Summary of Chapter: “Buster Call Begins, Mu Chen, Why Aren't You Giving the Order?”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Marine warships surround Ohara as a Buster Call is prepared.
• Sakazuki believes Mu Chen has given ruthless approval for the operation and is pleased with him.
• Nico Olvia returns to Ohara after learning of the impending attack.
• Revolutionary Army members planted on the island shout warnings, causing mass panic and evacuation by sea.
• Marine captains ask Mu Chen for orders to fire; Mu Chen claims he hasn’t received Spandine’s signal, delaying the bombardment.
• Spandine, realizing Mu Chen has trapped him into taking responsibility, activates the Golden Den Den Mushi to authorize the Buster Call.
• Mu Chen then gives the order to destroy Ohara, and the Marines open fire — many civilians who didn’t believe the attack was real are caught in the shelling.

2. Character Developments

• Mu Chen: Quietly executes a plan with Dragon to give civilians a chance to escape, while outwardly appearing obedient and even ruthless. He uses procedural excuses to delay the attack and shifts blame to Spandine.
• Sakazuki: Becomes more impressed with Mu Chen, misreading his calculated hesitation as cold-blooded pragmatism. He is eager to bomb fleeing refugee ships.
• Spandine: Is outmaneuvered and forced to trigger the Buster Call, making him the public authorizer of the massacre. He is resentful but unable to counter Mu Chen’s maneuvering.
• Kong Ming: Acts as a messenger, relaying questions and orders between Mu Chen and the fleet.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and plausible deniability: Mu Chen hides his humanitarian intent behind military protocol and Spandine’s authority.
• Power and responsibility: The chapter shows how orders can be manipulated so that the real moral burden falls on someone else.
• Civilian vulnerability: Ordinary people are caught between government destruction and escape, with only half believing the threat until the first shells land.
• Resistance within systems: Mu Chen and Dragon’s covert cooperation suggests change can be attempted from inside oppressive institutions.

4. Character Interactions

• Mu Chen ↔ Kong Ming: Mu Chen deflects the fleet’s question by sending word that he is waiting for Spandine’s signal.
• Spandine ↔ CP9: CP9 reports the evacuation and the Marines’ refusal to fire without Spandine’s signal; Spandine realizes Mu Chen deliberately set him up.
• Sakazuki ↔ Mu Chen (implicit): Sakazuki approves of Mu Chen’s behavior, deepening his misunderstanding of Mu Chen’s true intentions.
• Mu Chen ↔ Dragon (off-page): Their prearranged plan is revealed through the Revolutionary Army’s role in warning the civilians.

Plot points and events

• The Buster Call begins, sending Ohara into flames. People flee by ship, but Sakazuki orders the Marines to fire on escaping vessels.
• Robin and Saul hear the bombardment. Saul urges Robin to escape, but she runs to find her mother and Dr. Clover.
• Olvia also searches for Robin, but the two pass one another without recognizing each other after seven years apart.
• Robin reaches the treehouse, where Clover and the scholars are throwing books into a pool to preserve them. Frightened, she refuses to leave and insists on waiting for her mother.
• Mu Chen arrives on Ohara using the Flying Thunder God Technique. He meets Dragon, Kuma, and Ivankov, then sends them to rescue civilians. Kuma transports people with his Paw-Paw Fruit, Dragon carries them on the wind, and Ivankov protects them from incoming shells.
• Mu Chen goes to save Clover. Meanwhile, Spandine and CP9 enter the treehouse. Clover pleads for the scholars and Robin to be spared, but Spandine declares them guilty and refuses.

Character developments and interactions

• Robin’s fear breaks through when she reaches Clover, revealing how much she longs for family and safety. Despite the danger, she chooses to stay with him.
• Clover shows compassion and courage, prioritizing Robin’s survival and pleading for her life even as he expects to die.
• Mu Chen feels burdened by having ordered the bombardment, but acts to save as many people as possible.
• Dragon understands Mu Chen’s distress and helps rescue civilians, despite recognizing that the operation may expose the Revolutionary Army to the World Government.
• Olvia’s and Robin’s near-miss heightens the tragedy of their separation.

Significant themes

• The cost of authority and war: The Buster Call destroys the island and threatens even fleeing civilians.
• Knowledge under threat: The scholars try to preserve Ohara’s books, valuing knowledge even as their home is destroyed.
• Family and sacrifice: Robin seeks her mother, while Clover risks himself to protect her.
• Moral conflict and responsibility: Mu Chen is implicated in the attack yet works to save its victims; Dragon accepts danger to help others.

Key events

• Dr. Clover tries to shield young Robin by pretending to scold her, but CP9 brings in her mother, Olivia, as a prisoner.
• Robin recognizes Olivia and, despite Olivia’s silent warnings, reveals that Olivia is her mother. Their joyful reunion turns desperate when Robin announces that she can read Poneglyphs, making her a target of the World Government.
• Spandine welcomes the discovery, while Olivia and Clover realize Robin is in grave danger. A voice on Spandine’s phone orders everyone except Clover and a few agents to leave.
• Outside, CP9 prepares to shoot the archaeologists. Olivia pushes Robin to flee, and the scholars urge her to survive as the hope of Ohara.
• Mu Chen secretly uses Kamui to divert the bullets. Olivia and the others collapse, appearing dead; Robin, believing her mother has been killed, attacks the CP9 agents with her Devil Fruit power and snaps their necks.

