Recaps

Ares reunited with Whitebeard and amazed Marco, Jozu, and Vista with his immense strength and steel-hard muscles. He explained his wager to take control of the Land of Wano, and Whitebeard recognized how much Ares had changed and how close he was to becoming its ruler.

• Whitebeard charged to meet Ares, and the two clashed briefly with their weapons and Haki before greeting each other warmly.
• Marco, Jozu, and Vista met Ares and tested his steel-hard muscles, while Marco asked how he had trained them.
• Ares told Whitebeard that he wanted a favor and explained the wager concerning the Land of Wano.
• Whitebeard praised Ares's progress and judged that his plan could let him take the country with little bloodshed and eventually replace the Rocks Pirates' position.
• Marco, Jozu, and Vista reacted with excitement to Ares's prospect of becoming Wano's shogun and to its samurai.

Ares brought Whitebeard and his sons to the Land of Wano, where Whitebeard promised to fight beside him if he ever went to war with the World Government. Ares joked that he would take care of Whitebeard’s sons if Whitebeard died, prompting the awakened boys to look on in confusion.

• Whitebeard praised Ares as the strongest samurai of the Land of Wano, and he and his sons eagerly agreed to visit.
• Ares transformed into an azure dragon, carried everyone with Flame Clouds, and flew toward Wano as the children marveled at the sky and sea.
• As they neared Wano, Whitebeard noticed two nearby islands, and Ares explained that he had moved them there and wanted to build a power capable of resisting the World Government.
• Ares asked whether Whitebeard would help him fight the World Government, and Whitebeard promised that he would not be absent from such a war.
• Ares joked that he would care for Whitebeard’s sons if Whitebeard died, and Whitebeard insisted Ares was their uncle as the boys woke and stared at him.

Ares brought Whitebeard and his companions to Kuri, where Kaido showed off the God of War Pirates’ growing territory and invited Whitebeard to join. Marco revealed his Phoenix abilities, and the group became curious about Jin’s brutal training.

• Ares teased Marco during their flight and led Whitebeard’s group through Kuri Harbor to the developing town.
• At a feast, Kaido bragged about the God of War Pirates’ growth and offered Whitebeard the vice-captain position, but Whitebeard refused and Marco declared they would form their own crew.
• Ginny and Ivankov recognized Marco from God Valley, and Marco revealed his blue-flamed Phoenix form, astonishing the gathered pirates.
• Marco questioned Jin about his injuries, and Jin explained that he and others trained under Ares to build powerful bodies and wills.
• Kaido invited Marco, Jozu, and Vista to observe the training the next day.

Ares defended his crew’s brutal training to Whitebeard, while Marco, Jozu, and Vista joined the God of War Pirates’ regimen. After enduring body-conditioning and fighting the baboons on Baboon Island, they learned that defeating the Baboon King and training on another island awaited them.

• Ares and Kaido told Whitebeard that pirates had to endure hardship to become strong, then Ares and Whitebeard drank until they both passed out.
• Marco, Jozu, and Vista watched Jin, Kuma, and the others beat themselves with wooden sticks, then joined the training themselves.
• After the stick training, Marco used his Phoenix flames to heal Jozu, and Kuma explained that the next session involved fighting baboons on Baboon Island.
• Jin defeated two baboons before losing to a third, while Marco, Jozu, and Vista struggled to defeat one each.
• Kuma told Marco, Jozu, and Vista that they would challenge the Baboon King after mastering the first stage, then continue training on another island.

Marco, Jozu, and Vista told Whitebeard about their training and their ambitions, while Whitebeard visited Ares and saw his seastone-shackle training. As the Night of the Fire Festival approached, Ares, Whitebeard, Kaido, and their companions dressed in Wano-style clothing and set off for the Capital of Flowers.

• Whitebeard treated Marco, Jozu, and Vista’s wounds, and they explained that they wanted to grow stronger and pursue their own goals.
• Whitebeard agreed to remain in Land of Wano longer, and Marco vowed to defeat Sun Wukong, the baboon king named by Ares.
• Whitebeard visited Ares’s training ground and watched him strike his body with a spiked club while wearing seastone shackles.
• Ares told Whitebeard that the Night of the Fire Festival was ten days away and reassured him that he did not underestimate the World Government.
• Ten days later, Ares, Whitebeard, Kaido, and their companions dressed in kimonos and left Kuri for the Capital of Flowers.

