Recaps

Dunn challenged Old Smoker Pearl, a notorious level 19 Classholder, but was overwhelmed by a single swing of his pipe. After Annie explained Pearl’s reputation and the rankings among level 19s, Dunn faced a standoff between Pearl and the Black Pearl.

• Dunn ignored Annie’s warning and attacked Old Smoker Pearl, who sent him flying with one casual swing of his pipe.
• Dunn recovered from his shattered bones using his Dark-Dark Fruit ability, while Pearl stopped pursuing him after sensing a threat from the Black Pearl.
• Annie identified the old man as Old Smoker Pearl and warned Dunn that he was likely Pearl’s target.
• Annie explained that level 19 Classholders had strength rankings because the level was the threshold to Legendary and could contain vast differences in power.
• Annie revealed that Pearl had won hundreds of proxy battles for Legendaries without a defeat, placing him among the top five level 19 Classholders.

Dunn faced Pearl, a level 19 Classholder whose combat strength rivaled the power Legendary Battleships were designed to counter. After Dunn revealed that his Legendary Class was an [Emperor] and might allow him to confer Legendary status through Enfeoffment, Pearl stopped attacking and demanded an explanation.

• Annie explained that Legendary Battleships were created to match exceptional level 19 Classholders, and Dunn realized Pearl might not fear the [Black Pearl].
• Pearl decided to attack Dunn despite the ship's main cannon, and he knocked Dunn flying when Dunn tried to defend himself with [Night Feather].
• Dunn shouted “Enfeoffment,” causing Pearl to halt and ask what he meant.
• Dunn reasoned that Pearl met Enfeoffment's conditions because his Will had reached Transcendent Will, though his Career Path kept him at level 19.
• Pearl asked whether Dunn knew the [Emperor], and Dunn claimed his own Legendary Class was also an [Emperor].

Dunn convinced Pearl that the Eye of the Firmament had revealed his possible Emperor-type Legendary class, then negotiated a River Styx Contract with him. They agreed Pearl would serve Dunn for fifty years in exchange for an Enfeoffment after Dunn reached Legendary.

• Pearl questioned Dunn about how he knew his future Legendary class, threatening to kill him if his explanation was unconvincing.
• Dunn showed Pearl the Silver Mirror and claimed the Eye of the Firmament had told him about his class, making Pearl consider that Dunn might be telling the truth.
• Dunn proposed a River Styx Contract promising Pearl an Enfeoffment in return for service, but Pearl rejected a hundred-year term and demanded ten years.
• Dunn explained that Enfeoffments were limited and insisted he could kill Pearl rather than grant one cheaply.
• Dunn and Pearl settled on a contract requiring Pearl to serve for fifty years in exchange for an Enfeoffment after Dunn advanced to Legendary.

After Pearl joined Dunn’s fleet under the River Styx Contract, they reached Bewitching Flame Island while the Pirate King Council was still negotiating an alliance. Dunn gathered information about the talks and prepared contingency plans, knowing that any mistake could cost him his life.

• Pearl agreed to stay with Dunn and help him advance until he became a Legendary, and Dunn accepted that Pearl’s service would not count toward their fifty-year contract.
• Dunn’s fleet arrived at prosperous Bewitching Flame Island, where he sent his subordinates to gather news about the ongoing Pirate King Council.
• The Pirate Kings continued negotiating the alliance’s leadership, military plans, and spoils while the nine Legendaries watched over the meeting.
• Dunn obtained a report on the negotiations, reviewed the information, and considered contingency plans for his next move.

The Nine Pirate Kings met in Bewitching Flame City to discuss the navy’s pressure on their sea routes, but their negotiations repeatedly turned into arguments. Lilith tried to mediate, and the chapter ended with Ronald preparing to attack Bamore after Bamore mocked his defeat by Gannis.

• Crowds flocked to Bewitching Flame City after learning that the Nine Pirate Kings and nine Legendary figures had gathered there.
• Bamore slammed the council table and demanded that the Pirate Kings clear the navy from his sea route first, prompting Barbarossa to challenge him.
• Lilith stopped Bamore and Barbarossa from fighting and explained that Bamore’s route was too badly occupied to prioritize.
• Bamore asked for extra compensation, but another Pirate King called him useless, and Bamore retaliated by mocking Ronald for losing to Gannis.
• Ronald flew into a rage, and the sound of waves filled the hall as he prepared to strike Bamore.

