Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Each with Their Own Schemes”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Although Roya and the Justice League have entered a period of rest, their existence has unsettled the entire world, causing growing unrest.
• Blackbeard Teach continues expanding his territory through ruthless conquest. He attacks and captures another island, ordering Shiryu of the Rain and the rest of his crew to kill everyone, including those who surrender.
• Blackbeard has embraced the full brutality of piracy, combining slaughter, plunder, and destruction with his ambition to dominate the New World.
• He has also become known as an “Ability Hunter.” His crew kills Devil Fruit users and steals their powers, including Absalom’s Transparent-Transparent Fruit, which is now held by Shiryu.
• The former Impel Down criminals recruited by Blackbeard have gained additional Devil Fruit abilities, greatly increasing their already formidable strength. This growth helped Blackbeard replace Whitebeard as one of the Four Emperors and forced the World Government and Navy to raise the crew’s bounties.
• Blackbeard’s crew has secretly manipulated Weevil into attacking Marco and the remaining Whitebeard Pirates by revealing their hidden location.
• Blackbeard and his crew believe Weevil has already killed Marco, unaware that Roya killed Weevil and concealed the incident.
• Blackbeard looks forward to Marco’s possible death because it would allow him to seize all of Whitebeard’s former territories without resistance.

Character Developments

• Blackbeard Teach: He is portrayed as increasingly ambitious, cruel, and calculating. Rather than relying only on his own strength, he builds power by recruiting dangerous criminals, stealing Devil Fruit abilities, and manipulating others. His greed is especially evident in his desire for Marco’s Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit.
• Shiryu of the Rain: Now possessing the Transparent-Transparent Fruit, Shiryu has become even more dangerous. He enthusiastically carries out Blackbeard’s orders and participates in the massacre of the conquered island’s inhabitants.
• Lafitte: He acts as an informant and strategist for Blackbeard, reporting on the plan involving Weevil and Marco.
• Weevil: Although absent from the chapter’s present events, he is revealed to have been used as a disposable pawn by Blackbeard. His claimed identity as Whitebeard’s son is treated as irrelevant so long as he remains useful.
• Marco: He becomes the target of Blackbeard’s scheme because of both his leadership of the Whitebeard remnants and the immense value of his Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit.
• Roya: His actions have secretly disrupted Blackbeard’s plan by killing Weevil, though Blackbeard has not yet learned this.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and political schemes: Powerful figures use others as pawns rather than confronting every enemy directly.
• Ambition and exploitation: Blackbeard’s rise depends on exploiting Devil Fruit users, criminals, and political chaos.
• The brutality of piracy: The chapter emphasizes that Blackbeard embodies piracy in its most violent and merciless form, showing no mercy even to defeated enemies.
• Information as power: Blackbeard’s knowledge of Marco’s location gives him leverage, while Roya’s concealment of Weevil’s death prevents Blackbeard from realizing that his plan has failed.
• Power accumulation: Devil Fruits are treated as strategic resources, and Blackbeard’s crew grows stronger by systematically acquiring them.

Character Interactions

• Blackbeard commands Shiryu to exterminate the defenders of the conquered island, demonstrating his authority and Shiryu’s loyalty.
• Lafitte reports on the plan to use Weevil against Marco, confirming that Blackbeard’s crew orchestrated the attack.
• Blackbeard and Lafitte discuss Weevil and Miss Bakkin’s questionable claims about their relationship to Whitebeard. Blackbeard dismisses their identities, stating that their value lies solely in their usefulness as tools.
• Blackbeard’s manipulation of Weevil contrasts with his obsession with Marco, whom he both fears as a powerful opponent and covets as the source of a valuable Devil Fruit.

Chapter Summary: This World Is Still a Good Place

Key Plot Points and Events

• The question of whether Weevil was truly Whitebeard’s son is dismissed. Since Roya personally killed him, the characters see no reason to investigate his origins further.
• Kuzan unexpectedly arrives at the Blackbeard Pirates’ base, surprising Blackbeard Teach and the other crew members. Teach had deliberately excluded Kuzan from the operation because he distrusted him and viewed their alliance as mutually beneficial rather than loyal.
• Teach welcomes Kuzan and asks whether he has obtained intelligence. Kuzan reveals that he has information concerning Red-Haired Shanks, the only current Emperor Teach genuinely considers a major concern.
• Two days pass while Roya explores the islands surrounding Whitebeard’s territory during his break:
  • Rain Island experiences endless rainfall.
  • Dream Island produces beautiful daily mirages, which Roya particularly enjoys.
  • Lightning Island is covered by constant lightning and could serve as a dangerous training ground.
• Roya realizes that his current strength makes ordinary training ineffective. To continue improving and stimulate his system, he will eventually need to fight powerful opponents.
• Despite this, he continues to enjoy his rest and reflects on how beautiful the world could be if it were not governed by violence and oppression.
• On Dream Island, Roya considers the purpose of the Justice League he founded: creating a stable world, eliminating truly evil forces and the World Government, and allowing people’s pirate lives to begin with adventure and treasure rather than survival.
• The chapter ends when the system suddenly activates, suggesting a new mission, development, or challenge.

Character Developments

• Roya is shown in a calmer, more contemplative state. Rather than focusing solely on strength and conflict, he appreciates the natural wonders of the New World and imagines a peaceful future.
• His ideals become clearer: the Justice League is not merely a tool for power but an attempt to reform the world and protect ordinary people.
• Blackbeard Teach is portrayed as deeply pragmatic and distrustful. He sees Kuzan, his own crew, and nearly everyone around him as temporary allies united by personal interests.
• Kuzan remains mysterious and independent. His unannounced arrival indicates that he acts according to his own purposes, while his intelligence-gathering role reinforces his value to Teach.
• Weevil is effectively removed from the narrative, with his uncertain heritage becoming irrelevant after his death.

Significant Themes

• Power and mutual distrust: The Blackbeard Pirates resemble the former Rocks Pirates, with members cooperating only while their interests align.
• The meaning of justice: Roya’s Justice League represents his desire to create a safer and more stable world rather than simply seize power.
• Beauty amid violence: The unusual islands demonstrate that the Pirate World contains extraordinary beauty despite its brutality.
• Strength and growth: Roya recognizes that only powerful opponents can push him further, though he temporarily chooses rest over constant conflict.
• Freedom and a better pirate life: Roya imagines a world where piracy can mean adventure and treasure hunting instead of oppression, exploitation, and fear.
• Uncertainty and hidden motives: Kuzan’s arrival and his information about Shanks introduce the possibility of new conflict and intrigue.

Character Interactions

• Blackbeard and Kuzan: Their conversation reflects a tense alliance. Teach greets Kuzan warmly on the surface but remains wary of him, while Kuzan casually offers intelligence about Shanks.
• Blackbeard and his crew: Teach’s relationship with his crew is shown to be transactional. He understands that they may abandon one another if faced with overwhelming danger.
• Roya and the world around him: Rather than interacting directly with other characters during most of the chapter, Roya engages with the islands’ environments and uses them to reflect on his ideals and ambitions.

Chapter Summary: “Marco’s Final Decision”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roya’s “justice”-driven mindset causes his Night Guy power to train intensely and break through to the Intermediate level. Its automatic training speed also increases tenfold.
• The breakthrough triggers a competitive reaction from Roya’s Physique Cultivation, which advances to the Advanced level.
• Roya realizes that his enhanced physique now surpasses even Kaido’s legendary strength, especially when combined with his Top-level Armament Haki. Ordinary attacks would barely affect him.
• Roya checks his status panel and confirms that most of his abilities have reached either the Advanced or Top level. His Tenseigan and Night Guy powers have also reached the Intermediate level, while his remaining Devil Fruit powers continue developing.
• Although Roya is already overwhelmingly powerful, he remains cautious about unknown threats in the world and resolves to continue strengthening himself.
• The deadline arrives for Marco and the remaining Whitebeard Pirates to decide whether they will join Roya’s Justice League.
• Roya gathers with Mihawk, Issho, Jinbe, Jewelry Bonney, and the other League members to receive Marco’s answer.
• Marco announces that he will withdraw from the Whitebeard Pirates and officially join the Justice League, shocking everyone present.