On Fire Festival Night, Ares arrived in the Capital of Flowers to begin the duel that would determine the Land of Wano’s future. Kaido fought first against Kozuki Oden, and their opening clash showed that Kaido’s strength exceeded Oden’s.

• Sukiyaki and the daimyos prepared for the duel, while rumors spread that Ares had defeated all the daimyos together.
• Ares and his companions gathered outside the Capital of Flowers, where Sukiyaki arrived and both sides wrote down their duelist lists.
• Kaido stepped forward to face Kozuki Oden, drawing cheers from the God of War Pirates.
• Oden launched Oden Two Sword Style: Totsuka, but Kaido blocked it with Thunder Bagua and overpowered him in their first clash.

Kaido dominated the opening of his duel with Kozuki Oden, but Oden unleashed stronger techniques as the battle intensified. Kaido entered a berserk state and continued driving Oden back, leaving the outcome undecided.

• Kaido boasted that he would become Ares's right-hand man and overwhelmed Oden with his strength and Haki.
• Sukiyaki worried that Oden had to endure for three hours, while Shimotsuki Ushimaru and Shimotsuki Yasuiie discussed the threat posed by Ares's powerful crew.
• Whitebeard, Marco, Vista, and Ashura Doji watched the duel and assessed Kaido's and Oden's strength.
• Ares reflected on the need to build powerful forces to oppose the World Government and considered the potential of Wano's samurai.
• Oden attacked with Fire Festival Meteor and Togen Shirataki, but Kaido countered with Thunder Bagua and Ragnarok.
• Kaido grew more excited, entered a berserk mode, and repeatedly knocked Oden back as their fight continued.

Kaido revealed his swordsmanship and battled Kozuki Oden while Ares explained Kaido’s training and taught Chinjao about Advanced Armament Haki. Just as Sukiyaki thought Oden could hold out, Kaido transformed into a Mythical Zoan creature with eight arms, leaving the spectators fearing for Oden.

• Kaido used powerful club slashes against Oden, who countered with his two-sword style and Advanced Armament Haki.
• Ares explained that Kaido had trained in swordsmanship and the Six Powers, then agreed to teach Chinjao Advanced Armament Haki.
• Ares considered seeking Pure Gold for Chinjao in the future, while Sukiyaki watched the battle and believed Oden could last three hours.
• Kaido declared that he was done playing and transformed, growing dense fur, four faces, and multiple pairs of arms.
• Oden recognized Kaido’s Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, and Sukiyaki, Shimotsuki Yasuiie, and Shimotsuki Ushimaru feared Oden could no longer hold out.

Kaido defeated Kozuki Oden in their duel after transforming with his Mythical Zoan ability, but Oden remained determined to grow stronger and protect Wano. Kaido ended by inviting Oden to join the God of War Pirates, astonishing Sukiyaki and the daimyos.

• Kaido used his Mythical Zoan powers to overwhelm Oden with a storm of punches, leaving Oden badly wounded.
• Kin'emon, Raizo, Izo, Kikunojo, Whitebeard, and others watched as Oden's chances of winning dwindled, while Sukiyaki and the daimyos prepared for the next duel.
• Oden unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, withdrew briefly, and declared he would fight with everything he had rather than accept defeat lightly.
• Oden and Kaido exchanged their strongest attacks, and Kaido's Eight-Armed Heavenly Net sent Oden crashing into a crater, defeating him.
• Wounded but inspired, Oden vowed to grow stronger and defend Wano's honor, then Kaido invited him to join the God of War Pirates, shocking Sukiyaki and the daimyos.

After Kaido defeated Oden, Oden agreed to join Ares’s group if they won the duel, and Chinjao began the second match against Shimotsuki Yasuiie. Chinjao overwhelmed Yasuiie with his Hasshoken techniques, leaving Wano’s observers worried as the fight continued.

• Oden agreed to join Ares’s group if they won the duel, despite Sukiyaki’s objections.
• Kaido celebrated his victory, while Ares and the others prepared Chinjao for the second match.
• Shimotsuki Yasuiie introduced himself and attacked Chinjao with sword strikes, but Chinjao shattered them with his cone and fists.
• Chinjao used Cone Dragon Cone Nail to split the ground, then spun forward and forced Yasuiie backward.
• Sukiyaki, Shimotsuki Ushimaru, and Wano’s allies worried about Yasuiie’s chances as Ugetsu Tempura noted Ares’s confidence in Chinjao.

