Ch. 681Bloodshed Without End

Key plot points and events

  • Magellan poisons the Decalvan Brothers, then overwhelms nearby Whitebeard Pirates with his Venom Dragon.
  • Whitebeard strikes Magellan from a distance with a devastating shock wave. Jozu follows up by breaking Magellan’s ribs and nearly continues beating him, until Blue Crocodile intervenes.
  • Fossa cuts down Marines, but Ban Jieya catches him with her whip and dagger. She disorients him with her speed, cuts his ankle, and kills him with a slash to the throat.
  • Lucci sees Fossa’s death and attacks Ban Jieya, though she dodges his punch.
  • War Wolf’s forces press the Whitebeard Pirates back as the Marine encirclement tightens.
  • Koshiro intercepts Kizaru, giving Ye Chen a chance to recover.
  • Ye Chen uses his Float-Float Fruit powers through his feet, unleashing “Lion’s Might: Ground Roll” and scattering Marines. He topples a Giant Vice Admiral and crushes the man’s skull, terrifying the surrounding troops.
  • As Vice Admiral Raphael tries to rally the Marines, a flying sword suddenly targets him.

Character developments and interactions

  • Whitebeard reacts furiously to the suffering of his comrades and immediately retaliates against Magellan.
  • Magellan proves dangerous against ordinary fighters but is badly injured when Whitebeard and Jozu engage him.
  • Ban Jieya displays ruthless efficiency and tactical skill, defeating Fossa through a combination of deception, speed, and precision.
  • Lucci responds to Fossa’s death with an impulsive attack on Ban Jieya, but fails to hit her.
  • Koshiro reveals his formidable, understated presence by meeting Kizaru head-on.
  • Ye Chen shows growing ingenuity with his powers and an increasingly brutal, intimidating fighting style.
  • Blue Crocodile restrains Jozu, preventing him from continuing his assault on Magellan.

Significant themes

  • War’s escalating brutality: Poison, broken bones, executions, and overwhelming force make the battlefield increasingly savage.
  • Power and terror: Ye Chen’s killing of the Giant Vice Admiral shifts the Marines from aggression to fear.
  • Skill versus strength: Ban Jieya’s precision and Koshiro’s quiet mastery contrast with the raw power displayed by Whitebeard and Ye Chen.
  • Shifting momentum: The Whitebeard Pirates are being driven back, but individual fighters’ interventions keep the battle unpredictable.

Ch. 682Marine Headquarters Destroyed

Key plot points and events

  • The battle at Marine Headquarters grows more desperate. Luffy and Ace fight together, overwhelming waves of Marines and clearing space around themselves.
  • Whitebeard attacks Admiral Fujitora with a powerful slash and then a devastating shock wave. Garp and Sengoku intervene, stopping the blow together.
  • Seeing his side pushed back, Whitebeard orders his men to move away and unleashes a massive earthquake that begins to damage Marine Headquarters.
  • Ye Chen joins the destruction: he hurls huge rocks into Marine ranks, then lifts the Headquarters building and sends it crashing toward the Marines.
  • Fujitora uses his gravity powers to raise the building and prevent it from falling. Ye Chen forces it downward again, turning the structure into a battleground between them.
  • Neither fighter can overpower the other. The building eventually breaks apart in midair, scattering debris over the plaza and injuring Marines.

Character developments and interactions

  • Luffy and Ace show their strength and solidarity by fighting side by side.
  • Whitebeard remains a commanding force, but his concern for his commanders’ safety leads him to send them away before unleashing his full power.
  • Garp and Sengoku cooperate to block Whitebeard’s attack, demonstrating their combined strength and their resolve to protect the Marines.
  • Ye Chen openly rejects the authority of the World Government and shows little concern for the destruction or casualties his actions cause.
  • Fujitora, despite being badly wounded, continues defending the Marines. He and Ye Chen engage in a direct contest, each using their powers to control the airborne Headquarters building.

Significant themes

  • Escalating destruction: The battle threatens not only the fighters but Marine Headquarters and the people caught beneath it.
  • Clashing loyalties and authority: Ye Chen’s defiance contrasts with Fujitora’s effort to protect the Marines and preserve their headquarters.
  • Strength and responsibility: Whitebeard uses overwhelming power while trying to shield his men; Ye Chen’s power is presented as far less restrained.
  • Cooperation under pressure: Garp and Sengoku’s intervention shows that even formidable individuals must sometimes unite against a greater threat.

Ch. 683A Chance to Avenge Your Brother

Key plot points and events

  • As the Marines fall into chaos, Whitebeard orders his crew to retreat from Marine Headquarters.
  • Oars is hurled back toward the pirates, grievously wounded and bleeding heavily. War Wolf steps forward and claims responsibility, with his squad behind him.
  • Lucci defeats Ban Jieya in their exchange but lets her go, knowing she wants to confront Ye Chen. He warns that Ye Chen is far more dangerous.
  • Ban Jieya attacks Ye Chen. He gives her three moves, but she cannot touch him. Afterward, he overwhelms her with his speed and techniques.
  • Ban Jieya traps Ye Chen with her nine tails and tries to stab him, but his body resists the blade. He then carries her into the air and drives her into the ground at high speed.

Character developments and interactions

  • Whitebeard’s crew shift from retreat to outrage and grief when they see Oars’s condition; Ace is especially distraught.
  • War Wolf openly takes credit for Oars’s injury, setting himself against the pirates.
  • Lucci shows little sentiment but deliberately steps aside so Ban Jieya can pursue her personal vendetta.
  • Ban Jieya remains determined to avenge her brother Banjes, even though she knows Ye Chen is stronger. Her resolve leads her to attack without hesitation.
  • Ye Chen treats Ban Jieya with teasing, flirtatious condescension, claiming he is reluctant to harm a beautiful woman, but he ultimately fights decisively. Perona calls out his lack of seriousness, while Robin mocks his vanity.
  • Ban Jieya and Ye Chen move from verbal confrontation to combat: her relentless attacks fail against his speed and strength, and she ends the excerpt being slammed into the ground.

