Chapter Summaries

After the Big Mom Pirates seized an Azure Emperor Shipping cargo ship, Les announced suspended routes and warned that the Azure Emperor Pirates would declare war if the crew, ship, and goods were not released within three days. He also promised one-time compensation and introduced plans for shipping insurance, leaving Hachinosu bracing for a possible war.

• News spread through Hachinosu that the Big Mom Pirates had seized an Azure Emperor Shipping cargo ship, alarming merchants and travelers.
• Les addressed the crowd at Azure Emperor Central Plaza and announced the suspension of routes through the Yamei, LUOSI, and YUELUO Sea Areas.
• Les demanded that the Big Mom Pirates release the detained crew, ship, and goods within three days, warning that failure to do so would prompt the Azure Emperor Pirates to declare war.
• Les promised to compensate losses from the seizure this time and announced that Azure Emperor Shipping would offer insurance for future losses.

Big Mom weighed Totto Land’s position in the looming conflict, while Zesi and Shanks prepared to spar at the Azure Emperor Military Academy. The cadets gathered to watch, but Bullet warned that getting close could be fatal as Zesi began drawing his sword.

• Big Mom dismissed Wenlai Zesi’s threat and said Totto Land could join the Azure Emperor or turn against the Beasts Pirates and World Government if they failed to support her.
• Perospero warned Big Mom not to trust either ally, reminding her that the Beasts Pirates still resented the Big Mom Pirates for abandoning them during the attack on Marine G-1.
• Cadets at the Azure Emperor Military Academy recognized Zesi and Shanks heading into an arena and rushed to watch them spar.
• Bullet stopped the cadets and warned that even a spar between Zesi and Shanks could kill anyone who got too close.
• Zesi began drawing his sword, and dragon-shaped sword energy emerged from the blade.

Zesi tested Shanks with his sword techniques, and Shanks revealed that he had awakened Future Sight to evade Zesi’s devastating Azure Dragon’s Roar: Sword-Draw Slash. Zesi challenged Shanks to prove himself against his strengths and launched Dragon Battles in the Wild.

• Zesi sent sword-energy dragons after Shanks, who dodged them with precise movements that made Zesi suspect Future Sight.
• Zesi drew his sword and unleashed Azure Dragon’s Roar: Sword-Draw Slash, while Shanks cut through the distorted aura and evaded the attack.
• The military academy students watched in awe as Bullet explained that advanced Observation Haki could allow someone to see fragments of the future.
• Zesi asked when Shanks had awakened Future Sight, and Shanks said he had focused on Observation Haki so he could beat Zesi.
• Zesi dismissed Shanks’s ambition to surpass him only at his weak point, then attacked with Dragon Battles in the Wild.

Zesi tested Shanks and, satisfied with his strength, assigned him to lead an attack on Big Mom’s territory after the Azure Emperor Pirates declared war over a seized cargo ship. Shanks and Bullet departed Hachinosu on separate missions as the New World reacted to the announcement.

• Zesi and Shanks fought a fierce sparring match that left the arena devastated, and Zesi told Shanks he was ready to take on an important mission.
• Zesi explained that Big Mom had seized an Azure Emperor Pirates cargo ship and that the crew would declare war unless it and its cargo and crew were released within three days.
• Zesi ordered Shanks to lead the First Division against Big Mom, explaining that the attack would help Shanks grow stronger while Bullet watched the Beasts Pirates and Zesi watched the World Government.
• Shanks agreed to face Big Mom, and the next day he left Hachinosu with the First Division, Fourth Division, ten thousand Death Army members, and Kuma.
• Bullet departed Hachinosu alone in a steel submarine to hold off the Beasts Pirates, while the Azure Emperor Pirates officially declared war on Big Mom.
• News of the war declaration spread through the New World, where pirates and others reacted with uproar.

Big Mom dismissed the Azure Emperor Pirates’ threat after learning that only Red-Haired Shanks was coming, despite the World Government warning her not to underestimate him. Shanks then struck immediately, wiping out the Big Mom Pirates’ branches outside Totto Land.

• Big Mom learned the Azure Emperor Pirates had declared war and believed the World Government and Beasts Pirates would support her if needed.
• Perospero told Big Mom that Red-Haired Shanks, not the Azure Emperor, was leading the attack, and the Big Mom Pirates concluded the threat was only a show.
• Katakuri doubted the Azure Emperor would let matters end so easily, while Kaido stopped paying attention to the threat.
• The World Government warned Big Mom that Shanks had reached the ranks of the world’s strongest, but Big Mom took offense and hung up on them.
• Shanks wiped out every Big Mom Pirates branch outside Totto Land in a single day.

