Chapter 781: "Long-Cherished Desire"

[Daz]

@The:

I would like to see some people who are quite powerful trying to stop the bird cage, just to confirm that they can't do anything and/or show that they are being proactive. I doubt that Gravity will be able to change directions, or even if it's possible, it would be only a small portion. With people scattered all over the place, you would have many doomed to death, so even with some of the strong characters they wouldn't be able to save everyone.

We already saw Fujitora dropping a meteor onto the cage to no effect though.

What I'd like to see is every fighter pursuing the 100% surefire way of stopping the cage, which they were all roaring to do 30 chapters ago: Ganging up on Doflamingo, who everyone is incidentally being forced towards anyway.
Also, use Mansherry to recover some people like Kyros and Barto is a strategic no-brainer, since "saving" her ability is absolutely pointless if Doflamingo and his birdcage is not stopped. Stop Doffy, THEN heal people, instead of letting Doffy kill everyone and healing NO people. Now is not the time to keep your advantages in goddamn reserve because "we're reasonably sure Luffy and Law can handle it", which also instantly drains away tension.

Thats what I'd like to see…but Usopp and the Samurai being cheerleaders on the plateau has me less than hopeful.

[Master Killer]

Pretty Ok chapter. A little of Naruto style bullshit. But still was great.

Really hyped about the battle. Luffy must use some new technique to bit this monster.

[RobZilla]

@Maromi:

actually walks back in thread because where are you people getting the idea that Law's "Room" is visible to the naked eye? it's not. it cannot be seen, just like Conqueror's Haki can't be seen.

…eh it's not invisible at all.

People can see it.

We've known that since the first time we saw it, back on Saboady.

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[Nex 0]

@Daz:

So whats the deal with "Gamma knife"

It can't be cutting you up shambles-style, because that doesn't actually hurt you.
Does it literally disentegrate your organs? Because I can't see how even magic DF strings would help in that case.
Or does the translation say it just generically and vaguely "destroys" you?

And what was up with it being a weird energy-blade thing. Thats not very doctor-like. Really, it seems quite unlike Laws other moves so far; I guess except counter shock, purely visually? So Law can generate blades of energy that instead of shocking you cut you up (maybe?) but only from the inside, only on the organs, so I guess its kinda like if Law went to town on your insides with Scalpel maybe (not the shamble-cuts), only its self- perpetuating and gradual, continuing independently of Law once administered, like a degenerative virus or something?

Yes, recent DF handling still bug the shit out of me, Laws in particular.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/basics/definition/prc-20014760

It's a tool for treating brain tumors. It is essentially a blade of energy.

[Daz]

@King:

It's just a variation of Countershock, except more focused in one spot.

If its just an electric shock, what the hell does internal stiches help?
How does a single shock create a gradual "destruction from within?"
Why is it a variation on Kizarus lightsaber?

Sorry but no, it doesn not seem to be as straightforward as "just like counter shock", except if you're deliberately trying to rationalize away yet more exotic Ope Ope abilities.

[Darth]

So the opinions are about fifty-fifty thus far?

Alright, allow me to add some positive one into the mix.

Those are things I appreciate about this chapter:

I was longer then the last one.

Art was better.

[Nex 0]

@RobZilla:

…eh it's not invisible at all.

People can see it.

We've known that since the first time we saw it, back on Saboady.

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I think the edges are visible, but the interior isn't. So if you don't see it go up, you don't see it at all.

[Alfiere]

Awful.
Three chapters. Three chapters to build up the very same Ope ope ass-pull shenanigans and Law wanking we've been havin for how long now? two years? And now we're at the EXACT SAME POINT, plot wise, we were last week.
I haven't been able to enjoy ONE PIECE the way i did for years for a while now, but seeing how a lot of people here still enjoied it and had good arguments to explain why they did, was conforting me and i just kinda assumed it simply happened not to match my taste ad future arcs would entertain me again… but now all i can see is total lack of fresh ideas on Oda's part and blind fanboyism struggling to see just the bright side (and it's still there, but it's not enough to match the bad stuff) and defending the undefendable.