Significant themes

  • Revenge and loyalty: Ban Jieya’s hatred of Ye Chen is driven by her bond with her brother.
  • The cost of battle: Oars’s devastating wounds turn the battlefield’s chaos into personal grief and fury.
  • Strength and restraint: Lucci recognizes the gap between Ban Jieya and Ye Chen, while Ye Chen’s offer of three moves proves more taunting than merciful.
  • Chivalry versus mockery: Ye Chen’s professed regard for beauty contrasts with his playful, disrespectful banter and overwhelming force.

Ch. 684Zoro Saves Chopper

Key plot points and events

  • Ye Chen repeatedly slams Ban Jieya into the ground, then kills her by snapping her neck when she releases him.
  • An assassin, Gade, stabs the wounded Chopper. Zoro intervenes with a long-range slash, seriously wounding Gade and drawing him away from Chopper.
  • Zoro fights Gade, a mole Devil Fruit user who attacks from underground. After enduring Gade’s kicks and overwhelming him with relentless sword strikes, Zoro finishes him with Three-Sword Style Secret Technique: Three Thousand Worlds.
  • With Chopper safe, Zoro prepares to challenge Hawk-Eye, but Kuina is already heading toward him. Kuro then calls for help while fighting Vice Admiral Yamakaji; Zoro responds by preparing a long-range attack, though Kuro is exasperated by his unusual idea of “teamwork.”

Character developments

  • Zoro shows fierce protectiveness toward Chopper and remarkable endurance in battle. His ambition to become the world’s strongest swordsman drives him, and he is frustrated when Kuina gets to Hawk-Eye first.
  • Chopper is badly injured but relieved and grateful after Zoro saves him. He wishes Zoro were part of his crew.
  • Usopp is frightened but deeply concerned for his friends, revealing that his care for them persists despite his timidity.
  • Gade remains committed to fighting despite his serious wound, but Zoro’s stamina and skill eventually overwhelm him.
  • Kuro wants Zoro’s support against Yamakaji, but Zoro’s response suggests he does not share Kuro’s practical understanding of teamwork.

Significant themes

  • Loyalty and courage: Zoro acts immediately to protect Chopper, while Usopp’s concern shows that bravery can coexist with fear.
  • Ambition and resolve: Zoro’s focus on becoming the greatest swordsman fuels his confidence and persistence.
  • Combat and survival: The chapter contrasts the battlefield’s brutality with the determination of fighters who refuse to back down.
  • Different ideas of teamwork: Zoro’s instinctive loyalty does not necessarily translate into coordinated cooperation.

Character interactions

  • Zoro and Gade clash in a prolonged duel, with Zoro’s endurance and swordsmanship deciding the outcome.
  • Chopper clings to and thanks Zoro; their affection is mutual, even though they belong to different crews.
  • Zoro reacts angrily when Kuina heads for Hawk-Eye before he can, revealing both rivalry and his own ambition.
  • Kuro calls on Zoro for help, but Zoro’s response frustrates him rather than reassuring him.

Ch. 685Taking Action

Key plot points and events

  • Zoro refuses to help Kuro directly, arguing that fighters must face their own problems. His unexpected stance distracts Vice Admiral Yamakaji, allowing Kuro to stab him and launch his Shakushi attack.
  • Zoro leaves Chopper and moves toward Hawk-Eye, while the battle elsewhere turns increasingly brutal. Army Admiral Samantha Black Snake appears in the form of a giant serpent and devours Whitebeard’s fighters.
  • Army Admiral Alima White Crane attacks Garuma, a Fish-Man captain. She disarms him, carries him into the sky, and repeatedly wounds him before he falls to his death.
  • Whitebeard’s forces are overwhelmed by the combined Navy and Army. With six Admirals and other powerful fighters on the field, the pirates cannot spare anyone to rescue Garuma. By then, twenty-five of Whitebeard’s captains have been killed.
  • Whitebeard remains locked in combat with War Wolf, while Fujitora supports the Army Admiral. Though they injure Whitebeard with a coordinated assault, he retaliates forcefully and continues fighting.

Character developments and interactions

  • Zoro shows a harsh, uncompromising view of combat: he will not rescue Kuro, even though he previously moved quickly to protect Chopper. His provocation becomes a tactical distraction that helps Kuro strike Yamakaji.
  • Kuro and Yamakaji are drawn into a brief but dangerous exchange. Kuro exploits Yamakaji’s surprise and wounds him, though Yamakaji responds with a counterattack.
  • White Crane and Garuma have a one-sided confrontation that highlights the vast gap between an Admiral and an ordinary combatant.
  • Whitebeard absorbs serious wounds without showing pain and keeps driving back both War Wolf and Fujitora. War Wolf, despite being battered, remains defiant and predicts Whitebeard will eventually fall.

Significant themes

  • Self-reliance versus teamwork: Zoro rejects the idea that cooperation means rescuing someone from every danger, framing battle as each fighter’s responsibility.
  • Deception and battlefield awareness: Zoro’s attitude unsettles Yamakaji and creates the opening Kuro needs.
  • Overwhelming power and helplessness: The outnumbered pirates cannot intervene even when comrades are being killed, while the Admirals’ strength makes resistance seem futile.
  • Endurance and defiance: Whitebeard’s refusal to yield, despite mounting injuries, contrasts with the devastating losses suffered by his crew.

