The Enies Lobby Arc is the sixteenth story arc in the manga and anime series One Piece, and the third in the Water 7 Saga. Enies Lobby is the eighth island that the Straw Hat Pirates encounter on the Grand Line. This arc also seems to be a point of advancement for each of the Straw Hats, as almost all of them have become stronger in some way. In this arc, the Straw Hats also say farewell to their beloved ship, the Going Merry.
Summary
Assault on Enies Lobby
Monkey D. Luffy, Nami, Roronoa Zoro, Tony Tony Chopper, the Franky Family, the Galley-La carpenters of Dock 1, Kokoro, Chimney, Gonbe and Yokozuna leave Water 7 in the prototype Sea Train, Rocket Man, and begin to head for Enies Lobby despite a heavy storm known as Aqua Laguna. Meanwhile in the Puffing Tom, Sanji, Sogeking (Usopp) and Franky attempt to rescue Nico Robin. However, their mission ends in failure, and Franky is recaptured by CP9.
Reunited with Sanji and Sogeking shortly thereafter on the Rocket Man, the Straw Hats, along with the Franky Family and Galley-La, begin an all-out assault on the government island of Enies Lobby against thousands of Marine soldiers and the Cipher Pol agents in a last ditch effort to rescue their friends Nico Robin and Franky before they are dragged through the Gate of Justice. The massive doors are the only thing standing between the Marine HQ and the terrifying prison of Impel Down - Robin and Franky's respective destinations.
Luffy vs. Blueno
While the others do battle with giant gatekeepers, dog-riding guards, monstrous jurors and three-headed judges, Luffy runs ahead and does battle with the CP9 agent Blueno. Luffy defeats him with his "Gear Second" ability which allows him to imitate the technique Soru to great effect and enhances his body to withstand it while using it.
The Straw Hats stand atop the courthouse.
The others finally catch up, and as the CP9 and Straw Hats face each other, Robin's past is finally revealed, as well as her last reason for being unwilling to return to the crew: having been betrayed so many times in the past, she's terrified that one day the Straw Hats will see her as a burden, and also betray her. She screams that she would prefer death to that. The other Straw Hats quietly acknowledge the reason Robin had, then Spandam bursts out laughing, saying she's absolutely accurate, and nobody would be stupid enough to think she wasn't a burden after traveling with her. Spandam points at the flag on top of the Tower of Justice, and tells Luffy that the organization after Robin is over 170 nations.
Luffy acknowledges this, then tells Sogeking to shoot down the flag. Sogeking complies, utilizing his new Kabuto weapon to launch a fiery avian at the flag, setting it ablaze and shocking Spandam, Robin, and all the Marines and Agents in Enies Lobby beyond words; the Straw Hat Pirates had declared war on the World Government. Spandam questions Luffy's sanity, but he just bellows back that he can take it, then tells Robin to admit that she wants to live. Unable to doubt her crewmates any longer, she tearfully begs them to take her out to sea with them.
Under Luffy's order, Sogeking takes aim at the World Government flag.
At this point, the Franky Family finally manages to pull the levers, and the drawbridge between the courthouse and the Tower of Justice begins to lower. The Straw Hats wait impatiently while Spandam is terrified. However, Judge Baskerville starts to order the personnel to fire the mortar cannon to forcibly stop the drawbridge. Paulie and Zambai attempt to stop him by cutting between his three heads, but it is revealed that they were three people in the same suit. The mortar cannon fires, stopping the drawbridge, and Spandam starts to drag Robin, heading for the Gates of Justice, but Franky stops him.
Invading the Tower of Justice
The CP9 face the Straw Hat crew
Franky, impressed by the nerve of the Straw Hats, and knowing he has misjudged Robin, reveals the blueprints that the government had been after. He states that the blueprints weren't for building Pluton, but a weapon to be used against Pluton in the case of it falling into the hands of someone like Spandam. Franky then burns the blueprints right in front of CP9, telling them that he has made a gamble on the Straw Hats' victory: if they lose, and Robin is taken, the world will end; but if they win, Spandam will have nothing left. Then he tells Luffy that he will help him with his fight. In anger, Spandam pushes Franky over the balcony, but Kokoro radioes the Straw Hats and tells them to jump into the waterfall. Luffy complies, bringing the rest of his crew with him, and they land on the Rocketman as it shoots off the half-open drawbridge. It then catches Franky on its front before plowing into the Tower of Justice.
Spandam is shocked, and immediately starts to drag Robin away, heading to the Gates of Justice. Before he leaves, he tells CP9 that they have permission to massacre all of the invaders. He then tells Rob Lucci to come with him to take Robin, since he needs to be protected, then calls Funkfreed. The elephant comes to Spandam, then turns into a sword. Funkfreed was originally just a sword; it "ate" the Devil Fruit Zou Zou no Mi, which made it an elephant sword. Spandam reflects that with his specially reserved sword and the CP9, he should have nothing to fear.
