Recaps

Franky’s brothers welcomed his decision to join the Straw Hat Pirates, though they were intimidated by Xia Chen’s enormous bounty. As the crew traveled to their new ship, Xia Chen revealed that he had spent the past six months on Amazon Lily and was bosom buddies with Hancock.

• Franky’s underlings worried about becoming a liability to him, but accepted that joining the Straw Hat Pirates would keep him safe.
• Zanbai told Kiwi and Mozu that the handsome young man they had seen was Xia Chen, the ten-billion-bounty World's Strongest Man, and warned them not to approach him.
• On the way to their new ship, Usopp entertained the crew with increasingly exaggerated stories while Chopper eagerly believed him.
• Sanji asked Xia Chen where he had spent the past six months, and Xia Chen said he had stayed on an island full of women.
• Robin identified the island as Amazon Lily, and Xia Chen declared that he and Hancock were bosom buddies.

Xia Chen and the crew reached the cape to see Franky’s enormous new ship, built with two billion Beli and help from Galley-La Company. As Luffy reacted to learning Franky had a 200-million bounty, Iceburg asked whether he had not known.

• Xia Chen explained the meaning of a friendship like Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya’s, then reassured Luffy that the crew were as close as brothers.
• Franky showed the crew the cloth-covered ship and said it measured 10,800 cm long and 7,200 cm tall, far larger than the Going Merry.
• Xia Chen recalled that the Ark Noah was connected to Joy Boy and planned to investigate it when the crew encountered it.
• Luffy asked Iceburg whether he and Franky had built the ship together, and Franky and Iceburg argued over their respective contributions.
• Iceburg explained that he had apprenticed under the same master as Franky and that Galley-La had received no labor fees for building the ship.
• Iceburg mentioned Franky’s 200-million bounty, and Luffy reacted with surprise; Iceburg asked whether Luffy had not known.

Luffy and the others learned their updated bounties from Iceburg and celebrated, while Zoro and Sanji argued over their rankings. Iceburg explained how the Straw Hats’ arrival had disrupted CP9’s plans, and Franky prepared to unveil the new ship.

• Iceburg told Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp their bounties had risen to one billion, 880 million, 720 million, and 500 million Beli, respectively.
• Luffy and Usopp celebrated their bounties, while Zoro and Sanji fought over who had the higher one and Sanji’s new title.
• Iceburg refused Xia Chen’s offer to pay for the ship and explained that the Straw Hats’ arrival had diverted CP9 from targeting him.
• Franky gathered the crew and pulled away the cloth covering the new ship.

Franky showed the crew their luxurious new ship and demonstrated its food-making machine, which could produce dishes from selected ingredients. The crew enjoyed its food but agreed Sanji’s cooking was still better.

• Franky proudly unveiled the new three-masted ship, and Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, Nami, and the others rushed aboard to explore it.
• Xia Chen admired the ship’s lion figurehead and recognized the machine on deck as resembling Vegapunk’s food and clothing technology.
• Luffy tapped the machine’s screen, and it quickly produced a plate of roast chicken.
• Franky explained how the machine prepared selected dishes, and the crew sampled its food.
• Sanji tried the machine’s cooking, then felt reassured when everyone agreed his food tasted better.

Franky showed Luffy and the others the ship’s battle-suit machine, and they tested the suits’ flight features. After familiarizing themselves with the ship, the crew argued over what to call it until Xia Chen suggested asking Franky, who said he had an idea.

• Franky showed Robin and the others the battle-suit machine and explained how to choose an outfit.
• Usopp selected a white suit, then accidentally launched himself into the cabin while testing its jet boots.
• Luffy and the others tried on suits and tested their flight functions.
• After spending half a day exploring the ship, the crew began arguing over what to name it.
• Nami pointed out that Franky and Xia Chen had not joined the discussion, and Xia Chen suggested asking Franky, the ship’s builder.
• Franky broke the silence and said he had an idea for the ship’s name.

The Straw Hats named their new ship the Thousand Sunny and prepared to leave Water 7. As they sailed away, Franky reunited emotionally with his boys on the shore, then angrily lunged at Sanji after Sanji teased him about wearing only his underwear.

