Chapter 553

Chapter 553 is called "Conflict at the Summit".

Coverstory Summary
Colour spread of the Straw Hats enjoying ice cream.

Marineford
The Marines are in panic as two tsunamis advance towards them. Doflamingo laughs at the "Legendary Pirate", meaning Whitebeard, while the great pirate himself also laughs. Soon, Aokiji evaporates out of his chair and uses Ice Age on the two tsunamis, freezing them entirely. Whitebeard calls Aokiji a "little rascal", while the Marines are relieved. Aokiji sends Ice Spears towards Whitebeard, who stops them and snaps Aokiji in half, cracking the air to do this. Aokiji crumbles into ice, but reforms near the water and freezes the bay entirely, creating an icy battlefield. The Whitebeard Pirates look out, observing the new foothold but the fact that they no longer could move. The Marines fire upon the ships, when Whitebeard's allies jump out, getting ready to fight. The Vice Admirals have Marine HQ jump down and line up, all holding swords. The opposition comment on their line up, stating that this rarely happened and looked like a Buster Call. Tsuru is warned to stay back, but states that even if she was to retreat to the end of the Seas, she would never be safe.

Mihawk pulls out his legendary sword and tells Doflamingo that he was going to test the strength between a certain man and him. Mihawk sends a gigantic flying strike towards Whitebeard but is suddenly stopped by Jozu, or better known as Third Division Commander, "Diamond" Jozu. Next, Kizaru prepares to take his strike, sending a shower of light bullets towards Whitebeard. The old pirate comments that the light was bright and as the shower comes, someone jumps up into the fray, stopping the shower. The Marines look up and see Marco, the First Division Commander in blue flames. Marco states that you couldn't take the king on your first turn, possibly referring to chess, while Kizaru states that the Whitebeard Pirates were frightening people.

Chapter Notes

 * Marco and Jozu are both revealed to have some sort of Devil Fruits. Jozu's gives him diamond powers while Marco's is able to stop an attack from Kizaru with blue fire.
 * Onigumo, a Vice Admiral, has recently been seen with six arms sprouting from his back. Using this and his original two arms, Onigumo is capable of holding eight swords, two more than Hatchan's six.
 * Behind Onigumo is a Vice Admiral who apparently ate a Devil Fruit that turns him into a dalmatian.

Quotes
Even if I retreated to the end of the ocean, there's not a single safe place left in the entire world.

-Vice Admiral Tsuru, talking about the safety of the world

You can't take the "King" out on your first turn.

-First Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Marco, talking to Marine Admiral Kizaru about attacking Whitebeard

How scary...the Whitebeard Pirates.

-Admiral Kizaru, commenting about the Whitebeard Pirates after the First Division Commander Marco uses a unique ability