The Straw Hats emerge from the wreckage of the Rocketman and stone, having suffered only "minor" injuries. When they head towards the stairs, they are called by Fukuro, who was in a corner of the room. He tells them that Robin is being taken to the Gates of Justice by Lucci and Spandam, and that CP9 has been given orders to eliminate them. He then shows them a key, which he explains is a key to Robin's Sea Stone handcuffs. After a bit of conversation amidst the Straw Hats about this, Fukuro explains that Sea Stone is as hard as diamond, and the handcuffs could never be removed without the key. Luffy, as such, attempts to get it back, but Fukuro evades with soru. When he reappears, he tells the crew that the key he has may or may not be the one to Robin's cuffs. He goes on to say that, including him, there are five CP9 members in the building, each with a key, and only one would release Robin's handcuffs. As such, the Straw Hats would need to defeat all of CP9 to be sure that they had the right key. Nami suggests that they retrieve Robin first, but Fukuro threatens to throw the key into the ocean if she does. Fukuro tells them that CP9 is giving them a chance, then flees into the building.
Luffy immediately starts to run after Fukuro, but Zoro and Sogeking hold him back, saying that they need to decide where they are going first. After clarifying that Lucci is "the pigeon guy," they decide to send Luffy on ahead to deal with him. Sanji states that without Luffy, they have six people with them, and they'll need to defeat the five CP9 in the building before heading off to join Luffy. Sogeking states that if Robin gets to the Gates of Justice, it's all over. Knowing it's a race against time, the Straw Hats rush off, with the encouragement to win their fights, even if they die trying. Chimney and Gonbe run after them, wishing them luck, but then fall through a trapdoor. Kokoro, who had been drinking at the moment, wonders where they went.
Chimney and Gonbe wind up in a candlelit secret passageway, and hear something echoing from the other end. When they recognize it as Spandam's voice, they run towards it. Spandam, with Lucci and Robin behind him, walk down a spiral staircase, Spandam laughing and taunting Robin all the while. Chimney and Gonbe emerge from a hidden door in the tower, then follow the group. They reach the bottom of the tower, finding a large, formidable-looking steel door with an electric lock. Spandam fumbles with the control panel for a few moments, during which Lucci notices Chimney and Gonbe and does nothing. The door opens, revealing a very long corridor.
Zoro vs. Kaku.
Franky runs through the tower, looking for the kitchen to refill his cola supply. He finally finds it, but Fukuro blocks his way, introducing himself as the Silent Owl (梟Fukurō, literally meaning "owl"). Nami encounters Kumadori in a dungeon, and Sogeking tries a number of doors before coming across a garden where Jabra is sleeping...with the key out. Sanji runs into an apparently empty room, but Kalifa reveals herself and effortlessly seduces Sanji into taking tea with her. Zoro, swords at the ready, confronts Kaku in his study.
Luffy, finally having found the right path through the maze of staircases within the tower, arrives at the top of the Judicial Tower, but finds that Fukuro was telling the truth about Robin having already left. Spandam, meanwhile, explains that even if Luffy were to catch up to them, he would not know how to get across to the Gate. Kaku, claiming to be CP9's best swordsman, tests his four-sword style against Zoro, whose skill he admires. After a duel reveals them to be evenly matched, he declares Zoro a worthy opponent, and uses his newfound Devil Fruit powers for the first time.
Jabra vs. Sogeking.
Meanwhile, Sogeking tries to steal the key from the sleeping Jabra without a fight. Before he can reach it, however, a rooster appears and chirps, which annoys him into making noise that wakes Jabra up. He recognizes Sogeking as a pirate and attacks him, revealing his Devil Fruit ability: Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Wolf. The fight is then interrupted by the room's ceiling collapsing.
Zoro falls down, followed by Kaku, whose Devil Fruit gives him the form of a giraffe. However, his inexperience with his new powers caused him to accidentally transform into the full animal form rather than the hybrid. Jabra finds Kaku's new appearance very funny indeed, and they get into an argument until Zoro reminds Kaku of their fight, and he subsequently changes into his hybrid form. Its appearance makes Zoro lose his focus, and Jabra laugh even harder. Noticing their distraction, Sogeking tries to immobilize the assassins with a pair of Seastone handcuffs he finds, but only succeeds in hitting Zoro, as his aim was spoiled by laughing at Kaku. The latter, annoyed that everybody is laughing at him, loses his temper and cuts the tower in half with his 'Rankyaku'. Zoro and Sogeking avoid the attack, but find themselves accidentally locked together by the Seastone handcuffs. Since Kaku and Jabra cannot decide who gets to kill their opponents while they are handcuffed together, they offer to unlock the two to avoid getting into another argument. Sadly, neither of them has the correctly numbered key, so they resign themselves to fighting both of them.
