Everyone has a version of what their ideal world is. And in the same way, everyone has their own idea of what would be needed to bring about that ideal world. However, most people lack either the determination or the ability to follow through. Well, that’s where Former Admiral Zephyr (or Z) was different. He had both. In the One Piece Film: Z, Zephyr had a plan to get rid of all the pirates on the Grand Line and bring peace to the world.
And, while that would have been noble, there were several caveats that made it undesirable. In the movie, we get to see some of our favorite characters, like Garp, Koby and former Admiral Aojiki. We also get to see some amazing Devil Fruit abilities and get a peek at some Marine secrets that could destroy the entire Grand Line. So, without further ado, here’s what happened in the One Piece Film: Z
First Appearance of the Neo Marines
The movie opens up with Z singing a requiem as he and his fleet of Neo Marines prepare for battle against the Marines on Firs Island. The fleet easily breaks through the Marine’s defense, and Z steps on the island. Along with his subordinates, Ain and Binz. The three of them break into the central structure located at the center of the island, where Z acquires the Dyna Stones. They are said to be comparable to Ancient Weapons in the potential for their destruction. But, Admiral Kizaru appears before Z can escape with his prize and promptly launches an attack against the Neo Marine fleet. Z intersects the Admiral, holding him off while his subordinates and the rest of the fleet evacuate. Z and Admiral Kizaru clash, with Z attacking with a giant mechanical arm made of Seastone, his Battle Smasher, and Kizaru countering with a sword made of light.
Admiral Kizaru addresses Z as Master Zephyr, revealing a connection between the two of them. Z blasts Kizaru away with his Battle Smasher but then stumbles and starts coughing, which continues until he takes out an inhaler and breathes from it. Sensing that he would not be able to defeat the Admiral, Z takes out one of the Dyna Stones and fires it into Admiral Kizaru’s face. The blast engulfs the entire island and destroys it completely. The Neo Marines were far enough not to be harmed. Kizaru survives due to his Devil Fruit, but Z is nowhere to be found. In the distance, former Admiral Aokiji passes the area and notices the destruction of the island.
The Straw Hat Pirates and Z
Meanwhile, relatively close by, the Straw Hats are goofing around on the Sunny when volcanic ash suddenly begins to rain from the sky. At the same time, Nami notices that her Log Pose is acting erratically and theorizes that a volcano had erupted nearby and completely destroyed an island.
She tries to choose a safe route, but Luffy notices and sets their course towards where the explosion happened. While Usopp whines about the decision, Luffy notices the unconscious Z clinging to a piece of driftwood. The crew rescues him, and Chopper administers aid to the battered man.
Battle on the Sunny
Under Chopper’s care, it doesn’t take long for Z to awaken. Luffy was already waiting in the infirmary, and Z immediately identifies him as the captain of the ship. Luffy freely admits to it and starts questioning the man about his mechanical arm and background. The conversation is relatively light until Luffy reveals that he’s a pirate. Z’s entire disposition immediately changes, and he attacks instantly, punching Luffy through the wall of the infirmary. Zoro and Sanji, standing guard outside the infirmary, immediately attack back, but Z fends them off easily, even when Luffy joins the fray. He counters all their attacks with ease, pressuring them with powerful punches. Shortly after, Ain and Binz, as well as the rest of the Neo Marines, arrive and board the Sunny. The rest of the Straw Hats respond to the threat but are subdued with relative ease.
Franky and Chopper are rooted by vines created by Binz’s Mosa Mosa Fruit, which allows him to grow plants at a ridiculous rate. While Nami and Robin fall prey to Ain’s Modo Modo Fruit, which has the ability to revert everything she touches by 12 years. Nami reverts back into a child, while Robin returns to her eighteen-year-old body. At the same time, Z defeats the Monster Trio. He grabs Luffy with his Battle Smasher, incapacitating him with the power of the Seastone. And spits on Luffy’s dream to be the Pirate King before throwing him onto the deck of the ship. Eventually, Z boards his own ship and orders that the Sunny be destroyed, but the Straw Hats are able to escape using a Coup de Burst.
