Chapter 1025

Chapter 1025 is titled "Twin Dragons Painting".

Cover Page
Cover Page Request: "An octopus compiling Usopp's adventures into The Tales of Usopp" by PN Sodasusu.

Short Summary
Kaidou unleashes brutal attacks against Yamato as he derides his son for walking alone, although Yamato disputes this, saying he found friends in Ace, the samurai in the cave, and everyone else who has helped him throughout the past two decades. Meanwhile, Luffy struggles to get Momonosuke to shake off his fear of heights and fly up to Onigashima. Momonosuke gets up into the air, but his fright causes him to crash into the Skull Dome and go on a path of destruction in Kaidou's fortress, leaving everyone in great shock. Eventually, however, Momonosuke and Luffy make it up to the roof, and Luffy and Yamato hit Kaidou with powerful attacks simultaneously. Kaidou is immediately intrigued by Momonosuke, who proudly declares who he is despite his fear, and the Emperor activates his own dragon form as he confronts Momonosuke and Luffy.

Long Summary
Luffy tries to get Momonosuke to start flying, but since he is still a child mentally, he hesitates because of his fear of heights, earning him some insults from Luffy since he is technically an adult. All the while, Shinobu and the Heart Pirates watch this rather awkward exchange between the two.

On top of the Skull Dome, Kaidou and Yamato finish their clash, with Yamato revealing he covered himself in some type of glass to protect himself. He then jumps into the air and attacks Kaidou with Himorogiri, knocking his head into the ground. As he gets back up, Kaidou tells him that the way Yamato defies him almost insinuates that he is from Wano, but he yells that no matter what he does, everyone will recognize him as his child and the samurai will never accept him. Yamato retorts that the statement has nothing to do with anything, but Kaidou says he spent his life crawling around the island hoping to escape because he is alone. Yamato yells that he's not alone because he had friends (remembering Ace). Kaidou replies that's true, since he had those samurais, but everyone who ever showed compassion to him is now dead. Yamato recalls the time one of Kaido's subordinates gave him blankets and food, but was later executed for it.Kaido then throws him to the ground, telling him that those acts of kindness he received were fake and that everyone was afraid of him deep down. In addition to telling him, that he must use the strength that he has to subdue others, since he is the descendant of a monster, for which he cannot be friends with others: that is his destiny.

Luffy finally gets Momonosuke to start flying and he immediately starts heading towards Onigashima, particularly to the roof. Unfortunately, Luffy learns Momonosuke is flying with his eyes closed, causing him to accidentally crash into the Live Floor and shocking everyone present with both of their appearances. Having lost complete control, Momonosuke starts flying everywhere and tearing up the castle, even tearing through the second floor and surprising Kid, Law, and Big Mom. They eventually do reach the third floor as the Beasts Pirates clamor in confusion over the presence of a second dragon.

Eventually, the two reach the top of the Skull Dome, just as Yamato, who has reverted back to normal, charges at Kaidou with Shinsoku Hakujaku. At the same time, Momonosuke starts to land as Luffy goes into Gear Fourth: Snakeman, and strikes Kaidou with Gomu Gomu no Jet Culverin. Both attacks end up hitting Kaidou as Luffy and Yamato greet each other, with Luffy thanking Yamato for keeping Kaidou busy. Kaidou recovers and turns into his dragon form, questioning how Luffy is still alive and who the new dragon is. Luffy yells to Kaidou that he won't die because he will be the Pirate King as Momonosuke introduces himself, surprising everyone as Kaidou tells Momonosuke that the world doesn't need another dragon.

Chapter Notes

 * Yamato's fight with Kaidou continues.
 * Yamato uses a technique to shatter skin that took damage, and attacks Kaidou.
 * Luffy is riding Momonosuke in his dragon form, and the two reach Onigashima.
 * They pass through the castle, shocking everyone who sees them, due to Momonosuke closing his eyes from his fear of heights and crashing through the floors.
 * They end up on the roof just as Yamato attacks Kaidou.
 * Luffy joins Yamato and attacks Kaidou.
 * Kaidou transforms into his dragon form and confronts Momonosuke and Luffy.

Trivia

 * The title of the chapter is a reference to Junsaku Koizumi's "Twin Dragons" painting in Kennin-ji temple. In SBS Volume 102, a fan asked Oda if the scene where Momonosuke and Kaidou become dragons and confront each other was modeled after this painting, which Oda had previously visited for an interview, and Oda answered that it was right. Oda also added that he went to Kyoto before entering Wano Country and personally saw two huge dragons on the ceiling, and this painting was very impactful on him. Then he thought to himself:  "I definitely have to draw this".