Chapter 690: S.A.D

Strelok

If it's so obvious, what is the name of his fruit? What are the extents of his powers?

It's obvious that it is Paramecia, not what type of Paramecia.

Who could guess that Hancock has the Love-Love fruit, even though it is obvious that it is Paramecia.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

interesting…if oda went by this then it would make him a mythical zoan..despite not seeming like it at all.

I just hope his DF is legit, getting clothes out of leaves doesn't seem like it could help him much with battle.

Tanuki is a real-world animal.

Katzztar

@Bishokuya33:

interesting…if oda went by this then it would make him a mythical zoan..despite not seeming like it at all.

I just hope his DF is legit, getting clothes out of leaves doesn't seem like it could help him much with battle.

Well we can say the same about a DF thats about laundry … but Tsuru had no trouble applying that to battle, washing out pirates and leavign them out to dry.
I suppose its the person who uses it, if they are able to learn the most about the DF and how to apply it. Imagine summoning up a straightjacket on a swordsman?

Kishido

@Strelok:

It's obvious that it is Paramecia, not what type of Paramecia.

Who could guess that Hancock has the Love-Love fruit, even though it is obvious that it is Paramecia.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

Tanuki is a real-world animal.

You completly ignored Aohige's post to this… And I bet he does know a bit more of JP myth as you... And hey even mr Google is bringing it out left and right that in JP MYTH it was done... Same for Kitsune

It's not that there were mangas who used Kitsune's with shapeshifting abilities like in the myth... Oh wait... InuYasha for example, nine tailed Kurama of Naruto, Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Same for Tanuki in Yu Yu Hakusho, Hachi in Inuyasha and so on

But whatever. This was done before and all we can do is wait for Oda to name it

Foxy The Silver Fox

@KiShiDo:

You completly ignored Aohige's post to this… And I bet he does know a bit more of JP myth as you... And hey even mr Google is bringing it out left and right that in JP MYTH it was done... Same for Kitsune

It's not that there were mangas who used Kitsune's with shapeshifting abilities like in the myth... Oh wait... InuYasha for example, nine tailed Kurama of Naruto, Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Same for Tanuki in Yu Yu Hakusho, Hachi in Inuyasha and so on

But whatever. This was done before and all we can do is wait for Oda to name it

The only reason Kinemon has this devil fruit ability is because it fits with his theme of a kitsune. Just like Hancock doesn't have the Human-Human Fruit: Gorgon Model but the Love-Love Fruit becuase it's more creative and fits with her Gorgon theme.

Bishokuya33

@Katzztar:

Well we can say the same about a DF thats about laundry … but Tsuru had no trouble applying that to battle, washing out pirates and leavign them out to dry.
I suppose its the person who uses it, if they are able to learn the most about the DF and how to apply it. Imagine summoning up a straightjacket on a swordsman?

that is interesting, no doubt.

we'll eventually know what's it about, maybe we'll see kinemon fight in the coming chapter.

GolD. Ace

@Triceron:

My point is that you can't claim without proof.

I can't prove to you what Mythical Zoan fruits can or can't do. No one can, except Oda. That's the point of this.

It is likely that Kinemon is a Paramecia user, but all we know so far is that he can make clothes out of rocks and leaves. That's not much to go on to say what fruit he even has.

Your right, Kinemon is a clothes logia. Calling it now.
=D

Jabra

Hm, Mario does look like a Zoan in his tanooki suit…

! ..and he can turn to stone by placing a leave on his head!

desa

Don't mythical Zoan need to transform to use their strange power?

choperman

When we find out what his devil fruit is, whoever was wrong can apologize to all of us for wasting so much of our damn time on this stupid discussion that never seems to go nowhere (and it's literally the same people each time)

CaptainKid

@choperman:

When we find out what his devil fruit is, whoever was wrong can apologize to all of us for wasting so much of our damn time on this stupid discussion that never seems to go nowhere (and it's literally the same people each time)

You mean pointless speculation and name calling won't give us the name of the fruit? Who'd of guessed?

Foxy The Silver Fox

@CaptainKid:

You mean pointless speculation and name calling won't give us the name of the fruit? Who'd of guessed?

I'm calling it right now that it's the Poof-Poof Fruit.

Game And Guy

@Foxy:

People seem to forget that the Tanuki is a real animal and not a legend, and in Japan the Kitsune is an actual fox, not some magical fox, so why would Oda make regular animals mythical zoans. Just admit you're wrong and stop embarrassing yourself.

What you fail to consider is the myth that goes with them. Yes, they exist. But you're looking at them at face value, not at the ubiquitous and famous myths and legends that come with them; a huge part of Japanese culture that, as you probably know, Oda is part of.

I am not saying Kinemon is a "mythical zoan", but I had to point out that your argument is a non-issue.

276112177620154ketounin

@400MillionBelis:

What you fail to consider is the myth that goes with them. Yes, they exist. But you're looking at them at face value, not at the ubiquitous and famous myths and legends that come with them; a huge part of Japanese culture that, as you probably know, Oda is part of.

I am not saying Kinemon is a "mythical zoan", but I had to point out that your argument is a non-issue.

adding to what you said, wasn't xDrake considered a mythical zoan, even though dinosaurs existed in the real world? guys, remember, this is the Odaverse we're talking about, so things that exist here, like tanukis and dinosaurs, may actually be a mythical creature there ;)

The Laughing Man

@毛唐人:

adding to what you said, wasn't xDrake considered a mythical zoan, even though dinosaurs existed in the real world? guys, remember, this is the Odaverse we're talking about, so things that exist here, like tanukis and dinosaurs, may actually be a mythical creature there ;)

Drake is considered an ANCIENT Zoan.