After Shanks wiped out Big Mom’s outlying forces, Perospero led 50,000 troops to defeat him but was ambushed and routed by Benn Beckman’s men and Kuma. Big Mom flew into a rage over the loss, while Kaido’s crew mocked her and noted that Bullet had left Hachinosu.

• Big Mom learned that Shanks had destroyed her outlying forces and ordered Perospero to take 50,000 troops and capture him.
• Perospero marched toward Shanks’s position, where Benn Beckman and his men ambushed his army.
• Kuma severely injured Perospero and several Charlotte Family members, then slapped them out of sight toward Hachinosu.
• Kaido, King, and Queen discussed Shanks’s victory, Big Mom’s response, and Bullet’s departure from Hachinosu.
• After the Beasts Pirates told Big Mom that Perospero’s army had been routed, Big Mom smashed the Den Den Mushi in fury.

Big Mom raged over the defeat of her forces and ordered Katakuri to defeat Shanks and restore her reputation. At Marine Headquarters, Sengoku learned that the Azure Emperor Pirates’ ordinary members were highly trained and ordered a deeper investigation.

• Big Mom blamed Shanks, Kuma, and Perospero for her humiliation, while Katakuri explained that Kuma had defeated Perospero and the others.
• Katakuri argued that Perospero’s defeat was not his fault because they had underestimated Shanks and his allies, and Big Mom agreed to spare them if Katakuri handled the situation well.
• Katakuri promised Big Mom he would defeat Shanks and restore her reputation.
• Sengoku and Tsuru discussed the Azure Emperor Pirates’ victory, and Tsuru explained how Benn Beckman’s strategy and the military training overseen by Bullet had made their forces exceptionally effective.
• Sengoku ordered the Marines to investigate the Azure Emperor Pirates’ ordinary crew members and their military proficiency.

Zesi confronted Perospero and the Charlotte Family after Kuma sent them to Zesi, then offered Perospero a role managing Totto Land after the Azure Emperor Pirates conquered it. Perospero learned that Zesi intended to keep the Beasts Pirates and World Government from intervening, leaving Big Mom’s crew to face the Azure Emperor Pirates alone.

• Zesi reminded Perospero that Big Mom would punish him and the Charlotte Family for their defeat, possibly by taking their lifespans or souls.
• Perospero warned Zesi that Big Mom’s alliance with the Beasts Pirates and the World Government could bring a joint attack against the Azure Emperor Pirates.
• Zesi bet that Shanks could hold off or defeat Big Mom, then declared that the Beasts Pirates and World Government would not enter Totto Land because he would not allow it.
• Perospero asked what Zesi wanted, and Zesi offered him the job of managing Totto Land after the Azure Emperor Pirates conquered it.
• Zesi explained that Perospero and the Charlotte Family could help maintain the civilians’ allegiance and ease the transition to the Azure Emperor Pirates’ rule.

Katakuri led a massive Big Mom Pirates fleet against the Azure Emperor Pirates, while Kuma launched a surprise assault using his Paw-Paw Fruit. Kuma sent several Charlotte Family members flying and turned Oven’s own attack against a nearby ship before targeting Daifuku.

• Katakuri, Cracker, Snack, Daifuku, Oven, and a hundred thousand troops sailed toward the Azure Emperor Pirates.
• Benn Beckman asked Kuma to disrupt the approaching fleet, and Kuma vanished from the First Division’s position.
• Kuma appeared among the Big Mom Pirates and sent Charlotte Sturdy, Charlotte Moscato, and Dosmarche flying with his palm strikes.
• Oven attacked Kuma with High Heat Slash, but Kuma deflected the slash into a Big Mom pirate ship, destroying it.
• Kuma struck Oven with repelled air and then raised his palm to attack Daifuku.

Kuma battled Daifuku before Katakuri intervened and showed he could anticipate Kuma’s teleportation. Benn Beckman told Shanks that defeating or seriously wounding Katakuri was crucial to the expedition, and Shanks led the Azure Emperor Pirates into an attack on the Big Mom Pirates’ fleet.

• Kuma repelled Daifuku’s lamp genie and pressed his attack until Katakuri arrived and drove him back with a trident.
• Kuma fired Pressure Cannon at Katakuri, whose body recovered after being pierced, and Katakuri counterattacked with his spinning trident.
• Kuma teleported behind Katakuri, but Katakuri anticipated his move and struck toward him, prompting Kuma to withdraw and Katakuri to pursue.
• Benn Beckman told Shanks that Zesi had warned them about Katakuri and that taking him down was vital to their future fight against Big Mom.
• Lucky Roux spotted turmoil in the Big Mom Pirates’ fleet, and Shanks ordered the Azure Emperor Pirates to attack.

Shanks led the Azure Emperor Pirates into battle against the Big Mom Pirates, while Kuma confronted Katakuri and escaped his awakened mochi. Shanks took over the fight and wounded Katakuri, then wondered whether Katakuri could see the same thing he could.

