Xia Chen

Biodata

Power Progression

Appearance

• Youthful body: His appearance on arrival matches how he looked at approximately sixteen, rather than his previous adult self 1.
• Hair and eyes: Originally has black hair and black eyes. His pupils become permanently golden after gaining Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils 30 32.
• Demonized appearance: Blood-red hair and eyes, flowing black clothing, and black flames behind and around his body. The flames remain alight underwater 30.
• Handsome features: Smoker finds his face unusually memorable, while Vivi initially rejects his impersonation of Mr. 1 because he looks too handsome and fair-skinned 38 46.
• Wanted-poster discrepancy: Both Smoker and Dragon remark that his current appearance differs from his bounty photograph 38 39.
• Stone Monkey appearance: His body turns to stone and expands into a well-proportioned, approximately ten-meter-tall silver-gray figure with enormous golden eyes. Transforming tears apart his ordinary clothing 209 213.
• Transformation disguises: Can assume the appearances of plants, animals, objects, and other people, including Robin, Zoro, and Nami 460 508.
• Mimicry Great Sage appearance: Radiates light and resembles the mythological Great Sage Equaling Heaven, with an imposing bearing that evokes defiance of Heaven 563.

Personality

Xia Chen is confident, mischievous, and fond of provoking his companions. He repeatedly mocks Zoro’s swordsmanship, teases Luffy about his intelligence, and flaunts his larger bounty until several crewmates attack him together. He also enjoys elaborate bluffs, using his knowledge of important figures to make invented connections sound credible 8 15 26 36.

His bravado does not prevent him from recognizing his limits. He challenges Mihawk to measure his strength, accepts defeat without resentment, and acknowledges that the swordsman held back. When seeking another test against Dragon, he deliberately chooses someone powerful who is also likely to spare him 28 39.

He values personal freedom and rejects Dragon’s invitation to join the Revolutionary Army because he prefers the unrestricted life of a pirate. His treatment of enemies can be ruthless: during the demonization crisis, he directs his killing urge toward Arlong’s forces and refuses to spare an opponent merely because of a possible future connection 31 40.

Despite his abrasive humor, he protects his companions and takes their responsibilities seriously. He comforts Nami at her lowest point, helps Zoro improve through sparring, and forces Luffy to acknowledge the Going Merry as a crewmate rather than disposable equipment 30 37 47.

Money matters to him partly because he finances the crew’s early expenses and has an enormous appetite of his own. He prefers keeping funds personally rather than asking Nami for an allowance, but still offers to contribute to Cocoyasi Village’s savings 3 17 34.

He distinguishes between individuals rather than treating all Marines or pirates alike. He respects Smoker’s genuine commitment to justice and believes such Marines are necessary to maintain order, while acknowledging that most pirates commit atrocities. His refusal to join the Marines is tied to his contempt for serving the Celestial Dragons 78 92.

His protectiveness also makes him resistant to outsiders judging the crew’s bonds. He welcomes Kuma’s practical assistance but rejects the need for an external test of their loyalty. In his internal narration, he jokingly regards his crewmates as adopted sons and complains when they leave him to handle enemy attacks alone 148 184.

Even after becoming widely recognized as the world’s strongest man, he continues seeking stronger opponents and opportunities to improve. Against Imu, he deliberately limits himself to physical combat to pursue a Haki breakthrough, although his excitement gives Imu an opening 250 440 441.

Abilities & Skills

Story Island Check-In System

• Island rewards: Visiting story islands grants abilities, upgrades, or items. Xia Chen identifies these destinations through his knowledge of the original story 1 4 49.
• Status panel: Displays fruit development, abilities, and the three types of Haki. Xia Chen finds it too sparse to precisely measure his fighting strength 1 37 38.
• System Space: Stores inanimate objects in a space where time does not pass. He uses it for treasure, food, weapons, and provisions 3 18 35.
• Malfunctions: The system can issue unstable rewards, as demonstrated by Demonized Form. Xia Chen negotiates corrective compensation after the malfunction 29 32.
• Training alongside rewards: His fruit mastery improves through both check-ins and his own regular training; the Marineford reward initiates its first named evolutionary stage 182.

