Chapter 1,022: The Stars Take the Stage

King Cannon

This week we finally get the overhead view of the Onigashima interior people have been asking for literally since the battle started. But what we're shown here actually raises a few new questions.

At a glance, I wasn't sure how to reconcile the view here with the mini maps shown during scene transitions previously.
https://i.imgur.com/FcInrUQ.png

But after a bit of looking and reviewing, I think I was actually reading the old maps a little wrong this whole time. There's still issues with the old map, but I think with this we've got it figured out.

The areas in grey below, I initially assumed to be large interior zones of what is labelled "Right Brain Tower" in the narration, but they're really just the walls of the dome. Solid rock, by the look of them. The only part that matters are the lines through each side, highlighted in red, which I now understand to be the long passages leading to the exterior that Franky fought Sasaki in and Big Mom chased Nami, Carrot and Shinobu down. They appear to have side rooms, but for the most part the Left and Right Brain structures are just straight lines.

https://i.imgur.com/LM8hP5P.png

But it still doesn't totally make sense. To match up with what's been shown in the actual manga, the minimap would need to be more oval-shaped. I played around with the warp tool in Photoshop and think I've tweaked it into something more accurate to the canon layout of the space, with a few main landmarks shown for complete clairty.

https://i.imgur.com/pt679qY.png

However, I made a post back in November (holy shit, we've been doing this for a while) looking at how consistently Oda tracked battle damage and character locations across the battlefield and it's still spot on here. This map shows the tower Zoro cut down, the place Yamato's handcuffs exploded and the path of Big Mom's attack on the Performance Floor right where they should be. It's also cool being able to spot the Pleasure Hall, the back entrance to the dome and the trench blasted by Kaido and Big Mom's combined attack on the roof on the overhead shot of the island flying on the next page.

The one minor thing that triggers my OCD is that the castle entrance is for some reason to the left.

At least it explains why the basement is technically the first floor though (instead of the actual first floor). The entrance door is part of the rocky foundation.

Shiebs

Does anyone have any clue what King's race might be?

Captain M

@King:

The one minor thing that triggers my OCD is that the castle entrance is for some reason to the left.

At least it explains why the basement is technically the first floor though (instead of the actual first floor). The entrance door is part of the rocky foundation.

There is a much smaller door in the foundation in the middle, but it's almost never visible. The bubble for Ulti blocks it on the new overhead view, and the dust clouds from the battle block it out in almost every other shot.

Here's one of the few glimpses we've had of it.

astagadragon

@Zik:

Yeah but if act 3 ends when Wano ends there won't be an act 4.

Unless somehow Oda introduces another antagonist

Act 3 ends when the battle ends. Act 4 is epilogue and building for the next arc…

Zik

@astagadragon:

Act 3 ends when the battle ends. Act 4 is epilogue and building for the next arc…

Yeah, usually but the way these act 5 ppl keep stretching things out its like we might as well ignore what's traditionally suppose to happen as long as there are 5 acts lol

Kaido King of the Beasts

@puffing.cinema:

I agree with the overall feeling of disappointment with the Tobiroppo as a group.
It saddens me that Sasaki had such a small role being one of the best designs in the group.
Ulti shined more in comparison to her partners than by her own feats, I’d love if Oda developed her fighting skills further somehow.
P1 did absolutely nothing, either as a character or a fighter. Really hoping he somehow wakes up and get a quick-5-pages clash before we wrap it up.
Who’sWho was the most fleshed out I guess. We got a bit of backstory, some fighting techniques, lore drops and even discovered that he is kinda racist toward fishman. The only lingering thing is his face. I thought that his defeat panel would show us a torned mask and Jimbe would make a zappy remark about it since the topic was the meat of their taunting before fighting. Nitpicking, I admit.
Black Maria was the best antagonist - she drove Robin to her limits both mentally and physically. I can’t ask anything else from her…maybe some explanation of her illusion mist and how it works, but only if I must.
Drake...has been on the sideline for a while now. Together with Apoo. Hope they both turn it up and then some. Supernovas clash are supposed to be something wild, right?

I think a lot of my disappointment with the Tobiroppo stuff (save for Ulti and Page One, which was poorly done for other reasons) is the fact that we spent around 20 chapters between the time the fights started and when they got real focus/concluded. I think it's most apparent in the Sasaki/Black Maria fights, which actually have a decent progression of events if you read them all at once and ignore the many, many scenes interspersed between the beginning and conclusion. If I had to guess, I'd say Oda really wanted Chaps. 1000-1015 to be focused primarily on Supernovas vs. Emperors for the sake of Chap. 1000/Vol. 100 promotion which led to these fights going to the wayside.