• Shanks led the Azure Emperor Pirates' attack, and Charlotte Zucotto ordered the Big Mom Pirates' fleet to return fire.
• Kuma struck Charlotte Zucotto, then dodged Katakuri's trident as Katakuri awakened his Devil Fruit and trapped Kuma's feet in mochi.
• Shanks blocked Katakuri's attack and took over the fight while Kuma freed himself with two Ursus Shocks and vanished.
• Katakuri attacked Shanks with Peerless Donut and Power Mochi, but Shanks deflected the blows and answered with Divine Departure.
• Shanks appeared behind Katakuri and cut him several times, then wondered whether Katakuri could see it too.

Shanks and Katakuri fought in a battle of Future Sight, with Shanks gaining the advantage. As the Big Mom Pirates’ forces attacked Benn Beckman and the Azure Emperor Pirates’ First Division, Kuma removed a Charlotte Family member from the battlefield, and the two fleets clashed.

• Katakuri realized Shanks could see the future too, but Shanks dodged his Nine-Headed Mochi and pressed him in their fight.
• Big Mom Pirates officers watched Katakuri fall behind and debated whether to intervene, while Cracker warned that joining the duel would only get in the way.
• Pedro, Benn Beckman, Kuma, and other First Division members arrived, and the Big Mom Pirates were astonished by their strength.
• The Big Mom Pirates charged Benn Beckman and the others, and Kuma made one Charlotte Family member vanish to reduce their numerical advantage.
• Cracker sent biscuit soldiers after Kuma as the Azure Emperor Pirates’ fleet arrived and the full battle erupted.

After Shanks defeated Katakuri and held off Big Mom, Kaido set sail to aid the Big Mom Pirates and stop the Azure Emperor Pirates from growing stronger. Bullet intercepted Kaido’s fleet in a submarine transformed into a powerful robot and challenged him to fight.

• Shanks defeated Katakuri, while Kuma sent the other Sweet Commanders and several Charlotte Family officers away, and the Big Mom Pirates suffered devastating losses.
• Kaido ordered the Beasts Pirates to prepare to support Big Mom and fight the Azure Emperor Pirates alongside the World Government.
• Kaido learned that Shanks had fought Big Mom for a day and a night without either gaining the upper hand, and he ordered his fleet to sail for Totto Land.
• Bullet surfaced in a submarine along the Beasts Pirates’ route and used the Combine-Combine Fruit to transform it into a robot based on Vinsmoke Judge’s raid suit blueprints.
• Bullet fired up the robot’s jets and charged at Kaido’s fleet, challenging Kaido to fight.

Marine leaders discussed how the Azure Emperor Pirates had grown too powerful to confront directly, while the World Government released notorious prisoners to attack them. As the Azure Emperor Pirates faced assaults across their territory, Zesi volunteered to deal with Byrnndi World.

• Thunder Python questioned how Shanks had held Big Mom off for a day and night, unaware that Shanks's improved Observation Haki let him foresee the future.
• Sengoku and Tsuru concluded that the Dragon Encirclement Plan had failed after Bullet intercepted Kaido and the Azure Emperor forbade outside forces from joining the battle in Totto Land.
• Sengoku learned that four pirates, including Byrnndi World, had agreed to the Shichibukai plan, while Golden Lion and Red Count had refused.
• Spencer received reports of attacks on the Pibal Kingdom, a cargo ship, and Azure Dragon Pass, with the attackers including an enormous giant, a nine-tailed figure, and Avalo Pizarro.
• A staff officer reported that the World Government had released Sanjuan Wolf, Catarina Devon, Avalo Pizarro, and Byrnndi World from Impel Down, and Spencer recognized the government’s role in the attacks.
• Zesi volunteered to handle Byrnndi World and ordered Kirikage Saizo and the others to mobilize against the remaining attackers.

After leaving Impel Down, Bundy reunited with Byrnndi World and learned that the Azure Emperor Pirates were a powerful crew led by Wenlai Zesi. Dismissing the warnings, Bundy declared that he would use them to restore his crew’s reputation, but Zesi appeared behind him.

• San Juan and two other prisoners immediately began making trouble for the Azure Emperor Pirates, while Bundy searched for his former companions under a looser contract.
• Bundy reunited with Byrnndi World and the hidden members of the World Pirates, who were surprised the World Government had released him.
• Bundy told them that his release required him to oppose the Azure Emperor Pirates and asked what they knew about the crew.
• Byrnndi World and the others warned Bundy that Wenlai Zesi was a Sea Emperor with immense power, but Bundy dismissed their fears.
• Bundy declared that the World Pirates would use the Azure Emperor as a stepping stone, and Zesi suddenly spoke from behind them.