Great Sage Equaling Heaven Fruit

• Enhanced physique: Grants extraordinary strength and durability from the beginning. Xia Chen casually sends a tiger through several trees and later stops Morgan’s axe with one finger 2 6.
• Inherited experience: Provides the Great Sage’s combat memories, including extensive staff-fighting experience 3 18.
• Recovery: Heals wounds visibly during the Mihawk battle; smaller cuts disappear and larger wounds shrink to pale marks 27.
• Limits: Rapid healing does not immediately replenish his dwindling stamina. Regrowing severed limbs is discussed only as a future possibility, not a demonstrated ability 27.
• Water use: Although the initial reward is labeled a “no side effects” fruit, the later system-issued demonization has its own drawback. He is nevertheless shown transforming and fighting sea beasts underwater 1 29 30.
• Seastone resistance: The initial reward explicitly lacks the usual Seastone weakness. During his capture by Aokiji, he remains confident that Seastone handcuffs cannot prevent his escape, and his clone continues operating separately 1 85.
• Food-fueled regeneration: After the Golden Lion battle, eating an enormous quantity of food lets him visibly close his remaining wounds, consuming the food’s energy and leaving him hungry again. Chopper states that his body would eventually have recovered even without treatment 110.
• Regenerative exhaustion: Repeated healing consumes substantial stamina. During the Golden Lion battle, severe wounds remain after he has already healed the shallower injuries 107 108.
• Later durability: Imu’s golden spear, used after she acquires Zeus’s and Athena’s powers, leaves only a wound several centimeters long and one or two centimeters deep. Imu herself expresses surprise at his toughness 561.

Indestructible Diamond / Vajra Body

• Physical reinforcement: The fruit’s first ability transforms his physique into one modeled on the Great Sage’s body 1.
• Intermediate upgrade: Xia Chen measures the improvement as at least a threefold increase in physique and believes he could easily handle ten versions of his former self 23.
• Unverified comparison: His initial comparison to Luffy’s Onigashima physique is explicitly a deduction made before testing his full strength 23.
• Later physical benchmark: During Water 7, he considers his body stronger than Garp’s despite Garp possessing superior Armament Haki at that time 163.
• Physical combat against Imu: With peak king-level Haki and the Jingu Bang, he contests Imu’s god-level-Haki-enhanced physical attacks. He judges his raw physical strength far superior to Imu’s, while recognizing the enormous difference between their Haki levels 440.

Six Powers

His ultimate mastery supplies both the standard techniques and the understanding needed to adapt them 4 5.

Haki

• Armament Haki: Reinforces his fists and iron staff, allowing him to hurt Luffy despite his rubber body. Mihawk recognizes its coating during their duel 9 26.
• Armament benchmark: Xia Chen estimates his beginner-level Armament Haki as comparable to Luffy’s initial level after two years of training 38.
• Observation Haki: Detects presences and surroundings, helping him locate Dragon and monitor Whiskey Peak through fog. Its intermediate upgrade increases both range and perceptiveness 37 39 49.
• Conqueror’s Haki: Knocks out groups without physical contact, including Black Cat pirate lackeys, Cocoyasi villagers, and Vivi and Mr. 9 21 31 46.
• Intermediate Armament: Obtained at Little Garden, where he immediately notices a stronger coating 56.
• Conqueror’s Coating: Uses Conqueror’s Haki to enhance combat during the Water 7 battle 163.
• Observation Haki Killer: Possesses this method by the Water 7 confrontation and includes it among the abilities that let him oppose Garp 163.
• Large-scale intimidation: Knocks out most of Sabaody’s inhabitants with Conqueror’s Haki. He later uses a conspicuous burst of it to summon his scattered crewmates to a reunion 232 267.
• Peak king level: All three types reach peak king level by his battle with Imu in the past. Imu’s golden god-level Haki combines the three types and initially exceeds Xia Chen’s Haki by a large margin 440.
• Later confrontation: Blocks and counters the God-Level Haki of Imu’s Rocks clone 470.

Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils

• Internal perception: Sees the flow of blood and qi through bodies and clothing 29.
• Weakness detection: Identifies injuries and areas where attacks would cause greater damage 29.
• Energy beams: Can fire powerful beams from his eyes 29.
• Combat assessment: Uses his view of Smoker’s internal condition to judge the Marine’s feint rather than relying solely on trust 39.
• Permanent effect: Remains active without consumption; his golden pupils persist after deactivating Demonized Form 32.
• Night vision: Sees through the darkness of the Eternal Night Sea as clearly as in daylight 235.

Demonized Form

• Overall enhancement: Strengthens him in every respect. Xia Chen believes it would let him last longer against Mihawk and force the swordsman to reveal more power 32.
• Initial instability: Floods him with murderous impulses, including the urge to kill nearby companions 29 30.
• Corrected control: After the system’s adjustment, he retains his reason and wields the killing intent as naturally as his limbs 32.
• Intimidation: Its pressure makes the crew experience an impression of corpses and blood; even Zoro feels fear 32.
• Later use: Activates it to fight Little Garden’s giants and relies on it to offset disadvantages against Golden Lion 58 105.
• Absorption into evolution: The Marineford advancement devours Demonized Form while unlocking Stone Monkey Form 182.

Clone Ability

• Strength distribution: One clone has exactly the original’s strength. Each additional clone lowers every clone’s strength by five percentage points, while the original remains unaffected; two clones each have 95 percent and three each have 90 percent 65.
• Position exchange: The original and clones can exchange positions at any time, giving him options for surprise attacks and escape 65.
• Direct consciousness: Every clone is controlled by Xia Chen’s own consciousness rather than being an independent person 85.
• Recall and restoration: He can recall and resummon a clone even after fatal damage, restoring it to full condition. Summoning costs stamina, and the clone reflects the original’s condition when summoned 83.
• Detection limitation: A clone lacks the aura of life, but this difference requires careful scrutiny to notice 83.
• No reflected injury: When Sengoku, the Five Elders, and Garling batter his clone at Marineford, the original remains unharmed after dismissing it 198.
• Multi-opponent combat: Uses several clones to engage separate top-tier opponents while the original and another clone concentrate on Saint Saturn 200.
• Casual application: Also uses the technique during a snowball fight with his companions 73.

