Chapter 704

After Luffy flattens Spartan, a referee moves to disqualify him, but the Chinjao Family steps in to confirm Spartan struck first. Competitors begin recognizing one another as renowned figures from many nations, all drawn by the Mera Mera no Mi. The opening round is set as a battle royale across four blocks holding more than five hundred and fifty fighters, with only one advancing from each.

Luffy, placed in Block C, picks a viking-style outfit from the armory but must shed pieces for breaking the weight rule. A flamboyant captain calling himself the prince tries to chat him up and is brushed off, then explains why fighters strip down: spectators crave blood and the arena lays bare a person's true nature. When Luffy carelessly states his real name and ambition, the man takes him for a mispronouncing "Lucy".

Scotch, Bellamy, and Jesus Burgess all reappear after the timeskip, with Bellamy revealed alive since Jaya and his bounty raised past one hundred million. Numerous entrants are introduced among the five hundred and fifty plus competitors, including the pirate captain Cavendish at two hundred eighty million and the female gladiator Rebecca, who seeks the fruit to kill Doflamingo. Burgess, now captain of Blackbeard's first ship, signals how much that crew has grown.

The matches split into four blocks, each a battle royale yielding a single survivor. Luffy draws Block C and Rebecca Block D. Firearms are banned and protective gear is weight-limited. Rebecca tells Luffy the tale of Kyros, the colosseum's mightiest gladiator, who won three thousand straight bouts taking only one hit before vanishing twenty years ago, his identity unknown. Burgess is then declared the Block A winner.

The prince, captain of the beautiful pirates, nurses a grudge against the worst generation for eclipsing his fame around the Marineford war and vows to behead Luffy if his identity proves real. The cover continues the Caribou serial as Scotch attacks the rioting revolutionary workers. Other entrants named include the Funk brothers, Dagama, Elizabello II, Suleiman, Abdullah, Jeet, and Orlumbus.