Lilith presided over the Pirate King Council as Ronald and Bamore clashed over the alliance negotiations. After the Pirate Kings moved on to the next issue, a sudden intrusion shattered the hall doors and interrupted the meeting.

• Lilith reflected that Gannis’s strength had made Ronald’s defeat difficult to bear, while Ronald fought aggressively to win favor with his Legendary backer.
• Bella stopped Ronald and Bamore from fighting, reminding them that the Legendaries were watching and that the meeting had already dragged on for days.
• Bamore challenged Bella over his shipping route, but Klari and other Pirate Kings opposed his demand, forcing him to fall silent.
• Lilith resumed the council and began the next item as the Pirate Kings debated cooperation and an alliance.
• A figure crashed through the hall doors, and an unknown intruder asked to join the gathering.

Dunn brought Annie and his other third-tier subordinates to the Pirate Kings’ meeting and forced his way into the hall after striking down two guards. He announced that he had come to challenge Ronald, prompting Ronald to rise angrily as another Pirate King condemned Dunn’s interruption.

• Dunn brought Annie and his other third-tier subordinates to the hall where the nine Pirate Kings were meeting.
• After a guard serving Bamore ordered him to leave, Dunn slapped the guard and kicked another through the hall doors.
• Dunn entered the hall, traded barbs with Bamore and Ronald, and told Lilith he had come to challenge a Pirate King.
• Dunn named Ronald as his target, leaving Ronald baffled before he rose with a dark expression.
• An unnamed Pirate King condemned Dunn for interrupting their alliance meeting and disrespecting them.

Dunn faced the Pirate Kings after challenging Ronald, and Lamantis urged the others to defend their dignity and the Legendaries’ standing. As the Pirate Kings prepared to attack, Pearl appeared and stopped them, leaving Lilith and the others shocked by Dunn’s connection to the powerful old monster.

• L mantis warned the Pirate Kings that Dunn’s challenge insulted them and the Legendaries, prompting half of them to rise against Dunn.
• Ronald chose not to fight Dunn himself because he feared a poor showing would damage his standing with the Legendary behind him.
• Dunn considered using the Black Pearl but held back to avoid drawing attention to a Legendary Battleship.
• Pearl appeared and stopped the Pirate Kings from attacking Dunn.
• The Pirate Kings recognized Pearl as a level-19 powerhouse and paled, while Lilith realized the confrontation was no longer a mere farce.

Dunn challenged Ronald for his title as Pirate King, while Pearl's presence made the Pirate Kings wary of intervening. The two men went outside to fight, where Ronald recognized Dunn as the Blood Demon who had plundered Cutlass Harbor.

• Lilith learned that Pearl had come to support Dunn and realized a Legendary stood behind him.
• Dunn announced that he wanted to challenge Ronald for the Pirate King throne, and Lilith told Ronald to accept the challenge.
• Ronald agreed to fight after Pearl said he would only watch, and Lilith directed them to take the battle outside.
• Dunn and Ronald headed to an open space near the sea as Annie, Pearl, the Pirate Kings, and onlookers followed.
• Ronald recognized Dunn as the Blood Demon who had plundered Cutlass Harbor and vowed to settle their scores.

Ronald fought Dunn in the rain, hoping to strengthen his [Sea King] abilities, but Dunn overwhelmed him with speed and strength. After wounding Ronald, Dunn used his [Blood Demon] power to draw blood through the injury, leaving Ronald close to defeat.

• Ronald made rain fall to improve his fighting strength, while Dunn allowed him to prepare before attacking.
• Ronald tried to stall with a water blade, but Dunn shattered it and used Soru to rush him.
• Dunn overpowered Ronald in a close fight, despite Ronald sensing his movements through the rain.
• Dunn cut Ronald's face, then used the wound to extract his blood and drain his strength.

