Honestly, the issue isn’t Oda’s writing. One Piece has always taken its time in the middle of arcs, and that’s actually part of what makes it so enjoyable. The slow buildup and long battles create real tension and keep you hooked with constant twists, sometimes the Straw Hats seem strong and in control, other times they’re barely holding on and close to losing. The real problem is that the middle of an arc isn’t really suited for weekly reading. Reading weekly works best at the beginning of an arc, during flashbacks, or at the climax and the end of an arc where major plot points drop almost every chapter. It also fits well with the main fights where following the battle chapter by chapter is exciting and intense. But when it comes to the middle of arcs, it’s better to stop following One Piece for several months and then come back to read all the chapters in one go, it’s much more enjoyable that way. That’s exactly what I plan to do starting from this chapter. I’ll come back when the main fights of Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy kick off, because I definitely intend to follow their battles on a weekly basis. It’s going to be so awesome

