I'm noticing a theme here. It's been going on for a while of course as I've noted and I'm sure everyone has noticed, but more specifically just in Impel Down, Luffy has had to go against the code he's gone by the entire series three times in quick succession. Firstly, he had to team up with and free Crocodile, a person he despises with every fiber of his body. Then he had to go against his code of fight people who hurt your friends with your all and leave Blackbeard, the guy responsible for everything, to do as he pleases. Thirdly, just now, he had to leave behind two people he considered friends, he had to move on and disregard two people putting their lives on the line and ultimately sacrificing themselves for him. You may also count the fact that the move Luffy did that would normally win a fight for him, "I'LL GIVE YOU ARMS" failed completely and only managed to hurt him further. I think the grimace Luffy made when Bon Clay told him to 'believe in the miracle worker' and move on says it all. Later when he realized that Inazuma and Ivan practically just died for him and Ace, that they probably had the amount of poison which put him through the pain he went through on them for his sake, he made this face. This is obviously on on top of him not being able to save his friends from Kizaru's gang, Zoro from Kuma, and him almost having the women who saved his life in Amazon Lily die for his sake. I'd wager this has to be weighing on him a lot, just earlier when he almost had his nakama die against Kuma he was so torn up with himself he screamed "What's wrong with me!" and charged directly into a mountain. Luffy has shown his resolve through everything is undying as long as his crew are still alive to fight for. As long as he can keep fighting for his nakama and for his ambition he cannot truly be kept down, but... this is an instance of people fighting for his sake presumably dying under him. Frankly speaking, Ivan and Inazuma had as much poison as Luffy took on at least visually and he had like a 3% chance to live and only because of Ivan. Ivan may be able to inject himself with the hormones to save himself but can he also manage to do that for Inazuma? :S
Further, the imagery of Inazuma sweating nervously and hesitating to leave behind Ivan and even more so waiting for him was so sad. I realized quickly what that meant, whoever caught up first was the victor and until they popped their head out Inazuma wouldn't know who it was. You could sense the duty, faith, and respect Inazuma holds for Ivan.
It is quite a shame though, I wish the Ivan fight was pursued more seriously on screen. Ivan chose to stay back himself to fight off Magellan, and really Ivan is the captain here, he's the one calling all the shots and commanding the crew under him, even Crocodile(speaking of that now Croc is unchained..). So, it makes sense that he would like to be the one who makes sure they make it out okay. The small bits we saw of the fight itself was awesome. It was Hydra's and death winks and they were colliding! Whoever got an opening first would do massive damage to the other, plus Ivan didn't have to touch him to deal damage which is a huge benefit to that match up. So, I would have just loved to see both trying to get a hit in past each others defenses. It even ended with Ivan doing some weird "hair removal fist" and what looked like punching the poison poison man a lot which just seems impractical to me..
So, Ivan and Inazuma bought them enough time to reach level 1 alongside Buggy and Mr.3's riot. Shiryu still hasn't made an appearance since his with Blackbeard. And now, at the brink of escape Magellan has come face to face with Luffy's group. I don't watch previews anymore but I think i still saw a spoiler because I accidentally read a word of the next episodes synopsis so I think I know how the fight will actually occur but I'm hoping everyone works together to take this guy down.
Someone mentioned last episode that Blackbeard seemed to be going down the floors and I think perhaps his mission has been to use Luffy's break out and riot as a way to free some legendary person deep down in level 6. That was the only floor that wasn't set free after all. |