Chapter Summaries

The Five Elders discussed Gern’s growing power and feared that he would eventually become Fleet Admiral, bringing the entire Marine force under his control. They decided they had to counterbalance him themselves, since reporting him to the “great one” could expose their own failure and bring their deaths.

• Saint Nusjuro said Gern had reached King-class power after defeating Red-Hair.
• Saint Ju Peter and the other Elders condemned how Sengoku and Gern had divided Marine authority through the “one organization, two administrations” arrangement.
• Saint Mars warned that Gern becoming Fleet Admiral would unite the Marines under his command and further weaken the World Government’s authority.
• The Five Elders considered reporting Gern to the “great one,” but Saint Nusjuro reminded them that they had been ordered to handle internal disputes themselves.
• The Five Elders agreed to find a way to counterbalance or suppress Gern within their own authority.

Whitebeard recognized that his declining health meant he could no longer challenge Gern and ordered his crew to remain within their territory as Gern dominated the new era. Teach saw Whitebeard’s weakness as an opportunity to steal his Tremor-Tremor Fruit, while still coveting Gern’s power and the Black Blade Eight Desolations.

• Whitebeard read the news of Gern’s defeat of Red-Haired Shanks and told Marco that Gern had become far more powerful than when they fought in the past.
• Whitebeard admitted that age and illness had weakened him, then ordered his crew to abandon expansion and remain in their territory.
• Whitebeard declared that the era belonged to Gern, whose Haki, destructive power, and combat skills surpassed those of the old legends.
• Teach brooded over Gern wielding Eight Desolations, a blade he believed should have been his.
• Teach weighed pursuing Gern’s Tremor-Tremor Fruit against stealing Whitebeard’s, then decided Whitebeard’s declining health made him the safer target.

Gern learned that Akainu would visit G-10 and worried he would discover the base’s secret trade channels. When Akainu arrived, a girl named Hibari rushed ahead to greet Gern, leaving him stunned.

• Tesoro told Gern that Akainu would arrive at G-10 in three days.
• Gern questioned Tesoro about the base’s secret trade channels, and Tesoro assured him that their records and operations were concealed.
• Gern and Lipo waited at the harbor to welcome Akainu when his warship arrived at G-10.
• A blond girl with a bear-shaped backpack ran past Akainu toward Gern.
• Gern recognized the girl as little Hibari.

Gern reunited with Akainu and heard him apologize for years of misunderstanding, after Akainu saw how Gern had established order in the New World. Gern reflected on how both of them had changed and wondered whether he would become Luffy’s final opponent.

• Gern recognized Hibari, and Lipo happily reunited with her.
• Akainu praised Gern’s accomplishments and welcomed him warmly at G-10.
• In Gern’s office, Akainu recalled believing they shared the same absolute justice before feeling betrayed by Gern’s choices in the New World.
• Akainu described seeing safe trade routes and peaceful civilians under G-10’s protection, then apologized for misjudging Gern.
• Gern accepted Akainu’s apology and reflected that he had become a major figure in the world, possibly a final obstacle for Luffy.

By 1520, Luffy’s rapid rise carried him from the East Blue to Enies Lobby, where he declared war on the World Government to rescue Robin. After Gern and Mihawk discussed the Straw Hat crew’s exploits, Gern set out to meet them at Thriller Bark.

• Ace entered Wano to challenge Kaido, met Tama and Yamato instead, then fought Jinbe for five days until their battle ended in a draw.
• Whitebeard arrived and brought Ace aboard the Moby Dick, unintentionally protecting him from Akainu’s plan to arrest him.
• Luffy formed the Straw Hat Pirates, defeated Crocodile, reached Sky Island, and declared war on the World Government at Enies Lobby to rescue Robin.
• Gern examined the Straw Hat crew’s wanted posters and asked Mihawk about his East Blue encounter with Zoro.
• Gern learned Kuzan had encountered Luffy at Enies Lobby and headed with Mihawk toward Thriller Bark to meet the Straw Hat crew.

