Recaps

After Houka escaped the Admirals, Cipher Pol forced Kuma to leave Bonney behind and head for Egghead Island. Houka intercepted them both and took them captive in the Lost World, then fled before Rocks and Loki could catch him.

• Doflamingo laughed at Houka’s audacity, while Akainu and Aokiji left Sabaody and Kizaru escorted the Celestial Dragons to Mary Geoise.
• The Five Elders advanced Ace’s execution date and learned that Imu planned to personally observe Houka, though not in his true body.
• Guernica confronted Kuma and Bonney on Sabaody, threatening Kuma with a control device and ordering him to undergo his complete modification at Vegapunk’s hands.
• Kuma sent Bonney away in a paw-shaped bubble and departed for Egghead Island after Guernica threatened to hunt her if he refused.
• Houka intercepted Bonney and Kuma, captured them in the Lost World, and ordered his blood servants to guard them.
• Houka fled before Rocks and Loki could reach him, while Bullet learned how far he stood below them after they defeated him in one move.

Houka freed Boa Hancock and her sisters from their slave marks, then traveled across the seas to capture Aramaki and defeat Issho before heading toward Marineford. As the execution began, Sengoku revealed that Ace was the son of the Pirate King, while the World Government prepared to confront Houka and Whitebeard.

• Houka appeared aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship, told Boa Hancock and her sisters he could remove their slave marks, and accepted Hancock's invitation to a banquet.
• Houka spent two days with Hancock, then traveled to the Taya Kingdom, captured Aramaki, and made him his blood servant.
• Houka reached Twin Serpent Island, defeated Issho, and devoured him, restoring the Heavy-Heavy Fruit's power.
• The Five Elders discussed Houka's movements and prepared to confront him and Rocks at Marineford, where Saint Garling and Gunko had already made arrangements.
• At Marineford, Ace awaited execution as Doflamingo and Gecko Moria remarked on the absent Shichibukai.
• Sengoku announced to the world that Ace was the son of the Pirate King.

As the Summit War erupted, Kozuki Houka arrived with Loki and Rocks and turned the battle into a direct assault on the Holy Knights and the World Government. Houka’s attack devastated Marineford, while he demanded that the Five Elders and Imu face him.

• Sengoku praised the Marines before the worldwide broadcast as the Holy Knights discussed Rocks and claimed the Whitebeard Pirates’ Devil Fruits for their families.
• Whitebeard Newgate launched an assault at Marineford, and the Marines met his tsunami and attacks with their strongest fighters.
• Luffy flew from the Thousand Sunny toward the battlefield while Nico Robin and Nami stopped Zoro and Sanji from following him.
• Kozuki Houka arrived beside young Newgate, revealed that he had brought Linlin, and waited for the war to intensify before confronting the Holy Knights.
• Houka seized broadcast Transponder Snails, called the Summit War a children’s game, and challenged the Five Elders and Imu to come down and die.
• Houka summoned Loki and Rocks through a Rainbow Gate, then unleashed a sword strike that destroyed much of Marine Headquarters and knocked out the weaker combatants.

Houka devastated the Marineford battlefield, killed Garling and Shamrock, and captured Mars through the Rainbow Gate while Rocks and Loki fought Imu’s avatar. Imu’s true body arrived at Marineford and declared that Houka, Rocks, and Nidhogg would die.

• Houka’s Conqueror’s Haki-infused slash knocked out nearly everyone at Marineford, letting Luffy rush toward Ace’s execution platform.
• Rocks and Loki attacked the Five Elders as Houka sent the Holy Knights through the Rainbow Gate and killed Garling and Shamrock.
• Rocks and Loki destroyed Imu’s shadow avatar and demanded that Imu’s true body face them.
• Houka dragged Mars down with gravity, reduced him to bloody slurry, and kicked his head through the Rainbow Gate.
• Linlin held off Nusjuro and Topman while Houka attacked Saturn, and Imu teleported from Mary Geoise to Marineford in a burst of overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki.

