Chapter Summaries

River, a former Admiral now serving as a guard in Impel Down, escorted Crocodile and Daz Bones toward Level Six. Crocodile recognized River, who renewed an invitation for him to serve under him.

• Hannyabal woke River and asked him to escort the newly captured prisoners, including Daz Bones and Crocodile.
• River agreed to help Hannyabal and took charge of Crocodile and the Baroque Works members.
• Crocodile recognized River and was startled that he had survived the incident that led to his disappearance.
• As they descended through Impel Down, Baroque Works members considered trying to escape, but Crocodile remained focused on River.
• River asked Crocodile again to serve under him, repeating the invitation he had made twenty years earlier.

River brought Crocodile to Infinite Hell and offered to help him make up for the small gap holding back his potential if he joined him. Crocodile asked how to contact River, while Douglas Bullet recognized him as the man who had fought Roger; back on the first level, River reflected that twenty years had passed and Ace must have grown up.

• River urged Crocodile to gamble on joining him, saying he could help him overcome the little bit he lacked.
• River escorted Crocodile through Impel Down to Level Six, where Crocodile chose a cell.
• Crocodile asked how he could contact River, and River told him to ask any jailer.
• Douglas Bullet recognized River as the man who fought Roger and was surprised he was still alive.
• River returned to the first level and reflected that Ace must have grown up during the twenty years.

After twenty years imprisoned in Impel Down, former Admiral Portgas D. River prepared to return to the outside world as the era of chaos began. Crocodile’s capture brought his accumulated merits to Marine Headquarters, where Sengoku considered whether River could finally be released.

• River reflected on his past as Rouge’s younger brother and his former Admiral strength, then decided it was time to leave Impel Down.
• River told Hannyabal that his merits might make up for his past mistakes, and Hannyabal hoped Headquarters would release him.
• An officer reported that River had escorted Crocodile to Impel Down, prompting Sengoku to remember River’s twenty-year-old confinement.
• Sengoku weighed River’s merits against the danger of releasing him and summoned Garp to discuss the decision.

Sengoku approved River’s release from Impel Down as a Marine trainee, and River prepared to leave while arranging to take Crocodile with him. He secretly strengthened Hannyabal, who agreed to conceal the plan and began considering how to blame Magellan.

• Sengoku and Garp agreed that River could leave Impel Down, and Sengoku approved transferring him to Marine Headquarters as a Marine trainee.
• River received his appointment letter and recognized that the Marines would let him serve but would not promote him.
• A jailer told River that Crocodile had agreed to his proposal, and River ordered Hannyabal to hand Crocodile over so he could take him along.
• River enhanced Hannyabal’s swordsmanship and body, giving him Flying Slash and Armament Haki.
• River told Hannyabal to keep the plan secret, and Hannyabal eagerly agreed while considering how to shift the blame to Magellan.

River escorted Crocodile out of his cell in disguise, navigating Impel Down’s checkpoints while concealing the transfer from the guards. When Warden Magellan stopped them and demanded Crocodile remove his hood, Magellan was distracted by his stomach and rushed to the bathroom, allowing them to continue toward the exit.

• River freed Crocodile from his sixth-floor cell and disguised him with a cloak and demon mask.
• River and Crocodile passed Shiryu of the Rain and several groups of guards without being stopped.
• Magellan intercepted them and ordered Crocodile to remove his hood.
• Crocodile revealed his demon mask, and Magellan hurried away to the bathroom after his stomach acted up.
• River and Crocodile entered the elevator, and Crocodile wondered if Magellan was one of River’s men.

River and Crocodile escaped Impel Down aboard a Marine warship, though Marines still patrolled the waters near headquarters. River planned to gather capable subordinates and head to Sky Island to recruit a prospective companion from Void Night.

• Hannyabal arranged a warship and disabled surveillance so River and Crocodile could leave Impel Down.
• River and Crocodile reached the ship, sailed away, and discussed the danger of Marine patrols and River's need for capable subordinates.
• River wondered whether any members of his old organization, Void Night, remained after his twenty years in prison.
• River said his orders were to find Straw Hat and his crew, but he wanted to visit Sky Island instead.
• River revealed that a future companion was on Sky Island and intended to recruit Enel, who possessed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

River asked Crocodile what he knew about Ace, then left Marineford with him. At Sabaody, the hungry pair raided a pirate ship for treasure, and they fled after River split the ship apart and Marines arrived.

• River asked Crocodile about Ace, but Crocodile knew little and had lost contact with Baroque Works’ intelligence network.
• Sengoku learned River had left Impel Down and ordered a soldier to obtain River’s Den Den Mushi number and keep in contact.
• Three days after leaving Marineford, River and Crocodile reached Sabaody Archipelago short on food and money.
• River slashed a pirate ship apart, then demanded its treasure while Crocodile used sand to haul the chests onto their warship.
• River killed a pirate officer, and he and Crocodile sailed away as a Marine patrol arrived.

