Chapter Summaries

Gern departed the West Blue for Marineford while Roger’s crew reached Twin Cape, where Crocus diagnosed Roger with a terminal illness and joined the crew as its doctor. Crocus set sail with Roger after asking him to help find the Rumbar Pirates, leaving Laboon behind with a promise to return.

• Gern left the 133 Headquarters Branch for Marineford and entrusted Asahi with the remaining work, including Tesoro.
• Roger and the Roger Pirates arrived at Twin Cape, where Roger asked lighthouse keeper Crocus to examine him.
• Crocus told Roger and Rayleigh that Roger had an incurable disease and at most a few years to live, even with treatment.
• Roger asked Crocus to become the crew’s doctor, and Crocus agreed on the condition that Roger help him learn what happened to the Rumbar Pirates.
• Crocus joined the Roger Pirates, began giving Roger painkiller injections, and sailed away from Twin Cape after promising Laboon he would return.

Gern took Tesoro through the Calm Belt route and trained him by making him fight small pirate crews, while their warship approached the Roger Pirates’ Oro Jackson. When the Marines recognized the legendary crew and panicked, Gern ordered them to hold course and advance.

• Gern chose to detour through the Calm Belt and sent the seasick Tesoro to train under Zephyr after their journey.
• Gern made Tesoro fight small pirate crews, helping him adapt to combat and Marine life.
• Rayleigh spotted Gern’s warship approaching the Oro Jackson along an unofficial pirate route, and Roger welcomed the prospect of meeting the Marines.
• The Marines identified the Oro Jackson and panicked, but Gern silenced them and ordered the warship to advance without retreating.

Gern confronted Roger’s crew at sea and unleashed powerful Conqueror’s Haki, then clashed evenly with Roger. As the encounter escalated, Bullet charged at Gern without waiting for Roger to act.

• Buggy spotted Gern’s warship approaching the Roger Pirates, and the crew recognized the feared Navy officer Heavenquake.
• Rayleigh tried to avoid a fight, but Gern called out the pirates for considering an attack on his ship.
• Rayleigh and Gaban challenged Gern with Conqueror’s Haki, but Gern’s dark purple Haki pushed back against both of them.
• Roger stepped forward and clashed his Conqueror’s Haki with Gern’s, tearing open the sky and rocking both ships.
• Bullet ignored Rayleigh’s warning and launched himself across the sea toward Gern.

Gern intercepted Douglas Bullet with Tremor Flash and defeated him with a single devastating punch. Roger recognized that he could not predict Gern’s movements and ordered his crew not to act without permission.

• Bullet charged across the sea toward Gern and demanded a fight.
• Gern used Tremor Flash to appear in front of Bullet before he could react.
• Gern struck Bullet in the chest with Black Quake: God-Slaying Nail and sent him crashing into the sea.
• Tesoro and the Oro Jackson crew watched in shock as Bullet was defeated with one punch.
• Roger ordered everyone except Rayleigh and himself not to act without orders.
• Roger admitted that he could not sense or predict Gern’s movements and might have been sunk if he had charged at him.

Gern fought the Roger Pirates, first sending Bullet flying and then clashing with Rayleigh. After Rayleigh drove him across the sea, Gern used his tremor powers to raise a reef island, and the two prepared to continue their duel there.

• Sambel rescued the badly injured Bullet from the seabed, but Bullet rejected Buggy and Crocus's help in frustration.
• Gern watched the Roger Pirates from the warship as Roger drew Ace, but Rayleigh intercepted him and struck him into the sea.
• Rayleigh pursued Gern across the water while Buggy mocked the Devil Fruit user, until Gern blasted Rayleigh into the air with a tremor-powered attack.
• Gern sent a shock wave through the seabed and raised rocks to form a reef island, giving both fighters solid ground.
• Rayleigh praised Gern's terrifying power, and Gern addressed him as 'Pluton' Silvers Rayleigh.

Gern fought Rayleigh on Reef Rock Island, gradually adapting to the Dark King’s superior swordsmanship before unleashing his full tremor-based power. He shattered the island with Heavenquake: Realm Shatter, leaving Rayleigh navigating the collapsing rocks and towering waves.