Meeting At The Marine Headquarters
At their Headquarters, most of the high-ranking Marines are gathered to discuss Z and the incident at Firs Island. During the meeting, Fleet Admiral Sakazuki reveals Z’s plan to use the power of the Dyna Stones to destroy the End Points. Which would inadvertently destroy the entire Grand Line and everyone in it. Admiral Kizaru points out that it is unlikely that Z had survived the Dyna Stone explosion, but Tsuru, a prominent Vice Admiral, disagrees. He states that, as a former Admiral, Z is far too formidable to be killed so easily.
The meeting ends when Akainu charges the Marines to find and stop Z and the Neo Marines in the name of justice. Meanwhile, at the scene of the Firs Island, Garp, Koby, and Helmeppo stare at the still erupting island. Garp reveals that Z had fought beside him in his youth and now worries that Z’s own hatred will be what destroys the world.
Meeting with Kuzan
After the battle, the Straw Hats head to a nearby island to recover while Franky fixes the Sunny. They are approached by an old man named Mobston. He reveals that many pirates have given up piracy after clashing with Z and is surprised that Luffy still has his resolve. They talk for a while, and Mobston offers Luffy his best equipment to use in their mission. A little while after that, the crew takes the Sea Train to Secon Island and splits off to gather intel about Z and his plans. However, the Monster Trio and Brook head to a local hot spring to relax and recover for their fight.
They meet Kuzan already there, who, apparently, had been waiting for them. Kuzan reveals that he’s no longer an Admiral and that he hadn’t come there to capture the Straw Hats. He also reveals that Z plans to destroy piracy once and for all by destroying the One Piece. Before he leaves, he confirms that Luffy will find Z on the island. And, at the same moment, somewhere else on the Island, Z and the Neo Marines finish planting the Dyna Stones over the island’s volcano.
Straw Hats vs. the Neo Marines: Round Two
After defeating and questioning a group of Marines, Luffy discovers the location of Z. Unfortunately, the crew only catches up to him after the Dyna Stones have been activated and the destruction of the Secon Island has begun. Luffy immediately attacks with a Gomu Gomu no Rifle, which Z blocks easily. Zoro and Sanji hold off Ain and Binz while the two captains fight. In the background, the destruction of the island continues, with the volcano spewing over the city. Kuzan helps with the evacuation. Luffy manages to counter most of Z’s attacks, but he’s forced to evade attacks from Z’s Battle Smasher. Z laughs at this, stating that if Luffy keeps being afraid of his weapon, then Luffy would never be able to land a hit on him. He blasts Luffy away, and the latter’s straw hat flies from his head.
Z further shoots Luffy with a Seastone bullet and then mocks Luffy for relying too much on his Devil Fruit. He takes Luffy’s hat and promises to bury it after destroying all pirates. In anger, Luffy reveals that the hat was given to him by Shanks, which enrages Z. He blasts Luffy with his Smasher’s Cannon, ultimately defeating him for the second time. Meanwhile, close by, Zoro and Ain clash, though their battle doesn’t last for long before Ain breaks out. Similarly, just as Sanji begins to overpower Binz, the latter also disengages and escapes with a smoke bomb. The volcano erupts just as Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji regroup with Luffy. They are almost killed by the volcanic ash but are saved at the last minute by Kuzan. The group boards the Sea Train and escapes just before the island goes up in flames, destroyed completely.
Z’s Backstory
At a Marine base, Koby asks about Z, and Garp tells Z’s story. Garp reveals that Z had always been a serious person, fighting on the frontline. He became an Admiral very young and lived a happy life until his wife and kids were killed by a pirate. Garp explains that, although Z became a teacher and taught most of the higher-ranking Marines, the sadness and hatred stayed with him even as he performed his duties. And it became worse when the former Admiral lost his right arm while trying and failing to defend a crew of trainees from a powerful pirate.
The Vice Admiral disclosed that it was this defeat that gave Zephyr a new goal to hunt down pirates with Devil Fruits. To help, a new mechanical arm, his Battle Smasher, was built for him out of Seastone. Garp continues his story and explains that Zephyr’s last straw was when the same pirate who’d taken his arm was nominated to become a Warlord of the Sea. This pushed the Admiral to leave the Marines and form the Neo Marines as an enemy to both Marines and Pirates alike.
Z Meets Kuzan
Meanwhile, the Neo Marines arrive at the island Piriodo, and Z separates from his crew to visit a grave. At the grave, he meets Kuzan singing the requiem that Z had been singing at the beginning of the movie. Kuzan offers a bottle of wine to Z and tries to convince Z to drop his plan by informing the former Admiral that his plan might lead to his death.