Houka’s forces battled Imu and the Marines at Marineford while Whitebeard and Luffy reached the execution platform to rescue Ace. The worldwide conflict widened as former prisoners joined the fighting and Tillyna’s crew sought to exploit the New World power vacuum.

• Houka threw Saint Saturn into the Rainbow Gate as Rocks and Loki attacked Imu, whose clash with them devastated Marine Headquarters.
• Whitebeard broke away from Akainu and rushed toward Ace, while young Newgate fought Kong and Sengoku until Red Earl and Bullet challenged them.
• Whitebeard and Luffy reached the execution platform, where the unconscious executioners left Ace’s rescue unimpeded; Akainu then ordered the Marines to stop them.
• Aramaki and the Vampire Bats fed on the fallen as Tsuru directed Gion and Tokikake to counter them, while Shiryu and the blood-servant prisoners joined the melee.
• Tillyna’s crew learned that Elbaf and the Empress Pirates were taking territory from the fallen Beasts and Red Hair Pirates, and Tillyna considered using tainted fruits to gain a new power.

Kozuki Houka exploited Imu’s contract powers and the chaos of the battle to defeat the pseudo-god-level ruler and reach the god level himself. He absorbed Imu’s strength, gave Imu’s demonic ability to Merry, and prepared to return while Loki and Rocks considered their own progress.

• Imu reclaimed the contract powers of Saint Topman, Saint Nusjuro, and Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, causing them to die and strengthening Imu.
• Kozuki Houka revealed that he had targeted Imu’s servants to prevent their powers from being reclaimed, then unleashed God-level Conqueror’s Haki and began refining Imu.
• Houka merged with Rocks to borrow his darkness ability, stole Imu’s demonic ability, and transferred it to Merry, the ship spirit.
• Houka absorbed Imu’s remaining power and advanced further within the god level, while Loki hoped a future battle with the god-level Imu would help him break through.
• Rocks resented Houka for using him and casually tossing him aside, while Loki’s resentment faded as he considered his own growth.

Kozuki Houka declared the God War over, claimed rule of the world, and ordered the purge of the Celestial Dragons and the end of the pirate era. He left Marineford for Mary Geoise to carry out the purge before a worldwide broadcast.

• Kizaru stopped fighting Marco after Houka seized and refined the King of the World, and Houka declared himself the world's ruler.
• Houka sent Rocks, Loki, and Charlotte Linlin to attack Mary Geoise, while Loki transformed into the black dragon Nidhogg and carried Rocks there.
• The Marines stood down on Tsuru's command, and Houka declared that the Celestial Dragons' era and the Great Pirate Era were over.
• Houka outlined how he would treat pirates, ordered the Marines to remain at their posts, and told the Whitebeard Pirates to withdraw from Marineford.
• Houka reminded Whitebeard of his deal with Newgate and left Marineford with broadcasting Transponder Snails to purge the Celestial Dragons on camera.

After defeating the World Government’s old rulers, Kozuki Houka oversaw the slaughter of the Celestial Dragons, freed the slaves, and established a new ruling authority. The chapter ended with Doflamingo pledging loyalty and joining Houka’s government while Houka prepared to return to his own time-space.

• After Houka left Marineford, Whitebeard and Luffy escaped with Ace while the Marines rescued their wounded, and Shiryu, Aramaki, and the Blood Servants stopped the Shichibukai from leaving.
• Luffy reunited with Ace and returned to the Thousand Sunny, while Nami and Nico Robin wondered whether the Straw Hats should give up piracy and become an adventure group.
• Houka and Loki hunted down and killed the Celestial Dragons, while Charlotte Linlin and Rocks plundered their treasuries and Houka freed the slaves of Mary Geoise.
• The new World Government named Houka, Rocks, Loki, Charlotte Linlin, and Newgate as its supreme authority, and Amazon Lily, Elbaf, and Fish-Man Island gained roles or invitations within the new order.
• Doflamingo pledged allegiance to Houka, and the Donquixote Family joined the Ministry of Commerce as Doflamingo became a blood-servant vampire.
• Houka opened the Void Throne Hall as his council chamber and prepared to return to his own time-space.