Chinjao revealed his Mythical Zoan Yamata no Orochi form and overwhelmed Shimotsuki Kanjuro, putting Wano’s second duel and the Kōzuki Family’s rule in jeopardy. Whitebeard learned that Ares had another Mythical Zoan Fruit, which Ares said he had not yet chosen whom to give.

• Chinjao transformed into the eight-headed Yamata no Orochi, shocking Shimotsuki Ushimaru, Kanjuro, Sukiyaki, and Hyogoro.
• Chinjao explained that Mythical Zoan fruits were rare treasures that could be seized through strength, then challenged Kanjuro to face his power.
• Chinjao hardened his eight cones with Armament Haki and battered Kanjuro with his Hasshoken Secret Technique: Cone Dragon Cone Nail.
• Sukiyaki feared that Kanjuro would lose the second duel and that the Kōzuki Family might lose its inherited shogun position.
• Whitebeard recognized Chinjao’s Yamata no Orochi form and revealed that Ares possessed another Mythical Zoan Fruit.
• Ares confirmed that he had another Mythical Zoan Fruit but had not decided whom to give it to.

Chinjao defeated Shimotsuki Yasuiie with his Yamata no Orochi form and Conqueror's Haki, giving Ares's side a second victory in the duels. Whitebeard then entered the arena for the third match as Shimotsuki Ushimaru prepared to fight him.

• Chinjao overwhelmed Shimotsuki Yasuiie with his eight-headed attacks and Conqueror's Haki, knocking him out and winning the second duel.
• Sukiyaki put his hopes in Shimotsuki Ushimaru, who accepted the responsibility of defending Wano and headed to the arena with Shusui.
• Ares praised Chinjao's easy victory and warned his crew not to underestimate future opponents such as the Rocks Pirates or the Marines.
• Whitebeard walked onto the battlefield for the third duel and asked Ares to treat him to wine and meat afterward.

Whitebeard defeated Shimotsuki Ushimaru in their duel, securing Ares's victory and his claim to become Wano's shogun. As Sukiyaki accepted the outcome but urged caution about opening Wano's borders, Kozuki Oden asked Ares to take him out to sea.

• Whitebeard overwhelmed Ushimaru's sword strike, then sent him flying with a quake-powered punch, winning the duel.
• Oden praised the strength of the warriors from beyond Wano and told his retainers they could join Ares as his subjects.
• Sukiyaki accepted that Wano had lost the duels, while Hyogoro resolved to keep his men in line under Ares's rule.
• Ares asked Sukiyaki and Wano's daimyos to attend the shogun transfer ceremony and said Wano must eventually open its borders.
• Oden approached Ares and asked to join him and travel out to sea.

Ares became Wano’s shogun and challenged Oden to become the strongest samurai before joining the God of War Pirates. After the Fire Festival duel, the defeated samurai reconsidered their futures while Ares celebrated and planned to strengthen his forces before opening Wano’s borders.

• Ares invited Oden to join his crew if Oden became Wano’s strongest samurai, and Oden eagerly accepted the challenge.
• Ares left with Whitebeard, Kaido, and the others as Wano’s people debated his rule and the country’s future.
• Sukiyaki accepted that Ares was the new shogun, and Shimotsuki Ushimaru asked to give up his daimyo title and go to sea.
• Kurozumi Orochi left Kanjuro and hurried toward Ares’s victory banquet, hoping to earn a reward and a position as daimyo.
• At the banquet, Ares told Whitebeard that he would strengthen the God of War Pirates before opening Wano’s borders.

Ares planned to turn the God of War Pirates and the Land of Wano’s forces into a disciplined army, assigning Kaido to lead the Ape Army. When Kurozumi Orochi came to claim a reward, Ares ordered Kanjuro to kill him and revealed that he knew Orochi’s identity.

• Ares agreed to consider organizing his forces as an army after the handover ceremony, and Kaido volunteered to command the Ape Army of Human Mimickers.
• Ares planned to establish a smelting department and other military units, while Chinjao would reorganize the Happo Navy as the Water Serpent Army.
• A subordinate announced that Orochi had come to see Ares, and Kurozumi Orochi flattered Ares while asking to be rewarded for his service.
• Ares ordered Kanjuro to kill Orochi, then confronted him about hiding his identity as a member of the Kurozumi Family.
• Ashura Doji recognized Orochi as a surviving member of the Kurozumi Family.

