Chapter Summaries

The Azure Emperor Pirates faced a fleet of hostile crews while Zesi offered Bartholomew Kuma a place in the Shichibukai under the Azure Emperor Palace. The chapter left Kuma facing a choice between Zesi’s offer and serving the World Government, with the threat of Zesi’s retaliation hanging over him.

• Bullet, Buggy, Shanks, and Easter Egg identified the arriving pirate crews as attackers and noted that stronger enemies were still lurking in the shadows.
• Buggy ordered the Second Division to fire its cannons, and more than a thousand Buggy Balls destroyed much of a large pirate ship.
• Kuma denied knowing about the Sorbet Kingdom, then vanished and attacked Zesi with repeated Pressure Cannons.
• Zesi revealed that he had been watching Kuma, knew he was the former king of the Sorbet Kingdom, and considered him for the Shichibukai Plan.
• Zesi offered Kuma a position as a Shichibukai under the Azure Emperor Palace and warned him to consider the consequences of choosing the World Government.

The Azure Emperor Pirates’ enhanced cannons devastated an alliance of more than a hundred pirate crews, impressing Hachinosu’s merchants and prompting them to promise greater investment. As the bombardment continued, another coalition of powerful pirates emerged from underwater around the island.

• The Azure Emperor Pirates’ Buggy Balls sank or crippled more than half of the attacking pirate ships in a single bombardment.
• Hachinosu’s merchants praised the cannons and decided to increase their investments, trusting the Azure Emperor Pirates to protect the island and their property.
• A hidden force sent the first pirate crews to draw the Azure Emperor Pirates’ attention before making its own move.
• Pirate ships rose from beneath the sea using coating, and Hachinosu’s merchants identified the Frenzied Battle Pirates, the Renault Pirates, and other notorious captains among them.

Zesi offered Kuma protection for the Sorbet Kingdom if he became a Shichibukai, but Kuma joined the Azure Emperor Pirates without accepting that role or returning as king. Meanwhile, Bullet confronted the attackers on their ship and swiftly struck down the Renault Brothers.

• Zesi urged Kuma to join the Azure Emperor Pirates as a Shichibukai, promising the World Government would no longer threaten the Sorbet Kingdom.
• Kuma agreed to join the Azure Emperor Pirates but refused to become a Shichibukai or return to rule the Sorbet Kingdom, fearing it would be endangered if the pirates lost to the World Government.
• Bullet, Buggy, and Shanks discussed the enemy's underwater attack and the need to strengthen the Azure Emperor Pirates' defenses.
• Bullet launched himself onto an enemy pirate ship, where his Conqueror's Haki knocked out many crew members.
• The Renault Brothers rallied their crew and challenged Bullet, but he charged them and knocked them both flying with two blows.

Bullet fought off the Renault Brothers, Vice Admiral York, and the Sympathetic Detonator, but a masked newcomer struck him and sent him onto another pirate ship. Bullet recognized the stranger as a greater threat and prepared to use the ship against him.

• Bullet drove back the Renault Brothers, then clashed with Vice Admiral York as York warned them not to underestimate him.
• The Sympathetic Detonator and the Renault Brothers joined York in surrounding Bullet and attacking him together.
• Bullet kept all four renowned fighters on the defensive, while Shanks stopped Easter Egg from joining the battle.
• A masked newcomer suddenly struck Bullet and sent him flying onto another pirate ship.
• Bullet taunted the masked newcomer and spread material from his body across the ship beneath him.

Douglas Bullet merged with a pirate ship to form a flying, armored robot and crushed York and his allies’ attacks, destroying their vessel. After the masked man’s swift attacks failed to damage Bullet, Bullet absorbed ships across the battlefield and transformed into a monster hundreds or even a thousand meters tall.

• Douglas Bullet used his Combine-Combine Fruit to merge with a pirate ship and form an armored robot.
• Bullet struck York, the Sympathetic Detonator, and the Renault brothers with a Haki-coated fist, then smashed their ship apart.
• The masked man vanished during Bullet’s attack, then returned and kicked the robot without damaging it.
• The masked man and Bullet traded attacks, but neither could overcome the other’s speed or durability.
• Furious, Bullet absorbed nearby ships with his Devil Fruit power and became an enormous monster.