276112177620154ketounin

oops, oh well. blame my bad memory on my cat trying to steal my soul….

my point about it being the odaverse vs. reality still stands, though.

GolD. Ace

@毛唐人:

my point about it being the odaverse vs. reality still stands, though.

Not really since you kinda based that whole point on X. Drake being a mythical zoan and he's not. lol. As far as we know animals that are real in our world won't be considered mythical in the One Piece world, just like air exist in our world, just as it does in the One Piece World.
=D

Medical Orbit

Smoker's pretty cool; he's my favorite Marine and all, but he seems kind of hypocritical. I realized this during his conversation with Law this chapter.

On one hand, there's his honor as a Marine. He finds it shameful to have to work with or be in debt to pirates, and he yelled at Tashigi for begging Law to spare them. There's also what he said to Tashigi about the Shichibukai: "A pirate…is still a pirate." His reason for picking a fight with Ace: "As long as I'm a Marine, and you're a pirate!"

On the other hand, he kind of just does what he wants and frequently ignores orders. He abandoned his post in Loguetown and went to the Grand Line to chase after Luffy. He cussed out his superiors when they gave him credit for exposing/defeating Crocodile's organization who were unwilling to admit that pirates did it. When his men said they still had their pride as Marines even if they were "army rejects", he told them off. "Stop having weird fantasies about the Marines. Don't think that a perfect society exists in this world."

Am I misinterpreting all of this, or am I on to something?

Triceron

Smoker's devoted to the idea of true justice, rather than following the political agendas of the Marines. He hates pirates because they're pirates, they break the rules and wreak havoc on the population.

Characters like Morgan and Nezumi were prime examples of how corrupt and bad the marines could be. Then we have some down-and-dirty bits of history like the use of the Buster Call on Ohara. Their priority is population control, with justice being a secondary factor. Smoker believes in justice first, and he reprimands his crew after they start idolizing the Marines.

Medical Orbit

I see. That makes sense.

MiyamotoMusashi

@400MillionBelis:

What you fail to consider is the myth that goes with them. Yes, they exist. But you're looking at them at face value, not at the ubiquitous and famous myths and legends that come with them; a huge part of Japanese culture that, as you probably know, Oda is part of.

I am not saying Kinemon is a "mythical zoan", but I had to point out that your argument is a non-issue.

We should just stop this here, valid arguments do not work in this case. Btw, when i visited Henan during my term in China, i saw the Spring Temple Buddha, he shockwaved me several times and i bet all the Japanese foxes and Tanuki CCC saw had big balls and could shapeshift.

Strelok

@KiShiDo:

You completly ignored Aohige's post to this… And I bet he does know a bit more of JP myth as you... And hey even mr Google is bringing it out left and right that in JP MYTH it was done... Same for Kitsune

It's not that there were mangas who used Kitsune's with shapeshifting abilities like in the myth... Oh wait... InuYasha for example, nine tailed Kurama of Naruto, Yuu Yuu Hakusho

Same for Tanuki in Yu Yu Hakusho, Hachi in Inuyasha and so on

But whatever. This was done before and all we can do is wait for Oda to name it

Kitsune = fox in japanese. The nine-tailed fox is a mthical animal based on the real animal fox.

And even if they were mythical animals, this doesn't change the fact that Kinemon is Paramecia.

@MiyamotoMusashi:

We should just stop this here, valid arguments do not work in this case. Btw, when i visited Henan during my term in China, i saw the Spring Temple Buddha, he shockwaved me several times and i bet all the Japanese foxes and Tanuki CCC saw had big balls and could shapeshift.

And once again, you have nothing to add after I destroyed your arguments, but you can't admit that you are wrong.

MiyamotoMusashi

@Strelok:

Kitsune = fox in japanese. The nine-tailed fox is a mthical animal based on the real animal fox.

And even if they were mythical animals, this doesn't change the fact that Kinemon is Paramecia.

And once again, you have nothing to add after I destroyed your arguments, but you can't admit that you are wrong.

I love you too, dude, i love you too

Katzztar

@毛唐人:

oops, oh well. blame my bad memory on my cat trying to steal my soul….

my point about it being the odaverse vs. reality still stands, though.

careful who you reveal the cat domination to…
They don't us humans looking into their plans

Kingdomkey

God I hope Luffy finishes Caesar next chapter, though it definitely won't be the last that we see of him, as from what I understand Law plans to take Caesar with them…

Strelok

This post is deleted!

Ukimix

Chapter 690, S.A.D
A personal review

This is a long personal review of chapter 690. It's personal because it goes much more into some few theories than into objective descriptions. In spite of it, I hope you enjoy it.

This chapter has surprised us with this scene:

!

And it makes us wonder about two things between many other ones. I will begin with this one: if that happened, why Law couldn’t beat him the first time they fought?

!

Vergo's formidable haki? No, Law's fomidable devil fruit!

Now it is confirmed: Law was under Vergo’s attack over his heart all the time they fought for the first time. In that fight, he lacked the enough strength to do what he did in this chapter, and he only had enough strength for some not as devastating attacks.

To be sure, it is important to understand how Law could cut Vergo as he just did. Lets recall what Silver Rayleigh has explained about Armament haki.

