Chapter 896

A timeline ticks across Cacao Island and Totto Land. At 12:28 a decuplet wonders aloud whether Luffy could beat Katakuri and is shouted down, with Oven refusing to entertain it; Raisin guesses Luffy will try to grab Brûlée. Hidden in an alley, Sanji warns Pudding they must split once Luffy emerges, and thanks her for her help despite her earlier plot to kill him, saying he is glad she was his fiancee. Weeping, Pudding plucks the cigarette from his mouth and says she has one final request.

At 12:37 both fighters land their last attacks; the ground crumbles and Luffy drops unconscious as Gear 4 fades, and moments later Katakuri also falls. On Whole Cake Island, Mont-d'Or assures Morgans their overwhelming forces will crush the Straw Hats, insisting even Gol D. Roger could not slip away. Big Mom and Prometheus begin scorching the Nostra Castello as Bege steadies his panicking crew. Luffy wakes, pulls himself from the chasm, and finds Katakuri blocking his path; the Sweet Commander asks if he will return to defeat Big Mom, and Luffy vows to become Pirate King before Katakuri collapses again, bleeding from the chest. Luffy lays his spare hat over Katakuri's mouth and departs. He then hears Brûlée's anguished cries, for Pekoms, disguised as "Nazoms," has tied her up to rescue him in honor of Pedro.

The duel ends with Katakuri beaten. Sanji intends to part from Pudding when Luffy returns, and she makes her last request of him. The promised rendezvous is minutes away, and Pekoms captures Brûlée to aid Luffy. The cover continues the Hajrudin Arc feature, listing the New Giant Warrior Pirates captain among Buggy's Delivery deserters.