Recaps

Imu decided to descend onto the battlefield after Houka proved powerful enough to threaten the World Government’s forces. Houka, Rocks, Harald, and Loki nearly destroyed Imu together, but Imu appeared in person and attacked them through a teleportation circle.

• Houka arrived and challenged Imu, clashing with Imu’s trident while Rocks, Harald, and Loki fought alongside them.
• Imu ordered the Elders, Holy Knights, and Kukulkan to prepare a teleportation circle so Imu could descend onto the battlefield.
• Imu tried to recruit Houka, but Houka called on Rocks, Harald, and Loki to attack Imu.
• The four fighters unleashed their strongest attacks, blasting Imu’s Eagle Vedfolnir form into fragments and devastating the glacial battlefield.
• A black teleportation circle opened, and Imu emerged as a shadow monster, attacking Houka and the others with shadow arrows and tentacles.
• Houka transformed into Sun God Nika form and released Emeth to take the incoming attacks.

Houka destroyed Imu’s teleportation circle and revealed forms that made Imu wary, but Imu emerged in a colossal demon form and attacked the rebels with a sun that set the glaciers and sea ablaze. The battle continued as Houka and the others fled the World-Ending Sunfire.

• Houka used a fake Drums of Liberation beat and a Haki-coated Bajrang Gun to smash Imu’s half-emerged form and destroy the teleportation circle.
• Imu reformed from scattered shadows, and Houka revealed his Nika and demonic forms while pretending he had more traps and a plan to attack Mary Geoise.
• Rocks and Loki played along with Houka’s bluff about the Conqueror’s Haki Knots, but Imu declared they would attack regardless.
• Imu transformed into a gigantic dark demon, conjured a burning sun, and unleashed World-Ending Sunfire across the glaciers.
• Houka turned into lightning and vanished as Loki, Rocks, and the others scrambled to escape the flames boiling the sea.

Houka, Loki, and Harald fought Imu, whose shadow and solar powers overwhelmed them despite Harald joining after eating the Crow Tengu Fruit. Imu unleashed a sea-burning inferno, leaving Houka questioning whether Imu had taken the sun’s power from Joy Boy and whether old Elbaf records had mistaken Imu for Black Nika.

• Imu mocked Houka’s claim about Joy Boy’s Conqueror’s Haki Knot, and Houka called on Loki, Rocks, and Harald to fight.
• Harald asked Houka for a flying Devil Fruit, and Houka gave him the Mythical Zoan Crow Tengu Fruit.
• Harald transformed into a winged Crow Tengu and joined Houka and Loki against Imu, while Rocks stayed to fight Kukulkan and the Four Elders.
• Houka and Loki struggled against Imu’s immense shadow and solar powers, and Houka wondered if Imu had taken the sun from Joy Boy.
• Imu rejected Houka’s questions and unleashed solar fire that set the sea ablaze, reminding Loki and Harald of Elbaf’s accounts of Black Nika.

Rocks, unable to join the battle against Imu, fought Kukulkan until Golden Lion Shiki arrived, while the other pirates and Marines fought across several battlefields. Rocks persuaded Shiki to fuse with him using Houka’s Munch-Munch Fruit ability, and they flew toward the battle as Jinx.

• Rocks attacked Kukulkan with Advanced Conqueror’s Haki, while Golden Lion Shiki intercepted Itsumade.
• Whitebeard Newgate and Charlotte Linlin defeated the Copper Skin Admiral and Iron Hand Admiral, then turned to other battles.
• Redfield took over the fight against Maffei Palace as Presley and the Aurust Castle Guard Corps withdrew, while Stussy spread word that Mary Geoise and Uranus were undefended.
• Imu’s sun scorched the sea, melted the ice, and forced both sides to retreat from the battlefield.
• Rocks asked Golden Lion Shiki to carry him into the sky, and they fused into Jinx to join the fight against Imu.