Character developments and interactions

• Robin moves from a tearful child seeking her mother to a furious fighter. Her reunion with Olivia exposes her ability to read Poneglyphs, and her grief triggers a lethal use of her powers.
• Olivia shows both deep affection and fierce protectiveness, trying to keep Robin’s identity secret and sacrificing her own safety to help her escape.
• Clover tries to protect Robin through deception but is devastated by the family’s reunion and the danger it brings.
• Mu Chen intervenes covertly to stop the shooting. Watching Robin face life alone, he resolves that he cannot simply leave her behind.
• Spandine and CP9 treat Robin’s ability as a valuable discovery and show no compassion for the archaeologists.

Significant themes

• Family and separation: Robin and Olivia’s reunion is loving but painfully brief.
• Knowledge as a threat: Robin’s ability to read Poneglyphs puts her life in danger under the World Government.
• Sacrifice and survival: Olivia and the scholars risk themselves so Robin can escape.
• Grief and power: Robin’s apparent loss of her mother transforms her sorrow into violence.

Plot points and events

• Little Robin rushes to Olivia, believing her mother has died. Mu Chen reveals Olivia is alive and releases her from his illusion.
• Olivia initially treats Mu Chen as an enemy, but he explains that he has rescued them and will take them to Dragon. To the World Government, they must appear dead.
• Mu Chen transports Olivia, Robin, and the other surviving archaeologists to Dragon, then returns to rescue Dr. Clover.
• Clover tells Spandine and the Five Elders that the Poneglyphs record the history of a powerful nation that existed before the World Government—and that this history is what the rulers fear. Before he can say more, the Five Elders order Spandine to kill him.
• After Clover is shot, the Elders order the remaining archaeologists killed. Spandine discovers his CP9 agents and other subordinates are dead, while illusions conceal the archaeologists’ escape. Robin’s absence leads him to suspect she survived.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Chen balances his hatred of the authorities with compassion for Robin. He deliberately makes himself less frightening, reassures her and Olivia, and takes steps to conceal Robin’s survival.
• Robin is frightened of Mu Chen because he is a Marine, but her desperate attachment to Olivia is clear. Her apparent death is part of Mu Chen’s plan to protect her.
• Olivia is initially wary, then accepts Mu Chen’s offer of help and trusts him enough to leave with Robin.
• Dragon receives the rescued group and urges Mu Chen to explain himself, but Mu Chen quickly departs to return to Clover.
• Clover remains composed as he exposes the World Government’s fear of the lost past; the Five Elders silence him before he can finish.
• Spandine follows the Elders’ orders, then tries to explain the deaths and missing bodies by blaming Robin’s Devil Fruit.

Significant themes

• Suppressed history: The World Government uses murder to prevent the truth about the ancient nation from coming to light.
• Justice versus authority: Mu Chen’s actions contrast with the Marines and government officials who enforce the purge.
• Protection through deception: Illusions, false deaths, and hidden survivors become ways to resist the regime and keep Robin safe.

Key plot points and events

• The narrator explains that Olivia and the other scholars must remain officially presumed dead. By leaving CP9 a trail leading to Robin, the rescuers hope to keep the government focused on her instead.
• Mu Chen takes Dr. Clover’s body and Ohara’s books into Kamui Space, then joins Dragon, who is exhausted from rescuing civilians. Mu Chen begins helping by incapacitating people with genjutsu and transporting them to safety.
• Robin and Olivia reunite with Saul on the beach. Robin persuades him to escape with them, and Saul agrees, encouraged by what he has learned about the Revolutionary Army’s rescue efforts.
• As they leave to find Dragon, they encounter Kuzan. Saul offers to surrender himself if Kuzan will let Robin and Olivia go.
• Kuzan refuses to let Robin escape, believing her connected to Ohara’s forbidden research and the deaths it caused. However, he allows Saul to leave because of their friendship.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Chen balances the covert rescue of Ohara’s scholars and records with the broader civilian evacuation, while Dragon’s complaint highlights how much work Dragon has been doing.
• Dragon is shown as committed but physically worn down by saving people during the bombardment.
• Robin is determined to save Saul rather than flee without him; Olivia is reunited with Saul and protects Robin when Kuzan appears.
• Saul chooses to join the Revolutionary Army, having lost faith in the Marines and World Government. He is willing to sacrifice himself to protect Robin and Olivia.
• Kuzan is deeply shaken by Sakazuki’s order to fire on a civilian evacuation ship. Though still trusting the government’s account of Ohara’s danger, he makes a personal exception for Saul while refusing to spare Robin.

Significant themes

• Moral conflict and justice: Kuzan’s faith in the Marines is challenged by their treatment of civilians, while Saul’s growing trust in the Revolutionary Army reflects his disillusionment.
• Truth and concealment: The rescuers hide the scholars’ survival and preserve Ohara’s books, setting the official narrative against what really happened.
• Loyalty and sacrifice: Robin risks delaying her escape to find Saul, and Saul offers himself in exchange for her safety.
• Compassion amid violence: The rescue efforts stand in stark contrast to the Buster Call’s indiscriminate destruction.

