n their adventures in Water Seven, Usopp returned and Franky joined the crew. The crew sets sail again on their new ship, the Thousand Sunny.
Elsewhere, Luffy's sworn older brother and son of King of the Pirates Gol D. Roger, Ace is after the traitor Blackbeard as 2nd Division Commander of Whitebeard's Pirates. Ace finally finds Teach on Banero Island, but loses the fight and is captured by the marines. The marines see him as dangerous because he has the blood of the King of the Pirates, and take him to their headquarters in Marineford, with plans to execute him in front of the whole world.
Whitebeard's Pirates and other well-known pirates under their banner band together in Marineford harbor to rescue Ace. The marines bring their strongest to wage war against them, and even the Seven Warlords of the Sea gather at the government's request. The three forces with enough power to shake the world meet in Marineford.
The conflict that will go down in infamy as the Paramount War begins.