One Piece Chapter 1016 – Nami VS Ulti: Electric Reverberation

When it comes to protecting that which she cares for, Nami is incredibly courageous and determined. And with the addition of Zeus as her aide in channeling her powers and analytical skills, Nami now has the means to combat the opponents within the New World. In face of Ulti who continues to threaten Tama, Nami unleashes. The comments Nami directed at Ulti during their prior encounter reverberates across the castle interior and right through Ulti. Nami’s actions have conveyed exactly how serious she was. If you get on her bad side, be prepared for the consequences. Ulti underestimated her opponents and now pays the price with a defeat. The Tobi Roppo have been reduced to half their original number and the oh-so certain outcome from the CP-0’s perspective is beginning to be coloured in a shade of suspense. The tides are about to turn.

One Piece Chapter 1013 – The Might Of The Yonko

None of the challengers so far facing off against Big Mom and Kaido have yet to escape the gaping chasm of differing power levels that exist between the Emperor and themselves. Page One encountered Big Mom and was taken out by one hit. Likewise, Ulti, looking for an avenue to vent her rage sourced from witnessing Page One getting injured has met the same fate when facing off against Big Mom. After one hit from Big Mom’s Master Cannon, Ulti is unconscious and defeated. The only two characters that have somewhat challenged the Yonko are Luffy and Zoro. Yet, both are incapacitated with Zoro momentarily out of commission and Luffy unconscious plummeting from Onigashima floating in the sky toward the ocean below or the Wano mainland if Onigashima has reached it. Will an ‘ally’ able to traverse the skies save Luffy or will the awaiting ground or ocean below greet Luffy with its vast embrace?

One Piece Chapter 1012 – Nami: Unwavering Resolve

Nami may have a tendency to fall on the side of self-preservation in the face of exceedingly powerful opponents but there are times when the spirit behind her nature draws a line. A point at which she can’t bring herself to turn and run away from. And that threshold is witnessing a child get injured in front of her. It may be a nature inherited from her mother, Bell-mère, but whenever a child in front of her needs help, Nami will not budge until she helps them. Right now, a threat to Tami exist in the form and Ulti and Nami has made it her responsibility to protect Tama by defeating Ulti. The odds may be stacked against Nami but in this moment, she stands against opponents far strongest than her because behind her is someone she needs to protect.

One Piece Chapter 995 – The Phoenix, The Mink, The Marine And The Kunoichi

Aside from the events transpiring within the Live Floor with the Ice Oni plague and against Ulti and Page One, the rest of chapter focused primarily on the allies the Straw Hat Pirates have accumulated over their journey. Each of the allies highlighted within the past few chapters have been positioned at integral areas to assist the Straw Hat Pirates within this war. The allies that have yet to make reappearances such as Law and Kid will appear in moments when the Straw Hat Pirates look to be overwhelmed i.e. when Luffy faces off against Kaido. At present though, Marco is looking to prevent Big Mom from stopping the Straw Hat Pirates. Carrot and Wanda have engaged Perospero with the intent to defeat him. Drake is targeting Apoo who holds the “antibody” for the Ice Oni plague. And Tama has arrived to save Nami and Usopp from the attacks of Ulti and Page One. Each of the allies didn’t have to fight alongside the Straw Hat Pirates but they have all chosen to. Such is the attraction of the Straw Hat Pirates and in particular, their captain, Monkey D. Luffy.

One Piece Chapter 890 – The Straw Hat Pirates VS Big Mom

What will be interesting is whether Jinbe’s attacks will evolve through the remainder of the story

With Big Mom’s hunger growing so to is her fury which is now erupting onto the Straw Hat Pirates. As she rampages on board the Thousand Sunny, you can feel the desperation within Big Mom’s anger and see just how single-minded she has become. Intent on tasting the Wedding Cake, she has become unconcerned with her own well-being and is pushing herself passed her limits in hopes of satisfying the abyss that is her appetite. Oblivious to the truth, Big Mom continues to rage, without end. Burning through her vitality, tiring her body and most importantly deepening the hunger eating away at her being, Big Mom is straining herself beyond the familiar and into the unknown. How long will Big Mom last? And how satisfying with the taste of the Wedding Cake be when she does inevitably end up eating it?

