Recaps

Vic matched Kaido’s Conqueror’s Haki and struck him with a precise slash before Kaido arrived on Titan Island to challenge him. Kaido landed near Vic and his companions, still convinced he could win and planning to take Yamato back to Wano Country afterward.

• Vic’s Conqueror’s Haki held off Kaido’s as their clash incapacitated fish and birds around the island.
• Vic’s blade of light grazed Kaido’s head, reopening the same spot where Vic had wounded him when they first met, and ended their Haki clash.
• Vic explained that he had kept his movements secret to avoid drawing the World Government’s attention, then urged Kaido to stop intimidating people and come down to fight.
• Kaido flew toward Titan Island, followed its gravitational pull, and landed nearby in human form.
• Kaido saw Vic’s companions acting warily and took their behavior as a sign that they doubted Vic could defeat him.

Vic confronted Kaido over Yamato’s freedom, and the two began a battle on Titan Island. Their first clash revealed that Vic could match Kaido’s strength and Haki, leaving Kaido wary of his opponent.

• Vic insisted that Yamato should choose his own future, while Yamato rejected Kaido and recalled the abuse he had suffered in Wano Country.
• Kaido dismissed their objections and declared that he would defeat Vic and take Yamato back to Wano Country.
• Vic ended the argument and agreed with Kaido that they would settle the matter in a fight, while Rebecca and the others moved away from the battlefield.
• Kaido drew Hassaikai and waited for Vic to attack; Vic vanished with Soru and struck at him with an Armament Haki-coated punch.
• Kaido dodged and swung Hassaikai upward, but Vic anticipated the counter and redirected his punch into the club.
• Their Armament Haki clashed, sending a shock wave across Titan Island, and Kaido realized Vic’s strength and Haki matched his own.

Vic fought Kaido on Titan Island, concealing his true strength while defending himself with his swords and Logia abilities. After a prolonged clash, Kaido escalated the battle by leaping into the air and attacking with Ragnarok.

• Vic drew his two Black Blades and sent a Sword Gang at Kaido, who shattered it with his spiked club.
• Kaido charged Vic with Thunder Bagua, but Vic turned into his element and evaded the strike.
• Kaido used Vajra Arrow, and Vic split the Haki-coated blast with a sword strike, leaving two craters in the ground.
• Vic and Kaido exchanged thousands of blows over nearly half a day as the battle’s shock waves twisted the aurora above Titan Island.
• Kaido leaped into the air, coated his club in Conqueror’s Haki, and struck at Vic with Ragnarok.

Vic and Kaido escalated their battle by coating their weapons in Conqueror’s Haki, unleashing shockwaves that split a meteor and the sky. Vic prevented Kaido from redirecting their energy into the island, then the two resumed trading blows as the surrounding people and animals suffered under the repeated impacts.

• Kaido attacked Vic with Conqueror’s Coating, and Vic blocked him with Blood Wither, sending a devastating shockwave across Titan Island and the surrounding sea.
• Their clash sliced an incoming meteor in half and split the clouds, while spectators on nearby islands were knocked unconscious by the shockwave.
• Kaido tried to drive the sphere of clashing Haki into the ground to destroy the island, but Vic redirected it into the sky using his immense control over Conqueror’s Haki.
• Vic kicked Kaido in the shin while Kaido was distracted, and Kaido staggered back before recovering and attacking again.
• Vic and Kaido exchanged repeated Conqueror’s Coating strikes, while the ongoing soul-shaking impacts battered the unconscious and left Rebecca and the others pale.

Vic fought Kaido for nearly a day, then revealed his Dragon Slayer technique and wounded him with a sudden burst of speed. Kaido recognized the move that had injured him before, leaving their fight at its turning point.

• Vic contained the clashing Conqueror's Haki within a blood-red dome, shielding the surrounding islands while making the ordeal harder for Rebecca and the others.
• Kaido's Haki ran low, so he transformed into his Human-Beast Form and struck Vic hard enough to send him flying.
• Kaido pressed his attack, but Vic used his Logia form and Observation Haki to evade him rather than clash directly.
• Vic promised to use his strongest trump card and gathered Haki and Sword Qi while Kaido watched.
• Vic called out "Dragon Slayer," vanished, and reappeared behind Kaido, leaving a long bleeding wound across his chest.