Douglas Bullet awakened his Devil Fruit and transformed into a colossal monster, striking Sebast and devastating the sea around Hachinosu. When CP0 spotted the returning Azure Emperor and Tyrant Kuma, they halted their operation against the Azure Emperor Pirates and withdrew.

• Shanks, Buggy, and the Azure Emperor Pirates realized Bullet had awakened his Devil Fruit and created a thousand-meter monster, prompting Spencer to worry about Bullet challenging Zesi.
• Bullet struck Sebast with an enormous palm, sending him flying and sweeping pirates into the sea with the resulting waves.
• CP0 learned that Bullet had defeated Sebast and discussed how the Azure Emperor Pirates had gained another formidable fighter.
• CP0 saw the Azure Emperor and Tyrant Kuma flying toward Hachinosu and ordered their personnel to withdraw and go to ground.
• CP0 decided to report Bullet's awakening and the failed operation to the Five Elders.

Zesi returned to Hachinosu as Bullet challenged him to a fight after awakening his Devil Fruit. The two clashed, shaking the island, and Bullet followed up with a second attack as onlookers feared for Zesi’s safety.

• Zesi landed on Hachinosu, heard what had happened, and said a battle was unavoidable.
• Bullet revealed his awakened Devil Fruit and challenged Zesi, while Zesi sent Kuma to capture a fleeing enemy and told Easter Egg to handle the aftermath.
• Zesi and Bullet agreed that the loser would give up his claim to the captain’s position for ten years, and Bullet attacked with his enormous fused body.
• Zesi used his awakened Devil Fruit to block Bullet’s giant palm strike with a quake-powered blow.
• Bullet coated his other arm in Armament Haki and swung it at Zesi, who appeared unable to dodge.

Zesi shattered Bullet’s enormous Haki-coated palms with the vibrations of his awakened Devil Fruit and revealed the Thirty-Six Divine Space Strike, a display of power that terrified everyone on Hachinosu. Momousagi, who had been sent to monitor the Azure Emperor Pirates and find Zesi’s weaknesses, doubted that the Marines could ever defeat him.

• Bullet slammed his enormous Armament Haki-coated palms together around Zesi, but Zesi’s vibrating light split the palms and arms apart.
• Zesi asked Bullet whether he still wanted to fight, and Bullet insisted he wanted to test Zesi’s strength despite knowing he could not win.
• Zesi announced the Thirty-Six Divine Space Strike, startling Shanks and the others, who knew his previous strongest attack had been the Twenty-Four Divine Space Strikes.
• Zesi filled the sky with enormous Divine Space Strikes, and the people on Hachinosu fell to their knees in fear.
• Momousagi watched from Hachinosu and, shaken by Zesi’s power, questioned how the Marines could ever stand against him.

Zesi overwhelmed Bullet with his Thirty-Six Divine Space Strikes, while the Five Elders learned of Zesi’s growing power and discussed containing the Azure Emperor Territory. Sebast was captured by Kuma and brought to Hachinosu, where Zesi realized the Five Elders had been involved.

• Zesi unleashed his Thirty-Six Divine Space Strikes, pulverizing Bullet’s fused monster and knocking Bullet into the sea.
• Shanks and the others arranged to rescue Bullet because he was a Devil Fruit User who could not swim.
• Cipher Pol 0 reported Zesi’s increased strength to the Five Elders, who decided to treat the Azure Emperor Pirates as equals while preventing their territory from expanding.
• The Five Elders discussed eliminating Sebast and denied responsibility for anything beyond releasing him.
• Kuma defeated the injured Sebast and brought him to Hachinosu, where Zesi learned the Five Elders had a hand in the plot.

Zesi recruited the failed assassin Sebast and appointed him chief steward of the Azure Emperor Palace, tasking him with building an intelligence organization called Secret Affairs. Sebast accepted, and Zesi promised the Azure Emperor Pirates had enough money to fund it.

• Sebast admitted he had accepted a mission in exchange for leaving Impel Down, without knowing whether the Five Elders were behind it.
• Zesi said he would eventually settle accounts with the Five Elders and offered Sebast a steward position.
• Zesi warned Sebast that the World Government would eliminate him after the mission, and Sebast knelt and pledged his remaining life to Zesi.
• Zesi appointed Sebast chief steward of the Azure Emperor Palace and put him in charge of forming Secret Affairs to gather intelligence on enemy forces and the Azure Emperor Pirates.
• Sebast said an intelligence network required money, and Zesi replied that money was all the Azure Emperor Pirates had left.