Ronald used rainwater to replace his drained blood and counterattacked Dunn, but Dunn’s Future Sight let him dodge Ronald’s deadly water strike. Dunn then pierced Ronald’s heart with his black umbrella, leaving Ronald defeated and certain to die.

• Dunn drained Ronald’s blood until Ronald drew rainwater into his body and recovered his vitality.
• Ronald coated his curved saber with compressed rainwater and launched a near-invisible cutting thread at Dunn.
• Dunn used Future Sight to evade the water thread, astonishing Ronald and the watching Pirate Kings.
• Ronald blocked Dunn’s black umbrella and gained the upper hand in strength, then sent rain swords toward him.
• Dunn vanished into the shadows as the rain swords struck, reappeared behind Ronald, and pierced his heart with the black umbrella.

Dunn killed Ronald despite Karagon’s order to stop, then faced the Legendary who had backed the Pirate King. Karagon considered Dunn as a possible replacement for Ronald while Dunn addressed him respectfully.

• The Pirate Kings discussed Dunn’s unusual abilities and concluded that Ronald’s defeat was certain.
• Ronald began healing after Dunn pierced his heart, but Dunn ignored a Legendary’s command and stabbed Ronald through the head, killing him.
• Karagon appeared before Dunn and rebuked him for disobeying his order.
• Karagon considered replacing Ronald with Dunn, who apologized and treated Karagon with respect.

Caragon attacked Dunn after Dunn openly defied him, but Dunn recovered and activated his bracelet when Caragon threatened to kill him. As Caragon prepared to strike again, a hole opened in the sky and purple light emerged, prompting one of the onlookers to recognize a Legendary Spell.

• Dunn lied to Caragon, who struck him down and knocked Pearl back when Pearl tried to intervene.
• Caragon offered to hire Pearl, but Pearl refused and said Caragon could not afford the price.
• Dunn rose with black smoke drifting from his body, and Caragon questioned whether Dunn had a backer before threatening to kill him.
• Dunn activated the bracelet on his wrist as Caragon advanced, while Pearl stepped in front of him to protect him.
• Caragon turned toward a disturbance, and eight figures appeared as a hole split open in the sky and released purple light.
• One of the figures identified the display as a Legendary Spell.

Several Legendaries stopped the spell cast through a Wizard Tower and realized Dunn had a powerful backer. Karagon left Bewitching Flame Island after the others blocked him from attacking Dunn, and the remaining Legendaries recognized Dunn as the new Pirate King.

• The Legendaries joined forces to extinguish the purple Legendary Spell before it could harm the island’s inhabitants.
• The Legendaries speculated that the spell was a warning from a Wizard Tower’s owner and understood that Dunn represented that powerful figure.
• Karagon tried to rally the other Legendaries by suggesting they were all targets, but they refused to turn against Dunn’s backer.
• Karagon charged toward Dunn to provoke a conflict, but several Legendaries blocked his path.
• Karagon left Bewitching Flame Island, and the other Legendaries departed after recognizing Dunn as the new Pirate King.

Dunn secured Ronald’s place among the Pirate Kings and advanced to the Fourth Tier while they debated the looming war with the United Navy. His satisfaction at gaining the Pirate King class was interrupted by the arrival of a Legendary advancement ritual.

• Dunn asked the Pirate Kings for the same terms Ronald had held and stayed mostly out of their debate about the United Navy.
• Dunn confirmed advancement to the Fourth-Tier class [Pirate King] in front of the Pirate Kings, surprising them and the watching Legendaries.
• Dunn’s Career Card showed his new Fourth-Tier status, increased attributes, and the Armor Break feat; his Armament Haki had advanced into Ryuo.
• Dunn felt strong enough to match Pearl, but the Legendary advancement ritual began and swept away his satisfaction.

Dunn weighed three paths to becoming Legendary and concluded that the Emperor of the Sea was the only one he might realistically achieve. He left the chapter facing the daunting challenge of founding an empire and winning the support of millions.