Ch. 686Revolutionary Army Arrives

Key plot points and events

  • Sengoku learns that a huge Revolutionary Army fleet is approaching Marine Headquarters. Dragon has used the wind to speed the ships toward Bay Head, where Marine defenses are thin.
  • Dragon and his senior officers land at Bay Head after waiting until the Whitebeard Pirates and Marines are exhausted. Whedon destroys a Pacifista, shatters Sentomaru’s axe, and sends Sentomaru flying; Inazuma and Ivankov also attack Pacifistas.
  • The Revolutionary Army’s arrival disrupts the Marines’ advantage. Blackbeard, who has been hiding nearby, seizes the opportunity to emerge with his entire crew.
  • Whitebeard turns on Blackbeard, while Sengoku divides his forces between the Revolutionary Army and the ongoing battles against Whitebeard’s and the Grim Reaper Pirates.
  • Blue Crocodile leaves Ye Chen to reinforce Bay Head. Ye Chen heads toward Doflamingo.
  • Buggy prepares to film and publicize the spectacle, complete with lights and a camera.

Character developments and interactions

  • Dragon reveals himself as a patient strategist, holding back until the battlefield is weakened and choosing a moment when Marine defenses are vulnerable.
  • Whedon establishes his overwhelming strength by defeating a Pacifista and Sentomaru with ease. Inazuma and Ivankov demonstrate the Revolutionary Army’s power as well.
  • Sengoku is forced into a defensive position, juggling multiple threats and recognizing that the Marines could now be surrounded.
  • Blackbeard shows his opportunism: he has stayed hidden while danger was high, then emerges once the Revolutionary Army changes the balance of power. His appearance enrages Whitebeard.
  • Garp reacts uneasily to Dragon’s arrival, recalling that he had not wanted his son to appear even when Luffy and Ace faced execution.
  • Buggy remains focused on drawing attention to himself, treating the unfolding battle as a chance for spectacle.

Significant themes

  • Timing and strategy: Dragon waits for his enemies to weaken before committing his forces; Blackbeard likewise waits for a favorable opening.
  • Shifting alliances and battlefield balance: The Revolutionary Army’s arrival transforms the Marines’ advantage into a precarious defense.
  • Conflicting loyalties: Garp’s reaction to Dragon highlights the strain between family ties and duty.
  • Ambition and opportunism: Blackbeard exploits the chaos, while Buggy seeks fame amid the crisis.

Ch. 687Elephant-Mastiff Thunder Dragon

Key plot points and events

  • The broadcast resumes at Marine Headquarters after Buggy’s lengthy comedy segment. Reporters are shocked to see the Marines being surrounded by the Whitebeard, Grim Reaper, and Straw Hat Pirates inside the plaza, while Dragon’s Revolutionary Army advances from Bay Head. Blackbeard’s crew has also entered the battle.
  • The sudden arrival of these forces makes the war a global turning point, prompting reporters to urgently spread the news.
  • Revolutionary Army commanders Whedon, Thunder Dragon, Sean, and Gaihu break through Marine defenses. Thunder Dragon’s tough Elephant-Mastiff Fruit form shrugs off a Pacifista laser, while the others display their own formidable abilities and skills.
  • Kizaru and Koshiro agree to stop fighting, since neither can gain the advantage. Koshiro is chiefly concerned with helping Ye Chen and the others escape safely.
  • Ye Chen approaches Doflamingo with clear killing intent, and Doflamingo’s crew grows wary. Perona acts first, targeting Trebol with a Negative Hollow and leaving him despairing and helpless.

Character developments and interactions

  • Koshiro shows that, despite Admiral-level strength, he has little appetite for battle and would rather return to teaching at his dojo. His loyalty to Ye Chen’s group keeps him involved.
  • Kizaru recognizes the stalemate with Koshiro and is willing to disengage.
  • Doflamingo refuses to back down when Ye Chen confronts him, while his allies—especially Sugar—recognize how much stronger Ye Chen has become.
  • Perona eagerly seeks a fight and uses her power against Trebol before Ye Chen can act.
  • The Revolutionary Army’s regional commanders demonstrate their strength and clear a path for their troops, allowing Dragon’s forces to advance without Dragon himself needing to fight.

Significant themes

  • A shifting balance of power: The arrival of the Revolutionary Army and Blackbeard’s crew transforms the battle into a conflict with worldwide consequences.
  • Strength and restraint: Koshiro and Kizaru can fight at the highest level, but both choose to stop rather than continue a stalemate.
  • Loyalty and confrontation: Koshiro stays to protect Ye Chen’s group, while Ye Chen’s arrival sets up a direct clash with Doflamingo.
  • Power through varied abilities: The Revolutionary commanders and Perona show how different physical traits and powers can reshape the battlefield.

Ch. 688War Wolf vs. Dragon

Key plot points and events

  • The Revolutionary Army’s surprise assault overwhelms the Marines. Marine deaths exceed 20,000, and the force that began with 160,000 troops has fallen below 100,000.
  • Garp tells Sengoku that Dragon’s timing was deliberate: he waited until Luffy and Ace were safe, then struck while the Marines were stretched thin. Garp fears Dragon’s real aim is to defeat Marine Headquarters.
  • Revolutionary officers engage their opponents across the battlefield. Will is knocked down by Thunder Dragon and killed by Sean, who then turns his attention to Army Admiral Samantha Black Snake.
  • Dragon explains that he intends to use the battle to weaken the World Government and shift the balance of power toward the Revolutionary Army.
  • War Wolf confronts Dragon. Their clash shakes the battlefield, but Dragon’s command of wind, storms, thunder, and lightning gives him the advantage. War Wolf’s armor keeps him in the fight, however, and the duel remains unresolved.
  • Whitebeard battles the Blackbeard Pirates alone. Blackbeard meets Whitebeard’s attack with a huge magma fist, revealing that he has acquired Akainu’s Magma-Magma Fruit in addition to his earlier power.

