Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Weather Controller”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Haredas reflects on Lory’s connection with Ryan and is confident that Ryan’s strength will prevent Lory from suffering the same fate as Alice.
• Ryan accompanies Lory to the edge of Weather Island after she learns the truth about her origins: she was created partly to validate Alice and Vegapunk’s research.
• Lory struggles with conflicting feelings toward Alice. She does not believe Alice owed her anything and is grateful for the life and relationships she gained, but she still breaks down because what she truly wanted was a mother.
• Ryan comforts Lory through his presence rather than offering immediate explanations. He tells her that the vial Alice left behind is her mother’s final gift.
• The vial contains the key to awakening power implanted in Lory before birth. Alice and Vegapunk had used their breakthroughs in Lineage Factor research to create an artificial “Weather Fruit” ability within Lory.
• Lory drinks the vial and awakens control over numerous natural forces, including wind, rain, thunder, lightning, clouds, snow, frost, mist, and other forms of weather.
• Her awakening transforms Weather Island, producing multiple weather phenomena simultaneously and attracting the astonished scholars.
• Twelve elemental orbs appear around Lory and eventually merge into her body, marking her emergence as the world’s first “Weather Controller.”
• Ryan tests her abilities, discovering that she can use all twelve weather powers instinctively. However, her combat skills are undeveloped, and her attacks initially lack major destructive force.
• After repeated attempts, Lory manages to create a Wind Blade, though Ryan concludes that she has immense natural potential but little fighting experience.

Character Developments

• Lory: Experiences grief, anger, gratitude, and abandonment after learning the truth about Alice. She ultimately accepts Alice’s final gift and awakens extraordinary weather-manipulating abilities. Her emotional vulnerability contrasts sharply with her new power.
• Ryan: Acts as a quiet and dependable emotional support for Lory. Rather than forcing her to forgive Alice or offering simplistic comfort, he allows her to process her feelings and embraces her when she breaks down. He also becomes fascinated by the strategic possibilities of her abilities.
• Alice: Although dead, Alice remains central to the chapter. Her research and final gift reveal that she had prepared a powerful legacy for Lory, suggesting that Lory was more than merely an experiment.
• Vegapunk: His scientific achievements, shared with Alice, are shown to have enabled the creation of a completely new power that has no natural counterpart in the world.
• Haredas and the Weather Island scholars: Haredas remains protective of Lory, while the scholars react with amazement to the unprecedented weather display.

Significant Themes

• Parental love and emotional neglect: Lory appreciates that Alice gave her life but still mourns the motherly relationship she never received. The chapter emphasizes that gratitude cannot fully replace personal affection.
• Grief and acceptance: Lory does not simply forgive or hate Alice; she struggles with contradictory emotions before recognizing the vial as Alice’s final attempt to give her something meaningful.
• Science as creation: Vegapunk and Alice’s research goes beyond discovering existing powers; it creates a new ability through scientific understanding.
• Power and responsibility: Lory gains immense potential instantly, but raw power does not equal combat mastery. She must still learn how to fight and control her abilities effectively.
• Chosen family and companionship: Ryan’s silent presence and physical comfort demonstrate that support does not always require words. Lory’s wish to give abandoned girls a home also reinforces the importance of belonging.
• Inheritance and legacy: Lory inherits both her parents’ genius and a unique power, while Alice’s final gift allows her influence to continue after death.

Important Character Interactions

• Haredas and Ryan/Lory: Haredas trusts Ryan’s strength to protect Lory and believes her future will differ from Alice’s tragic past.
• Ryan and Lory: Ryan listens silently as Lory questions whether she should hate Alice. When Lory finally cries over wanting a real mother, he embraces and reassures her. Later, he guides her first experiments with her new abilities.
• Lory and Alice: Their relationship is explored through Lory’s memories and conflicted feelings. Alice failed to provide the maternal bond Lory wanted, but she left behind a powerful gift intended specifically for her daughter.
• Lory and the scholars: Lory’s awakening disrupts the island’s weather and causes the researchers to emerge in shock, establishing the event as scientifically unprecedented.

Chapter Summary: “Vegapunk”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan asks Lory whether she wants to find her father, Vegapunk, offering to help despite the danger and secrecy surrounding Vegapunk’s location.
• Lory rejects the idea coldly, insisting that Vegapunk is not her father. Her anger manifests physically as a sudden drop in temperature and frost.
• Ryan realizes that Lory’s hatred stems from Vegapunk’s failure to act as a father, and he suspects Vegapunk’s connection to her may explain why her bounty has remained relatively low.
• The narrative shifts to a hidden Seastone fortress beneath the Calm Belt, where Vegapunk is working on a mechanical project.
• Sentomaru, Vegapunk’s bodyguard and captain of the Marine Headquarters Science Unit, complains constantly about the boredom of guarding the scientist.
• Sentomaru blames Ryan for causing trouble for “the old man” and notes that Ryan has become one of the Four Emperors.
• Vegapunk silently absorbs everything Sentomaru says while continuing his research. He becomes aware of Ryan’s name and wonders who this “Bloody Swordsman” is.
• Vegapunk is close to completing his mech but still needs to determine the appropriate carrier or model, possibly considering Sentomaru.

Character Developments

• Ryan: Demonstrates genuine concern for Lory and views his crew as a family formed through shared experiences. His feelings for Robin are also portrayed as having deepened naturally over time.
• Lory: Reveals intense resentment toward Vegapunk, whom she refuses to acknowledge as her father. Her emotional hostility is so strong that it triggers her ice-based abilities.
• Vegapunk: Is presented as an emotionally detached genius who prioritizes research above personal relationships. Although he appears unresponsive, he notices and processes everything around him. His brief thought of a beautiful woman suggests that he may still possess buried emotional attachments.
• Sentomaru: Is energetic, outspoken, and increasingly frustrated by his monotonous assignment. His constant chatter contrasts sharply with Vegapunk’s silence.
• Robin and the Crew: Ryan reflects that former allies who originally joined for separate reasons have gradually become a close-knit family.

Significant Themes

• Family versus biological ties: Lory’s rejection of Vegapunk emphasizes that being a biological parent does not guarantee a meaningful father-daughter relationship.
• Affection developing over time: Ryan observes that companionship and shared experiences have transformed the crew into a family, while his relationship with Robin has grown into love.
• Science versus emotion: Vegapunk’s single-minded devotion to research portrays him as someone who suppresses or disregards emotional connections.
• Isolation and communication: Vegapunk’s fortress, emotional coldness, and silence reflect his detachment, while Sentomaru’s excessive talking highlights the difficulty of communication between them.
• Reputation and political consequences: Ryan’s rise to the status of a Four Emperor and his conflict with the Marines have begun affecting people connected to the World Government and Vegapunk.

Important Character Interactions

• Ryan and Lory: Ryan carefully offers to help Lory meet Vegapunk, but immediately respects her refusal. Their exchange reinforces the trust and familial bond within the crew.
• Vegapunk and Sentomaru: Sentomaru speaks continuously, while Vegapunk ignores him outwardly but listens internally. Their contrasting personalities create both humor and tension.
• Ryan and Vegapunk: Although they do not meet in the chapter, Ryan’s name enters Vegapunk’s awareness through Sentomaru, setting up a possible future connection.
• Vegapunk and his past: Vegapunk briefly recalls a woman, suggesting an unresolved emotional history that may be connected to Lory’s mother, Alice.

Chapter Summary: “Heading to Future Country”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan and Lory return to Karakuri Island after leaving Weather Island.
• Kid eagerly welcomes them back, mainly because he wants excitement and battles after being bored talking with the old granny.
• Fujitora notices that Lory’s aura and demeanor have changed, prompting her to explain what happened. She recounts meeting Vegapunk and learning about her mother, Alice.
• The crew is deeply moved by Lory’s tragic history, especially because she describes it calmly despite its cruelty.
• The old granny reveals that she ended up on Karakuri Island after the World Government and Marines began hunting Vegapunk’s family and associates. Vegapunk’s capture led to the deaths of people connected to him, including the old man who sacrificed himself to protect her.
• Ryan realizes that the World Government likely kept Lory’s bounty unusually low to conceal her importance and connection to Vegapunk.
• Kid becomes alarmed when Ryan suggests that Lory may eventually be stronger than him, though she currently lacks combat experience.
• Ryan decides to travel with the others to investigate Future Country, while Lory remains behind with the old granny.

Character Developments

• Lory shows significant emotional growth. She is now able to discuss her painful past with composure and optimism, emphasizing that she was loved by Grandma Lia, Ryan, and her companions even though she lacked parents.
• The old granny is established as Lory’s last surviving family member and someone who genuinely cares for her. Her reunion with Lory is deeply emotional.
• Ryan demonstrates compassion and protective concern toward Lory. He also reflects on his own family and homesickness before choosing to focus on living in the present.
• Kid remains competitive and insecure, especially when he realizes Lory may possess greater hidden potential than he does.
• Fujitora continues to show his perceptiveness through Observation Haki, recognizing Lory’s inner change immediately.