• The crew chose Iceburg's name, Thousand Sunny, for their new ship, rejecting Franky's proposed name.
• Nami urged everyone to prepare to leave, and the crew gathered their supplies and said goodbye to Iceburg.
• Luffy waved farewell from the Sunny as Iceburg and a few Galley-La shipwrights saw the crew off.
• Franky heard his boys calling from shore and tearfully shouted that he would miss them and urged them not to let people push them around.
• Franky's boys teased him about his underwear and joked that they would burn incense for him if he died at sea.
• Sanji joined in the teasing, and Franky leaped at him in a rage.

While the crew sailed toward the Sabaody Archipelago, Luffy launched their ship into the sky with an Armament Haki blast, sending it off course and earning Nami’s Conqueror’s Coating punch. After the ship landed, Franky revealed that it had a hidden feature called Coup de Burst that could also make it fly.

• Luffy grew restless after the crew sailed for more than half a month without reaching an island, and Xia Chen said they were half a day from the Sabaody Archipelago.
• Luffy used Xia Chen’s old method, blasting the sea with Armament Haki to launch the ship into the sky.
• Nami learned Luffy had sent the ship flying in the wrong direction and knocked him out with a Conqueror’s Coating punch.
• The ship landed on the sea after flying for two and a half minutes, leaving Franky astonished by the crew’s strength.
• Franky revealed that the ship had a hidden feature called Coup de Burst that could launch it into the sky.

The Straw Hats reached Sabaody Archipelago, where Xia Chen explained the island’s giant resin bubbles. As the crew went ashore to explore, Xia Chen redirected Sanji’s anger by pointing out that the island might have plenty of other beautiful women.

• Franky prepared to demonstrate Coup de Burst, and Xia Chen reassured him that his invention still differed from Luffy’s attacks.
• The Thousand Sunny approached Sabaody Archipelago, and the crew marveled at its enormous trees and bubbles as Xia Chen explained how the resin bubbles formed.
• Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper hurried ashore, followed by Nami and Robin, who went to shop together.
• Sanji complained that Xia Chen had ruined his chance to accompany Nami and Robin, but Xia Chen suggested he search the island for other beautiful women.
• Sanji forgave Xia Chen, declared him his brother, and rushed off to find the island’s ladies.

Xia Chen discovered that impostors had been using his and Luffy’s identities to recruit pirates on Sabaody, while Kizaru headed to the island to confront them. The fake Straw Hat crew continued abusing their supposed authority, ending with their leader killing a pirate and boasting that he was Luffy.

• Xia Chen used Observation Haki to scan Sabaody and learned that impostors had gathered a grand fleet in his name; he also sensed Kizaru approaching.
• Kizaru recalled how the fake Straw Hat Pirates had alarmed the Marines and set out for Sabaody to teach them a lesson.
• At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku and Garp reacted furiously to the impostors’ appearance, while Kizaru argued that pirates would fear questioning their identities.
• In Grove 16, the fake Luffy shot a pirate who sought a squad-captain position, then claimed to be the real Straw Hat Luffy with a billion-Beli bounty.

An impostor Luffy rallied his fake Straw Hat crew while growing jealous of the silent Xia Chen’s popularity. He decided to lead the assembled pirates into the New World the next day and planned to eliminate Xia Chen and the real Straw Hats once he had secured his own fame.

• Impostor Luffy addressed the gathered pirates, who cheered his claim that they were the world’s strongest crew.
• The fake Xia Chen opened his eyes and intimidated the crowd, whose cheers for him outshone their response to Luffy.
• Impostor Luffy grew resentful of Xia Chen’s popularity and planned to stage a public defeat before killing him and the real Straw Hats.
• Zoro told Luffy that the pirates were impatient to enter the New World, and Luffy ordered them to set out the next day.
• Luffy told the crew to prepare to attack merfolk and Fish-Men at Fish-Man Island and to target the mermaids.

Kizaru and Sentomaru prepared to attack the Straw Hat impostors gathered in Grove 46, while Zoro learned that the crew supposedly planned to sail for the New World. As the impostors celebrated, Kizaru arrived with Sentomaru and five Pacifistas, and Division Commander Moss charged at them.