Chapter 186 Summary

Key events

• Kuzan offers Saul a chance to surrender, but Saul refuses and urges Robin and Olivia to flee.
• Kuzan freezes Saul with Ice Time Capsule, then attacks Olivia and Robin with Ice Block: Pheasant Beak.
• Mu Chen appears in time to shatter the ice bird and protect them.
• Kuzan challenges Mu Chen over why a Marine would defend people blamed for Ohara’s destruction. Mu Chen says he knows the World Government wants them dead, but insists he has not betrayed the Marines or justice.
• Mu Chen explains that he wants a different path toward peace—one that does not make the Marines accomplices of the Celestial Dragons. He begins to persuade Kuzan by asking whether he knows the truth about God Valley, then tells him the account.

Character developments and interactions

• Saul’s priority is protecting Robin, even when it means facing Kuzan alone.
• Olivia is shaken by Kuzan’s argument that the scholars’ actions brought disaster on Ohara. She doubts herself, though she remains focused on Robin’s safety.
• Robin feels safer when Mu Chen arrives and recognizes that he saved her and her mother.
• Olivia feels responsible for exposing herself and Robin, but Mu Chen reassures her and takes charge.
• Kuzan is powerful and resolute, yet his response to Mu Chen shows that he is still wrestling with what justice means. He is shocked by Mu Chen’s apparent defiance and then by the God Valley revelations.
• Mu Chen remains calm under suspicion and tries to win Kuzan over through their shared concern for justice and peace.

Significant themes

• The conflict between official justice and moral conscience: the World Government’s verdict does not settle whether the scholars deserve blame.
• Protecting the innocent, especially children, takes precedence for Saul and Mu Chen.
• The chapter questions whether Marines serve justice or the interests of the Celestial Dragons, setting up the God Valley account as a challenge to Kuzan’s understanding of the World Government.

Plot points and events

• Kuzan learns that, during the God Valley Incident, Marines protected Celestial Dragons while they hunted people for sport. He connects this atrocity to Dragon’s departure from the Marines and the founding of the Revolutionary Army.
• Kuzan remains skeptical of Mu Chen’s defense of the Ohara scholars, believing the World Government’s claim that they sought an ancient weapon to destroy the world. Mu Chen argues that the scholars are only pursuing historical knowledge and mocks Kuzan for trusting official propaganda.
• Mu Chen acknowledges that the scholars’ actions led to innocent deaths, but insists they cannot be killed yet. He persuades Kuzan to let the rescue party go without reporting what he saw.
• Kuzan leaves after challenging Mu Chen to fight again. Mu Chen departs with Robin, Olivia, and the frozen Saul, judging that Kuzan held back and Saul will recover.
• Back aboard his warship, Mu Chen learns that CP9 has encountered Dragon, Kuma, and Ivankov. He goes to assist, partly to maintain his cover as the operation’s commander.
• Dragon confronts Spandine and CP9, unleashing a powerful fire tornado. Spandine orders a retreat, expecting Mu Chen to deal with Dragon. The chapter ends as a huge magma fist appears nearby.

Character developments

• Kuzan begins to question the World Government’s version of events, though he is not fully convinced. His willingness to overlook the rescue marks a shift in his position.
• Mu Chen uses blunt mockery and practical arguments to challenge Kuzan’s assumptions. He continues balancing his covert sympathies with the appearance of loyalty to the Marines.
• Olivia is consumed by guilt over the civilian deaths caused by the scholars’ actions.
• Dragon demonstrates formidable power and readiness to fight when the rescue operation is threatened.
• Spandine reveals his opportunism, hoping to profit from Mu Chen’s arrival while avoiding personal risk.

Themes

• Propaganda and truth: The World Government’s claims about Ohara are challenged, while Kuzan struggles to distinguish official narratives from reality.
• Moral compromise and responsibility: The scholars’ pursuit of truth has had terrible consequences, leaving Olivia burdened with guilt and Mu Chen unwilling to excuse the deaths.
• Justice versus institutional loyalty: Kuzan’s belief in protecting the world clashes with the Marines’ past service to the Celestial Dragons.
• Courage and self-interest: Dragon acts decisively, while Spandine seeks credit without taking on a dangerous opponent himself.

Character interactions

• Mu Chen and Kuzan argue over the scholars’ intentions; Mu Chen’s ridicule unsettles Kuzan, and the two part with their rivalry intact.
• Mu Chen reassures Olivia indirectly by preventing the scholars from being killed, though her remorse remains.
• Dragon and Spandine clash, with Spandine retreating and relying on Mu Chen to confront Dragon.
• Mu Chen’s rescue group leaves before he returns to the larger Marine operation.

Key plot points and events

• Dragon’s fire tornado clashes with Sakazuki’s magma, producing a huge explosion that knocks CP9 members down and clears a wide stretch of ground.
• Sakazuki confronts Dragon, condemning his betrayal of the Marines and insisting that the people of Ohara—and the island itself—deserved destruction. Dragon challenges him over the lives Sakazuki took, including those aboard an evacuation ship.
• The former allies begin fighting. Dragon uses wind attacks and Armament Haki; Sakazuki counters with magma techniques, including Dark Hound.
• Dragon breaks through Sakazuki’s wind-wall encounter and lands a powerful Haki-coated blow, cracking Sakazuki’s arm. Sakazuki withdraws, furious, and the fight intensifies.
• Mu Chen arrives during the battle. Spandine orders him to attack Dragon, but Mu Chen does not respond. The chapter ends with Dragon and Sakazuki trading blows and Mu Chen judging them evenly matched.

