Chapter Summaries

Gawain explained to Crocodile why he planned to reshape the East Blue first, using its weaker resistance to demonstrate a changed future to the world. As Gawain considered his crew and future plans, Kuma received a call from Dragon, who wanted to meet him at Reverse Mountain.

• Gawain told Crocodile that leaders had to help people understand change and consider their perspective when reshaping their lives.
• Gawain said the East Blue offered the best route to establish a successful example that other nations could witness, and Crocodile eagerly accepted his reasoning.
• Gawain assessed the strength and potential of the former Shichibukai and his crew, then outlined plans involving Gecko Moria, the Reverie, the New World, and the coming war.
• Gawain decided he would try to recruit Mihawk but would continue without him if necessary, trusting in his crew's strength and potential.
• Kuma answered a call from Dragon, who asked to meet him at Reverse Mountain.

Gawain trusted Kuma to meet Dragon alone, reassuring the Dark Bird Ship’s crew that he would not suspect or punish Kuma for meeting his former comrades. Kuma reunited with Dragon and Sabo atop Reverse Mountain and told Sabo he had found what he had lost.

• Crocus armed himself after hearing Dragon’s call, but Gawain explained that Dragon had come to meet Kuma, the Revolutionary Army’s second-in-command.
• Kuma anxiously asked Gawain to accompany him to meet Dragon, and Gion drew her sword in suspicion.
• Gawain reassured Kuma and the crew that he trusted them, then sent Kuma to meet Dragon and asked him to invite Dragon to meet at Reverse Mountain’s highest peak.
• Kuma solemnly declared that he no longer felt lost and walked to Reverse Mountain, while Ace watched Gawain and hoped to witness a meeting between Gawain and Dragon.
• Kuma greeted Dragon and reunited with Sabo, who asked how he had been; Kuma replied that he had found what he had lost.

Kuma told Dragon and Sabo that he had found a new path to revolution through serving Gawain, whom he trusted to dismantle class barriers and build a better future. Dragon recognized Kuma as a Dark Bird Ship officer, while Sabo urged the Revolutionary Army to capture him and attack Gawain; Kuma realized a large force had gathered and needed to warn Gawain.

• Kuma smiled as he described the future he envisioned with Gawain, and Dragon concluded that Kuma had found fulfillment by joining their enemy.
• Kuma insisted that Gawain was worthy of respect and defended his trust in Gawain's promise, while Sabo struggled to accept that he had chosen the Celestial Dragon's side.
• Dragon formally addressed Kuma as an officer of the Dark Bird Ship, and Kuma explained why he had lost faith in the Revolutionary Army's repeated uprisings and found hope in Gawain's plans.
• Kuma told Dragon that Gawain shared their goal of ending class divisions, but Sabo argued that a Celestial Dragon could not be trusted and proposed capturing Kuma and attacking Gawain.
• Sabo revealed that the Revolutionary Army had assembled a large force near Reverse Mountain, and Kuma realized he needed to warn Gawain.

Kuma rejected the Revolutionary Army and embraced his allegiance to Gawain, while sharing what he knew about Vegapunk’s Pacifista project. He returned to Twin Capes after Dragon agreed to meet Gawain, and Ace eagerly volunteered to accompany him.

• Dragon warned Sabo that they could only take Kuma away if Kuma truly wanted to return, and Kuma criticized Sabo’s impatience.
• Kuma told Dragon that Vegapunk had developed a Pacifista design template based on him and that the project could soon disrupt the balance of power.
• Kuma explained that Gawain had helped him regain his confidence and declared that he would no longer act against Gawain’s interests or meet Dragon privately.
• Dragon accepted Kuma’s decision, affirmed their friendship, and agreed to meet Gawain at Reverse Mountain.
• Kuma returned to Twin Capes and told Gawain that Dragon had accepted the invitation, while Ace volunteered to serve as Gawain’s guard for the meeting.

