Obviously it's about Luffy, but as I said, Loki is perhaps the most important piece after the Luffy (Nika), Blackbeard (Davy Jones) and Imu pieces. Imu shitting his pants at his most valuable Knight being obliterated was just the first taste test. We already have the narrative of Elbaf being the decisive factor when it comes to conquering the world and Loki being the apex specimen of that nation, unique and overpowered even for ancient giant standards (Sauron's eyes, Kaido's fruit on steroids, Ragnir, forget even about CoC which is a side piece). The fact the new chapter is now titled the world's strongest, the fact infant Loki replicated Kaido's introduction feat.
Kaido was literally a villain that fell before the final saga.
Arguable. You might as well say that DR Xebec and HK Harald mirrored each other. Started out as equals and ended as equals through different paths; Xebec being forcefully turned into a demon, while Harald willingly became a soldier.
Yes, but not far off imo.
Gaban said hitting a HK with ACoC slows down their regeneration. That was a general statement. It wasn't a "we did the groundwork so Loki can finish it". Harald by the time Loki arrived, regenerated all of his damage, even continued regenerating after Loki beat Harald up and sliced him to pieces with his claws -> regeneration clearly continued working. Though Loki managed to beat Imu's influence out of Harald that easily, which allowed Harald to communicate with Loki and ask him for the finishing blow in the first place.
No, he told Loki to hurry before he loses his senses again.
But the point was: When Harald was controlled and capable of regeneration, Loki beat the shit out of him with ease, to a point Harald regained senses (still capable of regeneration, as he recovered from the wounds Loki gave him in his Zoan form).
Well, that actually speaks
for Loki. Loki not being aware of/understanding his own power at that point (while still being astonishingly strong) can just be used as an excuse and now that Loki is released and specifically said that he now understands what Gaban was talking about, that's a different game now.
iirc, "special bounty".