Character developments and interactions

  • Garp remains committed to Marine duty despite facing his son, Dragon. He recognizes Dragon’s calculated strategy and is troubled by what it means.
  • Dragon emerges as a decisive military strategist, prioritizing a chance to weaken the World Government over rescuing Luffy and Ace.
  • War Wolf stands firm against a stronger opponent, relying on his resilience to withstand Dragon’s elemental attacks.
  • Sean is portrayed as a vicious killer, especially fascinated by powerful women; Ivankov warns him not to lose focus.
  • Blackbeard is far more dangerous than before, able to challenge Whitebeard with the added power of the Magma-Magma Fruit.

Significant themes

  • Duty versus family: Garp’s resolve is tested by his son’s presence, but he chooses his responsibility to the Marines.
  • Strategy and sacrifice: Dragon’s delayed intervention suggests that individual rescues are secondary to a larger political and military objective.
  • Shifting power: Both the Revolutionary Army’s offensive and Blackbeard’s new ability threaten the existing balance of power.
  • Strength and endurance: The chapter contrasts Dragon’s overwhelming versatility with War Wolf’s toughness and Whitebeard’s continued resistance.

Ch. 689Order to Retreat

Key events

  • Blackbeard, now wielding both the Magma-Magma and Dark-Dark Fruit powers, fights Whitebeard in a brutal clash. Whitebeard remains dominant even as Blackbeard’s crew joins in.
  • Pizarro and Lafitte attack Whitebeard from opposite directions, but he repels them with a powerful burst of force. Van Augur then shoots him from afar; despite the wound, Whitebeard retaliates and sends Van Augur flying.
  • Blackbeard exploits the distraction to punch through Whitebeard’s chest. Whitebeard responds by seizing and smashing him into the ground, then striking with a devastating blow. The crew thinks Blackbeard is dead, but he escapes underground as magma.
  • With the marines pushed back by the Revolutionary Army, Whitebeard orders his crew to withdraw. Sengoku allows the marines to open a path, hoping to focus their forces on Dragon’s army.
  • Dragon is disappointed when Whitebeard pulls his crew out of the battle. Whitebeard stays behind, intending to continue fighting Blackbeard.

Character developments and interactions

  • Whitebeard shows immense strength despite grave wounds, but his priorities are clear: protecting his “sons” matters more than victory, revenge, or his own survival. His order to retreat also reflects his resentment that his crew has paid a heavy price in a battle serving the Revolutionary Army’s aims.
  • Blackbeard fights relentlessly and uses his new Logia power to survive Whitebeard’s apparent finishing blow. Their encounter remains unresolved.
  • Marco and the Whitebeard Pirates are shaken by Whitebeard’s injuries and retreat order, but his concern for their safety drives his decision.
  • Sengoku recognizes that Whitebeard’s retreat benefits both sides and acts pragmatically by granting the crew a route out.
  • Dragon wants the Whitebeard Pirates to keep fighting, since their support could hasten the Revolutionary Army’s victory, but Whitebeard refuses to sacrifice his crew for that cause.

Significant themes

  • Family and responsibility: Whitebeard puts his crew’s future above military success and his own life.
  • Agency and obligation: The Whitebeard Pirates are not bound to keep fighting for the Revolutionary Army, especially after their heavy losses.
  • Strength and endurance: Whitebeard remains formidable even when wounded, while his enemies rely on teamwork, surprise, and Blackbeard’s deceptive escape.
  • Strategic compromise: The retreat helps the Whitebeard Pirates survive and lets the marines redirect their attention toward Dragon’s forces.

Ch. 690Burgess Is Killed

Key plot points and events

  • Whitebeard orders his crew to retreat, moving them to tears. Lafitte mocks him, but Ace attacks Lafitte with Fire Fist.
  • Van Augur shoots Ace, but the shot does not seriously injure him. Ace sees Whitebeard’s fatal chest wound and breaks down.
  • Whitebeard asks Ace whether he was a good father, then names him the next captain of the Whitebeard Pirates, with Marco’s support.
  • Whitebeard insists that Marco and Ace leave, declaring that he will handle Blackbeard himself. When they hesitate, he confronts Burgess and kills him with a single strike.
  • Elsewhere, Ye Chen kills Trebol, enraging Doflamingo. Lucci intercepts Pica, while Gin takes on Diamante; the other fighters engage their own opponents.
  • Ye Chen and Doflamingo begin fighting. Ye Chen dodges Doflamingo’s thread attack and counters with a powerful slash-like wave. Doflamingo uses his strings to launch himself into the air.

Character developments and interactions

  • Whitebeard faces death with resolve, hides his grief from his sons, and gives Ace both his blessing and the responsibility of leading the crew.
  • Ace and Marco are devastated and want revenge, but Whitebeard urges them to survive. Marco accepts Whitebeard’s choice of Ace as captain.
  • Ye Chen recognizes that Whitebeard has chosen to die fighting and focuses on his own battle with Doflamingo.
  • Doflamingo responds to Trebol’s death with open fury, while Lucci and Gin protect their captain by confronting Pica and Diamante.
  • Blackbeard’s crew taunts Whitebeard’s allies, escalating the conflict.