Vic and Kaido fought through a series of devastating attacks before agreeing to decide the battle with one final move. As Kaido charged down in his Flame Bagua form, Vic met him with a fully charged sword technique.

• Kaido struck Vic with Roaring Thunder Bagua, sending him flying and leaving him badly injured.
• Vic bound Kaido with Thunder Chains and wounded him with Two-Sword Style: Golden Jiao, while both fighters were left exhausted.
• Kaido transformed into a giant dragon and challenged Vic to withstand one final attack, promising to leave and stop demanding Yamato if Vic succeeded.
• Vic agreed to the final clash and gathered Sword Qi, Mind Power, lightning, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki.
• Kaido unleashed Rising Dragon: Flame Bagua, and Vic answered with One Sword Style: Open Heaven's Gate.

Vic defeated Kaido with a lightning-wreathed slash, then hid the extent of his recovery while his companions extinguished the fires and guarded the island. Three days later, Kaido awoke in Seastone chains and asked to see Vic, who arrived with Ain and said he had something to discuss.

• Vic struck Kaido with a powerful slash, knocking him unconscious and sending his dragon body crashing to the ground.
• Vic extinguished the flames near himself and returned to his room, while the others worked through the night to put out fires across the island.
• Yamato bound Kaido in Seastone chains and placed him in an empty room after checking his injuries.
• Rebecca asked after Vic, and he claimed he was badly hurt and needed time to recover while telling everyone to guard the island.
• Vic told Yamato to leave Kaido alone for the time being, intending to keep him alive for possible cooperation against the World Government.
• Kaido woke three days later, demanded to see Vic, and Vic arrived with Ain, appearing pale and still unwell.

After defeating Kaido, Vic released him and concealed how badly injured he was while recovering and comprehending the law on Titan Island. In Sea Circle Calendar year 1520, Vic emerged from seclusion and asked Kuina to return with him to the East Blue as Luffy’s departure approached.

• Vic told Kaido that he would let him go in return for the favor Kaido had once shown him, and ordered Yamato to unfasten his chains.
• Despite Barnett and the others’ worries, Yamato released Kaido, who transformed into a dragon and flew away from Titan Island.
• Reports of Vic’s serious injuries spread, but the Five Elders decided not to attack him, fearing he might recover and become an even greater threat.
• Vic claimed he was still recovering while he stayed on Titan Island, and he told Garp and Dragon the truth about his plans.
• In Sea Circle Calendar year 1520, Vic emerged from seclusion and asked Kuina whether she wanted to visit her father and grandfather in the East Blue.

Kuina decided to return to Shimotsuki Village with Vic after learning Zoro had left to train on his own. After a month of traveling through the Grand Line, she reunited with Koshiro and set out with Vic to visit her grandfather Kozaburo.

• Vic told Kuina that Zoro had left Shimotsuki Village two years earlier, and she agreed to go home with him.
• Vic and Kuina traveled by motorized boat through the Grand Line, stopping at various places and leaving Kuina to handle unwanted encounters herself.
• After a month, Vic and Kuina arrived in Shimotsuki Village, where Koshiro recognized Kuina and welcomed her home.
• Kuina asked about Kozaburo, and Koshiro explained that her grandfather was healthy and still forging weapons.
• Kuina and Vic went to visit Kozaburo, while Koshiro waited for the family to reunite.

Vic and Kuina returned to Shimotsuki Village and reunited with Kozaburo at his smithy. Kozaburo was overwhelmed when Vic showed him two Black Blades, and the group prepared to return to the dojo for a family reunion.

• Vic and Kuina walked from Isshin Dojo to Kozaburo's smithy in the woods.
• Kuina embraced Kozaburo, and the two cried as they reunited after ten years apart.
• Vic urged Kozaburo and Kuina to return to the dojo, where Koshiro was waiting.
• Kozaburo noticed the swords at Vic's waist, and Vic handed him Blood Wither and Allen.
• Kozaburo drew the swords and discovered that both were Black Blades.

After Vic and Kuina reunited with Kozaburo at the smithy, Vic used an illusion to gather the forest’s beasts so they could bring meat back to the dojo. The animals followed Vic and Kuina toward Shimotsuki Village, with Kozaburo trailing after them.

