Chapter Summaries

Lind organized the Oran Empire’s first national martial arts tournament to reward and develop its fighters, and thousands of contestants gathered on Oran Island. The tournament began with the youth division’s battle-royale eliminations, while the strength of Oran’s student fighters alarmed observers around the world.

• Lind divided the tournament into veteran, young adult, and youth divisions, offering cash prizes and Dao Enlightenment Tea to top finishers.
• The Oran Empire opened registration to its citizens, set Doriki thresholds for each division, and flew thousands of approved contestants to Oran Island.
• On January 27, 1496, Aishier and Long Yun opened the tournament and explained that each division’s elimination rounds would advance the last four contestants from each of sixteen groups.
• The youth division’s first group entered in school uniforms, revealing the strength of Oran Middle School students and demonstrating the empire’s formidable foundations to the world.
• Long Yun fired the starting pistol, and the contestants in the first youth battle royale began fighting.

Lind watched the junior division qualifiers, where Aileen, Buggy, Shanks, Enel, and other young fighters displayed their strength, while Saint Garling sought information about Shanks. After the qualifiers ended, Lind expanded the tournament grounds for the upcoming divisions, and Dracule Mihawk and Crocodile arrived to compete.

• Aileen led Oran Middle School students in clearing the first arena, then used Lind’s powerful golden bow to eliminate opponents until only her schoolmates remained; Lind warned the school to avoid repeating the tactic.
• Students from other schools united against Oran Middle School in the second match, and Myriad Magnet Continent No. 1 Middle School, Sky Island Middle School, Fish-Man Middle School, and Jaya Middle School also performed well.
• Buggy and Shanks distinguished themselves in later matches, prompting Saint Garling to ask Ayork to investigate Shanks after recognizing his resemblance to his lost son.
• Arlong qualified for the finals with help from Fish-Man Island’s improved training, while Enel used his Mythical Zoan, Zapdos Form, to defeat everyone in his arena and qualify.
• Lind watched all sixteen junior qualifiers conclude and arranged for Shiki to bring seven more islands so the next divisions could hold simultaneous matches.
• Shiki brought Dracule Mihawk and Crocodile to compete, while Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, and Zhu Feng asked Lind to admit their own contestants.

Lind moved four powerful competitors into the elite division, then watched Hawk-Eye lose in the youth division's first round to Wang Yue. Wang Yue's masterful technique revealed a new path to Great Swordsman, while Hawk-Eye left with a wider view of the world and room to grow.

• Lind persuaded Whitebeard, Charlotte Linlin, and Kaido to move Marco, Katakuri, Abel, and Shayna into the elite division, promising each Dao Enlightenment Tea.
• Hawk-Eye and Crocodile entered the youth division's elimination rounds and saw how many strong competitors stood between them and the main tournament.
• Lind and the others discussed Hawk-Eye's talent and swordsmanship as he adapted to his opponents' techniques during his match.
• Wang Yue defeated Hawk-Eye with Heavy Sword-Mountain, knocking him out of the arena in the first round.
• Zhang Liang praised Wang Yue's transcendent technique as a new route to Great Swordsman and a path for Swordsmen to follow.

The youth division’s first eight matches concluded, and Lind assessed the promising contestants before the remaining matches began. Vista fought cautiously, Wang Qisheng drew Shiki’s interest, and Urouge dominated a group assault with his damage-powered ability, though Zhang Liang identified a weakness that left his chances uncertain.

• Wang Yue advanced after breaking through during his match with Hawk-Eye, while Crocodile dominated his platform and advanced to the main tournament.
• Lind praised Wang Qilan’s rise from an ordinary civilian to an Admiral Candidate and noted that she, Wang Qisheng, and Urouge were the youth division’s other standout contenders.
• The first eight matches ended with numerous fighters improving under pressure, and the youth division’s remaining matches began the next day.
• Vista adopted a cautious strategy to secure advancement, while Wang Qisheng fought in an eccentric manner that led Lind to suggest a mental-health check and Shiki to ask about recruiting him.
• Urouge provoked a group assault by targeting strong Taijutsu fighters, then used his ability to convert damage into strength and knocked contestants from the platform.
• Zhang Liang observed that Urouge was taking too much damage and that his condition was deteriorating, revealing a weakness despite his powerful performance.

