Chapter Summaries

Ace declared that he regarded Whitebeard as his father and wanted him to become Pirate King, while Garp regretted failing him and Ace asked him to keep Luffy from trying to rescue him. In Impel Down, Crocodile began gauging the prisoners’ interest in escaping, as Bullet learned about Gawain’s rise; meanwhile, Kizaru arrived in Britannia to summon Gawain to a Marine prewar conference.

• Ace rejected Roger as his father, declared his loyalty to Whitebeard, and asked Garp to keep Luffy from learning of his predicament.
• Garp reflected that Roger had three sons in Red-Hair, Ace, and Bullet, then left Ace’s cell with heavy steps.
• Crocodile urged the sixth-level prisoners to consider joining forces and escaping during the coming war, while Bullet focused on surpassing Roger.
• Ochoku told Bullet that Gawain had defeated Golden Lion, Mihawk, and Ochoku, earning the title of Lionheart King and rumors of being the world’s strongest.
• Kizaru arrived in Britannia and formally summoned Gawain to Marine Headquarters for a prewar conference.

Kizaru secured Gawain’s promise to attend the Navy meeting about Ace’s execution, while Gawain planned to use the coming chaos at Impel Down to obtain Sentomaru and Bullet. Blackbeard also agreed to attend, and the chapter ended as Hancock turned the Marines approaching Amazon Lily to stone with her beauty.

• Kizaru told Gawain that Ace would be publicly executed in one month and asked him to attend the Navy meeting; Gawain agreed to do him the favor.
• After Kizaru left, Gawain told Kuro he would let another attacker create chaos at Impel Down, then help the Navy while locating Sentomaru and Bullet.
• Blackbeard agreed to attend the Marine Headquarters meeting after Onigumo summoned him, and boasted of the darkness power he had gained.
• A Navy warship approached Amazon Lily through the Calm Belt, alarming Elder Nyon and the island’s warriors.
• Hancock asserted that her beauty could overcome anything, and the Marines who saw her were turned to stone.

Hancock resisted Momonga’s summons to Marineford but agreed to attend after warning the Marines to stay out of Amazon Lily’s Calm Belt. As the coming war drew powerful figures toward Marineford, Whitebeard gathered his fleet to rescue Ace and met Zephyr, who offered to restore his peak strength.

• Hancock defeated Momonga, then spared him after Elder Nyon warned that killing him could endanger Amazon Lily; she agreed to attend the Marineford meeting and threatened any navy or World Government ships near the island.
• After Momonga’s warship left, Hancock sailed for Marine Headquarters, while a young man in a Straw Hat emerged from ruins on Amazon Lily and faced the Kuja warriors’ arrows.
• Doflamingo headed for Marineford, anticipating that the coming battle would reshape the seas, and Hawk Eyes set out to challenge Gawain and reclaim the title of World’s Number One Swordsman.
• Whitebeard assembled his forces to rescue Ace despite his failing health, and told Marco he had resolved to die on the battlefield if necessary.
• Zephyr arrived aboard a Neo Navy warship, joined Whitebeard on the Moby Dick, and offered to restore Whitebeard’s peak fighting strength for a short time.

Zephyr revealed his plan to provoke a great war and confront the World Government, while a restored Whitebeard prepared to rescue Ace. In Britannia, Bevel awakened the Door-Door Fruit, and Gawain used the new portals to plan his role in the Summit War and Kuro’s infiltration of Impel Down.

• Zephyr told Whitebeard that he wanted to challenge the rulers of the world and asked him to hold on longer, revealing a dangerous purple mineral in the Battle Smasher.
• Zephyr credited Knight Gawain with inspiring him, while Whitebeard dismissed the claim that Gawain had surpassed him.
• The next day, Whitebeard regained his peak strength through a Paramecia ability and announced that he would join Marco in bringing Ace home.
• Binz told Zephyr that Issho’s operation had delivered the execution announcement to Red-Hair and Rayleigh, drawing the world’s powers toward war.
• Bevel demonstrated that his awakened Door-Door Fruit could create permanent portals, and Gawain realized he could use the ability to help Kuro infiltrate Impel Down.
• Gawain announced that he would attend the Shichibukai meeting and take part in the Summit War.

