Recaps

Rocks attacked a Heavenly Tribute ship carrying Cang Kingdom prisoners and seized it, overwhelming its Cipher Pol guards. He escaped the High-Speed Triangular Current after breaking through Enies Lobby’s Gates of Justice, while the chained young prisoner watched him with growing excitement.

• Cipher Pol agents discussed keeping the wounded young prisoner alive but weakened as their ship approached Marineford.
• Rocks approached the Heavenly Tribute ship, attacked the Cipher Pol agents, and took control of the vessel.
• Rocks raced along the High-Speed Triangular Current, passing Marine Headquarters and heading toward Enies Lobby.
• Rocks smashed through Enies Lobby’s Gates of Justice and escaped into the sea before Marine reinforcements caught him.
• The World Government declared Rocks its highest-level threat, while the young prisoner grew eager as he witnessed Rocks’s power.

Rocks freed Houka, a prisoner who claimed to know the truth about Imu and see the future. After Houka offered to reveal more if Rocks helped him grow stronger, Rocks made him his first partner and vowed to change the world together.

• Rocks offered the captured soldiers from fallen countries a chance to leave his ship at the next island, while recruiting some as temporary sailors and deckhands.
• Rocks questioned Houka, who revealed that he knew Imu was Nerona Imu, an ancient king seated on the Void Throne.
• Rocks freed Houka from his chains, Seastone restraints, and explosive collar, then gave him food and water.
• Houka told Rocks he had seen the future, including Rocks recruiting a crew and traveling to Elbaf to meet Harald, the King of the Giants.
• Houka offered to reveal more future knowledge, including information about the Three Ancient Weapons, if Rocks helped him get stronger.
• Rocks declared Houka his first partner and promised to make him stronger so they could overthrow Imu together.

Fang Yuan joined the Rocks Pirates after escaping captivity and revealed that his Soul Insects could wield the Moon-Moon Fruit ability. He recalled how the power awakened and how the Cang Kingdom’s invasion of Kozuki Village led to his capture, while he began planning to grow stronger and seek revenge.

• Fang Yuan accepted Rocks’s invitation, became the 001st member of the Rocks Pirates, and negotiated a future exchange of favors.
• Fang Yuan’s Soul Insects appeared, and he demonstrated a crescent-blade attack that Rocks criticized as weak.
• Fang Yuan remembered crossing from Blue Star to Kozuki Village in the One Piece world, where his shattered soul became nine Soul Insects.
• Fang Yuan recalled that one Soul Insect ate a Devil Fruit and became the Moonlight Gu, giving it the Moon-Moon Fruit ability.
• The Cang Kingdom invaded Kozuki Village, and a general defeated Fang Yuan after he fought to protect the villagers.
• Fang Yuan resolved to become stronger and avenge the kind couple who had helped him.

After Rocks returned Houka to Cang Kingdom, Houka avenged Kozuki Village by killing the general and king and used a Soul Insect to acquire the Press-Press Fruit ability. He left with a new power, while Rocks recognized the insects’ ability to absorb Devil Fruit powers.

• Houka asked Rocks to kill the Cang Kingdom general who had subdued him, offering future knowledge in return, and Rocks agreed.
• Houka suspected his Soul Insects could absorb other Devil Fruit abilities and resolved to grow stronger alongside Rocks.
• Rocks returned to Cang Kingdom with Houka and defeated the general and tens of thousands of soldiers.
• Houka killed the general and directed a Soul Insect to absorb the Press-Press Fruit ability, transforming it into a Gravity Gu.
• Houka used his new gravity power to kill the soldiers who had destroyed Kozuki Village, then killed the Cang Kingdom king who had planned to sell him to Saint Saturn.

Houka and Rocks sailed through the Grand Line as Rocks gathered future allies, while Houka pursued the Seven-Star Sword. Houka claimed and subdued the demon sword on Asuka Island, then considered whether to tell Rocks about Roger.

• Rocks renamed the captured Heavenly Tribute warship the Sword of Xebec, and Houka received an 80,000,000 Beli bounty under the epithet “Murder and Arson.”
• Houka told Rocks about several powerful pirates he could recruit, and Rocks agreed to let Houka kill anyone who betrayed them.
• After weeks of battles, Rocks and Houka reached Asuka Island, where Houka took the Seven-Star Sword from its altar and subdued it with his soul.
• The shrine maiden realized Houka’s success ended her clan’s duty to guard the Seven-Star Sword.
• Houka tested the sword with a powerful slash and wondered whether Rocks could recruit Roger and Rayleigh, whom he believed were still in Loguetown.