Cyan D. Funk

@Robby:

I still fondly remember the chinese bootlegs that gave us Sunkist and Liar Bu and Clark Dell and Tanjiahdo Loluflamingo and Bisoromi Bear…

His name's Sauron
He's just like a samurai

RomanceDawn

I wonder if the Vinsmoke clan have some latent DNA of what ever King is? They all descended from outer space and what ever became of the Vinsmoke’s lost their wings and knowledge of fire creation. But being from the stars like other sky people they felt they were the rightful rulers/kings of the blue world peasants. Some relation to Celestial Dragons blah blah blah. Then later Sanji taps into his fire creating heritage. Yeah that’s gotta be it right?

Zik

I think it'd just be easier to say the space ppl with various abilities or a bunch of different space ppl mated with the entire human race and it got watered down over time but certain traits still pop up or can be triggered.

RomanceDawn

Yeah that’s it right there! Probably extends to giant DNA, mink and Fishmen as well. All weird people in One Piece can be chalked up to old mixed up DNA across the world.

Captain M

I'd also throw out there that flying slashes - including Cipher Pol's tempest kick and Zoro's ability to make tornadoes - might be some kind of latent wind manipulation ability.

Hasshoken and Ryusoken are also pretty suspect in terms of martial arts skills, but don't have any obvious elemental associations. Maybe earth at a stretch…

Zar

Pretty good chapter, I enjoyed it. While I'm still not a fan of Zoro facing Kaido and now having to be revived the gag with him getting bundled up like a cross, being fearful of shots and emerging like a butterfly out of a cocoon is hilarious. And I love seeing the interaction between him, Sanji and Chopper. Crew moments!

I just like everyone in this chapter. The panel where Ninja Dude yells "You were too emotional…" cracks me up with that face and mouth. Feels like we're finally getting to the climax. Hell, even Hawkins and Killer is fun, Hawkins playing the dirtiest card he can think of and using it to taunt Killer who just seems more fired up. Feels like a pirate fight.

And didn't notice it until now, Perospero seems to have a candy eye scope thingie.

auem

Thanksfully those Tobi Roppo 'believers' will shut their mouth now.

King Cannon

@Captain:

There is a much smaller door in the foundation in the middle, but it's almost never visible. The bubble for Ulti blocks it on the new overhead view, and the dust clouds from the battle block it out in almost every other shot.

Here's one of the few glimpses we've had of it.

https://i.imgur.com/NFl4XLW.png

So I assume the big one is for the Numbers.

Sengokusgoat

Since Nekomamushi is with Sicilian and Bariete, and he just slapped Perospero back outside where Carrot and Wanda are, I wonder if that theory that he has the other Big Mom Pirates in a book is gonna be true and it's the minks that are gonna fight them.

Monquito

Sicilian is no longer around, Bariette is not a fighter and Wanda is dead.

We might be heading towards a hostage situation if Perospero notices Carrot first.

Kishido

Some stuff about Queen in the incoming Battle

I have 2 theories

1. Queen for sure have lied about the antidote… What if he uses the Ice Oni stuff on himself?

2. Being with Judge... What if he has something to counter the Vinsmokes? But Sanji being a failure will do the opposite and actually awaken his DNA powers

RomanceDawn

I really like the juxtaposition of Sanji's blunt bludgeoning legs spread wide next to Zoro's sharp slicing arms spread wide.

To King's credit usually when Zoro lands a direct hit like that(seemingly anyway) the opponent is down and out. There does appear to be blood after all. I suppose King getting back up in full fighting shape will be chalked up to him being that tough or armament.

I forget did Who's Who see Jinbei in Impel Down? I've been waiting to see if we recognize that face. The mask is cracked someone needs to take it off.

joekido the Second

Thanks for the chapter, so are we getting a spoiler this week?

Zik

@RomanceDawn:

Yeah that’s it right there! Probably extends to giant DNA, mink and Fishmen as well. All weird people in One Piece can be chalked up to old mixed up DNA across the world.

Yeah, basically. Dwarves, long leg and arm tribe, etc.

The only issue with that is then you gotta wonder whats so special about these space ppl and how'd they get that way?

Also there's a slippery slope issue if these special space ppl with all sorts of abilities will also be the explanation for everything like haki.

Kaworu

Something I've seen on this forum specifically is disappointment with the Tobi Roppo from some people, and I've gotta say I can't relate.

I had Officer level expectations for them and they gave me that. They pushed our Straw Hats finally, sometimes to the extreme in Nami and Usopp's case, and got devoted 1 chapter fights and most got spread out dialogue and fights before that.
Any disappointment I had with them is greatly outweighed by them pushing the Straw Hats and letting them finally show off what they can truly do and shine.

