Recaps

Kong revealed that the World Government had engineered the conflict between Whitebeard and the Azure Emperor by arranging for Oren to be killed over a Devil Fruit. As the Marines waited for the two pirates to weaken, Zesi and Whitebeard escalated their battle toward a decisive clash.

• Kong explained that the World Government had planted spies among the Whitebeard Pirates and arranged for the Azure Emperor Pirates to kill Oren, provoking the conflict.
• Sengoku warned that the Marines would need to wait for Whitebeard and the Azure Emperor to be seriously injured before attacking, and Kong showed photographs of their battle.
• The Marines reached their designated position and halted while Zesi and Whitebeard continued fighting.
• Whitebeard blocked Zesi’s attack, then used his strength to blast apart the sword-aura flood dragons surrounding him.
• Zesi steadied himself in the sky and announced that their earlier exchange had only been a game as both men gathered their terrifying auras.
• Whitebeard declared that Zesi would face his fury, while Zesi summoned Eighteen Divine Space Strikes and sent enormous fists crashing toward him.

Whitebeard and Zesi unleashed a devastating exchange that exhausted both fighters, while the Marines watched from offshore. After receiving intelligence from the island, Kong ordered the fleet to attack both pirate crews.

• Whitebeard answered Zesi's Eighteen Divine Space Strikes with a succession of powerful air cannons, and their attacks collided in the sky.
• Sengoku, Borsalino, Sakazuki, and the other Marines watched the battle and discussed the fighters' strength as Kong prepared to intervene.
• When the smoke cleared, Whitebeard and Zesi were still fighting, but both had weakened and slowed after their massive attacks.
• An intelligence officer delivered a report from the island to Kong.
• Kong ordered the Marines to attack the deserted island and take down the Azure Emperor Pirates and the Whitebeard Pirates.

The Marines arrived with an overwhelming fleet and attacked the island indiscriminately, revealing a planned assault on Whitebeard and Zesi. As Kong and the Marine forces moved in, Zesi and Whitebeard struck at him, and the battle began.

• Nearly two hundred Marine warships surrounded the island, and Kuzan froze the sea before the fleet opened fire.
• Marco told the pirate captains that Whitebeard had anticipated the World Government’s betrayal and urged everyone to fight for their lives and comrades.
• Kong arrived with Sengoku, Garp, Marine officers, Cipher Pol 0, and a hundred thousand elite soldiers, then ordered the island surrounded.
• Kong and the other Marine officers approached Whitebeard and Zesi while the two pirates continued exchanging verses.
• Zesi attacked Kong with Azure Dragon's Roar: Sword Draw, and Whitebeard struck him with Steam Rampage.

Zesi and Whitebeard revealed that their battle had mostly been staged to draw out the Navy, then launched a joint ambush when Fleet Admiral Kong arrived. Kong was trapped by Zesi’s strongest sword strike and met it head-on with his ultimate move as Whitebeard attacked.

• Whitebeard sensed a conspiracy behind the seemingly ordinary events, and Zesi independently suspected that the Navy and World Government were behind it.
• Zesi and Whitebeard decided they had to fight over their killed crewmates, while using mostly staged attacks to lure the Navy out.
• When Kong appeared, Zesi and Whitebeard immediately struck together with their strongest attacks.
• Zesi’s awakened sword-drawing technique trapped Kong in a distorted field, while Sengoku and Garp realized they had fallen into a trap.
• Kong activated Steel Bone and collided with Zesi’s flood dragon sword energy as Whitebeard’s air cannon struck.

Zesi and Whitebeard joined forces to unleash a devastating attack on the Marines, leaving many dead and Fleet Admiral Kong gravely wounded. Kong ordered Sengoku to lead the surviving Marines to safety while he stayed behind to face Zesi and Whitebeard.

• Zesi, Whitebeard, and Kong’s attacks collided, unleashing an explosion that swept across the island and killed or injured numerous Marines.
• Kuzan told his subordinates that Zesi and Whitebeard had joined forces against Kong and warned that the Marines risked being wiped out.
• The explosion subsided, revealing Marine corpses and Kong, Sengoku, Garp, Sakazuki, and other officers alive at its center.
• Zesi taunted Kong as the smoke cleared, and the Marines saw that Kong had lost his left arm and suffered severe wounds.
• Kong ordered Sengoku to get the Marines safely away and declared that he would hold off Zesi and Whitebeard.

