Chapter Summaries

Gern and Kozuki Oden fought fiercely on the Deserted Island, where Oden awakened Conqueror’s Coating and wounded Gern with Paradise Waterfall. Gern’s Eight Desolations then fused its vibrations with his Conqueror’s Haki, and he prepared to unleash his newly awakened power on Oden.

• Gern used his Observation Haki and a series of vibration attacks to overwhelm Oden, but Oden endured the blows and kept fighting.
• Oden recognized the lesson Baiji had taught him, awakened Conqueror’s Coating, and struck Gern across the chest with Paradise Waterfall.
• Gern realized Oden had used the Micro-Vibration Cores to disrupt his predictions, while Eight Desolations began responding to his fighting spirit.
• Gern fused his Conqueror’s Haki with the blade’s high-frequency vibrations, unleashing purple-white energy that overwhelmed Oden’s Haki.
• Gern pointed Eight Desolations at Oden and declared that his next attack would show him what it meant when kings did not meet kings.

Gern and Kozuki Oden fought a devastating duel on a deserted island, each pushing the other to the limit with Haki, swordsmanship, and tremor attacks. Their final clash split the island in two and left both men wounded, with the fight unresolved.

• Oden and Gern exchanged powerful sword strikes and tremor attacks that shattered the island and drove tsunamis through the surrounding sea.
• Gern evaded Oden’s Paradise Waterfall and struck him with Black Quake: Star Piercer, but Oden recovered and demanded another exchange.
• Oden unleashed Oden Two-Sword Style: Togen Totsuka as Gern answered with Heavenquake: Sky Rend, and their blades collided in a catastrophic shock wave.
• Oden changed his attack to cut at Gern’s chin while Gern punched Oden in the abdomen, and Enma’s extended Haki blade pierced Gern’s right shoulder.
• Both fighters were blasted backward, and the deserted island lay split in two as the dust began to clear.

Gern defeated Oden with his newly advanced vibration techniques, then left him alive and pinned him to the battlefield when Whitebeard arrived. Whitebeard confronted Gern from the Moby Dick as Gern prepared to face the consequences of his choice.

• Gern accelerated molecular vibrations to superheat his sword and used Godfall to launch Oden into the sky.
• Gern vanished through space and unleashed eighty-one slashes, then detonated their accumulated heat in Vibration Ashes: Crimson Lotus Prison, defeating Oden.
• After the flames subsided, Gern retrieved Ame no Habakiri and Enma and approached the incapacitated Oden.
• Whitebeard arrived aboard the Moby Dick and called out to Gern, who recognized that killing Oden would cost him his own life.
• Gern crossed Ame no Habakiri and Enma and drove them into the ground on either side of Oden's neck, pinning him in place.

After Gern defeated Oden, Whitebeard confronted him but refused to avenge Oden, while Lipo joined Gern and rebuked Inuarashi and Cat Viper for becoming pirates. Kong, Sakazuki, and Sengoku arrived to back Gern, and the chapter ended with a devastating battle and a ceasefire that let Whitebeard take Oden away.

• The Whitebeard Pirates reacted to Oden's defeat, but Whitebeard told Gern he would not attack him over the duel.
• Whitebeard stopped Inuarashi and Cat Viper from charging Gern, and Lipo appeared to stand beside Gern.
• Lipo condemned Inuarashi and Cat Viper for abandoning their duty to Zou and becoming pirates.
• Kong, Sakazuki, and Sengoku arrived to reinforce Gern, who collapsed against Lipo after insisting he had only fought an ordinary pirate.
• Whitebeard called for a ceasefire, but the Marines attacked, and the ensuing battle left the island destroyed and Whitebeard gravely wounded.
• Kong agreed to let Whitebeard take Oden away, ending the clash as the Whitebeard Pirates retreated.

Gern woke in the G-3 infirmary after Lipo healed him with a Healing Carrot made from Kozuki Oden’s life force, leaving Oden gravely weakened aboard the Moby Dick. Inuarashi and Cat Viper struggled with Lipo’s rejection of their life as pirates and admitted they feared how she saw them.