• Dunn examined the Seven Warlords of the Sea path, which required an Emperor of the Sea to grant one of only seven enfeoffments, and considered using it to recruit powerful allies.
• Dunn found the Emperor of the Sea requirements nearly impossible because he lacked Legendary backers and could not see how to gather millions of supporters without provoking the Wizard Council.
• Dunn judged the Legendary Pirate path even less attainable because it required a world-famous deed whose renown endured through a century of absence.
• Dunn recalled Pearl's story of a level-19 Butcher with every attribute raised to 49 who still died challenging a newly advanced Legendary.
• Dunn ruled out defeating a Legendary and decided the Emperor of the Sea remained his most plausible path to Legendary status.

Dunn’s advancement to the fourth tier briefly stunned the Pirate Kings before they resumed negotiations over their alliance. Their meeting was interrupted when the United Navy launched a massive surprise attack on Bewitching Flame Island, forcing the pirates to prepare for battle.

• Dunn confirmed that he had just advanced to the fourth tier, and Lilith urged the Pirate Kings to finish settling their alliance plans.
• Lamantis insisted that the sea route around Lilith’s territory become the main battlefield, and Lilith objected because the war would devastate her territory.
• The United Navy suddenly bombarded Bewitching Flame Island’s harbor with at least a thousand warships, sinking dozens of pirate ships.
• Hoffman told Dunn that Annie and the others were aboard and safe, while Barbarossa and Lamantis reported losses from the surprise attack.
• Dunn and the Pirate Kings reached the harbor as pirate ships and coastal cannons fought the navy, with both sides awaiting the decisive clash between their high-tier fighters and Legendaries.

The United Navy overwhelmed the pirates after a surprise attack concealed by the Illusory Mirage Lamp, but Christina and her officers worried that an unknown Legendary Wizard might prevent the Legendaries from fighting. Christina prepared to commit the fleet to battle if the Legendaries stayed out, counting on the powerful Classholder Kyle to help defeat the Pirate Kings.

• The United Navy used its concealed fleet to surprise the pirates and inflict heavy losses in the waters off Bewitching Flame Island.
• Christina warned Adolf and Kuris not to underestimate the pirates and explained that the Illusory Mirage Lamp had hidden their approach.
• Kuris asked whether the Legendaries had identified the source of the unknown Legendary Spell, and Christina said her teacher had not yet provided information.
• Adolf feared the unknown Legendary Wizard would keep the Legendaries from fighting, leaving the naval forces to decide the battle themselves.
• Christina and Adolf agreed that Kyle could serve as the United Navy's trump card if the Legendaries did not participate.
• Christina ordered the officers to prepare for an all-out attack once they received confirmation, and the group rallied in the name of justice.

The navy and pirates battled at sea until a pirate Legendary attacked the fleet, prompting the Legendaries on both sides to meet and negotiate on Bewitching Flame Island. After learning that a Legendary Wizard with a Wizard Tower had replaced Karagon, the Raging Waves Sword Saint agreed to keep the war below Legendary.

• Lamantis ordered the pirates to close in on the navy’s warships, but the navy evaded them and continued sinking pirate ships.
• A pirate Legendary sent an enormous energy palm toward the navy fleet, but Ranul intercepted it and challenged Jacob.
• Ranul and the other Legendaries from both sides flew to Bewitching Flame Island to negotiate.
• The navy’s Legendaries learned from Bronn that a Legendary Wizard had replaced Karagon and was waiting in a Wizard Tower.
• The Raging Waves Sword Saint proposed keeping the fighting below Legendary, and Bronn agreed.

As the Legends’ negotiations ended, the naval and pirate fleets resumed their battle, and Lamantis directed the Pirate Kings from the rear. Dunn stayed near Lamantis instead of taking his assigned position, just as Kyle broke through the pirate ships and threatened the command center.

• The fleets resumed firing and began boarding battles as High-Tier Classholders clashed across the battlefield.
• Lamantis ordered Barbarossa and Tyler to reinforce other areas, while Dunn remained near the rear instead of commanding his assigned section.
• Dunn argued that the independent pirates in his area would not follow a newly appointed Pirate King, and said he would guard Lamantis against a decapitation strike.
• A naval warship charged toward Lamantis, destroying pirate ships in its path, and Kyle crushed a Third-Tier pirate who boarded it.
• Lamantis recognized Kyle and realized that he and Dunn could not stop him alone, then remembered someone aboard the [Black Pearl] who could rival him.