After the Marines’ attack failed, Kong ordered a retreat, but Zesi and Whitebeard answered with force. Zesi tore through Kuzan’s frozen sea, leaving the Marine fleet and soldiers caught in deadly currents and broken ice.

• Kong regretted ignoring Sengoku’s warning and resolved to hold off Zesi and Whitebeard so the Marines could escape.
• Sengoku relayed Kong’s retreat order and told Kuzan to lead the Marines back to Marine Headquarters.
• Whitebeard blocked Sengoku, Garp, and the others from stopping Zesi with a barrage of air cannons.
• Zesi tore through space with his awakened power, breaking the frozen sea and sending waves, currents, ice, soldiers, and warships into chaos.
• Buggy explained that Zesi’s power over the sea made him a one-man army, as Marines suffered devastating casualties.

Zesi justified the Marines’ losses and warned the World Government against confronting the Azure Emperor Pirates again. As Sengoku led the surviving officers in retreat, Kong stayed behind to fight Zesi, who ended the chapter pressing his attack with the Space-Shattering Sword.

• Zesi told Garp that the Marines’ leaders were responsible for sending their soldiers to die and warned that opposing him meant death.
• Kong ordered Sengoku to evacuate the officers and soldiers, and Sengoku, Garp, Sakazuki, and the others retreated.
• Kong’s wounds healed, and his formidable aura impressed Zesi and Whitebeard as Kong declared that Zesi would have to defeat him to rule the seas.
• Kong appeared before Zesi and struck the Defense-Control Hammer, breaking through its countershock waves with his Haki.
• Zesi increased the power of his vibrations, drove Kong back, and rushed after him with the Space-Shattering Sword.

Zesi attacked Kong with Space-Shattering Sword, while Kong unleashed Life Return: Accumulation and charged into a desperate clash. As Kuzan, Sengoku, and Garp rescued the surviving Marines, Sengoku and Garp left, believing Kong could escape once the danger passed.

• Zesi pursued Kong with Space-Shattering Sword, but Kong dodged the attacks as both fighters strained to maintain their powers.
• Kong used Life Return: Accumulation, covered himself in Armament Haki, and charged Zesi with a powerful punch.
• Zesi met Kong's fist with his sword, and their collision sent tremendous force through the island and surrounding sea.
• Kuzan repeatedly used Ice Age to protect the Marine warships, while Sengoku and Garp lifted the frozen ships and sent them away.
• Sengoku told Garp that Kong could escape after using his desperate move, and they departed to catch up with the surviving Marines.

Kong used hardened Armament Haki and his martial arts to block Zesi’s Space-Shattering Sword and gradually suppress him in close combat. Zesi acknowledged Kong’s strength and launched his strongest attack, the Twenty-eight, Divine Space Strike, leaving their battle unresolved.

• Kong’s Haki briefly checked Zesi’s Space-Shattering Sword, and he drove the retreating Marines away from the fighting.
• Kong hardened his Armament Haki like steel and began blocking Zesi’s sword with his fists.
• Kong’s close-combat skill gave him the advantage, and Zesi was sent flying backward.
• Zesi praised Kong’s strength and martial arts before unleashing the Twenty-eight, Divine Space Strike.

Zesi unleashed Twenty-Eight Divine Space Strikes at Kong, forcing the Fleet Admiral to burn his life force to resist. Kong shattered seven strikes before exhausting himself, leaving at least eighteen still falling toward him.

• Zesi summoned twenty-eight Divine Space Strikes, shocking Bullet, Whitebeard, and the watching crowd with their power.
• Kong faced the attack and unleashed his immense Armament Haki through Life Return, burning his life force to strengthen himself.
• Kong used Bone-Burning Strike to smash through seven Divine Space Strikes.
• Kong exhausted his strength and life force, while at least eighteen Divine Space Strikes continued to rain down on him.

After Kong died fighting Wenlai Zesi, the Azure Emperor ordered the Marines to withdraw all their New World branches within a month or face destruction. Whitebeard and Big Mom backed the decree, leaving Marine Headquarters facing a united threat from the New World’s leading pirate powers.