Character developments

• Dragon demonstrates strong wind-based abilities and Armament Haki. He remains defiant toward Sakazuki and condemns the Marine’s brutality.
• Sakazuki shows that his absolute-justice beliefs outweigh past friendship: he considers mass killing necessary to frighten pirates and their allies. Though initially confident, he is angered and unsettled when Dragon wounds him.
• Spandine enthusiastically supports Sakazuki’s extermination policy, but his confidence gives way to panic as the battle’s stray flames burn him.
• Mu Chen enters as a composed observer, declining to follow Spandine’s immediate order.

Significant themes

• Justice versus cruelty: Sakazuki frames mass killing as protection, while Dragon challenges the morality of sacrificing innocents.
• Betrayal and old bonds: Their former friendship makes the confrontation personal, but Sakazuki’s loyalty to his ideology has erased any apparent affection.
• Power and conviction: The evenly matched combat reflects the clash between Dragon’s resistance and Sakazuki’s uncompromising authority.

Character interactions

• Dragon and Sakazuki exchange accusations before testing each other in a fierce, closely balanced fight.
• Spandine applauds Sakazuki’s methods and tries to command Mu Chen to join the attack.
• Mu Chen ignores the order and watches the duel, recognizing that neither fighter has a clear advantage.

Summary of "Mu Chen: Then Let's Put on an Act"

• Key plot points & events: Mu Chen arrives amid a battle between Dragon’s group (Dragon, Kuma, Ivankov) and Sakazuki. Sakazuki asks Mu Chen to join him, forcing Mu Chen to act as an enemy of Dragon’s group. Dragon quietly orders Kuma and Ivankov to attack Mu Chen while pretending to retreat. Ivankov buffs himself with the Emporio Hormone and fires a Death Wink, which Mu Chen easily counters with a Blue Walk. Mu Chen then unleashes his Blood Sharingan, intimidating everyone, and proceeds to ruthlessly beat Kuma, sending him flying into Ivankov. Both are genuinely injured but still maintain the pretense. Spandine, watching from afar, is terrified anew by Mu Chen.
• Character developments: Mu Chen demonstrates overwhelming combat ability—easily neutralizing Ivankov’s strongest attack and breaking Kuma’s defense with Armament Haki. He also shows tactical cunning by whispering to Kuma before striking, ensuring the illusion of a real fight. Dragon remains a composed director of the facade. Kuma and Ivankov endure real pain to preserve their cover, showing dedication to the act. Sakazuki openly admits Mu Chen is stronger than himself, reinforcing Mu Chen’s fearsome reputation. Spandine’s old trauma resurfaces.
• Significant themes: Deception and performance—the fight is staged, but the consequences (injuries, awe, fear) are real. The weight of reputation: Mu Chen’s title “Blood-Eyed” causes psychological dread. Power display as a narrative device, showcasing strength while maintaining secret alliances. Sacrifice and loyalty, as allies hurt each other for the sake of a larger conspiracy.
• Character interactions: Sakazuki calls for a joint attack, but Dragon subverts that by ordering his crew to fight Mu Chen. Ivankov attacks first and is shocked by Mu Chen’s ease. Mu Chen mockingly critiques Kuma’s speed, then whispers a private message before leveling a devastating punch and kidney kick. Kuma crashes into Ivankov, and both play along while internally cursing Mu Chen. Spandine watches with mounting fear, recalling his past encounter with Mu Chen.

Chapter Summary: "Kuma: Ready to Travel?"

Overview

During the Buster Call on Ohara, Kuma and Ivankov take heavy fire while Dragon battles Sakazuki. As the fight escalates and the group prepares to retreat, Mu Chen—who appears to side with the Marines—demonstrates suspicious behavior toward Kuma, hinting at a hidden agenda.

Key Plot Points

• Kuma and Ivankov are blasted by naval shells, leaving them injured while the Buster Call continues to devastate Ohara
• Spandine mocks their condition; Ivankov attacks him with Newkama Kenpo, and Kuma finishes the job with Pressure Cannon, sending Spandine flying
• Ivankov and Kuma recognize it's time to retreat as artillery fire intensifies
• Dragon and Sakazuki's fight reaches its peak: Sakazuki transforms into a massive lava hound, while Dragon creates an enormous tornado; the clash proves equally matched
• Kuma teleports Ivankov away with his Paw-Paw ability ("Ready to travel?")
• Sakazuki, desperate not to lose Dragon, orders Mu Chen to stop Kuma
• Mu Chen confronts Kuma but secretly mouths "Hit me"—and then beats Kuma bloody anyway, confusing him

Character Developments

• Kuma: Shows tactical awareness and cunning; works in sync with Ivankov, and demonstrates trust in Mu Chen by following his cryptic instruction
• Dragon: Displays genuine concern for his comrades, which costs him focus in battle; acknowledges Sakazuki's strength as his equal
• Sakazuki: Relentless in pursuit of his objectives; revealed to have been trained by the same teacher as Dragon; willing to delegate to Mu Chen
• Mu Chen: Plays an ambiguous double role—publicly siding with the Marines and harming Kuma, yet secretly signaling cooperation with the Revolutionaries; his true allegiance remains unclear