Houka urged Rocks to build the Rocks Pirates, shared intelligence about the Road Poneglyphs and Ancient Weapons, and persuaded him to help find a Mythical Zoan Fruit. Rocks agreed to strengthen the crew before pursuing Pluton, which would require the Giants’ help to operate.

• Houka told Rocks about a powerful D Clan Marine in East Blue and proposed recruiting future subordinates in the New World and West Blue.
• Houka revealed that Fish-Man Island held a Road Poneglyph and Joy Boy’s apology letter, and that the catfish fish-man Babel could become one of Rocks’s officers.
• Houka trained under five times gravity while Rocks urged him to strengthen his physique and Haki, then agreed to help him find a Mythical Zoan Fruit.
• Houka said Uranus belonged to the World Government but lacked energy, Poseidon had not yet been born, and the time was not right to pursue Pluton.
• Houka explained that the Rocks Pirates needed to grow stronger and enlist the Giants’ help before they could protect and operate Pluton.

Rocks and Houka reached Fish-Man Island after quietly crossing Sabaody, where Houka warned Rocks that his Advanced Conqueror's Haki was too weak to defeat the immortal Holy Knights and other servants of Imu. Rocks resolved to train harder, then attacked Houka after becoming angry at his lecture.

• Rocks and Houka entered Sabaody quietly aboard the Sword of Xebec, then traveled on to Fish-Man Island without incident.
• Rocks criticized Sabaody's slave trade and the Celestial Dragons' control of its Lawless Zone.
• Houka asked whether Rocks would change the world if he became King of the World, but Rocks said he would think about it after defeating Imu.
• Houka revealed that Imu and Davy D. Jones had made a pact and warned that Imu's Five Elders and Holy Knights were immortal unless struck by sufficiently powerful Conqueror's Haki Infusion.
• Houka told Rocks that his Advanced Conqueror's Haki had only delayed a Holy Knight captain's recovery, prompting Rocks to resolve to train harder.
• Rocks grew furious at Houka's lecture and beat him in the cabin while the sailors worried that the ship's coating might rupture underwater.

Houka and Rocks recruited Babel and Sambel on Fish-Man Island, then set sail through the New World to find more future crewmates. They confronted the White Whale Pirates, where Rocks dismissed Whale Uhale and fixed his attention on Edward Newgate.

• Rocks defeated Babel and forced him to join the Rocks Pirates, while Houka recruited Sambel and persuaded Rocks to accept him.
• Houka and Rocks visited the Sea Forest, made rubbings of the Road Poneglyphs, and left the stones behind at Rocks's request.
• The Rocks Pirates departed Fish-Man Island, and Houka directed Rocks toward the White Whale Pirates and Sleepy Town.
• Rocks challenged Whale Uhale to a Davy Back Fight, but Uhale immediately offered to surrender and join the crew.
• Rocks called Uhale too weak and stared down the eighteen-year-old Edward Newgate, who was shocked by Rocks's power.

Houka persuaded Rocks to settle the dispute over Edward Newgate with a Davy Back Fight, hoping to recruit the young pirate. After Rocks defeated Uhale at tug-of-war, Newgate was left facing a future with the Rocks Pirates.

• Houka stopped Rocks from attacking and explained that the crew would challenge the Whale Pirates for Newgate in a Davy Back Fight.
• Uhale agreed to give up Newgate, but Houka insisted the contest follow the rules and asked Newgate to accept the outcome.
• Uhale chose tug-of-war against Rocks, wagering Newgate, his pirate flag, or himself in exchange for Rocks becoming his first mate if he won.
• Houka urged Newgate to leave the Whale Pirates and connected their shared experiences of losing their homelands.
• Rocks won tug-of-war with one pull, sent Uhale crashing into the ground, and claimed Newgate.

Rocks challenged Edward Newgate to a fight to decide whether Newgate would join his crew, and easily defeated him despite Newgate’s powerful Tremor-Tremor Fruit. Houka helped the injured Newgate afterward, and Newgate began warming to him as a potential companion.