• Gern awoke after three days and learned Lipo had healed his wounds with a Healing Carrot made from Oden’s life force.
• Gern realized the carrot had restored and seemingly strengthened him, and worried that Oden was suffering the cost.
• Marco found Oden’s recovery unusually poor while Toki, Inuarashi, and Cat Viper watched over him.
• Inuarashi and Cat Viper left the infirmary after Jozu challenged their silence, carrying the pain of Lipo’s words about their pirate life.
• On deck, Inuarashi admitted to Cat Viper that he feared Lipo now saw them as real pirates, while Marco listened unseen and left.

At G-3 Base, Sengoku discussed Gern and Sakazuki’s unauthorized actions and revealed that Fleet Admiral Kong had considered removing Gern from his post. Gern explained his belief in “calamity justice,” leaving Sengoku to recognize how radically it could threaten the old order.

• Gern recovered from his battle with Kozuki Oden as Sengoku praised his strength and questioned his actions with Sakazuki.
• Sengoku told Gern that Kong had nearly removed him from his post, but Zephyr, Sakazuki, and Garp had objected; Headquarters had suppressed the incident’s news and warned them to rein in their cooperation.
• Sengoku revealed that Rocks had earned his first bounty by using Eight Desolations to kill a Marine Admiral at Mary Geoise, shocking Gern.
• When Sengoku asked what justice he believed in, Gern called it “calamity justice” and said evil should be destroyed as inevitably as a natural disaster.
• After Gern left, Sengoku concluded that his radical justice threatened the old order in a way even Sakazuki’s Absolute Justice did not.

In 1494, Gern was promoted to Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral after a career of major victories, including defeating Kozuki Oden. While on administrative leave, he shared drinks with Kuzan and recounted how Sakazuki’s trust had turned their successful work at G-3 Base into an exhausting stretch of paperwork.

• Gern was promoted to Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral after defeating twenty-four notorious pirate crews and Kozuki Oden.
• The chapter recounted Roger meeting Kozuki Oden’s story, Douglas Bullet joining the Roger Pirates, Roger’s illness, and other events that shaped the seas from 1492 to 1494.
• Gern sat alone in a Marineford tavern, where Kuzan arrived to congratulate him on his promotion.
• Gern told Kuzan that clearing the pirates from G-3 Base had left him doing base-development work and paperwork under Sakazuki’s constant supervision.
• Kuzan teased Gern about his bond with Lipo when she joined them after training with Zephyr, and Gern left the tavern with her.

Gern received approval for three months of leave and said he planned to handle personal business while away. Before leaving, he met Smoker and Tina at the training camp, then asked Zephyr to look after Lipo.

• Gern left Kong’s office with approval for three months of leave.
• Gern watched Smoker train and met Smoker and Tina, who admired his strength and reputation.
• Zephyr caught Smoker and Tina chatting and ordered them to complete five hundred extra conditioning drills.
• Zephyr told Gern he might have to give up his admiral position in a few years and serve as a Celestial Dragon bodyguard.
• Gern told Zephyr he was leaving on personal business and asked him to look after Lipo; Zephyr agreed.

Gern visited Egghead Island, met Kizaru, Sentomaru, and Vegapunk, and obtained Marine intelligence about Gild Tesoro. As he left, he reflected that Kizaru’s distance from others might one day let him destroy the people he cared about.

• Gern arrived at Egghead Island and met young Sentomaru, who accidentally revealed that Kizaru was napping nearby.
• Kizaru greeted Gern, and Gern asked him about the matter they had discussed over the Den Den Mushi.
• Kizaru gave Gern Marine intelligence on Gild Tesoro, whom Gern believed would become important in the future.
• Vegapunk enthusiastically asked to study Gern’s vibration ability, but Gern refused his proposed experiments.
• Gern shared a warm dinner with Kizaru, Vegapunk, and Sentomaru, then departed Egghead Island reflecting on Kizaru’s solitude.

Rear Admiral Gern planned a return voyage through West Blue and stopped at Sabaody, where he confronted the rookie pirate Crocodile. Gern disabled Crocodile’s sand powers with vibrations and knocked him into a mangrove tree.