Significant Themes

• Deception and hidden motives: Mu Chen's public brutality versus his covert signal highlights the murky nature of allegiance during war
• Sacrifice for comrades: Kuma and Ivankov willingly take hits to buy time for Dragon's escape
• The cost of justice: The Buster Call's indiscriminate destruction raises questions about the Marines' version of justice
• Mentorship and legacy: Dragon and Sakazuki sharing a teacher emphasizes how ideologies can diverge from common roots

Character Interactions

• Ivankov & Spandine: Ivankov beats Spandine viciously for his mockery, with Kuma providing backup
• Kuma & Ivankov: Flawless teamwork; Ivankov dodges to clear Kuma's line of fire, showing practiced coordination
• Dragon & Sakazuki: A vicious, evenly matched duel filled with mutual respect and rivalry; both end up battered
• Mu Chen & Kuma: A tense, wordless exchange—Mu Chen's command to "Hit me" suggests he may be playing a deeper game than either side realizes

1. Key Plot Points / Events

• The fight between Mu Chen and Kuma reverses when Mu Chen deliberately gives Kuma an opening. Kuma slaps Mu Chen and sends him flying into the distance with his Paw-Paw ability.
• Dragon laughs at Sakazuki, saying the Marines can’t keep them now. Sakazuki attacks anyway with Dark Hound, while Kuma counters with Ursus Shock.
• The triple collision (magma + wind + air cannon) causes a massive explosion that blasts Sakazuki, Dragon, and Kuma apart.
• Kuma uses his powers to escape with Dragon, leaving Sakazuki alone and furious.
• Mu Chen lands on an unknown island after flying for seven or eight days. All his Den Den Mushi are broken, so he has no way to contact headquarters. He spots pirates robbing someone and decides to question one about “Kamui.”
• At Marine HQ, Sengoku learns that Mu Chen is still missing. The Ohara mission is complete, but the embarrassment of losing the commander-in-chief is serious. Sengoku orders the search to continue.
• Garp once again sets out to sea to capture his son, Dragon.
• Qi Yuan, in the West Blue, hasn’t slept for days because of worry for Mu Chen.

2. Character Developments

• Mu Chen shows a strategic, deceptive side: instead of winning by brute force, he fakes vulnerability and uses Kuma’s ability to escape, suggesting he has his own hidden plans.
• Kuma is more than just a dangerous fighter: he cooperates with Mu Chen and helps Dragon escape, displaying quick judgment and teamwork.
• Sakazuki remains relentless and hot-tempered, but also proud and frustrated; his inability to stop the enemies is a personal blow.
• Dragon appears more relaxed and even mocking once his escape is secured.
• Sengoku and Zefa worry about Mu Chen, showing trust and concern for him despite his absence.
• Garp is willing to personally pursue his own son, highlighting his painful loyalty to the Marines over family.

3. Significant Themes

• Deception and strategy over raw power: Mu Chen’s fake defeat turns the battle into a successful retreat.
• Escape and survival: Kuma’s ability and Mu Chen’s broken communication emphasize reaching new terrain and regrouping.
• Loyalty and hidden alliances: Mu Chen and Kuma work together despite being enemies on paper.
• Political embarrassment: losing a high-ranking Marine commander after a Buster Call causes problems for the Marines and World Government.
• Family vs. duty: Garp hunting his own son echoes the painful conflict between private ties and public responsibility.

4. Character Interactions

• Mu Chen ↔ Kuma: Silent cooperation; Mu Chen signals Kuma, who sends him flying.
• Sakazuki ↔ Dragon: Dragon taunts Sakazuki; Sakazuki responds with an attack.
• Sakazuki ↔ Kuma: Their attacks clash directly, creating the huge explosion.
• Sengoku ↔ Kong Ming: Kong Ming reports Mu Chen’s disappearance; Sengoku orders a continued search.
• Sengoku ↔ Zefa: They discuss Mu Chen’s absence and reassure each other, joking about him slacking off.
• Garp: Mentioned as setting out to capture Dragon, reinforcing the father-son conflict.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu Chen is sent flying and presumed lost after being hit by Kuma's slap.
• Qiyuan (Zhiyuan) worries about Mu Chen, revealing his feelings to Tokikake and Kong Ming.
• Mu Chen arrives on a pirate ship and encounters Douglas Bullet and Crocodile, setting the stage for a potential battle.
• Mu Chen opens his system panel and decides to upgrade his abilities.

Character Developments

• Qiyuan's concern for Mu Chen is evident, hinting at a deeper bond between them.
• Tokikake's jealousy and insecurities are highlighted as he compares himself to Mu Chen.
• Mu Chen demonstrates strategic thinking by upgrading his abilities before facing Bullet and Crocodile.

Significant Themes

• Friendship and loyalty, as seen in Qiyuan's worry for Mu Chen.
• Competition and jealousy, exemplified by Tokikake's comparison with Mu Chen.
• Power dynamics and preparation, as Mu Chen upgrades his abilities before a potential battle.

