Chapter Summaries

Zesi learned that Whitebeard had gained a powerful Devil Fruit and arranged to meet him, prompting the Marines to launch a plan to eliminate both pirate crews after their battle. On a deserted island, Zesi and Whitebeard immediately charged at each other, leaving their meeting to begin with a fight.

• Zesi decided not to hand over Silver Axe and contacted Whitebeard to arrange a meeting.
• Marine Headquarters lost track of Zesi and Whitebeard after their crews destroyed the surveillance ships following them.
• Kong assembled Marine elites and five CP0 agents, then announced a plan to attack the Azure Emperor and Whitebeard Pirates after they fought.
• Kong set out for the New World and left Marine Headquarters in Zephyr and Tsuru's hands.
• Zesi and Whitebeard met on a deserted island and charged at each other before speaking.

Zesi and Whitebeard clashed as their pirate crews began an all-out battle. Whitebeard revealed that his Devil Fruit was the Steam Fruit, whose Steam Burst multiplied his already monstrous strength, forcing Zesi to enter his Devil Fruit Awakening state.

• Zesi and Whitebeard exchanged powerful sword, naginata, and shock-wave attacks as spectators marveled at their strength.
• Marco, Jozu, Bullet, and Buggy led the Whitebeard Pirates and Azure Emperor Pirates into battle, surprising Whitebeard's scheming captains.
• Zesi asked Whitebeard about his Devil Fruit after recognizing that his air cannon came from striking the air with pure strength.
• Whitebeard unleashed Steam Burst, vastly increasing his strength and shattering Zesi's vibrations in a clash that devastated their surroundings.
• Zesi identified Whitebeard's ability as the Steam Fruit and entered his Devil Fruit Awakening state.

Whitebeard and Zesi fought with their full power as their crews withdrew and tended to the wounded. Despite recognizing the World Government’s possible scheme, Whitebeard refused to let his son’s death go unanswered, and the two prepared to continue their battle.

• Whitebeard and Zesi’s clash devastated the battlefield, forcing both crews to retreat from their fight.
• Zesi recalled how he had killed a previous Steam Fruit user and recognized that Whitebeard wielded the same power far more effectively.
• Zesi warned Whitebeard that the World Government had likely engineered the incident and that the Navy might be approaching.
• Whitebeard insisted that he would fight because his son had been killed and Zesi would not surrender those responsible.
• Zesi and Whitebeard gathered their power into their weapons, exchanged defiant remarks, and slashed at the same time, unleashing a massive explosion.

Zesi and Whitebeard unleashed attacks that devastated much of the island, forcing the nearby pirates to retreat or suffer injuries. After the blast, they continued fighting amid enormous sword-energy dragons, leaving both crews stunned by the scale of their battle.

• Bullet recognized the danger of Zesi and Whitebeard's attacks and led the Azure Emperor Pirates away from the battlefield.
• Marco warned Whitebeard's crew to retreat, and many pirates fled while some newly joined captains stayed behind.
• Zesi and Whitebeard's attacks collided, creating an explosion that swept across more than half the island and injured or killed pirates who had not escaped.
• The smoke cleared to reveal Zesi and Whitebeard fighting inside a massive crater as their blades clashed and Zesi's divine dragons attacked from every direction.
• Whitebeard shattered Zesi's sword-energy dragons while resisting their vibration domain, and Zesi's smaller flood dragons absorbed vibrations and scattered sword energy to grow stronger.

Zesi used his intricate Dragon Battles in the Wild against Whitebeard, astonishing both crews with swordsmanship unlike anything they had seen. As their fight continued, Whitebeard realized Zesi's strength might already surpass Roger's.

• The Whitebeard Pirates marveled at Zesi's flood dragons, and Jozu and Marco explained that he had combined swordsmanship, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, and advanced Armament Haki.
• Kirikage recognized the complexity of Dragon Battles in the Wild and studied Zesi's sword movements for inspiration.
• Zesi grew increasingly grave as he realized Whitebeard's Steam Fruit granted him more strength, speed, and endurance than expected.
• Whitebeard reflected that he could burn stamina and Haki to multiply his power, and that he had used both to meet Zesi's earlier attack in a draw.
• Whitebeard became more shocked as Zesi's intricate swordsmanship pressed the fight, and he concluded that Zesi might have surpassed Roger.

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.