• Gern ordered his warship to return to West Blue and inspect the 133rd Branch, while keeping his plan to recruit Tesoro in mind.
• Gern resupplied at G-1, received headquarters approval, and traveled over the Red Line to Sabaody.
• At Sabaody, Gern learned that Crocodile had arrived and gained a reputation as the strongest rookie pirate.
• Crocodile burst out of a tavern and challenged Gern after spotting the Marine.
• Gern used Vibration Justice to disrupt Crocodile’s control of sand and kicked him into a mangrove trunk.

Gern defeats Crocodile on Sabaody Archipelago and leaves for West Blue, where he finds an enormous, glorified portrait of himself at Branch 133. He decides to arrive quietly so he can see what Asahi and the branch are doing.

• Gern kicked Crocodile into a mangrove tree, and the pirates and Navy soldiers recognized him as the legendary Heavenquake Gern.
• Crocodile tried to attack Gern with his sand powers, but Gern knocked him unconscious with a high-frequency vibration to the head.
• Gern left Sabaody aboard his warship and told a petty officer he had intervened partly to take down a Supernova while on leave.
• Several days later, Gern reached West Blue and saw an enormous beautified portrait of himself labeled “God of West Blue-Gern Reginald Sigma” at Branch 133.
• Gern suspected Asahi was behind the portrait and told the petty officer not to announce their arrival.

Rear Admiral Gern returned to West Blue Marine Branch 133 after nearly ten years and reunited with its commander, Asahi. As the branch welcomed him home, Gern felt that the place was where he truly belonged.

• Marine soldiers recognized Gern's warship and urgently notified Base Commander Asahi of his return.
• Gern arrived at the renovated branch and was greeted by Asahi, who saluted him and welcomed him on inspection.
• Gern reassured Asahi that he had come back during his leave, and the two reunited as friends.
• Asahi showed Gern the branch's welcome banner and portrait, while recruits learned about Gern's history there.
• Gern looked around the branch and felt at home among its familiar grounds and people.

Gern returned to Branch 133, where Asahi pledged the branch’s support and arranged a celebration in his honor. Gern met Bellemere, learned how she had ended up in the West Blue, and offered to help her return to Cocoyasi Village.

• Asahi told Gern that headquarters had approved his promotion prospects and promised to publicly welcome him back at Branch 133.
• Bellemere entered Asahi’s office, and Gern recognized her as a native of Cocoyasi Village and offered her his support.
• Bellemere showed Gern the expanded training ground and explained that Asahi had rescued her after pirates destroyed her warship and killed her unit.
• Gern offered to arrange a trip for Bellemere to visit her hometown, but she said her Marine duties kept her in the West Blue.
• Bellemere asked why Gern was helping her, and he answered that some people were destined to meet, comparing their connection to Cocoyasi’s orange trees.

In Lilikaya, Gern encountered the young Mihawk, who challenged him to a duel after sensing his swordsmanship. Gern overwhelmed Mihawk with his presence and agreed to fight him at the docks, offering him a chance to consider joining the Marines if he lost.

• Gern searched Lilikaya for Tesoro while passing the city's slave shops.
• Mihawk recognized Gern as a master swordsman and challenged him to fight.
• Gern released a crushing pressure that left Mihawk shaken, then identified himself as Marine Headquarters Rear Admiral Gern.
• Mihawk admitted he was no match for Gern but insisted on seeing the gap between their strength for himself.
• Gern agreed to spar with Mihawk and suggested they head to an empty stretch of docks.

Gern defeated Mihawk in a swordfight but gave him five years to grow stronger before they fought again, with Mihawk vowing not to lose a second time. Later, Gern found Tesoro singing to Stella, a slave in a cage, and recognized Tesoro as his target.

• Gern parried Mihawk's attacks and defeated him without unwrapping the bandages around Black Blade: Eight Desolations.
• Mihawk insisted he would honor their wager, but Gern refused to recruit him and offered him another challenge in five years.
• Mihawk accepted the five-year challenge and vowed to defeat Gern and become the World's Greatest Swordsman.
• Gern walked through Lilikaya Island and heard Tesoro singing to Stella outside a slave shop.
• Gern recognized Tesoro as his target and watched as Tesoro and Stella promised to wait for each other.