Character Interactions

• Qiyuan and Tokikake: Qiyuan's worry for Mu Chen causes Tokikake to feel jealous and inferior.
• Kong Ming and Tokikake: Kong Ming tries to reason with Tokikake, highlighting Tokikake's shamelessness and Kong Ming's exasperation.
• Mu Chen and the System: Mu Chen interacts with the system to upgrade his abilities, showing his strategic mindset.

Chapter summary

• Mu Chen assesses his progress: His status shows he has reached Admiral Candidate strength, with an 8% hidden-feature progress rate and 11,000 Slacking Points. He is surprised to find Complete Infinite Reading among his potential upgrades, though its 800,000-point cost makes it a distant goal.
• Crocodile challenges Douglas Bullet: Bullet mocks Crocodile as a nobody. Crocodile calmly answers that defeating Bullet will make him famous, and refuses to be intimidated by Bullet’s reputation as Roger’s former crewmate and the “Devil’s Descendant.”
• The fight begins: Crocodile attacks in his sand form, but Bullet’s powerful Conqueror’s Haki briefly checks his advance and knocks out nearby pirates. Crocodile presses on, unleashing Sand Cannon; the storm is strong enough to draw Bullet’s interest.
• The battle escalates: Bullet coats himself in Armament Haki and charges into the sandstorm. Crocodile uses his Logia abilities and sand-blade attacks, while Bullet counters with superior strength and Haki. Their clashes shake the ship and churn the sea, and the fight moves into the air.
• Mu Chen observes from within the storm: Crocodile’s sand passes harmlessly through him thanks to his mastered intangibility. He watches the duel with amusement rather than getting involved.

Character developments and interactions

Crocodile’s pride and ambition are clear: he sees Bullet’s challenge as a chance to establish his name and stands firm despite being outmatched in reputation. Bullet, meanwhile, is driven by a restless desire to fight powerful opponents after Roger’s death; Crocodile’s attack earns his respect and excitement. Their exchange shifts from contemptuous taunts to genuine combat interest, while Mu Chen remains a detached spectator.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes ambition and reputation, as Crocodile seeks recognition through victory, and the pursuit of strength, which gives Bullet purpose. It also contrasts Crocodile’s determination with Bullet’s overwhelming confidence and power.

Key plot points

• Crocodile attacks Douglas Bullet with volleys of sand, a sand vortex, and a giant sand hand. Bullet withstands each move with overwhelming strength and Haki, eventually smashing through Crocodile’s defenses and hurling him onto a nearby island.
• Crocodile rises with only minor injuries and, rather than being discouraged, is excited by Bullet’s power. Bullet is also eager to keep fighting.
• Mu Chen arrives on the island to watch, unaware that his Intangibility has expired. The fighters notice him, and Bullet identifies him as the young Marine Vice Admiral known as the Wicked Eye.
• Crocodile recognizes Mu Chen’s reputation—including his victories over Shiki and Kaido—and becomes interested in him. Mu Chen claims he was merely passing by, but both opponents seem to have other plans.

Character developments and interactions

• Bullet shows formidable physical strength and Haki, confidently breaking Crocodile’s strongest attacks. He respects Crocodile’s ability but remains hungry for a greater challenge.
• Crocodile is resourceful and agile, but his sand techniques cannot contain Bullet. His injuries only heighten his excitement and competitive pride.
• Mu Chen enjoys watching the fight but becomes awkward when discovered. He realizes his expired Intangibility—and the fighters’ Observation Haki—exposed him.

Significant themes

• Power and resilience: Bullet repeatedly overcomes Crocodile’s attacks through sheer force and Haki.
• The thrill of combat: Both fighters become more energized as they recognize each other’s strength.
• Confidence and reputation: Mu Chen’s fame changes the encounter, drawing Crocodile’s attention even though Mu Chen wants to avoid fighting.

Plot points and events

• Douglas Bullet explains that his recent attempts to challenge Big Mom and Whitebeard were frustrated by their many allies, while King prevented him from reaching Kaido in Wano. He is pleased to find both Crocodile and Marine Mu Chen, whom he had already hoped to fight.
• Crocodile also wants to defeat Mu Chen, so Mu Chen tries to leave—but Bullet and Crocodile attack him together.
• Bullet’s powerful Armament Haki overwhelms Mu Chen’s defense and sends him crashing backward. Mu Chen recognizes that Bullet’s Haki is more advanced than his own and that his Intangibility ability is unavailable.
• Crocodile briefly traps Bullet in a Sand Coffin, but Bullet breaks free and charges Mu Chen. Mu Chen responds by summoning his blood-red Susanoo.
• Crocodile’s Desert Spada clashes with Susanoo’s energy blade. Bullet then uses Crocodile as a springboard to reach Susanoo and punches its head, only to discover that Mu Chen has coated the giant in Armament Haki.
• Mu Chen shakes Bullet off and attacks both men with Susanoo’s sword and enormous foot. They block and dodge, sustaining little damage but leaving the battlefield badly scarred.
• As Susanoo’s foot bears down on Crocodile, he creates the Desert Colossus, a sand giant towering dozens of meters above the ground. The episode ends as this new threat emerges.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Chen is caught between two powerful opponents and realizes he is at a disadvantage against Bullet’s Haki. Rather than retreat, he escalates to Susanoo and uses Haki to strengthen it, showing both resourcefulness and frustration.
• Bullet is a driven battle-seeker, delighted by the chance to fight Mu Chen after his other challenges disappointed him. He attacks relentlessly and treats Crocodile as an obstacle—even using him as a springboard.
• Crocodile wants to defeat Mu Chen but temporarily helps by trapping Bullet. The uneasy cooperation quickly breaks down when Bullet uses him, and Crocodile retaliates by unleashing his giant sand construct.
• The three-way confrontation is marked by shifting cooperation and rivalry: Crocodile and Bullet both target Mu Chen, yet their hostility toward each other repeatedly disrupts their attacks.

