No cover story this time around! We're jumping straight into the action!
You know, I didn't think about it last time. But, it's kind of funny that the "Left Hand of the Pirate King" cut off Sommers' right hand, leaving his left hand untouched. Heh. (Mind, Oda changed what hand was cut in between panels last time due to an art error last chapter, so...kind of hard for that joke to land).
Although, if this is what Scopper's like when he's "rusty", I kind of have to wonder what he was TRYING to do? Was he just trying to completely bisect Sommers in one shot?
And Oda acknowledges the idea that Robin's powers are a bad matchup for the Thorn Fruit.
And Sommers loses his head! Although, I doubt this is the end for him. This is One Piece, after all. Even when someone is beheaded right on panel, I STILL don't buy that they're dead. (And I'm right to feel that way, given the last page...Tis merely a flesh wound!)
It is a little odd that Chopper out of everyone is the one most interested in Scopper's technique. I mean, it kind of makes sense since he's a doctor and all. He would be curious how bodies work. But, it's odd for Chopper to be interested in fighting techniques. I wonder where Oda is going with this? I guess he could just be setting things up so Chopper can take care of Scopper later on...
The library is burning. Oh, it's just heartbreaking watching Robin see all this. Ohara's basically dying right in front of her a second time. Mind, I'm expecting that there will be some sort of twist where most, if not all, the books are saved. We don't see where Biblo went, after all. I suppose the owl could have helped get the books out, somehow.
And, okay, I'm willing to admit Ange probably isn't a traitor. I've suspected her for a while now, but it looks like she really wasn't up to anything. I was wrong. I'm sorry for being suspicious of you, Ange!
"Is it so hard to show a little joy?" Hmm...it seems ironic having Gunko out of anyone saying that. Given her fear of Nika. And, supposedly also, Joyboy. Feels like this is a hint to something. But, I'm not sure what.
Poor Ronja. Feeling like she has to apologize for being held captive. It's funny how a few panels worth of screentime can make you warm up to a character.
Colon's an idiot! He did bad, and he should feel bad! If only he could have kept his big mouth shut!
Not sure if that was Future Sight that Scopper was using, or if he was just imagining the worst outcome. But, that is a pretty gruesome scene, even for One Piece. I guess I can't blame Scopper for giving up. Not much, anyway. And with Chopper right there, Scopper should be pretty badly wounded, but he should still live. That makes sense, since he DOES need to be around to teach the Strawhats whatever it this Anti-Regeneration technique is.
Oh, but then we get the best scene of the chapter. Gunko seems like she unlocks a old memory. She seems to be crying for her father as a teenager. And dancing with a still-living Brook when she's a child. I don't think Brook IS her father, though. She calls him "Brook" instead of "dad" when she starts running back towards him. So, I think Brook was just her bodyguard when she was younger? But, it's a little hard to parse the scene and what it means, right now, with so little context. Gunko's probably another secret princess. Oda does love his secret princesses.
And then Imu possesses Gunko! Whoever was betting on Gunko's heterochromia meaning that Imu was keeping "one eye" on the situation through her just won BIG TIME! You get 100 internet points! Congratulations! BOTH of Gunko's eyes go white with the possession. And we're about to see...THE DOMINION OF GOD! I don't know what that means, but it'll probably be pretty cool!