Chapter Summaries

Gern negotiated control of G-1 Base in exchange for two New World branches, then told Ginny that Dragon had chosen to leave her behind. Kuma reassured Ginny that Gern had given him the right to choose, and the Calamity crew headed home.

• Sengoku demanded that Gern return G-1 Base, but Gern refused until Sengoku offered him control of the G-45 and G-22 branches and their jurisdictions.
• Sengoku departed and urged Gern to behave and attend the headquarters' senior leadership meeting in two months.
• Kuma and Ginny thanked Gern, and Gern told Ginny that Dragon had tacitly abandoned her and her unborn child to the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons.
• Gern left with Tesoro, Hawk-Eye, and the others as they joked about the Holy Land mission.
• Kuma gently reassured the stunned Ginny that Gern had never forced him and had given him the right to choose.

Fisher Tiger returned to Fish-Man Island after freeing the slaves at Mary Geoise, convinced his actions would bring the World Government’s wrath upon his homeland. Neptune revealed that Admiral Gern had already dealt with the fallout, but Fisher Tiger still chose to leave and follow his own path.

• Fisher Tiger returned to the Fish-Man District, warned Arlong that disaster might follow him, and went to Ryugu Palace.
• Fisher Tiger told Neptune and Otohime how he had freed the slaves and declared that he would take responsibility by leaving Fish-Man Island.
• Jinbe rushed into the hall, knelt before Fisher Tiger, and swore to follow him wherever he went.
• Fisher Tiger insisted that killing a Celestial Dragon would bring retaliation, but Neptune said Tesoro had reported that Admiral Gern had settled the trouble.
• Neptune offered Fisher Tiger sanctuary under Gern’s protection, but Fisher Tiger chose to leave Fish-Man Island rather than hide or live with guilt.

Gern reassured Kuma that he could become a good father and urged him to resolve his painful ties to the Revolutionary Army before welcoming his child. Enel interrupted with a dramatic entrance and complained that he kept losing fights in the Blue Sea.

• Gern learned from Neptune that Fisher Tiger and young fish-men had left Fish-Man Island, and he accepted that they would likely become pirates.
• Gern noticed Kuma reading on the lawn and congratulated him on becoming a father.
• Kuma admitted he doubted he could be a proper father, and Gern encouraged him while urging him to settle his unresolved conflict with the Revolutionary Army.
• Enel teleported down from the Artificial Sky Island and complained to Gern that famous fighters kept defeating and humiliating him.

Dragon mourned Kuma’s departure from the Revolutionary Army and wondered whether Kuma might return now that Ginny was safe. Ivankov rebuked Dragon, insisting that Kuma and Ginny were his friends after Dragon had stayed silent when they needed help.

• Dragon lamented Kuma’s departure and recalled Kuma’s strength, potential, and childhood dream of saving people.
• Ivankov confronted Dragon over his silence when Ginny was imprisoned and Kuma had to choose between her life and the Revolutionary Army’s greater good.
• Ivankov recalled how he understood Dragon’s strategic reasons but still resented the sacrifice of their childhood friends.
• Dragon asked Ivankov whether Kuma might return now that Ginny was safe and things with Gern seemed to be improving.
• Ivankov shouted that Kuma and Ginny were his friends.

Kuma returned to Revolutionary Army Headquarters on Baltigo and told Ivankov that Ginny was safe at G-10 Base. He put on a Marine justice cloak and announced that he had come to sever ties with the Revolutionary Army because he could never repay Mr. Gern for saving him and Ginny.

• Dragon apologized to Ivankov for a thoughtless remark about their friends, and Ivankov accepted his apology.
• A young Revolutionary Army soldier announced that Kuma had returned, and Dragon and Ivankov rushed to meet him.
• Ivankov embraced Kuma and asked where Ginny was; Kuma said she was safe at G-10 Base in the New World.
• The soldiers recoiled when Kuma mentioned G-10 Base, and Kuma met Dragon's gaze across the crowd.
• Kuma removed his Revolutionary Army cloak, put on a Marine justice cloak, and said he had returned to break with them because he could never repay Mr. Gern for saving him and Ginny.

