Chapter Summaries

After condemning Koby as a “Shame of the Navy,” Gern explained why he had spared him and then took control of the war’s closing address. He rallied the exhausted Navy soldiers, establishing himself as their leader as the old era ended.

• Gern branded Koby a “Shame of the Navy,” leaving him devastated and Helmeppo fearing his Navy career was finished.
• Enel questioned why Gern had not killed Koby, and Tesoro explained that killing him would have made him a martyr and undermined the soldiers’ support for Gern.
• Gern tacitly accepted Tesoro’s reasoning and left Koby alive to avoid weakening his future authority in the Navy.
• As the war ended, Gern seized the Execution Platform before Sengoku could address the troops and declared the fighting over.
• Gern praised the soldiers, honored the fallen, and rallied the Navy to shout “Justice,” becoming their spiritual leader as the old era fell.

After the Paramount War, Gern Reginald Sigma was hailed as the force who had defended justice, while Sengoku resented the newspaper’s focus on him. Tsuru explained that Gern would first expand his power in the New World and then sideline Sengoku rather than immediately take the Fleet Admiral position.

• Newspapers across the world celebrated Gern Reginald Sigma for defeating Whitebeard and Golden Lion and bringing the war to an end.
• Sengoku angrily complained to Tsuru that the news coverage ignored his role and praised Gern instead.
• Tsuru warned Sengoku that the World Government would keep him as Fleet Admiral during Marine Headquarters’ transition.
• Tsuru reasoned that Gern would prioritize taking over Whitebeard’s territory and consolidating his G-10 domain.
• Tsuru explained that Gern had built his own base by recruiting Zephyr’s promising trainees and would not want Marineford’s tangled factions.
• Tsuru concluded that Gern would wait for the right moment to sideline Sengoku rather than seize the Fleet Admiral position immediately.

Sengoku and Tsuru discussed how Gern’s victory had shifted Marine Headquarters’ center of power to the New World, with Sengoku honoring their agreement while testing whether Gern could govern the wider seas. Sengoku left to use his remaining authority to secure as much funding and equipment as possible from the World Government.

• Tsuru deduced that Gern had persuaded Sengoku to move Marine Headquarters into the New World so the World Government could no longer easily interfere with him.
• Sengoku admitted that Gern would take control by force if necessary and said the relocation was meant to let him consolidate his territory and face the Four Emperors.
• Tsuru asked whether the Marines would abandon order and defense in Paradise, and Sengoku said Gern would have to prove he could maintain the balance there.
• Sengoku said he would resist the World Government’s pressure as long as he remained Fleet Admiral and use the rebuilding and relocation as reasons to demand resources for the Marines.
• Sengoku put on his Fleet Admiral’s cloak and strode out to secure funding, weapons, warships, compensation, and base-construction money.

The Five Elders approved Sengoku’s requests but insisted he remain Fleet Admiral while they discussed how to contain Gern’s growing influence. They decided to use Morgans and political maneuvering to weaken Gern as he was occupied with the New World.

• The Five Elders approved Sengoku’s funding and support requests, gave him half the year’s heavenly tribute, and required him to remain Fleet Admiral.
• The Five Elders discussed Akainu’s recovery and agreed Sengoku needed to stay in office because Gern’s prestige among the Marines was dangerously high.
• Saturn reported that Gern was busy consolidating Whitebeard’s forces while rival powers competed for territory in the New World.
• Saturn told the Five Elders that Vegapunk needed at least two more years to complete the Seraphim project, which had replaced their original Pacifista plan after Gern intervened over Kuma.
• The Five Elders decided to counter Gern by inviting Morgans to report on him and by exalting his name while stripping his power, bolstering his enemies, and severing his roots.

Gern expanded Marine control into Whitebeard’s former territory while his allies pushed back other pirate factions across the New World. He ordered the remaining special funds used to establish Marine branches, aiming to secure lasting control through garrisons, supplies, intelligence, and rapid military deployment.

• Marco and the remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates struggled to defeat Blackbeard’s crew, whose strength kept them from taking revenge or escaping easily.
• Gern destroyed four pirate ships threatening the Srock Kingdom and accepted the kingdom’s handover with almost no resistance.
• Gern asked Tesoro for reports on the campaigns, as Enel and Bartholomew Kuma fought Big Mom’s forces, Lipo and Bullet targeted Kaido’s forces, and Toritoma and Perona confronted Ochoku’s forces.
• Tesoro told Gern that Sengoku had transferred a large sum for New World defense and Marineford reconstruction, and asked how to handle it.
• Gern ordered Tesoro to set aside the funds needed for New Marineford and use all the rest to establish Marine branches across the New World.