After learning Blackbeard attacked Drum Kingdom and injured Doctor Kureha, Gawain went to Marineford, where the forces gathered to prepare for war against Whitebeard. He attacked Blackbeard during the meeting, leaving him badly wounded before Akainu and Kizaru restrained him, and secretly slipped a gold coin into Blackbeard’s clothing.

• Gawain assigned his allies to defend the main base or infiltrate Impel Down, then learned from Robin that Blackbeard had attacked Drum Kingdom and injured Doctor Kureha.
• At Marineford, Sengoku, Akainu, Kizaru, the Shichibukai, and other leaders gathered to discuss the coming war, while Gawain’s absence was noted.
• Gawain arrived with overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki, alarming the meeting’s attendees and drawing Blackbeard’s attention.
• Gawain confronted Blackbeard over the Drum Kingdom attack and slashed him from shoulder to abdomen before Akainu and Kizaru stopped him.
• Gawain sheathed his blade and stood down, while Hawk Eyes noticed him secretly slip a gold coin into Blackbeard’s clothing.

Gawain wounded Blackbeard and warned him they would meet again in the New World, while Sengoku convened the meeting to prepare for Ace’s execution. As the execution drew near, Scopper Gaban joined Rayleigh and Luffy’s effort to rescue Ace, and Rayleigh began arranging special training for Luffy.

• Gawain’s slash badly wounded Blackbeard, and Katakuri decided to abandon his family’s revenge against Gawain; Blackbeard vowed to collect his debt someday.
• Gawain told Blackbeard he would be waiting in the New World, and Sengoku convened the meeting to discuss the coming Summit War.
• Three days before Ace’s scheduled execution, news spread worldwide; Scopper Gaban revealed himself as a Roger Pirate and headed for Shakedown Bar.
• Gaban met Rayleigh and Luffy, and Rayleigh told him Gawain could surpass Locke and might become involved in the rescue.
• Luffy declared he would save Ace, so Rayleigh planned special training for him, and Gaban agreed to help.

Rayleigh and Gaban discussed Luffy, Shanks, and Knight Gawain as Red-Hair Shanks sailed toward Marine Headquarters to respond to Ace’s execution. Kaido and Big Mom confronted Shanks at sea, leaving the Marines relieved that he could not aid Whitebeard; days later, Sengoku learned that Blackbeard had vanished.

• Rayleigh and Gaban reflected on Luffy’s potential, Shanks’s faith in him, and Knight Gawain’s vision for the future.
• Shanks resolved to act after learning that Ace was Roger’s son, while Beckman warned that the execution could draw Whitebeard and the Roger Pirates into an unpredictable conflict.
• Kaido confronted Shanks at sea, and the two launched powerful attacks against each other.
• Big Mom arrived and attacked Beckman, revealing that she had joined forces with Kaido.
• Sengoku received news of the clash and expected the Marines to face Whitebeard without Shanks’s help.
• As Ace’s execution approached several days later, Sengoku learned that Blackbeard had disappeared.

Luffy, Rayleigh, and Gaban attacked Impel Down to find Ace, but Luffy discovered Ace was missing and was forced to retreat from Magellan. As Rayleigh and Gaban faced the Navy outside, Magellan prepared to confront them and called on Shiryu for help.

• Sengoku suspected Blackbeard was plotting something, then ordered Gion and Kake to track him down and capture or kill him.
• Luffy, Rayleigh, and Gaban flew to Impel Down on a Giant Eagle, and Luffy smashed through the entrance while Rayleigh and Gaban destroyed the Navy warships.
• Rayleigh and Luffy entered Impel Down as Gaban stayed behind to hold off the Navy and open the Justice Gate.
• Luffy fought through the guards and reached Freezing Hell, but Ace was not there; Magellan attacked him with venom dragons and drove him back.
• Hancock reported that Rayleigh and Jabba had routed the Navy fleet and hijacked its last ship, and Magellan ordered him to ask Shiryu to join the fight in exchange for his offenses being forgiven.

