As Luffy, Bonney, Jimbei and Chopper further explore Egghead in One Piece's Chapter 1063, they meet a familiar enemy: a Pacifista. The robot attempts to arrest them for not paying for the city's goods and services. The Pacifista shoots them down with its lasers, prompting the group to flee. However, just as Luffy is about to fight back, Bonney stops him from doing anything further. That's when the Big Eater reveals that her father, who Dr. Vegapunk turned into an unthinking human weapon, is no other than Bartholomew Kuma. The Pacifista, however, has zero recollection of her and attempts to shoot her down, prompting Luffy to jump into harm's way to save her from the laser.
Meanwhile, there is another encounter in another part of the New World. Blackbeard and his crew set up an ambush for one of the three captains who took down Kaido. His strategy works -- the moment Law's crew enters their range, Blackbeard and his men start their assault. Doc Q unleashes the power of his Sick-Sick Fruit, turning Law into a female. Von Augur then follows up with his Warp-Warp Fruit to transport them to the island, where the rest of the crew are waiting. Upon arriving, Jesus Burgess immediately throws a mountain toward Law and his crew. Law manages to cut it down, and that's when the accursed Emperor makes his grand entrance. He reveals his plan to steal the Road Ponegliffs Law has accrued.
In Chapter 1064, Blackbeard also starts making his move. He chases down Law as the latter attempts to flee from their ambush. Law effectively relays his commands to his crew while also fending off the Emperor chasing him. Blackbeard unleashes the power of his Quake-Quake Fruit to stall the escape of Law's men, and Doc Q follows up by hurling a basket of exploding apples toward them. However, Shachi, one of Law's crew members, manages to shoot them down before they hit the ground. When Von Augur tries to snipe down Law, Jean Bart, the pirate Law freed and recruited from being a slave, uses his body to shield his captain.
Law lands a hit on Blackbeard using the powers of his Devil Fruit Awakening. Seeing the damage, Von Augur immediately teleports his captain to safety. However, the Emperor swiftly returns to battle. Law takes notice that all of Blackbeard's men now hold a Devil Fruit power, something that Blackbeard does not deny. The Emperor even goes on to justify that the risk of having the sea as a weakness is worth the benefits of acquiring said powers. While Law is busy dealing with Blackbeard, his men attack the Emperor's ship underwater. The attack causes turbulence, and one of the jail watchers apologizes to their prisoner, Charlotte Pudding, for it.
In Winner Island, Akainu and the Marines receive a report about the clash between Law and Blackbeard. Akainu lets out his frustration for not being able to join the battle. Back in Egghead, the Pacifista finally stops its pursuit of the quartet. Bonney disguises them by making them younger or older. Jimbei then talks about what he knows of Kuma. According to him, the former Warlord is known to have started as a wicked king of the Sorbet Kingdom. He later joins the Revolutionary Army and is captured by the Navy. Dr. Vegapunk takes interest in his physique and makes him the subject of multiple experiments. In exchange, Kuma gains back his freedom by becoming a Warlord of the Sea. However, Bonney refutes those claims.
Bonney is adamant that her father is not a tyrant. She further explains that Kuma hates the World Government and thus will never work for them. She claims that the experimentation is forced upon him, further stating that it's basically murder in the name of science. The female pirate also reveals that Kuma is supposed to be a member of a certain special force.
Meanwhile, Vegaforce-01 is taking the Thousand Sunny and the other Straw Hats up in the air. The robot supposedly uses antigravity tech and jet propulsion to skyrocket. While airborne, the Straw Hats can clearly see the entirety of the island. They also see the futuristic city, where Luffy and the others are causing havoc. Lilith confirms their suspicion, saying that Egghead is the island where the future is being built. She further explains that above the clouds stands Labophase, the facility where all the researches occur. Below that Labophase is the Fabriophase, where the production and researchers' residences are situated.
Nami and the others alight from the Thousand Sunny upon reaching Labophase, but Zoro and Brook decide to stay. They are both on ship watch, and Zoro adds that he doesn't trust Lilith. What Nami and the others first notice is the familiarity of the land. It greatly resembles that of the Sky Islands, which Lilith confirms. It is artificially created through some scientific process. After gearing up with the proper attire, they all head into the laboratory. Their clothes resemble those that Luffy and the others wore in Fabriophase. Within the lab, Shaka the Good is on a call. He lets out his woes for being a genius, stating that this also means knowing about his imminent death. Before that, he wants the person on the other end of the line to hear him out. That person is none other than the Revolutionary Army's leader, Monker D. Dragon.