A notable exception is Page-one, he definitely got shafted.
Ulti however was an absolute tank, getting up after many powerful attacks and a Yonkou internal damage move.
Who's Who also didn't get enough panel time before his fight.

Other than that though I am on the whole satisfied with them. Oda can only focus on Officer level characters for so long.

King Cannon

@Monquito:

Sicilian is no longer around, Bariette is not a fighter and Wanda is dead.

We might be heading towards a hostage situation if Perospero notices Carrot first.

Sicilian was just besides Neko when he leaped at Perospero. He's definitely nearby.

Syphin

I am glad it is finally confirmed the Tobi Roppo are defeated.

There was no way that any member of the Tobi Roppo were as strong as Doflamingo due to him being special like other "certain" characters in the manga. Devil Fruit Awakening that gets focused on should be saved for those caliber of characters not the members of the Tobi Roppo who would only cheapen the value of awakening. By being subordinates of Kaido it conveys how undeserving they are of the awakening power. If they had the qualities necessary to awaken their power, they wouldn't be directly subservient to another. Doflamingo may have feared Kaido but he was a Captain in his own right and was more master than servant. The Tobi Roppo members in my view don't follow such a theme.

We now move on to Zoro and Sanji taking down King and Queen. I expected such a match-up and I am excited it has come to fruition. Zoro was inevitably going to return to the battle and what a glorious return it was.

The Wano Kuni Arc is building up as the representation of the Straw Hat Pirates message to the world. Once Kaido is defeated and Big Mom obstructed, the world will know in no uncertain terms that the Straw Hat Pirates have achieved what no one before them have. They challenged the Yonko and won. Ever since the great Pirate Age began and the Yonko were formed, none of them were completely defeated. Whitebeard died but he didn't lose, not really. What Whitebeard set in motion will ultimately result in the downfall of the World Government. Luffy has taken the fight to Kaido in his own territory. Kaido's defeat will signal Luffy's extreme danger in the eyes of the World Government. He and the wings that support him will undoubtedly become the Pirates closest to the One Piece once Kaido is defeated and they acquires the third Road Poneglyph.

As for Yamato, the World Government will also come to know of a new presence that wasn't broken by Kaido. For there to be an individual who resisted being broken for two decades by Kaido, an existence whom the World Government couldn't break, the World Government would not be in any position to ignore such a person. And if Yamato joins the Straw Hat Pirates, the World Government will be even more concerned about the crew. The message Luffy leaves after Wano Kuni will only be underlined with Yamato's recruitment.

puffing.cinema

Sorry, but the whole concept of awakening zoons were presented with the domesticated jailers form Impel Down. Nice headcanon, but worthless when compared with what the story has presented to us

(hell, Doffy was the arc’s main enemy and had agency but he was def submissive to Kaido and Karakuri - the only other awakened paramecia in the story that we know of - was under BM wings….)

Syphin

Yeah, I am aware of the Impel Down awakened Zoan. What I am saying is focus on awakening, as in chapter panels and pages, should be kept to those characters who are more than subordinates. Doflamingo was more master than servant. I did mention this in my previous post. As for Katakuri, he was a child of Linlin. And after how he treated Luffy, he operated more in line with his heart than as a Big Mom Pirate.

puffing.cinema

Yeah, it just doesn't makes sense after the Jailed Beasts, but we will see how Oda decides to tackle them going forward.

Syphin

I am curious to see if the characters from Impel Down will appear again. They were interesting. It would be a shame for them to be fridged. Aside from Doflamingo's amused reactions at him watching the world move forward without him and the occasional Bentham covers, what other story could be featured there? Would the Tenryuubito seek the destruction of Impel Down in order to silence Doflamingo? It does not appear the Straw Hat Pirates will visit Impel Down so if the characters are to come in focus again, something independent from the Straw Hat Pirates journey does appear to need to occur.

Excited to see how Oda handles the expansive world of One Piece once the events in Wano Kuni are dealt with and the readers get to see how the decisions from the Reverie affect the world.

Watch-man

I can see Zoro greatly weakening King, wounding him nearly to KO but because of that double pain kicking in I think that Zoro will not be able to finish that fight himself. Queen called King torture loving pervert so he most likely will really want to drag out his fight with Zoro from moment that double pain will kick in.

Maybe Kyoshiro will step in and finish off King seeing Zoro suffering insane pain. Kyoshiro to me seems to be on par with Calamities and Old man would not stop him if he butts into Zoro fight.