## One Piece Chapter 1045, pages 5-7: Next Level - Chapter: 1045 - Pages: 5-7 - Characters: Monkey D. Luffy, Kaido, Yamato, Kozuki Momonosuke, Beast Pirates ### Summary Page 5: Momonosuke and Yamato look up at the swollen dragon and ask what is happening. Yamato wonders whether this is some form of Luffy's, while Momonosuke says it looks like Kaido put on weight. Kaido complains that Luffy's body is meant to be rubbery, not his, but Luffy's face and limbs stretch through Kaido's body in bizarre ways. Luffy says "Gomu Gomu no..." while his eyes shine as if he can see a way out. The page shows that the awakened power is affecting Kaido directly: his eyes, mouth, and body all distort under Luffy's internal movement, making Kaido experience the same rubber reality that Luffy normally imposes on himself. Page 6: Luffy bursts out with "Escape Rocket!!" and Kaido screams as Luffy shoots free. Luffy laughs, then suddenly appears high above the island before dropping back down. Yamato, Momonosuke, and Kaido all stare in disbelief as Luffy's body expands into a giant form. The page ends with a huge reveal of Luffy as a giant, looming over Kaido's dragon body while everyone asks who or what he is. Even Luffy's re-entry into the fight has the timing of a slapstick stunt: he rockets out, pops through the sky, then returns in a new exaggerated scale that makes the dragon Emperor seem like something he can physically grab. Page 7: Luffy's giant Gear Fifth form stands over Kaido, and Kaido, Yamato, and Momonosuke all react to the impossible size. Kaido's subordinates below ask whether Luffy's voice is coming from that thing and whether it is really him. Luffy grabs Kaido's dragon body and starts using him like a jump rope, shouting "Jump Rope!!" while Kaido groans in pain and anger. The panel turns one of the series' most intimidating enemies into an object in Luffy's hands. Gear Fifth's ridiculousness is not harmless comedy; it is a new mode of combat where Luffy can treat Kaido's immense body as a toy and still deal real damage.