WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1016, by Eiichiro Oda, available in English via Shueisha's official site and through Viz Media.
Last week's One Piece update revealed that Luffy is indeed alive and intends on returning to the battlefield and finishing his fight against Kaido. Sanji stepped up to fight against Queen and Perospero after Chopper let his emotions get the better of him and the two were about to finish both him and the samurai off. Nami's Climate Baton seems to have gained sentience and a face that resembles that of the late Zeus. Luffy's sinking body was discovered by the Heart Pirates, saving him from drowning. Trafalgar Law approached Captain Kid to propose an alliance, and Yamato challenged Kaido to a duel, intending on severing their familial bonds for good.
Chapter 1016 begins with a festival taking place in the Flower Capital. Tenguyama explains that the Fire Festival is a time when the people mourn and celebrate those who have passed on. Toko wonders if her father, who was killed earlier in the arc, is watching down on her, to which Tenguyama assures her that he is watching over both her and the fate of the country. We then zoom in on the looming Onigashima Island.
Above the celebrating townsfolk, the battle rages on, and we learn of the number of casualties the war against Kaido and Big Mom has claimed. After the Waiters and Pleasures turned against Queen, adding 4,000 more soldiers on the side of the Straw Hats, the odds are 20,000 vs. 7,000. One of the Marys, Bao Huang, claims that Momonosuke has fallen and is excited as the prospect of breaking the news to the samurai.
Meanwhile, Usopp and Nami learn that Zeus isn't dead, rather his soul now inhabits the Climate Baton. Zeus explains that when Nami tried to give him more power just as Hera was about to eat his soul, his soul was pushed into the Baton. As he is excitedly telling Nami he's been reborn, she cries, "Ew!! I don't want an annoying talking weapon!" Zeus then remembers Nami still has forgiven him for following Big Mom's orders, but also says that he gan't get back out of the Baton without Big Mom's power. The group finally reach the stage just as Bao Huang is about the make the announcement Momonosuke is dead, causing her to stop mid-sentence.
Usopp is attacked from behind, and Ulti now has Tama in her grasp. She's furious at the child, believing that Tama is manipulating all of the underlings and even Big Mom into turning against the Beast Pirates. Nami swings her Baton at Ulti, and Zeus turns into the head of a mace, knocking her in the head. He tells her that a large blast of lightning should be able to take Ulti out since she's still weak from Big Mom's attack, but Nami refuses until Tama is out of the way. Usopp uses his Green Star Sargasso attack to knock Tama out of the way, and Nami prepares her Weather Egg attack. A cloud resembling Zeus forms, but explains that technically it is different and that Nami should give it a new name, to which she does: Fluff.
Zeus, still in the Climate Baton, declares himself the "right arm of Nami." She unleashes a Lightning Blast onto Ulti, who is able to dodge it. Zeus is able to maneuver the attack to swing back towards her and lands a powerful hit, and Ulti is once again out of the fight. She is left burned and smoking from the attack, and hits the floor with a thud.
Bao Huang, not realizing that she's still in announcement mode, cries out that Ulti has gone down and lamenting how Page One has also fallen. "Two of the Tobi Roppo are out of the fight!!!" she cries out, not realizing that everyone on the island can hear her. Usopp realizes that she acts as a loud-speaker and encourages Tama to make an announcement to the samurai. She calls out to her people, which seems to lift their spirits with them shouting "That's her! It's Master!"
The chapter closes out with Kaido looming over Yamato in his dragon form. Yamato reveals that he intends on going out to sea with Luffy, confirming that he plans on joining the Straw Hat Pirates once the fight against his father and Big Mom is over. Kaido proclaims that he will never leave Wano and encourages Yamato to become a shogun in the country, but he refuses. Yamato acknowledges that he knows he can't win, but he's going to give it his all until Luffy comes back to finish off Kaido. The final panel shows black lightning crackling above Onigashima, with Kaido proclaiming, "Don't assume I'll go easy on you, Yamato!!"
Chapter 1017 will be available in English on June 27, 2021.