Ares became shogun of the Land of Wano after killing Kurozumi Orochi and Kanjuro. He then asked Sukiyaki to take him to the Ancient Weapon, Pluton, leaving Sukiyaki terrified that Ares intended to seize it.

• Ashura Doji reacted with murderous anger when Ares identified Kurozumi Orochi as a remnant of the Kurozumi Family.
• Ares forced Kanjuro to kill Orochi, then revealed Kanjuro's identity and killed him.
• Sukiyaki notified Ares that preparations were underway to transfer the shogun's position, and Ares attended the ceremony in the capital of the Land of Flowers.
• At the ceremony, Sukiyaki formally appointed Ares shogun, and Ares learned that Shimotsuki Ushimaru had gone out to sea.
• Ares privately asked Sukiyaki to take him to Pluton, and Sukiyaki feared that Ares was plotting to obtain the Ancient Weapon.

Ares learned how to reach Pluton and planned to recruit Vegapunk to supply the energy needed to activate it and reproduce Poneglyph material. He returned to the Capital of Flowers to meet with the daimyō, burdened by the many responsibilities ahead.

• Ares persuaded Sukiyaki to show him Pluton, arguing that it could be used as a hidden trump card, though Sukiyaki warned that it could not be activated without enormous energy.
• Ares added Vegapunk to his recruitment plans because Vegapunk could create the Mother Flame and artificial Devil Fruits.
• Ares struck a Poneglyph and discovered that its stone was exceptionally durable, then resolved to have scientists study how to reproduce its material.
• Sukiyaki warned Ares to keep Pluton's existence secret, and Ares agreed before leaving the underground chamber.
• Ares returned alone to the shogun's residence, where Shimotsuki Yasuiie, Ugetsu Tempura, and Fugetsu Omugi were waiting.

Ares assigned regional leadership and began planning Wano’s infrastructure and institutions while considering how to recruit talent from overseas. He decided to visit Ohara for its books and to seek Nico Olvia as an administrative aide.

• Ares kept the three daimyos in their posts, put Chinjao temporarily in charge of Kuri, and appointed Oden daimyo of Ringo in exchange for promising to teach him Dual Sword Style.
• Ares put Kaido in charge of the Capital of Flowers and led a meeting that settled on building roads as Wano’s first administrative priority.
• While training, Ares considered seeking Vegapunk and the Golden Land’s resources, then decided he wanted Nico Olvia to help manage Wano and Ohara’s books for the country’s development.
• Ares asked Chinjao for a West Blue map and an Eternal Pose to the Land of Flowers, explaining that he planned to visit Ohara for books and to recruit help.

After settling into his role as shogun of Land of Wano, Ares traveled to Ohara to investigate the scholars studying Poneglyphs. He abducted Nico Olvia and revealed himself when she woke, leaving her terrified after she recognized the 3.5-billion-Berry pirate.

• Ares made a rubbing of Land of Wano’s red Poneglyph and considered how he might obtain the other Road Poneglyphs.
• After sparring with Whitebeard while Land of Wano adjusted to its new shogun, Ares left for Ohara.
• Dr. Clover D. Clover, Nico Olvia, and the other scholars discussed deciphering the Poneglyphs and the possibility of searching for more, though Clover warned them against an expedition.
• Ares listened unseen as the scholars spoke, then followed Olvia from the Tree of Knowledge to her home.
• The next day, Ares knocked Olvia unconscious with Conqueror’s Haki, carried her to a secluded seaside, and waited for her to wake.
• Olvia tried to flee, collided with Ares, and recognized him as the God of War with a 3.5-billion-Berry bounty.

Ares recruited Nico Olvia to work for him by offering access to Poneglyph knowledge and protection from the World Government. After Olvia left Ohara, Ares took her toward Sky Island to search for a Poneglyph.

• Ares offered Olvia a secretary's work in exchange for sharing what he knew about the Poneglyphs and helping her learn their ancient script.
• Olvia accepted, and Ares showed her a copy of a Road Poneglyph and explained the Road and Intelligence Poneglyphs.
• Ares warned Olvia not to share the copy or what she had memorized with Clover or anyone else, then destroyed it.
• Olvia left a farewell note for Clover and departed with Ares the next day.
• Ares summoned a Flame Cloud, and he and Olvia flew toward Sky Island to find the first Poneglyph.