Gern confronted Tesoro after Stella was taken by Saint Charlos, then gave Tesoro a Devil Fruit and urged him to kill the Celestial Dragon and join the Marines. The chapter ended with Tesoro facing the chance to gain power and strike back.

• Gern warned Stella that Tesoro might never be able to buy her freedom, leaving her frightened as she waited for him.
• Tesoro returned to the slave shop and saw Saint Charlos take Stella despite his protests; Stella comforted Tesoro as she was dragged away.
• Gern placed a golden gourd-shaped Devil Fruit beside Tesoro and told him that power was everything.
• Gern killed Saint Charlos and incapacitated the CP Agents with an invisible shock wave.
• Gern revealed his face to Tesoro and told him to eat the fruit, kill Saint Charlos, and join the Marines.

Gern forced Tesoro to choose between killing a Celestial Dragon and joining the Navy or dying, and Tesoro ate the Devil Fruit and killed Saint Charlos to protect Stella. Gern erased Charlos’s remains, and Tesoro embraced his new power with no way back.

• Gern gave Tesoro the choice to kill Saint Charlos and join the Navy or be killed, while Stella urged Tesoro to act.
• Tesoro ate the Devil Fruit and used its power to attack Charlos after Charlos threatened Stella.
• Tesoro beat Charlos to death until Stella stopped him and held him from behind.
• Gern told Tesoro that Celestial Dragons were only flesh and blood, then erased Charlos’s body with his vibration power.
• Tesoro laughed as gold flowed over his body, and Gern welcomed him to the real world.

Tesoro killed Saint Charlos and agreed to join the Marines after Gern promised to protect Stella. As CP0 arrived to investigate Charlos’s disappearance, Gern prepared to present them with a culprit.

• Tesoro killed Saint Charlos, and Gern urged him to use his new power to protect rather than destroy.
• Tesoro agreed to join the Marines on the condition that Stella would be kept safe at Marineford.
• The Five Elders ordered Gern to investigate Charlos’s disappearance and granted him special law enforcement authority throughout West Blue.
• Fleet Admiral Kong suspended Gern’s leave and ordered him to work with the World Government’s agents, while allowing Tesoro to serve under Gern.
• Gern told Tesoro they would need to give the investigators a culprit as a CP0 warship approached Lilikaya Island.

Gern killed the CP0 agent who tried to seize Tesoro and Stella, then used his authority to blame Saint Charlos’s disappearance on pirates and secure their cooperation. Aboard the Marine warship, Tesoro joined Gern and learned that Gern had planned the cover-up to recruit him for his ambitions.

• Gern introduced Tesoro as a promising recruit, then killed the CP0 leader when agents moved to take Stella for questioning.
• Gern claimed that the Bloodhand Pirates were responsible for Saint Charlos’s disappearance and pressured the remaining CP0 agents to accept his investigation.
• Gern ordered Tesoro and Stella to return with him to the 133 Headquarters Branch aboard the CP0 warship.
• Gern gave Tesoro a Marine uniform and revealed that Sakazuki’s fleet had destroyed the Bloodhand Pirates months earlier.
• Tesoro realized Gern had prepared the pirates as scapegoats, agreed to serve him, and learned that Gern wanted his Gold-Gold Fruit abilities and loyalty.

Kizaru realized Gern had maneuvered him into keeping quiet about Tesoro’s records and chose silence, though he expected Gern to pay for the trouble. In West Blue, Gern gave Tesoro a fabricated Marine identity, defended killing a CP0 agent as legal under his special authority, and was ordered back to Marineford as news announced Saint Charlos’s return.

• Kizaru recalled helping Gern obtain Tesoro’s records and decided not to expose him, while warning himself that Gern owed him for the trouble.
• Gern and Asahi gave Tesoro a fabricated service history and Marine identity, with Stella registered as his military dependent.
• Fleet Admiral Kong confronted Gern over killing the CP0 agent, and Gern claimed his West Blue enforcement authority made the execution lawful.
• Kong ordered Gern to return to Marineford within a week and said Strawberry would take over the West Blue investigation.
• Gern pointed Kong toward the newspaper announcing Saint Charlos’s return to the Holy Land and said Charlos had to return in some form.