Chapter 896: The Last Request

[YoiYoi]

@SuburbanErrorist:

But no one is disputing that.

The problem was that Katakuri has his pride and for him to defeat someone with the help of someone else, doesn't satisfy him.

I'm the same on online games, to put it more specifically, Battlefield 4 when i was one of the top Jet pilots. I hated it when some other jet would come in trying to help me, it just made it really difficult for the other guy and I would get no satisfaction in beating another good pilot with the help of someone else because it doesn't show my skill. Sure teamwork is required to defeat the opponent and its a teamplay game, but I take pride in beating people 1v1, no interference.

That's why I understand Katakuri's emotions very well.

Luffy on the other hand is different. Luffy in Doflamingo's case, has an objective, that objective was to stop Doflamingo from killing an entire country. He doesn't give a shit if his opponent is weaker and it's unfair, he needs to take him out to save his friends.

All I'm saying is that Katakuri willingly gave Luffy this victory on a silver platter.
Whether it's stupid or understandable for Katakuri to behave like that is irrelevant, Luffy won because Katakuri was "Honorable"

[MiyamotoMusashi]

@KageKageKing:

I don't think Oda would bring Katakuri back again at another arc. It would like drag a car out of fuel to the nearby post miles away.

All points out to be a kiss.

Not as an antagonist, no, both his and BM´s role of main antagonists will be over this arc, even if the Strawhats do not leave as allies.
Oda won´t waste a 80 chapter arc as build-up for a future confrontation, especially since this arc would have no raison d'être

[SuburbanErrorist]

@Blissed:

Again, there's a very obvious flaw in regards to Pudding erasing all traces of herself from Sanji's memories.

@Icefae:

Do the SFX after Pudding takes Sanji's cigarette give us insight into what happened? The spoilers seemed to suggest that she wanted him to stop smoking but now I think we're meant to assume that she kissed him.

The SFX could possibly just the sound of pudding crying

OR

the start of her talking to Sanji and them two talking.

I think it might be the former.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@YoiYoi:

All I'm saying is that Katakuri willingly gave Luffy this victory on a silver platter.
Whether it's stupid or understandable for Katakuri to behave like that is irrelevant, Luffy won because Katakuri was "Honorable"

No, that's not being honorable. It has nothing to do with honour.

Katakuri doesn't want to win with the help of third parties. That would mean Luffy was too much for Katakuri to handle and it would ruin his image. It's all pride not Honour.

In order to show that he could beat Luffy back at the same level in which they were before, he decided to stab himself back to the even playing field before.

Nothing even changed, they both took the same amount of damage from the same attack.

[sgamer82]

@YoiYoi:

All I'm saying is that Katakuri willingly gave Luffy this victory on a silver platter.
Whether it's stupid or understandable for Katakuri to behave like that is irrelevant, Luffy won because Katakuri was "Honorable"

Katakuri was only honorable because Luffy got injured by a third party. One wouldn't have happened without the other so, to me personally, that breaks even. Katakuri didn't make the fight equal, he kept it equal, unless there's something I missed that suggests the fight would've gone differently had Flampe not intervened.

In Universe, yeah, it's a boneheaded move, honor before reason. For us the readers, it ultimately didn't affect anything.

[Sirxxx]

Poor Smoothie. She did LITERALLY ONE THING on camera (well, two if you count getting taller), then was never heard from again.

Seriously, the Strawhats somehow managed to shake her and her fleet sometime over the two week break and didn't even care enough to comment about it. They all look super chill this chapter.

When well Oda let Smoothie be great?! :'-(

[SuburbanErrorist]

It's almost like people think Katakuri stabbed himself randomly just to make himself equal to Luffy and have a fair fight because he thought he was too strong. While Luffy has no stab wound.

[flyingpanman]

Theres one more option that the Straw Hats dont have to come back to defeat Big Mom though… which is some other rookies in the worst Generation had teamed up and took down Big Mom while they are still weak after Luffy's time here, which isn't that surprising considering that Morgan would probably report this to the whole world. This way Luffy wouldnt have a need to take down Big Mom again in the future.

[sgamer82]

@SuburbanErrorist:

It's almost like people think Katakuri stabbed himself randomly just to make himself equal to Luffy and have a fair fight because he thought he was too strong. While Luffy has no stab wound.

Not sure if sarcastic or serious, so I'll just note he lost a chunk of his side to Katakuri's trident after Flampe interfered.