Magellan sent Hancock to release Shiryu while Rayleigh confronted him, and the Five Elders dispatched CP9 to Impel Down. In Infinite Hell, Crocodile revealed his newly awakened Conqueror’s Haki, then Luffy arrived and drew the attention of Patrick Redfield, whose rare Observation Haki let him read memories and thoughts.

• Magellan ordered Hancock to report the crisis and release Shiryu, while Rayleigh appeared and identified himself to Magellan.
• The Five Elders learned that Luffy, Rayleigh, and Jabba had invaded Impel Down, then decided to send Rob Lucci and the CP Organization while keeping the Marines focused on Ace’s execution.
• Crocodile unleashed Conqueror’s Haki in Infinite Hell, knocked out the guards, and invited Bullet to help him kill Knight Gawain, but Bullet refused.
• Luffy broke into Infinite Hell searching for Ace, and Patrick Redfield asked whether Garp was his grandfather.
• Redfield read Luffy’s memories and thoughts with his innate Observation Haki, revealing his ability to the prisoners.

Luffy freed Redfield from Infinite Hell, then left with Rayleigh, Crocodile, and other prisoners to save Ace, while Blackbeard arrived at Impel Down too late to recruit most of the inmates. The chapter left Blackbeard facing an emptied prison as Luffy’s powerful group headed toward Marineford.

• Redfield recognized Brook as the musician who had inspired him to become a pirate and agreed to help Luffy rescue Ace.
• Luffy freed Redfield, who subdued the other prisoners’ auras, but Luffy refused their help and chose to rely on his own strength to save Ace.
• Rayleigh returned and revealed that Magellan and Shiryu had trapped him while the upper levels of Impel Down were sealed; Crocodile offered to join the escape, and Rayleigh left Bullet imprisoned.
• Crocodile and several other prisoners joined Luffy and Rayleigh, while Bullet vowed to escape and prove he had surpassed Roger.
• Blackbeard sailed toward Impel Down, saw Luffy’s group leave for Marineford, and found most of Infinite Hell’s prisoners already freed.

Blackbeard tried to recruit Douglas Bullet to salvage his plan to seize Whitebeard’s power, but Gawain’s forces appeared and exposed that they had tracked him. Blackbeard fled to hunt Redfield, while Bullet rejected Kuro’s offer to join Britannia and began fighting him.

• Blackbeard chose to challenge Douglas Bullet, offering to free him if he joined Blackbeard’s crew and helped him take Whitebeard’s power.
• As Blackbeard attacked Bullet’s cell with the Black-Dark Fruit, Kuro, Van, Trafalgar Law, and Bevel emerged through a doorway created by a gold coin.
• Blackbeard realized Knight Gawain had planted something on him and suspected Redfield could read his memories, so he fled Impel Down with Lafitte, Burgess, and Doc Q to kill Redfield.
• Kuro invited the freed Bullet to join Britannia, but Bullet refused and attacked him with a powerful punch.
• Kuro met Bullet’s punch with compressed air, and Bullet warned him that his next strike would knock him down.

As Lucci led CP9 reinforcements toward Impel Down, he learned that Kuro’s invasion had left the prison in chaos and worried about containing the crisis and reporting it. Meanwhile, Blackbeard sailed with prisoners he had recruited from the fifth level, unaware that the situation ahead might bring trouble.

• Chief Guard Sal D. fought to contain the prison riot and learned from Lucci that CP9 reinforcements would arrive within three hours.
• Sal D. told Lucci that Rayleigh and Straw Hat had freed Jinbe, Crocodile, Redfield, and other prisoners before heading toward Marineford, while Magellan and Shiryu were badly wounded.
• Lucci traveled toward Impel Down with Kaku, Gabra, Fukurou, and Kumadori, reflecting on his growth and his ties to Gawain’s crew.
• Lucci worried that Kuro’s invasion would cause trouble and dreaded writing a report about the crisis.
• Blackbeard’s crew joked about his sneeze as the prisoners he had recruited crowded the warship’s deck and attempted to fish.

