Chapter 995

Squaring off against Big Mom, Marco admits he cannot yet say what part he will play in the war, only that he grasps how much of a threat she poses. His flames, unusual for belonging to a phoenix, burn Prometheus even as the Emperor swings the homie at him; she then clamps a hand around the bird's neck, exposing Marco to a candy arrow from Perospero. Perospero mockingly begs Marco's pardon for taking his mother's side and admits he has wanted him dead more in years past, but before the killing blow lands, Wanda and Carrot rake his face in their Sulong states.

Carrot assures Wanda that Perospero bears the guilt for Pedro's end; he protests that Pedro chose to detonate himself, yet the two answer that his death is exactly what brought them together for this war. Once they establish that Marco counts as an ally of Nekomamushi, Big Mom hauls the limp Prometheus and Zeus back toward the Live Floor, grumbling that petty scuffles waste her time and that Marco will have to seek her death later since she has no soul weapons left to spend. Wanda and Carrot urge Marco to give chase, and it is then that he catches sight of a nearby body icing over into one of the frost demons.

Back where the demons spread, Apoo weaves clear of Zoro and keeps sprinting, scattering pursuers with his Devil Fruit and reminding his own men that surrendering the cure means his death. Zoro and Drake close in and strike as one, but he parries with his tonfas. Zoro explains he only wants to reach Kin'emon atop the dome and that this fight is a mere holdup, while Drake and Apoo confirm their loathing runs both ways. Sifting through the Straw Hat wanted posters, Queen observes that a child of Vinsmoke Judge is counted among the crew.

Brook proves untouchable by the frost demons, and Chopper deduces it is because the skeleton has no flesh, blood, or warmth, an upside that still stings him; moments later Robin notes Chopper himself has caught the virus. Elsewhere, Usopp's plant attacks barely scratch Ulti, who headbutts him unconscious and shatters Page One's skull before rounding on Nami. Told to declare Luffy will never rule the pirates, Nami instead swears he will never quit until he does. Furious, Ulti lunges to headbutt her, only to be bitten down on by Komachiyo, who arrives with Tama on his back.