[SuburbanErrorist]

@sgamer82:

Katakuri was only honorable because Luffy got injured by a third party. One wouldn't have happened without the other so, to me personally, that breaks even. Katakuri didn't make the fight equal, he kept it equal, unless there's something I missed that suggests the fight would've gone differently had Flampe not intervened.

In Universe, yeah, it's a boneheaded move, honor before reason. For us the readers, it ultimately didn't affect anything.

While they respected each other.

It was out of Katakuri's own pride to even the playing field.

[sgamer82]

@SuburbanErrorist:

While they respected each other.

It was out of Katakuri's own pride to even the playing field.

Hence "kept it equal".

[SuburbanErrorist]

@sgamer82:

Not sure if sarcastic or serious, so I'll just note he lost a chunk of his side to Katakuri's trident after Flampe interfered.

I'll explain it like this.

Luffy is normal and hasn't been stabbed. He's got a perfectly normally functioning abdomen.

Katakuri thinks to himself "Oh, look at me I'm too strong for this guy, I need to make myself weaker to be at his level and give him a fair go.

STABS SELF

Out of my honor and respect for you, in order to have a fair fight I wanted to injure myself so you're uninjured self has a chance of being at my level.

If that happened, that's what's called handing the fight over on a silver platter.

[Watch-man]

@SuburbanErrorist:

People aren't asking the real questions.

Where did Luffy get that extra hat? That's an asspull because he literally pulled it out of his ass

He got it during his meeting with Bege I think. When all of people that got into alliance got to change their cloths to be up to Bege "standards".

It is visible on Luffys back for most of this arc.

[Blissed]

@flyingpanman:

Theres one more option that the Straw Hats dont have to come back to defeat Big Mom though… which is some other rookies in the worst Generation had teamed up and took down Big Mom while they are still weak after Luffy's time here, which isn't that surprising considering that Morgan would probably report this to the whole world. This way Luffy wouldnt have a need to take down Big Mom again in the future.

Well, setting aside the fact that they'd need much more manpower if they want to take down Big Mom and her crew, nearly all of the Supernovas will be busy in the Wano arc. The only ones that aren't involved as far as we know are Urouge, Bege, and Bonney. Bege is literally in this arc, and I highly doubt he'll attempt to come back here anytime soon since his assassination plans have failed. Doubt Urouge will come back. So that kind of just leaves Bonney.

[.access timeco.]

@YoiYoi:

All I'm saying is that Katakuri willingly gave Luffy this victory on a silver platter.
Whether it's stupid or understandable for Katakuri to behave like that is irrelevant, Luffy won because Katakuri was "Honorable"

You see, that's the problem with this line of thinking:

"Katakuri only lost because he injured himself. He would have won if this was a fair fight"
If this was a fair fight Flambé wouldn't be there to ensure Luffy would suffer the same injure Katakuri then inflicted on himself.
"Yeah, but there is no thing as fair fight between pirates, Luffy said so himself"

I mean…

[sgamer82]

@SuburbanErrorist:

I'll explain it like this.

Luffy is normal and hasn't been stabbed. He's got a perfectly normally functioning abdomen.

Katakuri thinks to himself "Oh, look at me I'm too strong for this guy, I need to make myself weaker to be at his level and give him a fair go.

STABS SELF

Out of my honor and respect for you, in order to have a fair fight I wanted to injure myself so you're uninjured self has a chance of being at my level.

If that happened, that's what's called handing the fight over on a silver platter.

I'm not sure that, even in the One Piece world, "losing a chunk of your left side" counts as "uninjured".

[uniaka ikuzakas]

Every chapter we get more things poiting to no deal at the end, even now when luffy confirmed he will beat BM in the future, or Mont'dor said they will exec them as example, yet they will somehow be friends at the end lol.

And I don't think pudding changed sanji's memory because the Others still remember her and will tell him.

@maxterdexter:

In the very very very unlikely chance that the Big Mom Pirates get a new arc to be the villains, Katakuri is fighting Zoro.

No way, Oda doesn't give Zoro luffy's leftovers from previous arcs. Oda even makes Zoro beat some villains luffy has in that very arc, like base hody or Morgan. If luffy would face bm pirates again, zoro will even get to hurt bad BM herself. Thats is how much oda loves zoro.
Only sanji or jimbei could hope for katakuri if they will get round 2 with bm pirates in future arc.

