Chapter Summaries

The Five Elders remained kneeling in Mary Geoise after Imu ordered them not to descend to the world below, while Gern Reginald Sigma dismantled the World Government’s influence. Imu eventually reconnected with them and sent broken fragments of a confrontation with a mysterious golden-red “fire,” ordering them to withdraw, observe, and investigate it.

• Ju Peter asked Nusjuro what had happened when he confronted Gern, and Nusjuro said he remembered losing but had no memory of the time before returning to Mary Geoise.
• Saturn told the others that their missing memories were an aftereffect of Imu’s descent and that they should not investigate it.
• Mars and Warcury described how Gern’s Marines had seized Enies Lobby, blockaded the Gate of Justice, disrupted tribute collection, and drawn affiliated nations toward New Marineford.
• Warcury warned that the World Government risked losing its legitimacy and becoming hated as invaders, but Nusjuro reminded him that they could not disobey Imu’s order.
• After an unknown stretch of time, Imu’s presence reconnected with the Five Elders and sent them fragments about darkness, a searing golden-red light, and a command to withdraw, observe, and investigate the fire.

The Five Elders learned that Gern’s golden-red “Spark” had injured Imu and made it fear facing him, so they planned to undermine Gern’s system and exploit the world’s shifting balance. Imu’s wound continued to resist regeneration, and Imu ordered Gunko to find Davy’s descendant because it intended to use him.

• The Five Elders realized Imu had been injured by Gern’s “fire,” and Saint Mars ordered a search for its origins and weaknesses.
• Saint Saturn directed Cipher Pol to gather intelligence and weaken Gern’s system, while the Elders planned to support loyal nations and use the Emperors to divert the Navy.
• In the Flower Room, Imu suffered from Gern’s slash, whose golden-red sparks prevented the wound from healing.
• Gunko saw Imu’s pain and fear, and Imu told her it would never face Gern again.
• Imu dismissed the Five Elders as useless and ordered Gunko to find Davy’s descendant, saying it would use him.

On Hachinosu, Blackbeard brooded over his failed attempt to steal Enel’s Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the retaliation he expected from Gern’s Marines. Samuel Kronos urged him to focus on surviving the coming storm, while Blackbeard weighed the weaknesses of his crew against Gern’s powerful forces.

• Blackbeard cursed the failure to take Enel’s Rumble-Rumble Fruit after Kizaru and Hawk-Eye intervened, and feared the consequences of making an enemy of Gern.
• Samuel Kronos told Blackbeard that the crew needed to prepare for Marine retaliation and seek another opportunity.
• Blackbeard surveyed his officers, including Shiryu, Catarina Devon, Pizarro, and Sanjuan Wolf, and recognized that the crew lacked enough powerful fighters.
• Blackbeard considered the strength of Gern’s forces, including Enel, Mihawk, Bullet, Tesoro, Toritoma, and Gern himself.

Blackbeard planned to fortify Hachinosu while seeking allies and intelligence to exploit the new era’s shifting power balance. Before he could act on his orders, a sudden wave of cold froze the town and several of his officers.

• Samuel Kronos urged Blackbeard to seek allies among the World Government, the Revolutionary Army, and other hidden forces.
• Blackbeard ordered Hachinosu’s defenses strengthened, his Intelligence Network activated, and Samuel to contact potential allies and useful informants.
• A freezing gust burst through the hall doors and revealed that the town had been encased in ice.
• Avalo Pizarro’s island body and Sanjuan Wolf were frozen, leaving the pirates inside the hall stunned.

Kuzan invaded Blackbeard’s stronghold and froze the Blackbeard Pirates’ strategist Samuel Kronos before stopping Blackbeard from attacking. He sat down and said he had come to talk, leaving Blackbeard and his officers surrounded by ice and unsure of his purpose.

• Kuzan appeared in Blackbeard’s hall after freezing Hachinosu’s outskirts and its defenses.
• Samuel Kronos sent hidden mycelium toward Kuzan, but Kuzan moved beside him and froze him from the inside out.
• Blackbeard prepared to attack Kuzan with the Dark-Dark and Tremor-Tremor Fruits, but Kuzan warned that the quake would shatter his frozen subordinates.
• Blackbeard halted his attack and demanded to know what Kuzan wanted.
• Kuzan sat at the table and told Blackbeard he had come to talk in a quiet place.

