Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Who Was the Monster? V”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jerry confronts a Pacifista equipped with a Zoan Devil Fruit, dismissing it as inferior to a Shichibukai.
• The Pacifista fires a powerful laser, but Jerry blocks it with his bare hand and remains completely unharmed, shocking the observers.
• The Pacifista transforms into a giant lizard-like creature and continues attacking with rapid-fire lasers. Jerry evades every shot using Observation Haki.
• Jerry defeats the creature with his Beast King Rage, slashing its chest with enlarged claws. He deliberately avoids destroying it because Rogge wants the Pacifista captured alive.
• The Pacifista rapidly regenerates, revealing that it possesses an awakened Zoan-like ability. Jerry and Jelly conclude that it resembles the nearly immortal Jailer Beasts of Impel Down.
• Jelly restrains the injured Pacifista with Seastone chains and vines, slowing its recovery, and transports it aboard their airship for further study.
• Jerry and Jelly speculate that the Pacifista is constructed from Memory Metal, a Zoan Devil Fruit, Haki, and advanced technology. Though extremely expensive—worth more than a billion Beli—it can potentially be mass-produced.
• They learn that another similar Pacifista is located in the neighboring Flower Country, but decide to continue visiting the remaining countries under the Asura Pirates’ influence before returning.
• The local patriarchs attempt to question the pair about the captured weapon, but quickly back down after Jerry warns them not to interfere.
• The people of Iron Country realize that the Asura Pirates had advance intelligence about the Pacifista and possess a superior information network. Similar operations are occurring simultaneously in the South Blue and North Blue.

Character Developments

• Jerry demonstrates overwhelming strength and confidence. He withstands a Pacifista laser without injury, effortlessly avoids its attacks, and defeats it in only a few moves.
• Jerry also displays restraint and tactical awareness by damaging rather than killing the Pacifista, remembering Rogge’s desire to study it.
• Jelly acts as the practical and analytical counterpart to Jerry. He identifies the Pacifista’s regenerative ability, helps restrain it, and evaluates its construction and economic cost.
• Rogge’s influence is emphasized even though he does not appear. His authority is strong enough that local leaders immediately abandon any thought of challenging the Asura Pirates.
• The Iron Country patriarchs shift from political concern to fear and submission. They recognize that opposing the Asura Pirates would be dangerous and that their own king was merely a puppet.

Significant Themes

• Monstrous power and identity: Jerry’s effortless survival makes the observers question who the real “monster” is—the artificial Pacifista or Jerry himself.
• Technological and biological weaponry: The Pacifista combines advanced machinery with Devil Fruit abilities, awakening, regeneration, and Haki, showing the World Government’s growing military capabilities.
• Power versus cost: Although the weapon is immensely powerful, its enormous expense and rare materials make mass production difficult.
• Political dominance and fear: The Asura Pirates control territory not only through force but also through protection, trade, intelligence, and the fear of retaliation.
• Pragmatism and scientific curiosity: Jelly and Jerry prioritize capturing the weapon intact so Rogge’s organization can investigate and potentially learn from it.

Important Character Interactions

• Jerry mocks the Pacifista, while Jelly observes that it is still functional and dangerous.
• Jerry’s casual defense against the laser alarms the Iron Country elites, reinforcing his reputation as a monster.
• Jelly warns Jerry not to destroy the Pacifista because Rogge wants it alive.
• The patriarchs try to question Jelly and Jerry but retreat when Jerry threatens them indirectly.
• The people of Iron Country discuss the Asura Pirates’ intelligence network and conclude that cooperation is safer than resistance.

Chapter Summary: “Three Admirals Deploy I”

Key Plot Points and Events

• World Government officials entrusted with Pacifistas rebel against their intended mission. Instead of stabilizing nations and restoring them to World Government control, many officials attack and loot civilians.
• The corruption spreads across the world, with more than eighty of the World Government’s 170-plus allied nations assaulted. Countless civilians are killed by government forces, severely damaging the World Government’s reputation.
• Rogge’s faction exploits the crisis by spreading news of the government’s crimes. Public trust in the World Government collapses as nations either withdraw or face attacks.
• Marine Headquarters is furious and alarmed. The Marines had withdrawn while the World Government tested the SSG, but the new weapons’ strength creates concern that Pacifistas could eventually replace large numbers of Marines.
• The Asura Pirates launch coordinated attacks in the Four Blues:
  • Enel appears in North Blue.
  • Jelly and Jerry appear in West Blue.
  • Gavin and Taishan appear in South Blue.
• Their forces attack the SSG and capture several Pacifistas. The Five Elders urgently order the Marines to deploy three Admirals to stop them.
• Kizaru is sent to West Blue, Ryokugyu to North Blue, and Fujitora to South Blue. Marine ships equipped with Seastone hulls and paddle-wheel propulsion can cross the Calm Belt to reach the Four Blues.
• Fujitora accepts his mission but reflects on Rogge’s accusation that he is a hypocrite, questioning his decision to blind himself.