Significant Themes

• Family and belonging: Lory may lack biological parents, but she has found love and support through the old granny, Ryan, and her crew.
• Trauma and resilience: Lory’s calm retelling of her suffering shows how she has endured tragedy without allowing it to define her.
• Government oppression: The World Government uses violence and intimidation to control Vegapunk and eliminate anyone connected to him.
• Hidden potential and inherited power: Lory’s royal and scientific lineage suggests that her strength and importance are far greater than her current bounty indicates.
• Living in the present: Ryan briefly grieves his lost connection to his original world but resolves to build a meaningful life in the one he now inhabits.

Character Interactions

• Fujitora questions Lory about her transformation, giving her the opportunity to share her history.
• The old granny embraces and mourns for Lory, while Lory unexpectedly comforts her and reassures her that she has not truly been alone.
• Ryan explains the implications of Lory’s lineage and potential to Kid, provoking Kid’s frustration and jealousy.
• Ryan allows Lory to remain with the old granny because he recognizes their bond, then departs with the others to explore Future Country.

Chapter Summary: “Security Comes from Yourself”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan and his crew arrive in Future Country, the technologically advanced nation of Karakuri Island and birthplace of many renowned scientists.
• Kid is thrilled by the country’s research institutes, advanced weapons, equipment, and controlled Modified Beasts.
• Because Ryan’s fame as one of the Four Emperors causes panic whenever he is recognized, the crew disguises themselves before exploring the city.
• Fujitora observes that Future Country is unusually peaceful and orderly. Ryan agrees, noting the calm citizens, spotless streets, and overall sense of stability.
• Ryan speaks with an elderly man to ask whether the people fear pirates. Misunderstanding Ryan because of his poor hearing, the old man suddenly transforms from a harmless-looking citizen into a powerful fighter, activating a weaponized stool and preparing to confront pirates.
• The encounter reveals that many citizens of Future Country are heavily armed, trained, or modified themselves. They possess enough strength to defend their homeland without relying on outside protection.
• Ryan reflects that true security comes from personal strength. He records the lesson in his notebook, concluding that strong citizens create a peaceful society.

Character Development

• Ryan: Shows increasing interest in the political and social structure of the countries he visits. Rather than merely enjoying Future Country’s technology, he analyzes why its people are so calm and recognizes the importance of self-reliance and collective strength.
• Fujitora: Demonstrates his keen Observation Haki by immediately sensing that Future Country differs from ordinary nations.
• Kid: Reveals his enthusiasm for advanced technology, treating Future Country as an ideal destination.
• The elderly citizen: Provides a humorous example of Future Country’s militarized population. His rapid transformation highlights that even seemingly ordinary civilians are prepared for combat.
• Beli and the crew: React with surprise and amusement to the old man’s sudden display of strength and to Ryan’s habit of recording his observations.

Significant Themes

• Security through self-reliance: The chapter emphasizes that safety is not something granted by others; it comes from having the strength to protect oneself.
• Strength creating peace: Future Country remains calm because its citizens are capable of defending themselves against pirates and other threats.
• Technology and human enhancement: Modified Beasts, advanced weapons, and Modified Humans demonstrate how technology has become integrated into everyday life.
• Appearance versus reality: The old man initially appears weak and harmless but is actually a formidable fighter, reflecting how deceptive appearances can be.
• Order and prosperity: Future Country’s clean streets and composed citizens contrast with the chaos common in the pirate world.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Fujitora discuss the unusual atmosphere and safety of Future Country.
• Ryan questions the elderly man about pirates, but a hearing misunderstanding leads to a comic confrontation.
• The old man’s sudden weapon transformation shocks Ryan, Beli, and the rest of the crew.
• Beli notices Ryan’s notebook, prompting him to explain that he is documenting the positive lessons he observes during his travels.

• Plot and events: After two days in the Future Country, Ryan’s crew departs aboard the Soaring Dragon, with Lory reluctantly leaving her grandmother. Her grandmother accepts Lory’s choice, believing young people must pursue their own futures. The crew then heads toward Totto Land, Big Mom’s territory. Elsewhere, the Red Hair Pirates confront the powerful crews of Silver Axe and Ochoku above Edd War. Shanks declares that the old generation will be replaced and launches a massive battle, revealing the Red Hair Pirates’ growing strength and ambition to become Emperors. During the journey, Enel spots another pirate battle below an island. Beli, Enel, Kid, Killer, and Luo jump down to intervene despite Ryan’s lack of interest. Beli immediately kills an opponent with his Armament Haki-coated axe, prompting the group to overwhelm the remaining fighters. They return to the ship carrying a Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, which contains the Dark-Dark Fruit that Beli desires.
• Character developments: Lory shows strong attachment to her grandmother but chooses to continue traveling with Ryan. Her grandmother demonstrates trust in Lory’s independence. Shanks is portrayed as a confident, formidable rising power challenging the previous generation. Benn Beckman reinforces the crew’s belief that the battle will help establish them as Emperors. Beli’s combat ability and ambition have advanced significantly; inspired by Gaban, he aims to turn his axes permanently black through Armament Haki and become the world’s greatest axeman. Kid remains aggressive and eager to prove himself, while Enel is competitive and impatient to demonstrate his strength.
• Themes: The chapter emphasizes generational change, with Shanks proclaiming that the “old era” will be surpassed. It also explores freedom and personal destiny through Lory’s decision to leave home. Ambition and self-improvement are central, especially in Beli’s goal to rival Ryan’s swordsmanship with his own mastery of the axe. The chapter further highlights the unpredictable violence and dominance-based culture of the pirate world.
• Character interactions: Lory and her grandmother share an emotional farewell, while the blonde girl questions why Lory was allowed to leave. Shanks and Ochoku exchange opposing views about the old and new eras before fighting. Ryan’s crew members disregard his reluctance and leap into the island battle, with Kid and Enel arguing over who will claim the fight. Beli’s decisive attack sets the tone for the crew’s victory, and his discovery of the Dark-Dark Fruit gives him a clear new objective.

Chapter Summary: “Arrival at Cake Island”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan acquires the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia, unknowingly taking it from the pirate crews who had been fighting specifically over it.
• The encyclopedia contains information on many famous Devil Fruits, including the Magma-Magma, Flame-Flame, Azure Dragon, Tremor-Tremor, and Dark-Dark Fruits, though some known fruits—such as the Hobby-Hobby, Rumble-Rumble, and Op-Op Fruits—are absent.
• Ryan becomes especially interested in the Dark-Dark Fruit, which he considers essential for confronting Imu. Its ability to nullify other Devil Fruits and extract powers from recently deceased users makes it strategically valuable.
• After photographing the Dark-Dark Fruit’s image, Ryan uses his Spatial Gate to travel to Dressrosa.
• He appears unexpectedly in Tesoro’s bedroom, briefly alarming Tesoro, who assumes Ryan may be an assassin.
• Ryan asks Tesoro to help locate the Dark-Dark Fruit and distributes copies of its image to his wider intelligence network, including Tiger and others across different seas.
• After completing these preparations, Ryan returns to the Soaring Dragon. Following several hours of travel, he and his companions reach the vicinity of Cake Island, the center of Totto Land.

Character Developments

• Ryan demonstrates increasing strategic ambition and long-term planning. Rather than randomly seeking a powerful Devil Fruit, he focuses specifically on obtaining the Dark-Dark Fruit because of its potential usefulness against Imu.
• His possession of advanced resources—photography, teleportation, and a broad intelligence network—shows how powerful and organized his faction has become.
• Tesoro remains loyal and immediately agrees to assist Ryan, despite being startled by Ryan’s sudden appearance.
• The other crew members show curiosity about the encyclopedia and recognize the entries for their own Devil Fruits, reinforcing their familiarity with and interest in Devil Fruit powers.

Significant Themes

• Knowledge as power: The encyclopedia is valuable because it allows users to identify desirable Devil Fruits instead of relying on chance.
• Strategic preparation: Ryan’s search for the Dark-Dark Fruit reflects his habit of planning far ahead for his confrontation with Imu.
• Power and destiny: Devil Fruits are portrayed as forces capable of radically changing a person’s fate.
• Expansion of influence: Ryan’s network now spans multiple regions, allowing him to pursue objectives across the seas.
• Mystery and incompleteness: The encyclopedia’s missing entries emphasize that the world’s Devil Fruit knowledge remains partial and imperfect.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and the crew examine the encyclopedia together, with Kid identifying the Magnet-Magnet Fruit and others noting the absence of fruits they know.
• Ryan’s unexpected appearance creates a brief moment of tension with Tesoro before Tesoro recognizes him as his captain.
• Ryan entrusts Tesoro with the task of locating the Dark-Dark Fruit, strengthening their working relationship.
• The chapter ends with Ryan and his companions approaching Cake Island, setting up their arrival in Totto Land and likely future interaction with its inhabitants.