• Garp and Sengoku learned that Kong had died at Wenlai Zesi’s hands, and Garp vowed not to let his death go unanswered.
• Tsuru received the Azure Emperor’s Decree demanding that every Marine branch in the New World withdraw within one month.
• Tsuru told the Marines that the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates supported the decree, silencing the angry officers.
• New World powers learned that the Marines’ campaign had failed, that more than half their forces were lost, and that Kong had been killed.
• Whitebeard ordered Marco to demand the Marines withdraw, while Big Mom issued the same ultimatum and threatened to attack Marine branches.
• The Whitebeard Pirates, Big Mom Pirates, and Azure Emperor Pirates jointly pressured the Marines to leave the New World, throwing the region into upheaval.

After the Marines’ defeat, Tsuru argued that they should withdraw from the New World to rebuild their strength, and Sengoku agreed to consult the World Government. The chapter ended with an Azure Emperor Pirates’ ship approaching Marine Headquarters to return Fleet Admiral Kong’s body.

• Tsuru explained that the Marines’ heavy losses made a war against the Azure Emperor and the New World’s other great pirate crews too dangerous.
• Tsuru proposed withdrawing the Marines from the New World and concentrating on protecting the first half of the Grand Line and the Four Blues.
• Sengoku said he and Tsuru would report Kong’s death to the World Government and discuss the Marines’ next steps.
• A Marine field officer reported that an Azure Emperor Pirates’ ship was approaching Marine Headquarters to return Kong’s body.
• Sengoku led the Marines outside to meet the ship.

Kirikage Saizo and Kanjuro arrived at Marine Headquarters on Zesi’s orders to return Fleet Admiral Kong’s remains. They left after warning that if the Marines killed them, Zesi would come and bury all of Marine Headquarters with them.

• Sengoku and the Marine officers saw the Azure Emperor Pirates’ ship and learned from its banner that it had come to return Kong’s remains.
• Kirikage Saizo introduced himself as the First Apostle and Kanjuro as the Second Apostle, explaining that Saizo had earned the higher rank by defeating Kanjuro.
• Eight Death Camp soldiers marched Kong’s coffin from the ship with strict military precision, astonishing the Marines.
• Kirikage said Zesi had returned Kong’s remains out of respect for his service as Fleet Admiral, and Sengoku accepted the coffin on behalf of the Marines.
• Kirikage and Kanjuro warned that arresting them could bring Zesi to Marine Headquarters, where he would bury the headquarters if they died.

Kirikage delivered Kong’s remains to Marine Headquarters and announced Zesi’s Azure Emperor’s Decree, ordering the Marines out of the New World. The Five Elders acknowledged the threat posed by Zesi and ordered a temporary withdrawal while planning a military draft and increased support for the Marines.

• Kirikage warned Sengoku that detaining the Azure Emperor Apostles could provoke Zesi, and Sengoku let them leave after they returned Kong’s remains.
• Kirikage announced that the Azure Emperor’s Decree would be enforced at any cost and warned that anyone in its path would be crushed.
• Sengoku told Tsuru that Zesi’s growing authority could soon rival the World Government.
• The Five Elders told Sengoku they would hold a World Military Draft and provide the Marines with more resources.
• Sengoku reported that Zesi had ordered the Marines out of the New World and that the Whitebeard Pirates and Big Mom Pirates had backed the decree.
• The Five Elders ordered the Marines to withdraw from the New World until the draft strengthened their forces.

After the Marines withdrew from the New World, pirates began attacking its countries, and the Azure Emperor Pirates offered protection in exchange for tribute. Kirikage drove pirates from one country and declared it part of the Azure Emperor Territory as the same process began elsewhere.

• The Marines withdrew from the New World, leaving its World Government member states vulnerable to increasingly brazen pirate attacks.
• The Azure Emperor announced that countries in the New World’s northern waters could pay tribute for protection and warned pirates not to attack them.
• Kirikage offered protection to a king whose country was being plundered, and the king agreed to raise the Azure Emperor Pirates’ flag.
• Kirikage slaughtered the attacking pirates and gave the survivors a choice between dying and working to compensate for the destruction.
• Similar events unfolded in several countries, and an Azure Emperor Territory gradually emerged in the New World.

The Big Mom Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates began claiming territory after the Azure Emperor established his own territory, while Zesi focused on developing the Azure Emperor Pirates and addressing their shortage of manpower. Zesi also decided to take over the Navy’s abandoned bases before rival pirate crews could claim them.