Character Developments

• Akainu/Sakazuki: Becomes increasingly enraged by the World Government’s incompetence and the chaos caused by corrupt officials. Although he despises the Celestial Dragons’ influence, he recognizes their dangerous authority and obeys the order to deploy the Admirals.
• Kizaru/Borsalino: Criticizes the Celestial Dragons’ dehumanizing worldview but is immediately silenced by Akainu. He treats the deployment with his usual detached attitude while acknowledging the Asura Pirates’ threat.
• Ryokugyu: Recognizes that the Asura Pirates are using the crisis to win public support by protecting nations from World Government forces.
• Fujitora/Issho: Remains separated from Marine Headquarters because of Akainu’s previous orders, but is recalled for the emergency. His assignment causes him to question his own morality and whether his self-blinding represents genuine conviction or hypocrisy.
• The Five Elders: Show unusual anxiety because the Pacifistas are being captured and their authority is rapidly deteriorating. They invoke the Celestial Dragons’ authority to force the Marines to act.

Significant Themes

• Institutional corruption: The crisis exposes how deeply the World Government’s middle and lower ranks have decayed.
• Loss of legitimacy: Government violence against civilians destroys centuries of carefully built reputation and makes allied nations question their loyalty.
• Power and military control: The SSG’s strength threatens the Marines’ importance, raising fears that soldiers may be replaced by weapons.
• Propaganda and public opinion: Rogge’s side turns the World Government’s failures into a political advantage by revealing the truth to the world.
• Moral hypocrisy: Fujitora’s introspection highlights the conflict between appearing righteous and genuinely acting according to one’s principles.
• Revolution through crisis: The Asura Pirates use military intervention and protection of civilians to gain influence and undermine the World Government.

Character Interactions

• Akainu reprimands Kizaru for openly criticizing the Celestial Dragons, emphasizing the danger of challenging them.
• Akainu consults Ryokugyu about Fujitora’s whereabouts and orders that Fujitora return to action despite their unresolved conflict over the Straw Hats.
• A Rear Admiral delivers the World Government’s emergency request, prompting Akainu to contact the Five Elders.
• The Five Elders explain the Asura Pirates’ attacks and demand that the Marines protect the remaining Pacifistas.
• Akainu briefs Kizaru and Ryokugyu, assigning them to separate Blues while arranging for Fujitora to handle South Blue.
• Fujitora accepts Akainu’s orders but privately wrestles with Rogge’s criticism of his character.

Chapter Summary: Ordinary Man’s Dream II

Key Plot Points and Events

• Enel and Carl defeat a World Government Pacifista attacking a North Blue country allied with the Asura Pirates. Carl uses the Create-Create Fruit to compress the damaged machine into a palm-sized form and seals it in a Seastone box.
• They discover that the Pacifista is more than a machine: it possesses an awakened Zoan Devil Fruit and a living human heart, likely one of the hearts Trafalgar Law once provided to the World Government.
• The country’s residents thank Enel and Carl for protecting them. Their alliance with the Asura Pirates, initially formed for trade, has also given them protection from pirates and the World Government.
• Rogge contacts his crew and warns them that all three Marines Admirals have mobilized, each heading toward one of the Asura Pirates’ positions:
  • Fujitora is pursuing Taishan in South Blue.
  • Ryokugyu is heading toward Enel and Carl.
  • Kizaru is confronting Jelly and the others.
• The crew discusses the newly revealed SSG weapons. They learn that the weapons are awakened Zoan users with human hearts, making them living beings rather than ordinary machines.
• Rogge orders everyone to be cautious, retreat if necessary, and regroup so they can investigate the SSG more closely. He hints that something significant is happening at his location and asks Doloi to summon Vinsmoke Reiju.

Character Developments

• Carl demonstrates how effectively his Create-Create Fruit can neutralize even an unusual and powerful enemy once the Pacifista is disabled.
• Enel and Carl reflect on the responsibility carried by Rogge and the Asura Pirates. Their protection of allied countries shows that they are becoming more than conquerors or pirates; they are providing ordinary people with safety.
• Rogge is portrayed as burdened by the dreams and survival of his entire crew. Although he pursues overwhelming strength and world conquest, his personal desires are modest: peace, companionship, a stable life, beautiful women, dogs, and children.
• Rogge also shows practical leadership by coordinating his crew, warning them about the Admirals, and acknowledging when retreat is wiser than direct confrontation.
• Taishan remains confident and reckless, claiming he can survive Fujitora despite the disadvantage his Float-Float Fruit faces against the Admiral’s gravity powers.
• The Cat-Wife Sisters understand Rogge’s hidden loneliness and comfort him when he becomes quiet, emphasizing his emotional dependence on those close to him.

Significant Themes

• The contrast between ordinary dreams and extraordinary lives: Rogge’s ambition to conquer the world hides a simple wish for peace and domestic happiness.
• The cruelty of the world: Rogge believes strength is necessary because anyone who cannot reach a position of power will eventually be crushed by the world’s violence and instability.
• Protection and loyalty: The Asura Pirates’ flag offers allied nations security, turning their political and commercial alliances into genuine protection.
• Humanity within weapons: The Pacifistas’ human hearts and awakened Zoan powers blur the distinction between people and machines, raising questions about the World Government’s experiments.
• Responsibility and leadership: Rogge carries the burden of protecting his crew and allies, while the other captains recognize that he cannot be allowed to fall.
• The cost of power: Though the crew is confident, the arrival of all three Admirals signals that their strength will soon be seriously tested.