! > Rayleigh: … In the sky isles of Skypiea... / ...this ability is known as "Mantra". // Next, we have "Armament Haki". This shade...
Luffy: Aahh...!
Rayleigh: ...is something like wearing an invisible suit of armour...
Elephant: RGOHH!! // RGHOOOHHHHHH!!
Rayleigh: .........

14
Elephant: ?!! // RGOHH?!!
Luffy: I've...... // ...seen that before...!!
Elephant: RGHOOOHHHHH?!!
Flashback!Sentoumaru: Ashigara Dokkoi!!!
Flashback!Marigold: Hahh!!
Elephant: RGOOOHH!!!
Rayleigh: Naturally, stronger armour also results in more powerful attacks.
Luffy: Ahh!!! // It hurts...!! Even though I'm made of rubber!! It actually hurts!!
Rayleigh: This is the ability's most important use.

15
Rayleigh: When facing a Devil Fruit user, other than taking advantage of their individual weaknesses... / ...this "Armament Haki" is the sole method of effectively combating their abilities...!! // With it, even the fluid bodies of the near-invincible Logia Fruit users... / ...can be forced into solidity...!!!
Luffy: So this is why you could touch Kizaru...! / Then I'd be able to attack old Smokey from the Marines... / ...or even on Aokiji, right?
Rayleigh: ......... // Have you ever witnessed the bowmanship of the Kuja tribe? / This power can even be extended to the weapons one wields.
! Translation by cnet128.

One important point is that the explanation doesn’t say that Armament haki is something like an invincible armour. It doesn’t say: “nobody will be able to damage you”. So, as a defensive shield, armament haki is not an absolute defense, has levels and, therefore, can be broken under the right conditions. Since, Law was beaten in the past by Vergo, and since Devil fruit powers can be developed and improved, we can assume that Law improved his Devil fruit powers to the point to be able to break Vergo’s formidable armament haki. No further explanation is required, and that explains pretty well the interaction between armament haki and devil fruit power we have seen in this chapter.

Law’s plan

Now this chapter offer valuable information to understand Law’s plan. This is the second thin I wonder about with that scene: if Law cut Vergo and the island in that way he did, why this dialogue occurs?

!

Let me rewrite the question it this way:

If he Law had that level of power when he arrived to Punk Hazard,
if he knew SAD was produced there,
if he knew what use was given to SAD, then…
if he knew Ceasar was the man producing it,

…then that dialogue wouldn’t have sense at all. Because in that case, he simply had to take the island and kidnap Ceasar with his really impressive power. Why to spend time in presentations and in helping people that lost part of their bodies and in guarding Caesar, only to look for what he already knew?

So I think, some of these numerated assumptions have to be false. But, which one(s)? For sure, the first one was a matter of fact. So, in order to succeed with his plan, what Law didn't have when he arrived to Punk Hazard was knowledge, not power. It was some kind of knowledge that was convenient or necessary to have before taking the island.

Therefore, what does Law knew and what he doesn’t when he arrived? Let’s begin with the assumption (2): did Law knew about the SAD and that it was produced in Punk Hazard? Here we have to step back even further, to this moment:

!

According to what Vergo said when he figured out what was Law looking for, we can understand that Law wanted the War lord title "just to reach" SAD production room. Also, when they met again, Vergo speaks about SAD tanker to Law in such a familiar way that we would have to assume that Law knew that something called SAD was load in something called SAD tanker: “I was just in Dress Rosa, you see. And SAD tanker was leaving so I rode here.”. So, assumption (2) would be right. Law knew that SAD was produced there and that there were SAD tankers taking it to somewhere else (possibly to Dress Rosa…).

Did he know that the production island was Punk Hazard? Although we should have to be careful to take as a true what he says when he is introducing himself to Ceasar, he says that it was extremely hard to find Punk Hazard, so we may assume that he knew it.

Now, did Law knew how is SAD used (assumption 3)? Law is a smart guy. And to cut 100 hearts to become a War lord is not a small step. In a wild place the New World, with the powers involved, you have to be sure that the payback is worth enough to take such a step. But, it could happen that in the beginning Law just wanted to ruin Doflamingo’s organization by stopping the SAD production: given their common past, he knows that for some reason SAD is an important business for many powerful people in the New World, included Doflamingo; and later, in his search inside Punk Hazard, he discovers (i) that the SAD was used to produce the smiles fruit and also (ii) what Ceasar boast about when he talked to Luffy, namely: that according to a rumor among the organization, smiles were being used by a Yonkou to create an army. With such an important information, he decides to change his initial plan to ruin Doflamingo to a plan to take down a Yonkou.

On the other hand, it could happen that, from the very beginning, his plan was to take down that Yonkou that is creating an army with Doflamingo’s smiles. We still don’t have the knowledge to decide between those two alternatives.

War Lord title, a step in the plan?

In both cases, War Lord title should have to be used to open a way to the SAD production factory. But how to have that title could open that way? I don’t know. But let me offer some possible and believable situation in which that move fits as a step in Law’s plan.

Of course, Law doesn’t want to be a War Lord as his ultimate goal. And he used the title to approach the SAD factory. Who has to swallow that bone? Doflamingo and his organization, given the fact that the SAD is Doflamingo’s property. But why would Doflamingo and his mates swallow that bone, and what effect would produce in them the fact that Law gets that position?