Meanwhile, Chopper manages to find the room where Zoro and Sogeking are fighting. They tell Chopper that he must find one of the other CP9 members and get the number 2 key. Chopper runs off, hoping that Sanji will have the right key. Down in the dungeon, Kumadori has Nami trapped with his hair attacks, giving her no opportunity to use the Clima Tact. Franky, being low on cola and thus unable to use any special attacks, is forced to box with Fukuro. They compare the strength of their punches, and find themselves evenly matched in strength and toughness. After three cups of tea, Sanji comes to his senses and demands Kalifa's key. She takes advantage of his reluctance to hurt women and kicks him across the room.
Finally, Luffy has reached the bottom of the judicial tower, where he can see the Gates of Justice in front of him. The only problem is that between him and the Gates is a giant whirlpool.
Sanji unable to attack Kalifa.
Sanji is paying dearly for his chivalry, as Kalifa deals him a brutal beating while he refuses to fight back.
Nami is nearly killed by Kumadori before Chopper attacks him to rescue her, and she escapes having stolen Kumadori's key. Sanji suddenly falls from an upper story, his body terribly wounded and deformed by some unknown power into a rubbery doll. He explains his plight to Nami, who gently chastises him for his foolishness before advancing to face Kalifa herself.
Back at the Gate of Justice, Luffy nearly drowns trying to cross the ocean by himself, but is rescued by Gonbe and Chimney, who lead him to a secret passage that Spandam had used earlier. It leads to the lower areas of the tower, and eventually to an immovable steel door. Luffy breaks through it with his mysterious new move, 'Gear Third'. Its effects are not shown, but afterwards his body is briefly shrunk to child-size.
Luffy returns to normal as he pursues Lucci and Spandam. Lucci informs his commander that they are being followed, and Spandam orders him to wait behind to hold off any pursuit while he takes Robin to the Gates of Justice.
Franky vs. Fukuro.
Meanwhile, Franky and Fukuro's battle has continued into the kitchen, each one trying to punch harder than the other. As the two swap blows and taunts, Franky begins to flag due to lack of cola, but their fight is interrupted by Kumadori and Chopper, who burst in through one wall. Chopper's first rumble Ball has worn off, so he stalls Kumadori by locking him in an enormous fridge. He joins forces with Franky, and after a few slip-ups involving other drinks, Chopper gives Franky a full cola refill. Franky, now super-charged, punches Fukuro out of the building, and their fight continues outside, taking them down into the ocean and then high above the Tower, where Franky ends the fight with his 'coup de Vent' cannon.
Zoro and Usopp are still handcuffed together, and running from Kaku and Jabra as best they can. The two agents manage to get into another argument in the process, giving Zoro and Usopp a chance to form a plan—if Zoro cannot hold a sword with Usopp on his arm, Usopp must 'become' his sword and be used as a weapon instead. Usopp reluctantly agrees.
Franky finds Chopper's Monster Point.
Back in the kitchen, Kumadori escapes from the fridge by eating his way out, and confronts Chopper, who is forced to eat another Rumble Ball in the hope of beating this powerful enemy. However, eating two Rumble Balls in such a short time makes his transformations random and erratic, leaving him open to attacks. In the end even his strongest attack cannot defeat Kumadori, and he falls, badly wounded.
In the moment before Kumadori finishes him, he remembers the last time he took three Rumble Balls in a row, and how he woke up to hear that a monster had destroyed much of his village. His mentor Dr. Kureha had told him that the monster had been him, and made him promise to never do it again. With an apology to Kureha, and hoping that his friends aren't nearby, he takes a third Rumble Ball, and grows into a gigantic, terrifying monster than dwarfs Kumadori. He crushes the CP9 agent and throws him across the island.
In Kalifa's room, Nami's battle seems to have ended prematurely - she lies paralyzed on the floor as Kalifa blithely takes a bath. Nami, recovering her strength, tries to attack the CP9 agent, who defends herself with her newfound Devil Fruit powers - she is revealed to have eaten the Awa Awa no Mi, which allows her to create bubbles which can weaken enemies (As with Nami as she entered the room), harden into soap for defense, or transmute an enemy's body entirely (as in the case of Sanji). Having worked this out, Nami continues to fight, but is soon weakened by Kalifa's bubbles.
Luffy and Lucci clash.
Down in the basement, Luffy finally catches up to Lucci, who holds him at bay while Spandam escapes towards the Gates of Justice with Robin. When Robin tries to escape, Spandam attempts to summon CP9 with his ordinary Den-Den Mushi, but uses the Golden Den-Den Mushi by mistake, which summons the Buster Call, a massive Marine fleet with orders to carpet-bomb the entire island. Realizing his mistake, Spandam contacts all the Marines stationed on the island, ordering them to report in.