• Sentomaru met Kizaru at the Marine base and urged him to go after the impostors, and Kizaru agreed to leave with him and five Pacifistas.
• Zoro got lost on Sabaody and overheard pirates say that Luffy’s crew planned to sail for the New World the next day, so he followed them toward Grove 46.
• Xia Chen watched the impostors gathered below from the canopy of tree 46 and resented the bizarre pirate impersonating him.
• The pirates in Grove 46 celebrated their planned voyage as Kizaru, Sentomaru, and the Pacifistas arrived.
• Division Commander Moss charged at the Marines after boasting about his 150 million bounty, and the scene ended with a squelch.

Kizaru defeated Moss in one attack and sent the Pacifistas to attack the pirates, while the disguised Straw Hat crew tried to maintain their composure. The chapter ended with “Luffy” greeting Kizaru as if they were old friends, hoping to conceal their fear and find a way to escape.

• Kizaru pierced Moss with a wave of light, leaving the pirate commander badly wounded.
• A pirate identified Kizaru as a Marine Admiral, and the pirates rallied around Xia Chen’s reputation.
• Kizaru ordered Sentomaru to send the Pacifistas against the pirates, and they began slaughtering the crowd.
• The pirates demanded that Xia Chen intervene, while the disguised crew sat trembling before Kizaru.
• “Luffy” greeted Kizaru and claimed he had missed him since their meeting at Marineford six months earlier.

Kizaru exposed Demaro Black and killed him and another Straw Hat impostor before joining the battle against the pirates. As the Marines overwhelmed the crowd, Sentomaru and three Pacifistas cornered the real Roronoa Zoro, who believed Xia Chen might be watching.

• Kizaru questioned the fake Luffy about their supposed meeting and then asked whether he knew Demaro Black.
• Kizaru showed the fake Luffy Demaro Black's wanted poster, exposed him, and killed him with a sword of light.
• The other impostors fled, but Kizaru killed the Xia Chen impostor who stayed seated with his eyes closed.
• Kizaru joined the Pacifistas and knocked out more than ninety percent of the pirates.
• Sentomaru and three Pacifistas attacked Zoro, who explained that he had followed the rumors about Luffy and Xia Chen and expected Xia Chen might come to his aid.

Zoro and Sentomaru clashed until Kizaru intervened and asked whether Xia Chen was on the island. Xia Chen appeared, froze the remaining pirates for ordering him to kill the Marines, and left Kizaru convinced that fighting him would mean certain death.

• Zoro's sword attack collided with Sentomaru's axe and the Pacifistas' beams, ending in a stalemate.
• Kizaru stopped Sentomaru and explained that their mission targeted impostors, not the real Straw Hat Pirates.
• Kizaru asked Zoro whether Xia Chen was on the island, and Xia Chen appeared and greeted him.
• The pirates recognized Xia Chen and Zoro, then urged Xia Chen to kill the Marines.
• Xia Chen froze the pirates into purple ice sculptures after asking whether they were telling him what to do.
• Kizaru realized Xia Chen's ice powers surpassed Aokiji's and decided he had no intention of fighting him.

Xia Chen made Kizaru promise to pay him the bounties for the defeated pirates, leaving the Marines in his debt. After Xia Chen and Kizaru went drinking with Zoro and Sentomaru, Kizaru protested that Shakky and Rayleigh were overcharging him.

• Xia Chen froze the defeated pirates and asked Kizaru to pay him their bounties.
• Kizaru agreed to arrange the money through Sengoku, and Xia Chen told him the Marines could hold it until he came to collect.
• Xia Chen took Kizaru out for drinks while Zoro and Sentomaru agreed to stop fighting and join them.
• At Shakky's Rip-off Bar, Kizaru complained that the drinks were too expensive and threatened to report Shakky and Rayleigh.

After spending two peaceful days on Sabaody, Luffy and his crew left for the New World after saying goodbye to Rayleigh. Elsewhere, Rocks introduced the Revolutionary Army’s Chief of Staff, Sabo, to Moria and sent Sabo back undercover, hinting that he might become crucial to dealing with Joy Boy.