Blackbeard sailed for Marineford, while Kuro and Bullet clashed in Impel Down and Kuro convinced Bullet to seek out Gawain. Elsewhere, Ivankov sheltered Sentomaru in a hidden prison refuge, just as powerful intruders approached.

• Blackbeard decided to go to Marineford, believing the chaos of the coming war would give him a chance to take Whitebeard's Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
• Kuro and Bullet fought in Infinite Hell, and Bullet declared that he had grown strong enough to challenge the great fighters of Roger's era.
• Kuro told Bullet that Gawain had defeated him in a single moment, prompting Bullet to leave and seek Gawain as a stronger opponent than Roger.
• Kuro told Law that Bullet would pursue Gawain, while Fan-Oka reported that Sentomaru was missing from the fifth level and might be held elsewhere.
• Ivankov revealed that he had rescued Sentomaru from a secret interrogation room and was hiding him in the okama refuge between Impel Down's fifth and sixth levels.
• Powerful auras appeared outside the refuge, and Sentomaru sensed that someone was attacking.

Kuro, Trafalgar Law, Roronoa Zoro, and Gawain invaded Impel Down and took Sentomaru and Ivankov away, while Shiryu’s rampage devastated both prisoners and guards in Level Five. Lucci and his CP9 group arrived as reinforcements and faced Shiryu, with Lucci declaring that he would kill anyone who resisted.

• Kuro attacked Ivankov and offered Sentomaru the choice of dying or coming with him to obtain Vegapunk’s abilities.
• Trafalgar Law cut apart the crowd, and Sentomaru agreed to leave with Kuro after Kuro promised to let the others go.
• Sal D. and the Guard Beasts struggled to hold back hundreds of Level Five prisoners as the jailers’ defenses collapsed.
• Shiryu arrived at Freezing Hell and slaughtered prisoners and guards alike, then struck down Sal D.
• Lucci and his CP9 group reached Freezing Hell, and Lucci transformed into his Paper Arts Body form and challenged Shiryu.

CP9 defeated the prisoners in Impel Down’s Freezing Hell and discovered that nearly all of Infinite Hell’s major criminals had escaped. Lucci concealed Kuro’s involvement to protect the prison staff, while Marineford prepared to execute Roger’s son and the world awaited Whitebeard’s response.

• Lucci fought the wounded Shiryu, defeated him, and led CP9 in crushing the prison uprising in Freezing Hell.
• Lucci and CP9 found Infinite Hell nearly empty, and Sal D. reported that Redfield, Bullet, Bondi World, Crocodile, and other prisoners had escaped.
• A prison guard revealed evidence of a third force’s fight with Douglas Bullet, but Lucci ordered the staff to blame the escapes on the Straw Hat crew and Blackbeard and conceal Kuro’s involvement.
• Sal D. agreed to Lucci’s cover-up, including removing missing prisoners from the records and providing surveillance footage.
• At Marineford, more than a hundred thousand Navy troops gathered ahead of the execution, while Buena Festa described the impending war and the world anticipated Whitebeard’s intervention.

The Navy assembled its strongest forces at Marineford to execute Ace, while Zephyr and his allies approached Mary Geoise to challenge the Celestial Dragons. As the execution drew near, Whitebeard arrived at the harbor aboard the Moby Dick.

• Pirates debated whether One Piece was real as the Navy's Admirals, Shichibukai, and Knight Gawain appeared at Marineford.
• Zephyr, Fujitora, and Smoker watched the buildup from a submarine near Mary Geoise and prepared to confront the Celestial Dragons.
• Zephyr warned that Gawain might now be stronger than Whitebeard, while Smoker and Fujitora considered Gawain's immense power.
• At Marineford, Sengoku had Ace brought to the execution platform as Garp struggled to contain his anguish.
• Gawain sensed a presence beneath the harbor, and Whitebeard's coated ship, the Moby Dick, surfaced before the execution platform.