Urouge escaped elimination by switching to evasive tactics, and Lind revised the strong division into a one-on-one tournament with more places and repechage rounds. The new format drew huge audiences and revenue, and the first match began with Raschel wearing down Nan Bo before launching a counterattack.

• Urouge escaped the encirclement with his Demon-Subduing Kasaya Art, adopted guerrilla tactics, and advanced to the main tournament while Zhang Yun made only a small improvement.
• Lind expanded the strong division's main tournament to 128 contestants, gave the 63 Admiral Candidates direct entry, and arranged one-on-one eliminations and repechage matches for the Elite Vice Admirals.
• The Oran Empire drew major ticket, betting, sponsorship, and advertising revenue from the tournament, and Lind discussed establishing regular competitions with Larry.
• The strong division's elimination rounds began on February 7, Sea Circle Calendar 1496, with eight arenas and sold-out crowds watching in person and by livestream.
• Raschel opened his match against Nan Bo with a Flying Slash, then defended against Nan Bo's attacks until Nan Bo tired before counterattacking with a series of sword strikes.

Raschel won the first arena match, while Lancelot and Gawain broke through during their bout and awakened a mysterious connection to the Knight King Fruit that Pande Lia ate in the East Blue. The former Knights of the Round Table gathered to discuss their changes and decided to trust Lind and Lia while focusing on their upcoming matches.

• Raschel defeated Nan Bo, and all eight arena matches eventually ended without another breakthrough in the morning bouts.
• Lancelot and Gawain, former royal guards of the Yinglan Kingdom, both broke through to Admiral Candidate level during their afternoon match, and Gawain conceded.
• Lind considered sending the rebuilt Knights of the Round Table to support Pande Lia in the East Blue, while Pande Lia decided to eat the Yinglan Kingdom's Knight King Fruit.
• After Pande Lia ate the fruit, Lancelot, Gawain, and the other former Knights of the Round Table felt their power change and their bottlenecks loosen.
• Ector suggested their changes came from the Knight King Fruit, and Lancelot urged the group to trust Lind and Lia and use their upcoming matches to advance further.

The Oran Empire’s martial arts tournament produced a surge of breakthroughs, raising its number of Admiral Candidate-level fighters and securing eighty-eight places among the main tournament’s competitors. As Lind considered how to distribute Dao Enlightenment Tea fairly, the tournament’s excitement strengthened national pride and drew admiration from Whitebeard and concern from the World Government.

• Pande Lia’s Knights of the Round Table broke through to Admiral Candidate one after another, and Lind said he intended to send them to the East Blue to assist her.
• Competitors kept fighting under the tournament’s excellent medical support, and Eric defeated Morris after breaking through to Great Swordsman.
• By the end of the first elimination round, more than twenty fighters had advanced to Admiral Candidate, bringing the Oran Empire’s total to triple digits.
• Lind devised a limited credit exchange for Enhanced Dao Enlightenment Tea so Admiral-level fighters and top tournament finishers could obtain it fairly.
• The remaining rounds produced fewer breakthroughs, and the 128 main-tournament places included eighty-eight Admiral Candidate-level fighters.
• The Five Elders abandoned plans for war against the Oran Empire, while Whitebeard praised the tournament and Lind offered to support his territory’s industries.

During the tournament’s day-long break, Lind hosted Whitebeard and the other competitors at the Oran Grand Hotel, showed them the empire’s advanced training equipment, and joined a celebration for more than ten million people. The chapter ended with the revelers looking forward to the main tournament.