The fake-out on deaths is Fairty Tail level. no one in their right mind could believe Law's demise and Oda couldn't keep the tension for 2 chapters straight.
The "taste the hax of my OP devil fruit!" "that's cute, here's real HAXness!" "Bitch please, look how i can do something completly unrelated to the original ability of my DF and reach new levels of OPness" back and forth is NARUTO LEVEL.
The pacing... ok i won't go as far as saying that's Bleach level, but let's be honest, it doesn't fall far. last three chapters could easily be just one and nothing of value would be lost.

Even the cover story is dull, repetitive, random and needlessly convulted. i don't have the slightest idea of what's going on, i don't remember the story so far and, most of all, i can't bring myself to care about it.

This has nothing to do with the ONE PIECE i looked forward every week to read as soon as it came out. i'm still glad that many people still enjoy it, but i can't help to believe that an identical chapter as this one came out for Bleach or Naruto, we'd have now a 15+ page thread of deserved bashing and even longer rants than mine.

[Daz]

@Nex:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/gamma-knife-radiosurgery/basics/definition/prc-20014760

It's a tool for treating brain tumors. It is essentially a blade of energy.

So its not an energy blade as much as a radiation blade?

Essentially Doflamingo is countering chemoradiotherapy with internal stitches?

[The Franky Tank]

@Daz:

We already saw Fujitora dropping a meteor onto the cage to no effect though.

What I'd like to see is every fighter pursuing the 100% surefire way of stopping the cage, which they were all roaring to do 30 chapters ago: Ganging up on Doflamingo, who everyone is incidentally being forced towards anyway.
Also, use Mansherry to recover some people like Kyros and Barto is a strategic no-brainer, since "saving" her ability is absolutely pointless if Doflamingo and his birdcage is not stopped. Stop Doffy, THEN heal people, instead of letting Doffy kill everyone and healing NO people. Now is not the time to keep your advantages in goddamn reserve because "we're reasonably sure Luffy and Law can handle it", which also instantly drains away tension.

Thats what I'd like to see…but Usopp and the Samurai being cheerleaders on the plateau has me less than hopeful.

Well for those at the Plateau (Usopp, Zoro, etc). I have doubts that they could get there in time. Goin down, to the center, and then climb up. As for those closer, I can see them trying to come up, and Maybe Trebol's role will be sniping them as they try to come up. I think there is enough going on that none of the people would be able to come and help at this rate.

@Darth:

So the opinions are about fifty-fifty thus far? Alright, allow me to add some positive one into the mix.

Those are things I appreciate about this chapter:

I was longer then the last one.

Art was better.

Hard to say, but definitely more negative than some of the other threads. Also, you have some who didn't like the chapter, but are defending certain aspects. I'd say more 60:40 with more negatives.

[Kizuchan]

That was another pretty good action chapter. Yeah, Doffy definitely cared, just put his dream/ambition first.

and of course, people say it's dragging. Let it drag then because I definitely want Doffy to get a proper fight. It's been set up for like 10 years. It better be a proper fight.

[Nex 0]

@Daz:

So its not an energy blade as much as a radiation blade?

Essentially Doflamingo is countering chemotherapy with internal stitches?

Yes and no, I guess. It seems like Law is forcing the radiation directly onto his organs so I'm not sure how stitches would help… Then again the OP version of the gamma blade could function more like an actual knife than the real world equivalent. I just wanted to throw out that it is, at least, very loosely based on a real world surgeon's tool.

[RobZilla]

@Daz:

If its just an electric shock, what the hell does internal stiches help?
How does a single shock create a gradual "destruction from within?"
Why is it a variation on Kizarus lightsaber?

Sorry but no, it doesn not seem to be as straightforward as "just like counter shock", except if you're deliberately trying to rationalize away yet more exotic Ope Ope abilities.

I don't think it's anything like counter shock tbh.

Counter Shock is an electric attack based on electrical paddles used in surgery.

I assume Gamma Knife is based upon chemotherapy, using radiation to destroy.

[SamTheDrunk]

On page 17, Oda forgot to add the gaps in Trebol's teeth.

[Maromi]

@Nex:

I think the edges are visible, but the interior isn't. So if you don't see it go up, you don't see it at all.

this is possible, but it was always my thinking that Oda drew it so the readers can "see" it and know that it's there, but people in the story can't actually see it.

