Volume 9 of the cover serial shows two shadowy intruders approaching Chocolat Town in Whole Cake Island. Fans widely speculated these could be Reiju and Ichiji returning to rescue their siblings, though some theorized they might be members of the Blackbeard Pirates.
: Some felt the focus on secondary characters during the climax slowed the momentum, a common sentiment for weekly readers. One Piece 1046
: The fire inside the Skull Dome grows out of control, threatening to burn the alliance alive. Volume 9 of the cover serial shows two
: Kaidou provides a definitive explanation of Devil Fruit Awakening , describing it as what happens when a user's mind and body finally catch up to their powers. : The fire inside the Skull Dome grows
Reviewers from platforms like Captain M Entertainment and Fantasiliam on Medium noted the following:
: When Kaidou questions who he is (recognizing the aura of Joy Boy), Luffy simply responds that he is the man who will become the Pirate King. Cover Story: "Germa 66's Ahh... An Emotionless Excursion"
: The chapter highlights Luffy’s absolute trust in his crew to handle the internal castle crisis, allowing him to focus solely on Kaidou.