Chapter Summary: “Sword Pointed at a Four Emperor”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan and the Blood Sword Pirates arrive above Cake Island aboard the Soaring Dragon, avoiding the heavily guarded waters surrounding Big Mom’s territory.
• Ryan intends not only to defeat Big Mom and gain Attribute Points, but also to seize the Red Road Poneglyph. Since Big Mom is already his enemy due to their past conflict over Baron Tamago, he decides to confront her directly.
• From the sky, Ryan unleashes a devastating sword slash toward Cake Island. The attack cleaves the island nearly in two, destabilizing its enormous cake-like structures and causing widespread panic.
• Big Mom is initially unaware of the attack because she is happily eating sweets.
• Katakuri senses the danger through his advanced Observation Haki and rushes to intervene, but Ryan’s attack is too fast even for Katakuri’s limited glimpses of the future.
• Katakuri identifies the attacker as Ryan, the Bloody Swordsman and one of the Four Emperors.
• Big Mom emerges and learns that Ryan has attacked her headquarters. Enraged, she faces him as Ryan descends from the sky and openly challenges her to battle.

Character Developments

• Ryan is portrayed as confident, aggressive, and utterly fearless. His decision to attack Cake Island directly demonstrates his growing power and his willingness to challenge another Emperor without hesitation.
• His swordsmanship has reached a terrifying level: a single strike can split a major island and shake an entire territory.
• Big Mom is shown in her characteristic state of gluttonous pleasure, but her mood quickly shifts toward murderous rage once she realizes her island has been attacked.
• Katakuri demonstrates his exceptional Observation Haki and protective role within the Charlotte family. Despite his ability to glimpse the future, he is unable to stop Ryan’s overwhelmingly fast attack.
• Katakuri’s usually emotionless composure is briefly replaced by visible alarm, emphasizing the seriousness of Ryan’s arrival.

Significant Themes

• Power and supremacy: Ryan’s attack is a direct challenge to Big Mom’s status as one of the Four Emperors, establishing the encounter as a clash between great powers.
• Fearlessness and confrontation: Rather than infiltrating Big Mom’s territory, Ryan openly announces his presence through destruction and demands a direct fight.
• The limits of foresight: Katakuri can perceive danger before it happens, but foresight is useless when an attack is too fast or powerful to counter.
• Overconfidence and vulnerability: Big Mom’s relaxed enjoyment of food leaves her momentarily unaware of the threat, while Ryan exploits the unexpected vulnerability of an enemy protected by an apparently impenetrable territory.
• Escalation: The destruction of Cake Island signals that the conflict has moved beyond a personal grudge and become a major confrontation between Emperors.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Big Mom: Their previous hostility over Baron Tamago develops into an open Emperor-versus-Emperor confrontation. Ryan taunts her indirectly through his attack and then challenges her without hesitation.
• Big Mom and Katakuri: Katakuri acts as Big Mom’s warning system and protector, urgently urging her to respond to the incoming threat. Big Mom relies on his judgment, asking what has happened.
• Ryan and Katakuri: They lock eyes after the attack, with Katakuri recognizing Ryan as a major threat. Their silent exchange conveys mutual awareness and tension before the larger battle begins.
• Ryan and the Blood Sword Pirates: The crew witnesses the concentrated Sword Intent emanating from their captain, reinforcing his authority and intimidating presence as he leads them into enemy territory.

Chapter Summary: “Gathering”

1. Key Plot Points and Events

• Buggy and Dazhen finally reach a desolate island in the New World after spending a year traveling from the front of the New World. They have survived repeated encounters with CP0, pirates, and other dangerous enemies, largely through a combination of Dazhen’s strength and Buggy’s inexplicable good fortune.
• Buggy believes the island contains Captain John’s legendary treasure, despite its barren appearance. The two begin searching the island.
• On the opposite side, Dracule Mihawk arrives after returning from Wano. He has spent an entire day at sea and is mainly hoping to find alcohol and rest.
• The island contains a hidden settlement controlled by Crocodile. Crocodile is monitoring a conflict between the Red Hair Pirates and Silver Axe Ochoku’s pirates.
• Crocodile learns that Buggy and Mihawk have both arrived. He decides to intervene in the developing conflict, intending to exploit the inevitable losses of the major pirate crews and claim a position among the Four Emperors.
• The chapter ends with Buggy and Mihawk’s arrival bringing together the three former Shichibukai—Buggy, Mihawk, and Crocodile—under unusual circumstances.

2. Character Developments

• Buggy: His reputation and bounty have grown enormously, reaching 1.7 billion. Although he remains comically self-confident and seemingly weak, his extraordinary luck repeatedly protects him and Dazhen. His belief in the treasure hunt remains unwavering.
• Dazhen: He has become accustomed to Buggy’s strange influence over events. While he remains skeptical of Buggy’s plans, he trusts him and enjoys the constant battles that accompany their journey.
• Mihawk: After a year apart from Ryan, Mihawk appears more mature and weathered. Though he maintains his intimidating reputation as the world’s greatest swordsman, his restrained demeanor and desire for Ryan’s alcohol and companionship reveal a more personal side.
• Crocodile: His defeat by Ryan has intensified his ambition and determination. His Devil Fruit awakened six months earlier, reflecting his stronger will and obsession with surpassing Ryan. He now seeks to become one of the Four Emperors rather than remain on the sidelines.
• Pofitas: His old grudge against Red-Haired Shanks is revived by the possibility of confronting the Red Hair Pirates. However, he worries that Crocodile’s abilities may be weakened at sea and does not want Crocodile to endanger himself for Pofitas’s sake.
• Ryan: Although absent from the chapter, Ryan’s influence remains central. Mihawk misses their time together, while Crocodile’s ambitions and personal growth are driven largely by his desire to defeat Ryan.

3. Significant Themes

• Fate and luck: Buggy’s repeated escapes from impossible situations suggest that his luck may be more than coincidence. The world seems to bend in his favor, reinforcing the contrast between his accidental success and his exaggerated reputation.
• Ambition and perseverance: Crocodile’s awakening demonstrates how defeat can strengthen a person’s will. His determination to surpass Ryan has transformed him from a defeated rival into a serious contender for imperial power.
• Reputation versus reality: Buggy is treated as a terrifying 1.7-billion-bounty pirate despite relying heavily on luck and Dazhen’s strength. Mihawk, meanwhile, conceals his overwhelming power beneath an ordinary, restrained appearance.
• Rivals and old connections: The chapter emphasizes how past relationships continue to shape the present. Crocodile and Pofitas seek old enemies, while Mihawk privately remembers Ryan.
• The shifting balance of power: The gathering of Buggy, Mihawk, and Crocodile, along with the conflict between major pirate crews, suggests that the political order of the New World is about to change.

4. Character Interactions

• Buggy and Dazhen: Their relationship combines Buggy’s loud confidence with Dazhen’s skepticism. Dazhen questions Buggy’s logic but ultimately follows him because their partnership has repeatedly succeeded.
• Crocodile and Pofitas: Crocodile uses Pofitas’s history with Shanks as a reason to join the conflict, while Pofitas remains concerned about Crocodile’s safety and fighting conditions.
• Crocodile and Ryan: Though Ryan never appears, he functions as Crocodile’s defining rival. Crocodile’s awakened power and imperial ambition are both tied to his desire to defeat Ryan.
• Mihawk and Ryan: Mihawk’s thoughts reveal affection and nostalgia beneath his usual stoicism. He claims to miss Ryan’s alcohol and sparring, suggesting their bond is deeper than simple rivalry.
• The three former Shichibukai: Their simultaneous arrival on the island creates an ironic reunion. Once connected through the Shichibukai system, Buggy, Mihawk, and Crocodile now stand as independent major powers whose meeting may trigger a large-scale confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “Defense Without Offense, Star Clown”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Buggy, Dazhen, and Hawkeye arrive at Crocodile’s base while searching for Captain John’s treasure.
• Buggy becomes furious upon realizing that others may have found the treasure first, while Dazhen encourages him to reclaim it through force.
• Crocodile emerges from the sand to confront the intruders, asserting that they are trespassing on his territory.
• Before the confrontation can escalate, Hawkeye launches a devastating flying slash that cuts down several guards and damages Crocodile’s headquarters.
• Crocodile blocks the attack with a sand-forged blade, and the clash creates massive destruction throughout the camp.
• Recognizing the strength and reputations of Hawkeye, Buggy, and Dazhen, Crocodile attempts to avoid unnecessary conflict. However, Buggy demands that he hand over the treasure.
• Both sides agree to fight, with their subordinates retreating to avoid being caught in the battle.
• The three individual matchups are established:
  • Hawkeye versus Crocodile
  • Buggy versus MR.1
  • Dazhen versus Pofitas
• Meanwhile, Ryan’s battle with Big Mom begins elsewhere on Cake Island.