Spandam, at first panicking and not realizing that he is still on air, starts to gloat that the lives of the Marines do not matter as long as he can bring Robin alive to the Gates of Justice. Robin cuts in on his broadcast with a warning appeal against the indiscriminate cruelty of the Buster Call. Understandably alarmed, the listening Marines evacuate the island, leaving the Franky Family and Galley-La workers behind as prisoners.
Hearing Robin's warning, Luffy tries to force his way past Lucci to reach her, but Lucci fights back fiercely and stops him in his tracks, forcing him to continue the fight. Jabra and Kaku decide to wrap up their fight with Zoro and Usopp quickly in order to escape the approaching bombardment.
Nami defeats Kalifa.
In Kalifa's room, Nami is struggling against the superior skill and powers of her opponent, who begins to transmute Nami's body just like she did with Sanji. Before she can finish Nami off, however, Chopper breaks into the room, still in monstrous form and totally out of control. The giant Chopper attacks Nami wildly, uprooting Kailfa's bath in the process. He throws it down the stairs to where Sanji lies unconscious below, drenching the whole areas with water before storming off. The water from the bath washes away Kalifa's weakening bubbles, and Nami joins the battle once more, using her mirages to confuse Kalifa before eventually finishing her with her Thunder Lance attack and taking her key.
Meanwhile, Chopper has wandered into Zoro and Sogeking's fight, and Zoro fights to protect him from Jabra and Kaku. Franky arrives and decides that the only way to stop Chopper is to knock him into the ocean. He knocks Chopper out of the tower with his Coup de Vent, then jumps in after to save him. Nami unlocks Zoro and Sogeking's handcuffs, allowing the real fight against Jabra and Kaku to begin.
Robin is trying to escape from Spandam. However, Spandam stops her by attacking with Funkfreed.
With Chopper safe and out of the water, Franky remembers that Nami told him to head towards the Gates of Justice to try Fukuro and Kumadori's keys on Robin's handcuffs, so Chimney and Gonbe show him the way.
Zoro begins to once again battle Kaku. Kaku reveals more impressive abilities through the use of his Devil Fruit, using his nose as a larger version of shigan; the deflected blow easily punctures a boulder nearby.
Usopp tries frantically to defend himself against Jabra, but even his new Kabuto is no match for the CP9 agent's speed. Jabra catches Usopp off guard by offering him the key without a fight, but sucker-punches Usopp at the last moment, knocking him down. With his opponent helpless, Jabra begins to gloat at Usopp's weakness, but is cut short by the sudden arrival of Sanji, returned to his normal self by the falling water from Kalifa's bath. He distracts Jabra, and tells the wounded Usopp to help any way he can.
Outside, the Sea Train is departing, filled to capacity with escaping Marines. Meanwhile, Paulie has managed to untie himself and the other captives, and they try to find an alternative way off the island.
Sanji versus Jabra.
Fighting Sanji on the tower's high landing, Jabra reveals his 'Tekkai Kenpo'- a fighting style which allows him to move and fight while using Tekkai, making him all but immune to Sanji's kicks. Suddenly Jabra interrupts the fight, tearfully offering Sanji his key and telling him that Robin is really his long-lost sister. Sanji ignores the deception and continues the fight.
Meanwhile, Usopp, high above on the tower, has come up with a plan.
To combat Jabra's impenetrable Tekkai, Sanji creates a new technique, Diable Jambe, where he heats up one foot with friction, resulting in powerful kicks that burn through his enemy's defense. He kicks Jabra all the way down to the ground floor, defeating him.
Meanwhile, Spandam takes Nico Robin across the bridge of hesitation, onto a long bridge that leads to the Gate of Justice. Franky catches up to Luffy and Lucci, where it seems that Luffy is losing. Franky asks Luffy for help. Luffy snaps at him, telling not to interfere. He tells Franky to take the keys and head to where Robin is behind the door Lucci is standing in front of.
Zoro versus Kaku: Giraffe Mode.
Zoro and Kaku continue their duel, with Kaku using his Devil Fruit power to gain the upper hand, wounding Zoro with a rain of Rankyaku. Zoro stalls Kaku by mocking his voice. Angry now, and experimenting wildly with his transformations, Kaku changes to a more powerful form which removes his long neck while lengthening his arms and legs, and prepares his finishing blow, the same powerful Rankyaku that sliced the tower in half.
In response, Zoro debuts his mysterious 'Asura' technique, appearing as a many-limbed figure in the style of an Asura deity. The attack he delivers is so powerful that Kaku's Rankyaku is negated and he himself totally incapacitated. In the end, the downed Kaku freely gives Zoro his key, and even shares a joke with the man who defeated him. Key in hand, Zoro meets up with Sanji and the two run to the Gates of Justice.