Blackbeard questioned Kuzan about his allegiance, and Kuzan revealed that Akainu had severed his leg at Punk Hazard, explaining why he would not return to the Marines. Seeing an opportunity to gain a powerful ally, Blackbeard invited Kuzan to become his equal partner and help him challenge the Marines and World Government.

• Blackbeard asked Kuzan why he had not returned to the independent Marines under Gern.
• Kuzan snapped off his ice prosthetic leg and said Akainu had broken his real leg during their fight at Punk Hazard.
• Blackbeard weighed Kuzan’s estrangement from the Marines and his immense strength as a possible asset.
• Blackbeard offered Kuzan a place as his equal partner, promising revenge and the power to shake up the New World.

Kuzan agreed to join the Blackbeard Pirates after demanding freedom and answers about Blackbeard’s ties to the World Government. News of the alliance alarmed the sea’s major factions, while Garp announced he would confront his former student and Gern let him make his case.

• Kuzan questioned Blackbeard’s trustworthiness, set three conditions for working with him, and accepted Blackbeard’s invitation without receiving an answer about his hidden connections.
• News of Kuzan joining the Blackbeard Pirates spread, prompting Buggy, Crocodile, Redfield, Shanks, Kaido, Big Mom, and Katakuri to reassess the crew’s threat.
• Garp stormed into Gern’s office and condemned Kuzan for joining Blackbeard rather than returning to the independent Marines.
• Garp told Gern he was taking leave to visit the Blackbeard Pirates and punch some sense into Kuzan.
• Gern cautioned Garp about confronting the entire crew alone, but Garp sat down with senbei and began boasting about his strength.

Gern approved Garp’s personal trip to confront Kuzan while studying SWORD’s resistance to Marine independence. With Koby captured by Blackbeard’s forces, Gern decided to use a rescue operation to deal with the young captain and his political influence.

• Gern reviewed intelligence describing X Drake’s continued undercover activity and Koby’s opposition to Marine independence.
• Garp insisted on going after Kuzan, and Gern approved his leave on the conditions that he act privately and return alive.
• Garp left Gern’s office to confront Kuzan.
• Gern read the report stating that Koby had been captured after his ship lost a battle with Jesus Burgess and that Koby had offered himself in exchange for a thousand Marines.
• Gern wrote a recommendation for Koby’s rescue, planning to use the operation to address SWORD’s resistance.

Gern struggled with the overwhelming workload of leading the independent Marines while planning to secure Wano Country and Elbaf. He ended the chapter exhausted and desperately begging Sengoku to return from vacation and help him.

• Gern finished approving documents and lamented the administrative burden created by the Marines' declaration of independence.
• Gern considered recruiting help, especially retired Staff Officer Tsuru and former Fleet Admiral Sengoku, to support him with management and strategy.
• Gern identified Wano Country and its resources as a priority, while noting that the Straw Hat Pirates had appeared on Whole Cake Island.
• Gern recognized Elbaf's giant warriors as a major strategic asset after learning that Imu had once tried to bring the nation under World Government control.
• Gern remembered that Garp had gone to Hachinosu and feared that Koby might gamble away the Vice Admiral, then cried out for Sengoku to return and help him.

Kuma, Lipo, and Enel chatted about Marine promotions as Enel learned Bullet had already applied to become an Admiral and Mihawk had been recommended but declined. Enel rushed off to challenge Gern, while Kuma decided he was content with his current role.

• Kuma, Lipo, and Enel relaxed on the lawn and discussed Gern's demanding work as Fleet Admiral.
• Enel announced that he had applied for the vacant Admiral position and planned to call himself "Thunder God."
• Kuma and Lipo told Enel that Bullet had applied a week earlier and that his promotion application had passed its first review.
• Kuma said Mihawk had also been recommended for Admiral but had turned down the position.
• Enel flew off to demand an explanation from Gern, while Kuma declined to apply and said he was happy protecting his family and supporting the Marines.

In August 1522, Gern directed the Neo Marines’ response to upheavals across the seas and ordered Sakazuki to handle Revolutionary Army activity in Marine-controlled territory. As Gern and Sengoku prepared to discuss the World Government’s envoy, Saint Topman Warcury arrived at New Marineford.