Houka returned from the alternate timeline with Rocks and several new allies after consolidating his control there and gaining more power. In his main timeline, his companions reunited with their families and prepared for the coming conflict with God-level Imu, while the sword spirit Red Earl met his younger counterpart, Redfield.

• Houka left the alternate timeline in the hands of the Kuja Empress, Tsuru, Aokiji, and others, then returned to his main timeline with Rocks, Loki, Dracule Mihawk, Bullet, and the sword spirit Red Earl.
• Houka arranged for Bullet and Dracule Mihawk to merge with blood thralls so they could gain identities in the new world, while the sword spirit Red Earl was accepted without one.
• Loki hurried back to Elbaf to rally his father and their forces, while Rocks and Charlotte Linlin went to see their children in their respective homes.
• Newgate returned to check on things, and Houka took the newcomers to meet Redfield.
• Charlotte Linlin told the women at the Sacred Ancient Moon Palace about the other timeline, prompting them to stop her teasing about their counterparts.
• The sword spirit Red Earl met the young Redfield and felt relieved by his counterpart's strength and good fortune, while Redfield wondered why the stranger looked at him with approval.

Houka returned from another spacetime with Red Earl as Enma’s blade spirit and revealed that he had reached God-level, setting his sights on Imu. He gave Katakuri a second Kirin Fruit to prepare him for adventures in the other world, while Redfield accepted an Itsumade Fruit and asked to spend time with his alternate self.

• Katakuri showed Redfield his progress in Observation Haki, and Redfield discovered that the old man Houka had brought back was a weapon spirit.
• Red Earl introduced himself as Redfield’s counterpart from another spacetime and said Houka had killed him.
• Houka revealed his God-level power and told Redfield that he had also killed the other spacetime’s Charlotte Linlin, Newgate, and Imu.
• Katakuri asked whether Houka’s strength meant they could fight Imu, and Houka said the war would begin soon.
• Houka gave Katakuri the other spacetime’s Kirin Fruit, which strengthened Katakuri’s existing Qilin Ability, and gave Redfield the other Itsumade Fruit.
• Redfield asked Houka to let him keep Red Earl company, while Houka left with Dracule Mihawk, Bullet, and Katakuri.

Houka prepared the Roger Pirates and his allies for a new war against the World Government, while Imu investigated the mobilization and confirmed that Elbaf was preparing to fight. Imu then decided to devastate Elbaf in retaliation.

• Houka asked Dracule Mihawk to teach Ancient Moon Ryuma and Kozuki Zoro swordsmanship, then sent Bullet to join the Roger Pirates and ordered them to prepare for war.
• Houka summoned the Sky Archipelago Nations' officers and allied kingdoms, prompting Golden Lion Shiki and the other officers to return.
• Imu learned that the Rocks Pirates were gathering their officers and considered how to survive if Houka's forces proved stronger.
• Imu possessed Abyss Martial God Oswald and traveled secretly to Elbaf to investigate Houka's plans.
• Loki announced that the giants' restrictions had been lifted and urged them to reclaim Lili, confirming to Imu that Elbaf was preparing for war.
• Imu decided to wreak havoc on Elbaf and give Houka and Loki a taste of having their home base wiped out.

Imu launched a surprise attack on Elbaf, but Loki’s newfound strength forced him to abandon his plan to kill Harald. When Houka arrived, Imu sensed that he had become a True God and ordered an immediate retreat.

