@Seafarer33:
Maybe there's been a change of plans on Oda's side and additional adventure(s) will unravel before the crew reunites in Wano. Carefree exploration of some New World island to relax in between tension-heavy arcs, additional focus on the Zou team before they make it to Wano, Weevil tailing Luffy's group, catching up with whatever Fujitora is up to, … Even without Reverie, there are many ways the story can go before Wano officially starts that wouldn't feel like a complete detour and would still help build up the upcoming events.
I have my difficulties of seeing that happening because the duration of the Whole Cake Arc matches the 70 or so chapters of the Swirly Hats being absent from Dressrosa. Having more arcs aside from this one just shifts the screen time imbalance towards the Mosshead Straw Hats, which I am not really the biggest fan of. Also, it's not like the Straw Hats can't regroup on the way to Wano Country. We have no real reason to assume they actually made it to the mainland successfully if the Luffy is not going to in as quick a fashion.
@Koliber:
On one hand you're right, and that's exactly why cake battle would be better. But on the other, everything SHs did for the last 10 chapters was to endure until the cake is done. If Sanji manages to do it mid-battle in, I don't know, half an hour, wouldn't that make them look like complete fools? Especially in the situation The Human Typhoon described, so Sanji fighting against BMP and not allying with them like in the original Greg's theory. And while I'm not the biggest fan of Luffy escaping the mirrorland, it's only been pointless if he doesn't beat him in the end, since he managed to get something out of this battle already.
I was saying everything in my common under the assumption the Big Mom Pirates would team up with the Straw Hats. I still have my doubts about anybody in this arc getting full fights, including Luffy even if him and Katakuri scuffle a bit more somehow.
And what did he get out of this battle already aside from Brûlée and Katakuri's unique weakness? I say that under the assumption that Luffy and Katakuri do not fight again. I do think they may battle a bit and Luffy could learns something like Awakening. But if the Big Mom Pirates do team-up with the Straw Hats, then it's weird to have Katakuri be the only one knocked unconscious.
@Seafarer33:
Oven forcefully breaking in the factory during the process could have spiced things up by a great deal, but what we got instead feels rather tame indeed. Unless Oda is keeping it low key because he plans to show further cooking later on, I can't say Sanji's side of the action has felt very rewarding so far. It's pleasant to read, but nothing I'd call memorable.
Exactly.
I think you're being a little severe. Given where he's landed, I'd say Luffy will be forced to go back to the mirror world soon enough and his short escapade will have been a believable way to survive Gear 4's down time while still providing some action for the reader. Having him chill out in some empty house instead would really feel lame in comparison, not to mention successfully evading Katakuri for the next 10 minutes while still trapped in the mirror dimension would feel like contrived plot armor.
Then what was the point of Luffy escaping? I feel like throwing Luffy into such a hectic situation only to throw him back into a less hectic situation with nothing changing aside from Luffy charging up is rather cheap. And also repetitive because this is exactly what happened in Dressrosa, Luffy should learn something new by now to avoid having to do this against the Beast Pirates. I know that Luffy can't hide in an interesting way in the Mirror World, but I don't really like this quick break thing either because it feels so convenient for Luffy that it's almost like cheating. As well as taking Luffy out of a more interesting situation and back to one he was monotonously in before.
I think the best solution is for somebody to snatch Brûlée away to break Katakuri out. Then all kinds of wacky things can happen from there.
