Chapter Summaries

Bai Ye revealed that he possessed Pure Gold, prompting Big Mom to consider cooperating with him, though she remained undecided. After she traveled alone to Wano Country and met the gathered allies, Bai Ye left to bring Red-Hair, whose arrival would complete the assembly of all Four Emperors.

• Bai Ye told Big Mom he had obtained Pure Gold, and she considered how it could let him shape the world while wondering whether to cooperate with him.
• Big Mom decided to travel to Wano Country alone, leaving Perospero and the rest of her crew behind to protect Whole Cake Island.
• Bai Ye took Big Mom through Kamui Space to Wano Country, where she met Kaido, Whitebeard, and the others gathered against the World Government.
• Whitebeard said he had joined because the conflict could change the world, while Kaido questioned why Big Mom was still hesitating to join them.
• Bai Ye left to fetch Red-Hair, surprising Big Mom because his arrival would mean all Four Emperors had gathered.

Bai Ye brought Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates to Wano Country, where Shanks saw the society Bai Ye had built and questioned whether the World Government was the main barrier to extending it worldwide. Bai Ye told him the real key depended on neither the World Government nor the people leading the effort.

• Big Mom learned Shanks was expected to join Bai Ye and, after noticing Neptune and Fish-Man Island, considered the benefits of Fish-Man Island being under Bai Ye's command.
• The Red Hair Pirates wondered whether Bai Ye had tricked them by making them wait, but Shanks insisted he would arrive before Bai Ye appeared.
• Bai Ye used Kamui to transfer the Red Hair Pirates' ship to Wano Country, where Shanks examined the country and was impressed by what Bai Ye had built.
• Shanks asked whether the World Government was why Bai Ye had not transformed the whole world, and Bai Ye clarified that it was only one obstacle, not the true deciding factor.

Shanks questioned Bai Ye about his plans for what would follow the world's liberation and how he had obtained the Nika Fruit. Bai Ye left Shanks and the others debating his vision, then turned Shanks's question back on him, prompting Shanks to explain why the fruit's appearance had baffled him.

• Bai Ye told Shanks that people themselves had to change their lives, and Shanks agreed they could not rely entirely on Bai Ye.
• Shanks wondered whether people would know how to manage their lives afterward, and Bai Ye said liberation would free their minds as well as the world.
• Beckman explained that Wano Country's people had been freed from ignorance and hardship, and argued that Bai Ye's approach might surpass the disorder of the Great Pirate Era.
• Shanks asked how Bai Ye had obtained the Nika Fruit, and Bai Ye asked Shanks where he thought it had come from.
• Shanks said he had gone to Foosha Village and found Luffy alive, even though Bai Ye had displayed Nika's power, and admitted that the two apparent Nika users were the mystery he wanted to solve.

Shanks questioned how Bai Ye could wield Nika's abilities when the Copy-Copy Fruit should not duplicate a power so completely, and Bai Ye proposed that Devil Fruits might have been created. Bai Ye urged Shanks to live for himself rather than a prophecy, then judged Roger's Great Pirate Era as both wrong for harming ordinary people and partly necessary while the World Government remained in power.

• Shanks asked Bai Ye how he had acquired Nika's abilities, and Bai Ye suggested that Devil Fruits could be created by technology or by the world itself.
• Beckman asked whether Nika had also been created, but Bai Ye said he did not know, leaving the others uncertain.
• Shanks stopped pursuing the origin of Bai Ye's powers and asked whether Bai Ye considered himself the Nika destined to change the world.
• Bai Ye told Shanks that anyone could be Nika, but that he should live as himself rather than for a prophecy or a label.
• Bai Ye asked Shanks what he thought of Roger's era, and Shanks acknowledged that pirates were seen as evil by ordinary people.
• Bai Ye said Roger's Great Pirate Era had harmed ordinary people, but argued that Roger had also exposed the need to confront the World Government.

Bai Ye explained to Shanks how Roger’s upheaval had brought hardship to ordinary people and urged him to help end the world’s existing balance. Shanks agreed to think it over, then joined Bai Ye’s banquet, where the gathered powers tested his strength before Bai Ye stopped them.