Dharma Heaven and Earth

• Giant transformation: Enlarges his body dramatically to increase attack power. He demonstrates the named technique during the Water 7 battle 163.
• Flexible size changes: Can return to normal size without a recovery delay, favoring sudden enlargement for a heavy blow rather than remaining a large target throughout ordinary combat 200.
• Extreme scale: Later grows into a giant ape slightly larger than the enormous willow he is fighting 240.

Stone Monkey Form

• Evolutionary status: The first stage of the fruit’s evolution toward Great Sage Equaling Heaven Form, unlocked at Marineford 182.
• Physical enhancement: Greatly increases attack and defense, with a reduction in speed. Its defensive improvement is especially pronounced; Xia Chen judges that even his own attacks cannot penetrate his defense in this form 182 217.
• Rock conversion: Can turn anything he touches into rock and create rock from nothing 210.
• Rock Spike: Raises countless sharp spikes from the ground, wiping out more than half the Marines present with one use and seriously injuring most survivors 210.
• Planetary Devastation: Conjures and gathers rocks around targets, imprisoning eight opponents in floating spheres dozens of meters across. He can reinforce these prisons and prepare to crush their occupants 213 214 215.
• Combat benchmark: Defeats Shanks in approximately five minutes of close-quarters combat without using its other skills. He considers its defense the world’s strongest shield, while explicitly excluding Imu from that comparison 217.
• Clothing drawback: The transformation destroys his clothing, requiring him to dress again immediately after returning to normal 209 213.

Body Immobilization / Freeze

• Movement sealing: Stops targets from moving without necessarily freezing them in physical ice. Five companions remain immobilized for over an hour until he releases them with a finger snap 273 274.
• Selective restriction: Stops Zephyr’s punch inches from his face while leaving Zephyr able to speak 317.
• Later terminology: Body Immobilization Technique is listed among the abilities he deliberately refrains from using while testing physical combat against Imu 440.

Elemental Abilities

• Crimson fire: Produces crimson flames and fireballs. Flames entering opponents’ wounds prevent regeneration, including the Five Elders’ rapid healing; Xia Chen attributes this to his ability’s superior divine authority 394 437 470.
• Wind: Uses cyan air currents to hover and releases numerous small wind blades that combine into much larger blades 462.
• Earth projection: Uses Planet Befall to expand an earthy-yellow sphere into an enormous body several hundred meters across 462.
• Ice: Attacks the Five Elders with ice balls and later uses black ice to envelop enemies. He encases and shatters Shamrock with black ice 431 508 558.
• Golden flames: Releases golden flames to arrest his movement after Imu sends him flying 561.
• Laser attack: Kills Gunko with a laser through the heart 558.

Transformation Technique

• Scope: The ability’s description permits transformation into anything he has seen or imagined, together with its associated abilities. His initial tests include trees, rocks, sand, flowers, grass, tigers, and reindeer 460.
• Genuine characteristics: Becoming a tree lets him perform photosynthesis and release oxygen rather than merely creating a visual disguise 460.
• Ability inheritance: Copying a person grants their Devil Fruit powers, Haki, physique, combat experience, and learned skills 460 508.
• Stronger attributes take precedence: Transformation does not lower his own superior Haki or physique. Stronger copied abilities replace weaker corresponding attributes, while his stronger existing attributes remain 460.
• Swordsmanship copying: As Zoro, he immediately uses Three-Sword Style and 1080 Pound Phoenix despite his earlier lack of swordsmanship 460.
• Equipment limitation: Transforming into Zoro does not reproduce his swords; Xia Chen supplies blades from System Space 460.
• Crew demonstration: Explains that he has not eaten the Tremor-Tremor Fruit despite appearing as Whitebeard, then takes Nami’s appearance and demonstrates her lightning powers against Si Snake 508.

Mimicry Great Sage Equaling Heaven

• Strongest form: Described as Xia Chen’s strongest form when revealed against Imu 563.
• Incomplete attainment: Grants a tiny portion of the true Great Sage Equaling Heaven Form’s power, but is not the completed form itself 563.
• Power distinction: Its strength is described as beyond comparison with his ice, fire, and earth abilities 563.
• Remaining limit: In the ensuing confrontation, the Heavenly Dao effortlessly blocks his repeated staff attacks. Xia Chen recognizes that he cannot match it at that point 564.