Character Developments

• Buggy displays his usual greed and exaggerated confidence, but his behavior also reveals that he relies heavily on the protection and reputations of powerful allies. Although he claims overwhelming strength, he deliberately avoids attacking so that his weakness will not be exposed.
• Dazhen demonstrates loyalty to Buggy and a willingness to fight alongside him. His calm but intimidating demeanor reinforces his reputation as a formidable swordsman.
• Hawkeye appears even more powerful and composed than before. His single slash instantly changes the situation, and his calm attitude suggests that he may not yet be using his full strength.
• Crocodile remains proud and aggressive, but he recognizes the danger posed by his opponents. His willingness to tolerate the destruction of his base shows that he considers survival and strategy more important than defending the camp.
• MR.1 takes Buggy seriously after discovering that his attacks cannot harm him.
• Pofitas is positioned as Dazhen’s opponent after Buggy claims MR.1 for himself.

Significant Themes

• Reputation versus reality: Buggy’s fame and bounty make him appear terrifying, even though he avoids attacking to conceal his limitations. His reputation becomes a weapon in itself.
• Strategic restraint: Crocodile tries to avoid a needless battle, while Hawkeye’s calm actions suggest immense confidence. The chapter emphasizes that powerful fighters do not always need to reveal their full abilities.
• Strength and intimidation: The arrival of three notorious pirates immediately shifts the balance of power and causes Crocodile’s men to retreat.
• Destruction caused by conflict: Even before the main battle begins, the fighters’ attacks devastate Crocodile’s base, showing the scale of their abilities.
• Reliance on allies: Buggy’s courage increases dramatically because Hawkeye and Dazhen stand beside him, highlighting the importance of alliances and perceived protection.

Character Interactions

• Buggy and Dazhen agree to fight together after discovering the treasure may already have been taken.
• Crocodile confronts the group and warns them to leave, but Buggy refuses and demands the treasure.
• Hawkeye and Crocodile exchange powerful attacks, establishing the chapter’s most dangerous confrontation.
• Buggy faces MR.1 but focuses entirely on defense, frustrating and confusing his opponent.
• Dazhen is prepared to fight MR.1, but Buggy claims that battle for himself, forcing Dazhen to face Pofitas instead.
• The chapter closes by linking this conflict to the simultaneous battle between Ryan and Big Mom.

Chapter Summary: “Steel Balloon VS Indestructible Vajra”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan openly disregards Big Mom’s authority, provoking her and shocking her children.
• He teleports beside Big Mom and attempts to decapitate her with a single sword strike.
• Although the attack barely scratches her neck, it does something almost unprecedented: Big Mom feels pain and suffers a visible injury.
• Katakuri realizes that Ryan is capable of piercing Big Mom’s legendary Steel Balloon defense, a natural durability that has protected her from weapons and bullets since childhood.
• Big Mom retaliates with a powerful punch, but Ryan avoids it through teleportation.
• Ryan tests her defenses again using Armament Haki and internal destruction, discovering that while her exterior remains intact, the technique still causes her pain.
• Rather than exploiting Big Mom’s known weakness involving the nun’s photograph, Ryan chooses to fight her at full strength. He wants to break through her defenses directly and use the battle to further hone his own abilities.
• Ryan activates his golden transformation, Golden Legend, while Big Mom advances confidently.
• Katakuri attempts to provoke Ryan by mocking his evasive tactics, but Ryan sees through the insult and still chooses to confront Big Mom head-on.
• The chapter ends with Ryan and Big Mom engaged in a direct physical clash. Despite his transformation, Ryan is at a disadvantage, as Big Mom’s strength, combat instincts, and experience allow her to land several punches.

Character Developments

• Ryan demonstrates immense confidence and independence by challenging a Four Emperor without hesitation. He is not satisfied with merely winning; he seeks to test himself against the strongest defense in the pirate world.
• He reveals tactical intelligence by analyzing Big Mom’s reactions and identifying that internal-destruction Haki can affect her beneath her nearly impenetrable exterior.
• Big Mom is shown to be genuinely threatened for the first time in a long while. Ryan’s attack wounds her and causes pain, provoking her anger and eliminating her usual carefree smile.
• Katakuri becomes deeply concerned about his mother’s safety. He recognizes that Ryan’s ability to injure her could threaten the stability of the entire Big Mom Pirates, which depend heavily on Big Mom’s overwhelming strength.
• Fujitora provides an observation-based explanation of Big Mom’s defense despite being blind, while Kid reacts with disbelief to the apparent failure of Ryan’s first attack.
• Ryan’s crew is impressed and surprised by his return to the Golden Legend technique, which he had last used against Kaido.

Significant Themes

• Challenging established power: Ryan rejects the assumption that the Four Emperors are untouchable and represents a changing era in which even legendary figures can be opposed.
• Offense versus defense: The battle is framed as Ryan’s sharpest sword against Big Mom’s “Steel Balloon,” turning their fight into a test of whether overwhelming attack power can break seemingly absolute durability.
• Strength through adversity: Ryan deliberately refuses shortcuts and chooses to confront Big Mom at her strongest, treating the battle as a form of training and self-improvement.
• Power and vulnerability: Big Mom’s reputation as an invincible warrior is shaken when Ryan becomes the first person in Katakuri’s memory to visibly injure her.
• Leadership and dependence: Katakuri’s worry reveals that the Big Mom Pirates are built around their captain’s strength; if Big Mom falls, the crew may collapse with her.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Big Mom: Their hostile exchange quickly escalates into a serious battle. Ryan attacks first, while Big Mom responds with fury after being wounded.
• Ryan and Katakuri: Katakuri warns Big Mom about Ryan and later mocks him for retreating. Ryan dismisses the provocation and recognizes it as an attempt to manipulate him.
• Kid and Fujitora: Kid is shocked that Ryan’s strike fails and asks Fujitora for an explanation. Fujitora identifies Big Mom’s defensive layer but admits he lacks firsthand knowledge of her abilities.
• Katakuri and Big Mom: Katakuri’s urgent warnings show his concern for his mother, while his thoughts emphasize how dangerous Ryan’s ability is to the entire family.
• Ryan and his crew: The Blood Sword Pirates recognize Ryan’s Golden Legend transformation and react with surprise as he prepares to battle Big Mom directly.

Chapter Summary: “The Abnormal Big Mom”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan and Big Mom continue their close-quarters battle, with Ryan relying only on his fists despite being famous for his swordsmanship. Big Mom initially appears to have the advantage, causing the Big Mom Pirates to cheer.
• Katakuri, however, recognizes the true danger of the situation. He points out that Ryan is fighting Big Mom evenly without using his greatest strength—his swordsmanship—and that Ryan’s sword can pierce Big Mom’s formidable defenses.
• Big Mom decides to stop holding back. She summons Napoleon, her living bicorne hat transformed into a greatsword, and calls upon Zeus and Prometheus to enter her full battle form.
• She launches Ikoku, an enormous sword-energy shock wave. Ryan counters it with Kamusari, combining Conqueror’s Haki infusion, Armament Haki, Space Slash, and Observation Haki. His attack completely disperses Big Mom’s technique.
• Ryan then clashes directly with Big Mom and knocks her back, injuring Napoleon in the process. The spectators are stunned, especially Perospero, who recognizes the similarity between Ryan’s technique and Roger’s legendary attack.
• Enraged, Big Mom uses Maser Saber, combining lightning and flames with her sword. Ryan’s Diamond Indestructibility renders the elemental effects ineffective.
• Their Conqueror’s Haki collides with tremendous force, splitting the heavens and causing weaker fighters nearby to lose consciousness.
• Although Ryan gains the upper hand early, Big Mom gradually adapts to his attacks and turns the fight into an even battle. Ryan realizes that her combat talent and growth during battle are extraordinarily powerful.
• The chapter ends with Ryan deciding to use his System and ordering it to add points, implying that he is preparing to increase his strength further.