[Hnikarr]

@Daz:

So its not an energy blade as much as a radiation blade?

Essentially Doflamingo is countering chemotherapy with internal stitches?

Well, after all in Odaverse bandages and band-aids cure everything…

[RobZilla]

@Nex:

I think the edges are visible, but the interior isn't. So if you don't see it go up, you don't see it at all.

Well I just think it depends how close you are to the boundaries ie the visible parts.

If that marine had closed his eyes while Law expanded his room, and then opened them when it was up, he'd have been able to see it.

[Razh]

@RobZilla:

I don't think it's anything like counter shock tbh.

Counter Shock is an electric attack based on electrical paddles used in surgery.

I assume Gamma Knife is based upon chemotherapy, using radiation to destroy.

Yeah, it's just compressed beams of radiation that are focused enough to be able to cut through soft tissue. No electricity, no heat.

Don't see what chemotherapy has to do with radiation, though.

[Jazo]

@RobZilla:

I'm gonna go ahead and guess that Law can instantaneously create rooms rather than having to expand them into existence every time.

That would make his fruit even more overpowered. So now he can create rooms without the opponent getting a chance to dodge? Seems legit..

@RobZilla:

Why would they possibly do that?

CoO isn't something you just have permanently turned on and it covers everything in a certain radius.

It takes a conscious effort.

Let's make a conscious effort to scan this guy that's full of bullets lying on the ground in front of us in plain sight?

It's just stupid.

It takes a conscious effort, when you don't know where to look - for example when Zoro was looking for Pica or Sanji for the samurai's body. In a fight it is "turned on", if you can even call it that, at all times. And even if they didn't use it, they should've noticed the difference in body type etc. Also he switched with the body yet another time after that, and they still didn't notice..

@RobZilla:

How can it be a handicap if Doffy fixed the damage and got up?

It's no longer an existing wound, it's been mended (albeit in simplistic fashion) by Doffy's strings.

He certainly didn't seem particularly handicapped when he calmly walked over to crush Law's skull.

As Razh stated, it will probably not be shown as a handicap, but it very much should. The injuries have not been mended at all, as he stated himself, and that is exactly the reason, the handicap should be there - unless the damage isn't as bad as Law stated. And you cannot know the effect of the injuries just by him walking and almost landing a kick. For that, we have to wait for the next chapter.

[RobZilla]

@Maromi:

this is possible, but it was always my thinking that Oda drew it so the readers can "see" it and know that it's there, but people in the story can't actually see it.

Nah, they can definitely see it.

@RobZilla:

…eh it's not invisible at all.

People can see it.

We've known that since the first time we saw it, back on Saboady.

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@Jazo:

That would make his fruit even more overpowered. So now he can create rooms without the opponent getting a chance to dodge? Seems legit..

What difference does it make if he create them or expand them?

If the room is small enough the person will still see the boundaries and run.

Or they'll protect themselves with haki if they're proficient enough.

[Razh]

Trebol shouldn't have been confused if Room is invisible to begin with.

[CrazyMerlyn]

@RobZilla:

He can vast quantities of string and mesh them together to create much thicker and more durable strings, so he arranges them in a huge cage-like structure.

What about the whole no communication thing? That's totally ridiculous.

[Daz]

@The:

Well for those at the Plateau (Usopp, Zoro, etc). I have doubts that they could get there in time. Goin down, to the center, and then climb up

If only there was an ability user on the plateau who could conjure up flying mounts for everyone out of thin air…

[Darth]

@Daz:

If only there was an ability user on the plateau who could conjure up flying mounts for everyone out of thin air…

Or some guy of incredible power with the ability to fly and stated motivation of protecting innocent people…

But that would be way too convenient, my friend. It could never happen.

:ninja:

[RobZilla]

@Jazo:

It takes a conscious effort, when you don't know where to look - for example when Zoro was looking for Pica or Sanji for the samurai's body. In a fight it is "turned on", if you can even call it that, at all times. And even if they didn't use it, they should've noticed the difference in body type etc. Also he switched with the body yet another time after that, and they still didn't notice..