Ace persuaded Gawain to let him accompany him to meet Dragon on Reverse Mountain, while Kuma stayed behind at Twin Capes. Dragon and Sabo worried that Kuma’s defection reflected Gawain’s growing influence, and Ace approached the meeting eager to confront Dragon over neglecting Luffy.

• Zephyr and Gion argued that Ace would only hinder Gawain, but Gawain agreed to take him to meet Dragon after hearing how much Ace wanted to witness the encounter.
• Gawain led Ace up Reverse Mountain and told Kuma to wait at Twin Capes rather than accompany them.
• Dragon and Sabo discussed how Kuma’s decision to join Gawain could undermine the Revolutionary Army’s confidence and influence its members.
• Dragon sensed Gawain and Ace approaching, and Sabo prepared to meet them.
• Ace asked Gawain whether he could swear at Dragon, thinking angrily about how Dragon had left Luffy without seeing him for years.

Ace and Sabo recognized each other on Reverse Mountain, but Sabo’s sudden agony sparked a fight between Gawain and Dragon. Gawain took both brothers to the Dark Bird Ship, and the two crews prepared to clash as Ace rushed Sabo to the medical department.

• Gawain and Dragon greeted each other at the summit of Reverse Mountain while Ace and Sabo approached from opposite sides.
• Ace recognized Sabo and charged toward him, but Dragon blocked the way, prompting Gawain and Dragon to begin fighting.
• Sabo suffered a severe headache and collapsed, and Ace accused the Revolutionary Army of doing something to him.
• Gawain seized Ace and Sabo and carried them to the Dark Bird Ship while continuing to battle Dragon at Reverse Mountain.
• Ivankov led Revolutionary Army members up the mountain, while the Dark Bird Ship’s crew rushed to join the fight.
• Ace carried Sabo to Doctor Kureha, and Rayleigh ordered the remaining officers to prepare to fight the Revolutionary Army.

Gawain and Dragon fought to a stalemate above Reverse Mountain while Gawain’s allies quickly defeated the Revolutionary Army officers. As Dragon faced an increasingly hopeless position, Ace and Sabo arrived at the summit, interrupting the battle.

• Issho stopped Gion from joining Gawain’s fight and urged her and the others to defeat Dragon’s forces so Gawain could keep Dragon occupied.
• Gion fought Ivankov while Crocodile turned the mountaintop into sand, Issho summoned a meteor, and Kuma and Jinbe engaged Revolutionary Army fighters.
• Rayleigh and the other old-timers arrived and helped defeat the Revolutionary Army officers; Issho then joined Gion, and they subdued Ivankov.
• Gawain used lightning scattered around Reverse Mountain as escape routes while Dragon’s hurricane trapped and drained him, leaving their fight at a stalemate.
• Dragon realized his defeated subordinates left him without leverage against Gawain, just as Ace and Sabo burst onto the summit through flames.

Sabo’s recovered memories revealed his ties to Ace and Dragon, but Gawain refused to stop the battle and ordered the Dark Bird crew to overwhelm Dragon. Dragon was captured and brought before Gawain, where Ace tried to scold him for neglecting Luffy, prompting Sabo to hit Ace.

• Sabo rushed to Rayleigh and apologized for the misunderstanding, explaining that he had regained his memories and that Ace was his brother.
• Gawain told Sabo the fight would continue until someone won, then ordered Rayleigh, Gion, Kuma, and Hancock to take down Dragon.
• Crocodile, Issho, and the Dark Bird crew joined the assault, and the group defeated and captured Dragon while Sabo pleaded for them to stop.
• The crew brought Dragon to Gawain in Seastone restraints, and Sabo apologized for causing his suffering.
• Ace raised his Fire Fist and blamed Dragon for neglecting Luffy, so Sabo punched Ace and scolded him for missing the point.

Ace asked Gawain to release Dragon, and Gawain ended the fighting with the Revolutionary Army. After Sabo decided he wanted to visit Luffy in Foosha Village, Gawain insisted that Sabo travel with the Dark Bird Ship as a liaison, leaving Dragon to accept the arrangement.