Character Developments

• Roya: Gains a major boost in both physical strength and taijutsu ability. His confidence increases, but he remains disciplined and wary of hidden dangers. His commitment to expanding the Justice League also becomes firmer.
• Marco: Makes a momentous personal and political decision by leaving the Whitebeard Pirates and joining Roya. His change in how he addresses Roya reflects a new level of respect and allegiance.
• Justice League members: Their surprise at Marco’s decision demonstrates how significant his departure is, given his former position as the Whitebeard Pirates’ second-in-command.
• Night Guy power and Physique Cultivation: Both are portrayed almost like competing forces, each training harder in response to the other’s growth because of their shared connection to Roya’s pursuit of justice.

Significant Themes

• Strength through justice: Roya’s ideals directly influence the growth of his powers, suggesting that conviction and mindset can drive supernatural development.
• Relentless self-improvement: Despite already possessing extraordinary abilities, Roya believes he must continue growing because the world contains unknown and potentially overwhelming powers.
• Loyalty versus change: Marco’s decision raises questions about whether loyalty to Whitebeard’s legacy requires remaining with the original crew or pursuing a new path aligned with his ideals.
• The formation of a new power: Marco’s recruitment marks an important step in the Justice League’s expansion and signals its increasing influence in the wider world.
• Power and responsibility: Roya’s growing strength is tied to his ambition to establish a force centered on justice rather than personal domination.

Important Character Interactions

• Roya praises and emotionally reacts to the system after his abilities advance, though the system remains silent.
• Roya consults the system to review his abilities and assess his current level of power.
• He meets Marco directly and asks for his final decision without unnecessary discussion, reflecting Roya’s straightforward personality.
• Marco responds formally, addresses Roya as “Mr. Roya,” and declares his withdrawal from the Whitebeard Pirates and membership in the Justice League.
• Mihawk, Issho, Jinbe, Bonney, and the other League members react with shock, recognizing the enormous significance of Marco’s choice.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marco announces that he has decided to join Roya’s Justice League, a decision that effectively means disbanding the Whitebeard Pirates as an independent pirate crew.
• The Justice League members are shocked, while the Whitebeard Pirates’ remnants remain silent because they had already discussed and accepted Marco’s decision over the previous three days.
• Marco explains that the remnants can no longer survive independently by relying on Whitebeard’s former reputation. His initial hope of gaining protection or support from Roya has failed, leaving him to choose the option that offers the group its best chance of survival.
• Roya approves of Marco’s decision but recognizes that Marco likely has another motive. He asks Marco to state any additional requests openly.
• Marco requests that, although he personally joins the Justice League, the remaining Whitebeard Pirates be preserved as an independent force within the organization.
• He cites Boa Hancock and Amazon Lily as an example, hoping that the Whitebeard remnants can retain their own identity, territory, and safety under the Justice League’s protection.
• The chapter ends with Marco doubting whether his request can be accepted, since Boa Hancock joined with an entire powerful nation, while the Whitebeard remnants may not possess comparable strength or leverage.

Character Developments

• Marco: Shows a major shift from proud pirate commander to cautious protector. He sacrifices the independence of the Whitebeard Pirates and offers his own service to Roya in order to safeguard his remaining comrades and Whitebeard’s legacy.
• Roya: Demonstrates perceptiveness and political awareness by immediately understanding Marco’s hidden intentions. He is pragmatic but open to negotiation, allowing Marco to present his full request.
• Whitebeard Pirates’ remnants: Accept that their former era has ended. Their silence and dejection reflect their loss of confidence and dependence on Whitebeard’s reputation.
• Justice League members: Remain disciplined despite their surprise, waiting for Roya to make the final decision rather than opposing Marco themselves.

Significant Themes

• The end of an era: Whitebeard’s death has removed the central force holding his pirate crew together, signaling the collapse of his former power structure.
• Survival versus pride: Marco gives up the crew’s independence to preserve its members, though he tries to maintain some dignity by requesting autonomous status.
• Legacy and responsibility: Marco feels obligated to protect Whitebeard’s remaining followers and territory, even at the cost of his own freedom and leadership.
• Political protection and alliances: The chapter emphasizes how affiliation with a powerful organization can provide safety in a dangerous world, while also requiring submission or compromise.
• Pragmatism over ambition: Rather than seeking revenge or continuing a losing struggle, Marco chooses the practical path of joining Roya’s growing alliance.

Character Interactions

• Marco and Roya: Their discussion forms the core of the chapter. Roya questions Marco’s resolve, recognizes the unspoken conditions behind his decision, and invites him to negotiate honestly. Marco respectfully presents his request for autonomy and protection.
• Marco and the Whitebeard remnants: Although their conversation is not shown directly, their prior discussions shaped Marco’s decision. They collectively accept that joining the Justice League is necessary to survive.
• Justice League and Marco: The League reacts with surprise but does not interfere, acknowledging that Roya has authority over the final decision.
• Marco and Boa Hancock’s example: Marco uses Hancock’s independent position within the Justice League as a model for what he hopes the Whitebeard remnants can become.

Chapter Summary

Plot points and events

• The fallen Whitebeard Pirates approach Roya and request admission into the Justice League, hoping to gain protection from the powerful nation ruled by Boa Hancock and postpone dealing with revenge.
• Roya accepts their request but imposes conditions: the Whitebeard remnants must operate under the Justice League’s flag, while remaining responsible for protecting their territories. All former Whitebeard territories must also adopt the Justice League banner.
• Marco and the other commanders hesitate, feeling that abandoning the Whitebeard flag would dishonor their deceased captain and erase their identity.
• Jinbe intervenes, arguing that joining the Justice League is the only practical way to preserve their people and territories. Under Whitebeard’s weakened name, their lands are vulnerable, but the Justice League’s protection would deter attacks.
• The chapter concludes with the implication that accepting Roya’s terms benefits both sides: Roya expands the Justice League’s influence, while the Whitebeard remnants gain security and preserve Whitebeard’s legacy.

Character developments

• Roya demonstrates his pragmatic leadership. Although he agrees to help the Whitebeard remnants, he refuses to do so at a loss and ensures the alliance strengthens the Justice League.
• Marco and the Whitebeard remnants are shown as desperate but still loyal to Whitebeard’s memory. Their emotional attachment to their former identity conflicts with their need for protection.
• Jinbe acts as a voice of reason, encouraging the remnants to abandon pride and adapt to their changed circumstances. He emphasizes that preserving Whitebeard’s legacy requires practical action rather than clinging to symbols.
• Issho approves of Roya’s firm, strategic leadership, while Mihawk criticizes Roya humorously for refusing to give anything away without gaining an advantage.
• Jewelry Bonney, who had mocked the remnants earlier, remains silent during their difficult deliberation, allowing Jinbe to make the persuasive argument.

Significant themes

• Pragmatism versus pride: The Whitebeard remnants must choose between preserving their old identity and ensuring their survival.
• Legacy and remembrance: Whitebeard’s reputation may be better protected by accepting change than by allowing his weakened organization to collapse.
• Power and protection: The Justice League’s flag represents real political and military strength, showing how symbols can determine whether territories are respected or attacked.
• Mutual benefit in alliances: Roya’s conditions appear demanding, but the arrangement allows both parties to gain something essential—territory and influence for Roya, safety and stability for the remnants.

Character interactions

• Roya negotiates directly with Marco, establishing the terms of their alliance.
• Mihawk and Issho offer contrasting reactions to Roya’s leadership: Mihawk sees him as overly self-interested, while Issho views him as a responsible leader.
• Jinbe respectfully but firmly persuades Marco and the others that accepting Roya’s conditions is in their best interest.
• The Whitebeard remnants’ silent hesitation highlights their internal conflict between loyalty to Whitebeard and the necessity of survival.

Chapter Summary: “Don’t You Want Revenge? (2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roya ends the Whitebeard Remnants’ resistance by revealing the Justice League’s future plans.
• He announces that the League’s first major target will be Blackbeard Teach, whose crimes and actions have destabilized the world.
• Because the Whitebeard Pirates deeply hate Blackbeard for betraying Whitebeard and nearly destroying their forces, Roya offers them a chance to obtain revenge by joining the Justice League.
• Roya then reveals that the League plans to attack Kaido in Wano Country after dealing with Blackbeard.
• This second announcement is aimed especially at Izo, who comes from Wano and desperately wants to free his homeland and fulfill Oden’s will.
• Although Izo is emotionally moved, he does not act independently because he lacks the authority to make such a decision.
• Recognizing that joining Roya is the Whitebeard Pirates’ best chance to defeat Blackbeard, Marco accepts Roya’s terms.
• Marco declares that the Whitebeard Pirates and all their territories will replace their flags with those of the Justice League.
• However, he asks that he personally accompany Roya while the other Whitebeard Remnants remain behind to protect their territories.

