The war in Alabasta has reached its climax in the capital city of Alubarna as five separate factions clash (the Royal Guards led by King Cobra, the Rebel Army led by Kohza, the Marines led by Tashigi, the Baroque Works led by Crocodile, and, of course, the Straw Hat Pirates). Three of Crocodile’s Officer Agents have been defeated by the Straw Hats but two of the most powerful Agents are ready to fight. Ms. Doublefinger (the cafe owner turned dominatrix) squares off against Nami and displays her deadly ability to turn her entire body into spikes. Fortunately, Nami is prepared for her first solo battle with a new weapon invented for her by Usopp called the Clima Tact. Unfortunately, there are some whimsically impractical party effects mixed in with the more useful weather based attacks of this weapon, and Nami struggles to figure out how to use it correctly as she runs for her life. When Nami deals the final blow, it isn’t anything like what she or Ms. Doublefinger expects.

Meanwhile, Zoro takes on the equally powerful and serious Mr. 1, who can render his body as hard and strong as steel, as well as convert his fingers and arms into slashing blades that can cut through stone like butter. Unsure if he could ever defeat a steel man, Zoro remembers a crucial lesson from his old sword master that could be the key to victory.

At the same time, Princess Vivi is getting ready to destroy the royal palace rather than let it fall into Crocodile’s hands, but Crocodile arrives just then to stop her. Crocodile then reveals his true objective in Alabasta, the Pluton Poneglyph. This ancient inscribed stone, which only Ms. All Sunday can read, is the key to finding one of the world’s most powerful ancient weapons. Soon after, Luffy arrives with the king’s messenger, Pell, ready for a another match with Crocodile. Luffy has figured out Crocodile’s weakness; Crocodile cannot convert to sand when he is wet, so Luffy carries a barrel of water into battle. Luffy is able to land some punches on Crocodile, but ultimately the barrel breaks and Crocodile knocks Luffy out again.

Crocodile then forces the king to lead him to the Poneglyph while he puts his last trump card in play, a massive bomb in the clock tower aimed at the battleground where thousands of Royal and Rebel soldiers are fighting. It’s up to Vivi and Pell to stop the bomb and the Baroque Works agents about to fire it and one of them may not live through the operation.

Luffy confronts Crocodile one last time at the Poneglyph and finally beats him. Tashigi arrests Crocodile, but the Marines are eager to capture any pirate or criminal they can find, and that includes the Straw Hat Pirates. In gratitude, King Cobra protects them for a couple days and throws them a massive banquet, but Luffy and Co. figure they need to leave as soon as they can to avoid a Marine dragnet. They invite Vivi to join their crew and although she is tempted to accept the offer, she ultimately heeds the call to duty and remains in Alabasta, always remembering her friendship with Luffy’s crew. In the end, one member of the now disbanded Baroque Works helps the Straw Hats to escape the Marines while another stows away on Luffy’s ship and, with a bit of convincing, joins the crew.

Next volume: The Straw Hat Pirates relax and reminisce, help an old hermit to fulfill his dream, and encounter a mysterious temporal anomaly.