• Lind agreed to ask Larry to prepare a proposal for supporting civilians in Whitebeard’s territory, then announced a day’s pause so crews could repair and expand the tournament arenas.
• Lind invited Whitebeard, Shiki, Charlotte Linlin, and the others to dine at the Oran Grand Hotel, where more than twenty guests shared a meal costing over ten million in Oran Currency.
• Lind took the group to the training grounds, where they tested the Oran Empire’s Gravity Chamber, medical pods, and Trial Tower, and several guests ordered equipment to take home.
• Lind led the group to a public celebration in Oran Island’s central square, where residents and tourists celebrated the tournament’s successful elimination rounds.
• Hundreds of thousands of national defense troops and Security Force members kept order as more than ten million people celebrated through the night, then anticipated the main tournament.

The junior and youth divisions completed their main rounds, with the organizers’ arrangements helping several Oran Middle School students advance and Vista and Crocodile breaking through during fierce matches. The youth division’s final eight were announced, leaving Lind worried about his contestants’ chances and anticipating the powerhouse division.

• The junior division’s main rounds produced eight finalists: Aileen, Aio, Zeta, Buggy, Shanks, Enel, Oven, and Bella, seven of whom came from Oran Middle School.
• The youth division’s matches drew more spectators, but Lind grew frustrated as Vista and Crocodile used their opponents as stepping stones to reach Admiral Candidate level and make the finals.
• Vista broke through to Great Swordsman under pressure from Gates, while Crocodile defeated Glenos after they both advanced to Admiral Candidate level.
• Dar defeated Li Xin to advance, and Zhang Yun also broke through to Admiral Candidate level after several rounds.
• The youth division’s final eight were Wang Yue, Urouge, Wang Qilan, Wang Qisheng, Dar, Vista, Crocodile, and Zhang Yun.
• Whitebeard and Shiki praised Vista and Crocodile, while Lind worried about the coming powerhouse division matches and the possibility of Admiral-level fights.

Lind changed the powerhouse division to a round-robin format and postponed its matches so the junior and youth finals could be held first. In the junior finals, Aileen struck Enel with a powerful arrow, and the two began trading attacks as Enel shifted into his Zapdos form.

• Lind split the powerhouse division's 128 competitors into eight groups for a single round robin, with the top two in each group advancing to the finals.
• The organizers postponed the powerhouse division matches, adjusted tickets, and scheduled the junior and youth finals first.
• Aileen and Enel drew each other for the junior division finals, where Aileen taunted Enel and Lind privately blamed Buggy for her attitude.
• Enel transformed into his Human-Beast Form, but Aileen's swift moonlit arrow pierced his shoulder before he could react.
• Enel and Aileen traded attacks, and Aileen used Moon Dance Steps: Heavenly Moon Barrage while Enel changed into Zapdos form and launched Volt Tackle.

Aileen and Enel fought a destructive junior-division match, trading powerful attacks until Aileen defeated him with a moonlight arrow and both were seriously injured. Lind protected the spectators from the final blast, while Aileen’s remaining opponents reconsidered whether they could face her.

• Enel charged Aileen in his Zapdos form, but she blocked his attack with a moonlight shield and then threw him back with her bow.
• Enel summoned storm clouds and struck Aileen with lightning, but she endured the hit and countered with moonlight arrows and shots from her longbow.
• Enel launched Charge Beam and Volt Tackle as Aileen used Moon Dance: Full Bloom to fire a massive energy arrow.
• Aileen’s arrow collided with Enel’s attack, knocking Enel unconscious and blasting Aileen away with serious injuries.
• Lind shielded the spectators from the explosion, and Aileen’s upcoming opponents doubted they could withstand her final move.