At that point it wasn't even a battle lol they were shooting a prone body over and over again.

If they did even use CoO on Law's body at the time, then one second they'd have sensed a guy with injuries and the next second sensed a guy who was dead.

CoO would not help in this situation, even if they did just walk around with it on all the time, which I seriously doubt.

@Jazo:

As Razh stated, it will probably not be shown as a handicap, but it very much should. The injuries have not been mended at all, as he stated himself, and that is exactly the reason, the handicap should be there - unless the damage isn't as bad as Law stated. And you cannot know the effect of the injuries just by him walking and almost landing a kick. For that, we have to wait for the next chapter.

One minute he couldn't move, and Law counter shocked him with no trouble whatsoever.

Next minute he's up and walking around without any indication of pain or even discomfort.

I think it's safe to say he's patched himself up to a fair degree, even if it wasn't using traditional healing methods.

[King Cannon]

@Daz:

If its just an electric shock, what the hell does internal stiches help?
How does a single shock create a gradual "destruction from within?"
Why is it a variation on Kizarus lightsaber?

Sorry but no, it doesn not seem to be as straightforward as "just like counter shock", except if you're deliberately trying to rationalize away yet more exotic Ope Ope abilities.

Like I said, it's a variation. It is visually similar, but it has a different effect. Like those custom moves of the latest Smash Bros.

Also, what gradual destruction? I know it destroys one from the inside. We know Law's ability allows him to pierce through people without hurting them like Mes. One could see this as a combination of Mes and Countershock.

The internal stitching is Doula's problem. I admit that one came out from nowhere.

[Rusty Hart]

Dammit, Law is still alive…

And then finally the final fight begin, with handicapped Doffy

[Speeddasher01]

I'm really hoping that Doflamingo isn't handicapped in this fight. Hopefully it'll be like when Enel got hit with the Reject Dial, and simply got up with no lasting injuries. Otherwise, this is gonna be majorly disappointing.

[Darth]

This chapter… man, this chapter.

There is more Devil Fruit based bullshit in this chapter then we have seen in a while, even in this arc full of bullshit Devil Fruits.

And there is the Birdcage shrinking and everybody's reaction to it.

And the incredibly convenience of there being a dead dude having almost exact same style of clothing as Law, along with the same body build, black hair and beard.

That Law somehow managed to find. While being shot. With it clearly not being visible for him.

Also, do you remember CoO? This ability that let's you figure out when people die and find living things? Doffy doesn't either.

Any hopes I've had have been dashed.

Just end it already Oda. Put the poor arc down; it has suffered enough already. It cannot be saved.

[The Franky Tank]

@Daz:

If only there was an ability user on the plateau who could conjure up flying mounts for everyone out of thin air…

True enough, but once again, Trebol would probably snipe them with his power. Stop the mount from flying, and it's no good. Also, he probably wouldn't be able to make good mounts for them in a good enough time. That bird was already struggling that one time.

[Coruscation]

What herpdat wrote in his excellent analysis of the underlying points of the Doflamingo, Law, Luffy relationship really rings true in this chapter.

As Doflamingo lies on the ground and Law stands above him, they both note how someone like Rocinante was too good of a person to actually "pull the trigger", but that Law himself is capable of doing so. Doflamingo states that Law is just like himself and Law agrees and states that he's fine with that. But he earlier stated that he will never become someone like Doflamingo and that Rocinante saved him from that fate. Clearly, it's not really "fine" if Law is just like Doflamingo. But, enraged by Doffy's comments on Corazon, he attacks him in anger and attempts to extinguish his life.

But Law's chance to kill his nemesis is ripped out from under him. Instead of the success he thought he finally had he is met with failure. And for the first time he seems to truly give up, covering his eyes and repeatedly exclaiming his anger and grief at his failure as he can't even move to escape the foot ominously approaching to end his life by stamping out his brains.

