Recaps

River defeated Akainu and fought Teach at Marineford before Shanks intervened and the war ended. After the battle, River and Shanks postponed their fight, while River set out with Newgate’s body toward an unknown place and told Rayleigh he would soon have to disappear from the world.

• River defeated Akainu, declared that Marineford would cease to exist, and fought through the battlefield to help Shiki and reach Ace.
• River rescued Ace alongside the Whitebeard Pirates, then confronted Teach as he stole Whitebeard’s power and battled him amid Marineford’s destruction.
• Shanks arrived and called for the war to end, and River agreed before accepting Shanks’s challenge to avenge Rayleigh.
• River and his allies sailed with Shanks’s crew to a deserted island, where their battle continued until Rayleigh arrived and persuaded them to stop for the day.
• News of Whitebeard’s death and River’s defection spread across the world, while Sengoku took responsibility for the war and announced his resignation.
• Shanks warned his crew that Whitebeard’s death would bring upheaval, while River told Rayleigh about his dream and the chained door on the system interface.
• River ordered Moria to protect Newgate’s body, stopped the Ark Maxim at an unknown place, and carried Newgate’s body onto the sea as Rayleigh followed him.

River crowned himself king of Dressrosa, strengthened its government and military, and recruited Fujitora and Gild Tesoro. He left Ace empowered to rebuild the Whitebeard Pirates, while River’s growing influence drew the world’s attention.

• River reunited Roger, Whitebeard, and Rayleigh, then declared his intention to become king and build a new world.
• Ace went to Dressrosa seeking answers about Whitebeard and reunited with his mother, Rouge.
• River was crowned king of Dressrosa and announced reforms that challenged the nobles, prompting the Marines and World Government to take notice.
• River expanded Dressrosa’s forces, established an intelligence organization, backed Caesar Clown’s research, and appointed Fujitora as an Admiral.
• River, Ace, Fujitora, and Kalifa went to Gran Tesoro, where River recruited Gild Tesoro after defeating him and promising to help him avenge Stella.
• Tesoro joined River’s cause, while River restored him after their battle and Tesoro resolved to put his strength to work.
• River empowered Ace with enhanced Haki and new Flame-Flame Fruit abilities, and Ace’s Conqueror’s Haki erupted across the dining room.

River built Dressrosa’s strength by bringing Tesoro and the Vinsmoke Family into his kingdom, then defeated Teach and gained Aokiji as an ally. After Ace fought Kaido to a draw, River faced Kaido himself, and the Whitebeard Pirates sailed to join the battle.

• Ace returned to the Whitebeard Pirates, took up the captaincy, and led them to reclaim their territory from Big Mom and Kaido.
• Tesoro joined Dressrosa as finance minister, while River and his officials planned the kingdom’s growth and sought the Vinsmoke Family’s scientific expertise.
• River persuaded Judge to serve Dressrosa, offering him leadership of the scientific corps and a future position as ruler of the North Blue.
• Teach set out to kill Ace and take his Devil Fruit, but River intercepted him and defeated him, then captured him for Judge and Caesar’s research.
• Ace fought Kaido to a draw, and River invited Aokiji to join him in changing the world.
• River’s ship encountered Kaido’s fleet, and River accepted Kaido’s challenge as both men unleashed their powers.
• Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates turned toward River’s battle, while River blocked Kaido’s Dragon Breath and punched Kaido’s dragon head down toward his fleet.

River defeated Kaido, captured Marshall D. Teach, and returned to Dressrosa, where he brought Zephyr and the Vinsmoke Family into his growing kingdom. When Kaido and Big Mom allied against him, River went to Bagran Island alone and challenged both crews, while Dressrosa’s forces engaged the Marines.

• River defeated Kaido after opening the Eighth Gate, and Kaido ordered his battered forces to retreat when the Whitebeard Pirates arrived.
• River returned to Dressrosa with Judge and the Vinsmoke Family, while the World Government and Marines reacted to his victory and Ace’s rise as the Flame Emperor.
• Zephyr accepted River’s offer to lead Dressrosa’s Military Academy and became a kingdom admiral.
• Kaido and Big Mom met on Bagran Island, fought briefly, and formed an alliance to take down River.
• River set out alone for Bagran Island as Dressrosa’s fleet mobilized under its three Admirals and Shiki confronted the Navy near Dressrosa.
• River arrived at the banquet on Bagran Island, revealed himself to the assembled pirates, and challenged Kaido, Big Mom, and their crews.
• River kicked the Fourteenth Daughter’s brother across the island, then faced the Big Mom Pirates as they charged toward him.