Significant themes

• The pursuit of strength: Bullet measures life through challenging powerful opponents.
• Reluctant alliances and rivalry: Common targets do not overcome the fighters’ mutual distrust.
• Escalation and adaptation: Mu Chen and Crocodile each answer overwhelming pressure with increasingly powerful abilities.
• Power has limits: Mu Chen’s strong techniques are offset by Bullet’s superior Haki and the cooldown on his Intangibility.

Chapter 196 Summary

Plot and key events

• Crocodile unveils a powerful sand armor and blade, forming the enormous Killing Giant and turning his attention on Mu Chen.
• Bullet interrupts Crocodile by assembling a Solid-Wood Giant from nearby rocks and trees. The two giants clash, but Bullet soon attacks Mu Chen as well.
• Mu Chen and Bullet trade blows enhanced with Armament Haki, while Crocodile’s sand snakes bind both giants. Crocodile tries to strike Mu Chen, but Bullet breaks free and damages the Killing Giant.
• Crocodile opens the giant’s chest to unleash Killing Vortex. Bullet counters with Conqueror’s Haki coating, overwhelming the attack and destroying half the Killing Giant.
• Crocodile is shocked by the defeat and by Bullet’s revelation that Armament Haki is only a basic requirement for the strongest fighters. Bullet then turns his Conqueror-coated fist toward Mu Chen, who prepares to face him.

Character developments

• Crocodile displays formidable power but is shaken when Bullet’s Conqueror’s Haki overwhelms him. His certainty that he can become Pirate King without it is challenged.
• Bullet proves he can contend with Crocodile, combining his Devil Fruit-created giant with advanced Haki. He remains aggressive and treats Mu Chen as his next opponent.
• Mu Chen begins as an amused spectator, but repeatedly gets caught between the other two. He is surprised by their abilities and ultimately accepts Bullet’s challenge.

Themes

• The gulf between strength and true supremacy: Armament Haki alone may not be enough to reach the top.
• Ambition and confidence under pressure, especially Crocodile’s resolve to become Pirate King.
• Unpredictable rivalry, as Mu Chen’s attempt to stay out of the fight repeatedly fails.

Character interactions

• Crocodile taunts and attacks Mu Chen, while Bullet repeatedly interrupts him and redirects the battle.
• Mu Chen tries to let the two powerhouses fight each other, but both Crocodile and Bullet make him a target.
• Bullet mocks Crocodile’s ambitions after overpowering him, then immediately challenges Mu Chen.

Key events

• Bullet overwhelms Mu Chen in battle, his Conqueror’s Haki coating giving him a clear advantage over Mu Chen’s damaged Susanoo.
• Driven to anger, Mu Chen releases his own Conqueror’s Haki. By observing the flow of Bullet’s Haki with his Sharingan, he quickly figures out how to coat his weapon and learns beginner-level Conqueror’s Coating.
• Their next clash creates a huge Haki vortex and sends Crocodile flying. Both combatants are thrown back: Mu Chen is injured and his blade is badly cracked, while Bullet remains unharmed.
• Bullet acknowledges Mu Chen as a worthy opponent but insists he is still not strong enough. Feeling dismissed, Crocodile declares his ambition to surpass Roger and become Pirate King.
• Bullet mocks Crocodile for lacking Conqueror’s Haki—only for Crocodile to unleash it moments later, astonishing both Bullet and Mu Chen.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Chen moves from frustration and defense to adapting under pressure. His rapid mastery of Conqueror’s Coating gives him a new weapon, though he remains outmatched by Bullet’s strength and experience.
• Bullet revels in the fight and respects Mu Chen’s potential, but his confidence and ambition make him dismissive of others.
• Crocodile is repeatedly stung by Mu Chen’s abilities and Bullet’s contempt. His pride and ambition surface forcefully, culminating in the surprising awakening of his own Conqueror’s Haki.
• The battle shifts from a contest between Mu Chen and Bullet into a confrontation that also challenges Crocodile’s self-image and ambitions.

Significant themes

• Growth under pressure: Mu Chen learns a powerful technique while fighting for survival.
• Ambition and recognition: Bullet’s pursuit of strength and Crocodile’s dream of becoming Pirate King collide.
• Pride and hidden potential: Crocodile’s sudden Haki awakening suggests that his apparent lack of the quality Bullet values may have concealed untapped strength.