Character Developments

• Ryan: Demonstrates that his physical combat ability is already comparable to Big Mom’s, even without using his sword at first. His mastery of Haki, Space Slash, and Kamusari reveals that he may rival or surpass the older Emperors. He also becomes increasingly serious as Big Mom adapts, ultimately turning to the System for additional power.
• Big Mom: Reveals her full strength and formidable combat instincts. Though initially caught off guard by Ryan’s abilities, she quickly learns from the fight and steadily overcomes her disadvantage. Her resilience, adaptability, and natural talent reinforce her reputation as a monstrous Emperor.
• Katakuri: Displays sound judgment and restraint. He understands that interfering would be dangerous because Big Mom dislikes others intruding on her battles, even when she is facing a powerful opponent.
• Perospero: Initially confidently supports Big Mom, but Ryan’s use of Kamusari shocks him and forces him to recognize the young Emperor’s terrifying strength.
• Smoothie and the other Big Mom Pirates: Their confidence shifts from excitement to fear and concern as Ryan proves capable of challenging Big Mom directly.

Significant Themes

• Hidden strength and underestimated opponents: Big Mom had underestimated Ryan, just as Ryan and others may have underestimated the depth of her abilities. The battle reveals that both possess far greater power than appearances suggest.
• Adaptation and battle talent: Big Mom’s ability to learn and improve during combat is emphasized as one of her greatest strengths.
• The legacy of legendary techniques: Ryan’s Kamusari evokes Roger’s power, suggesting that Ryan is approaching the level of the greatest figures in pirate history.
• Natural talent versus acquired ability: Big Mom’s monstrous innate strength and combat instincts are contrasted with Ryan’s swordsmanship, Haki mastery, special abilities, and System-enhanced growth.
• The destructive power of Emperors: The clash of their Haki demonstrates the overwhelming scale of their battle, affecting everyone around them and even splitting the sky.

Character Interactions

• Katakuri and Perospero debate Big Mom’s chances, with Katakuri remaining cautious while Perospero continues to support her.
• Smoothie asks Katakuri why he does not assist Big Mom, and he explains that interference would be both impractical and dangerous because of Big Mom’s pride.
• Ryan and Big Mom exchange attacks and brief taunts. Ryan mocks her strength, provoking a literal misunderstanding when she asks how he knew she had not eaten.
• Ryan’s Kamusari directly counters Big Mom’s Ikoku, while his sword wounds Napoleon and forces Big Mom into a defensive position.
• Their clash of Conqueror’s Haki overwhelms the surrounding fighters and establishes the fight as a battle between near-equal monsters.

Chapter Summary: “Amplification Buffs vs. the System”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan continues battling Big Mom and repeatedly overwhelms her by using the System to increase his attributes. Unlike Big Mom, whose growth has reached a natural limit, Ryan can keep strengthening himself as long as he gains Attribute Points.
• After exhausting his existing points, Ryan targets the Big Mom Pirates. He attempts to kill Charlotte Snack with a surprise sword strike, but Katakuri uses his advanced Observation Haki to intercept the attack and protect Snack.
• Big Mom criticizes Ryan for attacking her family, but she immediately retaliates by targeting Fujitora and the Blood Sword Pirates’ members in the sky with Zeus’s lightning.
• Enel and Kid cooperate to defend their allies. Enel fires an Electromagnetic Cannon, Kid uses Gravity Blade: Tiger, and another attack, the Sun-Shattering Axe Technique: Earth-Splitting Slash, combines with theirs to overwhelm Big Mom.
• While Big Mom is distracted in the air, Ryan kills two enemies and gains another 50,000 Attribute Points. He then uses Two-Sleeved Green Snake to slash Big Mom’s back, drawing blood and causing a serious wound.
• Furious at being injured for the first time in years, Big Mom creates a new defensive Homie named Hera, transforming her clothing into powerful pink armor. Hera joins Zeus, Prometheus, and Napoleon as one of Big Mom’s major soul-based weapons.
• Despite Hera’s protection, Ryan continues using the System to increase his strength. His attacks eventually pierce the armor and injure Big Mom again.
• Desperate, Big Mom abandons any concern for her children and uses increasingly reckless attacks. She activates Life or Slave, draining the lifespans of her own crew to heal herself and amplify her power.
• Big Mom’s connection to Totto Land gives her another major advantage: she can draw strength and healing from the territory and its inhabitants. The battle becomes a contest between Big Mom’s environmental and soul-based amplification and Ryan’s limitless System enhancements.

Character Developments

• Ryan remains calm, opportunistic, and confident. He uses distractions to kill weaker enemies and gain Attribute Points, then immediately reinvests those points to keep pace with Big Mom’s escalating power.
• Big Mom becomes increasingly enraged and desperate after Ryan wounds her. Her willingness to sacrifice her own children demonstrates her extreme selfishness and confirms that she views her family primarily as tools.
• Katakuri displays exceptional Observation Haki, apparently predicting Ryan’s surprise attack and shielding Charlotte Snack. He also becomes increasingly curious and unsettled by Ryan’s unexplained reserve of power.
• Enel and Kid strengthen their alliance by cooperating instinctively to protect the others. Their combined attack demonstrates effective teamwork between lightning, electromagnetic force, and gravity.
• Big Mom’s Homies remain devoted to her. Zeus, Prometheus, Napoleon, and the newly created Hera all respond to her commands, though Hera’s creation visibly costs Big Mom considerable effort.

Significant Themes

• Limitless growth versus natural limits: Big Mom’s power can only increase so far through ordinary means, while Ryan’s System allows him to continually surpass previous limits.
• Amplification and resource exploitation: Big Mom draws on Totto Land, her Homies, and the lifespans of her crew, turning the entire territory into an extension of her strength.
• Selfishness and betrayal within family: Big Mom’s use of Life or Slave reveals that her supposed family bonds are fundamentally exploitative.
• Strategy versus brute force: Ryan repeatedly wins advantages through timing, surprise attacks, and tactical use of distractions rather than relying only on direct strength.
• Escalation and adaptation: Both combatants unveil stronger abilities in response to the other, creating an ongoing battle of new transformations, buffs, and countermeasures.

Character Interactions

• Ryan attempts to kill Charlotte Snack, but Katakuri intervenes, establishing Katakuri as a protective and highly perceptive defender.
• Big Mom confronts Ryan over his attacks on her family, even though she later sacrifices those same family members for power.
• Enel and Kid cooperate to repel Big Mom’s assault, reinforcing their brotherly alliance.
• Big Mom summons Hera and coordinates her with Zeus, Prometheus, and Napoleon, expanding her defensive capabilities.
• Katakuri observes Ryan’s repeated power increases and begins to suspect that Ryan possesses another hidden trump card.

Chapter Summary: “One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan decides to trust both his system and his own efforts, recognizing that while the system gave him opportunities, he still had to use them effectively.
• During his battle with Big Mom, Ryan hunts down members of the Big Mom Pirates to gain Attribute Points, deliberately avoiding ordinary civilians because he refuses to abandon his moral bottom line.
• The Big Mom Pirates respond by hiding most of their members in Brûlée’s Mirror World. Only Perospero, Katakuri, the Sweet Commanders, and a few others remain outside, cutting off Ryan’s supply of Attribute Points.
• Ryan uses Sword Domain, combining Conqueror’s Haki and killing intent to restrain everyone nearby, including Big Mom. He exploits the opening to severely injure her.
• Big Mom restores her shattered bones by sacrificing a year of lifespan from everyone in Totto Land through Life or Slave, strengthening herself in the process. Ryan gradually falls into a disadvantage.
• Big Mom’s hunger-induced Food Obsession Syndrome activates. She becomes increasingly irrational and berserk, while her body changes into a younger, more attractive form and her power rises further.
• Because Cake Island has been destroyed, the Big Mom Pirates cannot provide her with cake. Katakuri fears that her rampage will destroy Totto Land, especially since she begins attacking allies as well as enemies.
• Ryan endures Big Mom’s assault, waiting for a decisive opening. When she lunges at Katakuri and the others, he prepares his ultimate sword technique.
• Ryan unleashes “One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate,” a devastating slash that tears apart space and annihilates everything in its path.
• Katakuri narrowly escapes after seeing the danger through his future sight. Big Mom briefly regains her senses and uses four of her children and four Homies as shields. Smoothie and the others are instantly erased, along with the Homies.
• The attack destroys half of Cake Island and leaves behind a terrifying spatial rift. Even Fujitora’s Observation Haki cannot properly perceive the affected area.
• Ryan survives the attack but is visibly exhausted. He realizes that Big Mom is still alive, ending the chapter on a threatening cliffhanger as her chilling laughter is heard.

