Originally Posted by William Shakesman
The storytelling hasn't gotten any darker. Ceasar is typical antagonist who does really henious things in flashbacks and offscreen. Just like Kuro, Krieg, Arlong, Baroque Works, Crocodile, Mr. 1, Bellamy, Ener, CP9, Spandam, Shiki, Sakazuki, G-5, a bunch of animal/monster characters that have killed/eaten people, Hody, and all of those goofy characters in the Dressrosa toruney.
And weapons of mass destruction have been in the story for a looooong time.
Ace and Whitebeard were special cases in an arc that was meant to end grimly. Their deaths don't open up more supporting characters dying in the story, I have no clue where you got that idea from.
Toy Soldier is at most going to get a fake-out death to make whoever kills him look like bastards and get us pumped for their defeat. Then he'll wake back up toward the end of the arc right before the kampai scene.
She's been in the story since chapter 703(?) and all she's done was give some expository dialogue about Kyros, no real quirks or interesting things about her unlike the other fighters in the tournament. She's no different from Conis/Cindry/Marguerite, and will play the same role as supporting character/ fodder in this arc despite her connection with Toy Soldier.
Analyse parfaite.