• Xia Chen bade farewell to Kizaru after their drinking and planned to explore more of Sabaody.
• Luffy, Sanji, and the others thanked Rayleigh before boarding the Thousand Sunny and setting sail.
• The crew beat up Zoro after he challenged Rayleigh, while the Thousand Sunny sank into the sea amid the fighting.
• Rocks emerged from a hidden passage aboard Thriller Bark and introduced Sabo to Moria as a new colleague.
• Rocks ordered Sabo to return to the Revolutionary Army undercover and wondered whether Sabo would be key to dealing with Joy Boy.

Xia Chen joined the Straw Hats on deck as the Thousand Sunny descended toward Fish-Man Island, where they encountered a giant Sea King. He stopped Zoro from attacking through the ship’s coating, then kicked him outside to fight the creature and hinted that Zoro would be able to breathe.

• Xia Chen reached a bottleneck while training his Observation Haki and went up to the deck.
• The Straw Hats admired the underwater scenery near Sabaody until Usopp spotted a giant Sea King approaching the Thousand Sunny.
• Luffy, Sanji, and Zoro prepared to attack the Sea King, but Nami knocked them down and warned them not to provoke it.
• When the Sea King opened its mouth near the ship, Xia Chen stopped Zoro from striking through the coating and explained that breaking it underwater could doom the crew.
• Xia Chen kicked Zoro through the coating to fight the Sea King outside, then told the crew that Zoro would be able to breathe.

Xia Chen’s Water Avoidance Technique let Zoro, Luffy, and Sanji fight underwater without being weakened or unable to breathe. After Sanji killed the shark threatening the Thousand Sunny, the crew ate its meat and continued toward Fish-Man Island, where Chopper spotted something alarming below.

• Nami recognized Xia Chen’s Water Avoidance Technique, and Xia Chen confirmed it protected people underwater.
• Xia Chen kicked Luffy through the coating, and Luffy discovered that seawater did not weaken him.
• Luffy and Zoro argued over the shark before Sanji rushed in with Blue Walk and struck it with Diable Jambe, killing it.
• Luffy told Zoro to cut up the shark, and the crew ate its meat as they neared Fish-Man Island.
• Chopper stared into the waters below and shouted for everyone to look.

The Straw Hats reached Fish-Man Island, where Xia Chen explained how the Sunlight Tree, Eve, brought light and air to the deep-sea island. After the Thousand Sunny crossed the bubble and began to fall, Usopp used his wind-controlling Devil Fruit ability to guide the ship safely to the ground, where the crew disembarked and heard a commotion nearby.

• Xia Chen explained that Eve's roots carried sunlight to Fish-Man Island and that the tree also produced the island's air.
• The Straw Hats spotted Fish-Man Island inside its enormous bubble and steered the Thousand Sunny toward it.
• The ship entered the bubble and began falling through the air, but Usopp used his Devil Fruit ability to control the wind and slow its descent.
• The Thousand Sunny landed in a wide, flat area, and the crew jumped off to explore Fish-Man Island.
• Luffy admired the colorful corals while Sanji searched for mermaids, and a commotion nearby drew everyone's attention.

Jinbe reunited with Luffy and the others, and Xia Chen told him he had killed Arlong. After Jinbe apologized to Nami for Arlong’s abuse, he led the group toward Ryugu Palace for food and sweets.

• Jinbe met Luffy and the others after seeing their ship fall from the sky and said he had come to pick them up.
• Xia Chen told Jinbe that he had wiped out the Arlong Pirates, and Jinbe said Arlong had brought it upon himself.
• Nami reacted to Arlong’s name, so Xia Chen comforted her while Usopp explained what Arlong had done to her.
• Jinbe apologized to Nami for Arlong’s actions, and Nami told him it was not his fault and that she had let the past go.
• Luffy insisted that he was hungry, so Jinbe offered to take everyone to eat Fish-Man Island’s sweets.
• Jinbe introduced Fukaboshi, who invited the group to visit Ryugu Palace, prompting Sanji to ask whether Fish-Man Island had a kingdom.

Xia Chen protected the Thousand Sunny while Hody Jones and Zeo decided to advance their plan against the Straw Hat Pirates. At Ryugu Palace, Neptune welcomed the crew, while Sanji stayed behind to admire mermaids.