• Uhale buried his face in the dirt after losing Newgate, while Newgate challenged Rocks to a fight to win back his freedom.
• Rocks accepted and Newgate attacked with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, clashing against Rocks’s Cannon Roar Sword Style.
• Rocks overwhelmed Newgate with one blow, sending him flying and leaving the onlookers stunned.
• Rocks praised Newgate’s strength and accepted him as a new member of the Rocks Pirates.
• Houka carried the injured Newgate with his Gravity Ability, offered him medicine, and invited him to become family.
• Newgate rejected Houka’s request to be called his big brother but thanked him and asked about his Gravity Ability.

After defeating the Whale Pirates, Rocks welcomed Newgate into his crew, and Houka helped introduce him to the other members. Newgate vowed to grow strong enough to defeat Rocks, while Babel challenged him to a sparring match.

• Houka explained his gravity abilities to Newgate and welcomed him aboard the Rocks Pirates.
• Newgate agreed to join Rocks's crew if Rocks let the Whale Pirates go, and Rocks accepted.
• Rocks ended the Davy Back Fight, sent Uhale and the Whale Pirates away, and declared Newgate a new crew member.
• Newgate watched the Whale Pirates depart and vowed to grow strong enough to fight and defeat Rocks.
• Houka introduced Newgate to Babel and Sambel at a welcome party, and Babel challenged him to a sparring match.
• Rocks backed Babel's challenge, and Houka told Newgate to hit him hard if they fought.

Newgate accepted Babel’s challenge, while Houka explained the World Government’s hidden rulers and how Advanced Conqueror’s Haki could overcome their immortality. Babel, Newgate, Sambel, and Rocks turned their attention to Houka when he claimed to know a way to increase the chances of awakening Conqueror’s Haki.

• Newgate accepted Babel’s challenge, and Rocks urged Houka to test his strength against Harald and the Holy Knights.
• Houka explained that the King of the World had granted the Five Elders and Holy Knights immortality, and that Advanced Conqueror’s Haki or the sea could defeat them.
• Rocks described Conqueror’s Haki Infusion and said Newgate had the qualities of a king, while Babel worried he could not awaken it.
• Houka told Babel that experience mattered more than being born with the qualities of a king and offered to share a method for increasing the chances of awakening Conqueror’s Haki.
• Babel eagerly asked Houka about the method as Newgate, Rocks, and Sambel listened with interest.

Houka told the Rocks Pirates that confronting and killing Celestial Dragons could help people overcome their fear and awaken Conqueror's Haki. After Newgate's welcoming banquet, Houka searched for information about Sleepy Town while Rocks set his sights on recruiting Shiki the Extreme.

• Houka refused Babel and Sambel's insistence on calling him vice captain, then predicted Newgate would become a master swordsman and obtain a Supreme Grade Sword.
• Houka claimed that killing Celestial Dragons could help people overcome their fears and awaken Conqueror's Haki, citing Died and Dongye Huanglong as examples.
• Rocks welcomed the idea of confronting Celestial Dragons, while Babel vowed he would kill them someday and Sambel stayed quiet.
• Houka started a banquet with floating food and wine, and Newgate gradually relaxed and became a heavy drinker.
• The next day, Houka searched for information about Sleepy Town as Rocks planned to recruit Shiki the Extreme, a swordsman with the Float-Float Fruit Ability.

Houka, Newgate, and Rocks sailed to find a Devil Fruit on Sleepy Town, while Houka revealed what he knew about the future pirate Patrick Redfield. Rocks decided to wait for Redfield and try to recruit him, and Newgate resolved to fight him someday.

• Houka explained that he could not foresee the Devil Fruit itself, but knew a powerful person would find it on the deserted island.
• Newgate promised to protect Houka, and Houka said they should find the fruit before recruiting Shiki to avoid a dispute over it.
• Houka described the future Devil Fruit user as someone born with Observation Haki that let him peer into people's hearts.
• Houka named the man as Patrick Redfield, a West Blue noble who would later become the Red Earl and go to sea as a pirate.
• Rocks eagerly decided he could wait to recruit Redfield, while Newgate memorized his name and looked forward to fighting him.

Houka and his companions searched the ruins of Sleepy Town for the sealed Vampire Fruit, and Houka fused its power with one of his Soul Fires. He revealed that it was the Mythical Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit, Vampire Form, leaving Rocks to realize why Houka had prized it so highly.

