Ch. 181Sabaody: Setting Off for Fish-Man Island! / Sabaody: Akainu vs. Rayleigh
Key plot points and events
- Sengoku hears reports of a teenager carrying one wooden sword and one real sword—details matching the wanted Lin Mo—and sends Akainu to search Sabaody’s Groves 40–49.
- Lin Mo passes Marines searching nearby without attracting their attention and reaches the shipyard, where Rayleigh and Enel have nearly finished coating the Flying Ship.
- The shipwrights refuse Lin Mo’s payment, citing their friendship with Rayleigh and Kaku’s past apprenticeship. Lin Mo’s group departs soon afterward, leaving Rayleigh behind; the shipwrights suspect he is heading back to gamble rather than home to sleep.
- At the shore, the bubble-coated Flying Ship safely sinks beneath the sea and begins its journey toward Fish-Man Island.
- Rayleigh overhears Marines say Lin Mo’s group is heading underwater. He blocks Akainu’s pursuit, forcing the admiral to stay and fight him.
- Akainu sends his Marines ahead while battling Rayleigh. Their clash is brief but intense: Rayleigh blocks Akainu’s magma attack and cuts through his legs, though Akainu reforms them with his Logia power.
- When a Marine reports that Lin Mo’s ship has already submerged, Rayleigh vanishes, and Akainu is left too late to stop the departure.
- Underwater, Enel and Kaku’s initial fear gives way to excitement as they admire the ocean and anticipate Fish-Man Island.
Character developments and interactions
- Lin Mo remains composed despite the Marine search. He pays for the ship’s coating without fuss and lets the shipwrights’ refusal stand.
- Rayleigh protects Lin Mo’s head start while pretending not to know him. His easy banter contrasts with his willingness to confront Akainu directly.
- Akainu is frustrated by Rayleigh’s interference and prioritizes capturing Lin Mo’s group, but cannot ignore Rayleigh’s challenge.
- Enel and Kaku are wary of descending into the sea because their Devil Fruit powers make them vulnerable, but wonder quickly overcomes their anxiety.
- The shipwrights show loyalty and affection toward Rayleigh and Kaku, while joking about Rayleigh’s likely gambling habit.
Significant themes
- Loyalty and protection: Rayleigh risks confronting a powerful Marine to help the younger crew escape.
- Freedom and the journey ahead: The ship’s descent marks the group’s departure from Sabaody and a bold step toward the unknown.
- Camaraderie and humor: Friendly teasing among the shipwrights and Rayleigh lightens the tension surrounding the pursuit.
- Different kinds of strength: Akainu’s destructive power is checked by Rayleigh’s skill and experience, while restraint and timing prove as important as force.