One Piece Chapter 771 – The Don Of The Happou Navy

The top ten most popular characters voted by the One Piece readers

Based on the title of the chapter, I had anticipated Chinjao to be the focus, but to think that it was Sai who was the feature of the chapter, what a pleasant surprise. I can’t help but give Sai one massive applause for being such a badass this chapter, he satisfied beyond expectation and initiated some exciting developments. One of which was his attempts to help Baby 5 from her distorted perception of life originating from her traumatic past. The current focus the Corrida Colosseum fighters are getting definitely does serve the purpose of fleshing out their capabilities and the benefit they will bring to the Straw Hat Pirates once the alliance is formed, so I don’t mind in the slightest having the current content of the chapters focus on them and their battles against the Donquixote Pirates.

Bleach Chapter 610 – The Thousand Year Prayer

The King of Quincy unleashes his true power

How interesting, so at the exact moment Yhwach was about to be defeated, the thousand-year wait he had to endure for his pulse, intellect and power to return reached its completion allowing Yhwach to nullify the what would have been finishing blow Ichibei had served to him. If Yhwach had already regained his power earlier in the fight why exactly didn’t he unleash it and crush Ichibei opposed to painfully dragging out a fight that had its conclusion already determined from the beginning? With Yhwach’s eyes “opened”, Ichibei stood no chance…which is what all the readers knew before the fight even began.

One Piece Chapter 770 – Pride

In order to repay his debt, he surpasses his limitations…

Relevant to the chapter and the characters featured within is an emotion overwhelming in its nature yet invigorating in its embrace. Stemming from the perception of ones worth, it drives its holder forward with the desire to express the value they embody. It empowers yet afflicts, such an emotion capable of existing as either a virtue or a vice is the emotion known as pride. Bellamy with his pride of being able to decide his own fate, Zoro with his pride of becoming the best swordsman, and Hajrudin with his pride as an Elbaf warrior. Each of those characters faced with a seemingly insurmountable wall, place their belief in the pride they hold in their ability to surpass their limitations.

Bleach Chapter 609 – The Almighty

Of course Yhwach had something like that up his sleeve to turn a hopeless situation completely around

So he finally reveals his true self, the man capable of bleaching out the blackest black. I was waiting for this all the while wondering how exactly Yhwach will go about turning around the hopeless situation he found himself in against Ichibei. Getting overwhelmed by Ichibei was just a step in overcoming him, thanks to the ability Yhwach has in managing to understand the workings of any powers while perceiving it or so Haschwalth says. Yhwach was able to nullify Ichibei’s power on himself at the end and instantly turn the tables on the situation. I’m sure Ichibei spilling the beans regarding his abilities helped as well but I suppose even if Ichibei omitted expressing any words to Yhwach and focused solely on crushing him, the result would have still been same. Such a shame that Ichibei was forced to face such an opponent, one not able to be defeated until the main character is ready.

Shokugeki No Soma Chapter 97 – The Autumn Election Final

Who will reign victorious?

So it begins, the match to determine the champion of the Autumn Election. I can’t say I’m surprised that Ryou and Akira looked down on Souma when he revealed the pacific saury he prepared, but I was honestly surprised that both of them dismissed completely any plan Souma may have had for preparing his pacific saury in the way he did. Sure fresh fish may be advantageous in the match, but do they really believe that they can’t be wrong? That there isn’t other methods to approach cooking from? Well regardless of the looks Ryou and Akira gave Souma when they prematurely concluded that Souma was destined for third place, I am actually looking forward to the faces the two of them and the audience will make when Souma reveals the real effect of the pacfic saury he has prepared.

Bleach Chapter 608 – The Blackest BLACK

Ichibei can be quite the demon at times =P

Ichibei just keeps surprising, I am almost tempted to believe that he will end Yhwach here and prematurely end the Bleach series. Alas, such a development cannot happen and Ichibei will ultimately fail in stopping Yhwach, leaving the concluding battle in the series to be handled by the protagonist, Ichigo. Knowing that Ichibei is going to be unsuccessful in stopping Yhwach, I am curious to see how exactly Yhwach will overcome Ichibei when he has been completely overwhelmed by Ichibei this entire fight. I can’t help but worry that Yhwach has some Bleach up his sleeve to clean away the blackest of black =/.

Shokugeki No Soma Chapter 94-96 – Surpassing The “Season”

In order to surpass Akira and Ryou he will surpass the “Season”

I’m beginning to wonder if Akira and Ryou are even human, especially after they keep revealing just how inhuman the feats they achieve are. Choosing the freshness of an ingredient by instinct and smell? I feel sorry for any normal person that has to go up against them in the future =(. Thankfully though, Souma has a skill-set of his own that is equally as inhuman, his ability to creatively cut through any wall that stands to block him. I was wondering how Souma would go about balancing the advantage Akira and Ryou have over him when it comes to the ability of judging the freshness of an ingredient. And as we have all come to love, Souma once again goes about defying the logic of expectation and opens the door of innovation many fail to even perceive. I am incredibly excited to see where this decision by Souma will lead and how it will stand up against Akira and Ryou’s dishes.