Chapter 1026

Chapter 1026 is titled "The Pivotal Clash".

Cover Page
Cover Page Request: "Nami and Leo" fashioning cute clothes for a lion cub" by PN Ebi.

The design of the shirts is the same as the shirt Bell-mère made Nami in Chapter 77.

Short Summary
As Luffy begins attacking Kaidou, he tells Momonosuke to use his dragon teeth to bite the Emperor; Momonosuke does so after grappling with his fear, causing the Emperor great pain. Luffy proceeds to loudly encourage Momonosuke and declare that the two of them will defeat Kaidou, and this is heard by the fighters on the Live Floor, giving the alliance great encouragement.

Kaidou and Momonosuke's flight through the air does result in the creation of storm clouds, which block the moon and force Inuarashi and Nekomamushi out of their Sulong forms, resulting in Jack and Perospero gaining the advantage in their respective fights. However, Luffy and Kaidou then engage in a clash that splits the heavens, resulting in the moon becoming visible again. The two mink rulers then reactivate their Sulong forms and unleash finishing blows against their opponents.

Long Summary
The Fire Festival continues in the Flower Capital as Tenguyama Hitetsu thinks back to when Tama told him she was leaving to go help the alliance on Onigashima, despite Tenguyama’s protests. He hopes for her safety, totally unaware that Onigashima had reached the Flower Capital but was being hidden by thick clouds.

On the roof of the Skull Dome, a Mary reports that Yamato is on the roof and in the sky, he sees two dragons, one of them being Kaidou, the other being Momonosuke, though he doesn’t recognize him as such. Also, Luffy was riding Momonosuke, who the Mary calls an enemy. Yamato thinks to when Momonosuke told her that he wanted to become a monster like Kaidou to help Luffy just as Kaidou launches Bolo Breath at the two, which Momonosuke is barely able to dodge. Luffy then tells Momonosuke something before jumping into the air and striking Kaidou with Gomu Gomu no Elephant Gun, knocking him into the ground. Momonosuke thinks about Luffy’s request, which was for him to bite Kaidou, and after thinking about the horrible things Kaidou had done to him, he gets the courage to bite down on Kaidou’s body, causing him to howl in pain. Momonosuke tightens his grip on Kaidou as he asks him what he is doing, but while afraid, Momonosuke doesn’t back down. Luffy then comes in and strikes Kaidou with a Haoshoku Haki-coated fist.

Meanwhile, in the Treasure Repository and outside the Skull Dome, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi have reverted back to normal, as the covered up clouds blocked out the moon. Luffy then calls Momonosuke, who was also heard by the samurai in the castle by the Mary, and points out that he just bit one of the Four Emperors. He asks if he is still afraid of anything after doing something so bold, and Momonosuke realizes he is no longer. Luffy then tells him to stop Onigashima in its tracks while he promises to beat Kaidou. The alliance and samurai react with happiness at the revelation that Momonosuke is still alive, while Kaidou still expresses disbelief at the idea of him still having a chance against him. Kaidou and Luffy then attack one another with their Haoshoku Haki, not even touching one another and causing the heaven to split apart.

As a result, the moon returns, allowing Inuarashi and Nekomamushi to regain their Sulong forms, and with their Oden Ittoryu: Inu Spire and Neko Niko Bam, they finally defeat Jack and Charlotte Perospero, respectively. Also, Kurozumi Orochi, who is shown to still be alive, reacts with shock at Jack’s defeat before remembering he is no longer Kaidou’s ally.

Chapter Notes

 * Unknown to the citizens at the Fire Festival, Onigashima is nearing the Flower Capital.
 * There is a flashback between Tenguyama and Tama, where Tenguyama was against Tama's decision to travel to Onigashima.
 * A Mary on the roof of the Skull Dome reports about the fight.
 * Luffy and Momonosuke attack Kaidou.
 * Kaidou returns to his Hybrid form.
 * Luffy tells Momonosuke to fly and stop Onigashima.
 * The message broadcast across Onigashima causes the people inside to learn that Luffy is back in action and the mysterious new dragon is Momonosuke.
 * Luffy and Kaidou clash with Haoshoku Haki, splitting the skies.
 * The Mary faints after the clash.
 * The fights of Inuarashi against Jack and Nekomamushi against Perospero are shown.
 * Both minks are badly wounded, and reverted back from their Sulong forms due to clouds covering the moon.
 * The clouds are moved after Luffy and Kaidou's clash of Haki, allowing the minks to return to their Sulong forms.
 * Inuarashi and Nekomamushi attack Jack and Perospero respectively, defeating them.
 * It is revealed that Orochi is still alive.
 * He watched the fight between Inuarashi and Jack.

Trivia

 * The cover feature another installment of the Sunflower-Lion running gag of series, which started in Chapter 77 during Nami's flashback, and continued with the Thousand Sunny's figure head in Chapter 436 and Chapter 439, and the cover of Chapter 568.