• Reports described Luffy’s rise as the Fifth Emperor, Weevil’s defeat by Redfield, Shanks’s raids, and continued Revolutionary Army attacks in the first half of the Grand Line.
• Gern promoted Enel and Bullet to Admirals and assigned them deterrence patrols, while he and Sengoku discussed responses to Shanks and the Straw Hat Pirates.
• After learning Dragon had rejected his offer of cooperation, Gern gave Sakazuki full authority to address Revolutionary Army activity in Marine territory, warning that continued unrest would count as a direct provocation.
• Gern and Sengoku joked about Sengoku’s compliment before returning to plans for the World Government’s visit.
• Tesoro reported that Saint Topman Warcury had arrived off New Marineford and requested permission to enter port.

Saint Topman Warcury arrived at New Marineford to negotiate with the Neo Marines, but received a cold welcome that showed how much the Marines had distanced themselves from the World Government. Kizaru directed him to Gern and Sengoku, and Warcury entered the conference room to face them.

• Rob Lucci escorted Saint Topman Warcury off the World Government ship, where Marine soldiers ignored their arrival.
• Warcury reflected on the Celestial Dragons’ losses and the pressure on the Five Elders to negotiate with Gern.
• Kizaru mocked Warcury’s visit, told him Gern and Sengoku were inside, and warned Lucci that he was lucky Tesoro had fought him instead.
• Warcury ordered Lucci to open the conference room doors and entered to find Gern and Sengoku waiting at the table.

Gern rejected Saint Topman Warcury’s offer to restore cooperation between the Navy and the World Government, then announced that Celestial Dragons had no special legal status in Navy territory. He laid out the Navy’s control of the Red Line’s access routes and its demand that the Holy Land free documented civilian slaves within a month, leaving Warcury facing an ultimatum backed by Gern’s threat of all-out war.

• Saint Topman Warcury offered to forgive past disputes if the Navy resumed escorting heavenly tribute and protected Celestial Dragons.
• Gern said the Navy was holding the World Government accountable, replaced the heavenly tribute with a Navy tax, and mocked Warcury’s demand for Celestial Dragon privileges.
• Gern broadcast the abolition of Celestial Dragon exemptions in Navy territory and ordered past crimes by World Nobles investigated and tried.
• Gern told Warcury that the Navy controlled Red Port and the Red Line’s passages, and that unauthorized World Government activity in Navy territory would be treated as espionage.
• Gern gave the Holy Land one month to free documented civilian slaves and threatened all-out war if the World Government refused or secretly defied the order.

Shanks attacked Marine G-14 to force Gern to meet him, convinced Gern’s independence threatened the plan to defeat the World Government and bring about the destined dawn. Kizaru confronted Shanks and warned him not to underestimate the Marines, leaving the standoff unresolved.

• Shanks defeated the Marines at G-14, released Vice Admiral Doll, and knocked the remaining Marines unconscious with his Conqueror’s Haki.
• Shanks told Benn Beckman that Gern’s independence was reckless and that Gern was not the destined person meant to overthrow the old world.
• Shanks ordered the Red Hair Pirates to tell Gern to meet him in the New World or face further attacks on Marine strongholds.
• Kizaru arrived and challenged Shanks over his threats against Gern and the Marines.
• Kizaru fired Yasakani no Magatama around the Red Force as a warning, then told Shanks not to underestimate justice.

Gern returned to Fish-Man Island while Sengoku urged him to answer Shanks’s challenge, and he asked Neptune and Otohime about Elbaf’s King Harald. Their account suggested Harald had once cooperated closely with the World Government before a mysterious mistake led to his death and Elbaf’s isolation, leaving Gern with a reason to investigate the island.

• The World Government quietly released enslaved civilians after Gern’s negotiations, while Kizaru reported that Shanks had attacked G-14 and demanded a meeting with Gern.
• Sengoku called Gern at Fish-Man Island, but Gern dismissed Shanks’s demand for the moment and asked Sengoku to gather classified records about Elbaf, the giants, and Harald.
• At Ryugu Palace, Neptune and Otohime pledged Fish-Man Island’s support for Gern and the Marines’ new path.
• Gern asked Neptune and Otohime about Harald, and they explained that he had cooperated extensively with the World Government before an unknown grave mistake shattered their ties.
• Neptune urged Gern to visit Elbaf to learn more about Harald’s past.

