ONE PIECE CHAPTER 998: ANCIENT SPECIES
- Status
Serviceable chapter.
The main highlights were all the Flying Six showing off their devil fruits. They are more or less sizing up their prey and getting ready for battle. Franky and Sasaki look to be a set, same with Jinbe vs Who's Who. Oda also seems to be committing to Nami and Usopp having to deal with the siblings, which should be fun since Nami and Usopp fights have room to be unorthodox, and Tama's inclusion only adds to the unpredictability.
Sanji, however, is most definitely being stalled for later. His main matchup looks to be Queen, who's busy on the live floor, so he's being given something to do in the meantime. Though it shouldn't be too long as Marco plans to bring the other Strawhats to the higher floors. Robin and/or Brook might help deal with Black Maria and her crew for Sanji, while Zoro and Marco head up likely to be stopped by the other flier, King. The next two chapters could tell us who ultimately fights King. Zoro or Marco or both? To be honest, Zoro riding on Marco while he trades blades with King airborne would be crazy cool.
On to the live floor, Marco predictably helps in slowing down the plague. When the ice oni were introduced, why not have the healing fire quell the fatal ice? Chopper looks to be largely set to handle things on the main stage, which means he could still play a big part against Queen should he attempt any more plague shenanigans.
Favorite part of the chapter is a minor, but great interaction between Zoro and Drake. While Zoro was technically untrusting of Drake for being a former Beast Pirate, I like to think it might've been a two pronged choice on Oda's part. Drake is a Marine and he is asking Zoro, a pirate, to consider him an ally. And through battling together, Zoro and Drake connected, realizing they were kindred spirits. And it's clear Zoro trusts Drake because he wouldn't try to go up right away if he were leaving a crewmate like Chopper with a potential threat.
They say battle is where you come to understand each other best, and while brief, Zoro and Drake developed mutual respect for one another. Drake originally tried to ally with Luffy based on Coby's recommendations and experience with Luffy, though he was unsure of it at first and only did so out of desperation. Working alongside Zoro was what convinced him they were the right side for real. And you can feel the confidence from reassuring Zoro.
This also marks the 3rd Marine swordsman Zoro has befriended/allied with.
For those unaware, Zoro would be a police officer in the real world, according to Oda. So in a meta way, he's fighting alongside brothers and wife in arms.
Now that Jinbe's preoccupied with Who's Who, Luffy is heading for Kaido alone. He should either meet up with Kid and Killer and/or encounter Jack. That latter confrontation looks to be a lock, from the look of things. Luffy said that he would beat up Jack for what he did to Zou, and since Jack would be wounded, it means Luffy can conserve strength for his inevitable fight with Kaido. So we might get a sneak peak of his advanced armament haki.
The final chapter revelation is on Ace's true reason for coming to Wano: Killing Kaido. This means that Ace, through his initial pirate journey, sought out 3 of the 4 Emperors, which is pretty impressive, all things considered. However, what bothers me is how huge Ace's objective was. So big, it makes me wonder why he never told the Whitebeard pirates about it. The reason I don't think he told them is because any discussion of Wano would instantly spark conversations about Oden. Oda's been pretty lax about the Whitebeard pirates' inaction, so I hope this doesn't create more holes in what has been generally tight story telling.
Oda's doing some last minute setup just before the main events start, as it seems Shonen Jump and he are ramping up 999 and 1000 to be special occasions. Strap in, people, it's gonna get crazy from here on out.
The main highlights were all the Flying Six showing off their devil fruits. They are more or less sizing up their prey and getting ready for battle. Franky and Sasaki look to be a set, same with Jinbe vs Who's Who. Oda also seems to be committing to Nami and Usopp having to deal with the siblings, which should be fun since Nami and Usopp fights have room to be unorthodox, and Tama's inclusion only adds to the unpredictability.
Sanji, however, is most definitely being stalled for later. His main matchup looks to be Queen, who's busy on the live floor, so he's being given something to do in the meantime. Though it shouldn't be too long as Marco plans to bring the other Strawhats to the higher floors. Robin and/or Brook might help deal with Black Maria and her crew for Sanji, while Zoro and Marco head up likely to be stopped by the other flier, King. The next two chapters could tell us who ultimately fights King. Zoro or Marco or both? To be honest, Zoro riding on Marco while he trades blades with King airborne would be crazy cool.
On to the live floor, Marco predictably helps in slowing down the plague. When the ice oni were introduced, why not have the healing fire quell the fatal ice? Chopper looks to be largely set to handle things on the main stage, which means he could still play a big part against Queen should he attempt any more plague shenanigans.
Favorite part of the chapter is a minor, but great interaction between Zoro and Drake. While Zoro was technically untrusting of Drake for being a former Beast Pirate, I like to think it might've been a two pronged choice on Oda's part. Drake is a Marine and he is asking Zoro, a pirate, to consider him an ally. And through battling together, Zoro and Drake connected, realizing they were kindred spirits. And it's clear Zoro trusts Drake because he wouldn't try to go up right away if he were leaving a crewmate like Chopper with a potential threat.