But instead of his life ending there and then Luffy, his newfound ally, friend and fellow D clan, with his good-natured personality, steps in. Law's burden is passed to Luffy who takes it upon his own back and in it becomes a bit like a new Corazon to him, helping him carry a weight he couldn't carry on his own and steering him away from a darker path. Law wasn't allowed to personally execute Doflamingo because in his drive for revenge he teetered so close to becoming what he didn't want to become. Through his genuine friendship with Luffy we instead see camaraderie and humanity overcoming the evil of Doflamingo. In a way it's similar to how Kyros didn't allow Rebecca to fight, though, in my opinion, much less hamfisted than that, and more appreciably (light) grey due to Luffy and Law being, after all, genuine pirates.

As such Luffy helping Law defeat Doflamingo takes on more of a meaning than the apparent face-value of how it "requires two Supernovas to beat him" or how "Luffy repays his debt from Marineford". While those may also be true, seen in light of the above (fully credited to herpdat) it can help you really appreciate how Oda has woven the stories of the two together and what Law's struggle from 13 years ago all the way to the present time is about (since a lot of people seem to have become a bit jaded with him these days, I think it's a good time to highlight his qualities as a character).

[RamistaR]

Looks like this week debate will be : How handicapped is Doffy ?

[Rukusho]

Well Luffy never really beaten a Schibukai without a handicap or some issue occurring for them not to go all out.

[Jazo]

@RobZilla:

What difference does it make if he create them or expand them?

If the room is small enough the person will still see the boundaries and run.

Or they'll protect themselves with haki if they're proficient enough.

If he expands them, Doffy, and maybe Trebol, should've seen the room as it did. And if he expands it, someone with enough speed will be able to leave the field as it expands. Yes it doesn't matter in the actual fight, but it does matter before the fight starts, or in this case, when the story is directly affected by it.

@RobZilla:

At that point it wasn't even a battle lol they were shooting a prone body over and over again.

If they did even use CoO on Law's body at the time, then one second they'd have sensed a guy with injuries and the next second sensed a guy who was dead.

CoO would not help in this situation, even if they did just walk around with it on all the time, which I seriously doubt.

I think they used CoO during the entire fight - also when Doffy was just shooting him, but I see your point.

@RobZilla:

One minute he couldn't move, and Law counter shocked him with no trouble whatsoever.

Next minute he's up and walking around without any indication of pain or even discomfort.

I think it's safe to say he's patched himself up to a fair degree, even if it wasn't using traditional healing methods.

I don't think I have ever seen him show discomfort, so I don't know how much that accounts for anything. But my point is more, that I think it's bullshit, if it hasn't resulted in a handicap, unless he has extensive medical knowledge (and Law's attack didn't do as much as I think), or if his ability automatically tries to mend his injuries immidiately, when they occur.

[Maromi]

@RobZilla:

Nah, they can definitely see it.

oh.

well.

shrug

[Kasouya]

Love this chapter

even with hacks string ability to keep doffy alive after his organs "destroyed" lol .

but with what happen on the last page just awesome so everything else forgiven hahahahahaha.

luffy welcome to the shinsekai !!!

[dropper]

What a chapter, final page just goes to show that Luffy is still a bad-ass, can anyone explain what is going on with the short flashback of showing one of Doffy's henchmen and Law?

[Galaxy 9000]

@dropper:

What a chapter, final page just goes to show that Luffy is still a bad-ass, can anyone explain what is going on with the short flashback of showing one of Doffy's henchmen and Law?

He switched his position with the guy on the ground, and also switched their clothes around.

[sabinis]

@CrazyMerlyn:

What about the whole no communication thing? That's totally ridiculous.

Doflamingo might have had turned on some jamming den den mushi and we are only assuming its because of Birdcage.
Thats would be "so Oda"

[RobZilla]

@CrazyMerlyn:

What about the whole no communication thing? That's totally ridiculous.

I'm pretty sure metals and the like can disrupt radio signals.

[Tom]

@CrazyMerlyn:

What about the whole no communication thing? That's totally ridiculous.

The inspiration behind that is most likely Faraday's cage. Is you stop and think about it, we're talking about snails that transmit radio signals. Do we really need to question their functionality when inside a cage made of magical strings. How are we supposed to know how the snail signals react.

[airy-0]

Was a pretty fine chapter.