• Houka led the group into Sleepy Town and used his Soul Fires to search for the Vampire Fruit while Rocks and Sambel studied the ancient writing.
• Houka reached the Gothic Main Castle, where his Soul Fires sensed the fruit, and learned that ancient writing might explain its seal.
• Unable to find the fruit after searching for most of the day, Houka used the Press-Press Fruit to lift the castle and dismantle it piece by piece.
• After another day of searching, Houka's Soul Fires found the Vampire Fruit and one fused with its power before Houka saw it.
• Houka revealed his new Mythical Zoan ability, Vampire Form, and Rocks realized it could let Houka remain young forever.

Houka showed off his new Vampire Fruit powers and explained how Zoan Devil Fruits could possess consciousness that might overwhelm users during awakening. Rocks began valuing scientists and learned that a female officer called the Science Bandit might join the Rocks Pirates within a year or two.

• Houka returned to the Sword of Xebec with demonic bat wings and demonstrated his Vampire Fruit powers to Newgate and Rocks.
• Houka told Rocks that the Sun God Nika power likely would not suit him and that Devil Fruits, especially Zoans, could possess their own consciousness.
• Houka explained that failed Zoan awakenings could leave users powerful but muddleheaded, while Newgate worried about Houka and Sambel recoiled from the danger.
• Rocks decided he needed a scientist, and Houka revealed that a future female officer known as the Science Bandit might set sail within the next year or two.

Houka and the Rocks Pirates spent months chasing Shiki the Extreme, who was fleeing Xiong before mastering the Float-Float Fruit. Houka calmed Rocks’s frustration, and the crew spotted a flying pirate ship in the distance.

• Rocks trained Houka, Newgate, Babel, and Sambel harshly, and they grew stronger while building closer bonds.
• Rocks spent months pursuing Shiki and Xiong, who were chasing each other as Shiki fled from the stronger Xiong.
• Houka explained that the future could change and that strength determined whether abilities countered one another, calming Rocks about their failed pursuit.
• Rocks spotted a flying pirate ship in the distance and grinned viciously.

Rocks caught Shiki after destroying his Flying Warship with a single slash and forced him to choose between joining the Rocks Pirates or dying. Shiki joined, intrigued by the crew’s rule that strength came first.

• Rocks ordered Houka to launch the Sword of Xebec and pursue Shiki, who was fleeing after escaping Xiong.
• Shiki sensed Rocks aboard the approaching ship and tried to flee, but Rocks’s shockwave slash destroyed his Flying Warship and injured him.
• Rocks used gravity and Conqueror’s Haki to stop Shiki from escaping, then offered him a choice between joining the Rocks Pirates or dying.
• Shiki chose to join the Rocks Pirates, and Rocks welcomed him aboard.
• Rocks explained that the crew had only one rule: the strong came first, and Shiki approved of it.

Golden Lion Shiki joined the Rocks Pirates and challenged the crew, only to learn that Houka was their respected vice-captain and a prophet. As Rocks planned to recruit Xiong, Shiki encouraged him to beat up the assassin who had been hunting him.

• Shiki assessed the crew and declared that he would defeat them all to become vice-captain, but Houka stopped the fighting and announced a welcome banquet.
• Rocks said there was no official vice-captain and that Shiki could claim the position by making the crew submit; Sambel and Babel reaffirmed their loyalty to Houka.
• Houka revealed that he had gravity powers and called Shiki Golden Lion, explaining that it was his future title and that Houka could see the future.
• Babel told Shiki that Houka's prophecies could affect his chances of finding swords and Devil Fruits, while Newgate asked Houka about the Supreme Grade Sword Murakumogiri.
• Rocks promised to help Newgate get Murakumogiri and announced that the crew would recruit Xiong, the assassin who had been hunting Shiki.
• Shiki urged Rocks to beat Xiong up, pleased that joining the crew first would make him Xiong's senior.

Houka gave Babel, Sambel, and Newgate predictions about their future nicknames, encouraging Babel and helping Sambel claim the title Tidal Knight. The crew remained together as Houka revealed that Newgate would become Whitebeard.

• Babel asked Houka for a fearsome future nickname, and Houka jokingly warned that changing it could alter the future.
• Houka suggested several grand titles for Babel, who chose Deep Sea Titan and decided to train with a meteor ship anchor.
• Sambel chose Tidal Knight because he wanted to become a hero who protected Fish-Man Island, earning Newgate’s approval while Rocks and Shiki disapproved.
• Newgate asked Houka about his future nickname, and Houka said his famous white beard would earn him the title Whitebeard.
• Newgate warmed to the nickname after Houka said future pirates would imitate it.