Plot points and events

• Crocodile unexpectedly awakens Conqueror’s Haki during the confrontation with Bullet. His uncontrolled, dark-yellow Haki catches Bullet’s attention, and Bullet answers with his own black Haki.
• Their clash shakes the sea and island. Mu Chen, feeling the pressure of their wills, joins in with his blood-red Conqueror’s Haki, turning the contest into a three-way standoff.
• Crocodile and Bullet push Mu Chen back, so Mu Chen opens the Eight Gates’ Third Gate, the Gate of Life. His power surges, and his Haki overwhelms the other two.
• The three streams of Haki then merge and erupt in a blinding blast. All three fighters retreat; the resulting wave leaves a vast crater and exhausts them.
• Pirates from the Big Mom, Whitebeard, and Beasts crews witness the clash from nearby ships, stunned by the presence of three Conqueror’s Haki users. The chapter ends as Bullet speaks again.

Character developments

• Mu Chen recognizes the force of his own ambition and refuses to be overshadowed. Opening the Gate of Life lets him seize the advantage, though the clash leaves him drained.
• Crocodile gains Conqueror’s Haki but cannot yet control it. His pride keeps him fighting despite his inexperience, and the battle reveals how far he still has to go compared with Mu Chen and Bullet.
• Bullet relishes the rare challenge and responds to Mu Chen’s strength with excitement rather than fear.

Significant themes

• The will to stand firm: Each fighter refuses to yield, making the clash a contest of resolve as much as raw power.
• Unexpected change: Crocodile’s awakening suggests Mu Chen’s presence may have altered the course of events.
• Power and its cost: Mu Chen gains an edge by pushing his body further, but the fighters’ exhaustion and the destructive blast show the danger of their strength.
• Ambition and rivalry: The battle exposes the gulf between the fighters while fueling their desire to test one another.

Character interactions

Mu Chen, Crocodile, and Bullet challenge one another through their Haki. Crocodile and Bullet initially pressure Mu Chen, prompting him to escalate; Mu Chen then turns the contest around. The watching pirates react with awe and curiosity, particularly toward Mu Chen’s striking Haki.

Plot points and events

• Bullet, thrilled by his clash with Mu Chen and Crocodile, demands another round. Mu Chen reluctantly agrees, admitting he has not fought at full strength in a long time.
• Mu Chen opens the Fifth Gate and combines its green energy with his Susanoo and Armament Haki, revealing a dramatic increase in power.
• Bullet responds by activating his own Devil Form, coating himself in unusually dark, purplish-black Haki.
• Unwilling to be outmatched, Crocodile creates a protective Desert Emperor Armor from sand.
• The three begin fighting together. Bullet attacks Mu Chen head-on while Crocodile supports him with ranged sand attacks.
• Mu Chen’s enhanced perception and speed let him evade Crocodile’s blades, clash with Bullet, and counterattack Crocodile with a Susanoo blade. Crocodile blocks the strike, though his armor cracks and he is forced backward.

Character developments and interactions

• Mu Chen moves from exasperation at his companions’ eagerness to fight to embracing the challenge and revealing his full strength.
• Bullet is a relentless thrill-seeker who meets Mu Chen’s power with excitement rather than fear, escalating the fight with his Devil Form.
• Crocodile feels insecure when the other two transform, but turns that frustration into initiative by inventing armor from sand. He also proves effective as Bullet’s ranged partner.
• The scene’s central dynamic is competitive camaraderie: Bullet and Crocodile coordinate against Mu Chen, while all three push one another to show more of their abilities.

Significant themes

• The exhilaration of combat: Bullet treats a difficult fight as a source of joy and fulfillment.
• Rivalry and escalation: Each fighter responds to the others’ strength by raising the stakes.
• Adaptability and self-belief: Crocodile overcomes his lack of a transformation by devising his own armor.

Plot points and events

• Mu Chen continues fighting Bullet and Crocodile on an island where lightning strikes constantly. His Sharingan helps him avoid the bolts, while Crocodile is repeatedly hit and Bullet shrugs them off.
• Mu Chen recognizes the location as Raijin Island, known for its frequent lightning storms.
• Rather than keep battling both opponents directly, Mu Chen uses the storm to test the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in simulation mode. He draws the island’s lightning toward himself, apparently leaving himself defenseless.
• The lightning strikes him, but he emerges unharmed and surrounded by electrical arcs. He then summons an enormous, roughly hundred-meter-tall lightning giant, astonishing Bullet, Crocodile, and the watching pirates.

Character developments

• Mu Chen shows strategic restraint: he stops a difficult two-on-one fight and turns the environment to his advantage. His new lightning power appears dramatically more formidable than his opponents expected.
• Crocodile is frustrated by how badly the fight is going and by being struck repeatedly; he recognizes that he is outmatched by the other two.
• Bullet remains confident and physically resilient, even treating the lightning as little more than a nuisance—but Mu Chen’s display finally shocks him.

Significant themes

• Adaptability and resourcefulness: Mu Chen uses Raijin Island’s dangerous weather as an opportunity rather than simply enduring it.
• Power and spectacle: The battle escalates from close combat into a display of overwhelming supernatural force.
• Confidence tested: Bullet’s toughness and bravado are challenged when Mu Chen reveals a power he cannot easily dismiss.

Character interactions

• Mu Chen taunts Bullet by invoking his claim that lightning does not frighten him.
• Bullet and Crocodile initially mistake Mu Chen’s exposure to the storm for recklessness or an attempt to die.
• Once Mu Chen survives and creates the lightning giant, both men—and the distant pirates—react with disbelief and alarm.