Robin tries to escape but fails and soon they reach the gates of justice. Robin admits she is afraid of death and bites down on the bridge, refusing to budge. At the same time, she insists in her mind that the crew will be coming to save her.
Luffy is unable to hurt Lucci, who hits him with a rapid-fire Shigan. Franky comes to Luffy's aid by trying to hit Lucci with the same moves he tried to Fukuro. Franky's move is unsuccessful and soon Lucci comes to strike Franky. Luffy however enters his Gear Second ability and blows Lucci away. Franky is surprised by Luffy's strength and power and eggs on Luffy to beat Lucci. Luffy manages to keep Lucci at bay and allows Franky to leave the room to chase after Spandam and Robin.
Sogeking poses after sniping down Spandam.
On the bridge, Spandam drags Robin by a rope, claiming that no one will ever reach her because he set up landmines to keep anyone from helping her. He then gloats that his father, Spandine, was the one who led the destruction of Ohara, which infuriates Robin. Franky activates the landmines, so Spandam laughs that no one will save Robin. Spandam is suddenly hit in the face by a huge fireball, and the Marine ship waiting is also attacked. Sogeking had fired the shots from the top of the judicial tower, a distance that none of the Marines could hit with any weapon and none could see without binoculars.
Robin is freed from her handcuffs.
Robin escapes and the Marines fire at her, but Franky jumps in the way to block the bullets. Sogeking then shoots Zoro and Sanji's keys to Franky, leaving him with all of the keys to use on Robin's cuffs. Spandam is shocked that CP9 was defeated. Franky now has all the keys and tries one after another to unlock Robin's Seastone cuffs. Finally he unlocks the cuffs and Robin is now free. Robin thanks Sogeking but he replies that she should save the thanks until later. Sogeking also tells Robin that she is now free to do whatever she wants, and Robin makes her decision. Using her "Seis Fleur Slap" attack she takes down Spandam.
The celebration is cut short when the Buster Call arrives and a nearby island is totally annihilated. The defensive fence surrounding Enies Lobby is also destroyed. Franky shouts out that this is their last chance to escape as there is an escort ship by the side. The scene changes to Nami, Kokoro (carrying Chopper on her hat), and Chimney who are continuing their escape.
The battle with Luffy and Lucci still continues. Luffy is able to land an attack on Lucci, who is forced back with pain. Lucci then explains to Luffy that his gear second ability is wearing his body away and shortening his life span by pumping blood into his legs, causing his blood-flow to speed up. Luffy yells back that he does not care and wishes to save his comrades first. Lucci then uses a rankyaku to smash a wall so that it crumbles and water begins to flow into the passage, drowning anyone in it.
The Buster Call arrives.
Spandam tells the Marines to take back Robin, but the Marines stop as they see the Buster Call approaching. The Buster Call is now upon Enies Lobby and is about to destroy everything. The fleet appears along with the five vice admirals.
Buster Call
The Buster Call personnel say that they can destroy everything but the bridge on Enies lobby because Robin is standing there, although Spandam thinks it is because he is the CP9 chief. Apparently, during the last Buster Call, everything on Ohara was destroyed except for the ground where Spandine was standing.
The Franky Family continues to rush to the Gate of Justice, while Sanji and Zoro try to get Sogeking to leave, who says he cannot because he has broken all his ribs. He also is trying to say something special about the properties of Kabuto, but is cut off by Sanji. Nami, Chopper, Kokoro, Chimney, and Gonbe are under the room where Lucci and Luffy are fighting, which is also filling up with water.
Luffy strikes Lucci with third gear.
Having run out of Gear 2, Lucci begins to pound Luffy, saying he thought Luffy was stronger. Luffy activates Gear 3 and explains that Gear 3 is different from Gear 2 because instead of pumping blood through his body faster, he is blowing air through his bones, inflating them. His arm then swells to massive proportions, and attacks Lucci with a Gomu Gomu no Gigant Pistol, sending him flying through the wall and toward the sea.
A Marine asks Vice Admiral Doberman on how to handle the capture of Nico Robin. The Vice Admiral tells him to leave her and begins to tell about Lucci's past.
Sometime, 15 years ago, an incident happened where 500 soldiers were captured on an island by pirates. The pirate’s captain wanted to become the king of the island in return for sparing the soldiers lives. Just as the island was about to fall, the World Government sent a boy to the island. The boy infiltrated the pirate's hideout and killed the 500 soldiers on the spot. The pirates, infuriated, then began to shoot at the boy. The boy emerged from the explosions and killed the pirate's captain and ended the incident. That boy who had many bullet wound scars, at the age of 13, became a member of CP9 and has since been there serving justice from the darkness and became the strongest and coldest killing machine since CP9’s inception.