Lets take in account what we know about the relationship between Doflamingo and Law and, mainly, the attitude shown to Doflamingo and his crew to Law. Law was a former member. Later he became a Super Nova, with his own crew and his own business. According to Doflamingo’s speech and to the things that his subordinates says about Law, it seems they was in some sense wishing or expecting that Law returned to their crew or at least that he took a position approved by them:

! > 6-7
Doflamingo: Just like I figured!! Fuffuffu!!!
[Box: The New World, Dresrosa]
Doflamingo: And after I watched over him all these years as he grew up!! Thought of him like my own little brother…!!
[Text: Royal Shichibukai / Donquixote Doflamingo / (Underworld Broker "Joker")]
Doflamingo: I'm quite disappointed.
Vergo: Oh, I understand.
Doflamingo: So… The SAD Production Room, eh......?!!

8
Doflamingo: Now what would I do if I were him...? I think first of all... // ...I'd destroy the room completely!!!
Baby5: Hahhh... // Hahh...
Doflamingo: !!!

9
Baby5: pant // pant...
Doflamingo: Then I guess kidnapping Caesar comes next... // Actually, if it was me, I'd murder him too...!! // After all, Caesar is...
Baby5: sniff / hic...
Doflamingo: ...the only man in the world... // ...who knows how to create the SAD. // But if he were to do a thing like that... // I'd be the one in a fix, you know, Vergo...!! // And when I'm in a fix, you know what happens next...?
FatPerson: Oiiiiiing~~!

10
FatPerson: Cool your head-oing, Baby 5. What way is this to treat the young master-oing?
Baby5: This time, of all times, I will not forgive him!! I'll slaughter this piece of scum where he stands!!!
FatPerson: ...But yes, what does happen next?
OldDude: .........
Doflamingo: I'll tell you what happens!! Fuffuffuffuffu!!! The chain of suffering continues!!
TerrifyingWoman: So what are your plans then, young master? / For that adorable Master Law.
OldDude: Do you even need to ask?! The man has rebelled against us outright!!! Isn't that right, young master...?!!
Doflamingo: I'm sure it will pain you to do this, Vergo... / ...but I'm afraid you'll have to kill him. // Make sure Law's death is so brutal... // ...he'll wish he had never been born!!!
! Translation by cnet128

By this moment Doflamingo and his crew knows long time ago that Law is a War Lord. Now they seems to show affection and care for him and they show themselves disappointed by the fact that he’s trying to stop SAD production: that is a rebellion, but to get the War Lord position is not.

Doflamingo doesn’t want to turn the world into a chaos. Instead of that he wants to preserve the peace, as Law has spited out in this chapter. And precisely that is what War Lords are for: for preserving certain status quo. So, that could be the point of rupture between Law and Doflamingo. I imagine here Doflamino trying to control his subordinate by convincing him that to be a member of a War Lord was the best chance he had in a world ruled by the Yonkou, and Law thinking that being a War Lord was not something to be proud or something big enough, etc. In such a scenario, and after the breaking off, to get a War Lord position would be something like a wink, a gesture of sympathy, a sign that he comes back with a position that allow him to work again on the same line than his former captain. But in practical terms, as a step of his plan, this is a way to gain some time for his research in Punk Hazard, some time to approach the SAD room production quietly.

Law warned Caesar about not telling Joker that he was in Punk Hazard, yes. But he knew Caesar was going to tell him. If, in that moment, Law would not be a War Lord, maybe his arrival could be taken as a potential threat. But, thanks to the fact that Law got that position as a War Lord, Doflamingo doubts, and is trying to understand what is Law doing: “So.. The SAD room, eh…..?”… That is the best scenario I can imagine to make of the fact that Law get the War Lord title, a believable step of his plan.

Finally, with all this rationale, one thing that Law didn’t know when he arrived to Punk Hazard was that CC was the guy behind the SAD production (assumption 4): notice, in the flashback above quoted, they talk as if it were the first time they met.

Now, with that overview on mind, it’s understandable why Vergo was a miscalculation in Law’s plan. He didn’t expect in any way that the powerful Vergo would come to the island. He took the risk to gave his heart, but he couldn’t imagine that his heart was going to be in the hands of someone as powerful as Vergo. But, in the end that miscalculation was caused by Luffy, since if Luffy the user of CoC wouldn’t arrive, Doflamingo wouldn’t send Vergo to Punk Hazard.

One last thing about Law’s plan. I really don’t understand why he wants to kidnap Caesar, and instead of that simply eliminate him. The point is that it will be always a risk to have Caesar chained with sea stone. And it would be much more safe simple to have him dead. Here you can say that in One Piece good guys never kill anybody, but I think that if that is the reason, then the story wouldn’t be believable. Even more if Law can remove the hearts of 100 guys to be able to prevent that the man that can produce SAD never won’t produce it anymore. That simply doesn’t make sense. I would really like that Law’s plan would include some little and useful plan for Caesar. That’s all in regards to what this chapter allow us to think about Law’s plan.

The Yonkou

About it I only say that if the Yonkou threaten with the stopping of SAD production is not Big Mom, then this panel, with the gear in between, and in the middle of Law’s speech about his plan, is bad drawn:

!