Character Developments

• Roya demonstrates his strategic intelligence and persuasive ability. Rather than relying only on force, he exploits the Whitebeard remnants’ strongest motivations—revenge against Blackbeard and liberation of Wano—to secure their loyalty.
• Marco moves from cautious resistance to decisive cooperation. He understands that joining Roya is not merely submission but the Whitebeard Pirates’ only realistic path to avenging Whitebeard and defeating Blackbeard.
• Izo is deeply shaken by Roya’s promise to attack Kaido. His loyalty to Wano and Oden’s legacy remains strong, though he restrains himself out of respect for Marco’s authority and the unity of the remnants.
• The Whitebeard Remnants collectively abandon their stubborn attachment to acting independently. Their grief and desire for revenge ultimately outweigh their hesitation about joining another organization.

Significant Themes

• Revenge as a source of loyalty: Roya uses the remnants’ hatred of Blackbeard to transform enemies or reluctant allies into committed followers.
• The tension between pride and survival: The Whitebeard Pirates initially cling to their independence as a matter of dignity, but they recognize that survival and meaningful revenge require outside support.
• Legacy and inherited will: The planned assault on Wano connects Roya’s campaign to Oden’s unfinished hopes and the liberation of his homeland.
• Justice and political power: Roya’s Justice League is presented as both an idealistic force for justice and a powerful alliance capable of absorbing former independent factions.
• Unity through common enemies: Shared hatred of Blackbeard and Kaido allows the Whitebeard remnants and the Justice League to form a practical alliance.

Character Interactions

• Roya and Jinbe: Roya builds upon Jinbe’s earlier argument, using it as a foundation to persuade the Whitebeard remnants.
• Roya and Marco: Roya directly appeals to Marco’s responsibility for the remnants and his desire to avenge Whitebeard. Marco ultimately accepts and negotiates terms for the alliance.
• Roya and Izo: Roya deliberately mentions Wano and Kaido to influence Izo, recognizing his emotional connection to the country.
• Marco and the Whitebeard Remnants: Marco acts as their representative, judging that the group shares his desire for revenge and making the final decision on their behalf.

Chapter Summary: “Revenge Was Within Reach”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roya agrees to Marco’s request for the Whitebeard Pirates’ remnants to remain behind and protect Whitebeard’s former territories rather than board the Justice League’s ships.
• Marco and the former Whitebeard Pirates formally embrace their alliance with the Justice League, pledging to follow Roya and help uphold justice.
• After Roya declares that Blackbeard Teach is their next target, the Whitebeard remnants become fully committed to helping destroy Teach and his crew, viewing revenge as their primary goal.
• Roya orders Marco to compile a complete record of all Whitebeard-affiliated territories, including those that remain unoccupied and those seized by other pirates.
• Marco reveals that the Whitebeard remnants already possess a detailed map of their former territories and have driven out many smaller pirate crews attempting to claim them.
• The map reveals the enormous scale of Whitebeard’s former influence, spanning numerous islands across the New World and parts of the Grand Line.
• Many locations on the map are marked with red crosses, indicating territories captured by Blackbeard.
• Marco explains that Blackbeard has seized roughly two-thirds of Whitebeard’s former territory, confirming the speed and scale of his rise as one of the new Four Emperors.

Character Developments

• Roya demonstrates strategic leadership by prioritizing the protection and organization of Whitebeard’s territories. He wants to replace vulnerable flags with the Justice League’s authority before rival forces can occupy them, preventing unnecessary future conflicts.
• Marco shifts fully into the role of Justice League ally and commander. He remains responsible for coordinating the Whitebeard remnants and shows that they have already taken practical steps to defend their former lands.
• The Whitebeard remnants move beyond grief and uncertainty. Their desire for revenge against Blackbeard gives them a renewed purpose and strengthens their loyalty to Roya’s organization.
• Blackbeard Teach, though absent, is portrayed as an increasingly dangerous and ambitious power. His rapid conquest of Whitebeard’s territories explains why the World Government and Navy regard him as a serious threat.
• Roya reflects on Whitebeard’s legacy, recognizing the immense scale of his former power and imagining how formidable he would have been in his prime.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and purpose: The Whitebeard remnants use revenge against Teach as motivation to continue fighting after the destruction of their crew.
• Legacy and succession: Whitebeard’s territories and influence are being transferred to the Justice League, suggesting that Roya’s organization may inherit and reshape his legacy.
• Prevention versus reaction: Roya believes justice should stop evil before it spreads, rather than waiting until damage has already been done.
• Power and decline: The contrast between Whitebeard’s former dominance and the rapid collapse of his territories highlights how quickly power can shift in the pirate world.
• The cost of the past: Roya acknowledges that Whitebeard’s death and the fall of his crew cannot be reversed, so the surviving characters must act in the present.

Character Interactions

• Roya and Marco establish a cooperative relationship based on mutual trust: Marco provides information and manpower, while Roya offers protection and a shared mission.
• The Whitebeard remnants publicly thank Roya and pledge themselves to the Justice League.
• Roya questions Marco about the red-marked territories, prompting Marco to reveal the extent of Blackbeard’s expansion.
• Marco’s anger while discussing Teach reflects the personal nature of the conflict and reinforces the alliance’s shared goal of revenge.

Summary of “Revenge Is Just Around the Corner (2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Whitebeard Pirates’ remnants have reclaimed or defended several of their former territories, but their weakened condition has prevented them from confronting stronger enemies effectively.
• Marco explains that the remnants fought Blackbeard Teach and his crew more than ten times after Whitebeard and Ace were buried. They lost every battle, suffering numerous casualties.
• Their campaign began after the remnants debated whether to pursue revenge against Blackbeard. They ultimately agreed to fight him when one of their territories sent a distress signal.
• Using their knowledge of the territory map, Marco and his allies repeatedly intercepted Blackbeard’s crew, but each successive battle went worse for them.
• Diamond Jozu and several other division commanders were eventually killed. Blackbeard then stole their Devil Fruit abilities, just as he had taken Whitebeard’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
• Roya realizes that Jozu’s absence reflects how events from the original timeline have still occurred, though earlier than expected.
• Roya understands that Blackbeard’s ability to steal Devil Fruits comes from the Dark-Dark Fruit, a power Roya himself possesses. He keeps this knowledge private.
• Roya reassures Marco and the others that, as members of the Justice League, they will reclaim every territory Blackbeard has taken and eventually defeat him.

Character Developments

• Marco is revealed to be deeply angry and grief-stricken over the repeated defeats, deaths, and loss of his comrades. However, Roya’s arrival renews his confidence and hope.
• The Whitebeard remnants are shown to be determined but overly confident. Their decision to fight Blackbeard without seeking outside help contributed to their devastating losses.
• Roya demonstrates strategic insight, emotional support, and confidence in his own strength. He understands the true nature of Blackbeard’s power but deliberately withholds that information.
• Blackbeard Teach is portrayed as an increasingly dangerous Emperor whose crew has systematically overwhelmed the weakened Whitebeard remnants and expanded its territory.

Significant Themes

• Revenge and its consequences: The remnants’ desire to avenge Whitebeard and Ace drives them into a series of unwinnable battles.
• Regret and missed opportunities: Roya notes that seeking help earlier might have saved Jozu and others, but past decisions cannot be undone.
• Fate versus intervention: Events resembling the original timeline continue to unfold, yet the story suggests they could still be changed through Roya’s involvement.
• Hope after defeat: Despite their losses, the remnants regain confidence when they join the Justice League and gain Roya’s support.
• Power and vulnerability: Even strong fighters like Marco and the Whitebeard remnants are helpless against Blackbeard after suffering serious injuries and losing key commanders.