Staff Combat and Named Attacks

• Thunder Bagua: A staff attack that deflects one of Mihawk’s flying slashes into the sky. Xia Chen borrows the name because he considers himself poor at naming techniques 27.
• Meteor: Coats his staff in Armament Haki and repeatedly accelerates downward with Geppo before striking. Its shock wave produces a wave hundreds of meters high and forces Mihawk to use the vast majority of his strength to block 28.
• Early swordsmanship limitation: Despite his weapon skills, Xia Chen initially admits that he knows nothing about swordsmanship and cannot directly teach Zoro the Realm of Cutting Iron. He later overcomes this limitation through Transformation Technique 37 460.
• Great Vajra: Thunder Bagua: Uses a blood-red flame aura around his club to break apart the giants’ combined Hakikisha after a clash lasting over ten seconds 62.
• Hakai: Obtains this combined-attack technique alongside Clone Ability. Later, he and a clone use it against the World Government’s forces, but Imu’s stored Conqueror’s Haki shatters their attack 65 165.
• Earth Splitter: A downward club strike used against Golden Lion’s Lion’s Might: Earth Roll 105.
• Heaven-Pillar: A golden-light-emitting staff strike that drives Kaido into the ground, cracks the surrounding terrain, and shakes the island 348.

Knowledge and Practical Skills

• Original-story knowledge: Knows concealed backgrounds and relationships, including Buggy’s apprenticeship under Roger and Dragon’s connection to Luffy 11 39.
• Medical recognition: Identifies Yosaku’s scurvy, orders fresh tangerines, and explains the need for a balanced diet at sea 23.
• Grand Line knowledge: Explains chaotic magnetic fields, unreliable weather, and how Log Poses record island magnetism 48.
• Deception: Successfully uses false family ties and impersonations to secure a duel with Mihawk, gain Dragon’s trust, and mislead Vivi and Mr. 9 26 39 46.
• Concealed knowledge: Pretends the Flying Nimbus cannot reach Sky Island because he wants to experience the Knock Up Stream and avoid missing Jaya’s check-in 102.
• Strategic assessment: Recognizes that the Marineford execution is being used to target him after observing the Government’s concentrated attacks on his clone 198.
• Historical recognition: Identifies Gaban as the Pirate King’s Left Arm and explains his connection to Rayleigh to the crew 570.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Iron staff — A roughly two-meter, jet-black, extremely heavy weapon recovered from the Black Cat Pirates’ treasure room. Xia Chen estimates its material quality as comparable to Wado Ichimonji, rather than identifying it as an officially graded weapon 18.
• Jingu Bang — A later staff whose power doubles his strength. Uses it against Imu, then puts it away to seek a Haki breakthrough with his fists 440 441.
• Flying Nimbus — A Whiskey Peak check-in reward with a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per second. Xia Chen initially delays testing it because he fears overshooting and becoming lost. Later discovers that it can grow larger in proportion to his strength, expanding beyond the Going Merry’s size, and uses it for rapid travel between islands and to carry Ace to safety 49 65 66 198.
• Stored supplies and treasure — Keeps food, ingredients, Beli, and valuables in System Space. His acquisitions include loot from Alvida’s ship, the Black Cat Pirates, and Arlong Park 3 18 34 35.
• Eternal Log Poses — Initially plans to collect them to make rapid Nimbus travel between known islands practical. Kuma subsequently gives him several 49 148.
• Kuma’s training notes — Receives notes recording the crew’s abilities and suggested development paths as part of Dragon’s proposed training arrangements 148.
• Golden apples — Eats these and gives one to Ace. He claims that eating one grants a thousand years of life; that longevity effect is not demonstrated in the supplied passages 85.
• Stored swords — Keeps several famous swords in System Space. His Transformation Technique tests use two Twenty-One Great Grade Swords and Kitetsu I, a Twelve Supreme Grade Blade obtained from Saint Nusjuro 460.

