RJ Writing Ink

Edens Zero Chapter 267 Review/Recap

Edens Zero has been full of moments that have shocked readers (IE me) several times over. Shiki’s death in the first timeline; Witch’s death in the Aoi War; the reveal that Ziggy was an alternate, future version of Shiki. All of it is insane and it only seems to get crazier. Instead of being a generic, evil AI, this chapter reveals the bizarre connection he has to Shiki and Rebecca. The bond between a mother and child can work in strange ways.

That will make sense in a moment.

Recap

Even as he proceeds to trade blows with the likes of Void, everyone’s shocked at Ziggy’s surprise return (again.) However, Ziggy reminds them of how the King of Granbell told them he invented that Ether Recycling machine, meaning he never went offline. Universe Zero is one where everyone can be happy, it seems.

Ziggy says that none of that will matter, though, if Shiki doesn’t reach Mother. Even if Void doesn’t get to her, Mother’s life is already fading away, and with it, all life in existence. Despite wanting to fight alongside his adoptive grandpa/himself, Shiki and the others get a move on to Mother. Ziggy remains behind to face Void, or rather…his son?!

As it turns out, Void is more than a mere AI. He’s the unborn son of Shiki from the future who came back in time to kill Mother and used the power of the Edens One to create himself a body to do so. As for how he did so, it’s because he got gravity ether from his father…and time ether from his mother, Rebecca.

Review

I don’t know how to say this, so I’m using this clip of Cell from DBZ Abridged.

Firstly, that was a nice touch of Mashima, using the altered fate of Granbell Park to change the initial fate of Ziggy. In hindsight, it makes sense that if Granbell Park wasn’t about to run out of Ether, then Ziggy wouldn’t have gone offline the first time around. However, if that’s true, then why didn’t he say anything when Shiki left Granbell with Happy and Rebecca this time around? Some might argue it was to preserve the timeline, but it still feels like a bit of a plot hole. That, and it also doesn’t explain how Ziggy showed up 20,000 years in the past…or does it?

This chapter re-affirms the fact that Mother’s already dying, with or without Void’s attempts to kill her. What does that have to do with the flashbacks, though? Here’s where that theory I mentioned comes into play: when Hermit and Killer’s past counterparts proposed having their dying world Overdrive, Mother could’ve been the end result. It’s not certain, but enough hints have dropped that imply it. Or, I could be wrong about all this.

How Was Void Created?

The big thing, though, is about Void, the (apparent) future son of Rebecca and Shiki. According to Ziggy, when the events that flung him and Rebecca into the future took place, Rebecca was carrying their child within her. That child, despite having no body, inherited his parent’s powerful Ether, letting him return to the past and create a body for himself. 

That, though, raises a lot more questions. If what Ziggy and Void’s saying is true, then when could he have been conceived? And why was this never brought up before? Rebecca being pregnant with her and Shiki’s child is a big deal that everyone would mention. It’s possible that Ziggy’s timeline diverged from the main one earlier than originally depicted, but I’m just speculating.

Fans also seem to be divided as to how Void could’ve been concieved. On the one hand, there’s the idea that Rebecca and Shiki got together in one timeline, which many shippers would love. However, one fan theory on Reddit speculates that Void wasn’t made the natural way. Instead, he was created from the merger of their ether when they got flung into the future. That would explain why he could live without a physical body. As a being of ether, he wouldn’t necessarily need one. It doesn’t explain why he’s determined to kill Mother and end all life, though!

Regardless of how this came about, I’m more curious than ever as to what Mashima has up his sleeve. This connection of mother and child could either be his most audacious idea ever…or his craziest. Either way, Shicca shippers just won.

I Give “Mother and Child” a 3/5

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One Piece Chapter 1101 Review/Recap

The backstories of Kuma and Bonney, two of the most heartbreaking in all of One Piece (and that’s saying something), are almost over. To save Bonney from the disease that killed her mother, Kuma agreed to become a cyborg and work for the World Government. In exchange, Bonney would serve as an unwitting hostage to keep her father in line, but thankfully, that deal fell through. Bonney eventually escaped and became one of the Worst Generation of pirates. How she did so, though, was left up in the air until now. Bonney’s escape to the seas unfolds, and it’s as amazing as everyone hoped.