Kuma said goodbye to the Revolutionary Army and left Baltigo after enduring the fighters’ accusations, while Dragon and Ivankov could only watch. He reunited with Enel on a deserted island, and the two set off together for future missions under Gern’s plan.

• Kuma told Ivankov he could never repay Mr. Gern and made clear he was leaving the Revolutionary Army; Dragon apologized for what had happened before.
• Young Revolutionary Army fighters called Kuma a traitor for wearing a Marine justice cloak, while Dragon and Ivankov held back from intervening.
• Kuma wished everyone goodbye and used his paw ability to vanish from Baltigo.
• Kuma appeared on a deserted island, where Enel criticized him for accepting the insults and acknowledged his formidable strength.
• Kuma told Enel that Gern had assigned him to support him on future missions, and Enel agreed to let him tag along while loudly offering advice.

Gern provoked Mihawk into striking first, and the two began a fierce sparring match. Meanwhile, Lipo healed Bullet and cheered him up with a Carrot Cake, leaving the fearsome fighter contentedly indulging her.

• Gern teased Mihawk about reciting a poem before swinging his sword, and Mihawk fired a powerful slash at him in anger.
• Gern welcomed the attack and drew Black Blade: Eight Desolations, coating it with dark purple lightning as he fought Mihawk.
• Lipo treated Bullet's wounds and encouraged him after he admitted that Gern had grown stronger and widened the gap between them.
• Bullet reassured Lipo that no one would hurt her and gave her a Carrot Cake.
• Lipo excitedly hugged Bullet's wrist and praised him, while Bullet smiled and lifted his arm so she could hang from it.

Sengoku planned rules to balance G-10's autonomy with Marine Headquarters' authority, then learned Tesoro had smoothly managed the transfer of two New World branches. Tsuru teased Sengoku about his lonely personal life, leaving him to hide behind his paperwork.

• Sengoku drafted rules to preserve G-10's autonomy while ensuring Marine Headquarters could coordinate with and requisition its forces.
• Tsuru reported that the G-45 and G-22 branches and their defense zones had been transferred to G-10, which would cover their expenses.
• Tsuru praised Tesoro for skillfully handling the handover negotiations and G-10's daily affairs.
• Sengoku envied Gern for delegating his administrative work to Tesoro and complained that Garp had gone to the East Blue to visit his grandson.
• Tsuru teased Sengoku for being alone and urged him to think about his personal life, so he returned sheepishly to his documents.

Kaido decided to challenge Marine Admiral Gern after King warned him how formidable Gern was and reminded him of Oden’s judgment. He ended the chapter declaring that only a fight could determine who was strongest.

• Kaido complained that life was boring and said he would challenge Gern, the Marine Admiral known as “Heavenquake.”
• Queen and Jack cheered Kaido on, while King warned that Gern had defeated Oden, arrested Gol D. Roger, and fought Whitebeard’s forces many times.
• King’s warning brought back Kaido’s memories of Oden’s defeat and his claim that Kaido was no match for Gern.
• Kaido unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki, roared Gern’s name across Onigashima, and announced that he would fight the Admiral.

Kaido crashed onto Gern’s private island and challenged him, but Gern answered with overwhelming speed and a devastating punch that injured Kaido and sent him into a mountainside. Gern then approached with his blade drawn and demanded that Kaido repeat who he wanted to challenge.

• Kaido fell onto Rurokaka and confronted Gern, complaining that the Admiral did not look as formidable as he had imagined.
• Kaido attacked Gern with Thunder Bagua, but Gern vanished from the blow’s path at extraordinary speed.
• Gern struck Kaido in the spine with Black Quake: Instant Prison, blasting him into a distant mountain and causing internal injuries.
• Gern emerged from the dust with Haki lightning around him, drew his blade, and challenged Kaido to repeat his words.

Kaido transformed into his Human-Beast Form and challenged Gern to a fight to the death, forcing Gern to face the strongest creature at his prime. Their opening attacks collided in a quake blast, with neither fighter gaining ground.