Character Interactions

• Enel and Carl discuss the Pacifista’s nature, the cruelty of its design, and the motives of their captain.
• The island’s residents kneel in gratitude to Enel and Carl, showing the respect the Asura Pirates command among their allies.
• During the Den Den Mushi call, Rogge coordinates with Carl, Enel, Taishan, Gavin, Jerry, and Jelly regarding the Admirals’ movements.
• The crew debates the nature of the SSG and recognizes that the weapons may contain the hearts Law supplied to the World Government.
• Rogge jokes with and reprimands Taishan, showing the familiarity between captain and crew.
• After the call, Doloi teases Rogge about summoning Reiju as another potential companion, while the Cat-Wife Sisters remain close to him and support him emotionally.

Gavin and Taishan discussed Taishan’s place in the Asura Pirates as they headed away from the island, with Taishan reaffirming his loyalty to Rogge’s crew. The islanders reflected on how the Asura Pirates had protected them better than the World Government, while Gavin and Taishan continued toward their next target despite the approaching Marines.

• Gavin offered Taishan the captain’s position, but Taishan explained that he understood Rogge’s crew hierarchy and had chosen to remain with the Asura Pirates.
• Taishan admitted that he disliked being subordinate despite having Conqueror’s Haki, but said he had no desire to leave the crew or pursue his own ambitions.
• Gavin warned Taishan not to betray the crew and said they were there to clear obstacles from Rogge’s path.
• Taishan used the Float-Float Fruit to carry Gavin and their airship away from the island.
• The islanders argued over whether the Asura Pirates were still pirates, then recalled how the crew had protected their homes and brought trade after the World Government failed them.

Jelly and Jerry fought Admiral Kizaru after he arrived to reclaim the SSD Pacifistas for the World Government. The battle continued at the dock, where Jelly revealed his swordsmanship and clashed evenly with Kizaru.

• Jelly and Jerry encountered Kizaru while collecting the third Pacifista, and both sides refused to give up the SSD units.
• Kizaru attacked Jerry with lasers, but Jerry transformed into his Behemoth form and struck back while Blood Vine helped with vine attacks.
• Kizaru unleashed Yasakani no Magatama, forcing the Asura Pirates and the islanders to flee as the dock was blasted apart.
• Jerry and Jelly survived beneath Jerry's Bird's Nest and counterattacked with haki-coated vines and Jerry's Beast King Rage.
• Kizaru emerged from the flames and clashed swords with Jelly, who revealed he had been a swordsman before gaining his Devil Fruit powers.

Kizaru’s history as a swordsman and his ambiguous sense of justice were explained as Jerry and Jelly faced him. After Jelly fell short in their duel, Jerry fought Kizaru but was pierced by a laser barrage as Kizaru’s blinding light filled the sky.

• Kizaru reflected on his swordsmanship past and how he had focused on developing his Glint-Glint Fruit instead of his physical combat skills.
• Kizaru’s uncertain loyalty to the Marines and World Government was discussed, while Jerry and Jelly were identified as wary of fighting him.
• After Jelly lost ground in their swordsmanship duel, Jerry transformed into a Behemoth and took over the fight against Kizaru.
• Kizaru spotted an opening in Jerry’s defense and knocked him flying with a Beam Kick.
• Jerry charged Kizaru through a blinding flash, but Kizaru unleashed a continuous laser barrage that pierced Jerry’s abdomen as vines failed to restrain him.

Jelly and Jerry fought Kizaru after he badly wounded Jerry, using their powers together to injure the Admiral despite his speed and devastating light attacks. The battle left the docks in ruins, and Jelly summoned four green dragons as he and Jerry prepared to finish Kizaru.

• Kizaru blasted a hole through Jerry's abdomen, prompting Jelly to transform into a giant tree and attack with thousands of Haki-coated vines.
• Jerry used his Behemoth Fruit's Dark Stealth to evade Kizaru's Observation Haki and strike him, but Kizaru wounded Jerry with a laser.
• Kizaru cut Jelly's giant form apart with his sword of light while Jelly and Jerry continued fighting him together.
• Jelly created a huge green dragon that swallowed Kizaru, but Kizaru escaped and destroyed the docks in a burst of light and flames.
• Kizaru emerged injured and bloodied as Jelly summoned four green dragons and threatened to end his life.

Gavin and Taishan fought Admiral Fujitora amid the ruins of a South Blue capital while arguing over the Asura Pirates’ seizure of the SSG troops. Rogge told Gavin to retreat if they could not defeat Fujitora, but said he could not join them because a troublesome person had appeared.

• Fujitora fought Gavin and Taishan as they used swordsmanship, fists, and the Float-Float Fruit against his gravity powers.
• Gavin defended the Asura Pirates’ actions and challenged Fujitora’s view that pirates were the source of the world’s wrongdoing, but Fujitora refused to let them keep the SSG troops.
• Taishan emerged from underground and took over the fight while Gavin withdrew to rest.
• Gavin called Rogge, who said they should retreat if they could not beat Fujitora and revealed that a troublesome person was keeping him busy.