Gern and Mihawk traveled to Thriller Bark in Mihawk’s coffin-shaped boat, while Perona tried to steal the Straw Hat Pirates’ treasure and ship. Gern and Mihawk arrived behind Perona as she threatened Nami with explosive ghosts.

• Gern and Mihawk paddled across the sea with their Black Blades and argued about Mihawk’s unusual boat.
• Perona ordered zombies to load Thriller Bark’s treasure onto the Thousand Sunny while Nami tried to stop her.
• Perona threatened Nami with a swarm of explosive ghosts, unaware that Gern and Mihawk had reached the shore behind her.
• Gern asked Perona whether her ghosts could really make people negative.

Gern arrived at Thriller Bark with Dracule Mihawk and confronted Perona after asking whether her ghosts could make people negative. Perona used Negative Hollow on Gern, who collapsed into exaggerated despair, leaving Mihawk and the onlookers stunned.

• Perona recognized Gern and Dracule Mihawk, and the zombies fled after she identified them as far stronger than Gecko Moria.
• Gern asked Perona whether Moria had lost to Straw Hat, and Perona claimed she had cut ties with Moria and was leaving.
• Gern said he had taken a liking to Perona and told Mihawk to watch her while he brought her back with him.
• Perona rejected Gern and sent her Negative Hollows at him, expecting them to affect him.
• Gern let the ghosts pass through him, then fell to the ground and lamented his strength and responsibilities, astonishing Mihawk, Perona, Nami, and the zombies.

Gern and Hawk-Eye clashed briefly after Hawk-Eye nearly struck Gern with a flying slash, then Gern took Perona into custody and reassured Nami that he understood her choice to join the Straw Hat Pirates. As the fog over Thriller Bark cleared, Gern concluded that Gecko Moria had been defeated.

• Hawk-Eye launched a deadly flying slash at Gern, but Gern teleported behind him and challenged him for trying to kill him.
• Hawk-Eye forced Gern to release him with two quick slashes, and Gern grabbed Perona and tossed her toward Hawk-Eye, who stepped aside.
• Perona used her power to hover above the ground and gave up on escaping from Gern and Hawk-Eye.
• Gern appeared before Nami and asked whether Luffy had lured her away, but Nami insisted she had chosen to go to sea.
• Gern told Nami that Bellemere had urged him to teach Luffy a lesson, then revealed his Marine purpose as the fog over Thriller Bark dispersed.
• Gern looked at the sunlight over Thriller Bark and said Gecko Moria had really lost.

Nami attacked Gern with lightning and fled to warn the Straw Hat Pirates, who had just defeated Gecko Moria. Gern followed her to the castle battlefield and found Luffy unconscious, leaving the exhausted crew facing a Marine who appeared to be interested in arresting him.

• Fearing Gern had come to capture Luffy, Nami struck him with her Clima-Tact and ran toward the Straw Hat Pirates.
• Gern shrugged off Nami's lightning, then set off after her with Hawk-Eye and Perona.
• After Gecko Moria was defeated, his stolen shadows returned to their owners, while Luffy and the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates lay injured and exhausted.
• Nami rushed to the battlefield and warned everyone that a terrifyingly powerful man was coming.
• Gern appeared above the group, looked at the unconscious Luffy, and asked what state Straw Hat was in after taking Nami away.

Marine Admiral Gern Reginald Sigma appeared before the battered Straw Hat Pirates, and Lola and Robin revealed his fearsome reputation as the man who ended Gol D. Roger’s reign. He recited each crew member’s bounty and asked whether their combined total was correct.

• Gern stood atop the ruins, and his presence froze the Straw Hat Pirates.
• Lola recognized Gern and collapsed in fear, while Robin identified him as Marine Admiral “White Kirin” Gern Reginald Sigma, the man who ended Gol D. Roger’s reign.
• The Straw Hats reacted with alarm as Robin explained that Gern normally kept watch over the New World from the G-10 Unit.
• Gern named each Straw Hat and their bounty, then gave their combined total as 667,500,050 Beli and asked if he was right.

