Chapter 440

Across the world, the people closest to the original Straw Hats react to their wanted posters. The Baratie cooks roar with laughter at Sanji's photo and hand out his poster proudly. In Foosha Village, Woop Slap fumes over Luffy waging war on the World Government while Makino beams. Koushirou admits he taught Zoro and could never have stopped him, Cocoyasi Village ogles Nami's poster as Genzo protests the perverts it will draw, and in the Sakura Kingdom, Dr. Kureha and Dalton are simply happy to see Chopper's face. On Baltigo, the Revolutionary Army notes Luffy's growing threat, and its leader, revealed as Monkey D. Dragon, foresees the day he and his son meet.

A flashback to three days prior on Banaro Island shows Ace catching up to Blackbeard, who calls him Commander and invites him to join his crew, promising they would topple Whitebeard and start by killing Luffy. Ace refuses, naming Luffy his brother and Teach unforgivable for slaying a crewmate. Van Augur and Jesus Burgess attack but Ace burns through them with ease, then scorches Teach with Hiken. Surviving, Blackbeard confesses he murdered Thatch to seize a long-sought Devil Fruit, having waited decades aboard Whitebeard's ship for it to surface. His hand dissolves into shadow as he declares himself darkness itself.

The chapter names Shimotsuki Village as Zoro's home, introduces Dadan as part of Garp and Luffy's past, and confirms Dragon as Luffy's father and the Revolutionary leader. Blackbeard reveals he ate the Logia-type Yami Yami no Mi, the sole reason behind his betrayal and murder of Thatch. On release it set a record for the most characters appearing in a single chapter.