The several pages of showing birdcage shrinking was the only pages I felt wasted, it could just happen off panel.
Law's attack was neat, but we still have yet to see the limits of his power. Can he perform quick surgeries all the time? Without hand motion? Does the room have to be visible?
Considering we didn't see the room disappear since we last saw it, maybe it really has been there all this time o.o

Trebol get swatted aside by an adrenaline filled Luffy with invisible haki, not too big of a deal since he was focusing on Law and seemingly forgot about Luffy.
Doffy doing some quick first aid with string, I was expecting this. Strings can be used to stitch and even make clothes to wrap his organs or something, stop bleeding etc.

Last scene was yet again couple faces staring at each other, maybe we don't need that.

[kouch_lee]

@The:

Well for those at the Plateau (Usopp, Zoro, etc). I have doubts that they could get there in time. Goin down, to the center, and then climb up. As for those closer, I can see them trying to come up, and Maybe Trebol's role will be sniping them as they try to come up. I think there is enough going on that none of the people would be able to come and help at this rate.

I think the people at the plateau are a no-go. It's not only supposed to be quite far, but also, only Luffy with his ballon mode and the dwarves with the hoovering beetles can jump from it without squashing into the ground. Zoro himself said that falling from that height equals death.

Doing the whole route, as you said, like Tank and Riku are doing, should be really slow.

Now, the ones that should be hurrying their asses right this instant are Kyros and Robin, at the very least. It seems getting from the 3rd to the 4th floor is tricky, since it has been done with Barto's barrier creating a staircase, and Robin's powers. But even then, I'm sure there are plenty of ways to jump over there.

And the big elephant in the room, of course. . .is Fuji. He can fly. His hidden agenda doesn't matter one bit if Doffy is about to slaughter every single soul in the island, he is forced to act. . .or at least, should be forced to act.

[Cyclone_Baroness]

This chapter was pretty good I thought.
I liked that Law used what appears to be his real trump card since creating a room that huge was so draining. And DD repairing himself didn't seem too out there. It's actually a fairly clever way to use it in emergencies. String and rope are highly useful.

Trebol getting casually punted was hilarious. So I guess we can say Sabo does not need to help tag team with Luffy. Must be Burgess he's on his way to get to. It does seem weird how much of a gap there is between DD and his 3 main henchmen…

Luffy stopping DD from curb stomping Law was very, very nice.

From the complaints last week on to this week from so many other readers. I just don't get it. I didn't feel that anything going on was fillerish. I still felt the tension. I assumed the "Law's dead!" came from scanlators getting flashy. No I don't think Law will die. But the villain doesn't really have to have a pile of corpses for the heroes to still lose.

But well. You can't please everyone lol. If Law had been down and out without having any visible contribution to the end fight people would havr whined. If Luffy had taken on a perfectly healthy DD and still come out on top people would have complained Luffy is too strong. He can fight Yonko's without alliances!

I felt this was a good outcome. Law did his part. I know that if Law had gotten the final blow I would have been disappointed. Yeah it would have changed up what I expect to happen when Luffy states he's going to kick someone's ass. But Law isn't a Strawhat.

[DarkHamster]

@Alfiere:

Awful.
Three chapters. Three chapters to build up the very same Ope ope ass-pull shenanigans and Law wanking we've been havin for how long now? two years? And now we're at the EXACT SAME POINT, plot wise, we were last week.
I haven't been able to enjoy ONE PIECE the way i did for years for a while now, but seeing how a lot of people here still enjoied it and had good arguments to explain

All the "final" fights are like that? Crocodile, robb lucci, Enel…etc. They all ran away or someone/something go in the way before the "final" fight with Luffy. You haven't been reading long enough if you thought Luffy was going to fight DD without any kind of build up.

@airy-0:

Was a pretty fine chapter.

The several pages of showing birdcage shrinking was the only pages I felt wasted, it could just happen off panel.
Law's attack was neat, but we still have yet to see the limits of his power. Can he perform quick surgeries all the time? Without hand motion? Does the room have to be visible?

Disagree, I think it was the perfect amount of panels to set up some tension. Off paneling this would've taken some off the final fight, and that's what we need to feel to be in Luffy's shoes and why he'd be putting his all in. Before this, Luffy didn't really have a big enough stake in it. Sure they're trapped, but they're not dead yet. This adds a level of, "your friends are fucked if you don't do something," to the final fight. Which I feel Luffy always needs in order to stand again seemingly more powerful foes.

