Chapter 52

Cover
Volume: 6 Pg.: 146-147

Color spread: Straw hat and Baratie arc characters.

Short Summary
Promises.

Long Summary
After having seen his first friend utterly defeated, Luffy charges against Mihawk full of rage, but is easily avoided. Instead of fighting, the swordsman tells him that Zoro is not dead. Curious, he asks Luffy what is his goal. When Luffy answers "Pirate King", Mihawk understands the potential of this future crew. He asks Zoro to become powerful enough that they can fight again. Zoro, despite being barely conscious, makes the promise to the future pirate king that, until he fights Mihawk again and beats him, he won't ever lose again. Satisfied by these spirits, Mihawk leave without paying much attention to the Don Krieg pirates who he was looking for in the first place.

Usopp then ask Luffy to stay here and convince Sanji to join them, while they are trying to retrieve Nami. When Luffy goes back to the Baratie ship, Don Krieg's men are starting to plot something. Luffy decides to make a deal with Zeff : If he gets rid of them, it will settle his debt with Zeff.

Plot Points
When Luffy attacks Mihawk, everybody realise that he has eaten a devil fruit.

Anime episode
Episode 24