Character Development

• Ryan: Demonstrates growing confidence, tactical intelligence, and a firm moral code. Rather than relying passively on the system, he acknowledges his own role in achieving his strength. His patience during Big Mom’s berserk assault shows discipline, while his ultimate technique reveals the extraordinary level of his swordsmanship.
• Big Mom: Becomes increasingly dangerous as she repeatedly sacrifices lifespans to heal and empower herself. Her food obsession strips away her control, turning her into a threat even to her own family. Despite this, she retains enough instinct and awareness to use her children and Homies as shields when Ryan attacks.
• Katakuri: Remains highly perceptive and protective of his family. His future sight allows him to recognize Ryan’s attack and dodge, but he is unable to prevent the deaths of the others used as sacrifices.
• Perospero and the Big Mom Pirates: Shift from attacking Ryan to desperately trying to control Big Mom’s rampage and protect Totto Land.
• Fujitora: Acts as a calm observer and recognizes that Ryan’s sword technique surpasses normal human limits.
• Robin and the others: Provide brief reactions that contrast the seriousness of the battle, particularly Robin’s interest in Big Mom’s apparent rejuvenation.

Significant Themes

• Talent versus effort: Ryan credits the system as his source of inspiration but insists that his own effort and choices are essential to his success.
• Power and morality: Ryan’s refusal to attack civilians emphasizes that strength without boundaries can corrupt a person.
• The cost of power: Big Mom’s healing and enhancement depend on draining the lifespans of others, showing how her power is sustained through exploitation.
• Control versus instinct: Big Mom’s hunger reduces her to an uncontrollable force, threatening allies and enemies alike.
• Sacrifice and survival: Big Mom sacrifices her own children and Homies to survive Ryan’s attack, highlighting the brutal self-preservation at the heart of the conflict.
• Limits of human ability: Ryan’s final sword technique is portrayed as something beyond ordinary human mastery, suggesting that his strength has reached a nearly supernatural level.

Character Interactions

• Ryan’s conflict with Big Mom dominates the chapter, with both repeatedly adapting to the other’s abilities.
• Ryan indirectly clashes with Katakuri and the Sweet Commanders as they attempt to protect Big Mom and avoid his ambushes.
• Katakuri and Perospero focus on managing Big Mom’s condition, especially when her food obsession turns her against her own family.
• Big Mom attacks Katakuri and the others in her berserk state, prompting Cracker to defend them with Biscuit Soldiers.
• Big Mom then uses Smoothie, three other children, and four Homies as shields against Ryan’s ultimate attack.
• Fujitora reassures Ryan’s allies that he survived, while Kid, Enel, Beli, Robin, and the others react with shock to the scale of his sword technique.
• The chapter closes with Ryan facing the still-living Big Mom, whose ominous laughter signals that the battle is not over.

Chapter Summary: “The Nun Appears”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan’s ultimate sword technique, One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate, combined with his Kukuku Fruit ability, strikes Big Mom with devastating force.
• The attack kills eight other enemies, tears through space, and severely wounds Big Mom, erasing part of her body. However, she survives, shocking everyone present.
• The battle reveals the enormous gap between Ryan and the other fighters, including Kid and Beli, who realize they are still far weaker than monsters like Ryan and Big Mom.
• Big Mom begins behaving erratically, switching between different personalities and voices. She alternates between claiming victory and demanding cake.
• Ryan realizes that Carmel—“Nun,” the former user of the Soul-Soul Fruit—may be fighting Big Mom for control of her body.
• Katakuri emerges from Brûlée’s Mirror World after sensing the danger. Relieved that Big Mom survived, he soon becomes confused and frightened by her strange behavior.
• Ryan suggests that Big Mom may have eaten Carmel and the children of Sheep’s House as a child, which would explain how she obtained the Soul-Soul Fruit.
• As time passes, Carmel’s personality dominates more frequently while Big Mom’s voice weakens and eventually disappears.
• The chapter ends with Carmel apparently taking control, exclaiming with relief and delight at the “scent of life.”

Character Developments

• Ryan demonstrates a major breakthrough in his swordsmanship. Although astonished that Big Mom survives, he remains composed and becomes fascinated by the mystery of her divided personality.
• Big Mom is revealed to be physically near death but extraordinarily resilient. Her mind and identity appear unstable, possibly because Carmel’s consciousness exists within her.
• Carmel/Nun emerges as a separate personality within Big Mom’s body and gradually gains control.
• Katakuri shows deep concern for his mother. Despite Ryan being his enemy, he instinctively asks him for an explanation and hesitates to attack because Big Mom may be fighting for herself.
• Kid, Beli, and the other observers are humbled by the battle and recognize how far they remain from the strength of the Four Emperors and Ryan.

Significant Themes

• Monstrous strength and survival: Big Mom’s ability to endure an attack that destroys space emphasizes her supernatural vitality.
• Identity and possession: The chapter explores whether Big Mom and Carmel are separate souls sharing one body, raising questions about who truly controls Big Mom.
• The consequences of the past: The disappearance of Carmel and the children from Sheep’s House becomes increasingly tied to Big Mom’s childhood trauma and the origin of her Devil Fruit power.
• Power gaps and humility: The observers are forced to confront their own weakness after witnessing Ryan and Big Mom’s overwhelming abilities.
• Moral ambiguity and horror: The possibility that Big Mom consumed Carmel and the children to acquire the Soul-Soul Fruit creates a disturbing explanation for her powers and personality.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Big Mom: Ryan’s attack nearly kills Big Mom, but her survival surprises him. He then questions her when Carmel’s personality appears.
• Ryan and Carmel: Carmel thanks Ryan, claiming that his attack allowed her to emerge, suggesting his strike weakened Big Mom’s control.
• Ryan and Katakuri: Katakuri asks Ryan why Carmel is inside Big Mom, but Ryan refuses to explain directly.
• Katakuri and Big Mom/Carmel: Katakuri is emotionally torn between relief that his mother lives and fear over the apparent struggle for control of her body.
• Big Mom and Carmel: Their internal conflict becomes the chapter’s central struggle, with Carmel gradually overpowering Big Mom.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan discovers that Nun has taken control of Big Mom’s body after Big Mom’s soul was severely damaged.
• Katakuri is devastated by the apparent death of his mother. With Perospero and the other Sweet Commanders already dead or missing, he realizes that the Big Mom Pirates may collapse and that leadership will fall to him.
• Ryan retrieves the Red Poneglyph from the ruined Cake Island and stores it away.
• Nun explains that she survived Big Mom’s childhood rampage by transforming herself into a Homie and attaching her soul to Big Mom’s. Over time, their souls fused.
• The destruction of Nun’s portrait occasionally allowed her to gain temporary control of Big Mom’s body, explaining why Big Mom’s Steel Balloon defense disappeared whenever the portrait was damaged.
• Nun claims that Big Mom is not truly dead but has been suppressed. She presents herself to Katakuri as another version of his mother and tries to persuade him to accept her leadership.
• Nun also attempts to appease Ryan, arguing that Big Mom’s grudge was not hers and offering to serve him in exchange for her life.
• Ryan sees through her manipulation and kills her with a sword thrust through the heart, despite her belief that he had no reason to attack her.
• Big Mom—and the soul controlling her body—finally dies, signaling the beginning of major upheaval in the New World.

Character Developments

• Katakuri shows panic and vulnerability for the first time. He understands the enormous responsibility of preserving his family and crew after the deaths of Big Mom and the Sweet Commanders.
• Nun is revealed as calculating, psychologically resilient, and highly manipulative. She shifts between presenting herself as Big Mom’s family, Katakuri’s mother, and Ryan’s grateful subordinate depending on what benefits her.
• Ryan remains suspicious and decisive. Although Nun claims innocence and offers cooperation, he refuses to let her manipulate him and kills her without hesitation.
• Big Mom is confirmed to have lost control of her body after the damage to her soul, though her exact consciousness remains uncertain before Nun’s final death.

Significant Themes

• Power and succession: Big Mom’s death threatens the stability of her entire pirate empire and leaves Katakuri facing an overwhelming leadership burden.
• Identity and the soul: Nun and Big Mom’s fused souls raise questions about whether they are separate individuals or effectively one person.
• Manipulation and hypocrisy: Nun uses different versions of the truth to influence Katakuri and Ryan, claiming both unity with Big Mom and independence from her actions.
• The cruelty of the New World: Without a powerful leader, even a massive pirate family can quickly become vulnerable to rivals.
• The inevitability of change: Big Mom’s death marks the end of an era and the start of a new period of chaos and shifting power.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Nun: Their conversation moves from explanation and gratitude to veiled negotiation. Nun tries to exploit Ryan’s sense of reason, but he responds by killing her.
• Nun and Katakuri: Nun presents herself as Katakuri’s mother and asks him to accept her rule. Katakuri struggles between his emotional attachment to Big Mom and the practical need to protect the crew.
• Ryan and Katakuri: Ryan’s reminder that he is still present forces Katakuri to remember that the Big Mom Pirates remain under threat, preventing him from becoming absorbed in the question of Nun’s identity.
• Nun and Big Mom: Their history reveals a complicated relationship in which Nun survived as part of Big Mom’s soul while secretly waiting for an opportunity to reclaim physical control.

