat from the enemy formation.
  • Luo used Room and Shambles to bring his companions to safety while Hawkins’s biscuit scarecrows blocked the pursuit.
  • Maud arrived as Hawkins’s defenses faltered, praised him for holding the line, and told him to put away the Strawman.
  • Maud faced the remaining Pirate Alliance army as his companions watched and exchanged glances about Hawkins’s lost Voodoo Dolls.
  • Maud used Shadow, All Things Imitation to nullify the army’s Soaring Slashes, then drew Shusui and unleashed Tremor Slash.

Ch. 896The Unrivaled Wherever He Went

Maud devastated the Pirate Alliance’s army, collected Devil Fruits from fallen enemies, and cut off the battle’s live broadcast. As Marines approached Water Seven Island, Maud prepared to return to the battlefield.

  • Maud’s quake slash killed thousands of pirates, and he led his crew against the remaining Pirate Alliance army, reducing it to a few thousand in less than ten minutes.
  • Maud had Luo collect corpses and extract Devil Fruits, then killed Marco to revive and claim the Phoenix Devil Fruit.
  • Maud carried Luo to Navigation Mountain, where Luo cut off the broadcast and removed the hearts of the unconscious CP0 members.
  • Maud killed the CP0 members and stored the Quick-Cut, Flashy, and Door-Door Fruits in the Shadow Box, intending to give Sunny the Door-Door Fruit.
  • Maud sensed Marine forces advancing from the coastline and realized they had finally begun to move.

Ch. 897Three Admirals Were Needed

The Marines arrived at Water Seven with more than fifty thousand troops while the Pirate Alliance was nearly defeated, and Maud chose to face them rather than withdraw. After the Admirals attacked with meteors and Pacifista lasers, Maud stopped and pulverized the falling rocks, declaring that the Marines would need three Admirals to deal with him.

  • Maud told Luo that the Marines had arrived with around fifty thousand troops and insisted that they take the battle.
  • Maud flew toward the battlefield, and Luo followed despite Maud leaving him behind.
  • Kizaru and Fujitora arrived with one hundred new-model Pacifista and attacked the pirates with meteors and lasers.
  • Vista and other pirates destroyed the first meteor and tried to stop the next five, while Aokiji and Ace briefly joined forces against the Marines.
  • Fujitora cut off Aokiji and Ace's attacks, leaving four meteors to descend toward the battlefield.
  • Maud halted the four meteors, crushed them into powder, and told Kizaru and Fujitora that they would need three Admirals to defeat him.

Ch. 898Overpowering Everyone Present

Maud began fighting Kizaru and Fujitora while trying to cut down the Marine forces, and his shadow techniques countered Kizaru’s attacks. He overwhelmed Fujitora with a Tremor Slash that tore through the Marine ranks, leaving the pirates fighting beside him emboldened.

  • Maud erased Fujitora’s four meteors with his Shadow ability, while Ace and Aokiji regrouped with their companions for the battle ahead.
  • Maud opened the battle by attacking the Marine formation, but Kizaru intercepted him and Fujitora deflected his shadow tide and sword slash.
  • Maud cut through Kizaru’s light sword and body, then used All Things Imitation to match and neutralize Kizaru’s light bullets and missiles.
  • Maud unleashed a Tremor Slash at Fujitora, broke through his gravity defense, and blasted a huge gap through the Marine ranks, instantly killing nearly a thousand Marine elites.

Ch. 899The Navy's Confidence

The Marines launched a massive assault on the pirates while Maud remained seemingly untiring, and the battle became a desperate clash of numbers and power. Aokiji and Ace discovered that the upgraded Pacifistas could withstand devastating damage and rapidly regenerate, leaving the Marines’ new weapons as a major threat.

  • Smoker and the Marines watched Maud show no signs of fatigue, then an elite vice admiral ordered them to attack the other pirates.
  • Nearly fifty thousand Marines charged the roughly two thousand pirates, who fought back fiercely despite being surrounded and outnumbered.
  • Aokiji froze Marines and attacked Dogman and the Pacifistas, but discovered the machines could melt ice, repair severe wounds with liquid metal, and reassemble after being cut apart.
  • Ace used his awakened flames to hold back the Marine forces, but his attacks failed to damage the Pacifistas surrounding him.
  • Ace watched a charred Pacifista return to its original condition and realized the upgraded machines could survive his fire.

Ch. 900Indestructible Cockroach

The completed Pacifistas used rapid regeneration to overwhelm the pirates, while Maud fought Kizaru and Fujitora and attacked the Marines. After Maud saw the Pacifistas rebuild themselves from wreckage, he decided to deal with them first.

  • The Pacifistas charged into the pirate ranks, healing from their injuries and killing pirates with their lasers as the pirate forces began to collapse.
  • Maud evaded Fujitora’s gravity and Kizaru’s lasers while suppressing both Admirals and killing thousands of Marines with Curtain Blade attacks.
  • Kizaru took heart from the Pacifistas’ success and expected them to turn against Maud after defeating the pirates.
  • Maud destroyed three Pacifistas with Shock Slash, but their scattered wreckage gathered and reformed into their original bodies.
  • Maud decided to target the Pacifistas, while the pirates watched them regenerate and despaired at their strength.

Ch. 901Still, I'm the One Who Has to Do It

Luo discovered that his Op-Op Fruit could disable the new-model Pacifistas without triggering their regeneration, but his stamina began to fail before he could eliminate enough of them. Maud continued overpowering Kizaru and Fujitora and realized he would have to handle the Pacifistas himself.

  • The hundred new-model Pacifistas broke through the pirates’ formation, while Aokiji, Ace, and the other pirates struggled to damage them and protect their outnumbered forces.
  • Luo rescued Perona from a laser, identified the Pacifistas’ regenerative ability, and used Gammaknife and Takt to immobilize one by cutting it into pieces and fusing them with corpses.
  • Brook and the other pirates helped protect Luo as he disabled Pacifistas, while Jim knocked Sentomaru away from him.
  • Luo disabled eleven Pacifistas and began attacking a twelfth, but his stamina was nearly depleted.
  • Maud knocked Kizaru down and pinned Fujitora in a crater before Kizaru returned to relieve him; Maud noticed Luo tiring and concluded that he still had to deal with the Pacifistas himself.

Ch. 902Under Shadow Slash, All Turn to Ashes

Maud intervened when Luo’s stamina failed, trapping Fujitora and Kizaru before turning the new Pacifistas to ash with his sword. He began clearing them from the battlefield, but the injured Admirals returned to stop him, leaving the Navy fearing the war could repeat the past.

  • After Luo defeated twelve Pacifistas and nearly exhausted himself, Maud used Shadow Suppression and Black Coffin to trap Fujitora and Kizaru, then returned to Luo’s side.
  • Maud killed a charging Pacifista with one slash, turning its regenerative body to ash and inspiring the beleaguered pirates.
  • Sentomaru was distracted by Maud’s feat, allowing Jim to strike him and pursue him across the battlefield.
  • Maud cut down more Pacifistas and used the power of vibration to shatter a barrage of Marine attacks, leaving nearly a hundred Marines dead or unconscious.
  • Kizaru and Fujitora arrived to stop Maud, visibly injured, and the surrounding Marines feared no one could restrain him.
Arc 36 of 40