Significant themes

  • Chosen family and fatherhood: Ace regards Whitebeard as his closest family, and Whitebeard seeks reassurance that he was a good father.
  • Sacrifice and duty: Whitebeard stays behind to protect his crew and give them a chance to escape.
  • Legacy and succession: Naming Ace captain ensures the Whitebeard Pirates have a future.
  • Grief, courage, and loyalty: The crew’s anguish contrasts with Whitebeard’s determination, while Ace and Marco struggle to obey his final command.

Ch. 691A Fierce Battle

Key plot points and events

  • Ye Chen pursues Doflamingo into the air and attacks with streaks of light, but Doflamingo dodges them.
  • Doflamingo unleashes Super Twist Whip, a massive column of hardened threads. Ye Chen blocks it with his Twin Swords, and the two begin a fast, destructive duel. Ye Chen is stronger, but Doflamingo’s mastery of his String-String Fruit makes him difficult to defeat quickly.
  • Hawk-Eye declares Kuina beaten after she survives three moves. Kuina retrieves the Wado Ichimonji, promises to challenge him again and win, then leaves.
  • Moria fights Lao G, using swarms of bats and his shadow clone to overwhelm him. He steals Lao G’s shadow and puts it into a dead Marine, creating a Zombie that attacks Dellinger.
  • The Zombie defeats Dellinger and removes his shadow as well.
  • After Tim knocks Sugar down, he hesitates when she begs for mercy. She uses the opening to touch him, transforming him into a Toy Spider.

Character developments and interactions

  • Ye Chen and Doflamingo clash directly: Doflamingo’s arrogance and political influence do not intimidate Ye Chen, who meets him with open aggression.
  • Kuina shows resilience in defeat. Hawk-Eye respects her composure and determination, while she turns the loss into a renewed commitment to surpass him.
  • Moria reveals a personal grudge against Doflamingo, whom he blames for destroying his forces and sending him to Impel Down. He also considers following Ye Chen as a possible way to take revenge on Doflamingo, Kaido, and Blackbeard.
  • Lao G loses his dignity as he begs Moria to spare him, but Moria shows no mercy. Moria then turns Lao G’s stolen shadow against Dellinger.
  • Tim’s hesitation gives Sugar the chance to reverse his victory and transform him.

Significant themes

  • Resolve after defeat: Kuina accepts her loss without losing her ambition.
  • Power and confidence: Doflamingo’s status and resources matter little against Ye Chen’s fearlessness.
  • Revenge and shifting alliances: Moria’s desire to settle old scores may draw him toward Ye Chen.
  • Mercy and vulnerability: Tim’s moment of hesitation lets Sugar regain control, while Lao G’s plea fails to soften Moria.

Ch. 692Stelly's Ambition

Plot and events

  • Stelly courts Nantacarete, the king’s daughter, with a calculated rescue staged by paid pirates. His attentive behavior wins her affection, and he later earns the king’s trust by handling royal duties competently.
  • As the king grows seriously ill and has no son, Stelly sees a path to power. He becomes engaged to Nantacarete and privately vows to become king—and to defeat Sabo himself.
  • Back in Foosha Village, Dadan and the townspeople grieve over the impending execution of Ace and Luffy. Dadan blames Garp for failing to save them, while the village chief defends the Marines’ right to execute pirates. The villagers’ affection for the boys outweighs the argument, and the village falls into mourning.
  • At the execution plaza, Ace reunites with Sabo, who has recovered his memories. They embrace, and Sabo apologizes for arriving late. Ace does not blame him, though he remains conflicted about the Revolutionary Army’s delay and the losses the Whitebeard Pirates suffered.
  • Sabo fights Marine officer Jonathan, but the ruthless Shadow Man intervenes and severs Jonathan’s arm. Sabo objects that Jonathan is his opponent; Shadow Man insists enemies should be killed without mercy.

Character developments and interactions

  • Stelly emerges as an ambitious, calculating political climber, using charm, connections, and demonstrated competence to pursue the throne.
  • Dadan and Foosha’s residents reveal how deeply they love Ace and Luffy. Their grief brings the community together, despite disagreement over the Marines’ actions.
  • Ace and Sabo reconnect warmly, but Ace’s feelings toward the Revolutionary Army remain complicated. Sabo is remorseful; Ace reassures him without hiding his reservations.
  • Sabo and Shadow Man clash over how to handle an enemy: Sabo claims the fight as his, while Shadow Man favors merciless killing. Jonathan is left badly injured and thinking of his wife.

Significant themes

  • Ambition and power: Stelly turns romance and public service into steps toward kingship.
  • Family and attachment: Dadan and the villagers’ grief, and Ace and Sabo’s reunion, show bonds that persist despite danger and separation.
  • Moral complexity: The village debates lawful justice versus personal love, while Ace recognizes both the Revolutionary Army’s failures and its role in helping the pirates escape.
  • Mercy versus ruthlessness: Sabo’s insistence on facing Jonathan himself contrasts with Shadow Man’s lethal pragmatism.

Ch. 693Bone Demon and Wild Howl

Key plot points and events

  • Revolutionary Army officer Green, the Shadow Puppeteer, kills Marine Jonathan by piercing his chest and heart. Jonathan’s final gesture is reaching for a photograph of his wife, Jessica.
  • The chapter reflects on the conflict between Marines and revolutionaries: both sides have causes that can be understood, and neither can yield.
  • Hobbit, a user of the Wild Howl Fruit, kills a Marine Commander with his lethal cry and a bite to the neck. Other dangerous Revolutionary fighters are described, including Ivankov and Bone Demon Reni.
  • Reni battles Marine Vice Admiral Vergo. When Doflamingo is struck by a projectile, Vergo breaks away from Reni to move toward him.
  • Ye Chen prepares to face Doflamingo, but Reni intercepts Vergo and insists on fighting him himself. Ye Chen blocks Doflamingo’s attack on Reni, then Reni lands a knee strike that sends Vergo crashing to the ground.