As Imu’s burning sun turned the sea into a disaster zone, Iron Hand Hand and Copper Skin Segan defied the Five Elders’ orders to abandon the Marines and led a rescue and retreat. Whitebeard, Roger, and their allies attacked the Elders while Redfield continued fighting Kukulkan and Maffei Palace; the war’s outcome still depended on the monsters battling in the sky.

• Imu’s solar flames boiled the sea and set ships ablaze, forcing pirates and Marines to flee as Copper Skin Segan and Iron Hand Hand watched their crews die.
• The Five Elders ordered Hand and Segan to abandon the Marines and attack the pirates, but Hand refused and kept rescuing survivors.
• Whitebeard Newgate struck the Five Elders, while the Roger Pirates and other allies joined the battle against them.
• Warcury ordered the Marines to kill the pirates, but Segan instead commanded them to rescue survivors and retreat, defying the World Government alongside Hand.
• Redfield fought Fleet Admiral Kukulkan and Maffei Palace, who fled to the Holy Knights while Kukulkan confronted Redfield.

Houka fused Rocks and Golden Lion Shiki into a warrior called Jinx, who joined the battle against Imu alongside Houka, Loki, and Harald. As the clash intensified, fighters from across the New World gathered nearby to watch the war between the World Government and the New World Alliance.

• Rocks and Shiki attacked Imu, but Imu shattered Rocks's strongest slash with a sweep of the sun, showing how far beyond them Imu was.
• Houka swallowed Rocks and Shiki and fused them with his Munch-Munch Fruit power, creating a combined warrior he named Jinx.
• Jinx discovered that Shiki's Float-Float Fruit power and Rocks's Conqueror's Haki could be shared, while the changing color of Jinx's braids showed which of them controlled the body.
• Rocks took control of Jinx and charged at Imu as Houka, Loki, and Harald fought the enormous demon; the three shifted to smaller forms to battle at Imu's scale.
• Jinx darted around the fight looking for an opening, while powerful fighters from across the New World arrived nearby to witness the battle.

Imu unleashed the full power of darkness and the stolen sun, forcing Houka and his allies to flee. Houka burned his luck, blood essence, and lifespan to reach God-level power, rescued the others, and escaped as Imu’s attack engulfed the battlefield.

• Imu recalled how he had defeated Joy Boy and declared that he would not let Houka repeat the old alliance’s path to victory.
• Imu revealed that his Devil Fruit power had created the darkness that destroyed the First World and that he had seized the sun’s authority, then unleashed both forces against Houka’s group.
• Houka ordered Rocks, Loki, Harald, and Jinx to retreat as Imu’s darkness and sun overwhelmed the battlefield and turned captured Marines into demonic puppets.
• Houka burned his luck, blood essence, and lifespan to reach God-level power, then swallowed Loki, Harald, and Jinx into the Lost World to save them.
• Houka escaped to the outer battlefield, swept up the Rocks Pirates, Roger Pirates, and giants, and fled as Imu’s darkness and sun engulfed heaven and earth.

Imu's sun and darkness devastated the battlefield, but Kozuki Houka escaped, leaving Imu unable to pursue him. Imu ordered a retreat and began rebuilding the World Government's military strength for another war against Kozuki Houka and Rocks.

• Imu's solar attack destroyed warships and scorched the sea, while Kozuki Houka vanished from the battlefield.
• Saint Sommers urged Imu to invade the New World, but Imu struck him down and condemned his servants' failures.
• Imu ordered a retreat, a renewed world military draft, the recruitment of powerful fighters, and the creation of a new Celestial Dragon family.
• Saint Warcury ordered the World Government to announce a false victory, while the other Elders proposed measures to prevent further Marine defections.
• After more than half a day, the dark energy faded, and the Holy Knights subdued Copper Skin and Iron Hand for Imu to punish or control.

After escaping Imu, Houka and the Rocks Pirates began preparing a sky alliance while the World Government publicized its victory and offered Celestial Dragon seats to rally powerful nations. Houka planned to counter the propaganda as the threat of a much larger war grew.