Buggy faced Zeta in the second junior quarterfinal, and the two traded increasingly powerful blows after activating Life Return. Zeta gained the advantage with a refined Ikoku Sovereignty technique, while Buggy pushed his body beyond its limits; Long Yun and Aishier suspected Buggy had a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

• After Aileen won the previous match, the second junior quarterfinal moved to Arena Two because Arena One needed repairs.
• Lind hinted that Buggy and Shanks might have been found in the ruins after the God Valley Incident, prompting Shiki and Whitebeard to speculate that Buggy was Rocks's descendant.
• Buggy and Zeta entered Life Return and began a fierce, close-range fight, with Buggy matching Zeta's much larger frame through sheer strength.
• Zeta used a refined version of Ikoku Sovereignty taught by Charlotte Linlin, strengthening his punches and making it difficult for Buggy to fight him head-on.
• Buggy intensified his Life Return until his skin turned purplish red, and Long Yun and Aishier wondered whether he had eaten a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit.

Buggy defeated Zeta in the junior division quarterfinals, then lost to Aileen in the semifinals after she used the Moon God Armor to reach Admiral Candidate-level strength. The other semifinalists were Shanks and Aio, who advanced after defeating Oven and Bella.

• Buggy exhausted Zeta with a final clash and won their quarterfinal, then reflected on the fight and considered developing a technique that combined his energies.
• Shanks defeated Oven after revealing his full strength, and Aio swiftly eliminated Bella, completing the quarterfinals.
• Aileen and Buggy faced off in the first semifinal, where Buggy struggled to make the match look competitive while avoiding overwhelming her.
• Buggy intensified his attacks, but Aileen activated Moon God Armor and gained Admiral Candidate-level strength.
• Aileen kept Buggy at a distance with her arrows and wore him down until she defeated him.

Aio and Shanks fought an evenly matched semifinal for hours, but Aio’s Mythical Zoan Fruit gave him greater stamina and recovery. Shanks saw himself as an ordinary person beside his unusually gifted rivals, and Aio transformed to bring the match to an end.

• Aileen defeated Buggy by keeping him at range and repeatedly shooting arrows, while the spectators applauded her victory.
• Aio and Shanks released their Conqueror’s Haki, and Lind shielded the spectators from the pressure.
• Whitebeard urged Marco and Vista to work hard, while Kaido and the others encouraged their own men to pursue strength and Conqueror’s Haki.
• Aio and Shanks fought for hours with their swordsmanship and Haki closely matched, but Aio’s Qilin Fruit gave him superior stamina and recovery.
• Shanks reflected that he lacked the special advantages of his fellow trainees, and Aio transformed into his Human-Beast Form to finish the fight.

Aio defeated Shanks and then faced his younger sister Aileen in the tournament final. Aileen empowered her moonlight-based attack to overwhelm Aio, but he summoned Beerus, Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, leaving her surrounded.

• Aio used his Admiral Candidate strength to defeat Shanks with a single slash.
• Lind and the spectators discussed Shanks, Buggy, and Aio's strength before Aio and Aileen began their final match.
• Aio and Aileen exchanged sword slashes and arrows for hours as Aio held back and let his sister display her abilities.
• At night, Aileen drew strength from the full moon and unleashed Moonlight: Ten Thousand Arrows Unleashed.
• Beerus appeared at Aio's request and erased Aileen's attack with destruction energy.
• Aio summoned Frieza, Cell, and Majin Buu, then ordered all four figures to attack the exhausted Aileen.

Aio won the junior division championship, and Buggy took third place before Lind presented the awards. The youth division then began, where Wang Yue and Vista opened with a clash of sword techniques that continued after Wang Yue proved stronger in their first exchange.

• Beerus and the other summoned villains eliminated Aileen, and Aio won the junior division championship of the Oran Empire's first National Martial Arts Tournament.
• Buggy defeated Shanks for third place, and Lind presented medals to Aio, Aileen, and Buggy at the awards ceremony.
• Lind reflected that he had enhanced Aileen's and Aio's Devil Fruits, helping Aio develop his Dragon Ball villain summons by gathering fear.
• The youth division began the next day, and the draw paired Wang Yue against Vista in the opening match.
• Vista attacked with Flower Sword: Withering, but Wang Yue countered with Mountain and sent him flying.
• Vista abandoned his unfinished artistic conception and launched Flower Sword: Scattering Blossoms, making the duel between the two Great Swordsmen more intense.