Relationships

• Monkey D. Luffy — Captain and companion. Xia Chen joins on the condition that he become first mate, openly declares himself the future Pirate King’s vice-captain, and frequently disciplines Luffy’s recklessness. He continues testing Luffy’s growth, defeating him alongside Zoro and Sanji even after they unveil stronger techniques 2 11 47 131 268.
• Roronoa Zoro — Crewmate, teasing rival, and sparring partner. Xia Chen frees and feeds him at Shells Town; their later daily bouts help Zoro approach the Realm of Cutting Iron earlier than in the original story. Zoro greets his return after the six-month separation with a powerful flying slash, and Xia Chen later copies his swordsmanship through Transformation Technique 5 37 267 460.
• Nami — Crewmate and frequent opponent over money. He comforts her before confronting Arlong, and she comes to regard him as the sun that illuminated her dark world, commemorating that feeling with a sun tattoo. He later brings her to Kureha for treatment. Nami questions whether they are “just crewmates” and states that she feels safe only beside him 30 34 35 67 74 140.
• Usopp — Crewmate whom Xia Chen initially frightens by pretending to be Roger’s nephew. He later helps defend Usopp’s village. Upon Xia Chen’s return after their separation, Usopp excitedly transforms into a white tiger and attempts to strike him 15 19 21 268.
• Sanji — Crewmate whose cooking Xia Chen values highly. After Sanji joins, Xia Chen shifts his stored provisions toward ingredients rather than prepared food. Sanji also joins Luffy and Zoro in repeated unsuccessful attempts to defeat him 35 131 268.
• Tony Tony Chopper — Xia Chen invites him to meet the crew before deciding whether to join and reassures him during the introduction. Later treats him affectionately, pets him, and uses the promise of cotton candy to persuade him to treat injured crewmates 69 131 273.
• Nico Robin — Crewmate and later intimate partner. Following her rescue, she remains among the companions he protects. They become sexually involved on Secon Island, giving the location sentimental value to him and motivating him to prevent its destruction 184 318 320.
• Boa Hancock — Romantic partner. She openly admires his wanted poster, and he spends most of the crew’s six-month separation on Amazon Lily. Later invites her to the Pirate Expo as a vacation, protects her island from Gunko and Shamrock, and returns to spend affectionate time with her after the fighting 250 276 374 558 567.
• Koby — Early traveling companion who stays behind to pursue a Marine career. Xia Chen warns him that Morgan’s base may challenge his expectations of Marine justice 4 8.
• Dracule Mihawk / Hawk-Eyes — Benchmark opponent. Xia Chen tricks him into accepting a duel, loses, and receives encouragement to continue pursuing his dream 26 28.
• Monkey D. Dragon — Luffy’s father and a sparring opponent. Dragon offers him a place in the Revolutionary Army, but Xia Chen declines. They later cooperate over the crew’s predicament and investigate Sabo’s disappearance, although Xia Chen questions Dragon’s failure to rescue the captured Straw Hats 39 40 167 272 273.
• Bartholomew Kuma — Initially confronts him to prevent an unwanted test of the crew’s bonds, but accepts practical assistance. Kuma gives him training notes and Eternal Log Poses prepared in connection with Dragon’s plans 148.
• Smoker — Marine adversary. Xia Chen first deceives him into paying compensation, then later defeats him with a single move. Nevertheless, he respects Smoker’s genuine justice and generally avoids killing Marines of his character unless truly provoked 38 42 78.
• Kuzan / Aokiji — Opponent with whom he develops an unexpectedly friendly rapport during captivity, addressing him as “Uncle Aokiji.” Aokiji admires him and hopes to recruit him, but later attacks him at Marineford because of their opposing allegiances 85 92 184.
• Buggy — Enemy whom Xia Chen intimidates and later spares, partly out of consideration for Buggy’s connection to Shanks 11 41.
• Vivi and Mr. 9 — Targets of his Mr. 1 impersonation. He stops them from attacking Laboon, takes them aboard, and keeps them restrained during the voyage to Whiskey Peak 46 49.
• Portgas D. Ace — Warns him against pursuing Blackbeard and reveals that he knows Ace’s parentage. Later rescues him at Marineford and attends Whitebeard’s final moments at Ace’s request 85 198 258 263 264.
• Edward Newgate / Whitebeard — Powerful rival and Ace’s adoptive father. Xia Chen blocks his final, life-burning attack with ease and gives him and his sons privacy to say goodbye. During Xia Chen’s journey into the past, a younger Whitebeard accompanies him on a tribute interception and identifies himself with Xia Chen’s camp during the later battle 263 264 401 431.
• Shanks — The subject of Xia Chen’s earlier false claim of kinship. Xia Chen rejects his demand to spare the Five Elders and defeats him in close combat. Shanks later says that Xia Chen’s rescue of Uta erased his resentment over the Paramount War 214 215 217 534.
• Uta — Saves her during the conflict involving Tot Musica. She thanks him through Luffy before returning to the Red Hair Pirates as their singer 534.
• Kaido — Opponent whom Xia Chen overwhelms while relying on Haki rather than his other fruit abilities. In the past, Kaido follows him, serves him tea, and grows stronger under his guidance; later addresses him as “Boss Xia Chen” 345 348 401 464.
• Sabo — Initially distrusts Xia Chen’s knowledge of the Revolutionary Army, but later thanks him after recovering his memories. Xia Chen subsequently investigates his disappearance with Dragon and Morgans 168 273.
• Big News Morgans — Information contact who comes to regard Xia Chen as a big brother. Helps provide information relevant to Xia Chen’s travels and Sabo’s disappearance 228 235 273.
• Rocks D. Zebek — A mysterious powerhouse Xia Chen encounters underground, challenging his assumption that the world follows the story he knows. During the journey into the past, Xia Chen works alongside the Rocks Pirates, while Rocks remains uncertain of his full strength 143 401.
• Zephyr / Z — Allows him to remain aboard temporarily after immobilizing him and warning that another attack on the crew will be fatal. Later opposes the destruction of Secon Island 317 320.
• Imu — Principal World Government enemy. Imu’s stored Haki severely injures him at Water 7; later confrontations become opportunities to test and improve his strength. Imu initially associates him with Hades’s power, while Xia Chen ultimately surpasses her in their later direct fight but cannot penetrate the Heavenly Dao’s protection 165 440 562 563 564.
• Going Merry — A ship Xia Chen insists must be treated as a crewmate. He intervenes when Luffy intends to tear out its mainmast to fight Laboon. His protection keeps it in substantially better condition than in the original story before the Sky Island voyage 47 111.