Character developments

  • Jonathan is shown as exceptionally brave and devoted, enduring fatal injuries without making a sound and thinking of his wife at the end.
  • Green is a cold, merciless killer, though he expresses respect for Jonathan’s love for his family.
  • Reni is revealed as a confident and powerful ally who takes responsibility for keeping Vergo from interfering with Ye Chen’s duel.
  • Ye Chen trusts Reni’s strength and respects his choice to fight Vergo, while remaining focused on settling matters with Doflamingo.
  • Vergo and Doflamingo are both drawn into the escalating fight, with Vergo wounded by Reni and Doflamingo increasingly angered by Ye Chen.

Significant themes

  • Competing ideas of justice: The Marines seek order, while the Revolutionary Army fights oppression. The chapter presents both sides as having understandable reasons for fighting.
  • The human cost of conflict: Jonathan’s death makes the violence personal, underscoring what is lost in war.
  • Loyalty and trust: Ye Chen allows Reni to handle Vergo, and Reni acts to protect Ye Chen’s confrontation with Doflamingo.
  • Different forms of strength: The Revolutionary fighters’ powers—Green’s lethal touch, Hobbit’s voice, and Reni’s claws—make them formidable in distinct ways.

Character interactions

  • Green kills Jonathan, then acknowledges Jonathan’s devotion to Jessica.
  • Reni and Vergo trade blows before Vergo rushes toward Doflamingo.
  • Ye Chen and Reni coordinate without needing much discussion: Ye Chen blocks Doflamingo’s attack, while Reni claims Vergo as his opponent.
  • Reni taunts Doflamingo to watch out, then turns back to fighting Vergo as Ye Chen prepares for his duel.

Ch. 694Doflamingo Escapes

Plot points

  • Reggie overwhelms Vergo, impaling him with a bone claw and knocking him unconscious. He then attacks T Bone, but Fujitora intervenes with crushing gravity.
  • Fujitora also confronts Sabo, who blocks one of his slashes with his pipe, though he remains outmatched. Fujitora summons meteors and a boulder, badly injuring Reggie.
  • Ye Chen saves Reggie from being crushed and tells him to retreat. He then returns to pursue the wounded Doflamingo.
  • Doflamingo creates a shadow double to stall Ye Chen, surveys the defeated state of his crew, and escapes using Sky Walk, abandoning his subordinates.
  • Ye Chen destroys the double and demands that Sugar turn Tim and Zoro back from toys. Sugar is stunned and heartbroken by Doflamingo’s flight.

Character developments and interactions

  • Reggie remains bold and mocking, but recognizes Fujitora’s strength and obeys Ye Chen’s warning to withdraw.
  • Fujitora proves a formidable opponent, pressuring both Reggie and Sabo with his gravity-based attacks.
  • Sabo shows courage and skill by intercepting Fujitora, despite being weaker and not yet having a Devil Fruit.
  • Doflamingo’s desperation overrides loyalty: badly wounded and seeing his officers defeated, he chooses self-preservation over rescuing them.
  • Ye Chen protects his allies, then turns his anger on Sugar after discovering Tim and Zoro have been transformed.
  • Sugar and Monet witness Doflamingo’s abandonment; Sugar voices the shock and hurt of being left behind.

Significant themes

  • Loyalty versus self-preservation: Doflamingo’s escape contrasts with Ye Chen’s willingness to help a friend.
  • Power and vulnerability: Even skilled fighters are overwhelmed when facing Fujitora or suffering serious injuries.
  • The cost of defeat: Doflamingo’s retreat leaves his crew defeated, captured, or transformed, while Sugar is emotionally shaken.

Ch. 695Take Down Pizarro

Key plot points and events

  • Sugar tries to sneak up on Ye Chen, but he anticipates her move and paralyzes her. After frightening her with a bug, he releases her, and she restores Zoro and Tim from their toy forms.
  • Kuina mocks Zoro for having been turned into a shark. Zoro is embarrassed but insists that being a shark is better than being an ordinary fish.
  • As Blackbeard and his crew attack the wounded Whitebeard, Ye Chen rushes in. Whitebeard suddenly strikes Pizarro and sends him flying; Ye Chen then kills Pizarro with repeated sword thrusts.
  • Blackbeard, intent on killing Whitebeard and taking his power, orders Lafitte and Doc Q to delay Ye Chen. He continues attacking Whitebeard, who appears to collapse and die.
  • Whitebeard suddenly opens his eyes, unleashes his imposing presence, and knocks Blackbeard down. He declares that Blackbeard is not the man Roger was waiting for.

Character developments

  • Ye Chen shows caution and playful intimidation toward Sugar, then acts decisively and brutally against Pizarro, whom he considers a disloyal turncoat.
  • Sugar is frightened into undoing her transformation of Zoro and Tim.
  • Zoro is humiliated by Kuina’s teasing but defensively takes pride in having become a shark.
  • Pizarro is revealed as opportunistic and disloyal, having repeatedly changed allegiances; Ye Chen kills him.
  • Whitebeard remains formidable despite being gravely wounded. His apparent death proves deceptive, and he confronts Blackbeard with a judgment about his unworthiness.
  • Blackbeard is driven by ambition to claim Whitebeard’s power, but Whitebeard’s resurgence unsettles him.

