Chapter 464

The watching zombies marvel at how badly Sanji has thrashed their master. Absalom asks about the personal connection Sanji mentioned, and the cook answers that this is the man who robbed him of a dream. Sanji warns him to ditch the arm-mounted bazookas, threatening to beat his original form beyond recognition if any blast endangers Nami. Absalom fires anyway, only for Sanji to dodge and kick the weapon into view.

Sanji exposes the truth: Absalom ate the Suke Suke no Mi, which lets him turn himself and what he touches invisible. As a boy, Sanji pored over a Devil Fruit encyclopedia and decided this single fruit was the one power worth its curse, dreaming of slipping unseen into women's baths. Since only one of each fruit exists, Absalom's having eaten it shattered that dream, the source of Sanji's grudge. Absalom mocks him as a mere pervert and details Hogback's body upgrades: elephant skin, the bundled muscle of bear and gorilla, and a lion's jaw.

Absalom turns invisible and lands brutal blows, even stabbing Sanji through the back and taunting him for setting Nami down. Sanji explains he lowered her only to keep blood off her dress, then grabs Absalom's bloodied footprints and unleashes Extra Hachis, a flurry of kicks that hurls the invisible body into the walls. Lighting a cigarette, Sanji declares a beast bride is fitting for a beast. Nearby, Usopp fends off Kumashi with fire and is startled to learn the Horo Horo no Mi lets Perona fly.