• Rayleigh overwhelmed Gern with rapid, precise sword strikes, cutting his chest while Gern narrowly avoided a fatal wound by turning intangible.
• Gern used a hidden vibrational thrust to send Black Blade: Eight Desolations at Rayleigh, then struck with Supreme Wave Fist, forcing Rayleigh to retreat across the sea.
• On the Oro Jackson, Shanks and Bullet recognized that Gern had not yet fought seriously, and Roger warned Rayleigh not to get tied down.
• Gern told Rayleigh he was adapting to his fighting rhythm and used Tremor Flash to disappear from Rayleigh’s Observation Haki.
• Gern reappeared above Rayleigh and unleashed Heavenquake: Realm Shatter, breaking Reef Rock Island apart and churning the sea into towering waves.

Gern used his vibration powers and Tremor Flash to overwhelm Rayleigh in their fight. He caught Rayleigh off guard with Heavenquake: White Vortex and hurled him into the sky.

• Rayleigh charged Gern, but Gern shook the reef with Heavenquake: Earthsong and halted his advance.
• Gern launched eight homing vibration spheres, and Rayleigh cut them apart but was wounded by their explosions.
• Gern struck Rayleigh with Black Quake: Meteor Kick, then relentlessly attacked him with Tremor Flash and Star Chain.
• Rayleigh’s defenses weakened as Gern’s sudden attacks disrupted his Observation Haki and forced him into a corner.
• Gern tricked Rayleigh into guarding the wrong direction, hit him with Heavenquake: White Vortex, and hurled him into the sky.

Gern and Rayleigh pushed their battle to its limits, with Rayleigh unleashing his full Conqueror’s Haki and driving Gern to the brink. Gern answered with Heavenquake: Airspace Disintegration, and they ended the chapter facing each other after Rayleigh failed to block the attack.

• Gern struck Rayleigh with a hundred-punch vibration barrage and detonated the vibration cores inside him, but Rayleigh survived by expelling them with Haki.
• Rayleigh unleashed his full Conqueror’s Haki, and Gern answered by releasing his own as their powers clashed across the sea.
• Rayleigh overwhelmed Gern with a storm of Haki-coated sword strikes, wounding him and aiming a final thrust at his heart.
• Gern countered with Heavenquake: Airspace Disintegration, collapsing the space around Rayleigh and blasting a vast abyss into the sea.
• Gern and Rayleigh faced each other on floating reefs, and Roger concluded that Rayleigh had failed to block Gern’s attack.

Gern defeated Rayleigh with Heavenquake: Airspace Disintegration, but Rayleigh refused to concede and declared that the era belonged to the Roger Pirates. Roger then launched himself into the battle with Ace, interrupting Rayleigh and unleashing a slash that surpassed his.

• Rayleigh collapsed to one knee after taking Gern's attack, and the Roger Pirates and Navy crew reacted in shock.
• Crocus noted that Gern had also suffered severe sword wounds, while Roger laughed and acknowledged the danger of Rayleigh being occupied.
• Gern asked Rayleigh if he wanted to continue, but Rayleigh rose and refused to concede.
• Rayleigh gathered his Conqueror's Haki and declared that the era belonged to the Roger Pirates.
• Roger interrupted Rayleigh's attack by charging from the Oro Jackson and striking at Gern with Ace.

Gern challenged Roger with Black Blade: Eight Desolations, but Roger overwhelmed him with Divine Departure and left him defeated on the shattered reef. Gern vowed to fight Roger again and eventually take him to the execution platform before losing consciousness.

• Gern and Roger clashed with God-fall and Divine Departure, unleashing a massive shock wave that devastated the sea and battered the Oro Jackson.
• Roger's attack overwhelmed Gern's Haki, bent Black Blade: Eight Desolations, and hurled Gern across the reefs.
• Roger told the defeated Gern that he might have changed the world if he had been born in Roger's era.
• Gern stood again and vowed to fight Roger in the future and personally take him to the Execution Platform.
• Roger laughed and said he would wait for Gern to take him there, as Gern slipped into darkness.

A month after his defeat by Roger, Gern woke in a Sabaody hospital and faced Garp’s anger over his reckless challenge. As Garp ordered him to stay and understand what king-class strength meant, Kuzan encouraged him to use time to close the gap.