Wang Yue defeated Vista in the youth division finals, then Crocodile and Wang Qilan also won their matches. Urouge charged at Zhang Yun in the final bout, while Lind worried that he might face consequences for attacking Zhang Liang’s son.

• Wang Yue used his Mountain Intent, Flying Feather Intent, and Boundless Ocean to overwhelm Vista and win the first match of the finals.
• Hawk-Eye was praised for breaking through to Great Swordsman at seventeen after learning from his defeat to Wang Yue.
• Crocodile quickly defeated Dar, and Wang Qilan conceded to Wang Qisheng after a brief fight.
• Urouge attacked Zhang Yun as soon as their match began, prompting Lind to worry that Zhang Liang might arrange special training for him.

Wang Yue defeated Urouge in the youth division final by using yellow sand intent to drain his stamina and life force without triggering his injury-powered ability. He became champion, and the tournament moved on to the powerhouse division.

• Urouge brutally beat Zhang Yun in the quarterfinals, then defeated Wang Qisheng in the semifinals while Wang Yue defeated Crocodile and developed yellow sand intent.
• Wang Yue fought defensively against Urouge in the final, avoiding injuries that would strengthen his opponent, and revealed his Heart Erosion technique to drain Urouge's stamina and life force.
• Urouge injured himself to power up, but Wang Yue used yellow sand intent with each defensive sword swing to keep draining him until he collapsed from exhaustion after two and a half hours.
• Wang Yue won the youth division championship, with Urouge placing second and Crocodile third.
• Lind presented the youth division awards and encouraged the winners before the powerhouse division began its months-long competition.

Katakuri made his strong division debut against Anya, a powerful Kunpeng Squad fighter, and their close match showcased the Oran Empire’s advanced techniques. Anya’s mastery of Life Return gave her the advantage, forcing Katakuri to rely on his Mochi-Mochi Fruit as the fight continued.

• Charlotte Linlin arranged for Katakuri to compete in the opening match, where he faced Anya in the first arena.
• Anya initially kept Katakuri on the defensive with her strength, speed, and Taijutsu, but his Observation Haki and intermittent Future Sight gradually turned the fight in his favor.
• Anya combined Telekinesis with Observation Haki, allowing her to match Katakuri again despite his Future Sight.
• As Katakuri grew stronger during the prolonged fight, Anya activated Life Return: Valkyrie and suppressed him with her enhanced abilities.
• Katakuri used Life Return, but its enhancement was weaker than Anya’s, so he activated the Mochi-Mochi Fruit to withstand her attacks.
• Whitebeard praised Anya’s Life Return and remarked that only Zephyr, Garp, and Sengoku might surpass her outside the Oran Empire.

Katakuri defeated Anya in the strong division’s first-round match, then the story shifted to Pande Lia meeting Lancelot and eleven other former Yinglan Kingdom knights in the East Blue. Pande Lia empowered them as the Knights of the Round Table, leaving them transformed and far stronger.

• Katakuri overwhelmed Anya with Mochi-Mochi Fruit attacks and defeated her with a Conqueror’s Haki-coated Mochi Thrust.
• Lind reflected on the strength gap between Katakuri and Anya as the strong division’s first round concluded and competitors returned to their duties.
• Lancelot, Gawain, and ten other former subordinates traveled to the East Blue to meet Pande Lia and receive her enhancement.
• Lancelot and the others knelt before Pande Lia, who told them to use Revolutionaries’ etiquette and address her as Fleet Admiral.
• Pande Lia performed the Knights of the Round Table Empowerment, greatly increasing their strength and granting them inherited knowledge.
• Ginny and the other observers saw that Lancelot and the others now wore armor instead of their Battle Suits.