Gern told Sengoku he would put Akainu in command of the first half of the Grand Line while building New Marineford in the New World, then learned that the Five Elders had launched their contingency plan. The World Government announced grand honors for Gern and a worldwide broadcast ceremony in Mary Geoise, leaving Gern and Sengoku to recognize the move as a trap.

• Gern proposed giving Akainu sole responsibility for defending Paradise and the entrances to the Four Blues from a new G-2 command at the old Marineford site.
• Sengoku warned that Akainu would not willingly leave the New World power center, but Gern said he would make Akainu accept the assignment of his own free will.
• Sengoku cautioned Gern that the Five Elders might already have activated a contingency plan against them.
• A worldwide flock of newspaper gulls dropped a special edition over G-10 Base, and Gern and Sengoku read the World Government's announcement granting Gern the titles of Supreme Guardian and Legendary Terminator.
• The World Government announced a globally broadcast investiture ceremony in Mary Geoise, and Gern and Sengoku realized the honors were a calculated attempt to bind him to the government.

The World Government praised Gern while spreading doubts about his readiness to lead, hoping to bind his reputation to Sengoku and the Navy’s command structure. As the award ceremony approached, Gern planned to use its worldwide audience to deliver his own message.

• The World Government used the World Economy News Paper and quiet rumors among Marines to praise Gern while arguing that Sengoku should remain in command.
• Koby became a vocal supporter of the campaign to question Gern’s suitability to lead the Navy.
• Garp read the newspaper at Foosha Village, recalled how the World Government had used his Navy Hero title to constrain him, and warned Gern not to be fooled.
• At G-10 Base, Tesoro worried that the award ceremony was a trap, but Gern said he was not afraid and intended to use the stage to speak to the whole world.

The Five Elders debated Gern’s silence and decided his ambitions would likely lead him to accept their honor, but they feared meeting him up close to present the medal. The chapter ended with all five inventing excuses to avoid the task, leaving no one willing to go.

• Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro and Saint Topman Warcury worried that Gern’s silence meant he was plotting against the World Government.
• Saint Marcus Mars, Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, and Jaygarcia Saturn Saint argued that Gern would accept the honor because it offered a path to power and tied him to the World Government.
• Saint Shepherd Ju Peter asked which of the Five Elders would present Gern with the medal, and the others fell silent at the prospect of facing him at close range.
• Jaygarcia Saturn Saint, Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, Saint Topman Warcury, and Saint Marcus Mars each cited urgent duties as reasons they could not present the medal.
• Saint Shepherd Ju Peter tried to offer an excuse, but the other four dismissed his responsibilities, and he privately cursed them for leaving him with the task.

Gern arrived at the World Government’s worldwide-broadcast decoration ceremony with the Calamities, where the assembled powers awaited him warily. He challenged the Five Elders and the Celestial Dragons to name a “god” who dared decorate him, provoking uproar across the world.

• The World Government opened its decoration ceremony in Mary Geoise and broadcast it live, drawing Navy leaders, Underworld emperors, rulers, pirates, and revolutionaries to watch.
• Gern emerged onto the stage in formal Navy uniform with the Calamities, while the Five Elders, Holy Knights, and Celestial Dragons watched tensely.
• Gern walked alone toward the central stage and looked directly toward the World Government’s representatives.
• Gern pointed at the Five Elders and demanded to know which “god” dared decorate him, openly challenging the World Government before the worldwide broadcast.
• The Five Elders reacted with shock and anger, and the world erupted in uproar.

At the World Government’s televised banquet, the Five Elders tried to bind Admiral Gern to them by conferring the title of World Government’s Supreme Guardian. Gern ripped off the medal in front of the world and declared it unworthy of him, leaving Sengoku unsure what solution Gern had planned.

• Saint Garling prepared to draw his sword, but Lady Gunko ordered him to stay quiet.
• Saint Shepherd Ju Peter presented Gern with the World Government’s Supreme Guardian medal and privately warned him that the Navy must remain subordinate to the World Government.
• Ju Peter announced Gern’s new title to the crowd and cameras as Gern seized him by the shoulder.
• Gern tore the medal from his chest and declared that it was not worthy of him.
• Sengoku watched Gern’s public refusal in shock, wondering whether this was the solution Gern had mentioned.