Enel battled Ryokugyu while Carl learned that a powerful challenger had appeared at headquarters and Rogge was preparing to confront him. Ham urged Carl and the others to finish their fights and return to the New World quickly.

• Enel used Future Sight and the Ark’s support to evade Ryokugyu’s attacks and fought back with lightning, but Ryokugyu endured his blows.
• Carl watched the battle from the Ark as Enel and Ryokugyu traded attacks across the sky.
• Ham called Carl and warned her that a formidable enemy had appeared at headquarters and that the World Government was becoming restless.
• Ham said Rogge had decided to confront the challenger, and Carl recognized the name as someone with monstrous strength.
• Ham told Carl that Gavin and the others were struggling against Kizaru and urged everyone to finish their fights and return quickly.
• Carl agreed that they could wrap up early, noting the Navy would soon hear the news.

Rogge arrived on a New World island where Kaido and Red-Hair were fighting over a mysterious object, while Benn Beckman tried to keep Rogge from reaching it. The World Government recalled the Admirals and ordered the SSG destroyed if necessary, and the chapter ended with Rogge charging at Red-Hair and Kaido.

• The Five Elders told Akainu to gather the World Government’s forces, recover the SSG if possible, and destroy them if necessary; Akainu objected to wasting the costly weapons.
• Akainu ordered the Three Admirals to return to Marine Headquarters as Rogge learned the World Government was recalling them.
• Benn Beckman confronted Rogge by the shore and tried to stop him from reaching the mysterious object, but Rogge dodged his shot and attacked him.
• Kaido and Red-Hair clashed inland, each trying to prevent the other from claiming the object.
• Rogge joined the confrontation, dodged Kaido’s Bolo Breath, and charged at Red-Hair and Kaido as Red-Hair declared that he would let neither of them obtain it.

Chapter Summary: “Treasure Five”

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious treasure chest has drawn three New World Emperors—Kaido, Red-Hair Shanks, and Marshall Rogge—to a single island, along with numerous pirates and the Marines’ strongest forces.
• Underground, the men behind the gathering argue. Festa admits that the situation has grown far more dangerous than expected and fears that Bullet’s plan will lead to disaster. Bullet, however, insists that gathering the Emperors, Admirals, and pirates together is exactly the chaotic “feverish world” they wanted.
• Festa abandons Bullet after delivering him the treasure chest, choosing not to risk his life in the coming battle. Bullet emerges carrying the chest, immediately becoming the target of every pirate on the island.
• The island begins collapsing under the destructive force of the Emperor-level battle.
• Kid and Killer observe from a distance. Although Kid desperately wants the shortcut to becoming Pirate King, he recognizes that he cannot challenge the monsters fighting before him. Luffy, Crocodile, and Law are also present but are similarly overwhelmed by the scale of the conflict.
• Hawk-Eye enters the battle with a devastating slash.
• Rogge demonstrates extraordinary strength by kicking Shanks away and punching Kaido back. He then blocks Kaido’s Seastone-covered club and destroys Shanks’s “Divine Strike” with a single punch.
• Rogge withstands a simultaneous attack from Shanks and Kaido, catching both their blows with his hands and astonishing everyone watching.
• Bullet suddenly emerges behind Rogge and strikes him in the back with an Armament Haki-coated fist, causing Rogge to spit blood and crash into the ground.
• Bullet confronts Shanks and Kaido. He insults Shanks, claiming he is unworthy of wielding Gryphon, the sword Roger gave him.
• Kaido attacks Bullet, but Bullet blocks the Emperor’s punch with both hands, revealing that he too possesses overwhelming physical power.

Character Developments

• Bullet is established as an immensely powerful and arrogant fighter who deliberately engineered the gathering of the strongest figures in the world. His confidence borders on recklessness, but he clearly intends to challenge every major power present.
• Festa is revealed to be more cautious and pragmatic than Bullet. Although he helped create the crisis, he recognizes that the gathering has exceeded expectations and abandons the island rather than risk dying.
• Rogge is portrayed as a genuine monster, capable of matching or overpowering two Emperors simultaneously. His strength shocks even experienced pirates.
• Shanks and Kaido remain dangerous and powerful, but their attacks are not enough to overwhelm Rogge or Bullet individually.
• Kid shows ambition and frustration. He wants the treasure and refuses to give up, yet he understands that he is still far below the true Emperors.
• Killer remains loyal to Kid and tries to persuade him to retreat. His loss of emotional expressions due to the failed Artificial Devil Fruit is again noted.
• Luffy, Law, Crocodile, and the Straw Hats are forced into observers’ roles, realizing that the clash involves powers beyond what they can safely confront.

Significant Themes

• The destructive consequences of ambition: The desire to gather the world’s strongest fighters has created a catastrophe that may destroy the entire island.
• Power versus overconfidence: Bullet believes raw strength and chaos will allow him to defeat everyone, while Festa warns that his arrogance may lead to his death.
• The gap between rising pirates and true Emperors: Kid and the others are reminded that defeating an already weakened opponent is very different from facing the strongest pirates at full power.
• The legacy of Roger: Shanks’s connection to Roger is emphasized through Gryphon, while Bullet’s resentment suggests unresolved conflict over Roger’s judgment and former apprentices.
• Chaos as a spectacle: The island has become a battlefield where Admirals, Emperors, pirates, and legendary fighters converge, fulfilling Festa and Bullet’s desire to create a world consumed by conflict.