• Gern woke in the hospital and learned from Garp that Roger had returned to the New World.
• Garp struck Gern and rebuked him for nearly dying, explaining that Roger had inflicted severe injuries with a single slash.
• Gern asked whether Lipo knew about his condition, and Garp said Zephyr had returned to Marineford with Tesoro while Lipo remained at headquarters.
• Garp ordered Gern to remain in Sabaody until he understood what king-class meant, then left after comparing his maturity unfavorably to Kuzan and the other two.
• Kuzan visited Gern, said Sakazuki had also lost his temper over the attack, and told Gern that Roger’s strength could be surpassed with time.

As the Roger Pirates and Flying Pirates prepared to clash at Edd War, the Marines held a combat meeting to decide whether to intervene. Gern argued that Roger and Golden Lion joining forces was a risk, but Garp insisted Roger would never submit to Shiki.

• An intelligence officer reported that the Flying Pirates had located the Roger Pirates and that they would likely meet at Edd War.
• Kong called a Level One Combat Meeting at Marine Headquarters, where officers discussed the looming battle.
• Gern arrived with Lipo and Tesoro, prompting Sengoku and Kong to note that Gern was building a loyal personal force.
• Kong ordered the Marines to observe and record the battle without intervening, despite Sakazuki's objection.
• Gern agreed with Sakazuki and warned that Roger might compromise and join forces with Golden Lion, but Garp declared Roger would never submit to Shiki.

At Marine Headquarters, Gern proposed a cautious Marine plan for the coming clash between Roger and Golden Lion at Edd, and Kong approved it. Gern and Borsalino were assigned to infiltrate the battlefield for intelligence as the Marines prepared for a historic operation.

• Gern warned that Golden Lion might force Roger to compromise, while Garp insisted Roger would never yield.
• Tsuru advised the Marines to let the pirate crews weaken each other before striking, while preparing for the possibility that they might ally.
• Gern proposed dividing the Marines into three groups, with himself and Borsalino infiltrating the battlefield to report on events.
• Kong approved the plan and gave Borsalino full operational authority, ordering all divisions to prepare for the operation.
• Zephyr warned Gern not to take unnecessary risks, and Sakazuki praised his proposal and invited him for a drink after the operation.
• Gern ordered Lipo and Tesoro to remain at headquarters and looked toward Edd, declaring that the legendary era was nearing its end.

Gern and Kizaru traveled to Edd War on a Marine reconnaissance mission and discovered Golden Lion's Flying Pirates waiting to intercept the Roger Pirates. Kizaru realized Gern was considering approaching the enemy fleet, though Gern had not yet revealed his plan.

• Sakazuki reminded Gern of their agreement, and Gern joined Kizaru for the mission while Kuzan took Lipo and Tesoro to the Training Camp.
• Kizaru complained about losing his vacation as he and Gern traveled toward Edd War.
• Three days later, Gern and Kizaru reached Edd War aboard a Marine reconnaissance ship and spotted Golden Lion's fleet lying in wait for the Roger Pirates.
• Kizaru protested when Gern gave him an unsettling smile that suggested he might approach the Flying Pirates.

Aboard the Reconnaissance Ship, Gern tried to persuade Kizaru to help capture Golden Lion or Roger by promising promotions and paid leave. Kizaru proposed observing the coming battle from a safe distance and claiming credit, just as Golden Lion’s fleet spotted the Roger Pirates and the battle began.

• Gern tempted Kizaru with the prospect of capturing a legendary pirate, earning a promotion, and taking paid leave.
• Kizaru rejected the idea of risking his life against Golden Lion or Roger and said his Light Fruit was for slacking off elegantly.
• Kizaru suggested taking distant photographs of the weakened crews and claiming they had obtained critical intelligence.
• Gern agreed to observe from a safe distance and return to claim credit with Kizaru.
• Golden Lion’s fleet spotted the Roger Pirates, and cannon fire announced the start of their decisive battle.

Roger refused Shiki’s offer to join forces, and their fleets clashed at Edd War as the two captains began a legendary battle. The Roger Pirates were overwhelmed by the Flying Pirates’ numbers, and Roger sent Shiki crashing into the Flying Lion while his crew remained in danger.

