Chapters · Dressrosa › Dressrosa

Chapter 751: Sabo vs. Admiral Fujitora

Arc: Dressrosa · Saga: Dressrosa · Released: 2014-04-28

Summary

Down in the town, Sabo — wielding Ace’s reborn Mera Mera no Mi and his own Dragon Claw Fist (Ryusoken) — fights Admiral Fujitora (Issho) and Vice Admiral Bastille, shattering Bastille’s sword with claws “designed to tear down the accumulation of undue power.” Fujitora answers with falling gravity meteors (apologizing to civilians caught in the blast), and pieces together aloud that this Flame-Flame Fruit user is both Straw Hat’s sworn brother and the Revolutionary Army’s number-two; Sabo proclaims the unbreakable ASL brotherhood and his loyalty to Luffy before unleashing a wall of fire. Up the mountain toward the new royal palace, Luffy rides the bull Moocy in a chaotic foot-race against the colosseum gladiators (Cavendish, Hajrudin) to reach Doflamingo first, dragging the sea-prism-cuffed Law along. The assassin Funk Brothers offer a “shortcut,” and a transponder-snail call from Robin brings good news — Viola found the key to Law’s cuffs, and the Tontatta will deliver it to the fourth-step flower field. But the shortcut turns out to be a flooded well tilted on its side: a dead end where Doflamingo is already waiting.

New reveals

• Sabo’s Ryusoken, weaponized as ideology — “My fingers… are dragon claws!!! …of undue power!!! Claws designed to tear down the accumulation…” He snaps Bastille’s sword (the “Shark-Cleaver”) “as easily as an egg” (pp. 2–4).
• The sworn-brotherhood goes public — Sabo to Fujitora: “We are linked by a bond that cannot be severed!!! The three of us shared ritual cups.” He vows to race to Luffy’s side “no matter my position” (pp. 8–9). The Marines are stunned that Straw Hat’s brother is “the number-two Revolutionary” (p. 8).
• Fujitora’s read on Sabo — recalls “the previous owner of the Flame-Flame Fruit… Fire Fist Ace, who died in the Paramount War,” and dubs them “a troublesome trio of brothers” (p. 8).
• Sabo still adjusting to the fruit — “I’m not used to these powers yet… I keep dodging everything!!” (p. 7).
• Fujitora’s collateral concern + Birdcage curiosity — apologizes for a stray meteor hitting civilians (p. 7); muses the Birdcage “might cut through my meteors” (p. 5).
• Viola has Law’s cuff-key — relayed by Robin over the snail; Leo, Rebecca and the Tontatta will bring it to the flower field on the fourth step (pp. 16).
• The shortcut is a trap-shaped dead end — a flooded, sideways-tilted well, with Doflamingo waiting (pp. 17).

Foreshadowing seeds planted

Payoffs (seeds from earlier chapters that resolve here)

Mentions / appearances

Sabo · Fujitora · Bastille · Trafalgar Law · Luffy · Nico Robin · Violet · Cavendish · Hajrudin · Kelly Funk · Bobby Funk · Leo · Rebecca · Doflamingo · Moocy · Ace (referenced) · Marines · Revolutionary Army · Donquixote Pirates · Straw Hat Pirates · Mera Mera no Mi · Jake Jake no Mi · Ope Ope no Mi · Birdcage · Sea-Prism Stone · Dwarves · Giants · Dressrosa · Corrida Colosseum · Mogaro Kingdom

Notable panels

• Page 1 — Title page. Start of a new Limited Cover Series, No. 21, Vol. 1: “Onward to My Friends” — an underwater scene of fish, a turtle and sea creatures (no human figure shown). (Cover-story page → deferred to cover-tracker.)
• Pages 2–4 — Sabo vs Bastille & Fujitora; the “dragon claws” snap Bastille’s “Shark-Cleaver.”
• Pages 5–7 — Fujitora’s meteor barrage rains on Dressrosa; he apologizes for a stray hit on civilians.
• Page 8 — Fujitora ties Sabo to Ace, the Flame-Flame Fruit, and the Revolutionary Army #2 seat; “a troublesome trio of brothers.”
• Page 10 — Establishing shot, “New Royal Palace, First Step”: the climb up the mountain begins; Cavendish rides ahead (“I’ll see you when you get there!! Straw Hat!!”).
• Pages 11–12 — The gladiator foot-race; Hajrudin shoves past; Donquixote forces try to kill Moocy and knock Luffy off.
• Pages 13–14 — The Funk Brothers (Kelly wearing Bobby) blast a “shortcut” for Luffy and Law.
• Pages 16 — Snail call: Robin relays that Viola found the key to Law’s cuffs; Leo of the Tontatta will bring it to the flower field.
• Pages 17–18 — The “shortcut” is a flooded, sideways-tilted well — a dead end — where Doflamingo is waiting. Chapter ends on Luffy and Moocy.

Open questions raised

• Is the Doflamingo at the dead-end his physical self or a string-construct, and how did he reach the climb route ahead of Luffy?
• Will Sabo’s public outing as both Luffy’s brother and the Revolutionary #2 change the World Government’s posture toward the Straw Hats?
• Can the Tontatta actually catch up to deliver Law’s cuff-key before the alliance reaches Doflamingo?