The Coming of the New Era! The Red-Haired's Imperial Rage

As the Straw Hat Pirates and Heart Pirates continue to participate in the Flower Capital's festivities. In the outskirts of the Flower Capital, the Akazaya Nine continue their battle against Ryokugyu, but are overwhelmed by his ability. Raizo attempts to use his scrolls to blast Ryokugyu, but the Admiral reveals that his wood is flame-resistant before piercing Raizo with his vines and drains him of liquids. Momonosuke orders Yamato not to participate in the combat, but becomes cornered by Ryokugyu's vines. Sukiyaki directs Robin and Law (who had followed Robin) to a passage leading underground. The passage leads deep into the sea, showing an ancient lost civilization on the sea floor. The predecessor to the current Land of Wano, the civilization was flooded by rainwater eight centuries prior after they erected boundary walls around the country. Sukiyaki shows Robin and Law to the Road Poneglyph at the bottom of the staircase, and reveals that Pluton is even further underground, but the only way to reveal it would be to open the country's borders by destroying the physical boundary walls. Robin asks why Oden would want the borders open knowing an Ancient Weapon would be unleashed, but Sukiyaki says he's unsure, believing Oden may had discovered something during his voyage overseas. As Ryokugyu ensnares Yamato and the Akazaya, he states that while cruel, Kaido deterred potential threats before once again demanding for Luffy. after relying on the Straw Hats for so long, he needs to prove that he and his retainers can fend for themselves once they leave. Yamato urges Momonosuke to call Luffy and the others to take Ryokugyu down, but he refuses to involve them, saying after relying on the Straw Hats for so long, he needs to prove that he and his retainers can fend for themselves once they leave. Remembering Luffy, Momonosuke successfully manages to breathe fire in a similar manner to Kaido's Blast Breath, destroying Ryokugyu's wooden golem form and forcing him to revert to his human form. Before he can retaliate Shanks, a short distance from the coast, sends a powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki at Ryokugyu from a distance, overwhelming him. Shanks himself says that he thinks that going after the new generation of pirates while they have their guard down seems tasteless, asking if the new age scares him that much. His presence convinces Ryokugyu to abandon his mission, and the samurai and Yamato celebrate their victory. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Jimbei, are shown to have been watching the fight waiting to intervene only if needed. They remark that their samurai friends were amazing and how intense Shanks' Haki was to be able to drive Ryokugyu away. They don't know that it was him though, but Luffy has his suspicions as Shanks sails away.