• Ace apologized to Gawain and asked him to release Dragon, and Gawain agreed, joking that the Revolutionary Army would pay for the feast’s alcohol.
• Sabo freed Dragon and the Revolutionary Army officers, while Dragon acknowledged the strength of Gawain’s crew and formally greeted him.
• Ace angrily criticized Dragon for staying away from Luffy, and Sabo said he wanted to return to Foosha Village to see Luffy.
• Gawain proposed taking Sabo to Foosha Village and making him a liaison between the Dark Bird Ship and the Revolutionary Army, then used his authority and Conqueror’s Haki to press Dragon into accepting.
• Kuma carried Sabo away and told him to stay by his side for the next half year, while Gawain ordered a feast to celebrate Sabo’s recovered memories and welcome the Revolutionary Army.

After Kuma brought Sabo aboard the Dark Bird Ship, Gawain welcomed Dragon and the Revolutionary Army aboard for a banquet. Sabo looked forward to learning from Gawain and Kuma, while Dragon observed the ship’s tight-knit crew and the chapter ended with Koala envying the carefree children aboard.

• Isuka introduced herself to Sabo, who called her Ace’s sister-in-law and learned about the Iron Eagle Swordsmen.
• Kuma told Sabo he would study aboard the Dark Bird Ship until it returned to the Grand Line, and Sabo privately welcomed the chance to investigate Gawain’s organization.
• Gawain invited Dragon and the Revolutionary Army to a banquet aboard his ship, and Ivankov’s flirtation prompted Gion, Hancock, and Kalifa to rebuff her.
• Gawain sent Shiryu to intercept a ship climbing Reverse Mountain, then led the others aboard the Dark Bird Ship.
• Shirahoshi checked Gawain for injuries while Uta and Vivi bickered and fought, leaving Sabo and Dragon surprised by the crew’s cheerful atmosphere and Koala envious.

Gawain celebrated his newfound strength aboard the Dark Bird Ship while the Revolutionary Army settled in among its crew. Zephyr confronted Dragon over leaving the Marines and pursuing revolution, ending by accusing him of caring only about overthrowing the World Government, even at Kuma’s expense.

• Gawain relaxed with Shirahoshi, Vivi, and Uta after holding his own against Dragon for more than ten minutes, while Kuma and the crew entertained the Revolutionary Army.
• Dragon watched his subordinates enjoy the Dark Bird Ship as Rayleigh and Zephyr approached him.
• Zephyr criticized Dragon for abandoning the Marines and disappointing Garp, arguing he could have advanced justice from within the Navy.
• Dragon defended his decision, saying the Marines served the World Government and that only destroying it could solve the sea’s injustices.
• Zephyr accused Dragon of prioritizing the World Government’s overthrow over the common people and said he did not care about the sacrifices involved, including Kuma’s infiltration of Vegapunk.

Zephyr warned Dragon that Kuma’s infiltration of Vegapunk had been expected to end in his death, while Dragon wrestled with his own responsibility for allowing Kuma to make that choice. Zephyr then declared that the Navy and the Dark Bird Ship would support Gawain and oppose Dragon if the Revolutionary Army obstructed his plans, leaving Dragon to accept the warning and raise a toast to his teacher.

• Zephyr told Dragon that Navy leaders had suspected Kuma’s Revolutionary Army ties and had decided he could not leave Vegapunk alive.
• Crocus punched Zephyr for smoking despite his lung condition, and Rayleigh shared stories of painful choices with Dragon.
• Dragon admitted he had not firmly stopped Kuma from risking himself, then defended the choices he and Kuma had made.
• Zephyr explained that the Navy wanted gradual change under Gawain and warned Dragon that the Navy would fight the Revolutionary Army if it blocked Gawain’s path.
• Dragon thanked Zephyr, embraced him, and raised a toast to his teacher.

Ace and Sabo reunited aboard the Dark Bird Ship, talked about their lost years, and decided to get matching tattoos with Luffy’s initial. As they prepared to make the tattoo, the brothers argued over who was eldest before embracing and crying together.