• Kozaburo marveled at Vic’s two Black Blades while Kuina urged them to return to the dojo.
• Vic said they should take meat for the dojo’s junior disciples and waited outside the smithy.
• Kuina heard beasts approaching from all directions, and Kozaburo saw them gather in a ring around the smithy.
• Vic explained that he had drawn the beasts in with an illusion and asked Kozaburo to choose which ones tasted best.
• Kozaburo chose hum cattle, gray donkeys, and horned deer, and Vic decided to take two of each.
• Vic led the group toward Shimotsuki Village as the beasts parted before him and followed, and Kozaburo joined them.

Vic traveled to Foosha Village to watch Luffy set sail on his seventeenth birthday and found Garp and Dragon watching from a hidden spot too. The three decided to remain unseen as Luffy began his journey.

• Vic left Kuina at Isshin Dojo after spending the night there and headed to Foosha Village on May 5, Luffy's birthday.
• Vic found Dragon and Garp concealed nearby, and Dragon complained that Garp had struck him again.
• Garp joked that beating Dragon had become a habit, while Dragon marveled at how much stronger Garp had become.
• Vic asked whether they would reveal themselves to Luffy, but Garp and Dragon agreed that staying hidden was the best way to protect him.

Vic watched Luffy set sail from Foosha Village, then left Garp and Dragon as Luffy headed into the East Blue. Meanwhile, Thatch found the Dark-Dark Fruit aboard the Moby Dick, and Blackbeard killed him, fled, and became Ace’s target.

• Garp told Vic he had returned to Foosha Village on leave to see what his grandson would do, and Vic speculated about whether Garp and Dragon had secretly watched Luffy in the original story.
• The people of Foosha Village saw Luffy off, and Luffy punched the Lord of the Coast aside before sailing away.
• Vic said goodbye to Garp and Dragon and left after Luffy disappeared over the horizon.
• Thatch found the Dark-Dark Fruit aboard the Moby Dick, but Blackbeard killed him, took the fruit, and fled the Whitebeard Pirates.
• Ace left the Moby Dick to pursue Blackbeard, who traveled toward the first half of the Grand Line to seek crewmates and evade him.

Luffy’s journey brought him to Shells Town, where he learned that Zoro had been imprisoned for protecting a family from Helmeppo. After punching Helmeppo for threatening to execute Zoro, Luffy decided to recruit him as a companion.

• Dragon used his Devil Fruit ability to send Luffy’s barrel toward a passenger ship, where Alvida and her crew later attacked.
• Nami collected valuables from Alvida’s pirate ship and crossed paths with Luffy as they launched their boats.
• Koby guided Luffy to Shells Town, where they watched Zoro protect a little girl and learned he had been imprisoned by Helmeppo.
• Helmeppo announced he would execute Zoro, and Luffy punched him despite Koby’s protests.
• Luffy told Koby he had decided to make Zoro his companion.

Luffy rescued Zoro from execution at Shells Town, and the two defeated Morgan before setting sail together. Nami failed to find a Grand Line chart and headed to Orange Town after discovering Buggy the Clown had taken it, while Luffy was carried off by a bird and Zoro rowed after him.

• Nami watched Luffy confront Helmeppo, then sneaked into the Marine Base to search for a Grand Line chart while Luffy went to rescue Zoro.
• Luffy told Zoro about Helmeppo's plan and recruited him; together they defeated Morgan, whom the Marines arrested and reported to Marine Headquarters.
• Nami found a chart marked with the Buggy Pirates' emblem instead of a Grand Line sea chart and left for Orange Town.
• The townspeople celebrated Luffy and Zoro's victory, Koby stayed at the base with Helmeppo, and Luffy and Zoro departed Shells Town.
• Zoro dreamed of Kuina and her Shichibukai uncle, while Luffy remembered Shanks and Vic before a large bird carried him away; Zoro rowed after him as Nami reached Orange Town.

Luffy, Zoro, and Nami defeated Buggy’s crew in Orange Town, and Nami joined them as their navigator before they sailed to Syrup Village. There, they helped Usopp stop Captain Kuro’s plot against Kaya, and Luffy defeated Kuro without being hindered by hypnotism.