Background / History

Arrival and Recruitment

Xia Chen awakens on Windmill Island after remembering an apparent fatal encounter with a dump truck. His body has reverted to his sixteen-year-old appearance. The Story Island Check-In System activates, grants him a Mythical Zoan fruit, and confirms that he has entered the world of One Piece 1.

While trying to establish his location in the timeline, he encounters Luffy fighting a tiger. His instinctive punch reveals the strength of his new physique, and he accepts Luffy’s invitation to become first mate. Their departure in a tiny boat ends with both sheltering in separate barrels during a tornado and being retrieved by Alvida’s pirates 2.

Early East Blue Voyage

Xia Chen overpowers Alvida’s pirates and takes their treasure before escaping Marine bombardment with Luffy and Koby. At Shells Town, he frees Zoro, defeats Morgan, and encounters Nami while seeking the base’s treasure 3 4 5 6 7.

In Orange Town, he rescues Nami from pursuing pirates and intervenes when Buggy attacks Luffy from behind. At Syrup Village, he robs the Black Cat Pirates, discovers his iron staff, and helps protect the village while leaving Kuro to Luffy and the Nyaban Brothers to Zoro 9 11 17 18 19 21.

Baratie and the Mihawk Duel

After his Treasure Island upgrade, Xia Chen seeks a meaningful test of his strength at the Baratie. Claiming that Shanks is his uncle persuades Mihawk to accept the challenge. Their battle drives spectators far across the sea and reveals Xia Chen’s Haki, Six Powers, staff techniques, and rapid recovery 23 26 27.

Meteor fails to secure victory, and Xia Chen concedes defeat. He estimates his tested strength at roughly Luffy’s later Gear Fourth: Boundman level while recognizing that Mihawk held back. When he returns to the Baratie, the remaining hostile pirates flee from his presence, taking Don Krieg with them 28.

Cocoyasi Village and Demonization

A malfunctioning reward overwhelms Xia Chen with killing intent. He sends his companions away, dives into the sea, and slaughters approaching sea beasts. After stopping Nami from further injuring her tattooed arm, he promises to deal with Arlong and heads for Arlong Park 29 30.

He knocks the villagers unconscious to keep them safe, then kills Arlong and every Fish-Man in the park. Once he regains clarity, he confronts the system and obtains control over the form’s killing intent. He explains the incident to his companions as a problem caused by his ability evolving 31 32 33.

Loguetown and the Grand Line

Following the announcement of his 300-million-Beli bounty, Xia Chen reaches Loguetown and seeks Dragon as a suitable opponent for Demonized Form. Their fight leaves a large clearing in the forest. Dragon attempts to recruit him afterward, but Xia Chen chooses to remain a pirate 36 39 40.

After defeating Smoker and rejoining Luffy, he helps the crew enter the Grand Line. At Twin Cape, he protects Laboon from Vivi and Mr. 9, confronts Luffy over his treatment of the Merry, and tells Crocus that the Rumbar Pirates died 40 42 43 46 47.

On the voyage to Whiskey Peak, he explains Log Poses and clears an iceberg with a flying slash. After receiving the Flying Nimbus, he chooses not to disrupt the island’s suspicious welcome, preferring to enjoy the meal and watch events unfold 48 49.

Little Garden and Drum Island

Little Garden’s check-in upgrades his Armament Haki to intermediate. He activates Demonized Form to challenge the giants and ultimately breaks apart their combined Hakikisha with Great Vajra: Thunder Bagua 56 58 62.

When Nami becomes ill, he searches for Drum Island aboard the Flying Nimbus. The island’s check-in grants Clone Ability and Hakai, and his return to Little Garden takes only a little over ten seconds. He then enlarges the Nimbus beyond the Merry’s size as the crew prepares to travel for treatment 65 66.

He carries Nami to Kureha, addresses the doctor as “big sis,” and offers barrels of wine in gratitude. After meeting Chopper, he invites him to meet the Straw Hats before deciding whether to join. Chopper’s introduction goes awry when Sanji mistakes him for dinner 67 69.

During the island’s lighter moments, Xia Chen uses clones in a snowball fight. Before departure, Nami thanks him for caring for her, but he insists that crewmates do not need such formal thanks 73 74.

Alabasta and Aokiji’s Captive

Xia Chen warns Ace that he cannot defeat Blackbeard and that disclosure of his parentage would have serious consequences. He gives Ace a golden apple before their parting 85.