• Imu brought the Abyss Martial Gods and Deep Sea God Knights to Elbaf and charged at Harald while ordering his forces to attack Loki.
• Loki transformed and fought the attackers alone, forcing Imu to intervene and contend with Loki’s near-pseudo-God-level power.
• Harald called Houka for help as Loki taunted Imu and pressed his attack.
• Houka teleported to Elbaf and appeared while Loki was still battling Imu’s vessel.
• Imu sensed Houka’s True God aura, withdrew the teleportation abilities of his forces, and ordered them to retreat.

Kozuki Houka reached True God status and Loki became a false god, forcing Imu to retreat from the battlefield. Imu then drained the Abyss Martial Gods and Deep Sea God Knights and created a spreading shadow barrier that would divide the world, while Houka and his allies rushed toward Mary Geoise.

• Kozuki Houka arrived as a True God, and Loki awakened false God-level Conqueror's Haki, leaving Imu enraged and defeated.
• Imu abandoned Oswald's body and vanished after telling Houka that they knew where the ancient gods were hiding; Houka failed to save Oswald from the black flames.
• Houka sent Loki, Harald, Rocks, and the other officers into the Lost World and hurried back toward Mary Geoise, while Hajrudin and the New Giant Warrior Pirates set sail on their own.
• Imu returned to their original body, drained the Abyss Martial Gods and Deep Sea God Knights of their vitality and power, and seized Lili Carnation.
• Imu flew to the Florian Triangle and unleashed a divine curse, spreading shadow power across the world to create a third Divine Barrier as people fled Marineford and Mary Geoise.

Houka and his allies arrived at Mary Geoise as Imu’s life-draining shadows spread across the world, swallowing the holy land and moving toward the West Blue. Loki, Rocks, and Houka entered the shadow zone to pursue Imu, leaving the others unable to sense their whereabouts.

• Lily Carnation watched Imu rage against fate and declare that the shadows would become Imu’s domain.
• Houka and his fighters arrived at Mary Geoise, where new Celestial Dragon families were looting the city and his allies searched for Imu.
• Tsuru told Houka that shadows had engulfed Marineford and were draining life, while Loki and Rocks rushed into the shadows to find Imu.
• Houka left Flying Warships behind and followed Loki and Rocks as the shadows swallowed Mary Geoise and advanced toward the West Blue.
• Charlotte Linlin and Golden Lion Shiki tested the shadows and discovered that Haki could resist them, but the shadows drained life and Armament Haki.
• Redfield and Rayleigh speculated that ancient gods might be behind the Red Line and Calm Belt, while the gathered fighters worried about how to help Houka, Rocks, and Loki inside the shadow zone.

Redfield, Rayleigh, and the others realized that Imu’s Devil Shadow Zone might be part of an ancient pattern of divine barriers that divided the world. As Newgate sent Shiki to investigate the shadows, Houka and Rocks considered why Imu had created them and what threat might have driven Imu to seek refuge.

• Redfield, Rayleigh, and the others connected the Red Line, Calm Belt, and Devil Shadow Zone to ancient gods’ efforts to divide the world, and feared what Houka could do with his powers.
• Newgate ordered Shiki to steer Flying Warships from Mary Geoise toward Marineford and the Florian Triangle to search along the Devil Shadow Zone.
• Shiki resented being left behind as others grew stronger, while Mihawk looked forward to testing himself against the powerful swordsmen in this world.
• Houka landed atop Loki’s dragon head inside the Devil Shadow Zone, and Rocks joined him to ask whether Imu had created the shadows.
• Houka explained his theory that Imu meant to encircle the world and that the ancient gods might have hidden within divine barriers; Rocks was shocked by the scale of the plan.
• Houka and Rocks wondered whether Imu had created the Devil Shadow Zone to preserve themself from a deadly threat beyond Houka.

Houka confronted Imu in the Devil Shadow Zone and learned that Imu was building a divine barrier to protect themself and oppose the World Will. Imu’s shadow escaped the threat of immediate defeat, leaving Houka and his companions needing to find Imu’s true body.