One Piece 876 – Coincidental Appearance

That was so tsundere

Well snap, I think Pudding has coincidentally become my favourite character of the arc now. Her fractured psyche, while a result of a terrible and traumatic past, has painted her such a fascinating character. Pudding was conditioned to hate herself, to believe that she herself was a monster fated to lie and deceive, but now that someone has accepted her for who she is, her mind has been left reeling with the sudden shift in emotions. As a result Pudding has lost control over how she expresses herself subconsciously masking her gratitude behind her dark and condescending dialog. Pudding means well but at the moment she just can’t handle the immense amount of positivity overwhelming her.

One Piece Chapter 875 – Escaping Big Mom II

That was amazing!

To manipulate an aspect of Big Mom’s soul manifested into a cloud, Nami is certainly establishing herself as one who is able to take advantage of a situation to its fullest. Given Nami having a certain level of control over the weather with her Tempo’s I expected her to have a moment to shift the momentum but to have her completely enthrall Zeus and immobilize Big Mom, even if temporarily, she not only shifted the momentum but carved out a path onto which the Straw Hat Pirates and allies can turn their whole situation around and escape. Once again One Piece proves that power levels aren’t necessarily the determining factor is a character’s strength, instead it is how they exploit the vulnerabilities of their opponent. With Pudding and Chiffon now on their way, it is only a matter of time before they manage to calm Big Mom down.

One Piece Chapter 874 – Escaping Big Mom

Now that’s a ridiculously cool line-up of characters (yay Reiju)

With the overwhelming outburst from Big Mom at the Wedding ceremony desouling the existence of the “Big Mom assassination” plan from the realm of achievability, the situation has continued to collapse around the Straw Hat Pirates with each event gradually worsening the closer they get to escaping. Not only is Big Mom after them with all her fury, rage and burning hunger but her army is at the ready to unleash wherever and whenever needed. Katakuri is lying in wait on the Thousand Sunny in case they escape Big Mom and if they do manage to board their ship and set sail, the Big Mom Pirates have their underwater sea slugs and battleships ready to track and pursue them. It is going to be a colossal task to escape Big Mom’s territory and may just require additional inference from an unscheduled third-party/event.

One Piece Chapter 847 – Big Mom’s Library

My goodness, how many poor souls are trapped inside those books?

Big Mom’s definitely gone and done it now, uttering that very phrase in front of Luffy which has spelt the doom of a many who have come before. Despite the situation, despite the gap in power, despite the difference in status, despite the numbers, despite the varying experiences, whenever anyone challenges Luffy to the title of the Pirate King, a raging fire ignites within him subsequently consuming those challenging him. Big Mom has made a mistake, keeping Luffy alive has just sealed her fate. Once Luffy is free, he won’t let things slide; on top of Big Mom being a danger to Fishman Island, on top of Big Mom taking Sanji away, she now stands in Luffy way on the path to becoming Pirate King. And lets not forget, once Luffy finds out what Big Mom did to Jinbe, he will not forgive her.

One Piece Chapter 844 – Luffy And Sanji

Luffy understands what Sanji is trying to do

Luffy may not be the smartest pirate to sail the seas, but my goodness can he see through people. He is able to look past the apparent form and understand what lies beneath hidden away. Sanji was doing his best to find an outcome that saves the most people, even if it meant sacrificing his own dreams in the process. Luffy understood the hollowness in Sanji’s comments as well as the pain within his kicks and chose to continue believing in Sanji. As much as Sanji wanted Luffy to leave, Luffy knows he needs to stay. Their bond has not been severed. And Luffy knows Sanji does not really want to sever their bond.