Chapter 1042

X Drake drives his blade into Guernika from behind. Spitting blood, the agent asks why he meddles, and Drake says he answers only to his own sense of justice; Guernika envies him aloud before tearing loose with a finger strike to the throat. In the Flower Capital, townsfolk send wish-lanterns drifting skyward. Atop Onigashima, Luffy hammers Kaidou relentlessly, curving each punch so that a single block earns three more hits. Admitting the pain, Kaidou lurches into his Amae Jogo state, then his Nusubito Jogo mood, and finally takes full dragon shape to swallow Luffy whole before flying high and dropping him alongside a Bolo Breath that punches clean through the island.

Luffy survives the blast, reverts to Boundman, and soars back up, announcing this is his last Gear 4 and that he has no time left to waste. He shouts that Wano stays starved and parched while Kaidou lives, readying Gomu Gomu no Over Kong Gun. Kaidou dismisses the country's samurai as losers who throw their lives away for honor, but Luffy insists they are strong. The Emperor charges another Bolo Breath; Luffy lands his attack first, making Kaidou misfire into his own mouth and crash down. As the two close again with Over Kong Gun and Horai Hakke, Guernika seizes Luffy's arm and braces with Tekkai. Unable to halt his own swing, Kaidou strikes the held Luffy head-on.

The agent's interruption mirrors the moment, twenty years past, when Kurozumi Higurashi distracted Oden during their fight, and a flicker of horror crosses Kaidou's eyes as the memory returns. The chapter also confirms that Kaidou wields advanced Observation Haki and that Luffy can switch freely between his Gear 4 forms in mid-combat. In the capital, Toko readies a sky-festival lantern, threading the quiet civilian celebration through the brutal rooftop clash.