• Garp prevented Morgan from harming him, captured the fleeing Marine, and took Koby and Helmeppo back to Marine Headquarters.
• Luffy, Nami, and Zoro joined forces to attack Buggy’s headquarters; Nami defeated the beast tamer, Zoro defeated Cabaji, and Luffy beat Buggy with Nami’s help.
• The Buggy Pirates were driven out of Orange Town, and Nami joined Luffy and Zoro as their navigator to pursue her goal of reaching the Grand Line.
• Luffy, Zoro, and Nami met Usopp on the way into Syrup Village and learned of Captain Kuro’s plan to kill Kaya and take her fortune.
• Luffy fought Kuro and defeated him despite being cut by Shakushi, while resisting Jango’s hypnotism.

After defeating the Black Cat Pirates, Luffy’s crew received the Going Merry and recruited Usopp before sailing to the Baratie. There, Vic and Kuina watched the reunited crew arrive, but Zoro and Nami failed to recognize them.

• Zoro, Nami, and Usopp helped defeat the Black Cat Pirates, and Kaya gave Luffy’s crew the Going Merry.
• Usopp decided to go to sea and joined Luffy, while Kaya made a decision of her own.
• Luffy’s crew sailed to the Baratie to find a professional cook, where Vic and Kuina watched them arrive.
• Luffy accidentally damaged the restaurant with a cannonball, and Zeff made him work to repay the damage.
• Zoro and Nami sat beside Vic and Kuina at the restaurant without recognizing them.

Vic and Kuina watched the events at Baratie unfold as Gin returned with the starving Krieg Pirates, whose attempt to seize the restaurant was interrupted by Dracule Mihawk. Zoro challenged Mihawk, driven by his promise to Kuina and his determination to defeat Vic.

• Gin arrived at Baratie starving, and Sanji gave him seafood fried rice.
• Gin returned with Don Krieg and the starving Krieg Pirates, and Don Krieg tricked Zeff into feeding his crew before trying to seize the restaurant.
• Dracule Mihawk arrived and cut the Krieg Pirates’ ship into three pieces.
• Zoro stepped forward and challenged Mihawk, while Vic and Kuina watched.
• Kuina recognized Zoro’s enduring determination, and Vic said he would be ready when Zoro came to challenge him.

Roronoa Zoro challenged Dracule Mihawk and suffered a decisive defeat, but his resolve earned Mihawk’s respect and a chance to grow stronger. Mihawk spared Zoro, then learned that Luffy aimed to become the Pirate King.

• Mihawk accepted Zoro’s challenge and overwhelmed him with a small knife, exposing the gap between their strength.
• Zoro focused on his ambition, endured Mihawk’s stab, and made Mihawk draw the Black Blade for their final clash.
• Zoro’s Three Thousand Worlds failed to defeat Mihawk, and two of his swords shattered; he accepted his defeat without turning his back.
• Mihawk scarred Zoro across the chest and told him to grow stronger and surpass him, while Johnny and Yosaku pulled Zoro from the sea.
• Luffy attacked Mihawk in alarm, then calmed down after Mihawk confirmed Zoro was alive.
• Mihawk asked Luffy about his goal, and Luffy declared that he would become the Pirate King.

The Straw Hats and Baratie's cooks fought Don Krieg's crew while Dracule Mihawk departed and Zeff judged Luffy's character. As Nami struggled against Pearl, Zoro broke through Pearl's shields at the cost of reopening his wounds.

• Dracule Mihawk left the Baratie after spotting a more interesting pirate crew, and Zoro pledged to Luffy that he would never lose again before defeating Mihawk.
• Don Krieg ordered his crew to attack the Baratie, and Luffy agreed to help Zeff drive them off in exchange for ending his chores.
• Luffy fought Don Krieg, Sanji faced Gin, Nami battled Pearl, and Usopp, Johnny, Yosaku, and the cooks took on the remaining pirates.
• Luffy adapted to Don Krieg's Mighty Battle Spear, and Zeff decided that Sanji should join the Straw Hats.
• Nami began to tire against Pearl, so Zoro ignored his injuries and used Lion Song to slice apart Pearl's shields, reopening his wounds.

After Luffy and his crew defeated Don Krieg at Baratie, Vic left a sword beside the unconscious Zoro and sailed away with Kuina. Sanji joined the Straw Hat Pirates, who then sailed toward Cocoyasi Village so Nami could say goodbye to her family and bring back a tangerine tree.

