Chapter 997

Convinced a woman is being assaulted on the third floor, Sanji storms in to save her, only to land in a spider's web; the scene was a setup by Black Maria's group. Kicked and bound, he is hauled before Black Maria, who refuses to let him turn her banquet into a brawl yet admits she finds him charming, leaving the lovestruck cook helpless. Nearby, Luffy and Jinbe are about to be blocked by the Shinuchi Mizerka and Poker, but the former Udon prisoners hand them a homemade ladder to reach the fourth floor instead.

On the Live Floor, Big Mom flies up to the roof as the Ice Oni rages on. Zoro notices something drop from the hole above, then cuts down Apoo in an instant and claims the antidote, handing it to Chopper. Chopper announces that the virus pairs with a chilling gas, so the infected can halt its spread by staying near fire while he brews antibodies for everyone, friend and foe alike.

Queen moves to blast Chopper and Apoo for losing the antidote, but Zoro destroys his Gatling gun, snarling that he came to cut down Kaidou, not waste time on games. The ground begins to quake; Brook wonders if it is Zoro's Conqueror's Haki, which he denies. Robin reveals that what fell from the roof was Kikunojo's severed arm, sharpening Zoro's resolve to reach the top despite King and Queen barring the way.

The tremor is felt even outside, leaving the Heart Pirates unable to reach the island. At the port, Yamato carries Shinobu and Momonosuke out but finds no ships, realizing they are too late: dragons can fly via flame clouds, so Kaidou is hoisting the entire island to drop it on the Flower Capital. He declares the Kouzuki finished and the age of violence begun. The magazine version was titled simply "Flames." The cover shows a raccoon priest swatting a daydreaming Sanji.