[ZONBI]

@Darth:

And the incredibly convenience of there being a dead dude having almost exact same style of clothing as Law, along with the same body build, black hair and beard.

That Law somehow managed to find. While being shot. With it clearly not being visible for him.

IIRC Law can locate "things" inside his ROOM with that Scan move.

[Luis20]

@Coruscation:

What herpdat wrote in his excellent analysis of the underlying points of the Doflamingo, Law, Luffy relationship really rings true in this chapter.

As Doflamingo lies on the ground and Law stands above him, they both note how someone like Rocinante was too good of a person to actually "pull the trigger", but that Law himself is capable of doing so. Doflamingo states that Law is just like himself and Law agrees and states that he's fine with that. But he earlier stated that he will never become someone like Doflamingo and that Rocinante saved him from that fate. Clearly, it's not really "fine" if Law is just like Doflamingo. But, enraged by Doffy's comments on Corazon, he attacks him in anger and attempts to extinguish his life.

But Law's chance to kill his nemesis is ripped out from under him. Instead of the success he thought he finally had he is met with failure. And for the first time he seems to truly give up, covering his eyes and repeatedly exclaiming his anger and grief at his failure as he can't even move to escape the foot ominously approaching to end his life by stamping out his brains.

But instead of his life ending there and then Luffy, his newfound ally, friend and fellow D clan, with his good-natured personality, steps in. Law's burden is passed to Luffy who takes it upon his own back and in it becomes a bit like a new Corazon to him, helping him carry a weight he couldn't carry on his own and steering him away from a darker path. Law wasn't allowed to personally execute Doflamingo because in his drive for revenge he teetered so close to becoming what he didn't want to become. Through his genuine friendship with Luffy we instead see camaraderie and humanity overcoming the evil of Doflamingo. In a way it's similar to how Kyros didn't allow Rebecca to fight, though, in my opinion, much less hamfisted than that, and more appreciably (light) grey due to Luffy and Law being, after all, genuine pirates.

As such Luffy helping Law defeat Doflamingo takes on more of a meaning than the apparent face-value of how it "requires two Supernovas to beat him" or how "Luffy repays his debt from Marineford". While those may also be true, seen in light of the above (fully credited to herpdat) it can help you really appreciate how Oda has woven the stories of the two together and what Law's struggle from 13 years ago all the way to the present time is about (since a lot of people seem to have become a bit jaded with him these days, I think it's a good time to highlight his qualities as a character).

Really great posts. I mean, your post and that of herpdat. Great read I had there.

[Darth]

@kouch_lee:

I think the people at the plateau are a no-go. It's not only supposed to be quite far, but also, only Luffy with his ballon mode and the dwarves with the hoovering beetles can jump from it without squashing into the ground. Zoro himself said that falling from that height equals death.

Doing the whole route, as you said, like Tank and Riku are doing, should be really slow.

Now, the ones that should be hurrying their asses right this instant are Kyros and Robin, at the very least. It seems getting from the 3rd to the 4th floor is tricky, since it has been done with Barto's barrier creating a staircase, and Robin's powers. But even then, I'm sure there are plenty of ways to jump over there.

And the big elephant in the room, of course. . .is Fuji. He can fly. His hidden agenda doesn't matter one bit if Doffy is about to slaughter every single soul in the island, he is forced to act. . .or at least, should be forced to act.

Kanjuro. Birds. You know, giant FLYING mounts made of ink we have established he can create?

[Rukusho]

I just wish we see Luffy go all out against someone similar to his Level in the new world, it was obvious from the beginning that Luffy wouldn't be able to drop Doffy without a handicap or some per-injuries to Doflamingo.

[RobZilla]

@Darth:

Just end it already Oda. Put the poor arc down; it has suffered enough already. It cannot be saved.

I also wasn't thrilled with this chapter, but man those last few panels were magical.

A strong one on one matchup between two of the most seemingly useless but incredibly versatile Devil Fruits in the series could really drag the quality of the entire arc upward.