Luffy, the filler

Let’s suppose that it takes two more chapters, 10 more punches, and 6 crazy marvelous Caesar faces (I love them) more to reach the moment in which Luffy, finally, beats Caesar. If in all those hypothetic panels, Caesar doesn’t spit out another valuable information, used by the plot in some unsuspected way, or if all those panels doesn’t put Caesar or/and Luffy in an unsuspected position useful for the plot, then the practical result of their fight would be the same than we would have if the punch of the previous chapter would be the last and definitive one. That has a name. I'n not sure which one it is in english. In spanish we call it "relleno": unnecessary chapters or episodes for the development of the plot. I suppose it is filler scenes. Anyhow, as I wrote in the thread, in this arc Luffy doesn’t look stupid anymore, now he looks inept.

But I cherish this prediction: if the relationship between Law and Doflamingo is the one portrayed above, I predict that Doflamingo will beat Law, while Luffy tries to pull out his foot of some unexpected hole in the floor, and after that, Luffy will beat Doflamingo in a delightful and epic fight.

That’s all, people.

Credits: Batoto and Mangarule for the pics, cnet128 for the quoted passages.

MiyamotoMusashi

This post is deleted!

Strelok

This post is deleted!

Smiley

This post is deleted!

Katzztar

@Ukimix:

Chapter 690, S.A.D
A personal review

This is a long personal review of chapter 690. It's personal because it goes much more into some few theories than into objective descriptions. In spite of it, I hope you enjoy it.
[HIDE]
This chapter has surprised us with this scene:

http://img.batoto.net/comics/2012/12/01/o/read50b9f7f76c4ca/img000016.png

And it makes us wonder about two things between many other ones. I will begin with this one: if that happened, why Law couldn’t beat him the first time they fought?

http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/7461/firsttimetheyfought.png

Vergo's formidable haki? No, Law's fomidable devil fruit!

Now it is confirmed: Law was under Vergo’s attack over his heart all the time they fought for the first time. In that fight, he lacked the enough strength to do what he did in this chapter, and he only had enough strength for some not as devastating attacks.

To be sure, it is important to understand how Law could cut Vergo as he just did. Lets recall what Silver Rayleigh has explained about Armament haki.

! Translation by cnet128.

One important point is that the explanation doesn’t say that Armament haki is something like an invincible armour. It doesn’t say: “nobody will be able to damage you”. So, as a defensive shield, armament haki is not an absolute defense, has levels and, therefore, can be broken under the right conditions. Since, Law was beaten in the past by Vergo, and since Devil fruit powers can be developed and improved, we can assume that Law improved his Devil fruit powers to the point to be able to break Vergo’s formidable armament haki. No further explanation is required, and that explains pretty well the interaction between armament haki and devil fruit power we have seen in this chapter.

Law’s plan

Now this chapter offer valuable information to understand Law’s plan. This is the second thin I wonder about with that scene: if Law cut Vergo and the island in that way he did, why this dialogue occurs?

http://img.batoto.net/comics/2012/10/08/o/read5072cdded676c/img000006.png

Let me rewrite the question it this way:

If he Law had that level of power when he arrived to Punk Hazard,

if he knew SAD was produced there,

if he knew what use was given to SAD, then…

if he knew Ceasar was the man producing it,

…then that dialogue wouldn’t have sense at all. Because in that case, he simply had to take the island and kidnap Ceasar with his really impressive power. Why to spend time in presentations and in helping people that lost part of their bodies and in guarding Caesar, only to look for what he already knew?

So I think, some of these numerated assumptions have to be false. But, which one(s)? For sure, the first one was a matter of fact. So, in order to succeed with his plan, what Law didn't have when he arrived to Punk Hazard was knowledge, not power. It was some kind of knowledge that was convenient or necessary to have before taking the island.

Therefore, what does Law knew and what he doesn’t when he arrived? Let’s begin with the assumption (2): did Law knew about the SAD and that it was produced in Punk Hazard? Here we have to step back even further, to this moment:

http://i4.mangareader.net/one-piece/595/one-piece-2423433.jpg

According to what Vergo said when he figured out what was Law looking for, we can understand that Law wanted the War lord title "just to reach" SAD production room. Also, when they met again, Vergo speaks about SAD tanker to Law in such a familiar way that we would have to assume that Law knew that something called SAD was load in something called SAD tanker: “I was just in Dress Rosa, you see. And SAD tanker was leaving so I rode here.”. So, assumption (2) would be right. Law knew that SAD was produced there and that there were SAD tankers taking it to somewhere else (possibly to Dress Rosa…).

Did he know that the production island was Punk Hazard? Although we should have to be careful to take as a true what he says when he is introducing himself to Ceasar, he says that it was extremely hard to find Punk Hazard, so we may assume that he knew it.

Now, did Law knew how is SAD used (assumption 3)? Law is a smart guy. And to cut 100 hearts to become a War lord is not a small step. In a wild place the New World, with the powers involved, you have to be sure that the payback is worth enough to take such a step. But, it could happen that in the beginning Law just wanted to ruin Doflamingo’s organization by stopping the SAD production: given their common past, he knows that for some reason SAD is an important business for many powerful people in the New World, included Doflamingo; and later, in his search inside Punk Hazard, he discovers (i) that the SAD was used to produce the smiles fruit and also (ii) what Ceasar boast about when he talked to Luffy, namely: that according to a rumor among the organization, smiles were being used by a Yonkou to create an army. With such an important information, he decides to change his initial plan to ruin Doflamingo to a plan to take down a Yonkou.

On the other hand, it could happen that, from the very beginning, his plan was to take down that Yonkou that is creating an army with Doflamingo’s smiles. We still don’t have the knowledge to decide between those two alternatives.

War Lord title, a step in the plan?