• Kaido entered his Human-Beast Form and unleashed his Conqueror's Haki against Gern.
• Kaido declared that Gern was the only opponent left who could give him a satisfying fight and charged with Thunder Bagua: Vajra Arrow.
• Gern prepared Eight Desolations, focused his Haki and quake power, and charged Kaido head-on.
• Gern countered Kaido's club strike with Soulquake, creating a massive spherical quake blast at the point of impact.
• Gern and Kaido's attacks locked together, leaving neither able to advance.

Marine Headquarters learned that Kaido had attacked Gern on Rurokaka Island, prompting Sengoku to prepare for the battle’s consequences. Sengoku ordered the nearby warships to stand ready to arrest Kaido once the fight ended, convinced Gern would win.

• A communications soldier reported that Kaido had attacked Gern while Gern was vacationing on Rurokaka Island, and that they were already fighting.
• Sengoku ordered Marineford to contact G-10 and direct New World surveillance toward the battle, while keeping vessels at least fifty nautical miles away.
• Tsuru explained that Gern could not back down without undermining his authority and G-10’s standing in the New World.
• Sengoku ordered nearby warships to prepare to arrest Kaido as soon as the battle ended.
• Sengoku said Gern would not lose and that Kaido would not risk his life enough to defeat him.

Gern and Kaido fought a brutal close-quarters battle on Rurokaka Island, trading powerful attacks until both were bloodied and battered. Gern survived Kaido’s Thunder Bagua and faced him again, exhilarated by the challenge.

• Gern broke his clash with Kaido by unleashing a sudden burst of strength, then resumed fighting him with weapons and Haki.
• Kaido sent Gern flying with a club strike, but Gern countered in midair, kicked Kaido in the face, and slashed his back.
• Gern battered Kaido with Black Quake: Thousand Peaks Collapse, but Kaido caught his ankle and hurled him into jagged reefs.
• Kaido struck Gern’s position with Thunder Bagua, destroying the surrounding reefs, but Gern escaped the center of the blast with Tremor Flash.
• Gern emerged wounded and bloodied, then praised Kaido’s strength and said the fight was a rush.

Kaido challenged Gern to prove himself against Whitebeard, whose Tremor-Tremor Fruit power and former sword Gern now wielded. Gern exploited Kaido’s mistaken belief that his tremors needed a medium, trapping Kaido in a crushing field of spatial vibrations.

• Kaido recalled Whitebeard’s power and challenged Gern to show how he compared to Whitebeard in his prime.
• Gern planted Black Blade: Eight Desolations in the ground, and Kaido focused on his empty hands, expecting an attack like Whitebeard’s.
• Gern revealed that his Tremor-Tremor Fruit was a Logia and declared that he needed no medium to use his power.
• Gern used Heavenquake: Frame Crush—Tremor Bind: Cube Compression to trap Kaido between opposing forces of tremor pressure.
• Kaido struggled as the invisible cage compressed and distorted his body while Gern continued tightening it.

Kaido broke free of Gern’s Spatial Compression and attacked him with his Azure Dragon Form and Bolo Breath. Gern turned the destructive beam into a vast pillar of ice, leaving Kaido stunned in the sky.

• Kaido struck at Gern with Vajra Arrow, forcing Gern to release Box Compression and dodge.
• Kaido unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki to shatter the cage and transformed into his Azure Dragon Form.
• Kaido fired Bolo Breath, carving a trench through the island and sea as he sensed Gern pinned beneath the cliffs.
• Azure vibrations spread through the beam and froze it, forcing Kaido to stop breathing fire.
• A huge pillar of ice formed from the seabed to Kaido’s jaws, and Kaido stared in disbelief at Gern’s freezing power.

Gern unleashed a massive Quakeflame slash that cut Kaido out of the sky and sent him crashing into the sea. Gern recognized that Kaido had chosen to end their clash for now and expected him to escape and return later.

