This chapter and the feels is insane man, jump rope with kaido and the way luffy got to reshape his body in response to the uncoming blow is incredible or was it more along the line of his body reshaping after the impact. But all the excitement aside, was momo's haki always this good before we got to see him use it on onigashima…his feat of being able to feel the previous rooftop battle to the extent he did and its range considering which floor he was on is right up there with the very best...yamato could nt tell what was going on, on the roof, even sanji had to ask how luffy was doing when he got broken bones zoro from law. Now recently we saw Marco, law, hyogorou nt sure the spelling, sanji and again momo feeling luffy heart beat..the kid is great, plot wise what ever happens from here or even when the climax and impending doom arrives right before kaido is put down for real, the resolution of what he chooses to do will be such a fascinating turn to his characterization.

@Hades:

Luffy is not an underdog and has never been an underdog. /QUOTE]

Crocodile, katakuri and kaido to me are the only 3 fights I would say he was the under dog…every other opponent seemed to have been held back by either circumstance or conviction.

This chapter is unbelievable, super excited for the next. Luffy is one of the best protagonist in fiction to me at least not even so much because of any ideals or ambitions but just as a result of who he is and how he goes about in his goofy goodness, the comedy to one piece was always what I enjoyed the most and the theme of freedom so intimately intertwined with comedy that makes sense to me as far as the alternate name reveal and nothing about the other name of the GGf makes it any less stretchy….names are given based on what abilities are given by the fruits, well until we learn more about the fruits anyway

Perhaps the way the war unfolded and in particular the display by the flying six and calamities is a reflexion on the growth of the strawhats on the premise of battle, but everyone has grown case on point chopper and his medical expertice as im very interested in what more chopper will do medically, usopp is an excellent cowardly marksman but an out and out war is not going to be his niche unless he can find a high place to snipe mooks. I get the feeling that the performance of the strawhats in particular might be a stage setter for other massive conflicts about to unwrap in the new world involving, the strawhats. I look at someone who had such expectation and promise in X drake who lost to the CP0, at Apoo who ran away when he figured they were serious, if those are the people who are to be the next set of opponents the strawhats face then where they are makes sense.

The pirate world entered an age of chaos following whitey's death but the status quo as law mentioned back in Punk Hazard had been stagnant….kid went out and fought as much as he did....but the established order were all seemingly just building up forces mostly numerical (Beast pirates) or on promise big mom and science ; giantification and germa tech) with exception of BB(battles, wars, devil fruit hunting). They (the status quo) are strong but how challenged were they? This was also a surprise attack, an ambush, lot of things went well for the protagonist allied forces. If they did not no way they would win and would any reader really be satisfied, this is fiction not everything need to be thoroughly explained or explainable. Even in the real world more things are left unresolved and shrouded in mystery than those things that has been figured out. Still its amzing that Kid and law actually toppled big mom in an actual battle, and similarly to their first win over her when they were able to send her in free fall towards the sea. This is excellent for characters like usopp amd nami who will never be as powerful but will be as capable...and validates Joker's advise to law about ways to defeat a stronger enemy. In one piece its seemingly always the hungriest, most stubborn, most persistent folks with that will to do and the never die attitude always conquer especially the arrogant powerful, croc in alabasta, big mom in Wano. What next for big mom will be something to see but i believe what next for sanji and his body and zoro and his current situation will both be more fascinating to see and read. Luffy's state post kaido is yet to be seen if he will be only as tired as law and kidd or as damaged as zoro or as tired and damaged? Repercusion and its impact on the story, Momo and the scabbards, yamato, and marco, as i think all of these characters will have a big role to play in; keeping the straw hats safe from world gov agents and, showcasing to the world that wano is powerful enough to stand their ground.

One piece critism has it reasons but to me, what it stands for still echo that sentiment from its earlier days....freedom and the exercise of power in an oppresive world where pathologies of power is dismantled in multiple ways including physically and at times mentally, emotionally...a fictional story where you can see that there are elements for everyone....those who focus on the aspects where they critic, some the battle and the battle prowess of various characters, some the mysteries, some the plot, many the puzzle, trying to figure it out before it reveals it self and still others the adventure of it all. The way it is relatable to our world, places like Nami's home, like Alabasta, set ups like WCI as far as the soul payment goes and the "price" people pay to live in some places in the world, the setup in wano. The villains too WCI its up and downs like most places...Orochi that snake, his childhood and his character...can he be empthasized with? What will momo and Hiyori decide with him? Will he be left to view the entire beast pirate organization crumble and burn to the ground as Onigashima itself burns?

@BobLoblaw:

None of the SHs had any pirating experience before joining the crew except Jinbe

Brook was a vice captain then captain… nami been with pirates since arlong took over her home, robin been with pirates throughout her 2 decades before meeting the crew.

[the mere thought of Vivi as a villain could shift the main culprit of kingslaying from the government to "the Princess who wanted to usurp the throne with the help of pirates".[/QUOTE]

But would the world buy that considering said princess is next in line for the throne, only child which is way different from stelly's rise. And her father being seeminly very sick unless dr kureha had a look before the incident. Framing sabo would be great on their part as painting their enemy, (revs) as this evil set of people who just crazily goes about overthrowing governments etc but why frame the princess whose motive to kill her father is to usurb a throne that is already waiting on her, seems too weak but who knows…the rest with wapol seems fine saying vivi and dalton is in league with the strawhats etc.

I look forward to seeing the diplomatic side of one piece which i believe vivi is going to be a major player with momo and some of the others...wano opeing its borders to the world.. deals with fish man island etc

"Yamato once remarked she learned of Ace's death by reading Oden's journals…which would entail Oden somehow had explicit knowledge of future events related to Ace's death. "

Do you remember chapter and panel? From my memory of the way she learned about Ace's death from a news paper or so, i am convinced you are mixing up something here. Mixing up her knowledge on strong new characters showing up and thinking the leader would be ace till he told her the same line roger also said and then later his death confirming luffy to be the one to lead the new strong, young pirates. Chapter 999 and 1000.

@Monquito:

Might be cause I got stronger memories from the anime about EL, but I vaguely recall Franky disliked piracy in general because he was abandoned by his pirate father.

He did say something like that and he was asked by oden when Roger and his crew were there in water seven.

My wild card for the oden part is the work of Hawkins. He could have fit the silloute seen before and his voodoo cards/ devil fruit could be at play here, with the recovery of the 9 scabbards and the appearance of oden. Could be one of his wild cards. How he knows what oden look and sounds like might be an good question but what if its a case of only the 9 scabbards seeing this oden. Afterall all the real oden in flesh and spirit might have gone to rescue momo from danger after hearing the transmission, or fight off Jack or head directly for the roof. He does not seem to be the one who bandaged up his men.

Why do people keep saying Hiyori has the ama no habikiri? Did tengu hitetsu go to find her to give momo's sword to her or what?