But for me it's clear only Bm could return as villain, not her family.

[SuburbanErrorist]

@sgamer82:

Hence "kept it equal".

I was just talking about the word use. The guy was saying Katakuri was honorable when it had nothing to do with it, but pride.
If he were honorable to make it an even fight and stabbed himself, or if due to his own pride he stabbed himself because he doesn't like winning with help of third parties.
Both are the same end result.

But the fine difference that people need to understand is that he did what he did because of his own pride and that's not handing the fight over.

On a side note, If anything, this was a plot device to make the fight go faster. Imagine if there were no interference's and Luffy kept dodging normally, the fight would go well way past the meeting time.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

@sgamer82:

I'm not sure that, even in the One Piece world, "losing a chunk of your left side" counts as "uninjured".

You still aren't getting my point.

What I'm saying is, people treat it like Katakuri stabbed himself for no reason, became weaker, meanwhile nothing happened to Luffy. Therefore Luffy won the fight.

But that's not what happened.

[sgamer82]

@SuburbanErrorist:

I was just talking about the word use. The guy was saying Katakuri was honorable when it had nothing to do with it, but pride.
If he were honorable to make it an even fight and stabbed himself, or if due to his own pride he stabbed himself because he doesn't like winning with help of third parties.
Both are the same end result.

But the fine difference that people need to understand is that he did what he did because of his own pride and that's not handing the fight over.

On a side note, If anything, this was a plot device to make the fight go faster. Imagine if there were no interference's and Luffy kept dodging normally, the fight would go well way past the meeting time.

–- Update From New Post Merge ---

You still aren't getting my point.

What I'm saying is, people treat it like Katakuri stabbed himself for no reason, became weaker, meanwhile nothing happened to Luffy. Therefore Luffy won the fight.

But that's not what happened.

So it was sarcasm originally, then? Your second post had me thinking you were being serious about all that, which probably didn't help my understanding of your posts.

[SuburbanErrorist]

@.access:

You see, that's the problem with this line of thinking:

"Katakuri only lost because he injured himself. He would have won if this was a fair fight"
> If this was a fair fight Flambé wouldn't be there to ensure Luffy would suffer the same injure Katakuri then inflicted on himself. > "Yeah, but there is no thing as fair fight between pirates, Luffy said so himself"

I mean…

Exactly this.

People need to understand Katakuri's thought process. Originally he had an objective, which was to take out Luffy because he was a "threat". As he started to fight Luffy he realised that he is different to anyone else he's fought against before. He can't take him out after many hours, during this time he forgets about his objective and thinks about what his entire life has been, a man that has never been defeated. Now there is someone challenging this and wants to take him out to give himself that self satisfaction of winning.

It's probably hard for some to understand this, but his feelings and the way Oda portrayed him are so evidently clear to me.

Katakuri is actually a selfish person and only wanted to win for himself, his pride clouded that Luffy wouldn't be able to do anything. After many hours of fighting, he realised that this fighter, our protagonist is a machine. Because of this self worth mission, he gets pissed off when someone helps him.

Now defeating Luffy would be easy, and if he did, he wouldn't be able to sleep knowing he couldn't beat someone and his image would be broken.

[Chams]

To be honest, the fact that Luffy was keeping the mafia hat on top of the strawhat was really bothering me the past few chapters. Now, I absolutely loved the detail of him covering Kata's mouth! It felt great to see their interaction.

On the other hand, hated the cover. We already knew Harjudinn, why couldn't we see all of the other giant pirates? Maybe this cover story will be just prrsenting them, not them doing anything.

I feel Pudding's been thrown to the side for this end of the arc, like if she suddenly became unimportant

[GeeBi]

damn luffy will get out of the mirror world.
If he could defeat katakuri , what would those fodder pirates do ?

[sgamer82]

@GeeBi:

damn luffy will get out of the mirror world.
If he could defeat katakuri , what would those fodder pirates do ?

Try to take Luffy out while he's monumentally exhausted after the hours long marathon fight against Katakuri he just barely won?

[Halfmetal-lich]

Thank christ this fucking fight is over.

Good chapter all around, but I hope this wraps up in the next month. I'm pretty much done with Whole Cake.

[KageKageKing]

They left Whole Cake last year.

This is Totland arc, not Whole Cake arc.