Christina sent Kyle to kill the pirates’ commander, Lamantis, but Kyle’s arrival put Dunn in danger as well. Pearl confronted Kyle to protect Dunn, leaving the two powerful veterans facing off.

• Christina used her battlefield-wide perception to locate the Pirate Kings and asked Kyle to target Lamantis.
• Kyle crossed the battlefield aboard a frigate while the Pirate Kings let him pass, then reached Lamantis and Dunn.
• Lamantis urged Dunn to confront Kyle, and Dunn realized that remaining near the commander had made him a target.
• Dunn asked Pearl whether he could defeat Kyle, and Pearl agreed to protect him because Dunn’s Legendary class had tied their fates together.
• Pearl appeared aboard Kyle’s warship and offered to pay him to withdraw.

Pearl and Kyle fought over their competing hopes of reaching Legendary, while their clash disrupted the war between the United Navy and the pirates. A mysterious voice used Christina’s communication device to order an all-out attack, leaving her unable to stop the commanders from obeying.

• Kyle rejected Pearl’s offer, and Pearl accepted that they would have to fight over their hopes of advancing to Legendary.
• Pearl and Kyle vanished into battle, destroying Kyle’s warship and forcing nearby vessels away with the force of their clashes.
• Bronn and the Raging Tide Sword Saint realized that Pearl’s presence threatened the navy’s plans and that heavy losses could leave the seas beyond its control.
• Christina heard that one person had stopped Kyle and confirmed it was Pearl.
• A voice imitated Christina through her communication device and ordered all forces to attack and eliminate the Pirate Kings, while Christina found the device restricted.

The navy’s overwhelming numbers and steam rifles pushed the pirates to the brink of collapse, prompting Lilith to unleash a multicast pseudo-legendary spell. The spell devastated the battlefield but failed to harm the navy’s main force, and the exhausted Lilith fell unconscious.

• The navy suppressed the Pirate Kings and slaughtered the pirates’ low-tier fighters with steam rifles as some Free Pirates began to flee.
• Lamantis demanded that Dunn and Lilith act, but Dunn hesitated to join the battle while Lilith remained inactive.
• Lilith cast Multicast Sunburst, summoning several enormous fireballs that threatened both navy and pirate forces.
• The fireballs struck the battlefield, and surviving pirates cheered as explosions and mushroom clouds engulfed the area.
• Five energy-glowing naval warships appeared unharmed at the center of the explosions, and Lilith lost consciousness and fell from the sky.

As five Quasi-Legendary Battleships turned the tide against the pirates, Dunn weighed the risk of revealing his Legendary Battleship against the danger of doing nothing. He chose to expose the [Black Pearl] and ordered it to target the enemy warships.

• Five Quasi-Legendary Battleships entered the battle and devastated the pirates, prompting many pirates and Pirate Kings to flee or retreat.
• Kyle declared that the navy had won, while Pearl remained confident that Dunn’s Legendary Battleship could defeat the five enemy ships.
• Dunn considered destroying the Quasi-Legendary Battleships but worried that revealing the [Black Pearl] would draw the attention of powerful nations.
• Dunn feared the pirates’ Legendaries would blame him if they lost, so he ordered the [Black Pearl] to charge its main cannon and target the enemy battleships.

Dunn revealed the [Black Pearl] and used its Legendary Battleship cannon to cripple the navy’s Quasi-Legendary fleet, forcing the Raging Waves Sword Saint to withdraw. On Eidinger Island, Alice and the Tower Spirit watched the battle and decided Dunn was worth investing in further.

• Dunn commanded the [Black Pearl] to charge its main cannon while Pearl kept Kyle from interfering.
• The [Black Pearl] fired and vaporized one navy Quasi-Legendary Battleship, while a second was disabled.
• The pirate Legendaries taunted the navy as the Raging Waves Sword Saint moved to attack, but Bronn warned him that someone was watching.
• The Raging Waves Sword Saint judged that he could not win and ordered the navy to leave.
• Alice observed the battle through the Wizard Tower, and the Tower Spirit decided they could invest more in Dunn.