• Houka returned to Elysium Island with the rescued allies, warned them that Imu’s Sun had limits, and separated Rocks and Shiki with his Munch-Munch Fruit.
• The fusion experiment inspired the Rocks Pirates to consider combining Devil Fruit users, while Shiki began raising their islands into the sky.
• Shiki floated Elysium Island and the alliance’s other kingdoms into the sky, and Presley gathered intelligence as Houka guarded against Imu’s pursuit.
• The World Government spread news of its victory and offered Celestial Dragon seats to affiliated nations, while Houka ordered counter-propaganda announcing that Kong and the Holy Knight had fallen.

Houka struggled as Imu's contest for a new Celestial Dragon seat drove powerful nations to attack the New World Alliance, forcing the Rocks Pirates to abandon territory and retreat to Elbaf. Two years into the war, Magnolia and Amatsuki Toki gave birth to Houka's three children, and an unexpected visitor arrived when Toki's son was born.

• The World Government announced a contest for a new Celestial Dragon seat, prompting royal families across the world to send fighters against the New World Alliance.
• Houka recognized that Imu's scheme was wearing down his enemies and continued hiding his airborne nation while the war spread.
• The Rocks Pirates and Elbaf fought off attacks from affiliated nations, eventually withdrawing their flags from many islands to protect the inhabitants.
• Two years later, Charlotte Linlin complained that the World Government and Marines had expanded their forces while the Rocks Pirates lost territory and fighters.
• Magnolia gave birth to red-haired twins, and Amatsuki Toki gave birth to a black-haired boy; Loki and Jarul called them the Children of War.
• An unexpected visitor arrived at the birth, and the returning Roger Pirates brought Houka a gift that stunned him.

In Marine Calendar 1494, Houka’s circle welcomed several children, including his twins with Magnolia and a son with Toki who was born able to communicate with Zunesha. Roger then gave Houka the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, believing the baby was its chosen successor, and the chapter left Houka considering what to name his son.

• Bolo Gram, Rocks, and members of the Lunarian and Buccaneer tribes welcomed children, including Marco, Teach, Alber, and Kuma, while Houka’s protection changed their futures.
• Magnolia gave birth to red-haired twins named Shamrock and Shanks, who were born with talent for Conqueror’s Haki.
• Toki gave birth to Houka’s sixth son, whose crying drew Zunesha to Elbaf and whose newborn Voice of All Things let him communicate with the elephant.
• Roger gave Houka the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, explaining that he had refused to eat it and believed it suited Houka’s son.
• Roger urged Houka to give the fruit to the baby and excitedly suggested names, including Ace, Luffy, Luya, and Nika.

Houka named his newborn sixth son Lu Ya after Roger brought the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, which the baby immediately ate. The pirates prepared to explore Zou and recruit the Mink Tribe, while Tsuru urged young Dragon to grow stronger.

• Roger explained that the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Nika, had chosen Houka's sixth son, and Zunesha declared that the destinies of two kings had gathered in one person.
• Houka named his sixth son Lu Ya and gave the fruit to Amatsuki Toki, who let the baby eat it.
• Rocks asked Roger to bring back the Dark-Dark Fruit, while Shiki reported that Zunesha carried many Mink Tribe members.
• Houka revealed that Zunesha held a Road Poneglyph, and Roger proposed that the pirates explore Zou and bring the Mink Tribe into the New World Alliance.
• Tsuru told the young Dragon to grow stronger alongside the other children and catch up with Kaido.

Kozuki Houka’s growing alliance and Zunesha’s arrival unsettled Imu while rival kingdoms tore each other apart in the Celestial Dragon seat contest. On Zou, the Mink Tribe welcomed Houka and entrusted him with the third Road Poneglyph, while he considered bringing the Tontatta Tribe into his empire.