River and Crocodile stocked supplies at the Sabaody Archipelago, where River unexpectedly encountered Dark King Rayleigh. River let Rayleigh go, but the tense meeting left Rayleigh wary of their eventual reckoning.

• Sengoku and Garp learned that Ace and Doflamingo had entered the first half of the Grand Line and worried about the reasons behind their arrival.
• River and Crocodile docked at Sabaody and bought supplies, while River told Crocodile he would help him grow stronger through physical training.
• River spotted Rayleigh in the busy streets and Crocodile recognized the legendary former right-hand man of Pirate King Roger.
• River and Rayleigh exchanged wary words, and River said they would meet again to test Rayleigh's skills.
• After River left, Rayleigh admitted he had been frightened and was relieved River had restrained himself.

River and Crocodile sailed toward Mock Town as River searched for traces of Void Night, then encountered the Foxy Pirates. River attacked their ship to test himself and showed that he could endure multiple sword wounds, leaving the pirates horrified.

• Crocodile questioned whether River had intended to attack at Sabaody, and River denied it before urging him to steer the warship onward.
• River found no signs of Void Night in Sabaody or Water 7 and continued toward Mock Town with Crocodile.
• Near Long Ring Long Land, River recognized the Foxy Pirates and ordered Crocodile to bring their warship alongside them because he wanted Foxy's Slow-Slow Fruit ability.
• River leapt onto the Foxy Pirates' deck and challenged the crew to warm him up with a fight.
• The pirates stabbed and slashed River, but he pulled the swords from his body and apologized for forgetting to dodge, horrifying the crew.

River forced Foxy to join his crew, then used Foxy's Slow-Slow Fruit ability to learn the Slow-Slow Beam and evolve it into Time Stop. He tested the new power on Foxy, freezing him in place.

• River healed instantly from the Foxy Pirates' attacks, defeated Hamburg, and threatened to kill the crew unless they joined him.
• Foxy surrendered, and he boarded River's ship with Crocodile nearby.
• River ordered Foxy to use the Slow-Slow Beam on him and examined how it altered his perception of time.
• River used Armament Haki to break free of the beam and explained that strong Haki could weaken Devil Fruit abilities.
• River learned the Slow-Slow Beam and evolved it into Time Stop, which stopped time for two seconds depending on the target's strength.
• River fired his beam at Foxy and froze him in place.

River revealed his time-stopping power to Foxy and brought Foxy’s crew along as they traveled toward Water 7. After River declined to recruit the CP9 agents for now, Rob Lucci received orders to assassinate him and warned his team that he hoped they would survive the mission.

• River stopped time around Foxy, who was shocked by the power and recognized how dangerous River was.
• River and Crocodile traveled with Foxy’s crew, whose members discussed their fear of River and how gently he treated them.
• At Water 7, River told Crocodile that he admired people in the city but said the time was not right to bring them in.
• After River’s group departed, Rob Lucci read documents about River and met with the CP9 agents in a tavern courtyard.
• Rob Lucci told the agents they had orders to attack River and urged them to carry out the mission, hoping they would all survive.

Rob Lucci and his CP9 team were ordered to eliminate former Marine Admiral River, while River’s group learned Doflamingo had influence in Mock Town and River spoke of his friendship with Saint Donquixote Homing. As night fell, CP9 approached River’s ship under cover of darkness.

• Rob Lucci read a classified file identifying River as a former Marine Admiral who had fought Whitebeard and Roger, and learned that CP9 was being sent to probe his strength.
• Lucci led his team to carry out the mission, while the other CP9 members changed clothes and prepared to leave.
• Foxy told River that a New World power secretly controlled underworld forces in Mock Town, and Crocodile identified that power as Doflamingo.
• River recalled his friendship with Saint Donquixote Homing and said that Celestial Dragons were human too, startling Crocodile and Foxy.
• After night fell, CP9 arrived by small boat and quietly approached River’s ship.

CP9 launched a night raid on Jiang Liu’s ship, but Jiang Liu and Crocodile detected them and fought back. After Jiang Liu identified the agents and their superior, Rob Lucci declared that Cipher Pol had only one reason to act.

• Rob Lucci led CP9 toward the warship and ordered the team to find Jiang Liu without alerting him.
• Jiang Liu woke as CP9 boarded, while Crocodile put on his demon mask and left his cabin.
• Kaku encountered Crocodile, who attacked him with his golden hook, while Kalifa tried to stab Jiang Liu with a poisoned heel.
• Jiang Liu stopped Kalifa’s kick and told Crocodile to stay back, then faced the assembled CP9 agents.
• Jiang Liu identified the group as CP9 and named Spandam as their superior, prompting Rob Lucci to explain why Cipher Pol had come.

River overwhelmed CP9 in a fight aboard the warship, swiftly incapacitating several members and leaving the remaining fighters in despair. He invited them to consider another path as Rob Lucci launched a Finger Pistol at him.