• Bai Ye told Shanks that revolutions replaced one oppressor with another, while ordinary people mainly needed stable, peaceful lives.
• Bai Ye urged Shanks to help bring the failed world to an end, and Shanks said he would consider it.
• Bai Ye brought Shanks to a banquet attended by Whitebeard, Big Mom, Golden Lion, Mihawk, Bullet, and others.
• Shanks and the assembled fighters released Conqueror’s Haki to test one another, threatening the people nearby.
• Bai Ye ordered them to stop, and Golden Lion admitted that Shanks’s Conqueror’s Haki was exceptionally powerful.

Bai Ye proposed inviting the Marines to the banquet, saying he wanted them to join the equal world he planned to create. After Big Mom and Old John challenged him to bring Akainu without force, Bai Ye decided to go see whether he could invite some Marines.

• Shanks joined the gathering and sat with Mihawk while everyone settled among familiar companions.
• Bai Ye said the banquet felt incomplete without the Marines and explained that they could still be friends if they accepted his future world.
• Big Mom challenged Bai Ye to bring Akainu to the banquet, and Old John joined her wager, while Whitebeard, Golden Lion, and Kaido declined.
• Old John reconsidered and withdrew his wager, suspecting Bai Ye had a plan to make the challenge succeed.
• Bai Ye told Golden Lion he would go see whether he could invite some Marines and left the kowtowing question for later.

Bai Ye gave up trying to persuade Big Mom and the others to make a bet, then returned to the prison and invited the captured Marines to his banquet. Kizaru pointed out that the World Government had abandoned them, leaving the Marines to consider whether to accept Bai Ye’s offer.

• Big Mom complained that no one would join her, while Kaido and Whitebeard mocked her for backing away from her own challenge.
• Bai Ye criticized the group for refusing to bet, but Old John accused him of setting another trap, and Bai Ye left without forcing anyone to bow.
• Bai Ye returned to the prison, where Garp asked him to bring food from the banquet and Akainu objected to the Marines accepting anything from a pirate.
• Kizaru told Akainu that the World Government had abandoned them, and Bai Ye agreed that they should stop pretending otherwise.
• Bai Ye invited the Marines to attend his banquet, leaving Kizaru surprised and Aokiji considering whether to go.

Kizaru, Aokiji, and Garp supported attending Bai Ye’s banquet, and Bai Ye invited every Marine and the people of the islands under his influence. Akainu reluctantly joined them, telling himself he would watch Bai Ye’s group closely as they began their new world.

• Kizaru suggested accepting the invitation, and Akainu snapped at him for wanting to feast with pirates.
• Aokiji backed Kizaru, arguing that the Marines no longer had a place in the coming war and that Bai Ye’s group could improve the world.
• Garp asked Bai Ye to release all the bound Marines so they could attend, and Bai Ye agreed, welcoming anyone willing to abandon their former identity and accept equality.
• Akainu found himself leaving the prison with the others, while Kizaru persuaded him that returning or fleeing would accomplish nothing.
• Akainu followed Kizaru to the banquet, deciding he would observe Bai Ye’s group and judge whether they were truly different from the World Government.

Bai Ye brought Akainu to the island and hosted a feast that drew Marines, pirates, and other factions together, prompting Shanks, Big Mom, and Akainu to reconsider their positions. Meanwhile, at the former Whitebeard Pirates’ territory, Thatch held a Devil Fruit as Whitebeard’s gaze turned greedy.

• Old John and Golden Lion were astonished when Bai Ye arrived with Akainu, while Kaido teased Big Mom about her promise to kowtow.
• Bai Ye let Big Mom off the hook and invited everyone, regardless of identity, to join a feast with the Marines.
• Beckman and Shanks discussed whether Bai Ye could achieve his aims, while Mihawk told Shanks to make his own decision.
• Big Mom weighed whether to join Bai Ye, and the Marines realized he had gathered the Four Emperors and nearly every major faction.
• Akainu accepted the possibility that Bai Ye’s side might prevail and chose to watch what happened.
• At the former Whitebeard Pirates’ territory, Thatch held a Devil Fruit, and Whitebeard felt greed rise as he saw it.

Blackbeard recognized the Dark-Dark Fruit in Thatch’s possession and decided to steal it, planning to flee and seek the World Government’s help. Thatch remained unsure whether to eat the fruit, unaware of Blackbeard’s intentions.