• Ace hugged Sabo and asked how he had survived and joined the Revolutionary Army, while Sabo said being alive mattered more than their abandoned promise to become pirates.
• Ace asked Kuma to remove the tattoo bearing Sabo’s symbol, then said he wanted Shakky to tattoo ASL on his arm.
• Kuma explained that Shakky had once been Amazon Lily’s queen and that powerful pirate crews had protected the island; he also told Sabo about plans to blockade the Grand Line and asked him to help persuade Ivankov to relocate.
• Crocus urged Kureha to help him change the crew’s routines and require daily naps, but Kureha attacked him after he insulted her medical practice.
• Shakky agreed to tattoo Ace and Sabo, and the brothers argued over whether their initials should be ASL or SAL before embracing and crying.

Gawain reunited Ace and Sabo, arranged their ASL tattoos, and then sat down with Dragon to discuss the Revolutionary Army and their competing approaches to reform. He left Dragon considering Gawain’s claim that their goals were similar but his perspective was broader.

• Gawain interrupted Ace and Sabo’s reunion, then encouraged them to get ASL tattoos to honor their brotherhood with Luffy.
• Sabo reflected on Gawain’s influence and concluded that Gawain had become Kuma’s answer for changing the world.
• Gawain approached Dragon, shook his hand despite being soaked with seawater, and led him into a conversation about the Revolutionary Army’s recent silence.
• Gawain apologized for Ace’s actions and praised Dragon’s people, while Dragon voiced concern that Gawain was gathering talent from across the seas.
• Gawain told Dragon that he was a reformer like him, but steadier, and argued that his broader experience gave him a more comprehensive perspective.

Gawain pressured Dragon into withdrawing the Revolutionary Army from two Grand Line routes and accepting cooperation with his planned pirate blockade. He left Dragon with a warning that he intended to impose his own vision of order and would not tolerate the Revolutionary Army obstructing him.

• Gawain declared that he wanted to control the Grand Line and explained how holding Sabaody and Whiskey Peak would let him dominate its routes.
• Gawain offered Dragon a deal: withdraw from the Alabasta route and the route to Foosha Village, and he would use his influence to reduce the World Government's pursuit of the Revolutionary Army.
• Dragon realized Gawain was presenting his takeover as a concession, but accepted the withdrawals because he was Gawain's prisoner and had few options.
• Gawain demanded that Revolutionary Army forces on the remaining routes help stop pirates from crossing his planned blockade.
• Gawain accused Dragon of relying on chaos to fuel revolution and declared that he would solve the problems Dragon had failed to address.

Gawain left Dragon to face Rayleigh’s criticism of the Revolutionary Army, leaving Sabo doubtful and Dragon convinced he had been outmaneuvered. Seventeen days later, the Dark Bird crew prepared to leave Twin Capes, and Issho began lifting Laboon into the sky for transport.

• Gawain walked away from Dragon and told Rayleigh to entertain him, while Ace and Sabo worried about the confrontation and Sabo began questioning Dragon.
• Rayleigh confronted Dragon about the Revolutionary Army’s lack of achievements and the consequences of its rebellions, then forced him to sit and listen.
• Dragon realized Gawain had shaped the discussion to leave him politically cornered, and he noticed Sabo and Kuma growing distant from him.
• Seventeen days later, Franky announced that construction at Twin Capes was finished, and Gawain ordered the crew to prepare to depart for East Blue.
• Laboon surfaced beside Twin Capes, and Gawain asked Issho to transport him before the Dark Bird Ship.
• Issho used his power to lift Laboon and the surrounding seawater into the air, while Shirahoshi excitedly translated Laboon’s words and embarrassed Robin.

Gawain and the Dark Bird Group helped Laboon cross the Red Line, while Sabo struggled with his role aboard the ship and Ace embraced its ideals. In the East Blue, Smoker attacked a gathering of pirates, and Issho detected the battle as Gawain arrived overhead.

