Forced to split up or split up by choice….what the heck is the difference? =/ Stupid nitpicking. They're going to split up time and time again for the next 600 chapters just like the last 600 chapters, so better get used to it.
I mean...complaining about it now is what doesn't make sense to me. It'd be like a fan of Scooby-Doo complaining about Fred saying "let's split up gang" randomly after like the 200th episode they've watched "They were just split up last episode...it's too soon!"
Sorry if this sounds harsh...it just seems like a ridiculous complaint to me.
Same w/ the thing about a villain being too confident. This is probably going to be a huge arc. I don't want some pushover Bellamy type villain. Why would the manga be any good if all villains from this point forward wet themselves at the mere mention of the name "Straw Hat".
Yeah, Luffy is famous now for causing trouble...but I mean let's put in perspective. He didn't take on the Marine Fleet single handed and win...you know...Jimbei, Crocodile, Ivankov, Marco, Jozu, Buggy, oh and freakin' Shanks and Whitebeard probably had a lot to do with his surviving.
Luffy's famous for getting involved in big events and being the son of Dragon. He's most noteworthy battle in the eyes of the public is still defeating Rob Lucci. The world doesn't know he defeated Crocodile or Moria. Whitebeard and Ace DIED at Marineford. Whether you call the Marines or the Blackbeard Pirates the victors, the Whitebeard Pirates certainly lost the battle of Marineford...and Luffy was on the losing side.
Luffy is famous for SURVIVING the battle as a rookie...yeah that's gonna turn a few heads, but I'm pretty sure most pirates in the New World also have big names.
If you're so concerned with a Fishman that could even rival Jimbei being confident in his chances against Luffy...what about Caribou? He also seemed pretty confident in his chances against the Straw Hats.
The manga would suck if every villain was just fodder from this point forward. Luffy trained for 2 years to just be able to SURVIVE in the New World. He's still too weak for Shanks, Kaidou, Big Mom, Akainu, Aokiji, Kizaru etc. Luffy's at "rookie Pirate in the New World level".