Sorry for disrupting the flow of the conversation, but I just felt like making a few observations. I've been rereading old chapters and I just felt like sharing my opinions and hearing others' take on them.
Ace. More specifically, the Mera Mera no Mi. We know that Ace was strong for a number of reasons. Luffy could never beat him even before he ate the Mera Mera no Mi, he was able to fight Jinbei to a 5 day long deadlock (despite the fact that Jinbei's water attacks are his weakness), and probably most impressive is that WB himself acknowledged Ace's strength enough to grant him the honour of commanding his 2nd division. His name was known and feared all across the Grand Line. Oh, and let's not forget that he was offered a position in the Shichibukai even before he fought Jinbei and joined the WB pirates.
But what do you guys really think of his strength? Me, I'm not too sure. I'm starting to think that the Mera Mera no Mi is a very underpowered Logia. Apparantly, Akainu's lava is hotter than Ace's flames, even though in real life, red/orange/yellow flames (which is the category in which Ace's flame falls) at their maximum temperature, is hotter than the maximum temperature of lava.
*I can't find the sources that support this but I remember reading about it in the chapter discussion thread for the chapter Akainu attacked Ace.
Also, Ace's flame is equal in power to Aokiji's ice, whereas Akainu's lava instantly evaporates the ice. Basically, comparing the Mera Mera to other logias like the Goro Goro, Yami Yami etc, it seems the flame isn't too impressive. Even the Mogu Mogu no Mi (Smoker) is equal to it, and lets face it, the smoke logia is definitely weaker than the more destructive elementals.
I just think it's an injustice, since controlling fire should be one of the most badass powers around. I'm NOT saying it's a weak power, there's plenty of evidence that it's strong, but it seems to be lower to middle rank in terms of logias, and I think it should be higher.
Basco Shot. His nose. It looks like Ussop's. Anyone wanna comment on that? Granted, it's a lot thicker, while approximately the same length, but still, Ussop used to have a really unique nose, and now, one of the strongest pirates in the world on one of the strongest crews in the world has the same nose. Foreshadowing something? Is he Ussop's long lost grandpa? Is piracy in his blood? Will Ussop be facing him instead of Van Auger?
I know that last paragraph was irrelevent but I noticed the nose and my mind went wild.
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