In both cases, War Lord title should have to be used to open a way to the SAD production factory. But how to have that title could open that way? I don’t know. But let me offer some possible and believable situation in which that move fits as a step in Law’s plan.

Of course, Law doesn’t want to be a War Lord as his ultimate goal. And he used the title to approach the SAD factory. Who has to swallow that bone? Doflamingo and his organization, given the fact that the SAD is Doflamingo’s property. But why would Doflamingo and his mates swallow that bone, and what effect would produce in them the fact that Law gets that position?

Lets take in account what we know about the relationship between Doflamingo and Law and, mainly, the attitude shown to Doflamingo and his crew to Law. Law was a former member. Later he became a Super Nova, with his own crew and his own business. According to Doflamingo’s speech and to the things that his subordinates says about Law, it seems they was in some sense wishing or expecting that Law returned to their crew or at least that he took a position approved by them:

! Translation by cnet128

By this moment Doflamingo and his crew knows long time ago that Law is a War Lord. Now they seems to show affection and care for him and they show themselves disappointed by the fact that he’s trying to stop SAD production: that is a rebellion, but to get the War Lord position is not.

Doflamingo doesn’t want to turn the world into a chaos. Instead of that he wants to preserve the peace, as Law has spited out in this chapter. And precisely that is what War Lords are for: for preserving certain status quo. So, that could be the point of rupture between Law and Doflamingo. I imagine here Doflamino trying to control his subordinate by convincing him that to be a member of a War Lord was the best chance he had in a world ruled by the Yonkou, and Law thinking that being a War Lord was not something to be proud or something big enough, etc. In such a scenario, and after the breaking off, to get a War Lord position would be something like a wink, a gesture of sympathy, a sign that he comes back with a position that allow him to work again on the same line than his former captain. But in practical terms, as a step of his plan, this is a way to gain some time for his research in Punk Hazard, some time to approach the SAD room production quietly.

Law warned Caesar about not telling Joker that he was in Punk Hazard, yes. But he knew Caesar was going to tell him. If, in that moment, Law would not be a War Lord, maybe his arrival could be taken as a potential threat. But, thanks to the fact that Law got that position as a War Lord, Doflamingo doubts, and is trying to understand what is Law doing: “So.. The SAD room, eh…..?”… That is the best scenario I can imagine to make of the fact that Law get the War Lord title, a believable step of his plan.

Finally, with all this rationale, one thing that Law didn’t know when he arrived to Punk Hazard was that CC was the guy behind the SAD production (assumption (3)): notice, in the flashback above quoted, they talk as if it were the first time they met.

Now, with that overview on mind, it’s understandable why Vergo was a miscalculation in Law’s plan. He didn’t expect in any way that the powerful Vergo would come to the island. He took the risk to gave his heart, but he couldn’t imagine that his heart was going to be in the hands of someone as powerful as Vergo. But, in the end that miscalculation was caused by Luffy, since if Luffy the user of CoC wouldn’t arrive, Doflamingo wouldn’t send Vergo to Punk Hazard.
[/HIDE]

One last thing about Law’s plan. I really don’t understand why he wants to kidnap Caesar, and instead of that simply eliminate him. The point is that it will be always a risk to have Caesar chained with sea stone. And it would be much more safe simple to have him dead. Here you can say that in One Piece good guys never kill anybody, but I think that if that is the reason, then the story wouldn’t be believable. Even more if Law can remove the hearts of 100 guys to be able to prevent that the man that can produce SAD never won’t produce it anymore. That simply doesn’t make sense. I would really like that Law’s plan would include some little and useful plan for Caesar. That’s all in regards to what this chapter allow us to think about Law’s plan.

[HIDE]

The Yonkou

About it I only say that if the Yonkou threaten with the stopping of SAD production is not Big Mom, then this panel, with the gear in between, and in the middle of Law’s speech about his plan, is bad drawn:

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/2163/bigmomtheyonkoutargeted.png

Luffy, the filler

Let’s suppose that it takes two more chapters, 10 more punches, and 6 crazy marvelous Caesar faces (I love them) more to reach the moment in which Luffy, finally, beats Caesar. If in all those hypothetic panels, Caesar doesn’t spit out another valuable information, used by the plot in some unsuspected way, or if all those panels doesn’t put Caesar or/and Luffy in an unsuspected position useful for the plot, then the practical result of their fight would be the same than we would have if the punch of the previous chapter would be the last and definitive one. That has a name. I'n not sure which one it is in english. In spanish we call it "relleno": unnecessary chapters or episodes for the development of the plot. I suppose it is filler scenes. Anyhow, as I wrote in the thread, in this arc Luffy doesn’t look stupid anymore, now he looks inept.

But I cherish this prediction: if the relationship between Law and Doflamingo is the one portrayed above, I predict that Doflamingo will beat Law, while Luffy tries to pull out his foot of some unexpected hole in the floor, and after that, Luffy will beat Doflamingo in a delightful and epic fight.

That’s all, people.

Credits: Batoto and Mangarule for the pics, cnet128 for the quoted passages.[/HIDE]

Excellent review, I enjoyed it …though long :) so I hid part and showed the section I'll reply to. ITs too good to just post a section and not have rest for others to read if they wanted to.

Some have wondered if Law wants Caeser to continue to create SAD so he can get SMILE as well, but I don't think so.
IF Law was targeting Caeser just to stop the SAD from assisting (in form fo SMILE) that Yonkou, then it does make sense to kill him instead of capturing him.