• Blackbeard saw the Dark-Dark Fruit and weighed the risks of taking it, ultimately deciding he had to obtain it and act after nightfall.
• Blackbeard considered asking Thatch for the fruit but chose to wait until Thatch let his guard down, steal it, and escape.
• Thatch wondered why Whitebeard had left him behind and hesitated to eat the fruit because its ability might be weak and give him a vulnerability.
• Thatch asked Teach whether he recognized the fruit, but Teach denied knowing what it was.
• Teach asked whether Thatch planned to eat the fruit, and Thatch admitted he was undecided.

Blackbeard persuaded Thatch to keep the Dark-Dark Fruit instead of eating it, while explaining that they might later rejoin Whitebeard’s forces. When Thatch went to rest, Blackbeard decided to kill him and take the fruit ahead of schedule.

• Blackbeard hid his intent to steal the fruit and convinced Thatch to wait before deciding whether to eat it.
• Thatch agreed to keep the fruit and complained that he wanted to leave their post and join Whitebeard.
• Blackbeard explained that Bai Ye would eliminate the pirates in the New World, after which they could reunite with Whitebeard and fight the World Government.
• Thatch accepted Blackbeard’s advice, said he was going to rest, and left.
• Blackbeard watched Thatch go and decided to act immediately, believing few strong fighters remained to stop him.

Blackbeard tried to steal the Dark-Dark Fruit from Thatch while the Whitebeard Pirates celebrated, hoping to avoid killing his crewmate. Thatch caught him with the fruit in hand, and Blackbeard admitted he had joined the ship to find it and intended to take it, leaving their confrontation unresolved.

• Blackbeard held back from approaching Thatch's room while patrols were active and refused to join the crew's party.
• Blackbeard watched Thatch lock the Dark-Dark Fruit in a chest and waited until late night to sneak into his room.
• Blackbeard found the fruit and began taking it, but Thatch woke and caught him.
• Blackbeard admitted he had wanted the Dark-Dark Fruit for years and had joined the Whitebeard Pirates to find it.
• Thatch accused Blackbeard of deceiving him and betraying their family for the fruit.

Blackbeard killed Thatch to take the Dark-Dark Fruit, then fled toward the World Government. The Whitebeard Pirates found Thatch dead and reported the betrayal to Whitebeard, who suspected Teach was responsible.

• Blackbeard stabbed Thatch, ate the Dark-Dark Fruit, and left him to die.
• Thatch realized Blackbeard had poisoned the blade and tried to reach a Den Den Mushi, but collapsed before he could alert anyone.
• Blackbeard escaped by boat toward the Red Line, planning to seek the World Government.
• The Whitebeard Pirates found Thatch dead with Teach's name written near him, but could not find Teach.
• The crew reported Thatch's death to Whitebeard, who suspected Teach had killed him.

Whitebeard’s crew discussed Thatch’s death and Teach’s betrayal, while Ace pushed to pursue Teach and Whitebeard urged everyone to wait. Bai Ye arrived as they realized Teach was likely heading to the World Government.

• Whitebeard vowed to make Teach answer for killing Thatch but still wanted to give him a chance to explain.
• Ace demanded to pursue Teach, but Marco stopped him and Whitebeard ordered the crew to wait.
• Marco speculated that Teach had defected to the World Government, and Whitebeard and Ace agreed it was the most likely destination.
• Bai Ye arrived and overheard the crew discussing Thatch’s death and Teach’s betrayal.

Ace asked Bai Ye to help him find Teach, but their search along the routes out of the New World failed, and Bai Ye suspected the World Government had taken Teach away. As Ace remained reluctant to give up, Bai Ye revealed that he knew Ace was Roger’s son because Roger’s corpse was still in his possession.

• Ace asked Bai Ye to help him find Teach, and Whitebeard agreed to search but said they would stop if they could not locate him.
• Bai Ye explained that Teach might have prepared an escape route or sought help from the World Government.
• Bai Ye and Ace searched the likely routes out of the New World but found no sign of Teach.
• Bai Ye concluded that Teach had likely been taken away by the World Government, and Ace protested against abandoning the search.
• Bai Ye called Ace as stubborn as his father and revealed that Roger’s corpse was still in his possession.
• Ace reflected on his resentment toward Roger and the pain tied to being the Pirate King’s son.