Important Character Interactions

• Festa and Bullet: They argue over whether the gathering has become uncontrollable. Festa believes Bullet is being reckless; Bullet insists that the chaos is the intended objective.
• Kid and Killer: Killer urges Kid to retreat, but Kid refuses because the treasure represents a possible shortcut to his dream.
• Rogge, Shanks, and Kaido: Rogge initially dominates both Emperors, blocking their combined attack and proving himself their equal or superior.
• Bullet and Rogge: Bullet ambushes Rogge from behind, temporarily injuring him and interrupting the three-way battle.
• Bullet and Shanks: Bullet questions Shanks’s worthiness to wield Gryphon, revealing hostility toward Shanks and contempt for Roger’s successor.
• Bullet and Kaido: Kaido immediately attacks Bullet, but Bullet blocks the blow, setting up a new confrontation between the two powerful fighters.

The Marines discussed Douglas Bullet’s strength and the danger of his Eternal Pose leading to Laugh Tale while the Four Emperors converged on him. The chapter ended with Kaido and Red-Hair confronting a fallen man who claimed he could become the World’s Strongest.

• Rogge reflected on Bullet’s reputation and the disruption his announcement had caused to the Asura Pirates’ plans.
• Sengoku told Brown Pig that Bullet had been so dangerous that he had personally defeated him after a Buster Call and sent him to Impel Down.
• Kizaru, Fujitora, Sengoku, Peach Rabbit, and Brown Pig discussed their injuries, the Asura Pirates, and Ryokugyu’s ongoing fight with Enel.
• Kizaru predicted that Bullet would meet a miserable end when the Four Emperors gathered.
• Kaido and Red-Hair stood over a fallen man as he claimed he could become the World’s Strongest, and one of them challenged his assertion.

Chapter Summary: “Devil Fruit Awakening II”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Rogge brutally defeats Douglas Bullet almost instantly, knocking him down with a single punch and then crushing his chest with another. He mocks Bullet’s ambition to become the world’s strongest, arguing that Bullet’s strength is insufficient despite decades of prison training.
• Rogge retrieves the box Bullet had been carrying and discovers an Eternal Pose pointing toward Laugh Tale.
• Kaido immediately attacks Rogge to seize the Eternal Pose. Rogge blocks his club strike, survives Kaido’s shock wave, and keeps the box.
• Red-Hair warns Rogge that the Eternal Pose must either be surrendered or destroyed. He fears that Rogge will use it to reach Laugh Tale prematurely.
• Rogge and Red-Hair clash in an enormous Haki-powered battle. Kaido soon joins them, turning the confrontation into a three-way fight that causes the island to collapse.
• Bullet awakens his Devil Fruit and fuses with the entire island, absorbing ships, buildings, weapons, and rocks into a gigantic Haki-covered monster. He traps the other pirates and declares his intention to destroy the current pirate era, the Four Emperors, and the Marines.
• Bullet attacks the three Emperors, but Rogge, Red-Hair, and Kaido effortlessly counter him. Rogge shatters one arm, Red-Hair cuts the monster in half, and Kaido’s Bolo Breath destroys its head.
• Bullet falls from the sky, stunned by the enormous gap between his strength and that of the three Emperors. His final condition is left uncertain.

Character Developments

• Rogge: Demonstrates overwhelming superiority over Bullet and confidence in confronting both Kaido and Red-Hair. His possession of the Eternal Pose makes him the central threat and target of the chapter.
• Bullet: His arrogance and ambition are shattered. Even after awakening his Devil Fruit and fusing with the island, he is defeated with ease, forcing him to recognize how far he is from the strongest fighters.
• Kaido: Acts aggressively to obtain the Eternal Pose and readily joins the fight against Rogge. His transformation into a Divine Dragon and use of Bolo Breath reinforce his immense power.
• Red-Hair: Reveals intense seriousness and killing intent because of the danger posed by the Eternal Pose. His willingness to fight Rogge shows how strongly he opposes anyone reaching Laugh Tale under these circumstances.
• Luffy: Remains on the sidelines. Although officially one of the Four Emperors, the other characters continue to regard him as vastly inferior to Rogge, Kaido, and Red-Hair.

Significant Themes

• The gap between strength levels: Bullet’s awakening and past reputation are shown to be meaningless against the current power of the strongest Emperors.
• Ambition versus achievement: Wanting to become the strongest is not enough; Rogge ridicules Bullet for believing that determination and raw power alone make him worthy.
• Control of history and destiny: The Eternal Pose represents access to Laugh Tale and the power to shape the future of the pirate world. Red-Hair’s opposition suggests that reaching it too soon could disrupt the balance of the era.
• The destructive nature of power: The battles reduce the island to ruins, showing that conflict among top-tier fighters threatens everyone nearby.
• The end of an old era: Bullet seeks to erase Roger’s legacy and the existing Great Pirate Era, while the struggle over the Eternal Pose determines who may control what comes next.