But Z is resolute and responds that he’s happy to die if he can rid the world of pirates as well. He tells Kuzan to step aside, and the two stare down at each other for a moment. Still, neither was willing to fight, so finally, Kuzan backs down and leaves.
The Straw Hat’s Second Meeting With Kuzan
Shortly after, Kuzan arrives in front of the Straw Hats at Dock Island while Luffy is getting treated. Aokiji explains Z’s plan of using the Dyna Stones to destroy the three End Points, which would release a magma flow that would flood the sea with fire, killing the pirates as Z wants, but also millions of innocents.
Now, with two End Points already destroyed, Z is closer to his goal and would be heading to the last End Point in Piriodo. Still, Luffy is resolved to get his hat back and is determined to take Z for the third time. Before he leaves, Kuzan gives them an Eternal Pose to Piriodo and warns them of the danger. If they lose to Z, they’ll be destroyed along with the rest of the New World, but if they win, they’ll be surrounded by Marines.
Battle at Piriodo
The final battle at Piriodo is by far the most action-packed part of the movie and a great fan favorite. It starts off when the Straw Hats break through a blockade of Neo Marines attempting to defend Piriodo. They dock at the beach and find an army waiting for them. The Straw Hats immediately attack and totally decimate the army. While Zoro and Sanji separate to take on Ain and Binz, respectively, the rest of the Straw Hats aren’t idle. We see Robin unleashing her Gigantesco Mano to stomp her enemies, Brook uses his Soul Solid to freeze several Marines, Chopper uses Kung-Fu Point, and Usopp peppers the soldiers with Hissatsu Midori Bosshi. Even Nami brings out her Clima Tact and calls down lighting on the soldiers.
But, when the crew is about done mopping up the Marines, they are attacked by an army of Pacifista, brought by a fleet of Marines and Kizaru. Franky takes on the Pacifista, using the Franky Shotgun and a Radical Beam to hold them at bay. Elsewhere, in their own fights, Zoro and Sanji absolutely dominate their opponents, overwhelming them with skill and strength. Soon, both of them stand victorious over their opponents.
Luffy vs Z: Final Round
Luffy finds Z waiting for him inside a volcano, surrounded by Dyna Stones. He attacks immediately, and Z counters. Their battle is legendary, with Luffy going all out. In the initial salvo, he especially targets Z’s Battle Smasher, though the attacks seem not to do any damage. Luffy enters Gear Third and punches Z with a gigantic fist. The former Admiral meets the blow with the Battle Smasher, and the ripples send shockwaves along the volcano. After several more punches, Z’s Battle Smasher breaks and falls off. However, the former Admiral still has a small mechanical arm that he could still use.
Enraged, he tells Luffy that he’s going to dedicate the rest of his life to ending Luffy’s ambition. The pair switch to using Armament Haki and clash again, trading devastatingly powerful punches. One of Z’s punches makes Luffy puke, and Luffy counters with a punch that breaks Z’s glasses. Eventually, their speed slows down, and they both collapse from exhaustion. The Straw Hats rush to Luffy’s side as Ain and Binz rush to Z’s side. Z tells Luffy to finish him off, but Luffy turns him down, satisfied with the battle. He retrieves his Straw Hat while Z reunites with Ain and Binz.
Z Dies
The reunion is short-lived, however, as Kizaru arrives with an army of Marines. Z tells the Straw Hats to leave and faces the army head-on. And, even on the verge of death, he’s able to overpower most of the soldiers that attack him easily. However, Kizaru called down a rain of light that filled Z with burning holes. The Marines, feeling sorrow at having to kill their teacher, begin weeping even as they continue to attack. The Straw Hats watch in solemn silence, departing on the Sunny, as Z is eventually defeated and passes away.
Later, Ain and Binz visit his gravestone, which has his Battle Smasher arm wrapped around a cross. Kuzan, who is also at the gravesite, comforts them, remarking on what an incredible man Z was and how he’d lived his life without regrets. The movie ends with a flashback of a boy dressed as a hero with a log on his right arm. The boy is cheered on by other kids and claims to be a hero of justice, with the name Z.