Character Interactions

• Marco gives Roya a detailed account of the remnants’ battles with Blackbeard, expressing his fury and frustration.
• Roya listens calmly, encourages Marco not to rush, and offers reassurance rather than blame.
• Roya places a hand on Marco’s shoulder and promises that the Justice League will help reclaim the lost territories.
• Marco and the other remnants respond with renewed determination, believing Roya is strong enough to defeat Blackbeard and make their revenge possible.

Chapter Summary: “Setting Out!”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roya urgently questions Marco about Blackbeard Teach’s next destination. He wants to act before Teach learns that the Whitebeard remnants have joined the Justice League and goes into hiding or prepares traps.
• Marco reveals that the remnants recently fought Teach’s crew nearby and have been closely tracking their movements. Based on their deductions, he is confident about where Teach will go next.
• Roya decides that the Justice League must depart immediately to pursue Blackbeard before he can escape.
• Jinbe recognizes the plan and asks whether they are leaving at once.
• Hawkeye Mihawk reminds Roya that Shiryu of the Rain has been promised to him as an opponent. Roya confirms that he will not interfere, dismissing Shiryu as too weak to be worth his own effort.
• Rather than mobilizing the entire Justice League, Roya divides responsibilities:
  • Jinbe, Jewelry Bonney, and Izo will lead separate teams to reclaim Whitebeard’s territories already occupied by Teach.
  • The injured Whitebeard remnants will remain behind to recover.
  • Roya, Marco, Mihawk, and the selected fighters will pursue Blackbeard Teach directly.

Character Developments

• Roya demonstrates strategic caution and decisiveness. Although confident in his own strength, he respects Teach’s intelligence and refuses to give him time to prepare. He also efficiently delegates tasks instead of relying on brute force.
• Marco is shown to be deeply committed to tracking and defeating Teach, likely to avenge Whitebeard and Ace. His knowledge of Teach’s habits makes him essential to the Justice League’s pursuit.
• Hawkeye Mihawk remains competitive and eager for a worthy opponent, especially after failing to gain an advantage over Weevil. His insistence on fighting Shiryu personally reinforces his pride and independence.
• Jinbe, Bonney, and Izo are entrusted with important leadership roles, showing Roya’s confidence in their ability to reclaim territory.
• The Whitebeard remnants are portrayed as wounded but still determined to continue opposing Teach.

Significant Themes

• Preemptive action versus preparation: Roya understands that delaying would allow Teach to expand his power or disappear, so he chooses to strike before the enemy can react.
• Strategy and intelligence: Teach’s cunning is treated as a serious threat, making information from Marco and the remnants crucial.
• Justice and vengeance: The Whitebeard remnants’ pursuit of Teach is driven by loyalty to their fallen comrades and a desire for revenge.
• Division of labor and leadership: Roya balances the immediate threat of Teach with the practical need to reclaim territory and care for the injured.
• Respect for individual strength: Roya allows Mihawk to fight Shiryu himself, preserving Mihawk’s autonomy and desire for personal challenges.

Character Interactions

• Roya and Marco discuss Teach’s movements, with Marco providing the information needed for the pursuit.
• Jinbe quickly understands Roya’s intentions and confirms whether the group will depart immediately.
• Mihawk reminds Roya of his agreement to leave Shiryu to him, and Roya reassures him that he will honor it.
• Roya then issues coordinated orders to Jinbe, Bonney, and Izo, establishing a clear plan for both attacking Teach and restoring Whitebeard’s former territories.

Chapter Summary: “A Little Nervous”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Roya finalizes the forces and assignments for the campaign against Blackbeard Teach.
• Jinbe and Jewelry Bonney readily accept their orders to remain behind and reclaim territories occupied by Blackbeard’s forces. They understand that accompanying Roya would make the main assault unnecessarily crowded and that they are better suited to handling weaker garrisons.
• Izo and the remaining Whitebeard Pirates initially protest, insisting that they want to personally witness Blackbeard’s defeat and avenge Whitebeard.
• Roya asserts his authority as leader of the Justice League, reminding them that they have recognized him as their boss and must obey his orders.
• Marco intervenes to calm the situation, explaining that the others are acting out of grief and hatred rather than deliberate defiance. Roya understands their feelings but maintains his decision.
• Roya chooses to confront Blackbeard with only Marco, Hawkeye Mihawk, and Issho. He considers Blackbeard a manageable threat and sees no reason to deploy the entire alliance.
• The others are assigned separate missions, including reclaiming territories and dealing with Blackbeard’s scattered forces.
• Mihawk requests that Shiryu of the Rain be left to him, and Roya agrees.
• Using information supplied by Marco, the four-person strike team immediately sails toward Blackbeard’s location, hoping to catch his group off guard.
• During the journey, Marco admits that he is nervous—not because he doubts the mission, but because he is excited at the prospect of avenging Whitebeard.

Character Developments

• Roya: Demonstrates his growth as a decisive commander. He balances an understanding of the Whitebeard remnants’ emotions with the need to enforce discipline and make strategically sound decisions.
• Marco: Acts as a mediator between Roya and the angry remnants. His loyalty to Whitebeard remains strong, and his nervous excitement reveals how deeply he wants revenge.
• Jinbe and Jewelry Bonney: Show maturity and tactical awareness by accepting that they are more useful handling secondary objectives than joining the main battle.
• Izo and the Whitebeard remnants: Their grief and hatred toward Blackbeard remain intense, but they ultimately submit to Roya’s leadership.
• Issho: Enthusiastically supports the mission as part of his belief in eliminating evil.
• Hawkeye Mihawk: Remains calm and confident, already selecting Shiryu as his personal opponent.

Significant Themes

• Leadership and obedience: Roya must establish authority while ensuring that his followers understand that his decisions serve the larger mission.
• Revenge versus strategy: The Whitebeard remnants want personal vengeance, but Roya prioritizes efficient deployment and battlefield effectiveness.
• Loyalty and grief: The remnants’ determination to avenge Whitebeard demonstrates the lasting emotional impact of his death.
• Confidence and controlled force: Roya deliberately chooses a small, elite team, emphasizing that overwhelming numbers are unnecessary against Blackbeard.
• Justice: Issho’s willingness to participate reinforces the alliance’s broader goal of defeating evil and protecting people from oppression.

Character Interactions

• Roya’s stern confrontation with Izo and the remnants establishes a clear leader-follower relationship.
• Marco serves as the bridge between Roya’s authority and the others’ emotional response, preventing the disagreement from escalating.
• Roya and Mihawk cooperate smoothly, with Mihawk’s request to fight Shiryu reflecting his confidence and personal combat priorities.
• Roya’s conversation with Marco aboard the ship shows a more personal side of their relationship, as Marco openly shares his nervous anticipation about avenging Whitebeard.

Chapter Summary: “Not Even Human”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marco, now under Roya’s leadership in the Justice League, declares his complete loyalty and promises to assist Roya wholeheartedly.
• Roya reassures Marco that defeating Blackbeard is only a minor step compared with the Justice League’s larger ambitions.
• Meanwhile, Blackbeard Teach and his entire crew occupy one of Whitebeard’s former territories. The island has been completely destroyed: its inhabitants are gone, vegetation has withered, and even the Whitebeard Pirates’ flags lie in ruins.
• Blackbeard boasts that, with Marco and the others supposedly dead, all of Whitebeard’s former territories will belong to him.
• Lafitte reports that thirty territories remain to be seized, but the next one is near Red-Haired Shanks’s territory. Blackbeard decides to delay the attack and regroup rather than risk confronting Shanks.
• Blackbeard’s actions reveal that he has secretly mapped Whitebeard’s territories and has been patiently carrying out a larger plan.
• Blackbeard is also unaware that Marco survived and joined Roya. He does not realize that Roya and Marco are already approaching.
• The chapter ends when Marco suddenly appears before Blackbeard in a burst of blue light, condemning him for destroying Whitebeard’s territory.

Character Developments

• Marco: Fully submits to Roya, gaining renewed confidence and motivation after believing that, under Roya’s command, Blackbeard can finally be defeated.
• Roya: Demonstrates overwhelming confidence in the Justice League’s future and treats Blackbeard as only a temporary obstacle.
• Blackbeard Teach: Appears increasingly ambitious, ruthless, and calculating. He is willing to annihilate entire territories and carefully avoids unnecessary confrontations with stronger rivals while pursuing his long-term objectives.
• Kuzan: Shows visible discomfort and moral unease at the destruction of the island. His former identity as a Navy Admiral who valued justice conflicts with his current role as a member of Blackbeard’s crew. Blackbeard’s behavior also suggests that he is deliberately testing Kuzan’s loyalty.
• Lafitte: Continues to serve as Blackbeard’s reliable navigator and strategist, keeping track of the territories still available for conquest.

