Recaps

Alabasta joined the Hua Kingdom as Chen Yu expanded Hua Country’s influence through Sky Island and Water 7. When the Straw Hats pursued Robin to Enies Lobby, Hua Country contained the Buster Call fleet and waited as Luffy fought to bring Robin home.

• Zhou Yu arranged Alabasta’s incorporation into the Hua Kingdom, Cobra remained its hereditary Grand Duke, and Vivi agreed to marry Chen Yu.
• Huang Xu and Gao Shun seized Whiskey Peak, while Chen Yu visited Sky Island and allowed Robin to read its Poneglyphs before the Straw Hats departed.
• Zhang Fei fought Aokiji to a standstill, and Chen Yu ordered agents to investigate Water 7 as the Marines prepared for conflict with Hua Country.
• Hua Country’s agents warned Iceburg about CP9, but Lucci’s agents attacked him, captured Franky, and forced Robin to leave for Enies Lobby.
• Usopp lost his duel with Luffy over the Going Merry and left the crew, while Luffy and the others set out to rescue Robin and Franky.
• Luffy’s group caught up with the Puffing Tom and reached Enies Lobby, while Zhou Yu and Gan Ning’s fleet moved to delay the Buster Call and prevent reinforcements from arriving.
• The Straw Hats fought CP9 and the Marines as the Wind-Listening Guard protected Robin, while Zhou Yu and Gan Ning trapped Stainless’s fleet outside Enies Lobby.
• Lucci defeated Luffy before Luffy activated Gear Second and struck back, while Hua Country forced the Buster Call fleet to retreat and Luffy led the Straw Hats toward the Courthouse Tower.

The Straw Hat Pirates escaped Enies Lobby, gained Franky, and sailed onward as Hua Country absorbed Water 7 and prepared to seize the Four Blues during the coming war. As the Sabaody incident scattered the crew, Huang Zhong helped Bonney and Kuma reunite, while Whitebeard sailed to rescue Ace and Blackbeard entered Impel Down.

• The Straw Hat Pirates defeated CP9, escaped Enies Lobby aboard the Going Merry, and mourned the ship after it broke apart in Water 7.
• Franky joined the crew and built the Thousand Sunny as Usopp apologized and returned, and Water 7 joined Hua Country, and Lucci and the other CP9 agents pledged loyalty to Chen Yu.
• Chen Yu prepared Hua Country for the Paramount War, assigning forces to seize the Four Blues and block routes while Huang Zhong rescued Bonney and made plans to help Kuma.
• Bai Qi awakened and took command of the Dark Iron Legion as Hua Country gathered intelligence on Marineford and readied its forces.
• At Sabaody, Luffy punched Saint Charlos, bringing Kizaru and the Pacifistas, and Rayleigh and Huang Zhong intervened, and Kuma sent the Straw Hat Pirates away to distant locations.
• Huang Zhong used Dialga’s power to let Kuma reunite with Bonney, and Kuma agreed to join Hua Country after keeping his promise to Dragon, and Luffy later asked Rayleigh to teach him Haki.
• Whitebeard sailed with his fleet to rescue Ace as Marineford completed its defenses, while Hancock smuggled Luffy into Impel Down and Blackbeard arrived seeking dangerous prisoners for his crew.

As Whitebeard’s war to rescue Ace consumed Marineford, Hua Country seized the Four Blues and Huang Zhong intervened to save Kuma and stop Blackbeard from taking Whitebeard’s power. The war left the Marines fractured and the New World’s powers competing for territory, while Hua Country consolidated its rule and sealed Reverse Mountain against a World Government attack.

• Huang Zhong monitored Marineford with Jewelry Bonney, then Chen Yu launched simultaneous campaigns that brought the Four Blues under Hua Country’s control while its fleets blocked World Government reinforcements.
• Whitebeard led his forces against Marineford, and Luffy arrived with the Impel Down escapees, and with Mr. 3’s help, Luffy freed Ace, but Whitebeard stayed behind to cover the pirates’ retreat.
• Ace died protecting Luffy from Akainu, and Whitebeard fell after fighting Akainu and Blackbeard, and Huang Zhong stopped Blackbeard from taking the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and revealed Hua Country’s victories to the Marines.
• Sengoku halted the Marines’ pursuit, Marco withdrew with Ace and Whitebeard’s bodies, and Huang Zhong restored Kuma’s memories so he could reunite with Jewelry Bonney and leave Marineford.
• Chen Yu rejected Dragon’s proposed alliance, appointed Xun Yu to govern Hua Country’s new territories, and ordered unified laws, land redistribution, tax relief, and the removal of royal and noble systems.
• Garp and Sengoku resigned as Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru faced a leadership crisis, and Akainu defeated Aokiji on Punk Hazard, became Fleet Admiral, and Aokiji left the Marines.
• Blackbeard and Big Mom expanded into Whitebeard’s former territory while Shanks protected Sphinx Island, and Chen Yu ordered Hua Country to strengthen its rule as it watched the World Government and the Four Emperors.
• The Five Elders sent a fleet to attack Reverse Mountain, but Zhou Yu and Gan Ning destroyed it and sealed the passage against further World Government attacks.

Chen Yu founded the Hua Empire, extended its protection across the Four Blues and Grand Line, and prepared to challenge the World Government. As the Empire advanced toward Mary Geoise, Luffy and his allies fought Doflamingo in Dressrosa.

• Blackbeard celebrated becoming a Four Emperor while the major New World powers accepted a fragile division of territory, and Chen Yu ordered Hua Country to strengthen its foundations and prepare for war.
• Chen Yu proclaimed the Hua Empire, established Chang'an as its capital, and began the Haiyuan era as the Five Elders designated the new empire their highest-level threat.
• Liu Bei toured the Four Blues, restored people and farmland, and helped establish the Empire’s support, while Zhou Yu and Gan Ning repelled Kizaru near Reverse Mountain.
• Zhou Yu, Gan Ning, and Zhang Liao secured Fish-Man Island, where Liu Bei healed its people and restored its land before Neptune formally joined the Empire as governor of Fish-Man County.
• Bai Qi defeated Diablo’s fleet, and Zhou Yu freed captives and shut down slave auctions in Sabaody, taking Saint Rosward and his family into custody as the World Government held back from open war.
• Zhao Yun and Ma Chao brought kingdoms into the Empire, Akainu resigned over the Five Elders’ negotiations, and Chen Yu rejected their offer and demanded the World Government abolish Celestial Dragon privileges and free its slaves.
• The Empire incorporated all fifty-six kingdoms in the first half of the Grand Line and agreed with Dragon to share intelligence and avoid attacking one another, while Chen Yu prepared a final push against the World Government.
• Zhang Liao captured Caesar Clown on Punk Hazard and exposed Doflamingo’s crimes, while Luffy and Law entered Dressrosa, Sabo reunited with Luffy, and their allies formed the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
• Doflamingo activated the Birdcage and fought Luffy and Law, but Luffy broke free of Parasite String and attacked in Gear Fourth Boundman as Doflamingo unleashed God Thread.