Houka gave Rocks new titles and withheld the location of Pluton, then the Rocks Pirates flew to recruit Yakuza Assassin Xiong. As Xiong attacked their ship with a powerful axe slash, Rocks prepared to meet it with his sword.

• Houka told Rocks he would be known as the King of the World and Overlord of the New World, but said the time was not right to reveal where Pluton was.
• Rocks ordered Shiki to lead them to Yakuza Assassin Xiong and named Xiong Silver Axe Xiong after he joined; Shiki gave the Sword of Xebec the Float-Float Fruit Ability.
• Houka combined his Horizontal Gravity with Shiki's Float-Float Fruit Ability to speed the Flying Warship toward Xiong's island.
• Xiong, angry that Shiki had evaded him for months, prepared to knock the Flying Warship from the sky with his giant axe.
• Xiong unleashed a powerful axe slash at the approaching ship, and Rocks drew his sword and slashed down to meet it.

Rocks defeated Yakuza Assassin Xiong with a single attack, then recruited him into the Rocks Pirates alongside Shiki. After landing on a pirate island to resupply, the crew drew attention as Shiki and Babel displayed their strength, while Xiong learned that Houka had predicted his future title, Silver Axe.

• Rocks's sword strike obliterated Xiong's attack and blasted a crater into the island, killing many pirates and gangsters.
• Xiong survived the strike, and Rocks demanded that he join the Rocks Pirates or die; Xiong accepted so he could stay close to Shiki and settle their score.
• Houka, Rocks, Newgate, Shiki, Babel, and Sambel landed on the island to replenish supplies and seek news about powerful fighters and Devil Fruit Users.
• Shiki announced that he was Golden Lion Shiki and plundered pirate crews at the harbor, while Babel lifted ships and smashed them with an anchor.
• Xiong questioned Houka's prediction that he would later be called Silver Axe Xiong, but liked the title.

After Silver Axe Xiong joined the Rocks Pirates, the crew celebrated and chose to help Newgate obtain Murakumogiri before recruiting more strong fighters. Rocks asked Houka to assess Gier Buster and Bolo Gram, and Houka approved trying to recruit both.

• Xiong announced his new identity as a Rocks Pirates officer while he, Shiki, and Babel plundered the pirate island, and Houka’s Blood Shadow Bats helped his Vampire Soul Gu grow stronger.
• At Xiong’s welcoming feast, Rocks considered potential recruits, and Newgate urged the crew to help him claim Murakumogiri first.
• Shiki tried to turn Xiong against Houka, but Houka saw through the scheme and welcomed Xiong, who accepted his greeting.
• Rocks handed Houka Gier Buster’s wanted poster, and Houka recognized him as a future Rocks officer and recommended recruiting him.
• Rocks showed Houka Bolo Gram’s poster, and Houka recognized him as Marco’s father and agreed the crew could try to recruit him.

Houka faced Silver Axe Xiong’s challenge to prove his strength as vice-captain of the Rocks Pirates. He unleashed the Seven-Star Sword’s power, leaving Xiong under the pressure of his attack and a strange force invading his mind.

• Rocks and Newgate discussed Bolo Gram’s reputation and his future connection to Newgate.
• Silver Axe Xiong challenged Houka and demanded that he stop being called vice-captain if Xiong won.
• Houka drew the Seven-Star Sword and warned the crew to stay away from its influence.
• Houka sprouted demonic bat wings and unleashed a four-colored sword wave that carved a massive scar through the island and into the sea.
• Silver Axe Xiong narrowly dodged the slash, then faced Houka’s crushing gravity and an eerie force invading his mind.

Houka defeated Silver Axe Xiong after Xiong challenged him, impressing the Rocks Pirates with his strength and earning more respect as vice-captain. Rocks led the crew away with their treasure, planning to find Newgate a Supreme Grade Sword.

• Houka overwhelmed Silver Axe Xiong with his sword, gravity, Blood Shadow Bats, and the Seven-Star Sword's mental influence, then stopped before killing him.
• Rocks praised Houka's growth but reminded him that he still had much to learn, while Newgate and the others reacted with shock and admiration.
• Shiki brought back the battered Xiong, who vowed to challenge Houka again, and Houka welcomed the prospect of another fight.
• Rocks announced that the crew's wanted posters would be updated and led the Rocks Pirates away from the ruined island with their treasure.
• The island's surviving underlings emerged after the crew departed and marveled that Houka had defeated the 300-million-Beli Xiong.