Character Interactions

• Rogge humiliates and taunts Bullet before taking the Eternal Pose.
• Kaido directly challenges Rogge for the box, while Red-Hair demands that Rogge surrender or destroy it.
• Rogge and Red-Hair exchange devastating attacks, with Kaido entering the fight and escalating the destruction.
• Bullet attempts to overpower all three Emperors after awakening, but they cooperate instinctively in stopping his attack.
• Luffy and the surrounding pirates witness the confrontation and are forced to acknowledge the overwhelming difference between themselves and the three dominant fighters.

Chapter Summary: “Buster Call III”

Key Plot Points and Events

• With Bullet defeated, the pirates begin fleeing as twenty Marine warships surround the island.
• Sengoku orders the Marines to destroy the island completely. Kizaru activates the Golden Den Den Mushi, launching an unusually massive Buster Call involving twenty warships and ten Vice Admirals.
• The island is subjected to relentless naval bombardment. Explosions and shock waves devastate the already-destroyed terrain and endanger everyone still present.
• Usopp urges Luffy to escape. Although Luffy wants to challenge the three powerful Emperors—Rogge, Kaido, and Shanks—he recognizes that joining their battle would likely get him killed, just as Bullet was defeated. He retreats with Nami and the others.
• Rogge casually kicks a cannonball back at a Marine warship, destroying it instantly. Vice Admiral Momonga realizes that Rogge’s speed and strength are beyond his ability to counter.
• The other pirate crews begin blocking the Marines’ advance:
  • Benn Beckman, Yasopp, and the Red-Hair Pirates confront Kizaru.
  • King and the Beasts Pirates stop Fujitora.
  • The Asura Pirates also oppose the Marine encirclement.
• Kizaru argues that the Emperors’ battle must be stopped because their power could plunge the world into greater chaos. He also admits that the Marines want the route or information leading to Laugh Tale.
• Sengoku confronts Cook and angrily accuses him of killing former Admiral Kuzan. Cook explains that Kuzan was killed because he knew too much about dangerous secrets.
• Sengoku vows to make Cook pay before he dies, while Cook confidently challenges him to survive the confrontation.

Character Developments

• Luffy demonstrates increased maturity and judgment. Despite his impulsiveness and desire to surpass the Emperors, he understands his current limits and chooses to withdraw rather than recklessly enter the battle.
• Rogge is portrayed as an extraordinarily powerful and mysterious figure. His effortless destruction of a warship leaves Momonga convinced that Rogge could kill him instantly.
• Kizaru takes command of the Buster Call’s execution and reveals that the Marines are motivated not only by public safety but also by the pursuit of Laugh Tale.
• Benn Beckman acts as a calm, strategic leader, attempting to prevent the Marines from interfering in the Emperors’ battle.
• King similarly takes responsibility for protecting the battlefield and confronting Fujitora.
• Sengoku reveals deep anger and personal grief over Kuzan’s death, turning his confrontation with Cook into a matter of revenge.
• Cook remains composed and cryptic, suggesting that Kuzan’s death was connected to sensitive knowledge and hidden truths.

Significant Themes

• Power and restraint: Luffy’s decision to flee emphasizes that true strength includes recognizing when not to fight.
• Escalation and destruction: The twenty-ship Buster Call shows how the Marines respond to overwhelming pirate power with indiscriminate force.
• The limits of human understanding: The World Government cannot explain Rogge’s unprecedented rise in strength, reinforcing his status as an anomaly.
• Hidden knowledge and conspiracy: Cook’s statement about Kuzan knowing too much hints at secrets involving the World Government, the Marines, or the path to Laugh Tale.
• Conflict between order and chaos: Kizaru claims the Marines must stop the Emperors to prevent global disorder, while the pirates resist Marine intervention to preserve the outcome of the battle.

Important Character Interactions

• Usopp and Luffy: Usopp warns Luffy to escape, and Luffy ultimately listens, reassuring the crew that he will not throw his life away.
• Rogge and Momonga: Rogge’s effortless counterattack intimidates Momonga and highlights the vast gap between Rogge and ordinary high-ranking Marines.
• Benn Beckman and Kizaru: Beckman blocks Kizaru and asks him to wait for the Emperors’ battle to end; Kizaru refuses, leading toward a confrontation.
• King and Fujitora: King prevents Fujitora from advancing, prompting Fujitora to respond with meteors.
• Sengoku and Cook: Their exchange exposes personal hostility over Kuzan’s death and establishes a direct revenge-driven conflict.

Rogge convinced Kaido to ally with him so they could reach Laugh Tale, prompting Red-Hair to attack before they could set off. The battle widened into a clash between Rogge and Kaido’s alliance and Red-Hair, Kizaru, and the other fighters gathered at the shore.

• Rogge urged Kaido to join forces, arguing they should reach Laugh Tale before deciding who would claim the One Piece.
• Red-Hair attacked when Kaido showed interest, and Rogge and Kaido teamed up against him.
• Rogge kicked Red-Hair through rocks to the shore, where Lucky Roux rushed to his side.
• Kizaru recognized that Rogge and Kaido had allied, while Red-Hair demanded that the Eternal Pose to Laugh Tale be destroyed.
• Red-Hair, Kizaru, Benn Beckman, Lucky Roux, and Yasopp faced Rogge and Kaido in battle.