Whitebeard arrived at Marineford restored to near his prime, shattered the Navy’s trap with the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and forced Aokiji to freeze the sea as the battle began. After Hawk Eyes’s slash failed to harm Whitebeard, Whitebeard turned his attention to Gawain and challenged him to fight.

• Whitebeard and his division commanders arrived at Marineford, where Whitebeard’s Conqueror’s Haki clashed with Sengoku’s.
• Kizaru attacked Whitebeard, but Marco transformed into a Phoenix, intercepted the lasers, and kicked Kizaru into the Headquarters buildings.
• Whitebeard struck the air with both fists, causing tremors that wrecked the harbor and sent thousand-meter waves toward Marineford.
• Aokiji used Ice Age to freeze the waves and the surrounding sea, leaving the Marines and pirates to fight at close quarters.
• Hawk Eyes slashed toward Whitebeard, but Whitebeard crushed the sword aura after it knocked Vista aside.
• Whitebeard noticed Gawain beside Hawk Eyes and asked whether he wanted to challenge him.

Gawain drew the Sword in the Stone and prepared to face Whitebeard, but Akainu interrupted their confrontation to challenge the old pirate. Whitebeard effortlessly struck Akainu down, and the chapter ended with Akainu rising to attack again with Great Eruption.

• Whitebeard acknowledged Gawain as an opponent on his level, while Hawk Eyes was shocked by Gawain’s growth and the power Whitebeard displayed.
• Gawain drew the Sword in the Stone and sensed that Whitebeard had other troubles when Akainu rose from the execution platform and charged toward the Moby Dick.
• Akainu attacked Whitebeard with Hell Hound, but Whitebeard dodged and sent him crashing through Marineford with a devastating punch.
• Gawain explained his combat-power rankings to Hawk Eyes, who sheathed Black Sword Night and resumed fighting Vista.
• Akainu emerged from the ruins, determined to keep fighting for the Marines and T-Bone, and charged Whitebeard with Great Eruption.

Whitebeard fought Akainu at Marineford and cleared a path to rescue Ace, but Gawain intervened and overwhelmed him in a clash. The chapter ended with Whitebeard crashing through the Moby Dick while Gawain stood untouched, leaving the battlefield stunned.

• Akainu erupted through the battlefield and attacked Whitebeard, who punched him into the glacier and turned his attention to Sengoku and Garp.
• Helmeppo was wounded while chasing Koby, and Ace pleaded with Whitebeard not to risk his life for him.
• Whitebeard ordered his crew to rescue Ace and cleared a path to the Execution Platform with Murakumogiri.
• Gawain appeared to block Whitebeard, and Sengoku prepared to let him stop the Whitebeard Pirates’ advance.
• Gawain and Whitebeard clashed, and Gawain’s distant sword strike sent Whitebeard through the deck of the Moby Dick.

The Five Elders learned that Zephyr’s Neo Navy had invaded Mary Geoise and detonated Dials, while Gawain overwhelmed Whitebeard at Marineford. Whitebeard kept charging Gawain to give Marco a chance to save Ace, and Akainu reconsidered his ability to fight.

• The Five Elders concluded that Gawain had grown beyond their control, then ordered the Divine Knights to respond to Zephyr’s Neo Navy invasion of Mary Geoise.
• Zephyr’s forces detonated Dials in Mary Geoise, and the Five Elders realized the attack threatened Pangea Castle and the Celestial Dragons.
• Gawain sent Whitebeard flying with a slash, while Hawk Eyes and the Whitebeard Pirates watched in shock.
• Whitebeard rose from the wreckage, told Marco to save Ace, and charged Gawain again despite his grievous wound.
• Gawain challenged Whitebeard to knock him off the ice pillar, and the two clashed repeatedly as Whitebeard was hurled back each time.
• Aokiji steadied Marineford and asked Akainu if he was all right; Akainu admitted Whitebeard was too strong, and Aokiji asked what that made Gawain.