• The Big Mom Pirates learned that many countries had accepted the Azure Emperor Pirates’ protection, and Big Mom ordered her crew to claim nearby areas and territories tied to them by marriage.
• The Whitebeard Pirates also began claiming places they often visited as their territory.
• Spencer told Zesi that Big Mom and Whitebeard were expanding, but Zesi said the Azure Emperor Pirates needed to focus on development and recruit more people.
• Spencer proposed expanding the Death Camp and the pirate divisions, recruiting Minks from Zou and Fish-Men from Fish-Man Island; Zesi approved the plans and assigned Bullet to strengthen training at the Azure Emperor Military Academy.
• Zesi ordered the Azure Emperor Pirates to take over the Navy bases left empty after its withdrawal from the New World.

The Azure Emperor Pirates secured Zesi’s northern New World territory and expanded their forces to repel repeated pirate incursions. Meanwhile, Kaido returned with the Beasts Pirates, fought Whitebeard’s crew, and was proclaimed the New World’s fourth Emperor of the Sea.

• Countries in the northern New World sought protection under Zesi’s flag, while the Azure Emperor Pirates destroyed or hunted crews that attacked their territory.
• The Azure Emperor Pirates expanded the Death Camp and recruited members from Wano Country, the Mink Tribe, and Fish-Man Island to reinforce their depleted ranks.
• Kaido reappeared with a powerful Beasts Pirates crew and attacked the Whitebeard Pirates, killing three of their captains and taking territory.
• Whitebeard led his crew into three battles with the Beasts Pirates in one month, and both sides suffered heavy casualties.
• Whitebeard temporarily ceased hostilities with Kaido, and newspapers and New World powers declared Kaido the fourth Emperor of the Sea.

Zesi dismissed the threat of Kaido, believing he still feared the Divine Space Strikes, and turned to expanding the Azure Emperor Pirates’ command structure. He ordered crew-wide trials to choose commanders and deputies for the new divisions.

• Zesi considered Kaido’s strength and concluded that his lingering fear of the Eighteen Divine Space Strikes kept him from seeking revenge against the Azure Emperor Pirates.
• Spencer reported that Kaido had rebuilt his crew with powerful Zoan users, including Ancient Zoans, and outlined the Azure Emperor Pirates’ growing numbers.
• Spencer proposed expanding the Death Camp into a Death Army with five camps and establishing Fourth and Fifth Divisions, with the Fourth Division made up mainly of Fish-Men.
• Zesi rejected appointing the Azure Emperor Apostles as division commanders and ordered a crew-wide selection and tournament for the Fourth and Fifth Division commanders and their deputies.
• Zesi set the deputy commanders’ initial rank at probationary officer and described how the crew’s ranks would determine authority and mission command.

Pirate Hachinosu had become a prosperous, heavily guarded hub as the Azure Emperor Pirates prepared to expand their divisions. After hearing about the Azure Emperor and recalling his own losses, Kaido decided to go meet him.

• The Azure Emperor Pirates' rules and passenger service drew traders, nobles, and travelers to the newly completed Pirate Hachinosu.
• People on Hachinosu noticed powerful members had returned and speculated that the crew was selecting commanders for new Fourth and Fifth Divisions.
• On Kaido's island, a masked man and a fat man discussed how much Kaido feared the Azure Emperor.
• Kaido appeared and ordered King and Queen to prepare a ship so he could go meet the Azure Emperor.

Zesi rejected immediately promoting the seed crew members to division commanders and ordered an advanced training program to test their strength and Haki potential. He then learned that Kaido was heading for Hachinosu, seeking the Azure Emperor's recognition to secure his place as the fourth Emperor of the Sea.

• Zesi questioned whether the seed crew members were strong enough to lead the fourth and fifth divisions, and Spencer admitted their current strength was lacking.
• Zesi ordered the Azure Emperor Academy to create an advanced training class where the candidates would learn to awaken Haki and prove their abilities under pressure.
• Spencer supported the plan and suggested that future prospective officers attend the training class before taking their posts.
• Eugene reported that Kaido's ships were heading for Hachinosu, and Zesi reacted with surprise.
• Spencer explained that Kaido was seeking the Azure Emperor's recognition to silence doubts about his claim to be the fourth Emperor of the Sea.

Kaido and the Beasts Pirates approached Hachinosu, prompting panic among the island’s merchants and residents. Kirikage Saizo confronted Kaido with a question from Zesi, ending with a reminder of the Eighteen Divine Space Strikes and a threat of an even stronger attack.