• Shiki surrounded the Oro Jackson with his fleet and offered Roger a chance to become his right-hand man, but Roger refused and said he had no interest in ruling the world.
• Roger and Shiki clashed with Conqueror’s Haki, then launched into battle as their crews fought across the sea.
• Gern and Kizaru watched the fight and saw Rayleigh, Gaban, Bullet, Shanks, Buggy, and the rest of the Roger Pirates struggle against the Flying Pirates’ superior numbers.
• Kizaru warned Gern that the Roger Pirates would lose the wider battle even if Roger remained evenly matched with Shiki, and Flying Pirates attacks began wounding Roger’s crew.
• Roger tried to break away to help his crew, but Shiki kept him occupied; Roger unleashed Divine Departure and sent Shiki crashing into the Flying Lion.

Gern realized the storm and tsunami expected during the Edd War had not arrived, and feared the Roger Pirates would be destroyed without them. He created a massive tsunami that shattered the Flying Pirates’ formation and let Roger’s crew escape, while the storm finally began.

• Gern noticed the unusually calm weather and worried that the Roger Pirates would lose without the historical tsunami.
• Gern told Kizaru that Golden Lion might conquer the world and wondered whether he could trigger the disaster himself.
• Gern unleashed Heavenquake: Sea God's Wrath, creating a gigantic tsunami and lightning over the battlefield.
• The tsunami wrecked the Flying Pirates’ formation, giving Roger a chance to strike Golden Lion and lead his crew through an opening.
• Gern said history had returned to its proper course as the tsunami subsided and rain began falling.

After Gern’s tsunami devastated the Flying Pirates at Edd War, Kizaru helped rescue the surviving officers while Roger’s crew escaped. Roger realized Gern had likely caused the wave to save them and decided he owed the young Navy officer a favor.

• Rain fell over Edd War as the tsunami wrecked the Flying Pirates’ fleet, and Golden Lion disappeared beneath the waves.
• Kizaru questioned Gern about the tsunami, but Gern gave no clear answer and suggested rescuing the surviving pirates for a reward.
• Gern reminded Kizaru that holding him responsible would implicate the commanding officer as well, and Kizaru agreed to help capture the surviving pirates.
• Aboard the Oro Jackson, Rayleigh told Roger they had been lucky to survive Golden Lion’s attack.
• Roger concluded that Gern had caused the unnatural tsunami and said he would repay the Navy officer with a drink when they met again.

After recounting major events from 1495 and 1496, the chapter focused on Sakazuki’s anger over the World Government’s proposed Shichibukai system. Gern challenged Sakazuki to question whether the World Government still represented justice, but Sakazuki reaffirmed his determination to eliminate all pirates.

• Gern’s tsunami helped the Roger Pirates escape Golden Lion Shiki’s fleet at Edd War, where the Flying Pirates suffered devastating losses and Shiki was severely injured.
• Roger took a Poneglyph from Charlotte Linlin and then sought Kozuki Oden, while Bullet left the Roger Pirates after challenging Roger and losing.
• The World Government developed the Shichibukai system, and Borsalino and Kuzan were promoted to Vice Admiral while Gern remained a Rear Admiral.
• Sakazuki confronted Gern about the World Government’s plan to legalize powerful pirates, and Gern said the Government feared the Marines’ growing power and cared more about stability than justice.
• Sakazuki promised to keep Gern’s remarks secret but insisted that his justice would never waver and that he would wipe out pirates.

Gern discussed his Fish-Man Island mission with Kuzan, admitting he was curious about a Fish-Man who could tell the future. He returned home and told Lipo they would set sail the next day, leaving their destination and preparations in place.

• Gern met Kuzan at a tavern, where Kuzan questioned why he had requested permission to visit Fish-Man Island.
• Gern joked about going to see mermaids before explaining that he wanted to find a Fish-Man who could tell the future.
• Kuzan warned Gern that Fish-Man Island was dangerous, and Gern assured him he valued his life.
• Gern returned home, found Lipo dozing on the sofa, and told her to contact Tesoro because they would set sail the next day.
• Gern told Lipo they were going to Fish-Man Island, then accused her of eating his share of the carrot cake.