Chapter Summary: “A Real Man—Katakuri”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Big Mom Pirates learn that Big Mom has been killed by Ryan, causing widespread shock and despair. Several members faint, including Streusen.
• Katakuri refuses to retreat into the Mirror World. He decides to remain outside and defend Totto Land and his younger siblings, knowing that Ryan could otherwise destroy the entire crew.
• Ryan acknowledges that Katakuri cannot defeat him but agrees to fight him after recognizing Katakuri’s determination.
• Katakuri tells Brûlée to stay hidden and then destroys the mirror connecting him to the Mirror World, deliberately cutting off his escape and preventing his siblings from joining the battle.
• Katakuri attacks Ryan with his trident, using his Mochi abilities and advanced Observation Haki to predict and evade attacks.
• Ryan initially appears amused and overwhelmingly superior. Katakuri narrowly avoids a lethal strike and experiences a combat breakthrough, perceiving Ryan’s movements more clearly and improving his own speed and reactions.
• Despite Katakuri’s growth, Ryan remains far stronger. He wounds Katakuri multiple times, piercing his shoulder and waist.
• Katakuri continues attacking despite his injuries, becoming increasingly ferocious and abandoning his usual composure in favor of a desperate fight to the death.
• After roughly half an hour, Katakuri collapses from his wounds. Ryan carries him back to the Soaring Dragon instead of killing him and orders Luo to save his life.

Character Developments

• Katakuri: Demonstrates exceptional courage, loyalty, and self-sacrifice. He accepts certain defeat to protect his siblings and homeland, cutting off his own escape so they will remain safe. As the battle progresses, he abandons his usual dignity and restraint, becoming a wounded but determined “beast” who refuses to surrender.
• Ryan: Shows overwhelming power and confidence, but also recognizes and respects Katakuri’s resolve. Although he prolongs the fight and appears cruel, he ultimately chooses to save Katakuri rather than execute him.
• Brûlée: Deeply distressed by Katakuri’s decision, she wants to fight and die alongside him but remains behind to protect the other siblings.
• Kid: Observes Ryan’s ruthless behavior and comments on how he seems to be tormenting Katakuri. His reaction highlights the frightening gap between Ryan’s strength and Katakuri’s.
• Luo: Is ordered to treat Katakuri, despite being surprised that Ryan intends to spare him.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and responsibility: Katakuri acts as the protector of his family, placing their survival above his own.
• Courage in the face of certain defeat: His decision to fight despite knowing he cannot win presents bravery as the willingness to stand firm, not the expectation of victory.
• Limits and personal growth: Katakuri briefly surpasses his own limits during the battle, but the chapter emphasizes that individual growth cannot instantly overcome an overwhelming difference in power.
• Family loyalty: Katakuri’s actions and Brûlée’s grief underline the deep bond among the Big Mom Pirates.
• Strength and mercy: Ryan’s ability to spare Katakuri after defeating him suggests that power can include restraint, though his prolonged assault also makes him appear villainous.

Character Interactions

• Katakuri ignores his siblings’ pleas to retreat and later gives Brûlée a final order to remain inside the Mirror World.
• Brûlée mourns helplessly after Katakuri destroys the last mirror, unable to join him.
• Ryan and Katakuri exchange challenges throughout the fight, with Ryan repeatedly emphasizing Katakuri’s weakness and Katakuri insisting that the outcome cannot be known until he tries.
• Kid criticizes Ryan’s cruel treatment of Katakuri, while Ryan sharply reminds him not to question his decisions.
• Ryan ultimately commands Luo to save Katakuri, revealing that he values Katakuri’s resolve enough to preserve his life.

Chapter Summary: “Overnight, the World Turned Upside Down”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After defeating Big Mom and severely wounding Katakuri, Ryan rests aboard the Blood Sword Pirates’ ship while Katakuri remains unconscious.
• Katakuri awakens the next morning in the ship’s medical room. Watching the sunrise, he reflects on how his entire life has been consumed by fighting and realizes how much of his youth and personal happiness he has sacrificed.
• Ryan offers Katakuri a choice: submit to him and live, or refuse and allow the remaining Big Mom Pirates to be destroyed. Katakuri initially rejects the idea of serving his enemy, but agrees when Ryan implies that Brûlée and the others will otherwise die.
• Ryan enters the Mirror World with Katakuri and finds the surviving Big Mom Pirates. To establish his authority, he kills forty-one members, including Streusen and others he considers dangerous, while Katakuri prevents the rest from attacking.
• Katakuri tells the survivors that Big Mom is dead and that he has submitted to Ryan. Though shocked and angry, they are forced to accept the new reality.
• Ryan travels through Totto Land, killing the Big Mom Pirates stationed on the various islands and confirming Big Mom’s death to the citizens. The Homies have also disappeared, leaving the population uncertain whether they are truly free or merely under a new ruler.
• Ryan observes that many residents remain emotionally numb from years of oppression, while the Fish-men and Merfolk show greater hope because of Ryan’s connection to their hero, Fisher Tiger.
• Ryan appoints Katakuri to govern Totto Land and gives him the “Alliance Code,” a guide for managing the territory.
• Ryan leaves for Wano to obtain the final Red Poneglyph. Across Totto Land, the Big Mom Pirates’ flags are lowered and replaced by the flags of the Blood Sword Pirates, marking the territory’s sudden transfer of power.

Character Development

• Ryan demonstrates both ruthlessness and practicality. He kills potential threats but also considers the consequences of abandoning Totto Land without a capable ruler. His decision to spare Katakuri is motivated by respect for his strength and character, as well as the need for someone trustworthy to manage the islands.
• Katakuri experiences a major moral and emotional turning point. Though proud and unwilling to live under another’s command, he sacrifices his independence to protect his siblings and followers. His reflections on the sunrise reveal a softer, more introspective side beneath his warrior identity.
• Brûlée remains deeply devoted to Katakuri, refusing to believe he is dead and grieving while waiting for his return. Her reunion with him provides one of the chapter’s most emotional moments.
• The Big Mom Pirates shift from confidence and loyalty under Big Mom to fear, confusion, and reluctant submission under Ryan.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice and responsibility: Katakuri chooses humiliation and service over death because he feels responsible for his family and followers.
• Freedom versus security: Totto Land’s people have lived under Big Mom’s protection but surrendered their freedom and even portions of their lifespan. Big Mom’s death creates uncertainty about whether Ryan’s rule will bring liberation or another form of control.
• The cost of violence: Ryan’s victory changes the political order overnight, but it also leaves behind fear, instability, and the difficult task of governing the conquered territory.
• Lost youth and the burden of battle: Katakuri’s fascination with the sunrise symbolizes the peaceful childhood and ordinary happiness he never had.
• Power and legitimacy: The Blood Sword Pirates’ flag replaces Big Mom’s throughout Totto Land, showing how quickly authority can change when backed by overwhelming strength.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Katakuri engage in a tense negotiation centered on Katakuri’s loyalty, pride, and responsibility toward his family.
• Katakuri’s reunion with Brûlée and the other survivors contrasts their relief at seeing him alive with their shock that he now serves Ryan.
• Katakuri restrains the other pirates from attacking Ryan, immediately demonstrating his reluctant acceptance of responsibility under the new regime.
• Ryan entrusts Katakuri with Totto Land because he recognizes Katakuri’s leadership ability and moral character, while also ensuring that the territory remains stable after Big Mom’s fall.

Chapter Summary: “World Government’s Response”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ships carrying tribute arrive in Totto Land, only to discover that the island now flies the Blood Sword Pirates’ flag instead of Big Mom’s. Katakuri confirms that the Big Mom Pirates have been defeated and that Ryan, the “Bloody Swordsman,” has taken control of Totto Land.
• The Marines hold an emergency meeting at Marineford to discuss Ryan’s victory and the rapid expansion of his influence.
• Garp remains unconcerned, while Zephyr warns that Ryan represents the growing strength of the new generation of pirates and predicts a major reshuffling of the New World.
• Kizaru, now distrusted and politically isolated after his connection to Ryan became public, refuses to offer meaningful advice. He has become apathetic and withdrawn from Marine affairs.
• In Mary Geoise, the Five Elders decide that Ryan must be eliminated. They view him as a threat potentially greater than Roger because of his strength, the significance of his D. initial, and his connection to Nico Robin.
• Since Ryan’s flying ship and unpredictable movements make him difficult to capture, the World Government plans to send forces to the South Blue. Two Marine Admirals and CP0 are also preparing to capture Buggy and uncover the identity of the mysterious figure connected to Ryan’s past.
• The chapter ends with an unseen danger closing in on Ryan, Buggy, and their allies.