Gern sailed from Fish-Man Island toward Elbaf, planning to pass Wano Country after the battle between Kaido’s Beasts Pirates and the Worst Generation alliance and claim the spoils. He left the usual route behind by propelling his reinforced speedboat across the sea with an Air Quake, racing toward the Giant Kingdom.

• Gern studied his route to Elbaf and noted that it passed Hachinosu and Wano Country.
• Gern concluded that he would arrive too late to join the fighting in Wano and decided to claim the aftermath instead.
• Gern reflected that Luffy would likely awaken Gear Fifth and Nika during the battle against Kaido.
• Gern set Elbaf as his main objective, intending to investigate Harald, the giants’ potential, and their military value.
• Gern unleashed an Air Quake behind his speedboat, sending it across the sea at incredible speed toward Elbaf.

The Nine Red Scabbards reunited in Wano and grieved over Momonosuke’s death, while Kin'emon warned that Gern intended to claim Wano for himself. They renewed their resolve to defeat Kaido and Orochi and protect Hiyori, though Izo feared Gern’s strength.

• Kin'emon relived Momonosuke’s death at Gern’s hands and broke down in anguish.
• Inuarashi and Cat Viper voiced their hatred of Gern, recalling his past humiliation of Oden and vowing to settle the score.
• Kin'emon warned that Gern viewed Wano as a prize and could threaten the country even after Kaido and Big Mom were defeated.
• Denjiro and Kawamatsu urged the Scabbards to focus on defeating Kaido and Orochi and protecting Hiyori.
• Izo recalled Gern fighting Whitebeard at Marineford and silently warned Kikunojo that the Scabbards could not underestimate him.

Garp led SWORD to Hachinosu to rescue Koby and confront Kuzan, fighting his way through Blackbeard’s officers before battling his former pupil. With Koby rescued, Garp prepared to retreat while his fight with Kuzan remained unresolved.

• Garp arrived at Hachinosu with SWORD to rescue Koby while Blackbeard was away, and he quickly defeated Sanjuan Wolf and battered Samuel and Pizarro’s forces.
• Kuzan confronted Garp and froze him with Frozen Capsule, but Garp burst out of the ice unharmed and slammed Kuzan into the ground.
• Garp and Kuzan fought with Haki and ice powers, as Garp urged Kuzan to return to the Marines and Kuzan insisted he was following his own path.
• Prince Grus and the SWORD members found the injured Koby in a dungeon and reported that they had rescued him.
• Garp knocked back Kuzan’s ice attack, saw Koby had been freed, and decided it was time to retreat.

Koby rushed toward a girl's cries for help and walked into Shiryu's ambush, so Garp took the sword meant for him. As Garp stood wounded and shielding Koby and the Sword members from the Blackbeard Pirates' gathered fighters, Kuzan prepared to attack again.

• Koby ran toward a burning alley despite Garp and the Sword members warning him that it was a trap.
• Shiryu of the Rain emerged from invisibility and stabbed at Koby, but Garp rushed in front of him and took Raiu through the chest.
• Garp punched Shiryu, seized Raiu, and tried to finish him, but Pizarro raised an island wave that separated Garp from Koby and the Sword members.
• Garp threw Raiu toward Shiryu and shielded Koby and the Sword members as Kuzan, Samuel, Shiryu, and Pizarro surrounded them.
• Kuzan expressed conflicted regret toward Garp, then gathered ice in his palm as the freezing tide surged again.

Garp used a devastating strike to destroy Hachinosu’s skull mountain, crippling Pizarro’s control of the island and creating an opening for SWORD to escape with Koby. Garp was hurled away in the blast, while Kuzan let the survivors flee and Garp reflected that Gern had been right about his bet in the New World.

• Samuel and Shiryu moved to attack Garp, but Kuzan blocked them with ice and warned them that they were no match for him.
• Garp signaled SWORD to prepare to break out, then launched a lightning-fast attack past Kuzan and the pirates toward Hachinosu’s skull mountain.
• Garp struck the skull mountain with Fist Bone: Impact, destroying it and causing Pizarro unbearable pain as his control of the island failed.
• Koby and the SWORD members ran toward their warship, and Kuzan let them escape without pursuit.
• The blast hurled Garp away from the center of the explosion, leaving his fate uncertain as he recalled Gern’s prediction about his bet in the New World.