The Marines, upon hearing the story, become frightened. The Vice Admiral tells the Marines that as long as that man is here assisting in the escorting of Nico Robin, they do not need to act and will do nothing until all but the Bridge of Hesitation is destroyed. The scene changes again to Zoro, Sanji and Usopp (Sogeking). Usopp starts hearing the sound of water, when all three see Nami, Kokoro (with Chopper on her hat), Chimney, and Gonbe running away from the rushing water. The water begins filling up the passage and swallows them all.
Lucci, who had just gotten hit by Gomu Gomu no Giganto Pistol, feels faint and lands on one of the Marine's ships. Lucci returns to human form and takes off his shirt, showing bullet wound scars that are vaguely similar to the world government's symbol. Luffy is shown blowing air into his chest and then crashes into the ship with a Gomu Gomu no Rocket. The Marines fire at him, and Luffy takes it head-on, saying that his bones are very hard and they cannot hurt him.
Luffy splits a Buster Call warship
Luffy begins the fight with Lucci again, attacking Lucci with a Gomu Gomu no Giganto Axe, but Lucci manages to dodge it, as he turns into his complete animal form and bites Luffy. Luffy escapes by blowing himself up, while Lucci returns to his human form. Luffy tries to hit Lucci with a Gomu Gomu no Giganto Whip but Lucci dodges it and destroys the mast of the ship. Lucci fires a Tobu Shigan "Bachi" and hits Luffy, while revealing that Luffy's speed decreases as his strength increases. The ship's iron brackets are starting to split, while Lucci laughs boldly.
Vice Admiral Onigumo notes Lucci and Luffy fighting and tells all the ships to target the ship they are on. He tells them that if it's Lucci, then he will survive. A Marine objects about the idea, saying that 1000 of their allies are aboard on the ship. The vice admiral kills the Marine, asking if he can protect the future from a criminal with his weakness. The ships begin firing, and the ship that Luffy and Lucci is on is hit and starts sinking. Luffy escapes the bombardment but when he lands he becomes his chibi self and tries to hide from Lucci until he can return to normal size.
Spandam is laughing because he thinks Luffy has died in the attack and then he continues to brag about the Buster Call until Franky punches him in the face. Angry, Spandam tries to attack Robin with Funkfreed in elephant form, but it is stopped by Franky who throws the animal back right on top of Spandam.
Kokoro saves everyone from drowning.
By this time Lucci has just found Luffy and has started beating him up while still in the chibi form. But right before Lucci can finish Luffy off he feels pain in his legs from an earlier attack, and as Lucci is on the ground in pain Luffy returns to normal size. The scene then goes to Zoro and the others having been swallowed up by the sea. As all of them are nearing death Kokoro saves them all by transforming into a mermaid.
Robin and Franky have hijacked Spandam's escape ship and Kokoro soon arrives, jumping into the ship with the unconscious Straw Hat crew. Robin and Franky thank her as she changes back into a human and their friends wake up, but they realize they still need to wait for Luffy.
Meanwhile, Oimo and Kashi, who have been carrying Zambai, Mozu and Kiwi, the Mighty Destroyers, the rest of the Franky Family, Paulie, Lulu, Tilestone, Sodom, Gomorrah, and Yokozuna out of the path of the Buster Call, have finally reached the exit of Enies Lobby when they are jumped by a trio of Buster Call ships. Hit by cannon fire, the Straw Hats' allies tumble into the waterfall below.
Luffy, still having trouble with Lucci, transforms into Gear Second once more to even the odds. The Straw Hats and Franky continue to wait on the ship for Luffy, and they hear an announcement from the Buster Call ships about the apparent deaths of their allies, leaving everyone, especially Franky, shocked. The group then comments on Luffy's fight with Lucci, claiming that Luffy always seems to know exactly which opponent he has to fight so they aren't overwhelmed.
Rob Lucci unleashes Rokuogan on Luffy.
Back at the battle, Lucci hits Luffy with the most powerful Rokushiki technique he knows, damaging Luffy internally. Luffy compares it to an Impact Dial, but much stronger. However, it only leaves Luffy more determined than ever to defeat Lucci. Meanwhile, the Buster Call ships realize that Rob Lucci and Luffy are in tower one, so they destroy half the bridge and isolates the tower. The fleet then aims toward where the rest of the crew were waiting, to capture Nico Robin and Zoro and the rest of the crew. The crew gets ready to fight back so that Robin will not be recaptured. The Marines marvel at the crew, noting that one pirate crew was able to take down Enies Lobby and CP9.
Sogeking recognizes Luffy and Lucci in tower one and calls out to him. Franky, Sogeking, Zoro, and Sanji, who are on the bridge, cheer him on. Newly motivated, Luffy gets ready to fight Lucci again. Lucci, upon seeing the crew, remarks "Quite the little group..." but exclaims that "evil will never flourish."