Chapter Summary

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle resumes with Rogge and Kaido facing overwhelming opposition: the entire Red Hair Pirates, Marine forces, and several powerful Marines, including Kizaru, Sengoku, and Brown Pig.
• Red-Hair repeatedly attacks Rogge’s chest in an attempt to destroy the Eternal Pose. To protect it, Rogge places it in a chest and gives it to Kaido.
• Kaido shocks everyone by swallowing the chest and declaring that nobody can retrieve it unless they kill him.
• Rogge orders Kaido to escape while he holds off the enemy. Kaido transforms into a blue Divine Dragon and flies toward the open sea.
• Kizaru, Red-Hair, and the other Red Hair Pirates attack Kaido, but Rogge intercepts them and creates a massive earthquake that splits the island.
• Just as Kaido is about to escape, Sengoku transforms into his giant golden Buddha form and knocks him from the sky.
• Sengoku battles Kaido with a powerful shock wave, but his age and declining stamina make it clear that he cannot maintain the fight for long.
• Brown Pig eventually replaces Sengoku and uses his earth- and mud-based abilities to trap Kaido. He creates enormous rock giants and a swamp-like burial pit that gradually swallows Kaido.
• Meanwhile, Peach Rabbit holds off Cook, while the Marines remain anxious about the battle’s outcome. The chapter ends with Kaido laughing despite being buried almost completely.

2. Character Developments

• Rogge demonstrates immense courage and strategic thinking, willingly staying behind to protect Kaido’s escape. His actions show strong trust in Kaido and a readiness to face overwhelming odds alone.
• Kaido proves both his loyalty and recklessness by swallowing the Eternal Pose to keep it safe. Even while being attacked and trapped, he remains defiant and amused rather than frightened.
• Red-Hair is portrayed as determined and willing to endure injury to destroy the Eternal Pose, making him one of Rogge’s most persistent opponents.
• Sengoku reveals the effects of age. Though still powerful enough to stop Kaido temporarily, his weakening physical condition limits his ability to fight for long.
• Brown Pig shows clever use of his abilities, avoiding Kaido’s direct attacks through elementalization and restraining him with massive earth constructs and mud.
• Cook is recognized as a major threat because of his Ice-Ice Fruit, while Ham and Carl are viewed as comparatively weaker members of Rogge’s crew.

3. Significant Themes

• Loyalty and trust: Rogge entrusts Kaido with the Eternal Pose, and Kaido responds by risking everything to protect it and create a path for escape.
• Defiance in the face of overwhelming power: Both Rogge and Kaido refuse to surrender despite being surrounded by Emperors, Marines, and elite fighters.
• Age versus strength: Sengoku’s declining abilities emphasize that even legendary power cannot permanently overcome the passage of time.
• Sacrifice and protection: Rogge deliberately acts as a shield for Kaido, accepting the danger of confronting the entire enemy force.
• Persistence and adaptability: The Marines repeatedly change tactics—Sengoku intercepts Kaido, then Brown Pig takes over when Sengoku can no longer sustain the battle.

4. Character Interactions

• Rogge and Red-Hair: Their clash is intense and personal, with Red-Hair targeting the Eternal Pose while Rogge repeatedly blocks him.
• Rogge and Kaido: Rogge entrusts Kaido with the Eternal Pose and orders him to escape, while Kaido accepts the responsibility without argument.
• Rogge versus Kizaru and the Red Hair Pirates: Rogge prevents them from pursuing Kaido and fights them alone.
• Kaido and Sengoku: Their exchange is a direct confrontation between two legendary figures, with Sengoku stopping Kaido’s escape but struggling to maintain the fight.
• Kaido and Brown Pig: Brown Pig attempts to force Kaido to surrender the Eternal Pose, but Kaido responds with violence and laughter, refusing to be intimidated.
• Peach Rabbit and Cook: Peach Rabbit takes over the fight against Cook after Brown Pig leaves to support Sengoku, creating a more manageable one-on-one battle.

Chapter Summary: “Surrounded”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Kaido and Brown Pig realize that Marshall Rogge’s forces have arrived in overwhelming numbers. Jelly, Jerry, Gavin, Taishan, and the Asura Pirates’ enormous fleet join the battle, while hundreds of airships surround the Navy warships from above.
• The escaping pirate crews, including Luffy’s group, are trapped between the Asura Pirates behind them and the Navy fleet ahead. Both sides open fire, creating a deadly crossfire.
• Katakuri appears at the head of a fleet. After Charlotte Linlin’s death, he has led the Charlotte Family and many former Big Mom Pirates into the Asura Pirates. Numerous other powerful New World pirate captains have also joined Rogge.
• The airships begin bombarding both the Navy and pirate ships indiscriminately. The sea becomes engulfed in explosions, destroying ships and killing countless people.
• The Sunny uses Franky’s Coup de Burst to leap over Katakuri’s fleet and escape. Other pirate crews attempt to break through the Asura Pirates’ formation, though many are sunk.
• The surviving pirates flee, while the Navy fleet is almost completely destroyed. The remaining soldiers retreat to the island.
• Fujitora attempts to use gravity to pull down the airships, but a massive punch strikes near him and interrupts his ability. The airships climb higher, and Fujitora recognizes the person who attacked him.

