Ask me One Piece - November 2020

Simple answer. More than any other. If we're talking of pre-meditated expectations based on simply a number (and not, for example, a chapter following a really hype set up chapter that is naturally hyped up), then there really ain't anything like the big 1000. There were times like, for example, the Reverie, where every chapter was so exciting that waiting for next week was literal torture and every new chapter morning a new Christmas. But if we're going on numbers alone, then 1000 just has certain expectations placed on it. I would personally love nothing more than for Oda to deliver, but I'm trying to keep my expectations a bit in check. Only 3 chapters stand between us and 1000 and while things are exciting, there isn't that same feeling of crescendo I had some chapters ago, it's been pretty stable. I really hope Oda busts something like Chapter 967 for Chapter 1000, but I can't help but fear it won't be quite something like that. Let's hope!

Simple question. How excited are you for chapter 1000 compared to how you felt waiting for previous milestone chapters (900, 800, etc)?

Katakuri was not a week ago, it was... two weeks ago. Well okay yeah, not a big difference, so I get where you're coming from. Luffy defeating Kaido is a big debating point in the community, especially since Oda hyped up Kaido to be like this enormous immortal creature, to the point some people don't even think it will even happen at all, but personally I think Luffy will indeed defeat Kaido, though obviously it's not going to be anywhere close to as easy as a simple 1v1. There's mostly two elements to this: for one, it's very clear now that Luffy isn't fighting Kaido entirely on his own, unlike with Katakuri. Luffy had to beat Katakuri entirely out of his own strength (and still succeeded in spite of that), while with Kaido he has many more allies he can rely on. We already see that with the Scabbards having dealt some minor but still relevant damage to Kaido and I'm sure this damage will be important in the long run. I'm also expecting a Luffy, Kid, Law team up and maybe even a Straw Hat raid battle against Kaido much like the battle with Oars (please Oda, I would love this), which will help a lot to add damage. Secondly, it's the fact that the immortal image Kaido has been given has been a bit misguided. It's not so much that Kaido can't die/has the immortal operation or something like that, it's just that, just like Big Mom, his body is so resilient that nothing can really pierce it. That is except very developed haki which can cut through this body and actually harm him, as we've seen Oden and the Scabbards do. This actually makes it possible to injure Kaido, though of course a lot of strength is needed for that. Luffy now possesses this same ability, which will allow him to fight on the same playing field. So with the damage of the Scabbards, other allies, and Luffy's developed training over the past days, he should be able to defeat Kaido. It's going to be hard for him and I hope Oda can handle this well, but it's important to mentalize ourselves that Kaido can be defeated. Back with Katakuri, a lot of people bought into his whole "undefeated" persona that many were often disappointed when he was defeated by Luffy, so I think proper expectations are necessary. Oda is fully responsible for properly setting those expectations though and he's put himself in quite a hard challenge with how much he's hyped up Kaido. In Oda we trust though! Biggest questions about Elbaf: - What is the big tree and other structure we saw in Big Mom's flashback? - Will their connection with Big Mom play into the future in some form? - Who is Loki and how does he matter into the story? - Does Elbaf hide something like a Poneglyph? I've also always suspected they were once allies of the Great Kingdom, much like Wano, Sandra, etc., so hopefully that gets confirmed too! Will Big Mom join the crew? No. Don't think that will ever happen, personally. Sabo and Blackbeard in the op: Sabo because his status at the Reverie is a big mystery at the moment (though he and Ace are so popular that they're just natural choices for an opening honestly), young Blackbeard because of Oden's flashback revealing one of the biggest aspects about him. We'll absolutely get a flashback for him, but don't expect it anytime before the final saga!

Hi Artur A couple of questions today about how you think future events will play out For me personally I think it would be a strech to believe that Ryou is enough for Luffy to overcome Kaido given that he barely beat Katakuri a week ago. So how do you think Kaido is eventually defeated? A combination of all of Kidd, Law and Luffy's forces working together? Then I'd like to know what are the biggest questions you have about Elbaf and the giants? Do you think Big Mom will join the Strawhats here? Personally I think we'll get to see Bege,Chiffon and Lola again and that the cover story was important setup Also what do you make of Sabo and young Blackbeard's inclusions in the newest opening? Are we going to get a Blackbeard flashback? As always thanks for the great work, chapter secrets have greatly enhanced my appreciation and enjoyment of One Piece

Bikrant