They say battle is where you come to understand each other best, and while brief, Zoro and Drake developed mutual respect for one another. Drake originally tried to ally with Luffy based on Coby's recommendations and experience with Luffy, though he was unsure of it at first and only did so out of desperation. Working alongside Zoro was what convinced him they were the right side for real. And you can feel the confidence from reassuring Zoro.
This also marks the 3rd Marine swordsman Zoro has befriended/allied with.
For those unaware, Zoro would be a police officer in the real world, according to Oda. So in a meta way, he's fighting alongside brothers and wife in arms.
Now that Jinbe's preoccupied with Who's Who, Luffy is heading for Kaido alone. He should either meet up with Kid and Killer and/or encounter Jack. That latter confrontation looks to be a lock, from the look of things. Luffy said that he would beat up Jack for what he did to Zou, and since Jack would be wounded, it means Luffy can conserve strength for his inevitable fight with Kaido. So we might get a sneak peak of his advanced armament haki.
The final chapter revelation is on Ace's true reason for coming to Wano: Killing Kaido. This means that Ace, through his initial pirate journey, sought out 3 of the 4 Emperors, which is pretty impressive, all things considered. However, what bothers me is how huge Ace's objective was. So big, it makes me wonder why he never told the Whitebeard pirates about it. The reason I don't think he told them is because any discussion of Wano would instantly spark conversations about Oden. Oda's been pretty lax about the Whitebeard pirates' inaction, so I hope this doesn't create more holes in what has been generally tight story telling.
Oda's doing some last minute setup just before the main events start, as it seems Shonen Jump and he are ramping up 999 and 1000 to be special occasions. Strap in, people, it's gonna get crazy from here on out.
Last edited:
Hody is one of the physically strongest villains in the series. He just wasn't a good fighter, that's all. He still was able to be repeatedly smashed into a mountain several times and coming out looking about as scuffed as BM from the fucking bike or flying shits, Oven from being slammed into wooden buildings by Sanji, etc
Here is Kaido's grip force
Oda places heavy emphasis on Hody's physical power, hence why he didnt have him be a good fishman karate fighter. Hody was just a simple minded brute, fishman karate wouldn't have befitted his personality. That's why the theme of Hody was that of fishmen's physical strength prowess and the overdosing of that with energy steroids.
Oda emphasises his strength
Hody has an open palm against a wall that is an armoured wall
armoured walls that were easily broken by his grip strength when he isn't on the juice
Eats Zoro's slash without going down. The pills didn't heal him, they just dulled the pain, and Zoro was doing shishio sonson on Hody
Here is Kaido's grip force
Oda places heavy emphasis on Hody's physical power, hence why he didnt have him be a good fishman karate fighter. Hody was just a simple minded brute, fishman karate wouldn't have befitted his personality. That's why the theme of Hody was that of fishmen's physical strength prowess and the overdosing of that with energy steroids.
Oda emphasises his strength
Hody has an open palm against a wall that is an armoured wall
armoured walls that were easily broken by his grip strength when he isn't on the juice
Eats Zoro's slash without going down. The pills didn't heal him, they just dulled the pain, and Zoro was doing shishio sonson on Hody
Dear APOO~
When you have the ability to attacked people from long range, but you just forgot about it because of angered and injury, so you try to jump in the mid air realized opponent in front of you lot stronger, you knew that Oda couldn't care more about you and your long range attacked ability.
Poor Apoo, worth 350 000 000, but Oda wasted your ability.
When you have the ability to attacked people from long range, but you just forgot about it because of angered and injury, so you try to jump in the mid air realized opponent in front of you lot stronger, you knew that Oda couldn't care more about you and your long range attacked ability.
Poor Apoo, worth 350 000 000, but Oda wasted your ability.
Decent chapter. There was pretty much no real progression in this chapter, but the flying 6 zoan designs were cool to see. Wish their bounties would’ve been revealed though. Fingers crossed for no Ace flashback.
As for the guys who haven’t been matched up yet:
The 4 guys who started out the raid together, Luffy, Kidd, Zoro, and Killer will reach the roof first at the same time I think. Before that I think Hawkins will be running into either Kidd or Law. (Probably Kidd since we haven’t seen them interact since the betrayal). Marco will take King. Drake will take Queen until Sanji comes and replaces him. (Drake will probably go to the roof to help the other Supernova against Kaido).
As for the guys who haven’t been matched up yet:
The 4 guys who started out the raid together, Luffy, Kidd, Zoro, and Killer will reach the roof first at the same time I think. Before that I think Hawkins will be running into either Kidd or Law. (Probably Kidd since we haven’t seen them interact since the betrayal). Marco will take King. Drake will take Queen until Sanji comes and replaces him. (Drake will probably go to the roof to help the other Supernova against Kaido).
This is bad for Sanji though, he is running away and not progressing as a character. The way Oda is portraying Sanji that he cant even fully escape but he fall down is fuking bad (for a guy that can run as fast as the light "that what the harcore Sanji fan are saying"). By the way, this is not a fuking gag that the saddest part of it. It dam serious the situation.. Sanji bleeding without even confronting black Maria. Dam this is an horror week again for Sanji fan
- Status