Shu rusts away Zoro's Yubashiri.
As the fight of Luffy and Lucci goes on, the Buster Call ships announce for 200 of the best captains and lieutenants to finish off the crew and capture Nico Robin. As they get ready to fight back, they realize that Sanji has gone missing. Nami exclaims that they need to get off the ship as Chopper finds himself unable to move. On the bridge, Franky, Sogeking, and Zoro take on the Captains and Lieutenants as Franky notices that there are Devils Fruit users among them, making the fight more difficult. Zoro's sword Yubashiri is broken during this fight, proving Franky's prediction true. Robin and Nami also fight off the Marines that attacked the ship.
Meanwhile, in the battle against Lucci, Luffy is starting to struggle as the effects of his Gear 2 begin to show. Lucci tells him that no matter how hard Luffy struggles, in the end, Luffy cannot take down Enies Lobby. Luffy attacks, but Lucci parries his attack and catches Luffy with another devastating Rokuougan. Luffy falls to the ground, and attempts briefly to stand before collapsing in a pool of his own blood.
On the bridge, while fending off the attackers, Sogeking sees Luffy's fall and freezes. He finally takes off his mask, and cries out for Luffy. Usopp then encourages Luffy to get up and to stop looking so defeated. Usopp tells Luffy that he came to save Robin, not to see Luffy being beaten up, and then challenges Lucci to a fight. Luffy stops him, knowing that Usopp will be killed almost instantly. Now more determined than ever, Luffy gets up again to fight,
Lucci defeated by Luffy
Despite being attacked again and again by Lucci, Luffy still fights back. Lucci then hits Luffy with another Rokuougan but this time, Luffy does not fall. He musters up all the energy he has left and bombards Lucci with Gomu Gomu no Jet Gatling Gun, finally defeating him. As everyone else, the Marines and the crew watch Lucci's defeat, Luffy falls to the floor tired but triumphant. Luffy then calls out to Robin that they are going back together, causing her to tearfully smile.
Leaving Enies Lobby
The Marines and vice admirals who stood by and watched the fight are shocked at the loss of Rob Lucci, who they consider to be the strongest in all of CP9's history. Usopp, Franky, and the rest of the crew, letting out a sigh of relief, begin to congratulate Luffy and his victory.
Suddenly, a Den Den Mushi from somewhere transmits a mysterious voice which also starts to congratulate Luffy. Knowing that they are being heard by everybody, they reveal themselves to be the Franky Family, Galley-la, Yokozuna, Oimo and Kāshī, dangling by Paulie's said "unbreakable" rope. They told them that the giants took all the shots for them, and that they are all safe. All of them begin climbing the rope, as Franky starts crying. Wiping the last of his tears, he yells to the Marines, "Bring it on!"
The Marines realize that Luffy is seriously injured and has not been able to move from that spot. Usopp encourages Luffy again to move, but he cannot move at all. The Marines now notice that the pirates are escaping through the escort ship, fire at it, and destroy the ship. The crew, realizing that Kokoro, Chimney, Gonbe and Chopper are still there, watch in horror as the ship starts sinking.
Suddenly, Sanji pops up and is seen carrying all four of them. A Marine tries to capture Nami, but Kokoro knocks him out with a kick. The Buster Call ships start firing at Zoro and the others as they start running away from the explosions. They are preparing to fire at Luffy on tower 1. Robin tells everyone that, at this distance, even if she tried to pull him there, Luffy would just fall in the water. Everybody begins to shout at Luffy, saying that he needs to get up.
As the rest of them shout at Luffy, Usopp notices another voice. Franky yells at him that it is his family, but Usopp says it's a different voice. Luffy begins to hear the voice too, as it says to look below. Soon, Zoro, Sanji, Nami, Robin and Chopper start hearing the mysterious voice too. The Marines starts the countdown, when Usopp says "Jump into the sea!" He asks Robin if she could drop Luffy into the sea.
Going Merry arrives and saves the Straw Hats
Zoro says that it will kill him, but Usopp says that they still have a friend among them, which leaves Zoro speechless. Two seconds remain in the countdown as Robin desperately tries to drop him into the sea. Chopper starts crying as he sees a familiar figure, coming up from the water. Sanji, Nami, and Chopper shout out "To the sea!" as Going Merry comes up and tells them all "Let's all go home!! To the sea of adventure!!"
Kokoro flings Chopper, Robin, and Luffy onto the Going Merry due to their inability to swim, then jumps on the boat. Spandam returns, broken and bruised from being hit with Funkfreed, and says to the Marines that they have permission from Aokiji to fire on the Merry, which is a lie. Two Buster Call ships fire, only to get caught up in a strong current and hit each other. Sanji, during his absence, had begun to close the Gate of Justice. As Nami uses the current to ensure a speedy getaway, more shots are fired, which Zoro and Sanji deflect by using Luffy as a sling. Spandam begins yelling, but Robin uses her extra arms to break his back.