His original body fights Aokiji until its stamina is exhausted and is placed in Seastone handcuffs, while his clone remains free. During captivity, he develops a friendly rapport with Aokiji, who admires him and hopes he will join the Marines. Xia Chen rejects service to the Celestial Dragons 85 92.

Jaya, Golden Lion, and Sky Island

While preparing to reach Sky Island, Xia Chen conceals the Nimbus’s actual flight capabilities so that he can experience the Knock Up Stream and check in at Jaya. He subsequently kills a targeted opponent with Great Vajra: Thunder Bagua and becomes embroiled in a difficult fight against Golden Lion Shiki 102 103 105.

Golden Lion’s Haki, swordsmanship, and fruit mastery initially place Xia Chen at a disadvantage. Although Xia Chen exploits unfamiliar abilities and regeneration to gain openings, the battle drains his stamina and leaves him with deep wounds 105 107 108.

Afterward, he tells the crew that Golden Lion injured him and learns that the old pirate’s body had vanished before they arrived. Eating a tremendous quantity of food enables him to finish healing in front of his companions 110.

The Merry requires reinforcement rather than major repairs for the voyage to Sky Island because Xia Chen has prevented its usual accumulated damage. Once in the sky, he identifies a hidden observer and displays knowledge of local terminology, prompting Nami to question his earlier claims of ignorance 111 113.

Rocks, Kuma, and the Water 7 Ambush

After the Sky Island journey, Xia Chen follows a deliberately revealed presence into an underground corridor and meets a man identifying himself as Rocks D. Zebek. The encounter makes him question how closely this world matches the original story 143.

When Kuma appears near the Merry, Xia Chen confronts him and rejects any unnecessary test of the crew’s bonds. Kuma explains Dragon’s proposed two-year training arrangements and provides notes on the Straw Hats’ abilities together with several Eternal Log Poses 148.

In Water 7, CP0 and other Government forces assemble to kill him. Xia Chen initially overwhelms opponents using his powerful body, Conqueror’s Coating, Observation Haki Killer, clones, and Dharma Heaven and Earth 161 163.

The battle changes when a weapon releases Imu’s stored Conqueror’s Haki, shattering his and his clone’s Hakai and gravely injuring him. Under pressure from the CP0 captain, Aokiji, Garp, and other fighters, he decides to retreat after determining that his companions have probably escaped. Before leaving, he appears behind Charlos, who has been celebrating the prospect of enslaving him 165.

He subsequently reads a newspaper claiming that he has been killed and that eight Straw Hats have been imprisoned in Impel Down. He confronts Dragon about his failure to save them; Dragon replies that the opposing force was too strong. During his dealings with the Revolutionary Army, Sabo recovers his memories and thanks him 167 168.

Marineford and the Sovereign’s Rise

Xia Chen arranges for prisoners to accompany him in wreaking havoc at Marine Headquarters, insisting that their agreement be honored. At Marineford, he discovers that the Government has deployed CP0, CP9, and the Five Elders in addition to the Marines 174 180.

Checking in at Marineford initiates the fruit’s evolution, absorbs Demonized Form, and unlocks Stone Monkey Form. With Robin rescued and his companions nearby, he becomes the focus of attacks that would ordinarily have been directed at Whitebeard 182 184.

After freeing Ace, he sends him toward Whitebeard on the Flying Nimbus. Sengoku, the Five Elders, and Garling concentrate their attacks on a clone, allowing the unharmed original to deduce that killing him is the war’s actual objective. He connects their conduct to the Water 7 ambush and their interest in “Hades” or “Pluton” 198.

He fights multiple opponents through clones and giant transformations, then unveils Stone Monkey Form. Its rock abilities devastate the Marines and imprison eight opponents in floating stone spheres 200 209 210 213.

When Shanks demands that he spare the captives, Xia Chen refuses. He withstands the Red Hair officers’ attacks, knocks them away, and defeats Shanks in roughly five minutes of close combat. He offers to spare Shanks once for Luffy’s sake rather than accepting Shanks’s authority over the conflict 214 215 217.

Following Marineford, companions and observers increasingly regard Xia Chen rather than Whitebeard as the world’s strongest man. That reputation is firmly established by his later arrival at Amazon Lily 221 250.

Six-Month Separation and Amazon Lily

Xia Chen presents the crew with information on possible training destinations and offers to take them wherever they choose, including multiple islands. Their separation is framed around a six-month promise rather than simply following Kuma’s original two-year proposal 228.

During his individual travels, he visits Sabaody, searches the Eternal Night Sea using his golden eyes, and later arrives at Amazon Lily. Kikyo and Hancock’s sisters escort him to Hancock, who is absorbed in admiring his wanted poster until she notices his arrival 232 235 250.

He spends most of the following six months on Amazon Lily. Near the end of that period, Ace contacts him, and Xia Chen attends Whitebeard’s final confrontation. He easily blocks Whitebeard’s life-burning final attack, then withdraws so Whitebeard can say goodbye to his sons. Ace later thanks him for coming 258 263 264 276.