• Kaido mistook the ice pillar for Kuzan’s work until he saw Gern race up it and summon the Black Blade: Eight Desolations.
• Gern’s quake power turned orange-red, and he combined it with Conqueror’s Haki and Ryuo to form a blazing, lightning-wreathed blade over a hundred meters long.
• Gern struck Kaido with Quakeflame: Divine Flame Dance, cutting across his old scar and overwhelming him with the slash’s force.
• Kaido lost consciousness briefly, then roared as his wounded dragon body fell into the sea.
• Gern returned Eight Desolations to his waist and reflected that Kaido had likely ended the fight after being satisfied, rather than suffering a true defeat.

After Gern defeated Kaido, Morgans’s report spread across the world and drew Big Mom’s attention to the Marine’s growing power. When Perospero told her that Sweet Berry Town had joined G-10 and Douglas Bullet had driven off Charlotte Snack, Big Mom reluctantly abandoned thoughts of war and ordered Perospero to find replacement cake ingredients.

• Morgans published an emergency report declaring that Marine Admiral Gern had defeated Kaido, and the news caused an uproar across the world.
• Big Mom read the report and realized that Gern’s strength had to be reassessed after he defeated Kaido.
• Perospero told Big Mom that Sweet Berry Town had joined G-10’s sphere of influence and that Douglas Bullet had defeated Charlotte Snack and forced him to flee.
• Big Mom erupted in anger over losing access to Sweet Berry Town’s cake ingredients and threatened G-10 over her sweets.
• Perospero warned Big Mom that attacking G-10 risked a costly war, Mihawk’s strength, Whitebeard’s interference, and an attack on Totto Land.
• Big Mom decided against immediate war and ordered Perospero to find better cake ingredients or lose his lifespan.

Gern discussed the Big Mom Pirates, G-10's plans, and Kaido's strength with Bullet after Bullet returned from patrol. He reminded Bullet that he no longer had to face powerful enemies alone, and Bullet left to train rather than challenge Kaido immediately.

• Gern asked Bullet about Charlotte Snack, and Bullet said Snack had fled before a fight could begin.
• Gern warned that Charlotte Linlin might retaliate over the island and said he would take core members to Marineford for a high-level meeting.
• Bullet asked how strong Kaido was, and Gern said Bullet could not beat him right now and described Kaido's overwhelming abilities.
• Gern explained that Kuma and Lipo could help G-10 wear Kaido down through repeated battles, reminding Bullet that he had allies.
• Bullet abandoned the idea of rushing off to fight Kaido and left to train, while Gern warned him not to sneak away alone.

As the Marine Headquarters meeting approached, Gern worked through G-10 Base’s paperwork while Tesoro explained that the meeting’s outcome would secure their control of the base and mark the completion of Gern’s most dangerous stage of building power. Gern reflected on the choices and alliances that had brought him there, ending with a weary sigh of relief.

• Gern stayed at G-10 Base and took up his official duties, surprising Tesoro when he entered with a stack of documents.
• Tesoro explained that Stella, Lipo, and Ginny were spending time together, and teased Gern about his unfamiliar desk work.
• Gern asked Tesoro what the upcoming Headquarters meeting would mean, and Tesoro said G-10 would become theirs legitimately and give them control over whether to expand or remain independent.
• Gern reflected on his rise from a branch-base nobody to a Marine Admiral, his recruitment of allies, and his efforts to secure G-10’s autonomy.
• Gern finished his tea and remarked that reaching this point had been exhausting.

Marine Headquarters convened its highest-level military conference to review strategy and plan future deployments. Gern arrived late with the seven Calamities, bringing his powerful New World force into the Marines’ top decision-making circle as Sengoku declared the Marines were entering a new era.

• Sengoku summoned the Marines’ senior officers and key commanders to Marineford for a military conference on January 20, 1510.
• Marine flag officers and senior personnel gathered in the Supreme Conference Room, where Gern’s empty seat and the factions behind different leaders drew attention.
• Sengoku arrived, noticed Gern was missing, and demanded to know where he was.
• Gern entered with Enel and brought Lipo Hope, Gild Tesoro, Enel, Toritoma, Douglas Bullet, Bartholomew Kuma, and Dracule Mihawk, the seven known as the Calamities.
• Gern took his seat and jokingly claimed he would call the shots before apologizing and yielding the floor.
• Sengoku declared that the Marines would enter a new era.