The Epic Battle of Luffy Against the Mighty Mars: A Look into One Piece’s Latest Developments

As previously noted, Luffy is unable to defeat the formidable Mars on his own, even in his Gear 5 form. Therefore, he relies on the assistance of Sanji, Franky, and Bonney. Combining their strengths, Luffy employs a new technique: Gomu Gomu no Dawn Balloon, allowing him to grow as large as a hot air balloon.

Afterwards, Mars will unleash his full power to soar across the sky. The manga depicts this moment like a shooting star in the night sky, reminiscent of Team Rocket from Pokémon, who are often seen blasting off into the atmosphere after their plans fail.
As any Pokémon fan knows, Team Rocket is notorious for their skyward escapades following failed schemes, becoming a recurring comic relief element in this long-running series. They are usually thwarted by Pikachu (or one of Ash’s other Pokémon). Now, in One Piece, this role is effectively filled by the main character, Luffy.
This reference is quite clear, yet it perfectly aligns with the usual comical elements found in One Piece. Regardless of how intense the situation may become, Luffy’s Nika form will always bring joy and create a cheerful atmosphere amidst the chaos.
In this current arc of One Piece, the narrative has taken a serious turn, with our heroes engaged in a fierce battle to reclaim their lives in the upcoming chapters. Therefore, this humorous reference serves as a light-hearted reminder amidst the gravity of their struggle.
However, we must remember that Team Rocket always makes a comeback, no matter how many times they fail. Thus, we can anticipate that Mars will return to continue the fight. But now, with Emeth having regained his abilities, we wonder how this new development will play out against the formidable Mars.