[otakufan]

Said it in the spoiler thread, I'll say it again here: If Katakuri isn't reintroduced in a later arc wearing that ****ing hat, I'm going to be sorely disappointed.

[SuburbanErrorist]

@Halfmetal-lich:

Thank christ this fucking fight is over.

Good chapter all around, but I hope this wraps up in the next month. I'm pretty much done with Whole Cake.

Fight was so short. I Wanted more.

[FreakoFreako]

It felt like the only thing keeping Katakuri up was whether or not he'll be able to see Luffy again. Kinda like someone who's worried they'll never be able to see their friend/family member again

It's hard to not like him at this point, but man I hope he's not there when Big Mom's fighting Luffy because I don't want him to job to Zoro as well

[Watch-man]

Maybe Pudding altered some of awful memories Sanji had to make them bit less painful for him. It would be nice gift but it would also affect Sanji in some ways.

We are yet to see him interacting with Germa so maybe that is what Pudding did.

Also I am very interested in Sanji being center of start and ending of this arc. I still hope for some very flashy show off of his combat power.

Luffy said Sanji is super strong and that would be great moment to show it before we head to Wano.

[Sereques]

@BingBang:

After reading the chapter i continue to say that the battle was a draw but the only difference was that Luffy had something to fight for (meet others at 1 and escape). The both attacks connected and both were nearly defeated. I think Katakuri decided to let him go after answering his question. He knows what he is capable of and how he can grow fighting stronger enemies. That's why Katakuri let him go and Luffy gave him the black hat (it's a mirror match so he has right now a hat like Luffy) to show him respect (first time an enemy receives that from Luffy).

As long as it makes you sleep at night, it's cool.

[ARTEMlS]

@Kaido:

But really Oda? Introducing this Nazoms guy out of absolutely nowhere when the arc's about to end? At least Gastino had enough time to make an impression, but this is like prime asspull territory right here. How does he know Pedro? Did he escape from the circus? Why was he foreshadowed by the title of Chapter 888? I mean, honestly Pekoms could've been inserted here and that would've made more sense.

Seriously, you really fell for that?! Really, how can someone not instantly see through that poorly made disguise? It's an already perfectly established character whose name begins with "pe". It's just such a no-brainer…

! Of course it's Pedro. How else would he know about his so-called demise otherwise?

[SuburbanErrorist]

@FreakoFreako:

It felt like the only thing keeping Katakuri up was whether or not he'll be able to see Luffy again. Kinda like someone who's worried they'll never be able to see their friend/family member again

It's hard to not like him at this point, but man I hope he's not there when Big Mom's fighting Luffy because I don't want him to job to Zoro as well

u

I was thinking the same thing. I hope Zoro doesn't beat Katakuri or something like that if Luffy ever meets up with Big Mom again.

It also wouldn't make any sense to see him fight again, especially one of Luffy's former defeated opponents. This whole scene might be a lead up to something with Katakuri in the future, who knows.

Katakuri for Nakama!

[LightningAce]

Dam. For a moment i figured it was a tie. But he's fallen as well.

You i'd really like it if Zoro had a fight just like this. His recent fights have been not that good or even much of a challenge for him.

[uniaka ikuzakas]

So where is snack? Name dropped ever since cracker, only introduced like 2 chapters ago in a very small panel. What is oda saving him for.

[Buggy D. Clown]

@uniaka:

So where is snack? Name dropped ever since cracker, only introduced like 2 chapters ago in a very small panel. What is oda saving him for.

I don't think even Oda cares about him.

He already lost face losing to the mad monk.

Also, was that the end of Smoothie? Lol we saw her get big for 1 chapter and now she's no where to be found. She probably got off paneled.

I wonder if we'll see the Germa in this arc or are they done? Would like to see again. But the arc seems to he going towards its end fairly quickly. I'm thinking 4-6 more chapters, we should have the SHs saying bye and on their middle of the sea chapter where we should see a newspaper or other world events.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the world's reaction and other events that transpired during the WCI arc. Hurryyyyy

[joesephes]

The respect between Luffy and Katakuri is very strong indeed! I love it!

[AlphaMale]

sanji on wano island when he met zoro

[Neaeran]

I wonder if Pudding did something to Sanjis memory … or if she is trying to help him somehow by sacrificing herself. I mean ... it could be just a kiss. But i would find it interesting if she has some sort of plan.

[.access timeco.]