Significant Themes

• Loyalty and allegiance: Marco’s decision to follow Roya contrasts with Kuzan’s uncertain loyalty to Blackbeard.
• Justice versus evil: Kuzan’s discomfort highlights the moral divide between his former principles and Blackbeard’s cruelty.
• Power and ambition: Blackbeard’s territorial conquest reflects his relentless pursuit of greater influence, while Roya views the coming conflict as only one stage in a much larger campaign.
• Deception and hidden plans: Blackbeard relies on secrecy, preparation, and suspicion, while Marco’s survival and alliance with Roya remain concealed from him.
• Destruction and legacy: The ruined Whitebeard territory symbolizes Blackbeard’s attempt to erase Whitebeard’s legacy and claim everything his former captain once protected.

Character Interactions

• Roya encourages Marco and inspires him to commit fully to the Justice League.
• Blackbeard commands Lafitte to assess their remaining targets and chooses caution when Shanks’s territory is mentioned.
• Blackbeard’s deliberate destruction of the island places pressure on Kuzan and tests whether he truly accepts life as a pirate.
• The chapter closes with Marco confronting Blackbeard directly, setting up an imminent confrontation between the former allies and enemies.

Chapter Summary: “Seeing Blackbeard Teach Again (1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marco confronts Blackbeard Teach alone, while Roya and the others remain hidden, suggesting that Marco’s appearance may be part of Roya’s strategy.
• Teach is surprised that Marco and the Whitebeard remnants are still alive, since he expected them to have been killed or seriously injured after their previous encounter.
• Marco realizes that Teach likely helped Weevil locate the Whitebeard remnants, confirming that Teach was responsible for the attack that nearly killed them.
• Teach mockingly invites Marco to join the Blackbeard Pirates and help conquer the world.
• Marco rejects the offer with fury, declaring that he has come to kill Teach and avenge Whitebeard, Ace, and the fallen members of their crew.
• Teach boasts that Marco cannot defeat him and claims that Whitebeard’s era has ended, while the coming age will belong to Blackbeard.
• Marco ridicules Teach’s arrogance and reminds him that another powerful figure still exists in the world, though Teach assumes he means one of the other Four Emperors.
• Shiryu grows impatient with the exchange and attacks Marco directly.
• Marco uses Observation Haki and his Phoenix transformation to withstand Shiryu’s slash.
• Shiryu reveals the dangerous properties of his sword or ability by turning completely invisible, leaving Marco shocked and unable to determine where he has gone.

Character Developments

• Marco: His anger intensifies after confirming Teach’s involvement in the attack on the Whitebeard remnants. Despite his rage, he remains composed and battle-ready, using his Phoenix powers and Observation Haki to defend himself.
• Blackbeard Teach: Teach displays extreme arrogance and confidence, believing that Marco alone is no threat. He pretends to offer Marco a place in his crew, but the offer is clearly a form of humiliation and self-aggrandizement. He openly proclaims himself the victor over Whitebeard and the future ruler of the era.
• Shiryu: Shiryu is shown to be impatient and eager to fight rather than listen to Teach’s taunts. His ability to become invisible gives him a significant tactical advantage and immediately places Marco under pressure.
• Roya: Although absent from the scene, Roya’s possible plan is hinted at through Marco’s isolated confrontation with Teach.

Significant Themes

• Betrayal and revenge: Marco’s hatred toward Teach stems from Teach’s betrayal of Whitebeard and his role in the deaths and suffering of the Whitebeard Pirates.
• The struggle between eras: Teach claims that Whitebeard’s age has ended and that a new era under Blackbeard is beginning, while Marco rejects this interpretation.
• Arrogance versus loyalty: Teach’s selfish ambition contrasts sharply with Marco’s loyalty to Whitebeard, Ace, and the fallen crew members.
• Underestimation and hidden strategies: Teach dismisses Marco because he is alone, but Marco’s appearance may be part of a larger plan devised by Roya.
• Power and deception: Shiryu’s invisibility introduces a battle based not only on strength but also on concealment, perception, and surprise.

Character Interactions

• Marco and Teach: Their conversation is dominated by mutual hatred. Teach uses their former connection to provoke Marco, while Marco condemns Teach as a traitor and challenges his claim to supremacy.
• Marco and Shiryu: Their verbal confrontation quickly becomes a physical battle. Marco successfully blocks Shiryu’s first attack, but Shiryu’s sudden invisibility shifts the advantage toward him.
• Teach and Shiryu: Teach enjoys taunting Marco, whereas Shiryu considers the exchange pointless and urges Teach to let him kill Marco, highlighting Shiryu’s more direct and impatient temperament.

Chapter Summary: “Seeing Blackbeard Teach Again (2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter reveals that Shiryu of the Rain possesses the Transparent-Transparent Fruit, which Blackbeard helped him obtain much earlier than in the original timeline. This makes the already formidable swordsman even more dangerous through invisibility.
• Shiryu uses his ability to sneak behind Marco and attempts to strike him from behind. Marco fails to detect him because he is not using Observation Haki.
• Hawkeye Mihawk suddenly intervenes, blocking Shiryu’s attack with his Black Blade, Night. The two swordsmen recognize each other and prepare to test their swordsmanship.
• Blackbeard realizes that Mihawk’s presence means the Justice League has arrived. Since Mihawk joined Roya’s faction, Blackbeard correctly suspects that Roya himself must also be nearby.
• Roya appears and releases an overwhelming burst of Conqueror’s Haki, suppressing most of the Blackbeard Pirates. Kuzan withstands the pressure, recognizing Roya’s familiar aura, while Lafitte, Burgess, and the others struggle against it.
• Roya arrives accompanied by Mr. Issho and Marco, presenting them as powerful guardians at his side.
• Marco publicly announces that he has joined Roya’s Justice League and reveals that Blackbeard manipulated Weevil into attacking them.
• Blackbeard, after briefly becoming nervous at Roya’s appearance, regains his composure and attempts to undermine Marco by mocking him for joining Roya so soon after Whitebeard’s death.

Character Developments

• Shiryu of the Rain is shown to be significantly stronger because of the Transparent-Transparent Fruit. His stealth and swordsmanship allow him to launch surprise attacks even against powerful opponents like Marco.
• Mihawk demonstrates his role as a protector of the Justice League by intercepting Shiryu’s attack. His interest in testing Shiryu suggests confidence in his own swordsmanship and recognition of Shiryu as a worthy opponent.
• Marco openly commits himself to Roya and the Justice League. Rather than hiding his allegiance, he uses it to intimidate Blackbeard and expose his betrayal.
• Blackbeard Teach reveals his usual manipulative nature. Though Roya’s arrival initially unsettles him, he quickly attempts psychological warfare by attacking Marco’s loyalty to Whitebeard.
• Roya reinforces his overwhelming authority through his Conqueror’s Haki and commanding entrance.
• Kuzan remains composed under Roya’s pressure, emphasizing his exceptional strength and hinting at his familiarity with Roya.
• Mr. Issho further strengthens the impression that Roya’s faction consists of elite fighters capable of overwhelming large groups.

Significant Themes

• Power and intimidation: The chapter emphasizes that true influence comes from individual strength rather than numbers. Roya’s presence, Mihawk’s reputation, and the strength of Marco and Issho create immediate psychological pressure.
• Loyalty and allegiance: Marco’s decision to join Roya raises questions about loyalty after Whitebeard’s death. Blackbeard exploits this issue, while Marco views his new alliance as honorable and practical.
• The consequences of altered history: Shiryu receiving his Devil Fruit early demonstrates how changes to the timeline have produced stronger and less predictable versions of familiar characters.
• Strategic deception: Shiryu’s invisibility and Blackbeard’s psychological manipulation show that victory depends on stealth, planning, and emotional tactics as much as raw strength.
• Rival factions: The confrontation highlights the growing conflict between Blackbeard’s crew and Roya’s Justice League.