Gern crushed the World Government’s medal and declared its honor belonged to the entire Navy, turning the ceremony into a public challenge. Saint Warcury responded by offering Gern a grand-sounding Navy post designed to keep him confined to the New World, while leaving the story with the World Government’s restrictions exposed.

• Gern thanked the World Government, then crushed his medal and declared that its honor belonged to every Marine who had fought and sacrificed in the Paramount War.
• Gern slapped the medal dust onto Saint Shepherd Ju Peter, who realized Gern had turned the attempt to bind him with honor into a weapon for rallying the Navy.
• Saint Topman Warcury praised Gern’s argument and claimed the Navy needed stability and a powerful commander in the New World.
• Warcury announced that Sengoku would remain Fleet Admiral and that Gern would become Grand Commander of the Navy, also called New World Governor.
• Warcury presented the post as granting Gern command over New World bases and authority to launch operations against the Four Emperors, but funding and senior personnel decisions would remain controlled by others.

Gern accepted the World Government’s appointment as Grand Commander, then used the authority it publicly granted him to propose moving Marine Headquarters to the New World, where his G-10 Base would become the Navy’s center of power. Sengoku endorsed the plan, leaving the World Government under pressure to accept Gern’s real objective.

• Saint Warcury offered Gern the Grand Commander position, expecting the title to contain his influence, but Gern accepted and demanded unified control over New World base budgets, supplies, and lower-ranking officer appointments and transfers.
• After Saint Warcury publicly affirmed Gern’s authority, Gern proposed relocating Marine Headquarters to the New World and building it around G-10 Base.
• Gern argued that the move would let the Navy confront the Four Emperors, avenge fallen Marines, and fulfill the World Government’s directive to prepare for retaliation.
• Gern urged Fleet Admiral Sengoku to lead the new Headquarters, and Sengoku publicly approved the relocation proposal.
• Saint Warcury realized Gern had used the World Government’s public recognition to advance his plan to move the Navy’s command center onto his power base.

At a live award ceremony, Gern used the honors bestowed on him and the Navy’s rules of autonomy to secure approval to move Marine Headquarters to the New World. Kong backed Gern’s authority, leaving the Five Elders unable to stop the relocation and marking Gern’s political victory.

• Gern’s proposal to relocate Marine Headquarters to the New World stunned the Five Elders, who realized his honors made opposing him politically dangerous.
• Saint Marcus Mars tried to block the relocation on strategic grounds, but Gern argued that the Navy controlled its internal affairs and that Sengoku and he had agreed to the plan.
• Gern asked Commander-in-Chief Kong to confirm the Navy’s authority over the relocation.
• Kong declared that Sengoku and Gern could decide on the relocation and major strategic changes without World Government interference.
• The Five Elders were left powerless as Gern’s award ceremony became a public triumph.

Im briefly took control of Gunko, judged Gern to be no threat because he was neither a D. nor a Davy, and ordered the Five Elders to end the award ceremony. Gern became Grand Commander of the Navy in the New World, and the Navy’s planned headquarters relocation sparked sharply different reactions across the seas.

• Im’s will descended on Gunko and examined Gern, concluding that he was neither a D. nor a Davy.
• The Five Elders obeyed Im’s command, and Saint Shepherd Ju Peter ended the ceremony without further protest.
• Gern sensed the distant will’s dismissive attitude and resolved to carry out his plans while Im underestimated him.
• The World Economy News Paper reported Gern’s appointment, Sengoku’s continued leadership, and the Navy headquarters’ move to the New World.
• Pirates in Paradise celebrated the perceived Navy withdrawal, while New World pirates feared Gern’s expanded ability to strike their territory.
• Gern’s moves reshaped the balance of power across the seas.

The Five Elders summoned Sakazuki and tried to turn him against Gern, offering his faction priority access to the Seraphim. Sakazuki rejected their attempt, defended Gern’s justice, and accused the Elders of fearing the threat Gern posed to their power.

• A week after the award ceremony, the Five Elders summoned Sakazuki to the Power Hall in Mary Geoise.
• Saint Shepherd Ju Peter and Saint Topman Warcury criticized Gern’s actions and warned that he was using the Navy to pursue his own ambitions.
• Jaygarcia Saturn Saint promised Sakazuki’s faction priority access to the Seraphim if he continued competing with Gern’s faction.
• Sakazuki rebuked the Five Elders for disparaging Gern, whose achievements and duties he acknowledged.
• Sakazuki defended the justice Gern upheld and accused the Five Elders of fearing his “calamity justice.”

