Zou Arc

The Zou Arc is the twenty-eighth story arc in the series and the third in the Pirate Alliance Saga of One Piece, continuing from the Dressrosa Arc.

After defeating Doflamingo, the Straw Hats, Trafalgar Law, Kin'emon, and Kanjuro continue to Zou in order to reunite with Sanji and the others. Zou is the third island the Straw Hats encounter in the New World.

The Perilous Journey to Zou
While the Going Luffy-senpai was sailing towards Zou, the Straw Hat Pirates soon discover that the Barto Club had little knowledge on how to navigate through the ocean's waters when during a hailstorm.

At Marine Headquarters, Kizaru had just received a report that the Shichibukai Edward Weevil has massacred the A.O Pirates, making them the sixteenth subordinate crew of the Whitebeard Pirates that he has annihilated.

Meanwhile, Bakkin, Weevil's self-proclaimed mother, persuades Weevil to massacre all of Whitebeard's former subordinates to claim Whitebeard's treasure, as he is his only biological son. After learning of Doflamingo's defeat, Weevil and Bakkin decided to go after Luffy to get information on Marco the Phoenix, Weevil's next target.

One week later, the Going Luffy-senpai reached Zou, which to everyone's shock is actually on the back of a giant, one thousand year old elephant. They docked at the elephant's leg alongside the Thousand Sunny, which the Barto Club was excited to see. As the Barto Club bid farewell to the Straw Hats, Kanjuro drew a dragon, Ryunosuke, to carry them up the elephant.

At the Revolutionary Army's base on Baltigo, Dragon received several reports of Revolutionary victories due to the chaos that ensued when Doflamingo fell. Koala reported that the weapons they took from Dressrosa contained a rare steel known as Liquor Iron Ore, and Dragon ordered her to summon the leaders of the Revolutionary Army. Meanwhile, Laffitte received a call from Jesus Burgess, who revealed that he found the Revolutionaries' base.

On Karai Bari Island, the "Pirate Dispatch Organization" celebrated their increase in business due to Doflamingo's downfall. However, Buggy received word that Hajrudin and the other four giants under them had quit.

Meanwhile, the Straw Hat Pirates continued the ride up the elephant's leg, and Luffy asked Kin'emon and Kanjuro why they wanted to go to Zou. They revealed that they were looking for their lost comrade, Raizo the ninja. Suddenly, the Straw Hats realized that something was flying toward Luffy.

That thing turned out to be a monkey, and everyone but Kin'emon and Kanjuro, who were distracted, managed to get out of the way, while the pair got knocked off the dragon and into the ocean. The Straw Hats panicked, but Kin'emon told them to keep going. They contemplated around to save the two, but decided to go on without them.

The Mysterious Mink Tribe
They eventually reached the top of the elephant's back and Ryunosuke became a drawing again. The Straw Hats and Law start exploring the island and Luffy separates from the group in search of their remaining crewmates after jumping off one of the guard towers. While exploring Zou the Straw Hats and Law come across a place called Mokomo Dukedom, which appeared to be in ruins. As they explored, wondering what went through the city, a Mink named Carrot spied on them and was shocked that they got inside. The Straw Hats heard her rustling around, and Carrot rushed at them, clashing with Zoro. However, another Mink came and told Carrot to stop, as they had to deal with the intruders in the Whale's Forest. Usopp then noticed with a shock that the Mink was wearing Nami's clothes.

Carrot leapt high into the air to find the intruder, and she and the Canine Mink prepared to head to the Whale's Forest. The Canine Mink told the Straw Hats where they could go to find the corpses of their crewmates, causing them to panic. As they rode, the Canine Mink revealed to Carrot that she believes that Straw Hat Luffy was the invader, and that they would show him no mercy despite him being the Straw Hat Captain. Meanwhile, the Straw Hats and Law calmed down and decided to go to the city and find Law's crew. Law revealed that his navigator Bepo is a Mink, although he had left Zou long ago and had no memories of it.

Meanwhile, Luffy was in the midst of a confrontation with two Mink Guardians, Roddy and Blackback. The Heart Pirates were also present and attempted to convince the guardians that Luffy was a friend, to no avail. However, the Canine Mink and Carrot come and pacify the guardians before telling the other Guardians surrounding Luffy in the shadows to leave. The Canine Mink introduced herself as Wanda and told Luffy that they did not want to fight him. As the Straw Hats explored the ruined city, they saw signs of a recent attack, and Wanda revealed to Luffy when they reached the outskirts that Jack had laid waste to the city over the past couple of weeks. Wanda then offered to take Luffy to see his friends, which he was excited about.

The Eruption Rain began as the elephant, named Zunisha, raised its trunk and spouted water onto the island on its back. This caused the streets of Kurau City to become flooded, forcing the Straw Hats to climb up to higher ground. As Wany swam through the flood, Wanda explained to Luffy how Zunisha cleans itself twice a day with the Eruption Rain and how they benefited from it. Bepo was separated from the three and told Luffy to tell Law where he and the others were. Wanda then saw the crosses in the town and remembered how Jack tortured someone on it during his invasion, as he was looking for someone. Luffy asked who ruined the town, and Wanda revealed that it was Jack. However, she also revealed that his obituary came out after launching a failed attack on the Marine escort carrying Doflamingo. However, it did not confirm his death, and Wanda believed that he may be alive.

Usopp then spotted Luffy and the minks, and Law teleported the Straw Hats to them. Usopp confronted Wanda and Carrot and demanded that they hand over Luffy, and an exasperated Wanda explained that they meant no harm. The pirates and minks then reached the Right Belly Fortress, and the guards were shocked to hear that they were the Straw Hat Pirates. Inside, Chopper woke up Nami, telling her their crewmates had arrived. The Straw Hats were surprised to receive a warm welcome from the minks, who do not really hate humans as was commonly believed. Nami and Chopper then embraced their crewmates, but a tearful Nami had a foreboding message about Sanji.

Story Impact

 * Many characters make their first appearances after the time skip. The characters (in the order they were reintroduced) are: Kizaru, A.O, Monkey D. Dragon, Laffitte, Shiliew, Buggy, Mohji, Galdino, Alvida, Cabaji, Richie, Bepo, Jean Bart, Shachi, and Penguin.
 * Edward Weevil is the final Shichibukai introduced and claims to be Whitebeard's son.
 * Weevil is targeting the Whitebeard Pirates and allies to acquire the late Yonko’s fortune.
 * The Mink Tribe is said to dwell on Zou. The race was first mentioned during the Sabaody Archipelago Arc, as slaves who sell for 700,000.
 * Bepo is revealed to be a member of the Mink Tribe.
 * Dragon states his intention to gather all the leaders of the Revolutionary Army.
 * Jesus Burgess has found the Revolutionary Army's main base.
 * Jack attacked Zou and destroyed the Mokomo Dukedom a week before the Straw Hats arrived.
 * He attacked Zou in search of something and was killed by the Marines who were escorting Doflamingo, but his death is unconfirmed.

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