• Imu learned that Zunesha had appeared near Elbaf and grew angrier at Kozuki Houka as the World Government’s forces and influence remained strained.
• Houka’s manipulation helped spark mutual assassination attempts among kingdoms competing for Celestial Dragon seats, until the World Government threatened to disqualify anyone who killed a rival king.
• Kozuki Houka arrived on Zou, where the Mink Tribe celebrated him as the Moon God and Silver Axe Xiong, Golden Lion Shiki, Babel, and Sambel joked about their preferences in partners.
• The Mink Tribe entrusted the third Road Poneglyph to Houka and reaffirmed their allegiance to him.
• Houka considered relocating the Tontatta Tribe to his empire and decided to focus on courting Tsuru.

Houka and Rocks strengthened their alliance while building a home and military for the D Clan and other rare peoples in the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire. With Houka recovered and Zunesha and the Mink Tribe joining them, the New World Alliance prepared to issue its own wanted notices against the World Government.

• Loki proposed giving Zunesha a sword, but Houka said only Lu Ya could eventually lift Zunesha’s punishment and command it.
• Rocks planned to search for the Dark-Dark Fruit while Houka’s scientists studied Pluton’s energy.
• Houka established D Village for the D Clan, Buccaneers, Lunarians, and other rare races, and Presley brought the Trafalgar D. Clan there.
• Little Oars Jr. inherited Oars JS’s will and trained under Loki, while young members of the D Clan developed their strength.
• Tsuru took command of the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire’s military, and Houka ordered Stussy to issue wanted notices against the World Government, including Imu and the Five Elders.

Houka set bounties for the World Government’s top officials and the New World Alliance’s strongest fighters, then prepared the alliance to reclaim its lost territory. He revealed a new electromagnetic-wave support system that could let him arrive at receivers almost instantly.

• Houka set the Marine Admirals’ bounties at 2 billion Beli, the Five Elders’ at 2.5 billion, and Imu’s at 9.9 billion, explaining that the figures would give the world hope and show the alliance’s strength.
• Houka’s allies received sharply increased bounties, including Roger, Harald, and Loki, while Rocks’s and Houka’s bounties stayed unchanged.
• Charlotte Linlin urged the alliance to retake its territory, and Houka warned its fighters to prepare escape routes before attacking.
• Rocks planned to drive hostile allied nations out of the New World and search for the Dark-Dark Fruit, while Houka told the fighters to retreat if they encountered the Five Elders or Holy Knights.
• Houka showed the alliance an electromagnetic-wave receiver that could summon him as lightning for rapid support, and Rocks, Golden Lion Shiki, Roger, and Rayleigh obtained receivers for their forces.

After two years of preparation, Kozuki Houka equipped the New World Alliance’s ships with electromagnetic receivers and ended the Rocks Pirates’ strategic withdrawal. The alliance began reclaiming the New World as Imu investigated Houka’s new power and pushed the Affiliated Nations toward another battle.

• The Great Hammer Warband and master craftsmen rebuilt the Rocks Pirates’ ships and outfitted major vessels with Houka’s electromagnetic receivers, while Houka imagined miniaturizing them into Sparklences.
• Houka announced that the alliance’s ships could operate independently and promised to appear as their backstop, then ordered the forces to drive the Affiliated Nations and Marines out of the New World.
• Rocks and the alliance’s warriors celebrated the end of their two-year withdrawal while Houka held his sixth son, Lu Ya.
• The next morning, the Sacred Ancient Moon Empire’s news agency distributed wanted posters for Imu, the Four Elders, and other World Government figures, and the Rocks Pirates launched a sweeping offensive across the New World.
• Imu ordered an investigation into Houka’s new strength and offered the Affiliated Nation with the most points a place as the twentieth Celestial Dragon family, urging the nations to fight the Rocks Pirates.

Houka and Charlotte Linlin began reclaiming Totto Land while their children demonstrated the growing powers of their Mythical Zoan abilities. Katakuri discovered that his Qilin ability could control fire and earth, while Shenwei sought a way to fly.