• Houka called for Imu while considering the Devil Shadow Zone’s connection to the Florian Triangle and other shadow-covered places.
• Imu appeared as a solid black figure and declared that the Devil Shadow Zone would become one of three great barriers alongside the Red Line and Calm Belt.
• Imu believed destiny had turned against them and admitted they could not defeat Houka and his companions in a direct fight.
• Loki and Rocks attacked Imu’s shadow, but Houka stopped them, explaining that destroying the shadow clone would not kill Imu’s true body.
• Houka reasoned that Imu’s barrier protected them, weakened the World Will, and helped isolate races and suppress their growth.

Imu warned Houka that the world will and fate destroyed True Gods, claiming that becoming a god was the original sin and that prophecies about Sun God Nika might be lies. Houka rejected Imu’s attempt to sway him and resolved to stop the Devil Shadow Zone and pursue the gods and world will for his own power.

• Imu told Houka that True Gods were threats to the world and that fate had turned against Joy Boy after he became one.
• Imu claimed that the Harley, prophecies, and the Giants’ and Fish-Man Race’s roles might be fabricated, and warned Houka that he would be targeted if he became a god.
• Loki attacked Imu’s shadow, but Imu reappeared elsewhere within the Devil Shadow Zone.
• Houka dismissed Imu’s claims as unreliable and said he would not allow the Devil Shadow Zone to encircle the world.
• Houka declared that he would fight Imu and devour any ancient gods, then make use of the world will and fate to advance his cultivation.

Imu believed Houka would eventually become the World Will’s enemy for pursuing immortality and planned to outlast him by completing the Devil Shadow Zone. Houka revealed he could devour Imu’s devil shadow power, leaving Imu shocked and frightened.

• Imu rejected the idea of winning Houka over and planned to merge with the completed Devil Shadow Zone to escape the World Will’s purge.
• Imu reasoned that fate would eventually turn against Houka for seeking immortality, just as it targeted all gods.
• Imu reflected that Sun God Nika and the ancient gods’ shifting roles as enemies or allies made the old conflicts difficult to judge.
• Houka mocked Imu and used his divine power to push back the shadow domain.
• Houka revealed that he could devour Imu’s devil shadow power, and Imu panicked when it sensed power of the same origin.

Houka devoured Imu’s devil shadow power and tracked Imu’s true body to the Florian Triangle, where Imu had been speaking with Lily Carnation. After Houka arrived, Imu sent Lili away and challenged him to face them in Mary Geoise, threatening to bring the ancient gods into the fight.

• Houka transformed into a demon and devoured Imu’s shadow power, slowing the Devil Shadow Zone’s expansion as Rocks and Loki urged him to pursue Imu.
• Houka sensed the mark he had left on Lily Carnation and rushed to the Florian Triangle, while Imu’s shadow vanished from the battlefield.
• Imu admitted Lili was not the real Forest God, then let her go and promised they would not let Houka kill them.
• Houka arrived, and Imu sent Lili to a ghost pirate ship before warning Houka to stop pursuing them.
• Imu challenged Houka to break the Red Line and Calm Belt at Mary Geoise, where they would face him alongside the ancient gods.

Houka forced Imu’s clone to flee toward Mary Geoise, then let Demon Merry consume the Devil Shadow Zone and awaken its power. Houka, Loki, and Rocks headed for Mary Geoise to confront Imu and see whether he would draw out the other ancient gods.

• Imu revealed that he had used a clone to escape Houka and returned toward Mary Geoise to involve the Earth God and Ocean God.
• Houka destroyed Imu’s clone and let Demon Merry devour the Devil Shadow Zone spreading toward the East Blue.
• Demon Merry awakened its devil power and began consuming the shadow energy faster than Imu could release it.
• Loki and Rocks arrived, learned Imu had escaped, and joined Houka in planning to pursue him to Mary Geoise.
• Houka opened the Rainbow Gate and took Loki and Rocks through the Lost World to the Flying Warship.

