One Piece: Oda Reveals Shanks's Next Big Move

Key Takeaways

Shanks fought Kid, destroyed Bartolomeo’s crew, and set his sights on Luffy.
Shanks and Luffy’s anticipated battle may happen in the Elbaf arc, potentially in 2025.
Fans are gearing up for the showdown as Shanks becomes more central in the Final Saga.

As a long-time One Piece fanatic, I can’t help but feel a thrill coursing through my veins as the day of reckoning draws ever closer. For decades, we’ve waited with bated breath for the fateful day when the Straw Hat Pirate Captain Luffy would lock swords with his idol and mentor, the Red-Haired Pirate Shanks. And now, it seems, that moment is almost upon us!

In the ongoing epic tale of “One Piece”, it’s clear that significant characters will dominate as the story unfolds. The Straw Hat Pirates crew undoubtedly plays a crucial role, but there are other groups waiting in the wings, saved by author Oda for the final chapter. Among these are the remaining Yonko crews such as the Red Hair Pirates, the Cross Guild, and indeed, the Blackbeard Pirates, who will likely have significant impact on this part of the narrative.

Besides the Straw Hat Pirates, another popular group among fans is the Red Hair Pirates, headed by fan-favorite Red-haired Shanks. Fans are eagerly waiting to see his actions unfold in the Final Saga, and chapter 1126 of One Piece may have provided a significant clue about his future plans.

Shanks Destroyed The Kid Pirates Previously Near Elbaf

Shanks Fought Kid Recently And Beat Him
Shanks Set Out To Locate Someone

It’s been mentioned by Oda for quite some time that Shanks would become more prominent in the final chapters of One Piece, indicating that when Shanks begins appearing frequently, fans can expect the story to be nearing its conclusion. This prediction from years ago suggested that Shanks would take on significant battles and dramatically impact the world during the final saga. Fortunately, we’re now in the final phase of One Piece, meaning Shanks will play a more crucial role than ever before. We caught a sneak peek of Shanks in the Egghead Island arc, and as the story approaches Elbaf, his importance is set to increase even further since Elbaf might just be where Shanks takes center stage.

When Shanks starts appearing more frequently, you can assume One Piece is in the final saga. – Oda

On Egghead Island, Shanks demonstrated a taste of his upcoming prowess for fans. He confronted the Kid Pirates at Elbaf’s coast, dealing them an overwhelming defeat. As Kid prepared to obliterate Shanks’ fleet, the latter sensed the impending danger and responded swiftly, defeating Kid with a single mighty swing of his sword. With his powerful Kamusari, Shanks reduced a 3-billion-berry pirate to ruins, but that was merely the beginning. Alongside Kid, Killer, his trusted lieutenant, also met their match in a single blow from Shanks, underlining his immense strength. The entirety of the Kid Pirates were annihilated by Shanks during the Egghead Island arc, which served as a clear warning that he was determined to seize the One Piece.

In Egghead, Shanks wasn’t central to the story, but he still received some attention, hinting at bigger things for him in the future. Now, as One Piece kicks off the Elbaf Arc, we know that this island is under his protection – a sign that Shanks will likely play a significant role here. Readers are eagerly anticipating what’s coming next regarding this red-haired Yonko.

Shanks Was Shown To Destroy Bartolomeo’s Crew In One Piece 1126

Shanks Met And Destroyed The Barto Club

One Piece: Oda Reveals Shanks's Next Big Move

In One Piece Chapter 1126, readers got a closer look at Emperor Shanks, the man with the fiery hair. This time, Shanks was seen having a bit of a scuffle with one of Luffy’s subordinates. For those who might have forgotten, it was Bartolomeo who had once torched Shanks’s flag in one of his visited towns and replaced it with the emblem of the Straw Hat Pirates instead. Burning an Emperor’s flag is a direct challenge, essentially announcing that the territory is under attack. Shanks, understandably, was not going to ignore this provocation. In fact, Shanks hinted that he intended to handle this matter personally once the War of Wano concluded.

When his team proposed visiting Luffy, Shanks gently pointed out that their current focus should be on Blackbeard, not forgetting Bartolomeo, the one who just torched his emblem.

This is a deadly poison. See to it that Straw Hat Luffy takes it within a month! – Hongo

Following the occurrences of Egghead, Shanks resumed his journey towards the sea to tackle pressing matters. At present, his focus is on Blackbeard, and naturally, avenging anyone who hurts his companions. Consequently, Shanks had two primary objectives: Blackbeard and Bartolomeo. It’s been verified that Shanks crossed paths with the latter and handled the situation decisively. As illustrated in One Piece Chapter 1126, Shanks and his pirate band successfully overpowered the Barto Club. The leader, Bartolomeo, was then presented with poison. His crew demanded he ensure Luffy is poisoned and perishes within a month, which would be the sole condition for his survival. Remaining faithful to his allegiance, he ingested the poison himself. Later, it became apparent that this was actually Shanks’s test for him all along. Bartolomeo was permitted to set sail again.

Yet, as they sailed along, Yasopp launched an attack on his own pirate ship, effectively crippling the Luffy Go Senpai from afar. The danger posed by Bartolomeo has been neutralized. Shanks avenged the arson of his flag with this action, and this significant event seems to be shaping up as a pivotal moment in the series. In essence, Shanks’ future targets are now Blackbeard, and with him, Luffy.

Shanks Vs Luffy Is Coming

The Elbaf Arc Will See Luffy Vs Shanks Happen

Since Bartolomeo has been defeated by Shanks, it seems quite possible that he’ll focus his attention on new targets. It might be challenging for Shanks to confront Blackbeard at this moment, considering he’s back on Hachinosu. An alternative scenario could be Shanks returning to Elbaf, which promises an exciting turn of events. Notably, Luffy is currently en route to Elbaf and has been sailing for approximately 2 days. In the near future, it’s expected that Shanks will also reach Elbaf. When these two powerful pirates are on the same island, a massive confrontation is inevitable. It’s common knowledge among fans that when Shanks and Luffy are together on an island, they’ll cross paths and engage in an electrifying duel.

Fans have eagerly anticipated the face-off between Shanks and Luffy for decades, and it looks like Eiichiro Oda will fulfill this epic duel in the Elbaf arc. With the battle now just a few months away, it’s safe to assume that 2025 is when we might finally witness this long-awaited showdown. Although it may seem distant, considering the number of chapters left, it won’t be too far off.

Achieving Shanks’ goal against Bartolomeo brings us one step nearer to the highly anticipated confrontation between Luffy and Shanks, a battle that promises immense scale and grandeur. Fans would be wise to gear up for this epic showdown.

You can access “One Piece” for reading through Viz Media. Fans can read it officially and at no cost on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus app. Mark your calendars, as the next chapter of “One Piece,” One Piece 1126, is scheduled to be released on September 15, 2024.

2024-09-13 03:34

One Piece: Oda Reveals Shanks’s Next Big Move