Gern used his Heavenquake power to tilt Thriller Bark and overwhelm the Straw Hat Pirates with despair. Zoro then launched a sudden, all-out slash that split Gern in two, leaving everyone stunned.

• Zoro and Sanji stepped forward to protect their unconscious comrades, and Nami pleaded with Gern to spare Luffy.
• Gern unleashed his Heavenquake power, shattering space and tipping the sea and Thriller Bark until the island ship nearly capsized.
• Gern stopped the vibrations and taunted the Straw Hat Pirates as they struggled to recover, while Perona asked Hawk-Eye if he intended to capture them.
• Zoro used the slope and ruins to rush past Gern and perform One Sword Style: Lion's Song.
• Zoro's slash cut Gern diagonally in two, shocking everyone who witnessed it.

Gern praised Zoro’s slash before retaliating with a kick that blasted him through Thriller Bark and into the sea. Mihawk intervened and persuaded Gern to leave the Straw Hat Pirates alive, though Gern warned them about the New World.

• Gern restored his body after Zoro’s slash, praised the attack, then kicked the exhausted swordsman with overwhelming force.
• Zoro crashed through Thriller Bark and skipped across the sea before sinking, leaving the Straw Hat Pirates devastated.
• Mihawk stepped between Gern and the Straw Hat Pirates and urged Gern to stop and leave.
• Gern admitted Mihawk had seen through his playful intentions and decided to spare the crew this time.
• Gern warned the Straw Hat Pirates that the New World was far crueler, then beckoned Perona to leave with him.

After Gern departed, Brook revealed his terrifying history as the original Pirate Hunter, and the Straw Hats feared what awaited them in the New World. Sanji returned with the barely living Zoro and rallied the crew around their faith that Luffy would rise and defeat Gern.

• Sanji and Chopper rushed to find Zoro after Gern left, while Brook recognized Gern as the first man known as the Pirate Hunter, whose brutal reputation had terrified West Blue pirates.
• Brook recalled that even his captain had feared meeting Gern, and the Straw Hats realized the Pirate Hunter title had originated with him before he slew the Golden Lion.
• Franky and Robin warned that the Straw Hats were unprepared for the New World and feared the Calamities serving under Gern at G-10.
• Sanji returned carrying the bloodied Zoro, whom Chopper found still alive, and urged the crew to stop despairing because Luffy would become Pirate King.
• Nami, Usopp, Franky, Brook, Robin, and Chopper regained their resolve as Sanji declared that Luffy would defeat Gern and win against any opponent.

Gern discussed whether Straw Hat Boy could become an Emperor within two years, leaving Hawk-Eye to wonder if he truly believed that possibility. Gern then left for the East Blue to visit an unnamed old acquaintance and assigned Perona to Hawk-Eye.

• Hawk-Eye questioned Gern about his interest in Straw Hat Boy, and Gern asked whether someone could become an Emperor in two years.
• Gern said that the New Era might make the seemingly impossible possible, then refused to confirm whether he meant Straw Hat Boy.
• Gern told Hawk-Eye to drop him at an inhabited island and ordered him to take Perona back to the New World.
• Hawk-Eye objected to taking Perona, but Gern overruled him with a threat disguised as a friendly suggestion.
• Gern announced he was heading to the East Blue to see an old acquaintance, but did not reveal who it was.

Kuma secretly met Dragon in Karyak Town, where Dragon asked him to stop Luffy and his crew from rushing into the New World. Enel discovered the meeting and blackmailed Kuma into letting him join the plan, then teased him as they resumed their patrol.