• Houka and Charlotte Linlin mobilized their forces to reclaim Totto Land's islands as Rocks Pirates attacks drove allied nation fleets from the New World.
• Charlotte Linlin praised three-year-old Katakuri for summoning nightmare monsters, including a demon resembling Imu.
• Katakuri and Ryuma flew through the air and teased Shenwei because he could not fly, prompting him to ask Houka for advice.
• Houka suggested Shenwei train to develop flight or learn Geppo, and Shenwei considered making his heads spin to lift him.
• Stussy tested the upgraded Little Pluton Main Cannon as John used a new electromagnetic cannon aboard the Ancient Moon Immortal Venerable.
• Katakuri demonstrated that his Qilin ability could breathe fire and wield earth-element power, and Houka praised him.

Houka spent two years strengthening his family and preparing to find a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit for Charlotte Linlin, while the Kuja Pirates rose to fame as a new generation of pirates emerged. Aboard their ship, Gloriosa lamented Houka’s many wives and Shakky warned her not to fall in love with an outsider.

• Houka guided his family in developing their Devil Fruit abilities and helped Charlotte Linlin resolve the danger in her soul, leaving her with the potential to become a dual-fruit user.
• Houka searched for a suitable Mythical Zoan Fruit for Charlotte Linlin while his agents monitored Devil Fruit news around the world.
• The Rocks Pirates counterattacked in the New World, and pirates stirred worldwide as rookie crews with high bounties appeared.
• The Kuja Pirates gained fame for their beauty, with Gloriosa and Shakky attracting widespread attention.
• Gloriosa complained about Houka’s wives and lamented that she had not been strong enough to reach him earlier.
• Shakky suggested that Gloriosa consider Roger or Rayleigh, then warned her that falling in love with an outsider could bring on Amazon Lily’s fatal lovesickness.

Houka returned to the Sky Alliance Kingdom, visited the sheltered clans in D Village, and began a romantic relationship with Tsuru after asking her to try starting a family with him. Meanwhile, a newly reborn Mythical Zoan: Griffin Fruit drifted toward the West Blue, where Rocks and other forces sought it, and it sensed several possible hosts, including the infant Teach.

• Houka visited the D Clan, Rocks's family, and infants Alber and Bartholomew Kuma in D Village, then brought Dragon to visit the Monkey D. Clan.
• Houka asked Tsuru to try a new life with him, and she agreed to begin a relationship and hold his hand.
• A fisherman caught the Griffin Fruit in the West Blue, setting off a struggle among major powers, the World Government, and Rocks's officers.
• The Griffin Fruit searched for a powerful host and sensed three possible destinies as Rocks led his men toward the West Blue.
• Little Teach laughed and grabbed at the air while Houka felt a strange familiarity.

Houka followed a faint pull to a Devil Fruit while taking Tsuru on a romantic treasure hunt, and found the Dark-Dark Fruit. Meanwhile, Rocks chose to pursue the Griffin Fruit in the West Blue, leaving the Dark-Dark Fruit in Houka’s hands.

• Houka sensed a weak attraction to a powerful Devil Fruit, then took Tsuru flying and called their trip a romantic outing.
• Rocks resisted the pull he felt toward the New World and ordered his main force to join the race for the Griffin Fruit in the West Blue.
• Houka showed Tsuru his different flying abilities, and she relaxed and grew more comfortable with him.
• A day later, Houka spotted a purple-black Devil Fruit at sea and picked it up, recognizing it as the Dark-Dark Fruit Rocks had been seeking.

Houka gave the Dark-Dark Fruit to Rocks, believing it could protect him from Imu’s control, and then used electromagnetic-wave teleportation to travel from the New World to Rocks’s ship in West Blue. Rocks eagerly awaited eating the fruit as Houka prepared to join him in retrieving the Griffin Fruit.

• Houka gave up the Dark-Dark Fruit for Rocks, and Tsuru suggested it might undo Garp and Sengoku’s contracts with Imu.
• Rocks thanked Houka over the Den Den Mushi and promised to retrieve the Griffin Fruit for Shamrock and Shanks.
• Houka used electromagnetic waves to teleport from the New World to Rocks’s ship in West Blue.
• Gier Buster, Sambel, and Babel celebrated Houka’s arrival while Rocks teased him about making a dramatic entrance.
• Rocks urged Houka to hand over the Dark-Dark Fruit so he could gain its powers and face Imu without fear of being controlled.