Saying Goodbye to Merry.
At the front of the island, the Franky Family, Galley-La, Giants, King Bulls, and Yokozuna have commandeered the Puffing Tom and are returning to Water 7. Aokiji arrives on the scene and declares that Enies Lobby was a "complete defeat" for the World Government. The now-reunited Straw Hat Pirates leave the chaos of the Buster Call behind and sail out of Enies Lobby. Moments later, they see a Galley-La ship with Iceburg and his shipwrights in it. However, their joy is short-lived as Going Merry's hull finally gives out and splits in two. Luffy pleads with Iceburg to fix the ship up one last time, but Iceburg cannot. After evacuating to Iceburg's ship, Luffy and the rest of his crew give Going Merry a Viking's Funeral, by setting her ablaze for her final voyage. As the crew laments the loss of their ship, they each hear the "soul" of the Going Merry thanking them for taking good care of it.
Story Impact
- With the exception of Robin, each of the Straw Hats developed/revealed new special abilities in this arc, marking an exponential increase in power for each of them. Luffy introduces both Gear Second and Gear Third; Zoro develops Asura; Sanji unleashes Diable Jambe; Chopper utilizes Monster Point (on screen/panel) for the first time whilst showing other effects from excess Rumble Ball consumption; Nami displays Usopp's latest creation, the Perfect Clima-Tact; and Sogeking demonstrates his new slingshot - Kabuto. The remainder of the Franky Schematics are revealed, especially and comically his dependency on cola.
- Robin's past which was foreshadowed since the Alabasta Arc is finally revealed, as well as more of the Void Century, and at the same time, the history of the World Government. There once existed an Ancient Kingdom defeated by its enemies, attributed to be the World Government, indicating that it is more evil than it seems. From this arc onward, the World Government has shown more insinuations of a malevolent nature.
- Franky helps the Straw Hat Pirates for the first time leading to him becoming a major asset for them later when he joins the crew.
- Shu destroys Yubashiri leading Zoro to obtain Shusui during the Thriller Bark Arc.
- The Straw Hats are seen as an even bigger threat by the World Government, and Luffy and Zoro become Supernovas. The rest of the Straw Hats, minus Robin who already had one, received their first bounties later as a result of the felonies they committed in this arc. Robin does have her bounty increased slightly, more than likely due to her association with the Straw Hats.
- At the end of this arc, the Going Merry finally reaches its absolute limit, and is given a viking funeral. This forced the Straw Hat Pirates to get a new ship, which turned out to be the Thousand Sunny, made by Franky.
- With CP9 defeated by the Straw Hats at the end of this arc, they would become fugitives of the World Government because Spandam blamed them for the annihilation of Enies Lobby. As such, they later become a renegade crew hunting their former superior thus foreshadowing their return in the future.
Trivia
- This arc contains the first Devil Fruits to be eaten outside of a flashback: Kaku's Ushi Ushi no Mi, Model: Giraffe and Kalifa's Awa Awa no Mi. They are also the first Devil Fruits seen and consumed knowingly.
- This is the second longest arc in the anime to date; behind the Fishman Island Arc.
| Enies Lobby Arc | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manga Chapters | |||||||||||
| 375 | 376 | 377 | 378 | 379 | 380 | 381 | 382 | 383 | 384 | 385 | |
| 386 | 387 | 388 | 389 | 390 | 391 | 392 | 393 | 394 | 395 | 396 | |
| 397 | 398 | 399 | 400 | 401 | 402 | 403 | 404 | 405 | 406 | 407 | |
| 408 | 409 | 410 | 411 | 412 | 413 | 414 | 415 | 416 | 417 | 418 | |
| 419 | 420 | 421 | 422 | 423 | 424 | 425 | 426 | 427 | 428 | 429 | |
| 430 | |||||||||||
| Manga Volumes | |||||||||||
| 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | ||||||
| Anime Episodes | |||||||||||
| 264 | 265 | 266 | 267 | 268 | 269 | 270 | 271 | 272 | 273 | 274 | |
| 275 | 276 | 277 | 278 | 279 | 280 | 281 | 282 | 283 | 284 | 285 | |
| 286 | 287 | 288 | 289 | 290 | 293 | 294 | 295 | 296 | 297 | 298 | |
| 299 | 300 | 301 | 302 | 304 | 305 | 306 | 307 | 308 | 309 | 310 | |
| 311 | 312 | ||||||||||
| Specials | |||||||||||
| Episode of Merry • Nami vs. Kalifa | |||||||||||
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