Its a really long shot and very unlikely but ... I can't help but wonder if Law wants to capture Caeser to use him as a bargining chip for some reason. Maybe turn him over to the Marines to get something in return that would help against the Yonkou Law has targeted. The shichibukai have access to some items & info regular pirates can't get ahold of, but I bet there is a limit of how much since the World Govt. wouldn't trust them anymore than Marines.

Ukimix

@Katzztar:

Excellent review, I enjoyed it …though long :) so I hid part and showed the section I'll reply to. ITs too good to just post a section and not have rest for others to read if they wanted to.

Some have wondered if Law wants Caeser to continue to create SAD so he can get SMILE as well, but I don't think so.
IF Law was targeting Caeser just to stop the SAD from assisting (in form fo SMILE) that Yonkou, then it does make sense to kill him instead of capturing him.

Its a really long shot and very unlikely but ... I can't help but wonder if Law wants to capture Caeser to use him as a bargining chip for some reason. Maybe turn him over to the Marines to get something in return that would help against the Yonkou Law has targeted. The shichibukai have access to some items & info regular pirates can't get ahold of, but I bet there is a limit of how much since the World Govt. wouldn't trust them anymore than Marines.

Thanks. I like you enjoyed it. The worst possibly scenario would come if, for instance, one Yonkou decides to attack another Yonkou or directly the Gorosei or to Akainu or Kong. I wonder if Caesar could be a piece in a plan to get that. I mean, I think Law has to hand Caesar over to someone else. He won't keep Caesar for him. But who is going to receive the present? and why? Possibly Law's plan also has ploted about it.

Game And Guy

Only gripe is you could have used spoilers.

Jabra

Really nice review. Especially the part why Law had no chance against Vergo can't be highlighted enough. At this point it is really beyond me how people can not see that he only lost because he had the shit squeezed out of his heart. It's as you said, one of his biggest miscalculations was that Caesar gave Vergo his personal Law-K.O. button.

Caesar is no pushover either, but it's easy to imagine that getting the heart back from him is a million times easier than from Vergo. And I'm not talking about speed or power, but the simple fact that Caesar is an idiot. He might be a valuable scientist, but he is lacking street smarts (unlike Law).

War Lords are for: for preserving certain status quo

Well, that's how the government sees them. None of the Shichibukai has ever used his title to preserve anything (except Jinbe/Mihawk maybe), actually the opposite is the case.

Hancock gives a shit about what goes on in the world, Kuma is a revolutionary who infiltrated the government, Moriah had his own agenda to build an immortal army of undead soldiers before making his big move, Crocodile planned to awaken an ancient weapon, Blackbeard already broke and pissed on the status quo etc.

And in no way do I see Doflamingo as someone wo wants to preserve anything. Doflamingo always acted like the all knowing prophet who fortells how things will turn out. He is the one who pulls the strings, he is one of the deciding factors if the world is turned upside down. An era where only the strongest survive, that's his prediction.

And now comes this brat who was a mere Supernova 2 years ago and fucks him off. "All you did was preserving peace" easily tranlates to: "you acted like you were the big trendsetter, but you did nothing but sit in your chair laughing like a maniac. You talk, I do. And now you will watch how your most valuable subordinate goes down by my hand, and your age of smiles with him".
I think nothing would have hurt Doflamingo more than this line. He got him by his huge ego.

Neomaster121

after rereading the chapter and with vergo's haki i couldn't help but think vergo nearly broke sanji's leg with a kick imagine what would have happened if vergo had been serious

Strelok

Did my post get deleted?

Kishido

@Neomaster121:

after rereading the chapter and with vergo's haki i couldn't help but think vergo nearly broke sanji's leg with a kick imagine what would have happened if vergo had been serious

It would broke completely for sure. Dat Black Vergo

Jabra

@Neomaster121:

after rereading the chapter and with vergo's haki i couldn't help but think vergo nearly broke sanji's leg with a kick imagine what would have happened if vergo had been serious

I have a hard time imagining that Sanji was serious either.
It's sure interesting that we are in the second arc and we have still no idea what the SH's are capable of. In the first they oneshotted named semi-fodder, in the second the enemy is too strong to allow a real fight (Sanji being abused to hype Vergo).

Kishido

@Jabra:

I have a hard time imagining that Sanji was serious either.
It's sure interesting that we are in the second arc and we have still no idea what the SH's are capable of. In the first they oneshotted named semi-fodder, in the second the enemy is too strong to allow a real fight (Sanji being abused to hype Vergo).

Yeah what I found strange that the first 2 times he landed hits Sanji used DJ but to block Vergo's kick after mentionig that he is a mass of iron before, he used just a regular non DJ kick to block and well cracked his leg.

Somehow dumb from him… Next time he won't make the same mistake again and I can't wait for serious all out fights for the Strawhats... So far we had none

v-die

DJ is not for blocking? Can't remember that he ever blocked with it, against Jabra he even let one of his claws hit him, so he can deliver the finishing blow.

Aohige_AP

To be fair, Vergo wasn't using any special attacks like Rankyaku either.
Vergo was battling Sanji in the same manner as he was with Smoker, who actually had the upper hand early in the battle. (until he decided to go smoke mode to help Law)
It did overall feel like Vergo has an edge over Sanji, although a serious fight with Sanji full CoA DJ on him may have had a different result.