Akainu defied the Five Elders’ attempt to control him and left the Power Hall, while Aokiji confronted him over his extreme sense of justice. Their argument nearly became a fight in Mary Geoise, but Akainu walked away, leaving their conflict close to a breaking point.

• Akainu told the Five Elders that he did not need their support and defended his right to judge the World Government’s orders for himself.
• Akainu reminded the Five Elders that the Marine Science Unit belonged to the Marines, then left the Power Hall as they watched in anger.
• Akainu encountered Aokiji at the elevator passage and realized the World Government had summoned both of them to encourage rivalry.
• Aokiji taunted Akainu about Garp’s punch at the end of the Paramount War and challenged his belief in absolute justice.
• Aokiji suggested they fight in Mary Geoise like Gern, but Akainu glared at him and walked away.

After the public political showdown, Gern worked to consolidate Whitebeard’s former territory, plan New Marineford, and maintain order in the first half of the Grand Line. Sengoku teased Gern as he handled the workload, while Gern remained confident that events were unfolding according to his plan.

• Gern issued military orders for Bullet to suppress pirates, Tesoro to take over commercial networks, and Enel and Kuma to patrol borders against Big Mom’s and Kaido’s forces.
• Gern sent Sengoku G-2 Base’s plans and data, asking him to prepare an expansion plan and budget for New Marineford and begin preliminary construction.
• Gern recommended that Momonga, Onigumo, and other Vice Admirals rotate through key positions in the first half of the Grand Line and conduct mobile patrols and strikes.
• Sengoku relaxed on Gern’s sofa, eating senbei and teasing him about taking on the work while the Fleet Admiral’s authority still left many approvals in Gern’s hands.
• Gern returned to his documents, accepting the burden as part of taking control and believing his plans were proceeding as intended.

As the rivalry between Sakazuki and Kuzan escalated amid the Marines’ factional struggle, they fought a duel to the death on Punk Hazard. Gern intervened just before Sakazuki could kill Kuzan, who lost his left leg and was utterly defeated.

• Gern learned that Akainu’s and Aokiji’s factions had buried the office in accusations and demands despite a ban on formal meetings.
• A messenger reported that Sakazuki and Kuzan were fighting to the death on Punk Hazard, and Gern hurried to respond.
• Sakazuki and Kuzan unleashed their magma and ice powers, permanently splitting Punk Hazard into volcanic and frozen halves.
• Gern reached the island and stopped Sakazuki from delivering a fatal blow to the fallen Kuzan.
• Kuzan lost his left leg and survived through Gern’s intervention, while Sakazuki won the duel.

Two months after his defeat, Aokiji woke in the Navy Hospital and learned Sakazuki had taken on most of his life-threatening injuries through Kuma’s ability. He accepted Gern’s leadership of the Navy and left to search for his own sense of justice.

• Aokiji woke to find his left leg missing and formed an ice leg to leave his hospital room.
• Gern told Aokiji that Kuma had expelled his life-threatening injuries, but Sakazuki had borne most of the damage and still had not woken.
• Aokiji realized Sakazuki’s actions reflected a deep conviction beneath his extreme pursuit of justice.
• Aokiji acknowledged that the Navy belonged to Gern and said he could not have led it.
• Aokiji told Gern he wanted to find his justice again, then walked away from the Navy toward an unknown future.

Aokiji’s resignation ended the Era of Four Admirals, while Koby, Buggy, and other figures gained influence through schemes and shifting alliances. Gern then tried to persuade the injured Akainu to take command of G-2 and enforce order in the first half of the Grand Line.

• Aokiji resigned from the Marines and departed after his defeat by Akainu, ending the Era of Four Admirals.
• Koby contacted Blackbeard and Trafalgar Law to plot a scheme around Rocky Port, hoping to build his reputation as a hero.
• Buggy founded Buggy’s Delivery with Crocodile’s loan and became a Shichibukai in place of Gecko Moria.
• Gern visited the recovering Akainu at G-1 and argued that the Navy’s relocation to the New World would leave Paradise vulnerable to pirates.
• Gern urged Akainu to command the new G-2 branch at the old Marineford site and impose order with his Absolute Justice.