Zesi confronted Bundy and questioned why the World Government had released him and why he was working for them. After Bundy’s attacks failed to match Zesi’s speed, Zesi revealed a terrifying presence that left Bundy shaken.

• Bundy and Byrnndi World recognized Zesi as the Azure Emperor when he appeared before them.
• Zesi asked Bundy why the World Government had freed him and why he was risking his life for them, but Bundy refused to answer.
• Bundy used Moa Moa Tenfold Speed to attack Zesi, but Zesi dodged and appeared behind him.
• Bundy increased his speed a hundredfold and coated his fist with Armament Haki, but Zesi evaded him again.
• Bundy turned and punched Zesi, who blocked the blow with one palm and demanded an answer.
• Zesi released his intimidating presence, and Bundy retreated in terror after realizing he had underestimated him.

Zesi killed Bundy and the World Pirates after Bundy refused his offer, then found a Devil Fruit that had appeared after their deaths. News spread that the Azure Emperor's forces had wiped out the pirates who attacked their territory, leaving the public stunned.

• Zesi unleashed Azure Dragon's Roar: Sword Draw, killing Byrnndi World and the World Pirates and fatally wounding Bundy.
• Bundy collapsed and died after acknowledging Zesi's strength, and Zesi regretted that Bundy had wasted the chances he had been given.
• Zesi found a Devil Fruit growing on an apple tree and suspected it was either Bundy's More-More Fruit or Gairam's Cube-Cube Fruit.
• Reports spread that the Celestial Dragons had pardoned several dangerous pirates and that Sanjuan Wolf, Catarina Devon, and Avalo Pizarro had attacked the Azure Emperor Territory.
• Newspapers announced that the Azure Emperor Apostles had wiped out the attackers and that Zesi had annihilated the World Pirates, shocking the public.

Sengoku and Tsuru reconsidered their plan against the Azure Emperor Pirates after the Azure Emperor swiftly killed Bundy and the other released prisoners. Back at Hachinosu, Zesi obtained Bundy’s More-More Fruit and began wondering whether he could eat a second Devil Fruit.

• Sengoku regretted Bundy’s death and agreed with Tsuru that the Azure Emperor’s swift response had damaged the Navy’s plan and the Shichibukai’s prestige.
• Sengoku ordered the Navy to choose another group from Impel Down, avoid attacking the Azure Emperor Territory, and focus on weakening the Azure Emperor Pirates gradually.
• Tsuru warned Sengoku that the Azure Emperor had taken Bundy’s More-More Fruit, prompting Sengoku to recognize the danger of released Devil Fruits spreading across the seas.
• Zesi’s investigation confirmed that the recovered fruit was Bundy’s More-More Fruit, and he considered using its power to amplify his own attacks.
• Zesi wondered whether he could eat a second Devil Fruit, since Blackbeard Teach had possessed both the Dark-Dark Fruit and the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.

Zesi sought a second Devil Fruit to protect his strength and empire as he aged, and ordered the Academy of Sciences to find a way to overcome the incompatibility between two fruits. Two years later, the research remained stalled for lack of materials, leaving Zesi to conclude that Blackbeard would be indispensable as an experimental subject.

• Zesi explained to Vinsmoke Judge that two Devil Fruits caused conflicting genetic changes, and asked whether the problem could be solved.
• Vinsmoke Judge proposed developing a genetic agent to improve compatibility, while warning that the research needed many Devil Fruits.
• Zesi increased the Academy of Sciences' funding, assigned Judge to lead the project, and ordered the Shichibukai to search for Devil Fruits.
• Over the next two years, Shanks grew strong enough to overpower Big Mom, while the Azure Emperor Pirates expanded across the New World and beyond.
• The compatibility-agent research hit a bottleneck because experiments consumed two Devil Fruits, and Zesi decided Blackbeard was needed as an experimental subject.

Teach declined Whitebeard’s offer to become a division commander and wondered if he would ever find the Devil Fruit he sought. Zesi confronted him at a secluded cliff and revealed that he wanted Teach’s help with an experiment, leaving Teach wary of being taken away from the Whitebeard Pirates.

• Teach refused Thatch’s suggestion that he accept a division commander position, saying he was not suited to care for the crew.
• The Whitebeard Pirates celebrated their victory, while Teach drank alone and remained troubled by his failure to find the Devil Fruit he wanted.
• Teach sensed someone nearby at a secluded cliff and discovered that the man was Zesi, the Azure Emperor.
• Zesi told Teach that he had noticed him long ago and considered him an anomaly who could help with an experiment involving eating two Devil Fruits.
• Teach warned Zesi that harming Whitebeard’s son could provoke the Whitebeard Pirates, and Zesi replied that he had come in person to avoid a war with Whitebeard.