Significant themes

  • Loyalty and betrayal: Pizarro’s shifting loyalties contrast with Whitebeard’s concern for his crew and Ye Chen’s rejection of treachery.
  • Endurance and legacy: Whitebeard persists beyond apparent death, while his words invoke Roger and the question of who is worthy to shape the future.
  • Power and ambition: Blackbeard’s attempt to seize Whitebeard’s strength shows how ambition can drive ruthless action.
  • Humor amid violence: Sugar’s scare and the Zoro–Kuina exchange briefly lighten the chapter’s otherwise brutal battle.

Character interactions

  • Ye Chen outsmarts and intimidates Sugar, then releases her after she restores Zoro and Tim.
  • Kuina needles Zoro about his transformation, and he responds defensively.
  • Ye Chen confronts and kills Pizarro, while Blackbeard orders his crew to keep Ye Chen away from Whitebeard.
  • Blackbeard attacks Whitebeard repeatedly, but Whitebeard survives and directly challenges Blackbeard’s claim to Roger’s legacy.

Ch. 696Obtaining the Tremor-Tremor Fruit

Plot points and events

  • As he dies, Whitebeard warns that the discovery of One Piece will transform the world, then declares, “The One Piece is real!” His final words reignite the Great Pirate Era.
  • Blackbeard covers Whitebeard’s body and extracts the Tremor-Tremor Fruit’s power, placing it in an apple. He intends to keep the power for himself or give it to someone else.
  • Ye Chen fights Blackbeard’s crew, striking Doc Q and evading Shiryu while trying to take the apple. Akainu intervenes with a magma fist, but Ye Chen meets the attack head-on.
  • Ye Chen tricks Blackbeard into tossing the apple, then uses his ability to draw it to himself and escape with his companions aboard the Death God.
  • On the ship, Ye Chen offers the Tremor-Tremor Fruit to his crew. Lucci, Kuina, and Zoro refuse, leaving Nami and Gin as the remaining candidates; Ye Chen asks Nami if she wants it.

Character developments and interactions

  • Whitebeard dies with regret at leaving his sons to face Blackbeard, but his final declaration shows his resolve to reveal the truth.
  • Blackbeard’s triumph turns to fury when Ye Chen steals the fruit he has just acquired; he vows revenge.
  • Ye Chen remains bold and resourceful, using a feint and his power to outwit Blackbeard and secure the fruit.
  • Kuina and Zoro reaffirm their ambition to become great swordsmen without relying on Devil Fruit powers. Lucci also declines because he already has a fruit.
  • Ye Chen treats the fruit as a choice for the group, while the crew react with surprise at his casual handling of something so coveted.

Significant themes

  • Whitebeard’s death and words show how one person’s final stand can reshape history.
  • Ambition and legacy drive the coming struggle over One Piece and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
  • Kuina and Zoro’s refusals emphasize self-reliance and dedication to their chosen path.

Ch. 697Killing War Wolf

Key plot points and events

  • Nami refuses the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, saying its power and appearance do not suit her. Gin accepts it after Ye Chen offers it to him and vows to help Ye Chen become the greatest pirate.
  • Kuro asks Ye Chen who will win the war. Ye Chen says the outcome is uncertain but predicts the Revolutionary Army may prevail despite the Marines’ reinforcements.
  • After Ye Chen’s group leaves, Blackbeard broods over losing Burgess and Pizarro while Ye Chen benefited from the chaos. Lafitte persuades him to hunt Devil Fruit users on the battlefield.
  • Blackbeard ambushes and kills the badly weakened War Wolf, stealing his Mecha-Mecha Fruit. Dragon cannot pursue him because the Revolutionary Army’s fight against the Marines takes priority.
  • Blackbeard’s crew attacks Marines, worsening their losses and helping the Revolutionary Army advance. Blackbeard then ambushes Sengoku while he is fighting two Revolutionary Army commanders.
  • Garp rushes to help Sengoku, but Shiryu blocks him. Blackbeard presses his attack, overcomes the wounded Sengoku, and drags him toward himself with black smoke.

Character developments and interactions

  • Gin accepts the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and makes a firm commitment to Ye Chen.
  • Nami shows that she values her appearance and rejects a power she finds unsuitable.
  • Blackbeard reveals his opportunistic strategy: he targets weakened Marines for their abilities while avoiding attacks on the Revolutionary Army.
  • Dragon restrains his desire to confront Blackbeard, prioritizing the war over personal grievances.
  • Garp reacts fiercely when Sengoku is injured and clashes with Shiryu to reach him.
  • Sengoku continues fighting despite facing powerful opponents and severe wounds, but Blackbeard’s ambush leaves him near defeat.

Significant themes

  • Loyalty and trust: Gin’s vow contrasts with Blackbeard’s self-serving opportunism.
  • War as opportunity: Blackbeard exploits the confusion and weakened fighters to pursue power.
  • Duty over personal revenge: Dragon puts the Revolutionary Army’s campaign ahead of confronting Blackbeard.
  • The cost of unfair tactics: War Wolf’s and Sengoku’s injuries result in part from surprise attacks amid already exhausting battles.

Ch. 698Sengoku Falls

Key plot points and events

  • Garp battles Shiryu, Lafitte, and San Juan Wolf, who can barely restrain him.
  • Blackbeard defeats and kills the wounded Sengoku, then steals his power by transferring it into an apple.
  • Garp reaches Sengoku and attacks Blackbeard in a grief-fueled rage. Blackbeard cannot match Garp’s onslaught and tries to flee.
  • A piece of the apple accidentally lands in Koby’s mouth, giving the timid young marine Sengoku’s power. Blackbeard abandons his attempt to recover it and escapes with his crew.
  • The battle between the Revolutionary Army and the marines continues for hours, leaving both sides devastated. Garp fights his son Dragon, who evades him without striking back.
  • Koby intervenes, pleading with them to stop and reminding them of the lives being lost. His appeal makes both sides reconsider continuing the fight.
  • Red-Haired arrives, ending the conflict. He takes Whitebeard’s body, and Dragon withdraws with the Revolutionary Army.