Also, the World Government sucks. Remember that. 

Recap

A year before Luffy sets sail, Kuma observes him training from afar and remembers how he saw him once before. When he brought this up with Dragon, though, he told him to keep his mouth shut; Kuma immediately realized that Luffy was Dragon’s son. As Luffy continued training, Kuma took his leave to help some merchants who were being attacked by pirates.

Kuma would continue doing the World Government’s work even as he came closer to losing his free will while Egghead Island continued to be built up. He sent letter after letter to Bonney back home, trying to pour a lifetime of love into the time that he had left. What he didn’t know was that the letters never got to his daughter. Alpha, the WG agent overseeing Bonney, destroyed them before the girl could even read them. 

As Bonney eventually turns 9, her disease is now fully cured, but Alpha won’t let her go outside. Conney, Gyogyo, and the rest of Kuma and Bonney’s friends have already figured out the World Government doesn’t plan to let Bonney go free. Thus, using her powers (which she’s kept secret), Bonney swaps herself for Conney and slips out right under Alpha’s nose. For the first time ever, Bonney’s able to go outside without fear of the sun.

As Bonney heads to the port where her friends wait with a new ship ready to sail and find her father, Alpha catches onto them. She tries to recapture the only leverage they have against Kuma, but using her Devil Fruit powers to mimic a future where she’s Nika, Bonney punches the woman into the ground! Free at last, Bonney thus set sail to find her father, becoming one of the rising stars of the new age of pirates!

Review

The World Government’s always been full of the lowest of the low, but ripping up the letters a father sent to his daughter? That’s messed up, even for them! It also made seeing what Bonney did to Alpha at the end of the chapter all the more cathartic!

This chapter seems to support my theory from the end to the previous one. Having heard of the legend of Nika/Joy Boy from his own father, Kuma must have realized that Luffy was likely the next Joy Boy. Seeing him use the same powers that Nika was said to have, and knowing that he was Dragon’s son, was enough proof for him. In hindsight, that also makes Kuma’s interactions with the Straw Hat’s all the more important. He knew Luffy would lay down his life for his friends, so he had to make sure they’d do the same. In other words, he was testing them, and they passed. Even if Kuma never regains his free will, he’ll have gone out knowing that Luffy could be the one to free everyone. 

Bonney’s Freedom and Joy in Life.

Beyond that revelation, this chapter was significant for explaining the start of Bonney’s journey as a pirate. After witnessing the fate of her mother and how she had to avoid it all her life, seeing Bonney set foot under the sun without fear for the first time brought a smile to my face. It’s little miracles like this that help me keep faith in a higher power. 

In addition to the heartwarming site of Bonney’s escape to freedom, this chapter also shows how powerful her Devil Fruit can be in her hands. It’s already been established Bonney can use it to turn into versions of herself from an alternate timeline. However, seeing her mimic Luffy’s rubbery powers implies this could extend to versions of her that ate a different Devil Fruit. She could copy any other power her possible counterparts could have! That’s broken as heck, and thus awesome.

On another note: despite Alpha destroying Kuma’s letters to Bonney, the Egghead Island Arc shows that they got the last laugh. By viewing her father’s memories, not only does Bonney know everything about him and her mother; she also knows everything Kuma wrote into her letters. She knows how much her father loves her. I don’t care how painful it’s been: knowing Bonney finally got her Dad’s letters brings tears to my eyes.

End of flashbacks or not?

With the manga going on break next week, there’s likely only time for one more chapter in 2023. The question is: will the flashbacks continue, or will things return to the present day?

While many fans would like to see the story in the present-day continue, given how Saturn has Bonney at his mercy, Kuma’s story isn’t over. Despite catching up to the start of One Piece, we have yet to see Kuma’s perspective on the events at Thriller Bark, Sabaody, or the final operation that made him a full cyborg. That could be the key to understanding his actions in the present-day. Moreover, it would be nice to see if Kuma got to see Bonney again or how Bonney escaped during the timeskip. Bottom line is that I still want to see things, and I hope Oda gives them to us. Great, heartwarming chapter!

I Give “Dear Bonney” a 4.5/5

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