Oda just low-keyed dropped the oldest “man-made” structure ever seen in the manga.
THREE-thousand years old! What’s a building that ancient doing in Elbaph? And could it be related to why the Holy Knights want Elbaph on their side? And maybe that mysterious reason is also why the World Government doesn’t just blow up the island like it did with Lulusia? Hmm… There’s definitely more going on here that we’re lead to believe.
I love seeing Jinbe, Brook, Nami, and Usopp trying to help. Especially, Jinbe and Brook. Their battle/life experience is really coming in clutch in pinpointing what needs to be done and who could be at the root of all of this chaos. Even, Usopp’s trying to be brave. Good for you, Usopp! Let’s see how long it lasts (I give it two chapters before he’s freaking out).
We ain’t afraid of no ghosts…or skeletons…or dragons.
You want to wake up kids? Throw cold water in their face!
You’re welcome, Walrus School staff.
So, there’s no Holy Knight with the power of giving life to drawings like I thought last chapter. Just some thorny guy looking for love in all the wrong places. But, the thorns being invisible is an interesting concept. Color me intrigued.
Say? With all of St. Sommers twisted talks of love, you think he’s Jewelry Bonney’s biological father? He seems like the kid of guy who’d have sex slaves then throw them away when he’s tired of them in the most disturbing way. Like say…making a pregnant slave undergo inhumane experimentation. Yep. Put me down for that bearded bastard being Bonney’s blood daddy.
“When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.”
Operation Child Abduction’s in full effect. Gotta say, Sommers and Killingham having the power to bring drawings to life and put people to sleep wasn’t on my bingo card for powers they possess. Although, those are some pretty versatile abilities with excellent range. If used right, they could and are extremely deadly devil fruit powers.
Seriously, look at how freaking huge those monster drawings are! We’re in a land of giants and the people seems like ants compared to them. It’s nuts!
I was gonna complain about how the Holy Knights have a ship, then I realized Sommers most likely brought a ship drawing to life. See what I mean by how versatile they’re powers are? Gotta give props to Oda for giving all three Holy Knights extremely interesting powers.
Things kids fear? Then where’s the Homework Monster, the No WIFI Monster, and the Gluten Bread Monster?
Finally! Loki’s free to enact his glorious purpose!
Here we go! Loki Fight: Round One. It’s not like anyone else is gonna be this arc’s final antagonist. Well, Shamrock was, but he’s gone so it’s up to Loki wielding his weapon, Ragnir. Put my money on it being a hammer similar to Marvel’s Thor’s weapon, Mjolnir.
“Which way’s the bathroom?! I’ve been holding it for six years!”
To no one’s surprise, Gaban was only testing Luffy’s resolve. Only? Hmm… Or maybe Gaban also wanted to confirm Luffy has the Sun God Nika fruit? Remember, he and the rest of the Roger Pirates know the true history. Nika and Joy Boy both played huge roles in history and now it’s Luffy’s turn to do the same.
It’s also safe to say Gaban will give the Straw Hat Pirates a clue on how to find the final Road Ponegliff at the end of the arc. Despite what Luffy thinks, he’ll definitely see Gaban again, learning of the old man’s connection to Shanks and Gol D. Roger.
Alright, alright, alright! Let’s talk about Mr. Ya Boi, Scopper Gaban.
It’s not like much else happened in the chapter, right? That’s fine. His official introduction was a long time coming. Even though both hold the role of the “left hand” of their captain, I’m surprised by how much Oda made Gaban’s character like Sanji. Well, a mature Sanji who found love, but still like Sanji. It’s not like Rayleigh’s a mature verison of Zoro. Or, at least I never considered the two alike in personality.
So why the Gaban/Sanji parallel? Is Oda setting up something between the two characters? Will Gaban be Sanji’s mentor like how Rayleigh mentored Luffy? Is this a way of Oda giving Sanji another power-up? Or…could this be a way for Oda to get Sanji to mature as a person? Maybe use Gaban’s influence to calm down Sanji’s girl crazed antics? Not remove it, of course—Oda loves his character gags no matter how stale they become. But, again, give Sanji some character growth and maturity. Yeah, I’m really looking forward to them meeting each other.
Hentai artists are lining up around the block to thank Oda for Gaban x Ripley.
So…uh…anyone know what The Harley is talking about?
Safe to say the Harley’s passages matches the mural. Let’s assume each area of mural under a Harley passage represents that particular message. If so, let’s try figuring out what’s going on based off of what we currently know about the One Piece world and its past.