Ares and Olvia landed at Twin Cape, where Ares stopped Laboon from charging Reverse Mountain and told him the Rumba Pirates had died. Olvia impulsively invited Laboon to travel with them, and Ares agreed, leaving Crocus relieved but worried that he would be alone at Twin Cape.

• Olvia became hungry, so Ares landed the Flame Cloud at Twin Cape and found Crocus near the lighthouse.
• Crocus went to prepare food as Laboon charged toward Reverse Mountain, and Ares stopped the enormous whale with one hand.
• Ares told Laboon and Crocus that the Rumba Pirates had been wiped out, leaving Laboon in grief and Crocus shaken.
• Olvia learned Laboon's story and invited him to join them on their journey to the Grand Line.
• Ares agreed to take Laboon along on the condition that he obey, and Crocus realized Laboon's departure would leave him alone at Twin Cape.

Crocus joined Ares and Olvia to care for Laboon, then examined Ares and discovered his body was nearly impervious to needles and possessed monstrous vitality. Afterward, Ares resumed training, and Olvia asked whether other people at sea were as powerful as he was.

• Crocus asked to travel with Ares and Olvia so he could continue treating Laboon, and Olvia agreed.
• Crocus learned that Ares carried everyone through the air on a Flame Cloud instead of sailing on a ship.
• Crocus worried that Ares's brutal training was damaging his body, so Ares agreed to an examination.
• Crocus's syringes bent against Ares's skin, and other examinations revealed Ares's extraordinary physique and vitality.
• Ares resumed training, and Olvia asked whether other powerhouses on the sea matched his strength.

Ares brought the sick Olvia to Drum Island, where Dr. Kureha offered to treat her and asked whether they wanted to know the secret to her youth. Crocus and Olvia said yes, but Ares flatly refused.

• Crocus told Olvia that several Great Pirates rivaled Ares, and then described Golden Lion's growing pirate fleet.
• Olvia caught a cold while traveling, and Crocus's medicine failed to improve her condition.
• Ares flew Olvia and Crocus to Drum Island to find medical care and brought them to Hiruluk and Dr. Kureha.
• Dr. Kureha said she was 103 years old and offered to reveal the secret to her eternal youth for an extra fee.
• Crocus and Olvia eagerly agreed to hear the secret, while Ares answered no.

Ares offered Dr. Kureha a place in his service in exchange for sharing the secret of immortality, then left to search Drum Island for the Hito Hito Fruit: Model Human. He found the Munch-Munch Fruit instead and decided it would help develop the Land of Wano.

• Ares told Crocus and Olvia that he knew how to obtain an extraordinarily long lifespan and offered to share the secret with Dr. Kureha if she became his subordinate.
• Ares asked Dr. Kureha to treat Olvia while he went to search for a Devil Fruit, and Dr. Kureha stayed behind to consider his proposal.
• Ares used Observation Haki to find and follow a herd of reindeer through the snow.
• Ares discovered a Devil Fruit wedged between snow-covered boulders and recognized it as the Paramecia Munch-Munch Fruit rather than the Hito Hito Fruit: Model Human.
• Ares picked up the Munch-Munch Fruit, pleased that it could help the Land of Wano develop faster.

Ares obtained the Munch-Munch Fruit and persuaded Dr. Witch Kureha to join his crew by promising to help her preserve her youth. He left Drum Island’s medical development and his promise to obtain Pure Gold as goals for the journey ahead.

• Ares found the Munch-Munch Fruit and planned to use its ability to create valuable alloys from scrap metal and Iron Sand Ore.
• Crocus and Dr. Witch Kureha discussed Ares’s claim about immortality, while Olvia speculated that he might have lived for a very long time.
• Ares returned with the Devil Fruit, asked Crocus to buy as many medical books as possible, and had Hiruluk guide him around town.
• Ares urged Dr. Witch Kureha to join by pointing out that her appearance would continue to age, and Olvia encouraged her to accept.
• Dr. Witch Kureha agreed to join Ares’s crew, and Ares planned to build a hospital system in Wano and obtain Pure Gold.