WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter #1023, "Spitting Image," by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul and Vanessa Satone, available in English via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
With only 15 minutes left before Onigashima reaches the Flower Capital and with five of the Tobiroppo out of the fight, Chapter 1022 of One Piece ended with things looking up for the alliance in the raid against the Animal Kingdom Pirates. The castle was up in flames as Fukurokuju and Raizo faced off against one another on the third floor, with Raizo questioning how a former ally of Oden could work with someone like Orochi.
Meanwhile, Killer and Basil Hawkins continued their brawl, with Hawkins revealing that he had redirected his wounds to Eustass Kid -- who is currently fighting Big Mom alongside Law -- using his dolls. On the Performance Floor, King and Queen lashed out against the traitors Otama recruited.
In the midst of this, Perospero took aim at Sanji for ruining the initial plan of marrying Pudding to create political ties with the Vinsmoke family. Thankfully, Nekomamushi appeared and engaged Perospero in retaliation for Pedro's death. King launched an attack against an unconscious Zoro, but Marco blocked it just in time, also revealing a legend about a pyrokinetic race, hinting that King may be a member. Then, Zoro finally emerged from his bandage cocoon, and alongside Sanji, attacked King and Queen. One Piece Chapter 1023 picks up on their continuing battle to "catch a glimpse of Luffy as the King of the Pirates."
Chapter 1023 opens with Sanji and Zoro defiantly taking on King and Queen. Chopper is shocked at how well the medicine worked, though Dr. Miyagi wonders what the side effects will be. The remaining Animal Kingdom Pirates try to take out Zoro using a gun, but are quickly dispatched by Kawamatsu. It's then decided that nobody, friend or foe, will interfere with this fight.
Marco, watching the fight, reminisces about Whitebeard telling him of what existed before Mary Geoise, the city above the Red Line and capital of the World Government. Whitebeard explains that before the city was built, there used to be "a land of gods up there." He's snapped back to reality when Izou saves him from being shot at by Beast Pirates. She chastises him, reminding him they're in the middle of a battle, but he retorts that he was just waiting for her to save him. He then asks her whether she believes in gods, to which she asks when he "turn[ed] into Pops when he's drunk."
King and Queen stand against Sanji and Zoro, with Queen asserting their power as two of the Three Calamities that protect Kaido. He fires a laser from his mouth at the duo, who manage to dodge it, though Sanji seems unsteady. When Zoro asks him what's wrong, Sanji replies that, ever since he put on his Raid Suit, he's felt off. Zoro warns him not to drag him down, but Sanji explains that it isn't bad, just weird. While they bicker, King swings his katana at them, but Zoro deflects it. Queen launches a Bridal Grabber attack at him, but Sanji returns the favor by blocking it for Zoro.
Queen begins taunting Sanji by saying that he heard all of the Vinsmoke children were cyborgs and that his father is a madman. He then asks if the burning leg technique Sanji uses is the result of machine parts, but Sanji replies that he's 100% human. Queen counters by asking if a human burns like Sanji does and that he knows Sanji isn't a Lunarian, to which King has a strange reaction. Sanji explains that his fire comes from his inner passion, demonstrating as much by readying another firey attack. Queen then shouts that he's going to show Sanji "the power of a cyborg even Vegapunk can't create."
Meanwhile, Zoro tries to corner King, but the Calamity surprises him by not only blocking the attack but by extending his katana to reveal saw-like teeth. These clam down and snatch away two of Zoro's swords, opening him up for a direct punch to the face. Zoro blocks the attack with his remaining sword and realizes that King is just a killing machine, with no real technique to his swordplay. King asks him if he needs a school or style swing a sword. Zoro replies that he doesn't and that like King, he'll do anything to win the fight, technique aside.
Elsewhere in Chapter 1023, Kawamatsu and Hyogoro watch the battle from afar. Kawamatsu admits that, when Hiyori decided to give Zoro Enma, he didn't stop her because he understood her reason -- Zoro resembles Shimotsuki Ushimaru, Daimyo of Ringo and descendant of Shimotsuki Ryuma, the God of the Blade. Kawamatsu believes fate must be at work, especially considering that Ryuma was also a one-eyed samurai like Zoro.
In the Third Floor Treasure Room, Jack battles Inuarashi. Jack forgives Wano for going into ruin to keep up the lie about Oden, but Inuarashi explains that, had they handed over Raizen, they would have been so ashamed that they would never return to Wano again, and that every day since Oden's death has been another day closer to the day of reckoning. He manages to toss Jack into the wall, sending him crashing through. We then see a flashback of Inuarashi claiming he knows no Raizo and that he would cut his belly if such a man were there.
He then continues his speech, explaining that for 20 years he asked himself if he was still a samurai of Oden. Jack asks him how he turned Sulong, then realizes there's a hole in the roof. Inuarashi then enters his Sulong form as he explains that they would have let a thousand-year-old city fall if it meant the dawn of a new world.
Back at the front entrance of the Skull Dome, Nekomamushi also turns Sulong, praying that Pedro is watching him. He then tells Perospero that this will be the last full moon he'll ever see. On the castle's second floor, Fukurokuju mocks Raizo, saying that he and the other retainers are reduced to following a child. Raizo counters that Oden was the one who raised them to be samurai and that everyone grows throughout their life. He's certain that Wano will protect Momonosuke as he grows into an adult.
At Tokage Port, Momonosuke has taken on his dragon form, sending everyone but Luffy into a panic, thinking he's an enemy. Once Luffy confirms it's Momo, Shinobu tearfully explains that the little lord is now a 28-year-old adult. Momo's adult appearance clearly reminds Shinobu of someone, but we don't see it. Luffy questions it for a moment, but then focuses on returning to Wano, with Momonosuke rearing to go.
Chapter 1024 of One Piece will release in English on September 12.
UPDATE: The release date has been changed from September 12 to September 5.