Bai Ye told Ace that Roger was a complicated man and urged him to live his own life rather than cling to his father’s legacy. Unable to find Teach, Bai Ye and Ace returned to Whitebeard, while Teach reached the Holy Land with Cipher Pol and eagerly surveyed its riches.

• Bai Ye explained to Ace that Roger had both merits and faults, and that people had been sacrificed in his attempts to change the world.
• Bai Ye advised Ace not to let Roger define his life, and Ace stopped searching for Teach after concluding he might have gone to the World Government.
• Bai Ye and Ace returned to Whitebeard without finding Teach, and Whitebeard accepted that they would have to wait.
• Teach revealed his abilities to Cipher Pol and secured passage to the Holy Land in exchange for the Munch-Munch Fruit.
• Teach admired the Holy Land’s luxury and imagined taking advantage of the opportunity to become its new god.

Blackbeard entered the Holy Land to meet the Five Elders, hoping to use the World Government while it was weakened and eventually claim power for himself. He openly told the Five Elders that both sides were using each other.

• Blackbeard admired the Holy Land and planned to benefit if Bai Ye and the World Government weakened each other.
• A CP agent tried to intimidate Blackbeard, but another restrained him because the Five Elders wanted to see Blackbeard.
• CP agents led Blackbeard to the palace, where he speculated about the Five Elders’ possible immortality.
• Saint Saturn called Blackbeard a filthy bug when he met the Five Elders.
• Blackbeard declared that he and the World Government were using each other, and the Five Elders narrowed their eyes at his defiance.

Blackbeard negotiated with the Five Elders, offering to help the World Government in return for Devil Fruits and warning them that Whitebeard had joined Bai Ye. The Five Elders agreed to test Blackbeard’s ability to use multiple Devil Fruits by bringing Wapol to him, leaving Blackbeard’s life dependent on whether he could absorb the Munch-Munch Fruit.

• Blackbeard told the Five Elders he wanted to cooperate with the World Government and explained that Whitebeard and the Whitebeard Pirates had joined Bai Ye.
• Saint Jaygarcia Saturn challenged Blackbeard’s claim that he could help the World Government, and Blackbeard promised to prove his ability if they provided Devil Fruits.
• Blackbeard demanded the Munch-Munch Fruit, and Saint Saturn ordered Wapol brought to them for a test.
• Blackbeard showed the Five Elders his Dark-Dark Fruit ability and said he would demonstrate the Munch-Munch Fruit’s power next.
• Blackbeard privately worried that he might fail to absorb Wapol’s ability and that the Five Elders would kill him.

Blackbeard demonstrated to the Five Elders that he could absorb Wapol’s Munch-Munch Fruit and demanded access to Impel Down as a condition of cooperating with the World Government. He argued that releasing prisoners to join his crew would help them fight Bai Ye, leaving the Five Elders to consider his proposal.

• CP brought Wapol to Blackbeard, who used the Dark-Dark Fruit to absorb Wapol’s Devil Fruit ability.
• The Five Elders realized Blackbeard could take another Devil Fruit power and considered his value to the World Government.
• Blackbeard demanded to enter Impel Down, but the Five Elders objected to him recruiting its prisoners.
• Blackbeard argued that his crew would help the World Government by fighting Bai Ye, and the Five Elders asked him to explain his plan.

Blackbeard tried to persuade the Five Elders to let him recruit or release prisoners from Impel Down so he could build strength against Bai Ye. The Five Elders considered the risks after he left, with Saint Saturn suspecting Blackbeard had ambitions beyond the New World.

• Blackbeard argued that the World Government should cooperate with him against Bai Ye and let him take the prisoners from Impel Down.
• The Five Elders weighed the dangers of releasing Level 6 pirates, including losing the Marines’ trust and empowering criminals they could not control.
• Saint Saturn demanded that Blackbeard offer something in return, but Blackbeard said he had only intelligence to provide and promised to fight Bai Ye later.
• Blackbeard claimed that even if he could not control the prisoners, their release would cause trouble for Bai Ye, and the Five Elders told him they would consider his request.
• Blackbeard left after demanding food, and the Five Elders discussed whether to let him enter Impel Down; Saint Saturn warned that Blackbeard might have ambitions like Bai Ye.