Ukimix

@Jabra:

And I'm not talking about speed or power, but the simple fact that Caesar is an idiot. He might be a valuable scientist, but he is lacking street smarts (unlike Law).

…

And in no way do I see Doflamingo as someone wo wants to preserve anything. Doflamingo always acted like the all knowing prophet who fortells how things will turn out. He is the one who pulls the strings, he is one of the deciding factors if the world is turned upside down. An era where only the strongest survive, that's his prediction.

And now comes this brat who was a mere Supernova 2 years ago and fucks him off. "All you did was preserving peace" easily tranlates to: "you acted like you were the big trendsetter, but you did nothing but sit in your chair laughing like a maniac. You talk, I do. And now you will watch how your most valuable subordinate goes down by my hand, and your age of smiles with him".
I think nothing would have hurt Doflamingo more than this line. He got him by his huge ego.

Thanks. I think the stupidity of Caesar is the same sick that Doflamingo have shown all the way in Punk Hazard. Law calls it: overconfidence.

About the second point, I would agree with Law: Doflamingo has been preserving something, only that it is not the peace, but just a state of affairs highly convenient for him and his business. I'm really looking forward to read the moment in the past relationship between Doflaminigo and Law would be explained: :-)

Jabra

Well, at least the arc did a good job showing what Vice Admiral's are really capable of. Marineford wasn't too kind to them, considering that they were up against much greater forces.

At least this panel will leave an impression

!

Aohige_AP

Only thing that I don't like about full-body CoA hardening is, it feels like Tekkai ver2.0
I want Rokushiki to be fairly unique, so we can see more of its awesomeness in the future. (afterall, VA use them too)

badmanversion1

@Ukimix:

Now, with that overview on mind, it’s understandable why Vergo was a miscalculation in Law’s plan. He didn’t expect in any way that the powerful Vergo would come to the island. He took the risk to gave his heart, but he couldn’t imagine that his heart was going to be in the hands of someone as powerful as Vergo. But, in the end that miscalculation was caused by Luffy, since if Luffy the user of CoC wouldn’t arrive, Doflamingo wouldn’t send Vergo to Punk Hazard.

Just to point out, it's not known if Vergo was sent by Doflamingo 'because of Luffy' is it?

In fact it's doubtful he was depending on timescales (how long it takes to get to Punk Hazard from Dress Rosa in a Tanker) - I suppose Geppou from the tanker to the island could speed things up however.

Timescales can't be figured out until the other two arrive.

Other than that - good work

zachri

I can't wait for this weeks chapter.
Then it'll be a weeklong of word fights.
Yay word fights.
oh glorious rage filled joy.
crammed full of theories and 'are-you-fucking-dumb?' moments.

The Laughing Man

I'm wondering what's going to happen this week. I mean… Vergo seems finished off, more or less, for Punk Hazard anyway, Monet is finished off, and I can't see CC doing much more (unless he combines with POISONKuni somehow, and goes UBER HARD BOSS MODE for a final fight). I mean really… What's left for the crew and Law to do on Punk Hazard? Basically, just escape POISONKuni alive and get the hell off the island (with captured CC).

Sakonosolo

Considering Law just cut the freaking island in half I'm interested in seeing what's going to happen this week too. I want Doflamingo's people to show up already.

Jabra

@The:

I'm wondering what's going to happen this week. I mean… Vergo seems finished off, more or less, for Punk Hazard anyway, Monet is finished off, and I can't see CC doing much more (unless he combines with POISONKuni somehow, and goes UBER HARD BOSS MODE for a final fight). I mean really… What's left for the crew and Law to do on Punk Hazard? Basically, just escape POISONKuni alive and get the hell off the island (with captured CC).

I guess Smoker and Tashigi pack their bags with a defeated Vergo/Caesar/Monet. Law removes Caesar's heart to ensure that he won't produce SAD anymore (even if captured, Akainu would use his science to his advantage) and the Straw Hats make their way to Wano. Mixed with some Momo/Kinemon drama.

And of course, Shinokuni is a massive failure. The last thing Caesar will see from Punk Hazard are all the victims being perfectly fine and healthy. The gas merely petrified them for a while, and every NW broker will witness Caesar's incompetence. The last chapter ends with a dramatic "Nooooooo!" combined with a hilarious face, CC style.

Edit: Oh, just the chapter next week. Well, I go with Luffy defeating Caesar effortlessly, that should cover most of the chapter.

The Laughing Man

Like I said, as cliche as it may sound, I really can see CC 'combining'–so to speak--with the massive amount of killer gas outside, and becoming a monstrosity for a final fight against Luffy. Of course, Luffy would win, and this would take care of both CC AND Shinokuni.

HTC

@Jabra:

I guess Smoker and Tashigi pack their bags with a defeated Vergo/Caesar/Monet. Law removes Caesar's heart to ensure that he won't produce SAD anymore (even if captured, Akainu would use his science to his advantage) and the Straw Hats make their way to Wano. Mixed with some Momo/Kinemon drama.

And of course, Shinokuni is a massive failure. The last thing Caesar will see from Punk Hazard are all the victims being perfectly fine and healthy. The gas merely petrified them for a while, and every NW broker will witness Caesar's incompetence. The last chapter ends with a dramatic "Nooooooo!" combined with a hilarious face, CC style.

Edit: Oh, just the chapter next week. Well, I go with Luffy defeating Caesar effortlessly, that should cover most of the chapter.

That would be icing on the cake for whatever ending Oda has planned.