We’re getting way too close to the end of the series here, which means that these posts are becoming longer and longer. It’s a combination of too much happening as well as me not wanting it to end. Just the sheer amount of important revolutionaries, kings, propagandists and marines that are on the front cover gives away how big this volume is going to be. So let’s not waste anymore time and instead dive right into Volume 107.
As the Straw Hats fight against the different Seraphim, we learn that they were initially created with the help of King – Alber’s – blood. His Lunarian blood combined with the bloodline elements of power users has created these monstrously dangerous robots. While the Straw Hats fight, Shaka goes off to find the main Vegapunk, only to get shot through the head. I’ve seen One Piece characters get up from a lot of crazy wounds, including flying away safely from a nuclear bomb at point blank, but I think this might be it for Shaka. We find out shortly afterwards who was responsible. It seems like York has been in contact with the 5 elders in an attempt to become a celestial dragon. She’s the one who thinks one Vegapunk is enough and wants the rest wiped out for researching the void century. Shouldn’t have formed your satellites after sins, that was a pretty dumb move. With York unpetrified causing mayhem and the navy as well as Blackbeard’s ship approaching, the world is about to be shaken. So let’s take a step back and look at some red haired people for a moment.
At the coast of Elbaf, the Kid pirates attack Shanks’ underlings which goes about as well as you’d expect. A combination of Shanks one of a kind haki and Dorry and Broggy using their iconic attack wipes the floor with them, killing everyone in the process. Shanks’ underlings are known for being weak, living under his protection, and he does just that, protect them. It is still a pretty brutal retaliation though. Deserved or not. Elsewhere in the world – as we see a little bit later – the fight between the Heart Pirates and Blackbeard has come to a conclusion. Bepo uses a medicine made by Chopper to save his captain in an act of desperation. We don’t see what happens to the rest of Law’s crew, but instead of “destroyed” his crew is only “defeated”, so we’ll likely see them again.
Let’s move once again, this time to the pirate island of Fullalead. This is the home base of Blackbeard, where Koby is currently making his great escape. Perona freed him under the agreement that he would in turn free Moria, to allow the duo to escape. Blackbeard wants to use Koby as a bargaining chip to become a proper kingdom, but because Koby reveals that he is a member of Sword, this plan goes to waste. What they didn’t expect was that the rest of Sword would come over to help out. King Grus, Hibari, Kujaku, Helmeppo, Tashigi and most importantly, the legend that is Monkey D. Garp. The last one launches his ship onto the island, using his Galaxy Impact punch to destroy a large chunk of the inhabitants. This is an elderly man with no devil fruits. It is easy to recognize why he was on par with people like Roger and Rocks. We once again hear mention of the man with the burn scar here, but we are no closer to figuring out who it is.
Man oh man, so much happens in rapid fire from here on out, but it all has to do with the holy land of Mariejoas, so let me try my best to work through it. The revolutionaries have charged the place, destroying food supplies and aiming to rescue as many slaves as possible, including Kuma. Kuma is currently being used to try and capture Shirahoshi. All the chaos comes together here in this moment with St. Myosgard asking the pirates under Luffy’s banner to attack St. Charlos, finishing the job that Luffy started all the way back on Sabaody Archipelago. Shirahoshi is saved and Kuma is captured by Morley from the revolutionaries, which is how he got to be in Kamabakka a few chapters ago.
Elsewhere in Mariejois, we see King Cobra of Alabasta confront the 5 elders about the past of his country. There were 20 kings that formed the world government during the void century and relinquished their thrones back home. Except one of those 20 – Nefertari Lily – didn’t stay and become a noble. Instead she returned home to Arabasta to continue her line, except there are no records of her in the history of the country, causing Cobra to ask questions. While he is talking to them, Imu ascends to the empty throne and sits down. Imu – or Mu – talks about Lily’s great mistake 800 years ago causing the poneglyphs to descend into the world. It’s revealed here that this was no mistake, but a planned action by Nefertari D. Lily. In a final act of defiance, Cobra angers the 5 elders and their leader, getting killed for it. But fortunately for the old king, both Sabo and Wapol hear what happens and get away safely. Sabo to tell the revolutionaries and Wapol to tell Vivi. He finds Vivi kidnapped by CP0 who tells her that Fujitora has gone rogue and helped the slaves regain their freedom. Things are utter chaos and making use of this chaos, Wapol and Vivi flee the island.
With the world in turmoil, and the person at the very apex of the World Government perhaps being an immortal king from the times of the void century, we finally see the first member of the Holy Knights. Saint Figarland Garling is the leader of these legendary fights and he has put Saint Donquixote Myosgard to death. Two celestial dragons have been murdered in a very short amount of time. Vivi is missing and Imu wants her captured, Alabasta is without a leader and Sabo is safely back in Kamabakka kingdom.
Before we say goodbye to each other, we get to conclude the fight on Fullalead. With Garp facing off against Kuzan as well as others on Blackbeard’s crew, he gives us a masterclass on how you show off that you’re a legendary hero. Kuzan trained under him in the past, but he got expelled. And in front of his expelled student he gives his final lesson to Koby, the next generation of his students. Koby went through the same training but gave it even more. Pure drive, motivation and willpower got the whiny kid from the early chapters to this point. The point at which he is able to punch an island sized hand into rubble. With everyone else escaping, Garp goes missing on Fullalead.
And that’s where Volume 107 leaves us off. There is only one volume left before we’re all caught up with the official translated volumes. Much is yet to come, but this is a big volume when it comes to world events. I really enjoyed this one, and I think it was even better the second time around. But now I need a break. As usual, thank you for reading and please join me next week as we fully catch up on volume 108!
Opal Kaharis 