• Xia Chen noticed Hody Jones and Zeo watching the group, then shielded the Thousand Sunny with a golden barrier before following the others.
• Hody Jones identified Xia Chen as a threat and ordered the New Fish-Man Pirates to carry out their plan early, with the Straw Hat Pirates as their target.
• Fukaboshi led Xia Chen and the others to Ryugu Palace, where Neptune welcomed them and Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper eagerly asked for sweets.
• Xia Chen noticed Neptune acting nervous and eager to please, and wondered whether the king wanted his help with something.
• Zoro explained that Sanji had stayed behind after spotting beautiful mermaids in town.

After Luffy agreed to let Fish-Man Island use the Straw Hat crew’s flag for protection, Neptune privately asked Xia Chen about Joy Boy and the promise tied to Noah. Neptune began preparing to share what Xia Chen did not know about Joy Boy.

• Luffy and the others ate several tons of sweets, and Neptune offered to help them enjoy their stay on Fish-Man Island.
• Nami asked why Neptune was treating the crew so generously, and Neptune requested permission to use their flag to protect the island from pirates.
• Jinbe explained that Whitebeard’s death had weakened the protection Fish-Man Island once received, and Luffy readily agreed to lend the crew’s name.
• Neptune asked Xia Chen to stay behind for a private conversation after the others left to explore the island.
• Neptune asked Xia Chen about the Void Century, and Xia Chen identified Joy Boy and described the promise with the mermaid princess and Neptune’s guardianship of Noah.
• Neptune expressed surprise at Xia Chen’s knowledge and began to tell him more about Joy Boy.

Xia Chen descended into the pit where Joy Boy had sealed Jörmungandr, the World Serpent, eight hundred years earlier. As he neared the creature, Neptune returned toward Fish-Man Island and was intercepted by several figures.

• Neptune showed Xia Chen the enormous pit near Fish-Man Island, and Xia Chen plunged inside to find Jörmungandr.
• Neptune left Xia Chen to investigate and headed back toward Fish-Man Island, where several figures blocked his path and one addressed him.
• As Xia Chen descended deeper into the pit, he recalled Neptune's account of Joy Boy sealing Jörmungandr after it threatened to swallow Fish-Man Island.
• Xia Chen learned that tremors had grown more frequent and powerful, prompting Neptune to stake Fish-Man Island's safety on Xia Chen's strength.
• Xia Chen sensed that he was nearing Jörmungandr and smiled as he continued downward.

Hody told Neptune that his plan would usher in a new era, while Shyarly saw something terrifying and hurried to warn King Neptune. Xia Chen found Jörmungandr at the bottom of the pit and recognized the Haki keeping the serpent wounded and asleep as god-level Haki.

• Hody and Zeo discussed their plan while Neptune remained chained and wounded in their prison.
• Zeo warned Hody’s officers that Xia Chen was a serious threat, but Hody said their hundred thousand troops and secret weapon would secure victory.
• Shyarly saw something horrifying in her crystal ball, then took Camie to find King Neptune.
• Xia Chen reached the bottom of the pit and found the immense, wounded Jörmungandr asleep.
• Xia Chen recognized the Haki clinging to Jörmungandr as god-level Haki and recalled that it was formed by merging all three types of peak king-level Haki.

After freeing Jörmungandr from Joy Boy’s lingering Haki, Xia Chen learned about God-Level Haki and watched the giant serpent awaken. Jörmungandr refused Xia Chen’s demand to submit and attacked, prompting Xia Chen to prepare to use his newly acquired power.

• Xia Chen read Joy Boy’s manual and learned how God-Level Haki surpassed ordinary Haki and could overwhelm those without it.
• Xia Chen erased the remaining God-Level Haki from Jörmungandr’s wounds, allowing the serpent to awaken and heal rapidly.
• Jörmungandr wondered aloud whether he should eat Xia Chen, then realized Xia Chen could understand him through the Voice of All Things.
• Jörmungandr chose to spare Xia Chen, but Xia Chen demanded that he either submit or become snake soup.
• Jörmungandr took offense and began stirring up violent currents as he threatened to eat Xia Chen.
• Xia Chen prepared to show Jörmungandr the power he had just obtained through a system check-in.