Character Interactions

• Shiryu and Marco: Shiryu uses invisibility to ambush Marco, nearly landing a fatal blow.
• Shiryu and Mihawk: Mihawk blocks Shiryu and challenges him to a direct swordsmanship contest, establishing mutual recognition between the two swordsmen.
• Roya and Blackbeard: Roya’s arrival immediately puts Blackbeard on edge, while his Conqueror’s Haki demonstrates the vast gap in their power.
• Marco and Blackbeard: Marco exposes Blackbeard’s scheme involving Weevil and declares his allegiance to Roya. Blackbeard responds by questioning Marco’s loyalty to Whitebeard.
• Roya, Marco, and Issho: Their formation presents Roya as the leader of a powerful alliance, with Marco and Issho serving as intimidating protectors.
• Kuzan and Roya: Kuzan withstands Roya’s Haki and recognizes his presence, suggesting prior familiarity or a deeper connection between them.

Chapter Summary: I Am the Justice of This World

Key Plot Points and Events

• Blackbeard Teach provokes Marco by insulting Whitebeard, exploiting Marco’s emotional attachment and nearly causing him to lose control.
• Roya stops Marco from taking the bait and reminds him that reacting emotionally could interfere with their larger objective.
• Roya turns the verbal attack back on Blackbeard, accusing him of being the person who truly disrespected Whitebeard and mocking his lack of conscience and shame.
• Blackbeard proposes an alliance with Roya, claiming that their combined strength could allow them to dominate the world. However, the narration reveals that this is mainly a delaying tactic because Teach knows he may not be able to defeat Roya.
• Teach is shocked that Marco has joined Roya’s Justice League and realizes that Roya has come to help Marco and the others seek revenge.
• Roya rejects and humiliates Teach, questioning whether he is truly worthy of ruling the world.
• Roya formally declares that the Justice League has come to punish Teach for his crimes and for disrupting the world’s order.
• Teach questions whether genuine justice exists, arguing that the injustice of the world drove people toward piracy.
• Roya answers that justice may not have existed before, but now the Justice League represents it through him.
• With diplomacy exhausted, both sides prepare to fight. Teach activates the powers of the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, creating an immediate confrontation.

Character Developments

• Marco: Initially loses his temper when Whitebeard is mentioned, but quickly regains control after Roya intervenes. His willingness to follow Roya demonstrates his trust in him and his commitment to avenging Whitebeard.
• Roya: Establishes himself as the dominant force in the confrontation. He protects Marco from manipulation, verbally overwhelms Teach, and confidently presents the Justice League as the embodiment of justice.
• Blackbeard Teach: Reveals his manipulative and opportunistic nature. His alliance proposal is shown to be insincere, intended to stall Roya because Teach recognizes the danger he faces. Despite his arrogance, he is privately worried that the battle could cost him his life.

Significant Themes

• Manipulation and emotional control: Teach weaponizes Marco’s grief and loyalty to Whitebeard, but Roya prevents the tactic from succeeding.
• Justice versus piracy and order: Teach argues that the world’s lack of justice forces people into piracy, while Roya claims that his Justice League will establish the justice the world has lacked.
• Loyalty and revenge: Marco’s alliance with Roya reflects his continued loyalty to Whitebeard and his desire to punish Teach.
• Moral hypocrisy: Roya exposes Teach’s hypocrisy in criticizing others’ respect for Whitebeard when Teach himself betrayed and dishonored him.
• Power and legitimacy: The confrontation is not only about strength but also about who has the right to define justice and rule the world.

Character Interactions

• Teach provokes Marco by invoking Whitebeard, while Roya intervenes to keep Marco calm.
• Roya and Teach trade insults, with Roya attacking Teach’s morality and Teach responding with false friendliness and an attempted alliance.
• Teach and Roya debate the existence of justice, each presenting opposing views of the world.
• The chapter ends with their verbal conflict turning into an imminent battle, as Teach unleashes both of his Devil Fruit powers.

Chapter Summary: “The Power of Underestimating a Blind Man”

Key Plot Points and Events

Roya accepts Blackbeard Teach’s challenge, confidently declaring that the confrontation will end with either his death or Teach’s. Blackbeard’s crew proposes attacking Roya together to exhaust his stamina before Teach fights him directly. Burgess volunteers to lead the assault, supported by Van Augur, Pizarro, Lafitte, Catarina Devon, Vasco Shot, Doc Q, and Sanjuan Wolf.
Roya dismisses their strategy, recalling that even three Marine Admirals failed to wear him down during the Summit War. Kuzan, despite being part of Blackbeard’s group, does not participate, apparently recognizing that the others’ plan is unrealistic.
Marco initially prepares to defend Roya, but the blind swordsman Mr. Issho asks to handle the attackers himself. Roya allows him to do so, confident that Issho can defeat them as long as Kuzan remains uninvolved.
The Blackbeard Pirates mock Issho because of his blindness and attack him simultaneously. Issho responds by drawing his sword and activating his gravitational power, “Hell’s Journey.” The island’s gravity becomes overwhelmingly intense, crushing the attackers into the ground and trapping them in a deep crater. The entire group is defeated instantly, leaving Blackbeard shocked by Issho’s strength.

Character Developments

• Roya: Displays extreme confidence and arrogance, certain that neither Blackbeard nor his crew can seriously threaten him. He also demonstrates trust in Issho by allowing him to fight alone.
• Blackbeard Teach: Shows his characteristic overconfidence and willingness to rely on numbers rather than confront Roya directly. His confidence collapses when Issho effortlessly defeats his crew.
• Mr. Issho: Reveals his immense power and strict moral convictions. Though blind, he senses the “evil aura” of Blackbeard’s crew and immediately uses overwhelming force against them. His abilities establish him as a fighter on the level of a Navy Admiral.
• Marco: Gains a new appreciation for Issho’s strength and becomes even more confident in his decision to join Roya’s Justice League.
• Kuzan: Remains inactive, suggesting either reluctance to fight Roya’s allies or an understanding that Blackbeard’s plan is doomed.

Significant Themes

• The danger of underestimating appearances: The Blackbeard Pirates assume Issho is vulnerable because he is blind, only to be defeated instantly.
• Overconfidence and arrogance: Blackbeard’s belief that his crew can wear Roya down mirrors his broader tendency toward reckless confidence.
• Justice versus evil: Issho’s condemnation of the Blackbeard Pirates frames the battle as a moral confrontation, not merely a physical one.
• Strength and reputation: Issho’s performance confirms that true power cannot be judged by appearance, while Roya’s confidence is reinforced by the strength of those around him.
• Loyalty and trust: Roya trusts Issho to handle the enemy, while Marco supports both Roya and Issho rather than interfering.

Character Interactions

Roya and Blackbeard exchange hostile, confident remarks before the battle. Burgess and the rest of Blackbeard’s crew coordinate their planned group attack, while Teach encourages them. Marco attempts to intervene but steps aside when Issho volunteers. Issho verbally condemns the pirates before overpowering them, and Roya watches approvingly. After witnessing the result, both Blackbeard and Marco react with astonishment, though in opposite ways: Teach is alarmed, while Marco becomes more impressed by Roya’s alliance.

Chapter Summary: Hawkeye Mihawk vs. Shiryu of the Rain

Key Plot Points and Events

• Marco reflects on joining Roya and the Justice League, feeling no regret because he believes their mission to overturn the world will easily overcome Blackbeard and his crew.
• Issho demonstrates impressive power, attracting Shiryu of the Rain’s attention. Shiryu considers using the Transparent-Transparent Fruit to turn invisible and ambush him.
• Before Shiryu can interfere, Hawkeye Mihawk blocks his path with a slash from his black blade, Night.
• Mihawk challenges Shiryu to fight him directly rather than attack the others.
• Shiryu accepts, asking whether defeating Mihawk would make him the new World’s Greatest Swordsman.
• Shiryu activates his invisibility and launches a surprise attack, but Mihawk detects and blocks him using his Observation Haki. Mihawk then repels Shiryu and attacks with a powerful sword aura.
• Shiryu successfully defends himself, earning Mihawk’s recognition as a capable swordsman.
• The confrontation becomes a serious duel to the death. Both men acknowledge that the loser may die by the other’s blade.
• Roya chooses not to interfere, trusting Mihawk to defeat Shiryu. His real target is Blackbeard Teach, whom he considers the only truly formidable member of the Blackbeard Pirates.