Sengoku and Tsuru discussed the Azure Emperor Pirates’ growing power and learned that Zesi had called for calm while the crew began mass recruitment across its territory. Thousands passed the preliminary selection in three days as the pirates prepared to expand their divisions and seize more territory.

• Sengoku reviewed Momousagi’s intelligence and photographs, and he and Tsuru agreed that Bullet’s awakened power and the Azure Emperor Pirates’ strength made them a serious challenge to the Marines.
• Tsuru told Sengoku that Zesi had urged the New World’s factions to maintain stability and that the Azure Emperor had ordered mass recruitment throughout the Azure Emperor Territory.
• Civilians in the territory welcomed the recruitment drive, encouraged by improved trade, greater freedom to move, and the Azure Emperor Pirates’ protection and disciplined conduct.
• Crowds rushed to recruitment offices, and three thousand candidates passed the preliminary selection in three days.
• The Azure Emperor Pirates planned to replenish the Fourth and Fifth Divisions, create the Sixth through Tenth Divisions, and use their resources to expand into territory abandoned by the Beasts Pirates and Big Mom Pirates.

After recruiting thirty thousand people, Zesi’s crew prepared to expand its divisions and choose new commanders from the Azure Emperor Military School’s advanced class. Zesi began selecting leaders for the Fourth and Fifth Divisions, leaving the remaining command appointments to be decided.

• Spencer reported that the mass recruitment had brought in thirty thousand people, while division commanders and additional officers still needed to be chosen.
• Zesi proposed selecting officers from the graduating advanced class, and Bullet said most trainees had awakened Haki through his training.
• Zesi laid out the new division structure and ordered selections for commanders and deputy commanders of the Fourth through Tenth Divisions, along with battalion and company commanders.
• Zesi, Bullet, Spencer, and other senior crew members arrived at the Azure Emperor Military School, where the advanced-class trainees gathered for the selection.
• Zesi announced that he would personally choose the commanders of the Fourth and Fifth Divisions, then stepped forward to begin.

Zesi personally tested candidates for the Fourth and Fifth Division captain positions, using Conqueror’s Haki to challenge their wills. Five candidates passed his first question, and he left them facing a harsher test about sacrificing their lives for the crew.

• Zesi announced that he would personally select the Fourth and Fifth Division captains, prompting several candidates to step forward.
• Zesi used Conqueror’s Haki through his words to ask whether the candidates could shoulder the responsibilities of a main combat division captain.
• Pedro and Pipikar stepped forward despite the pressure, and three more candidates eventually passed Zesi’s question.
• Zesi eliminated the candidates who failed, leaving five and asking whether they would give their lives to protect the crew.

Zesi tested Pedro and Pipikar’s resolve with his Conqueror’s Haki and appointed them captains of the fourth and fifth divisions. Meanwhile, Doflamingo learned that the Azure Emperor Pirates had recruited thirty thousand people and decided to confront the Vinsmoke Family himself as a show of strength.

• Zesi used words infused with Conqueror’s Haki to test whether Pedro and Pipikar believed they could lead.
• Pedro and Pipikar answered that they could, and Zesi named them captains of the fourth and fifth divisions.
• Doflamingo showed Trebol, Diamante, and the others photographs of Bullet’s monster and Zesi destroying it.
• Doflamingo explained that the Azure Emperor Pirates had recruited thirty thousand people in ten days and praised Zesi’s cautious approach to expansion.
• Doflamingo decided to handle the Vinsmoke Family himself and present them as a gift to the Azure Emperor.

Doflamingo invaded the Vinsmoke Family’s headquarters in Germa and confronted Vinsmoke Judge. After the Azure Emperor Pirates selected more division captains, Zesi sent Kuma to the North Blue to retrieve someone from the Donquixote Family.