Rocks ate the Dark-Dark Fruit and discovered its power to suppress Devil Fruit abilities, use gravity, and counter Imu’s control. He and Houka planned to keep a low profile while growing stronger, then pursue the Griffin Fruit before preparing to fight Imu.

• Houka gave Rocks the Dark-Dark Fruit, and Rocks said he had felt its pull several days earlier.
• Rocks ate the fruit, demonstrated its gravity, and used its ability-sealing power to stop Oscar from teleporting.
• Rocks and Houka discussed the Dark-Dark Fruit’s ability to steal Devil Fruit powers and how it could help Alice and Teach.
• Rocks urged the crew to seize the Griffin Fruit before Shiki could claim it for himself or the World Government could take it.
• Rocks chose to develop his powers quietly before challenging Imu, while Houka teased him for becoming more patient.

After Rocks and Houka acquired the Dark-Dark Fruit, Houka revealed that it could plunder the abilities of other Devil Fruit users. The Rocks Pirates discussed which powers to target next, while Rocks prepared for a battle over the Griffin Fruit.

• Rocks celebrated Houka's gift of the Dark-Dark Fruit aboard the Rocks Fury and offered to help Redfield acquire an ability.
• Houka revealed to the core officers that the Dark-Dark Fruit could seize Devil Fruit abilities from other users.
• Silver Axe Xiong and Newgate reacted with shock, while Babel and Bolo Gram suggested Mythical Zoan abilities held by the Five Elders and Holy Knights for Redfield.
• Gier Buster proposed killing Imu to take Imu's ability, but the crew doubted they could defeat Imu and plunder the power safely.
• Rocks voiced his hope that the battle to seize the Griffin Fruit would kill an immortal enemy, and Kozuki Oden asked for Fengxi's ability if no one else wanted it.
• Gram and Babel urged Fugetsu Kizaburo and Sambel to reconsider their refusal to eat Devil Fruits.

Gu Akade struggled to decide whether to sell the Griffin Fruit, abandon it, or eat it himself as the World Government and the Rocks Pirates closed in. Golden Lion Shiki battled pirates, bounty hunters, and Marines on Assyria Island while seeking the fruit, wary that Kozuki Houka might take it first.

• Gu Akade learned that Golden Lion Shiki had arrived and feared both the World Government and the Rocks Pirates would kill him over the Griffin Fruit.
• Gu Akade's executives urged him to abandon the fruit, while an ambitious henchman asked to eat it; Gu Akade refused and continued hesitating.
• Golden Lion Shiki fought pirates, bounty hunters, and West Blue branch Marines in Assyria Island's town as Ganzi and Malone warned him about the Five Elders and Holy Knights.
• Shiki said he wanted to secure the Griffin Fruit for one of his officers or future descendants and feared Kozuki Houka would steal it first.

The Happo Navy and the other Kano Country forces withdrew from Assyria Island after Golden Lion Shiki arrived, while they manipulated Sang Kingdom's samurai into attacking the Rocks Pirates. Ganzi and Malone were left fighting the suicidal samurai as Shiki searched for Gu Akade and the Griffin Fruit.

• Huo Xiaofeng warned Zhang Bao that Golden Lion Shiki had arrived, and Zhang Bao ordered the Kano Country forces to withdraw rather than risk fighting the Rocks Pirates.
• Chinjao of the Drill objected to abandoning the mission, but Qingbang called him back and Huo Xiaofeng argued that the timing was wrong for a battle.
• Huo Xiaofeng and Qingbang provoked Sang Kingdom's samurai by suggesting they attack Shiki's officers to gain Celestial Dragon seat points.
• The Kano Country forces withdrew as Sang Kingdom's samurai charged Shiki's group and ambushed Ganzi and Malone.
• Ganzi and Malone called for Shiki's help while the Rocks officers continued searching for Gu Akade and the Griffin Fruit.