Character Developments

• Marco: Becomes fully confident in his decision to join Roya and the Justice League, viewing their cause as both powerful and destined to reshape the world.
• Shiryu: Displays ambition, arrogance, and a strong desire for recognition. His interest in Mihawk’s title reveals that he seeks not only victory but also the prestige of being the world’s greatest swordsman. He also proves himself a serious combatant by surviving Mihawk’s initial attacks.
• Hawkeye Mihawk: Shows his confidence, composure, and commitment to swordsmanship. He refuses to let Shiryu interfere with the larger battle and recognizes Shiryu as a worthy rival after seeing his defensive ability.
• Roya: Demonstrates confidence in Mihawk and focuses strategically on Blackbeard, indicating that he views the other members of Blackbeard’s crew as comparatively unimportant.
• Blackbeard Teach: Though he does not directly act in the chapter, he is established as Roya’s principal opponent and the strongest member of his crew.

Significant Themes

• Honor and ambition among swordsmen: Shiryu’s desire to claim Mihawk’s title reflects the prestige attached to the position of World’s Greatest Swordsman.
• Strength proven through combat: Mihawk and Shiryu recognize one another only after exchanging serious attacks, emphasizing that respect is earned through ability.
• Justice versus evil: The duel is not merely a contest of skill; Mihawk fights as a member of the Justice League and intends to prevent Shiryu, a notorious criminal, from escaping.
• Trust and strategic focus: Roya’s decision to leave Shiryu to Mihawk shows confidence in his ally and allows each fighter to confront the opponent best suited to them.
• Power hierarchy: The chapter distinguishes between Shiryu and the rest of Blackbeard’s crew while portraying Blackbeard as the only opponent Roya considers truly dangerous.

Character Interactions

• Mihawk and Shiryu: Their exchange evolves from an attempt to prevent interference into a mutually acknowledged, life-or-death sword duel.
• Shiryu and Issho: Shiryu sees Issho as a potential target because of his apparent blindness, but Mihawk prevents the ambush.
• Roya and Mihawk: Roya honors his promise to let Mihawk fight Shiryu without interference, showing trust in Mihawk’s ability.
• Roya and Blackbeard: Their impending confrontation is presented as the central conflict, with Roya preparing to face Blackbeard personally.

Chapter Summary: “With You Here, I Can Rest Easy”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The surviving members of the Blackbeard Pirates—Jesus Burgess, Van Augur, Avalo Pizarro, Lafitte, Catarina Devon, Vasco Shot, Doc Q, and Sanjuan Wolf—emerge from the enormous crater created by Issho’s gravity attack.
• They are battered and furious after being forced to withstand Issho’s overwhelming gravitational power.
• Blackbeard Teach orders his crew to work together against Issho while he personally confronts Roya. He recognizes that fighting Roya is unavoidable if he is to achieve his ambitions.
• Teach asks Kuzan to participate, but Kuzan remains silent and refuses to intervene.
• Roya interprets Kuzan’s inaction as confirmation that he is still secretly working as a Marine spy and no longer wishes to support Blackbeard.
• Roya hints that, once the battle is over, Kuzan may have a place in the Justice League. Since Kuzan cannot realistically return to the Marines under Sakazuki’s leadership, Roya suggests that the Justice League could offer him a new path.
• The Blackbeard Pirates decide to focus their combined strength on Issho, intending to eliminate him before helping Teach.
• Marco volunteers to fight alongside Issho. Issho accepts, recognizing that Marco’s healing flames make him especially valuable in a large-scale battle.
• Marco activates his Phoenix-Phoenix Fruit, while Issho draws his sword, intensifies his gravity, and coats the blade with Armament Haki.
• Issho tells Roya to leave Blackbeard to him and Marco. Roya agrees, expressing complete confidence in them and stating that this division of forces represents the Justice League’s purpose.

Character Developments

• Blackbeard Teach becomes serious and decisive, accepting that a direct battle with Roya cannot be avoided. His ambition pushes him to fight despite the unfavorable circumstances.
• Kuzan remains distant and silent, refusing to act for Blackbeard. His behavior suggests that his loyalty to the crew is weakening and that his undercover mission—or his personal sense of justice—has become more important.
• Roya demonstrates strategic awareness and confidence. He recognizes Kuzan’s position, offers him a possible future in the Justice League, and trusts Issho and Marco to handle the rest of the crew.
• Issho displays both overwhelming strength and leadership. Although blind, he accurately senses the danger posed by the pirates and willingly takes responsibility for confronting them.
• Marco proves his loyalty and reliability by stepping forward to support Issho. His healing ability makes him an ideal partner in a prolonged group battle.
• The Blackbeard Pirates show their willingness to cooperate under pressure, but their anger and desire for revenge against Issho also reveal their impulsive and brutal nature.

Significant Themes

• Trust and teamwork: Roya’s confidence in Issho and Marco allows him to focus entirely on Blackbeard. Their cooperation reflects the Justice League’s strength as a united organization.
• Justice and redemption: Kuzan’s hesitation highlights his continuing moral conflict and dissatisfaction with Blackbeard’s destructive path. Roya’s offer suggests the possibility of Kuzan finding a new form of justice.
• Ambition versus overwhelming power: Teach’s ambitions force him into a confrontation with Roya, even though the Blackbeard Pirates are at a disadvantage.
• Loyalty and belonging: Kuzan’s uncertain allegiance contrasts with the strong mutual trust among Roya, Issho, and Marco.
• Strength through specialized abilities: Marco’s healing flames and Issho’s gravity complement each other, showing how different powers can combine effectively against numerous powerful enemies.

Character Interactions

• Teach orders his crew to attack Issho while claiming Roya as his own opponent.
• Teach challenges Kuzan’s lack of involvement, but Kuzan refuses to respond.
• Roya directly addresses Kuzan, implying that his undercover role may soon end and offering the Justice League as a possible future.
• Burgess rallies the Blackbeard Pirates against Issho, channeling their shared anger.
• Marco asks to join Issho, and the two prepare for battle together.
• Issho entrusts Roya with defeating Teach, while Roya reassures Issho that he has complete faith in him and Marco.

Chapter Summary: “Battle Blackbeard Again (1)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A large-scale battle begins on the devastated island.
• Issho and Marco immediately attack their opponents, while Hawkeye Mihawk continues his fierce duel with Shiryu of the Rain.
• Mihawk reveals more of his true strength and repeatedly gains the advantage despite Shiryu’s Transparent-Transparent Fruit.
• Roya and Blackbeard Teach confront each other. Blackbeard again proposes an alliance, claiming that together they could conquer the world.
• Roya rejects the offer, explaining that he has no desire to rule the world and would rather uphold justice and eliminate threats like Blackbeard.
• Blackbeard reveals that he possesses Conqueror’s Haki, which he had previously hidden while pretending to be weaker.
• Roya’s Conqueror’s Haki proves overwhelmingly stronger and suppresses Blackbeard’s.
• Blackbeard responds by attacking with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which he recently acquired from Whitebeard.
• Roya counters with an identical Tremor-Tremor attack. Their collision creates a massive shockwave that disrupts the entire battlefield and blasts away Issho, Marco, Mihawk, Shiryu, Kuzan, and the others.
• Kuzan praises the destructive potential of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, comparing it to the world-destroying power Whitebeard once possessed.
• Blackbeard is puzzled by Roya’s unexplained possession of the same ability but decides to focus on the advantage provided by his Dark-Dark Fruit.

Character Developments

• Roya: Remains firmly committed to justice rather than domination. He demonstrates superior Conqueror’s Haki and confidence, viewing Blackbeard as a threat that must be eliminated.
• Blackbeard Teach: Stops hiding his true strength, revealing his Conqueror’s Haki and his growing mastery of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit. His ambition and cunning remain evident as he attempts both negotiation and intimidation.
• Hawkeye Mihawk: Displays his full strength and gains the upper hand against Shiryu, even despite Shiryu’s invisibility-based ability.
• Shiryu of the Rain: Continues fighting Mihawk aggressively but is increasingly pressured.
• Issho and Marco: Join the battle immediately but are temporarily overwhelmed by the shockwave from Roya and Blackbeard’s clash.
• Kuzan: Maintains his composure while recognizing the terrifying destructive power of the two Tremor-Tremor users.