@Buggy:

He already lost face losing to the mad monk.

Urouge is one of the worst generation. After Cracker and Katakuri were defeated by Luffy, Snack losing to Urouge doesn't look shameful anymore.

@Buggy:

Also, was that the end of Smoothie? Lol we saw her get big for 1 chapter and now she's no where to be found. She probably got off paneled.

Oh god, I completely forgot about her.

[Jabra]

Wow, I didn't think that the last panel with Pudding could be her mindwiping Sanji. This would be a super evil move from Oda, even worse if a kiss happened before the wipe.
If that's the case, I absolutely love it. Very fitting conclusion. Bittersweet, but fitting for anything Sanji.

[Sheep]

@.access:

Urouge is one of the worst generation. After Cracker and Katakuri were defeated by Luffy, Snack losing to Urouge doesn't look shameful anymore.

I wonder if Katakuri and Cracker are getting demoted like Snack. I have this scene in my head with Big Mom sitting on the throne of her demolished castle, a single tear rolling down her cheek as she realizes that Smoothie of all people is her only sweet commander left and that she'll have to rely on her the most in the future.

[flyingpanman]

@Buggy:

I don't think even Oda cares about him.

He already lost face losing to the mad monk.

Also, was that the end of Smoothie? Lol we saw her get big for 1 chapter and now she's no where to be found. She probably got off paneled.

I wonder if we'll see the Germa in this arc or are they done? Would like to see again. But the arc seems to he going towards its end fairly quickly. I'm thinking 4-6 more chapters, we should have the SHs saying bye and on their middle of the sea chapter where we should see a newspaper or other world events.

Looking forward to seeing the rest of the world's reaction and other events that transpired during the WCI arc. Hurryyyyy

Germa and the fishman pirates are probably the ones who also help to assist in their escape..

if ppl are pissed off at Luffy being able to defeat Kata.. what would they think if Sanji was actually able to get Luffy and escape from them from under such a huge army ?

[eledan]

@Jabra:

Wow, I didn't think that the last panel with Pudding could be her mindwiping Sanji. This would be a super evil move from Oda, even worse if a kiss happened before the wipe.
If that's the case, I absolutely love it. Very fitting conclusion. Bittersweet, but fitting for anything Sanji.

There would be no point in doing that since all the other Straw Hats know about her.

[Jaime]

Oda doesn't hate Sanji that much guys….maybe.

[dropper]

Pudding will backstab Sanji, wait til' you see…..

[DollarScholar]

dreadful chapter… not even a bite of mochi. well its not too late yet

[Game And Guy]

i think nazoms is my favourite new character

[Jabra]

@eledan:

There would be no point in doing that since all the other Straw Hats know about her.

The point is that Pudding has a DID, mindwiping the kiss makes perfect sense. Lovestruck Pudding gives him a kiss, Psycho Pudding is immediately ashamed and undoes it with her fruit powers.

[Sanji's Burgers]

Bad writing, not because Katakuri lost. Of course luffy would win as he is the MC of a shonen, but how he lost. Overall boring, uncreative, nothing new. Not a victory worthy of one that took as long as it did, nor for that of a top yonko commander. And the fact that luffy took such a beating this fight(also the Arc as a whole) and still be able to walk away. That just ruins it for the rest of the series. It ruins the suspense, Luffy lack any real threats if he just going to walk it off. Sorry but Oda doesn't get a pass this time. This close to Fairy Tale level of bad. You might rebuttal with "so was luffy suppose to lose?". However like said luffy is suppose to win, but the problem is that Oda wrote himself into a situation in which it made it so unbelievable that luffy would win that he would need to write some incredible comeback. All he did was have luffy punch Katakuri really fast. "meh" is all I can say. In retrospect this battle started out like it was Luffy vs Lucci and ended like it was Luffy vs Blueno. Just disappointed in Oda. If anyone could come up with spectacular outcomes you'd think it'd be Oda. Alas OP is just another shonen

[Kaizoku_Ou]

I found it weird that King Cobra didn't send Katukri flying. Awesome conclusion non the less.

@RamistaR:

What is your signature from ? Looks fun.

Same for yours I've been meaning to ask you for a while now.

[Kaido King of the Beasts]

@GeeBi:

damn luffy will get out of the mirror world.
If he could defeat katakuri , what would those fodder pirates do ?

Same thing as what the Enraged Army did