• Nami knocked Pearl down, and Sanji defeated Gin and Krieg’s other men with his kicks.
• Don Krieg unleashed a poison gas bomb, but Vic’s wind swept the gas away before it could spread.
• Luffy broke Krieg’s armor and sent him into the sea, then Sanji rescued Luffy from an iron net after Zeff prompted him.
• Vic left his former Marine sword beside the unconscious Zoro and sailed away with Kuina.
• Sanji joined Luffy’s crew after saying goodbye to Zeff, and Nami kicked him when he rushed toward her.
• The Straw Hat Pirates sailed toward Cocoyasi Village at Nami’s request, while Zoro later wondered who had left him a sword.

Vic brought Kuina to challenge Mihawk, whom the world still believed to be the World's Greatest Swordsman despite his secret defeat by Vic. Mihawk accepted and met Kuina on an uninhabited island, where they prepared to fight while Vic stood by to heal her.

• Vic and Kuina caught up with Mihawk at sea, and Vic explained that Kuina wanted to test her swordsmanship against him.
• Mihawk revealed that Vic had defeated him years earlier and was the true World's Greatest Swordsman, while Kuina questioned why Vic had brought her to challenge someone he had beaten.
• Vic urged Mihawk to fight Kuina without holding back, and Mihawk accepted her challenge.
• Vic, Kuina, and Mihawk reached an uninhabited island, where Vic promised to heal Kuina and encouraged her to give the battle everything she had.
• Mihawk noticed Kuina's Wado Ichimonji, and Vic explained that it was a Great Grade copy made for Roronoa Zoro; Mihawk then drew Black Blade Yoru as the duel was about to begin.

Kuina and Mihawk fought an intense sword duel across an island, trading close-range attacks and Flying Slashes until both were exhausted. Kuina was slightly injured, and Vic judged that Mihawk’s superior strength and Future Sight gave him the edge.

• Kuina attacked Mihawk with Wado Ichimonji, and their opening clash tore up the ground around them.
• Kuina and Mihawk exchanged rapid thrusts and slashes, with Mihawk driving her back before Kuina used Geppo’s recoil to force him into a tree.
• Kuina escaped Mihawk’s near-fatal thrust with Geppo and Soru, then countered his Flying Slashes with one of her own.
• Kuina and Mihawk traded successive Flying Slashes that devastated the forest and left only Vic’s small patch of ground untouched.
• The exhausted fighters stopped with Kuina bleeding slightly, while Vic recognized that Mihawk’s superior strength and Observation Haki had given him the advantage.

Kuina lost her duel with Mihawk but found a clearer path for her training, while Mihawk resolved to surpass Vic. Vic left Kuina to follow her own path and went to the Marine Base in Loguetown, where he found Smoker in his office.

• Kuina and Mihawk clashed with Conqueror's Haki coating, devastating the island as their fight continued.
• Mihawk disarmed Kuina and held Black Blade Yoru to her throat, and Kuina admitted defeat.
• Mihawk praised Kuina's strength and promised she could challenge him again, while Kuina retrieved Wado Ichimonji and joined Vic.
• Vic and Kuina departed, and Mihawk returned to his boat determined to challenge his limits and defeat Vic.
• Vic saw Kuina off, then entered the Marine Base in Loguetown without being stopped and walked to the commander's office.
• Vic pushed open the office door and recognized Smoker's irritated voice through the smoke.

Vic visited Smoker in Loguetown, where they discussed Smoker’s return to East Blue and Vic’s expulsion from the Marines. Vic urged Smoker to stop settling for safety, while explaining that his own strength had forced the World Government to make him a Shichibukai.

• Vic cleared the smoke from Smoker’s office and greeted him, and Smoker welcomed him despite his status as a pirate.
• Smoker explained that he had returned to East Blue by choice to protect his hometown and had brought Tashigi with him.
• Vic warned Smoker that staying in East Blue was holding back his strength, but Smoker said he was disillusioned with the Marines and content to protect his home.
• Smoker asked whether Vic could return to the Marines, and Vic explained that the Celestial Dragons would never allow it after he challenged their authority.
• Vic said the World Government had made him a Shichibukai because they feared his strength and lack of scruples.