• Sabo worried he could not fulfill Dragon's expectations, while Ace argued that Gawain's generosity and work for civilians gave the crew a worthy purpose.
• Isuka and Koala lamented that Ace and Sabo had drawn the attention of the women they cared about.
• Issho explained that his gravity control could lift Laboon and the Dark Bird Ship across the Red Line, and Gawain joined Laboon with Shirahoshi on his back.
• More than one hundred pirate ships gathered near Reverse Mountain, and Smoker led four warships to attack them despite Tashigi questioning the pursuit.
• The pirates fired on Smoker's ships, and Smoker used his smoke to shield his warship as the Marines charged.
• Issho detected the battle from above and offered to look after Shirahoshi so Gawain could investigate.

Gawain left Issho and Shirahoshi to deal with the Marines and pirates fighting nearby, then joined Smoker’s battle and saved Tashigi when she recognized his sword and froze under enemy fire. He revealed his overwhelming power, captured the pirates, and asked Smoker and Tashigi to guide him around the East Blue, but Tashigi panicked after realizing she had insulted a Celestial Dragon.

• Gawain left Issho to care for Shirahoshi and flew toward Smoker’s battle with the pirates.
• Smoker led his warships through the pirates’ cannon barrage and defeated the highest-bounty captain while the Marines fought across the ships.
• Tashigi recognized Gawain’s Rokumei Kotetsu and dropped to her knees, leaving herself exposed to the pirates’ gunfire.
• Gawain used electromagnetic force to stop the weapons and bullets, melted the pirates’ weapons, and saved Tashigi.
• Gawain released his Conqueror’s Haki to knock out the pirates, then told Smoker and Tashigi to clean up and guide him around the East Blue.
• Tashigi praised Gawain’s strength before realizing she had once called him unworthy of Rokumei Kotetsu, and she broke down in fear that she had blasphemed against a Celestial Dragon.

Gawain spared Smoker and Tashigi after they captured 5,422 pirates, then arranged for them to join him aboard the Dark Bird Ship. As the ship headed toward Loguetown, Rayleigh and the crew discussed Garp, Ace, and their dwindling supplies, while Smoker eagerly anticipated meeting the ship’s famous passengers.

• Gawain reassured the tearful Tashigi and trembling Smoker, then told them to tie up the pirates without fear of punishment.
• Smoker reported that his warship could not transport all 5,422 prisoners, so Gawain arranged for his crew to handle them and had Smoker take him toward Reverse Mountain.
• Rayleigh’s crew set out for East Blue, where Rayleigh planned to confront Garp, and Ace explained why he considered the man who raised him his father rather than Roger.
• Rayleigh agreed to take Ace to a Marine base and discussed resupplying because Laboon had been eating too much human food.
• Issho brought Shirahoshi aboard the Dark Bird Ship and told Hancock that Gawain was approaching aboard Smoker’s warship.
• Smoker and Tashigi marveled at the Dark Bird Ship and its famous passengers, and Gawain invited them aboard before vanishing in a flash of lightning.

Gawain welcomed Smoker and Tashigi aboard the Dark Bird Ship and arranged for Zephyr and Gion to keep them occupied. He rejected splitting up the ship’s officers to oversee East Blue construction, instead ordering Lucci and Crocodile to deploy their Black Ice Terrace subordinates across the islands.

• Jinbe joked about the East Blue pirates and Marines, while Gawain explained that Tashigi and Smoker would soon arrive and assigned Gion and Zephyr to them.
• Gion lured Tashigi away with a Supreme Grade Sword, and Zephyr reunited with Smoker and reminded him to salute his former teacher.
• Gawain asked Franky about Sea Train routes, and Franky recommended making Loguetown the East Blue terminus while building stations across the region.
• Crocodile and Rayleigh warned that dividing the ship’s officers would hinder their training, but Gawain argued that the East Blue was weak enough to be overseen by Black Ice Terrace agents.
• Gawain ordered Lucci and Crocodile to send their former CP9 and Baroque Works agents across East Blue, delighting many of Crocodile’s subordinates while upsetting Lucci’s group.