• River blocked Jabra’s Tempest Kick with his bare arm and said he had mastered the Six Powers twenty years earlier.
• River struck Jabra with a slap that sent him flying into the sea.
• River crushed Blueno into the deck, leaving him unconscious.
• River kicked Fukurou into the sea and countered Kaku’s Tempest Kick, sending Kaku flying and coughing blood.
• River blocked Kalifa’s kick and told Rob Lucci that he admired CP9 and that they could consider a different path.
• Rob Lucci attacked River with Finger Pistol: Yellow Lotus.

River overwhelmed Rob Lucci and the rest of CP9 while testing Lucci’s strength and offering him a chance to serve under him. The chapter ended with Lucci’s Finger Pistol attacks piercing River after he suddenly stopped dodging.

• River dodged Lucci’s Finger Pistol barrage while his intimidating presence froze Kalifa, Kaku, and Kumadori in place.
• River and Lucci traded attacks, but River easily scattered Lucci’s Tempest Kick and evaded his Rokuogan.
• River taunted Lucci as he dodged every attack, leaving Lucci despairing that he could not land a single hit.
• River offered to make Lucci stronger and said the World Government could not give him a future, urging him to serve under him.
• River abruptly stopped moving, and Lucci’s Finger Pistols pierced deep into his body, shocking Lucci.

River defeated Rob Lucci and the CP9 squad but spared them, hoping to recruit them after they grew stronger. As CP9 sailed toward Water 7, its members questioned who River was and why their mission had sent them against him.

• River let Rob Lucci wound him, healed instantly, then struck Lucci down and said CP9 could not hurt him.
• River spared CP9, asked them to consider his offer, and told them to pass a message to their superior that he would visit soon.
• Kaku thanked River, and the CP9 members vanished from the warship.
• Crocodile questioned River’s plans, while River explained that CP9 had great potential and that he intended to wait for them to grow stronger before recruiting them.
• As CP9 sailed toward Water 7, Kalifa, Kaku, and Jabra asked Lucci who River was and whether their mission had made them pawns.

Rob Lucci questioned whether CP9 should accept River’s offer, while River’s crew sailed toward Mock Town and prepared to seek a lead on Doflamingo. The chapter left River and Crocodile exploring the pirate-filled town.

• Rob Lucci told the others that River was the former Marine Admiral known as Daytime Tiger and urged them to remain loyal to the World Government.
• Rob Lucci weighed River’s offer but decided not to accept it until he learned more about the former admiral.
• River entertained Foxy’s crew with stories of Sky Island and other wonders, and promised to take them there.
• Foxy announced that the ship had reached Mock Town, while Crocodile recognized Monkey D. Luffy’s bounty poster and considered confronting him.
• River and Crocodile entered Mock Town, where River asked where they could find a lead on Doflamingo.

River visited Mock Town with Crocodile and drew the attention of Blackbeard, who recognized him as the Marine Admiral who had nearly killed him twenty years earlier. River and Crocodile entered a tavern where Bellamy was drinking, leaving their intentions unclear.

• River said he planned to visit Doflamingo, the son of his old friend Homing, and Crocodile reacted warily to the name.
• Marshall D. Teach spotted River on the street and fled into an alley, where he told Van Augur, Lafitte, Doc Q, and Jesus Burgess that River had nearly killed him twenty years earlier.
• Blackbeard said he would avoid confronting River for now and continue pursuing Straw Hat, despite his desire for revenge.
• River and Crocodile stopped outside a tavern after spotting Bellamy inside, and they entered together.

River and Crocodile confronted Bellamy in a tavern after he mocked the idea of Sky Island, and River swiftly beat him and threw him outside. River then told Crocodile they were waiting for someone to arrive.

• River and Crocodile sat on either side of Bellamy, who claimed the seats were taken and mocked River for asking about Sky Island.
• Bellamy tried to attack them, but River slammed his head against the bar and then the wall, calling him a thug who refused to respect others.
• River tossed the badly injured Bellamy out of the way, leaving the tavern's pirates frightened by how easily he had defeated the captain.
• River and Crocodile ordered drinks as the other pirates quietly left the tavern.
• Crocodile asked why River had targeted Bellamy, and River said they were waiting for someone to arrive.

Doflamingo arrived in Mock Town and tried to punish Bellamy, but River intervened, revealing their history and confronting him. The chapter ended with the two men clashing kicks infused with Conqueror's Haki over Bellamy.

• A messenger told Doflamingo that Bellamy had been badly injured, and Doflamingo went to see what had happened.
• Doflamingo mocked Bellamy, stamped on his head, and prepared to kill him for disappointing him.
• River stopped Doflamingo's next stomp by blocking his foot and reminded him that he had taught him not to target the weak when they were children.
• Doflamingo challenged River, and the two exchanged kicks infused with Haki, unleashing a clash of Conqueror's Haki as Crocodile watched.