• Kuma noticed Dragon waiting in the shadows of Karyak Town’s harbor, while Enel went ahead and gave him time to meet privately.
• Dragon asked Kuma to teach Luffy and his crew a harsh lesson before they entered the New World, and Kuma silently agreed.
• Enel revealed that his Observation Haki had detected the meeting and threatened to tell Gern, forcing Kuma to let him join the plan.
• Enel insisted their lesson should be a dramatic performance, then threatened to expose Kuma’s past connection to Ginny and Dragon.
• Kuma tried to slap Enel from behind, but Enel sensed him; Kuma denied it while secretly planning to hit him again.

Gern used reports of strange sightings to locate the area where Golden Lion Shiki was hiding, then unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki to challenge him. Shiki sensed Gern’s presence and flew from his concealed island to confront him.

• Gern reviewed eyewitness reports of flying islands and chose the East Blue waters where sightings were most concentrated.
• Gern released his Conqueror’s Haki at full force, terrifying creatures across the sea and openly challenging Golden Lion.
• On the Floating Island of Merveille, Shiki discussed delaying his IQ plant plan with Dr. Indigo and doubted it could defeat top-tier fighters.
• Shiki sensed Gern’s Haki, recognized his old adversary, and burst through the palace roof to fly toward him.

Gern lured Golden Lion Shiki into appearing and provoked him into attacking, then drew Eight Desolations to cut apart Shiki’s slash. Gern explained that Shiki was the first man who had made him truly feel death closing in, leaving their encounter framed as a solemn acknowledgment of their past battle.

• Gern unleashed his Conqueror’s Haki and formed a devastating sphere of vibration energy to draw Shiki out.
• Shiki appeared behind Gern and demanded to know why he had come; Gern said he intended to claim Shiki’s head for G-10’s budget.
• Shiki attacked Gern with a powerful Slash Wave that carved a trench through the sea.
• Gern drew Eight Desolations and precisely sliced Shiki’s attack in two.
• Shiki questioned why Gern had drawn his blade, and Gern told him that Shiki was the first man to make him truly feel death closing in.

Gern reunited with the aging Golden Lion Shiki, shared a drink with him, and explained that he wanted Shiki’s power rather than his help against Whitebeard. The chapter ended with Gern asking Shiki to become his right-hand man.

• Gern recalled how Golden Lion’s overwhelming strength had once brought him close to death and helped awaken his Conqueror's Haki.
• Gern and Shiki recognized how much time had changed them, then sat together and shared wine.
• After three rounds, Shiki asked Gern why he had come, and Gern said Whitebeard had grown old.
• Shiki angrily refused to help attack or kill Whitebeard, insisting that even pirates had principles.
• Gern clarified that he did not need Shiki to fight Whitebeard and asked him to become his right-hand man for his power to make things float.

Gern urged Golden Lion Shiki to join him, but Shiki rejected him, insisting that Gern was no Rocks. Gern challenged Shiki’s pride and exposed his buried ambition, then offered to overturn the world together; Shiki remained shaken, and his answer was left unresolved.

• Golden Lion Shiki laughed at Gern’s offer and refused to be controlled, declaring that Gern was not Rocks.
• Gern said he followed his own path and argued that Rocks’s former crew members had each found their own ideals.
• Gern told Shiki that he had inherited Rocks’s desire to overturn the world and had hidden for twenty years while pursuing power.
• Gern invited Shiki to join him in creating a new world order, promising he would not die or lose.
• Shiki was deeply shaken by Gern’s words, but the chapter ended before he answered.

Gern revealed that the Op-Op Fruit could remove the ship's wheel from Shiki's head and restore his legs, reigniting the Golden Lion's hope. Shiki admitted the offer was impossible to resist, leaving his decision about following Gern unresolved.

• Gern's ambition and charisma stirred Shiki's buried desire to follow a powerful leader, but Shiki looked at his injuries and decided he was too old and weak to submit again.
• Gern challenged Shiki, who mocked his own broken body and said even a moderately capable pirate could humiliate him.
• Gern told Shiki that the Op-Op Fruit could remove the ship's wheel from his head and give him new legs.
• Shiki's despair gave way to hope, and he told Gern that the temptation was impossible to refuse.