Character developments and interactions

  • Garp is overwhelmed by Sengoku’s death and becomes a furious, relentless fighter. Despite his personal conflict with Dragon, he continues to defend the marines.
  • Blackbeard is ruthless and opportunistic, but Garp’s strength forces him to retreat. He loses Sengoku’s power when the apple is accidentally eaten by Koby.
  • Koby moves from fear to courage, stepping between Garp and Dragon to speak for the dead and the survivors. His accidental acquisition of Sengoku’s power marks a major change in his prospects.
  • Dragon avoids fighting his father and appears to reconsider the cost of the war after Koby’s intervention.
  • The Revolutionary Army’s fighters deliberately make way for Garp, reflecting their unwillingness to fight Dragon’s father.

Significant themes

  • Grief and duty: Garp’s sorrow fuels his attack on Blackbeard, yet his duty still puts him on the opposite side from his son.
  • The human cost of war: The immense casualties on both sides make victory seem hollow and threaten to weaken the Revolutionary Army regardless of the outcome.
  • Courage and compassion: Koby’s plea shows how a seemingly weak person can change the course of events through moral clarity.
  • Fate and chance: Koby gains Sengoku’s power through an unlikely accident, which Garp interprets as fate.

Ch. 699Admiral Aokiji

Key plot points and events

  • The Five Elders publicly declare the Navy victorious, claiming it eliminated Whitebeard and checked the Revolutionary Army, despite Marine Headquarters’ destruction being witnessed around the world. The announcement is widely viewed as propaganda.
  • With Sengoku and other senior officers gone—and Akainu dead—the Navy appoints Aokiji as Fleet Admiral. Though the Elders preferred Akainu, they accept Aokiji because he has strong support within the Navy and no better candidate is available.
  • Ye Chen and his companions learn of Aokiji’s appointment from the newspaper. Ye Chen predicts the battered Navy will soon make major efforts to rebuild its strength.
  • In private, Robin asks Ye Chen what happened with Vivi. He tells her the full story, and Robin presses him to take responsibility for Vivi. Their intimate moment turns into a serious conversation.
  • On deck, Sugar and Monet grieve Doflamingo’s abandonment. Moria challenges their lingering loyalty, while Kuina bluntly reminds them that they can leave if they have no intention of contributing.

Character developments and interactions

  • Aokiji becomes Fleet Admiral by default, backed by the Navy despite the Five Elders’ reservations.
  • Ye Chen is confident that the Navy’s defeat will reshape events, but is uneasy when Robin confronts him about Vivi.
  • Robin remains composed and perceptive, using their private time to demand honesty and accountability from Ye Chen.
  • Sugar and Monet are hurt by Doflamingo’s betrayal, revealing how strongly they remain attached to him and his ambitions.
  • Moria and Kuina take opposing but practical approaches: Moria questions the women’s loyalty, while Kuina demands that they either contribute or leave.

Significant themes

  • Propaganda versus reality: The World Government tries to present a visible defeat as victory.
  • Power and political succession: The Navy must replace its leadership and recover from severe losses.
  • Loyalty and abandonment: Sugar and Monet struggle with Doflamingo’s decision to leave them behind.
  • Honesty and responsibility: Robin expects Ye Chen to be truthful and face the consequences of his relationship with Vivi.

Ch. 700Target: The Vinsmoke Family

Chapter Summary: “The Vinsmoke Family”

Key plot points and events

  • After Thriller Bark is destroyed, Moria is left with only Perona. Ye Chen offers Moria, Perona, Monet, and Sugar a place with his crew, explaining that his conflict with the World Government makes new allies essential.
  • Sugar agrees after Ye Chen promises to keep her supplied with grapes and not abandon her; Monet eventually accepts, and Moria agrees after Perona persuades him.
  • At the Holy Land, Little Zhuge reacts furiously to the death of War Wolf, striking Spinxan and berating the officials and Five Elders.
  • Little Zhuge tells the remaining royal families and Five Elders that the World Government has suffered a severe loss of power and credibility. He orders them to obtain the Vinsmoke Family’s technology for mass-producing Ironblood Warriors.
  • Ye Chen’s crew encounters a huge fleet bearing the number 666. Lucci identifies it as the Vinsmoke Family’s fleet, famed as a family of assassins. A green-haired boy appears as the fleet approaches.

Character developments and interactions

  • Ye Chen recognizes that, despite his growing strength and recent victories, he cannot face the World Government alone. His invitation to Moria’s group shows his practical need for allies as well as a willingness to offer them protection.
  • Sugar distrusts Ye Chen at first and blames him for their situation, but his reassurance and promise of grapes win her over. Monet follows reluctantly, while Moria remains shaken by his losses and needs Perona’s encouragement before joining.
  • Little Zhuge is revealed as a ruthless authority figure: he lashes out at his subordinates but quickly shifts to strategic planning, treating the Vinsmokes’ cloning technology as a means to restore the regime’s power.
  • Lucci’s knowledge of the Vinsmoke Family helps the crew identify the approaching fleet, setting up their encounter with the family.

Significant themes

  • Alliances and survival: Ye Chen’s growing enemies make cooperation necessary, even among people with a troubled history.
  • Power and political control: The World Government seeks to recover its authority through military technology, with little concern for its inhuman nature.
  • Loss and vulnerability: Moria’s isolation and the Government’s weakened position show that even powerful groups can be devastated.
  • The cost of conflict: The chapter presents both Ye Chen’s need to build strength and the regime’s readiness to pursue further violence to retain control.
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