• Doflamingo broke through Germa’s defenses and found Vinsmoke Judge, who attacked him but was stopped by Doflamingo’s strings.
• The Azure Emperor Pirates selected Pedro, Pipikar, Musashi Juro, Carrot, Yamaarashi Hisashi, Izu, and Anmon as captains of the Fourth through Tenth Divisions.
• Zesi received a call from Doflamingo confirming that he had completed an assignment.
• Zesi told Kuma to go to the Donquixote Family in the North Blue and bring someone back, and Kuma departed.

Doflamingo held Vinsmoke Judge captive until Kuma arrived to take him to the Azure Emperor. After Judge vanished, Doflamingo warned Germa's warriors that their king's fate depended on his choices and escaped.

• Doflamingo told the battered Vinsmoke Judge that someone was coming for him and warned that the visitor could determine whether the Vinsmoke Family survived.
• Kuma arrived at Germa's houseboat, and Doflamingo recognized him as the Azure Emperor's ally.
• Kuma teleported beside Judge and slapped him away, sending him to an unknown destination.
• When Germa's warriors turned on Kuma and Doflamingo, Doflamingo said Judge was not dead and that his fate depended on his choices.
• Kuma departed, and Doflamingo escaped by stepping on threads in midair.

Kuma brought Vinsmoke Judge to Hachinosu, where he learned that the Azure Emperor had summoned him. Zesi offered Judge a place in the Azure Emperor Pirates’ research institute and ordered Germa to move into his territory, leaving Judge to accept.

• Kuma sent Vinsmoke Judge to Hachinosu and explained that the Azure Emperor wanted to see him.
• Judge followed Kuma to the Azure Emperor Palace and discovered that Zesi was the Azure Emperor.
• Zesi revealed that he knew Judge had worked with Vegapunk and asked him to join the Azure Emperor Pirates’ scientific research institute.
• Judge worried about what would happen to Germa and the Vinsmoke Family, and Zesi ordered them to move to the New World under his protection.
• Judge, shaken by Zesi’s authority, agreed to his demand.

Zesi established a research institute with Vinsmoke Judge and set four major projects, from building a global network to studying the Lineage Factor. He then sought three more Shichibukai candidates and had Spencer bring in captured pirate Supernovas, one of whom revealed powerful Conqueror's Haki.

• Zesi officially established his research institute with Vinsmoke Judge and scientists from the Azure Emperor Territory and around the world.
• Zesi set four research priorities: a global network, rockets and guidance systems, improved mass-produced raid suits, and applications of the Lineage Factor.
• Zesi asked Spencer to find three more Shichibukai candidates, and Spencer suggested captured pirate Supernovas from their own crew's past challengers.
• Spencer brought several shackled Devil Fruit users into the palace, where one used Conqueror's Haki to knock out a Death Army soldier.
• Zesi released an overwhelming domineering aura that enveloped the palace.

Zesi faced four captured pirates, demonstrated his overwhelming Conqueror’s Haki, and offered them a chance to challenge him after a feast. The pirates realized they could not escape Hachinosu and concluded that they had no choice but to fight.

• Zesi approached the captured pirates with controlled Conqueror’s Haki, frightening them before offering them a chance to challenge him.
• Zesi shattered the pirates’ Seastone Handcuffs with his Haki and promised them a feast before their challenge.
• Gao Luo, Airo, Aden, and Walker ate their fill, then discussed whether to fight or flee.
• Aden and Airo explained that Zesi’s strength and vibrations covering Hachinosu made escape impossible, so the pirates decided to fight.

Walker tried to flee the Azure Emperor Palace, but Zesi captured him and challenged Airo and the other two to fight. Meanwhile, alarmed by the Azure Emperor Pirates’ rapid recruitment and control of their territory, the Five Elders decided to pressure them with propaganda and economic measures, including issuing ten trillion more Beli.

• Walker transformed and sped away from the Azure Emperor Palace, hoping to hide among Hachinosu’s crowds.
• Zesi appeared at the training ground with Walker captured and threw him before Airo and the other two.
• Zesi taunted Airo and the others, and all three charged at him together.
• The Marines grew wary after the Azure Emperor Pirates recruited thirty thousand troops in ten days and strengthened their hold over the Azure Emperor Territory.
• The Five Elders discussed attacking the Azure Emperor Pirates through public opinion and economic pressure.
• The Five Elders proposed issuing ten trillion additional Beli to buy supplies in the New World, especially agricultural goods in the Azure Emperor Territory.