Reunion and the New World

To gather his companions for their reunion, Xia Chen releases Conqueror’s Haki from a central location and waits with tea. Zoro greets him with a flying slash, and Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji attack together, only to be knocked away. Usopp follows in an enormous white tiger form 267 268.

Back in Water 7, Dragon asks him about Sabo’s disappearance. Xia Chen consults Morgans and the Five Elders but obtains no decisive lead, deciding not to tell Luffy and Ace that Sabo is alive but missing until he has more information 271 272 273.

On Fish-Man Island, he declares that the island is under the Straw Hat Pirates’ protection and tells Big Mom’s representatives to have her approach him directly if she objects 314.

When the rescued Zephyr attacks the crew, Xia Chen immobilizes him, warns him against further aggression, and allows him to remain temporarily until his subordinates arrive. On Secon Island, Xia Chen becomes intimate with Robin and subsequently decides to stop the island’s destruction because of its personal significance 317 318 320.

He later confronts the Five Elders over the destruction of the Revolutionary Army and learns that the Government merely claimed credit for an unknown force’s attack. Meanwhile, Doflamingo gathers pirates to oppose him, and Xia Chen overwhelms Kaido while relying on Haki rather than his other fruit abilities 339 345 348.

Journey into the Past

Gar, a paid attacker, uses the Time-Time Fruit to send Xia Chen to an unknown point in the past. Recognizing the time-related power, Xia Chen willingly lets it affect him and reassures his companions before disappearing. The Straw Hats continue their voyage aboard the Thousand Sunny, trusting him to return 390.

In the past, Xia Chen encounters younger versions of major pirates and operates alongside the Rocks Pirates. He volunteers to intercept a Heavenly Tribute shipment from the Vatali Kingdom with Whitebeard, while Kaido follows him and benefits from his guidance 394 401.

During the ensuing conflicts, he overpowers the Five Elders, and Whitebeard states that Xia Chen has easily killed the Marines’ Three Admirals. Whitebeard aligns himself with Xia Chen’s camp while preventing Garp from aiding Kong against Rocks 431.

Xia Chen’s crimson flames suppress his opponents’ regeneration. He eventually confronts Imu with the Jingu Bang and peak king-level Haki, seeking to use Imu’s god-level Haki as the pressure needed for his own breakthrough. After he puts away his staff to fight with his fists, Imu exploits an opening and strikes him into the sea 437 440 441.

Transformation Technique and Later Conflicts

Xia Chen subsequently acquires Transformation Technique and tests it on objects, animals, plants, and his crewmates’ appearances. His experiments establish that he can inherit Devil Fruit powers and combat skills without losing his own superior attributes 460.

He demonstrates wind and earth attacks near Zunesha and is welcomed by Kaido as “Boss Xia Chen.” In a later encounter, he destroys the ship carrying Cat Viper and Inuarashi and overpowers Imu’s Rocks clone despite its God-Level Haki 462 464 470.

Upon rejoining the Straw Hats after another conflict, he explains his transformations by taking Nami’s form and using her lightning against Si Snake. He also covers the remaining frozen Divine Might Corps members in black ice until their auras vanish 508.

After the conflict with Tot Musica on Elegia, Uta thanks him for saving her. Shanks states that the rescue has erased his resentment over Xia Chen’s conduct in the Paramount War 534.

Defense of Amazon Lily and Battle with Imu

Learning that World Government troops have attacked Amazon Lily, Xia Chen arrives and kills Gunko with a laser through the heart. When Shamrock attempts to flee, Xia Chen encases him in black ice and shatters him, then reassures Hancock that he has arrived in time 558.

He fights Imu after she has acquired Zeus’s and Athena’s powers. Golden light reverses the petrification imposed by her Medusa-adorned shield, and her spear inflicts only a shallow wound. Xia Chen challenges her claims of invincibility and notices instability in her newly enhanced aura 561 562.

He reveals Mimicry Great Sage Equaling Heaven, his strongest form at that point. Although Imu recognizes that he has become stronger than she is, the Heavenly Dao intervenes to protect her and effortlessly blocks his repeated attacks. Xia Chen acknowledges that he cannot match this new obstacle 563 564.

After the fighting, he returns to Amazon Lily to handle postwar matters and spend several peaceful days with Hancock. He regards the island as home after living there for half a year 567.

Later, he rejoins Robin and the others and introduces Gaban as the Pirate King’s Left Arm, explaining that he knows Rayleigh well 570.

Notable Quotes

“Me? I'm the vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, and the future Pirate King's vice-captain!” 11

“I lost!” 28

“Don't worry. I'm here!” — Recalled by Nami as the moment he brought hope into her life 35

“I'll pass. I still prefer being a pirate! Being free to do whatever I want is great!” 40

“Why don't you listen to what you're saying? Do we need to thank each other? Aren't we crewmates?” 74

“Give you some face? Who do you think you are?” 214

“At your current level, you still can't force me to reveal my true strength!” 348

“Old fellow! I want you... To help me cultivate!” 440

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