Significant Themes

• Justice versus ambition: Roya’s ideal of cleansing the world and spreading justice contrasts with Blackbeard’s desire to conquer it.
• Hidden strength and revelation: Blackbeard abandons his disguise as a weakling, while Roya continues to display overwhelming power.
• Power and destruction: The Tremor-Tremor Fruit is portrayed as a near-apocalyptic force capable of reshaping the battlefield.
• The danger of misused talent: Blackbeard is acknowledged as exceptionally gifted, but his abilities serve selfish and destructive goals.
• Mystery surrounding Roya: His possession of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit remains unexplained to everyone except Roya, adding to his enigmatic nature.

Character Interactions

• Roya and Blackbeard: Engage in ideological and physical conflict. Blackbeard tries to recruit Roya, but Roya rejects him and openly threatens to kill him.
• Roya and Blackbeard: Clash through Conqueror’s Haki, with Roya decisively overpowering Blackbeard’s willpower.
• Roya and Blackbeard: Exchange matching Tremor-Tremor attacks, causing a massive explosion that interrupts the other battles.
• Mihawk and Shiryu: Continue their intense duel, with Mihawk gaining control.
• Kuzan and the battlefield fighters: Kuzan observes and evaluates the destructive clash, emphasizing its extraordinary scale.

Summary of “Battle Blackbeard Again (2)”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Blackbeard Teach immediately unleashes the Dark-Dark Fruit, spreading an enormous field of darkness across the ground. Anything caught within it is dragged downward, compressed, and crushed like it is being pulled into a black hole.
• Roya is enveloped by the darkness, but he reveals that he also possesses the Dark-Dark Fruit—a secret power he had previously kept hidden.
• Roya’s darkness overwhelms and absorbs Blackbeard’s darkness instead, shocking Teach and the entire Blackbeard Pirates crew.
• Blackbeard retreats from Roya’s counterattack, realizing that Roya not only has the same ability but appears to control it more effectively.
• Roya then taunts Teach by invoking their previous confrontation involving the Flame-Flame Fruit. He launches a powerful Fire Fist, using the Flame-Flame Fruit power he secretly possesses.
• The attack engulfs Blackbeard in flames and sends him crashing to the ground, where he rolls and screams in pain.
• The Blackbeard Pirates are stunned by the revelation that Roya possesses yet another Devil Fruit power. Jesus Burgess is particularly frustrated, since he had hoped to obtain the Flame-Flame Fruit for himself.

Character Developments

• Roya further establishes himself as an extraordinarily powerful and unpredictable fighter. He reveals mastery of both the Dark-Dark Fruit and Flame-Flame Fruit, in addition to his previously known Tremor-Tremor, Rumble-Rumble, and Venom-Venom powers.
• Blackbeard Teach becomes increasingly shaken and humiliated. His confidence that the Dark-Dark Fruit makes him uniquely powerful is destroyed when Roya reveals he possesses the same ability and can use it more effectively.
• Kuzan grows more seriously interested in joining Roya’s Justice League. Roya’s strength and the possible conclusion of Kuzan’s current obligations make the invitation increasingly appealing.
• Jesus Burgess displays jealousy and anger over Roya’s Flame-Flame Fruit, which he believes would have been ideal for his own combat abilities.
• Issho, Marco, and Mihawk remain largely unsurprised by Roya’s revelations, having already accepted that his vast and unusual powers are consistent with his role as founder of the Justice League.

Significant Themes

• Hidden power and deception: Roya’s secret possession of multiple Devil Fruits allows him to surprise Blackbeard and overturn the expected balance of power.
• Arrogance versus reality: Blackbeard’s confidence collapses when his supposedly unique advantage is revealed to be shared—and surpassed—by Roya.
• Escalating power rivalry: The battle continues to emphasize the extraordinary gap between Roya and Blackbeard’s crew.
• Leadership and influence: Roya’s abilities not only dominate the battlefield but also strengthen his reputation and attract powerful figures such as Kuzan.
• Envy and ambition: Burgess’s reaction highlights the Blackbeard Pirates’ desire to acquire powerful abilities and the resentment caused when someone else possesses them.

Character Interactions

• Roya and Blackbeard exchange taunts throughout the confrontation. Blackbeard boasts that Roya’s powers are useless inside his darkness, while Roya mocks Teach by revealing that he can wield the same power.
• Roya’s counterattack psychologically destabilizes Blackbeard, forcing him to flee before he is struck by the Fire Fist.
• The Blackbeard Pirates react collectively with disbelief, discussing the implications of Roya’s multiple Devil Fruits and questioning whether the Dark-Dark Fruit is responsible for his ability to possess them.
• Kuzan silently reassesses his future and Roya’s offer to join the Justice League.
• Burgess reacts with open frustration when Roya demonstrates the Flame-Flame Fruit, an ability he personally wanted.

Chapter Summary: Battle Blackbeard Again (3)

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jesus Burgess and the Blackbeard Pirates struggle against Roya, Issho, and Marco. Despite outnumbering their opponents, they cannot gain any advantage and face possible annihilation.
• Blackbeard Teach is shocked when Roya uses the Flame-Flame Fruit power, in addition to the Tremor-Tremor and Dark-Dark Fruit powers. Teach cannot understand how Roya possesses the same abilities as him, especially since he believes there can only be one Dark-Dark Fruit.
• Roya taunts Teach by implying that he has even more Devil Fruit abilities, then attacks him with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Lightning severely burns Teach and leaves him collapsed.
• Roya follows with the awakened Venom-Venom Fruit, creating a massive “Venom Dragon” that strikes Teach and causes him further agony.
• Shiryu of the Rain recognizes the Venom-Venom Fruit as Magellan’s former power and becomes distracted while fighting Hawkeye Mihawk.
• Mihawk takes advantage of Shiryu’s distraction, cutting open his chest. Shiryu acknowledges Mihawk’s overwhelming strength but continues fighting because retreat is no longer possible.
• Elsewhere, Issho and Marco maintain control of the battlefield and injure several Blackbeard Pirates. Some of Teach’s crew suggest escaping, but Issho detects their intentions and increases the force of his Press-Press Fruit.
• Issho and Marco declare that neither Teach nor his crew will be allowed to escape alive.

Character Developments

• Roya displays an astonishing range of Devil Fruit powers, revealing control over Flame, Lightning, and Venom abilities in addition to the Tremor-Tremor and Dark-Dark Fruits. His confidence and cruelty grow as he deliberately humiliates and overwhelms Teach.
• Blackbeard Teach shifts from confidence to shock, confusion, and desperation. He is unable to explain Roya’s powers and suffers repeated attacks without finding a way to counter them.
• Shiryu of the Rain realizes that Mihawk is stronger than him and that he has been fighting from a disadvantage. Despite being wounded, he refuses to retreat.
• Hawkeye Mihawk demonstrates his superior swordsmanship by punishing Shiryu’s momentary distraction with a decisive slash.
• Issho and Marco continue acting as dominant forces on the battlefield, preventing the Blackbeard Pirates from regrouping or fleeing.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and helplessness: The Blackbeard Pirates’ numerical advantage is meaningless against opponents whose individual strength is vastly greater.
• Mystery and fear of the unknown: Roya’s ability to wield multiple Devil Fruit powers leaves Teach and the others unable to understand or predict him.
• Pride versus survival: Although the Blackbeard Pirates consider fleeing, Shiryu continues fighting out of necessity, while the group’s survival instincts clash with their ambition and pride.
• Exploitation of weakness: Mihawk’s attack on Shiryu shows how even a brief distraction can determine the outcome of a battle.
• No escape from consequences: Issho and Marco reject the possibility of retreat, framing the confrontation as a decisive battle in which the Blackbeard Pirates may be wiped out.

Character Interactions

• Roya repeatedly taunts and attacks Blackbeard, turning their confrontation into a display of dominance.
• Teach reacts with disbelief and hatred toward Roya, particularly because of Roya’s apparent possession of his signature powers.
• Shiryu and Mihawk continue their duel, with Mihawk gaining the upper hand and wounding Shiryu.
• Issho and Marco coordinate their pressure against the Blackbeard Pirates, responding to the crew’s attempted escape by tightening their suppression and threatening to kill them all.