This was such a cool chapter. I really enjoyed the hype of the K.O. punch and it didn't disappoint in my opinion. I would have maybe liked a different attack than the one that he used previously, but it was still bad-ass in delivery.

So, I'm hyped about this. I always seem to really enjoy these specials, a lot of the time I like them better than the anime to be honest considering it's new material that I haven't already read. I'm just worried about the context and the creative liberties Toei is going to take with this. It's still recent in the story since Sabo's been re-introduced and there is still a lot that Oda can reveal in the future about Sabo's past. It doesn't look like they are going to delve too much into specifically Sabo's story, I'm just curious if they ever ask Oda if he's ever going to cover information like this in the manga or if Toei just takes the initiative. Still excited though, and I'd love to see more of adult Sabo kicking ass in the world.

@mario:

thank god this chapter shaved 6 minutes off

Lol, I have to agree with that.

Holy crap, what a good chapter!
There's gotta be some factor that we've all forgotten or have not thought of yet that will slow the birdcage down for one or two extra minutes. I don't think there's anyway to get Luffy to recover faster. Someone said that Mansherry can heal his injuries but the haki more than likely has to come back on its own; which is probably true. I betcha all the townsfold are gonna grab whatever sea-prism stone items are available or whatever buildings are holding up and join in with everyone in pushing the cage back before it kills everyone. I feel like stuff like that happens a lot in One Piece where the bystanders have to take part in the fight somehow, and I like that.

@Kizuchan:

Actually, part of me is pretty happy that Luffy looks "stupid" because One Piece isn't a "cool" series to begin with, which is one of the reasons why I love it. I actually like seeing how people trash the form because it's not what you expect a "cool" shounen powerup to be. I like that idea behind it, One Piece knows it's goofy and never forgets that.

I agree! Oda never really wants there to be a fight that's totally serious. But I feel that when the jokes are done and the climax is coming, that's when the fans really get excited because they know the shit's about to hit the fan.

@choperman:

I still say it's either completely haki related, using haki hardening and his rubber powers for some realy cool weird technique, Conquerors haki related, or worst case scenario he has some will of D bloodline inheritance form thing that roger had in the past that rayleigh taught him to use

I don't particularly think it has anything to do with the will of D bloodline but mentioning Rayleigh…yeah, I can see it being something that Rayleigh gave him idea or even taught him how to use. What if it has something to do with the conqueror's haki? Maybe some ultra power spike using that which combines all three types of haki? I don't know how that would work, but it would be cool to see.

@BeariousJones:

Gear 2 and 3 concentrate on two different aspects of Luffy. I will compare Luffy to a automobile since he is like a race car.
Gear 2 is blinding speed from faster blood circulation from his heart. Gas or Engine
Gear 3 is destructive power from expansion of bone. Tires

The gears don't seem to be intertwined. Can Luffy use both at the same time?

He did use both at the same time back on Thriller Bark. When it was the absolute final moment in the fight against Moria, he was already in Gear 2 and he inflated himself into Gear 3 and became a giant ball. Chopper said that it would tear him up from the inside. If he found a way to get both together like that without seriously damaging himself, that would be great. But I think that he really will have a combination of both for this new gear.

I think Fujitora just doesn't want to get in the way again (like with the meteorite from before that nearly killed everyone). He might also feel that he himself is really no match for Doflamingo. I'm not entirely sure on that one though.

@kouch_lee:

No need to see him fight for long periods of time to grasp his strength.

Clashed with Burgess and crashed his armor.

Did an ubber move that destroyed and flooded the entire colisseum ring.

Crushed a vice admiral's sword and then his head with little to no effort.

Clashed evenly with Fujitora for a pretty extended fight, dodging both his meteorites and his gravitational sword that wiped out an entire street/square/wathever that was.

I think Oda's given us more than enough on-screen material to realize Sabo is very, very powerful. Even without the fire fruit.

Fair enough. Although, like with Ace, we never did get to see his original strength before the fruit. A minor topic with me that I wish we could've seen at some point (besides when they were all children).

@kouch_lee:

I think it's kinda telling that Burgess, a Yonko commander, is about to face Sabo a second time during his re-introduction arc. Sabo, as Robby mentioned, a guy who duked it out with an admiral (though arguably it's been somewhat implied that Fuji went easy on him).

Just the pairing alone should tell you something about Jesus' strength. He didn't get paired with Hack, or Dagama, or Dellinger, or Sai, or even Luffy. Sabo, the, as of now, clearly superior fighter to all those listed above. Included Luffy. Maybe because they're on the same league?

I would just like to see what Sabo's strength. We haven't had a good long fight sequence with him yet. Unless you count in the ring as Lucy/Luffy.