Character Developments

• Ryan: His defeat of Big Mom elevates him into an even greater threat in the eyes of the World Government. His control of Totto Land and possible connection to the D. clan make him a top-priority target.
• Katakuri: He appears to have accepted Ryan’s takeover and publicly announces the end of the Big Mom Pirates, suggesting either loyalty to Ryan or cooperation with the new order.
• Kizaru: His suspected cooperation with Ryan has destroyed his standing within the Marines. Feeling betrayed by the institution he served, he has become openly passive and emotionally detached.
• Zephyr: Though preparing to retire, he recognizes the growing danger posed by powerful young pirates and the instability developing in the New World.
• The Five Elders: They shift from observation to direct action, concluding that Ryan must be eliminated before he can cause further disruption.
• Buggy: He becomes a key target because the World Government believes he may know the identity of the mysterious person associated with Ryan and the Flower Room incident.

Significant Themes

• Fear of a new pirate era: Ryan’s rise symbolizes the growing power of the younger generation and the weakening of established powers such as Big Mom.
• Institutional distrust: Kizaru’s downfall shows how suspicion can destroy loyalty and isolate someone even when no wrongdoing is proven.
• The threat of inherited will: The World Government is especially alarmed by Ryan’s D. initial and compares him to Rocks and Roger, suggesting that history may be repeating itself.
• Political power and territorial succession: The transfer of Totto Land demonstrates how quickly authority can change in the New World.
• Secrets and hidden identities: The government’s pursuit of Buggy and the mysterious figure from the past highlights the importance of concealed histories and unanswered questions.

Character Interactions

• Tribute-bearing merchants react in panic to the Blood Sword Pirates’ flag and seek clarification from Katakuri.
• Sengoku presses Garp, Zephyr, and especially Kizaru for their opinions on Ryan’s rise.
• Sengoku tries to draw Kizaru back into Marine affairs, but Kizaru responds with apathy and sarcasm.
• The Five Elders debate whether Ryan can be captured and ultimately agree that he must be eliminated.
• The government links Ryan, Nico Robin, Buggy, and the unknown figure from the Flower Room incident, setting up a broader conflict between the pirates and the World Government.

Chapter Summary: New Edd War Sea Battle

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ryan and his crew become frustrated while navigating toward Wano with only a Log Pose, which forces them to wait seven days at each destination. Ryan regrets not obtaining an Eternal Pose to Wano from Kaido.
• To speed up their journey, Ryan suggests searching for an Eternal Pose to a more distant island. Kid searches through their collection and finds one leading to Fingrinli Island, also known as the Pirate Country.
• Ryan decides to travel there because it is a nation populated entirely by pirates and is likely to contain useful intelligence, treasures, and possibly an Eternal Pose to Wano.
• Elsewhere, a major battle concludes in the dangerous Edd War sea region. Numerous ships have been sunk, and the Red Hair Pirates emerge victorious after defeating the pirate forces led by Silver Axe and Ochoku.
• Shanks personally kills Ochoku, a former member of the legendary Rocks Pirates, ending the battle. The Red Hair Pirates celebrate their victory, though they have suffered significant casualties.
• A surviving enemy ship flees the battlefield. Its crew is terrified by how the Red Hair Pirates reversed what had initially seemed like an overwhelming disadvantage.

Character Developments

• Ryan shows strategic flexibility and recognizes his mistake in failing to secure an Eternal Pose to Wano. His desperation to obtain the final Road Poneglyph continues to drive his decisions.
• Kid appears increasingly confident and willing to question Ryan’s plans, though he quickly takes initiative when Ryan suggests searching for a more convenient route.
• Beli remains protective of Ryan’s authority and criticizes Kid for becoming too presumptuous.
• Shanks demonstrates immense strength and leadership by defeating Ochoku and rallying his exhausted crew. His victory confirms that he is maturing into a dominant pirate captain.
• Yasopp survives a brutal battle despite being badly injured and remains focused enough to threaten the fleeing enemy ship.
• Ben Beckman is proud of Shanks’s growth and recognizes the charisma that allows Shanks to command the loyalty of powerful, independent pirates.

Significant Themes

• Ambition and urgency: Ryan’s desperation to complete his collection of Road Poneglyphs illustrates how nearing a goal can intensify impatience.
• Leadership and charisma: Shanks’s ability to inspire powerful and proud individuals emphasizes that leadership is based not only on strength but also on personal influence.
• The shifting balance of power: By defeating Silver Axe and Ochoku’s forces, the Red Hair Pirates establish themselves among the era’s strongest crews and move closer to becoming an Emperor-level power.
• Victory amid loss: The crew celebrates its triumph, but the destruction of many ships and the deaths of comrades show that success comes at a heavy cost.
• Navigation and preparation: Ryan’s lack of an Eternal Pose creates unnecessary delays, reinforcing the importance of preparation in the dangerous pirate world.

Character Interactions

• Ryan and Kid discuss how to overcome their navigational delays, while Beli intervenes to defend Ryan’s authority.
• Shanks dismisses Yasopp’s suggestion to chase the fleeing enemy, judging that the opponent is no longer a threat.
• Shanks’s public victory speech unites the Red Hair Pirates and transforms their grief into celebration.
• Beckman privately reflects on Shanks’s development, expressing admiration for the captain he chose to follow.
• The defeated pirates’ fearful reaction highlights the impact Shanks and his crew now have on the wider sea.

Chapter Summary: “Bugy’s Quick Wits”

Key Plot Points and Events

• After Shanks defeats Ochoku and nearly kills Silver Axe, the once-powerful pirate forces allied with them collapse. Silver Axe realizes that the New World now belongs to a younger generation of pirates and abandons his ambitions, hoping only to escape and live peacefully.
• On Shark Island, the battle between Crocodile’s forces and Hawkeye’s group destroys the town and exposes a hidden stone gate beneath the ruins.
• The gate leads to a previously concealed stone palace, which may contain the treasure of Captain John—the objective Buggy and his crew have pursued for years.
• Buggy immediately claims the treasure as his own, while Crocodile insists that it belongs to him because the palace lies on his territory. Both sides prepare to fight over it.
• Hawkeye proposes settling the dispute according to pirate law: the stronger side takes everything. Crocodile accepts the challenge.
• Buggy interrupts the confrontation, arguing that fighting could destroy the treasure and leave everyone with nothing. He proposes splitting it equally.
• Crocodile agrees, especially after Buggy attributes the idea to Ryan, whom Crocodile respects. Hawkeye also puts away his sword once the agreement is reached.
• Dazhen realizes that Buggy’s apparent generosity is actually a clever trick: Buggy only owns half of Captain John’s treasure, while Ryan owns the other half. By giving Crocodile half of the newly found treasure, Buggy can direct Ryan to claim his portion from Crocodile instead.

Character Developments

• Silver Axe suffers a complete psychological defeat. Shanks’ victory convinces him that the age of the older generation is ending, and he loses both his power and ambition.
• Shanks is portrayed as an exceptionally dangerous fighter whose strength appears to increase during battle. His defeat of Ochoku and near-defeat of Silver Axe establishes him as a dominant figure among the younger pirates.
• Buggy demonstrates that beneath his cowardly and greedy exterior, he can be highly perceptive and manipulative when treasure is involved. He avoids a dangerous battle, protects the treasure, and cleverly shifts responsibility for Ryan’s share onto Crocodile.
• Crocodile remains ambitious and territorial, but he is not reckless. He recognizes the danger of fighting Hawkeye’s group and is willing to negotiate when Buggy points out the risk of destroying the treasure.
• Dazhen continues to understand Buggy’s habits and quickly sees through his seemingly generous proposal.
• Hawkeye acts as a calm, powerful enforcer. He is willing to settle the dispute through combat but respects the agreement once a peaceful solution is reached.

Significant Themes

• The changing generation of pirates: Silver Axe recognizes that the old powers are declining while younger figures such as Shanks and Ryan rise.
• Strength and the law of the sea: The chapter emphasizes that pirate society is governed by the principle that the strong claim everything from the weak.
• Intelligence over brute force: Buggy proves that negotiation and deception can achieve what direct combat cannot.
• Greed and self-interest: Every faction wants the treasure, but their conflicting interests force them to balance greed against the risk of losing everything.
• Reputation and influence: Buggy gains leverage by invoking Ryan’s name, showing how respected figures can affect negotiations even when absent.

Character Interactions

• Buggy and Crocodile clash over ownership of the treasure, each trying to intimidate the other while remaining cautious.
• Hawkeye heightens the tension by offering combat as the traditional pirate solution, but Buggy stops the fight through negotiation.
• Crocodile takes Buggy more seriously after hearing that his proposal came from Ryan, whose strength and judgment he respects.
• Dazhen is initially shocked by Buggy’s willingness to share, then understands that Buggy has manipulated the arrangement to preserve his own interests.
• Buggy’s interaction with his crew highlights his contradictory nature: greedy and treasure-obsessed, yet capable of remarkable quick thinking when under pressure.