Character Developments

• Luffy becomes increasingly frustrated and angry at the Asura Pirates’ overwhelming power, especially after recognizing Katakuri. However, he listens to his allies and focuses on escaping rather than recklessly fighting.
• Katakuri is shown as a major figure within Rogge’s organization, leading the former Big Mom Pirates. His presence reminds Luffy of their previous battle and of Katakuri’s mercy and restraint.
• Luo provides crucial information about the Asura Pirates’ scale, explaining that they are the largest pirate force in the New World and have absorbed many famous crews.
• Franky saves the Straw Hats by using the Sunny’s Coup de Burst, allowing them to escape the deadly crossfire.
• Fujitora demonstrates his willingness to counter Rogge’s forces directly, but his attempt to control the airships is interrupted by an unidentified powerful attacker.
• Rogge and his forces are established as a threat far beyond an ordinary pirate crew, possessing enough manpower and technology to overwhelm a large Navy fleet.

Significant Themes

• Overwhelming power and military scale: The Asura Pirates’ hundreds of ships and airships demonstrate that Rogge has built an organization capable of challenging the Navy and the major Emperor crews.
• Survival over confrontation: Luffy and the other pirates are forced to abandon any desire for a direct fight and concentrate on escaping.
• The changing balance of power: The former Big Mom Pirates and other famous captains joining Rogge suggest that the New World’s political order is being reshaped.
• War’s indiscriminate destruction: The bombardment destroys both enemies and temporary allies alike, emphasizing the brutality and chaos of large-scale conflict.
• Past rivalries and uneasy alliances: Katakuri’s appearance reconnects Luffy to their previous battle while showing that former opponents may now be part of a much larger alliance.

Character Interactions

• Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Luo debate whether to flee or confront the attackers, with Luo and Zoro urging caution.
• Luffy recognizes Katakuri, and the encounter brings back his respect and uncertainty regarding their former duel.
• Franky coordinates the Sunny’s escape, while the Straw Hats defend themselves against the bombardment.
• Brown Pig and Kaido observe Rogge’s forces arriving, with Brown Pig realizing why Kaido laughed.
• Fujitora directly confronts the airship fleet, but an unidentified assailant attacks him before he can bring the airships down.

Rogge’s assembled Asura Pirates overwhelmed the forces opposing him, and he revealed that Red-Haired Shanks was a descendant of the Celestial Dragons. The battle remained unresolved as Shanks and the others reacted to the revelation.

• Kaido and Bullet reflected on the strength of Rogge’s forces and how numbers could outweigh individual power.
• Rogge’s assembled captains appeared behind him, shocking the Red Hair Pirates, the Navy, and the other witnesses.
• Shanks refused to stop fighting, saying the Red Hair Pirates could not let Rogge reach Laugh Tale.
• Rogge challenged Shanks to reveal his true identity and recounted how Roger had rescued him as a baby during the God Valley Incident.
• Rogge announced that Shanks had been born a Celestial Dragon and had joined the Roger Pirates as an infant.

Marshall Rogge exposed Red-Hair as a Celestial Dragon and publicly challenged the World Government’s account of the Void Century. The revelation was broadcast around the world, leaving everyone waiting for Rogge to uncover the truth on Laugh Tale.

• Everyone present reacted with shock when Rogge revealed that Red-Hair was a Celestial Dragon, and Kaido recalled seeing him as a child at God Valley.
• Rogge said Red-Hair had secretly met the Five Elders during the Reverie, further angering Red-Hair and startling the Marines.
• Rogge described the Celestial Dragons as humans who seized the world and linked their rise to the erased Void Century and the founding of the World Government.
• Vice Admiral Bastille whispered to Sengoku, who realized that Rogge’s statements had already reached the world through Visual Den Den Mushi.
• Rogge said he would reveal the history of the Void Century when he opened Laugh Tale, prompting people around the world to await the truth.

Rogge revealed claims about the Void Century and accused Red-Hair of being a Celestial Dragon who had informed the World Government about Roger reaching Laugh Tale. Their forces fought a three-day battle that left the Red Hair Pirates near defeat, while Rogge confronted Red-Hair again.

• Rogge claimed that the World Government concealed the truth about the Moon People, the Giant Pirates, and the Void Century, angering the Five Elders as Imu promised to show him a despairing power.
• Rogge accused Red-Hair of being a Celestial Dragon who had informed the World Government about Roger, and the Asura Pirates attacked the Red Hair Pirates.
• The Marines turned their forces against Kaido, while the Asura Pirates overwhelmed their opponents and held off reinforcements until the SSG forces broke through their encirclement.
• After three days of fighting, Rogge drove Red-Hair back as Shiryu and Jerry killed one officer and Jelly and Devon killed another.
• Red-Hair attacked Jelly and Devon with Divine Departure, but Rogge appeared in front of him and blocked the sword with his raised fist.