This text was originally written for Arlong Park forums’ discussion thread. These two chapters were reviewed together because the forum was offline on the week of chapter 993’s release.

I think we were offline for two chapters’ worth of discussion, so I’ll quickly throw notes down on both.

We’re at the end of volume 98 now! (Probably.) I wonder if it’s still scheduled for December after the sudden two weeks off. Feel like it would be listed on Shueisha or Amazon by now if it was dropping on the 4th alongside other new Jump releases, but the 28th, with the new box sets still should be possible.

It was a strong volume overall. Very action heavy, and the clash with dragon form Kaido on the top of the dome is one of the most artistically impressive battles in the series.

The sudden redemption of the Flower Capital citizens at the start of chapter 993 doesn’t feel earned to me. Or at least, it doesn’t gel with how I’d previously interpreted the people living in luxury while the rest of the country starved. A few more hints that Orochi and Kaido were hurting them too, or that they held some sympathy for the people worse off than them.

But hey, if Oda can manage to redeem the Dressrosan public, I can live with a Wano turnabout. (and this will probably pay dividends when Kaido decides to destroy the city himself in the final stage of the fight a volume or two from now)

Ice Oni put a ticking clock on the battle inside the dome. That should keep Luffy from taking too long to reach the top of the dome and getting his part in motion. Hopefully. Things would feel pretty stretched out if we have to see every floor of the castle in detail and it actually takes up to chapter 1000 to get there.

The long-awaited reversal of the battle on top finally happens, and Oda goes out of his way to make it visceral after making us wait so long for the other shoe to drop. Feel bad for Kiku being the first to take a hit though. Not that it keeps her down for long. Even now that they’re going to start losing, the samurai are nothing to sleep on.

I’m glad Oda is taking the time to explore Kaido’s philosophy a little more. How many years of “why doesn’t he just jump into the sea” have we put up with? Although, I wonder how the jump from Balloon Terminal plays into this line of thinking. Sure, a jump from a sky island is an epic and novel way to go, but I wouldn’t compare it to the kind of noble warrior death Kaido seems to want here.

Gifter designs are as strong as ever over both chapters. These guys are hilarious. A shame to see the destructive power of giraffes become so insignificant to the crew though. The power creep marches slowly on.

Yamato closes out another consecutive volume, which I imagine is part of Oda trying to emphasise his importance despite introducing him so late. It’s a little underwhelming to have the final page of the book so familar considering all the crazy action and escalation that took place inside. A shame we couldn’t have seen more of Yamato’s interactions with Momo as well, I think that’s going to be an interesting dynamic. Most are anticipating Momo won’t be a fan of Yamato’s whole shtick, but I wonder if instead he’ll be impressed at how Yamato is carrying on Oden’s strength and will and try to learn from him instead. But that’s for for a week and a half from now.

Hope y’all are staying safe in these crazy times, hope that if the forum does have to go down again it can at least do it on a break week this time.