• Spencer warned Zesi that Kaido was approaching Hachinosu with hostile intent, and Zesi said the island would welcome trade but punish troublemakers.
• News of the Beasts Pirates’ arrival spread through Hachinosu, causing nobles and merchants to panic and consider fleeing.
• As the Beasts Pirates entered the Azure Emperor Territory, Kaido remembered the Eighteen Divine Space Strikes and showed signs of unease.
• Kirikage Saizo arrived above the Beasts Pirates’ ship and identified himself as the Azure Emperor’s First Apostle.
• Kirikage asked whether Kaido had come to trade or wage war, then warned that Zesi would use the Twenty-Eight Divine Space Strikes if Kaido had forgotten the previous attack.

Kirikage challenged Kaido on behalf of the Azure Emperor, and Kaido claimed he had come to Hachinosu to make a deal. After learning Big Mom was also on her way, Zesi suspected that she and Kaido had already joined forces and wondered what they were targeting.

• Kaido intimidated Kirikage, who resisted his aura and asked whether he remembered the Eighteen Divine Space Strikes.
• Kirikage told Kaido that Hachinosu welcomed anyone who came to trade, and Kaido said he had come to make a deal with the Azure Emperor.
• Spencer informed Zesi that Big Mom was coming to Hachinosu to discuss something important.
• Spencer worried that the Big Mom Pirates and Beasts Pirates together might outmatch the Azure Emperor Pirates’ overall forces.
• Zesi concluded that Kaido and Big Mom had likely joined forces and wondered whether their target was him.

Zesi kept Kaido and the Beasts Pirates on a nearby island to protect Hachinosu from possible damage while Big Mom was expected to arrive. Kaido revealed he had a hundred-billion-Beli trade order for the Azure Emperor, and Zesi agreed to meet him after learning the order came with a condition.

• Kirikage explained that Zesi had arranged for Kaido and the Beasts Pirates to stay at a nearby island instead of entering Hachinosu, where construction and investment could be damaged by a fight.
• Kirikage described the Azure Emperor Pirates' retirement benefits, leaving Queen and the Beasts Pirates surprised and making Queen ask Kaido whether they had similar benefits.
• Kaido asked when Wenlai Zesi would meet him and insisted that his purpose differed from Big Mom's because he had an order worth a hundred billion Beli.
• News of the Beasts Pirates' hundred-billion-Beli trade order spread through Hachinosu, turning the merchants' fear into hopes of earning a share.
• After learning that Kaido's order depended on a condition he wanted to explain to Zesi in person, Zesi agreed to meet him as a major customer.

Kaido challenged Zesi to a fight without Divine Space Strike, hoping to strengthen his reputation and overcome its lingering intimidation, while placing a hundred-billion-Beli order with Zesi. After their day-long battle, Big Mom warned Zesi that the Marines and World Government were growing stronger and proposed an alliance.

• Kaido met Zesi with King and Queen, then demanded a fight without Divine Space Strike as the condition for his hundred-billion-Beli order.
• Zesi accepted Kaido's challenge, and they fought on a deserted island for a day and night until the island sank.
• Big Mom arrived in the Azure Emperor Territory, and Zesi received her together with Kaido in his palace.
• Big Mom told Zesi that the World Government had appointed Sengoku Fleet Admiral and recruited three new Admirals through a worldwide draft.
• Big Mom warned that the Marines might soon counterattack into the New World and proposed that she and Zesi form an alliance.

At Mary Geoise, Admirals Demon Sheep and Thunder Python discussed the New World pirates’ meeting and the Marines’ planned response, while wondering where Purple Foal had gone. Zesi rejected an alliance with Big Mom and Kaido but secured passage for Azure Emperor passenger ships through their territories, aiming to make Hachinosu the New World’s economic center.

• Demon Sheep and Thunder Python discussed Kaido’s hundred-billion-Beli order, the battle with Zesi, and the Marines’ preparations to act against the pirates.
• Demon Sheep and Thunder Python realized Purple Foal was missing and wondered whether he had gone to challenge Zesi alone.
• Zesi declined to ally with Big Mom and Kaido, though he agreed to unite with them against a Marine invasion.
• Zesi allowed Azure Emperor passenger ships to travel through Big Mom’s and Kaido’s territories, expanding the service beyond the Azure Emperor Territory.
• Zesi planned to extend passenger routes across the New World and bring wealthy visitors to Hachinosu so it could become the region’s economic center.