Imu confronted the Rain God while threatening to spread devil shadows along the Red Line, forcing the Earth God and Ocean God to reveal themselves. The ancient gods opposed Imu’s plan, seeking to weaken the world will and escape the fate that doomed gods to die or reincarnate.

• Imu spread devil shadows across the Red Line and Calm Belts, demanded that the Earth God and Ocean God emerge, and threatened to bind themself to their territory.
• Imu summoned the Rain God [ZAZA], who attacked Mary Geoise and dispersed the devil shadows, but Imu repeatedly blasted the Rain God and its storms apart.
• Imu chose to build a Divine Barrier along the Red Line rather than circle the West Blue and East Blue.
• The Earth God and Ocean God appeared in incomplete forms and confronted Imu, revealing the damage they had suffered from the world will.
• The Earth God stopped Imu’s shadows and explained that the ancient gods hoped to divide the world and weaken the world will so they could escape death and reincarnation.

Imu learned that the Fate God had manipulated the World Will and gathered several gods against them, leaving the Earth God and Ocean God to reconsider their plans. They decided to try recruiting Kozuki Houka and, failing that, help Imu complete the Divine Barrier.

• The Earth God and Ocean God explained that the Fate God had turned the Forest God, Rain God, and Sun God into pawns and used the World Will against them.
• Imu revealed that Kozuki Houka had become the Dragon God and Moon God and that powerful allies stood with him.
• The Earth God recalled how the Fate God had used prophecies to deceive gods, rulers, and their descendants.
• The Earth God decided that they had to try winning Kozuki Houka over to their side.
• The Earth God asked whether Kozuki Houka would willingly remain the Fate God's tool.

Imu recalled her devil shadow power after discovering Kozuki Houka was devouring it near Marineford, then questioned the Earth God and Ocean God about the Fate God’s motives. She suspected the Fate God was manipulating events more deeply than the Earth God realized and searched for a way to survive and become the strongest God King.

• Imu sensed Kozuki Houka consuming her devil shadow power near Marineford and pulled the remaining power back toward the East Blue and the Red Line.
• Imu asked the Earth God and Ocean God why the Fate God had not joined their effort against the World Will.
• The Earth God and Ocean God explained that the Fate God sought sole dominion and might exploit the weakened World Will to eliminate the other gods.
• Imu doubted the Earth God’s assessment and considered that the Fate God might already be far stronger than he appeared.
• Imu worried that Kozuki Houka’s rise and even the chance to recruit him might serve the Fate God’s plans, and she sought a path to become the strongest God King.

Houka and his companions reached Mary Geoise, where Imu and several ancient gods were battling. As Imu approached Houka, he claimed that Houka’s master, the Fate God, existed.

• Houka led his companions from Marineford toward Mary Geoise after the demonic shadows there vanished.
• Houka and his companions found the Rain God attacking Imu while the Earth God ordered the Ocean God to intervene.
• Houka recognized the Rain God as an ancient god and became eager to claim it as prey.
• Rocks awakened false God-level Conqueror’s Haki after seeing the ancient gods, while Davy Jones abandoned his dream of ruling the world.
• Imu flew toward Houka and asked whether he knew that his master, the Fate God, existed.

Imu revealed that the Fate God controlled the world will and explained the dangers facing the ancient gods, while trying to recruit Houka as an ally. Houka refused to choose sides, decided to learn more from the Earth God and Ocean God, and went with Imu to Mary Geoise, promising to take him along when he ascended.

• Imu told Houka that the Fate God controlled the world will and that gods were targets it sought to eliminate.
• Imu warned that the Fate God might use them as pawns and proposed that he and Houka ally against their threats.
• Houka decided not to join either side and said he would negotiate with the Earth God and Ocean God because he did not trust Imu.
• Imu warned Houka about the Earth God and said he would rather see all the gods perish than face no way to survive.
• Houka went with Imu toward Mary Geoise to learn the ancient gods’ strengths and weaknesses, telling Imu he would take him along to ascend.