WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter #1026, “The Pivotal Clash,” by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul and Vanessa Satone, available in English via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
We last found our heroes in dire straights. Luffy and Momonosuke were having trouble getting off the ground, with Momo’s fear of heights keeping him from taking full advantage of his new adult dragon form. Yamato was able to fend off his father’s Thunder Bagua attack, but only just barely. He launched a counter attack, but Kaido was able to match him blow for blow. He mocked his son for wanting to be friends with humans, saying that it was destiny that Yamato will always be alone, but Yamato denied this.
Meanwhile, Momo finally managed to get himself and Luffy into the air, but he wouldn’t open eyes. As a result, he and Luffy went crashing through the castle instead of landing on the roof as expected, shocking everyone who saw them. They made their way up through the various floors until they finally reached the roof, where Yamato was still fending off his father. He and Luffy unwittingly timed their attacks perfectly, sending Kaido flying. Their reunion was short-lived, however, as Kaido quickly recovered from the double-whammy. He returned to his own dragon form and confronted Luffy and this mysterious pink dragon, demanding to know who he was. Momo was able to gather his courage and state his name and intention to become Shogun of Wano. This didn’t faze Kaido, who simply responded that the world doesn’t need two dragons…
We zoom in on the Flower Capital, the citizens enjoying themselves at the festival, unaware of the war taking place above them. One of them, Tenguyama, worries about whether Otama is safe with the others. We then cut to the roof of the Skull Dome, where on of the Marys is spying on the confrontation between Yamato, Kaido, Luffy, and Momonosuke. They report their findings in an announcement, meaning everyone on the island can hear. They report about Yamato being bloodied and bruised, and about the two dragons hovering in the air, with Luffy riding atop one of them. The Mary still doesn’t know who the pink dragon is, but identifies him as an enemy.
Kaido opens his mouth to launch a Blast Breath attack, which Luffy immediately recognizes. He urges Momo to spit something back at him, but Momo says that he doesn’t know how and insists that he can’t. Momo barely avoids the attack, then begins pleading with Kaido to stop and that he’s not there to fight. Luffy asks Momo to do something for him, to which Momo insists that he can’t. Luffy attacks Kaido with a Gum-Gum Elephant Gun. As Kaido head smashes into the ground below, Momo begins thinking about Luffy’s request to bite Kaido and to hold on. He then thinks about the day his mother was killed. This memory gives him the courage to bite and latch onto Kaido’s neck.
Holding on tight, he remembers Kaido calling his father a fool, to which he grips tighter. Kaido questions Momo as to what he’s doing. Momo doesn’t answer. He just thinks about how Kaido ruined his family and his country. Yamato calls out to him, imploring him to get away from Kaido, but Luffy praises him for conquering his fear.
Back in the Treasury Depository, Jack comments that dragons bring clouds and that the moon is no longer visible. Because of Momo and Kaido both being in dragon form at the same time, storm clouds have formed and covered the full moon, reversing the Sulong effects Inuarashi and Nekomamushi were under. They’re both shown to be on their last legs, with Jack and Perospero respectively commenting how their luck has changed.
Over the loud speaker, the fighters hear Momo’s name being called, and they begin realizing who the pink dragon was. Luffy tells Momo that he just took a bite out of an Emperor of the Sea, then asks if there is anything left in the world for Momo to be afraid of. Realizing what he’s done, Momo replies, “No.” Sanji and Zoro begin questioning if the pink dragon was really Momo, but Sanji insists it couldn’t have been. Luffy continues to push Momo on, his words ringing throughout the island. “Don’t worry about Kaido!! I guarantee you, I’ll win!!!” The fighter below cheer on, while Big Mom laughs at the idea, calling Luffy a “funny guy.”
Kaido returns to his hybrid form, asking Luffy if there is a single chance he can Kaido. Luffy replies, “As long as I’m alive, I have infinite chances.” The two attack each other, black lightning crackling around them. The force of their punches create a gap in the clouds, once again revealing the full moon. Jack and Perospero look on in shock as Inuarashi and Nekomamushi both launch Oden One-Sword Style attacks: Canine Cleaver and Feline Frenzy. The Lead Performer and eldest son of Big Mom both fall, finally out of the fight for good. Inuarashi stands above his opponent, unaware he has a spectator hiding behind him.
The next chapter of One Piece will be available on Sunday, October 3rd.
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