The First World
Ok… Ah, the Mother Flame. Cities. …Maybe the world was advanced and that civilization discovered the Mother Flame. Things went downhill from there and somehow the planet was destroyed. Remember, we recently learned the One Piece world was destroyed twice. Once during the Void Century and the other, I presume, was way way WAY back in an advanced age.
If the Sun God is Nika, then the Earth God was Imu? Or, whoever had the Earth God powers during that time? And does all this earth talk symbolize the creation of the Red Line and it subsequent separation of the planet into four blues? Sure, let’s go with that.
The Second World
“The Forest God tamed demons” could mean during this low point in history, devil fruits somehow appeared in the world and were used to fight the demons? [Wait, wait, wait! Does that mean demons were unleashed because the ancient civilization dug too deep for the Mother Flame and awoke them? Like when the Dwarves in Lord of The Rings mined to deep and awoke the Balrog? Hmm…]
Those of the half-moon and moon dreamed? Hmm… Lunarians and…some other race of people, I guess. The sea god storming could mean devil fruit users gaining their water weakness. If so, it’s interesting something happened to give them that vulnerability rather than it always being there.
The World Tree also plays a role here but I’m not sure what that was. Unless… Were devil fruits born from it?! Devil fruits originated on Elbaph. A place where horned giants that could be mistaken for demons lived and has an area they call the Underworld… Fascinating!
Apocalyptic Graffiti. Usually you only see that in New Jersey.
We see flying arks in the mural similar to the one God Enel built (no doubt from ancient blueprints he found or stole somewhere). Did the Lunarians and others escape the demon infested planet in order to live peacefully on the moon? If so, are they still there? I don’t think it was ever confirmed if anyone was still alive up there except for the Space Pirates before Enel got there.
“Man killed the sun and became god” I take that as Team Imu (the united countries that founded the World Government) attacking the last remnant of the formerly vast ancient civilization (now only one island, Laugh Tale), flooding the planet, and taking over the world. Imu later moves into the Lunarians abandoned territory atop the Red Line and creates Marijoa. Basically, The Second World describes what happened during the Void Century.
Lots of telling in this chapter, huh? It’s all setting up the upcoming conflict and the big Elbaph flashback, of course. Let’s see: Ancient Giants, Loki, Hajrudin, Other Giant Nations, Linlin, Saul, King Harald, King Harald’s Baby Mommas… That’s a lot of ground to cover. Put me down for at least ten Elbaph flashback chapters.
…Oh, what the heck? Make it twelve chapters!
Hajrudin wants to be King of the Pir—erm—Giants. Can we please have a democracy somewhere in One Piece? No? Okay, then.
Also, for someone carrying foreign blood, Hajrudin had the people cheering him on after making his king declaration at the feast. What happened to all the MAGA Giants? Is there a proud giant stealthy waiting in the background to ask Hajrudin for his birth certificate? Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
The twist: Shanks is a triplet! See you in 100 chapters, Shamar.
I do like confirmation Giant territories exist outside Elbaph. Where are they? Are they part of the World Government? I hope those questions are answered soon.
So, Loki was a jerk since day one, huh? Who wanna bet he did all of those “pranks” as a way to toughen up the people of Elbaph? Don’t get me wrong, Loki’s absolutely an arc antagonistic but the Celestial Dragons will always be the worst of the worst in One Piece. I bet the Holy Knights want Loki to kill Luffy AKA Nika 2.0. Why else would they offer him a place at the inbred Celestial Dragon knights table?
Start the countdown for Shank’s flashback, Y’all. It’s gotta happen this arc with his (most likely) brother appearing on the island. I wonder will Shanks himself return to Elbaph and reunite with Luffy? Hmm…
Look. She was in a hurry, okay?! Not everyone has time to put on pants you know.
It takes chapters like this to remind me just how chaotic Luffy really his, wanting Elbaph to be a warrior nation instead of peaceful. What a jerk! No wonder he’s a pirate. Next time I see him I’m snitching to the Navy.
Biblo the Owl. Is it a creature like Zunesha? Meaning, has it been around since the Void Century? Won’t be surprised if it’s true. Putting a lore pin in that until later in the arc.
Got confirmation Collun’s dad is a former human pirate. Scopper Gaban? A former pirate who’s powerful and had a reason to hide on a non World Government affiliated island like Elbaph? Yep, it’s him. Trust me. When have I ever let you down? Well, let you down this year?
“We hate vylence!! Except for Fortnite. And Marvel movies. And cats slapping dogs YouTube videos. And…”
Bonney and Lilith are looking for residency status on Elbaph. And while they’re at it, they can move into background character status. Your arc’s over. Oda will call you for the plot if he needs ya.
Mammoth Base Opera Castle 