Sabaody Archipelago Arc

The nineteenth story segment and opening of the Summit War Saga, this arc brings the crew to the last island before the New World. Beneath its enormous mangrove trees and floating bubbles lies a lawless hub where pirates, Marines, bounty hunters, and the untouchable World Nobles all mingle.

Luffy and Zoro are counted among the Eleven Supernovas, a cluster of high-bounty newcomers who reach the archipelago at the same time. A spark of defiance against the nobility ignites a chain reaction that engulfs the entire region in chaos and forces the crew into the fight of their lives.

Following the Log Pose downward, the crew discovers the towering Red Line barring their path and realizes they have circled half the Grand Line. After rescuing the mermaid Camie from a sea beast, they agree to save her octopus friend Hatchan, only to learn he is the former Arlong Pirates member they once fought. The Straw Hats clash with the Flying Fish Riders and their masked leader Duval, whose face, by cruel coincidence, matches Sanji's botched wanted poster. Sanji thrashes him, and the grateful Duval rebrands his gang as allies.

On Sabaody, Hatchan guides them to the coating engineer Rayleigh through the bar owner Shakky. The crew witnesses the savagery of the World Nobles firsthand and learns of the eleven rookies gathered nearby, including Kid, Law, Hawkins, Bonney, and others. When Camie is kidnapped and put up for sale at a human auction, Luffy crashes the event and, after a Noble shoots Hatchan, punches the World Noble Charlos unconscious. Rayleigh, revealed as the former right hand of Gold Roger, frees Camie and aids their escape.

The strike against a Celestial Dragon summons Admiral Kizaru and the cyborg Pacifistas. Rayleigh recounts the truth of Roger's voyage and surrender to a stunned Robin and Brook. As the Marines flood the island, the Supernovas are scattered and battered. Bartholomew Kuma reappears, and despite Rayleigh's intervention against Kizaru, the crew is overwhelmed. One by one, Kuma touches each Straw Hat and sends them flying to unknown corners of the world.

The arc ends with the Straw Hat Pirates completely and utterly broken, every member scattered across the seas by Kuma's power. Rayleigh's revelations expose the secret history of the Pirate King, including Roger's voluntary surrender and the disbanding of his crew, while hinting at the Void Century and the Poneglyphs Robin seeks.

The defeat shatters Luffy's confidence and marks the lowest point of his journey so far, directly setting up the war at Marineford and the two-year training period that follows. The simultaneous arrival of so many powerful rookies, soon nicknamed the Worst Generation, foreshadows the turbulent era of piracy to come.