The newOne Piecearc, Elbaph, has been teased for two decades, highlighting its significance to the main cast and the profound impact it will have on the series' narrative. Throughout the story, numerous hints have highlighted the importance of this arc, so it’s no surprise thatMonkey D. Luffy, the protagonist ofOne Piece, is at its center. Luffy’s latest upgrade, Gear 5,is connected to the Sun God Nika, a deity heavily incorporated into the lore of Elbaph.
This connection will lead to a significant upgrade for Luffy in this arc. However, these upgrades will hopefully focus onLuffy’s emotional growth and meaningful emotional development, something the character has lacked since the Marineford arc. While this has been a concern among fans, a moment from chapter #1131 ofOne Pieceoffers a hint at how Luffy might finally experience real character growth after years.
One Piece Might Be Preparing For Luffy’s First Betrayal
The Recent Connection Developed With Loki Could Teach Luffy Something Important
Luffy has always been portrayed as a goofy character who relies on his intuition and gut instincts, even when making important decisions for himself and his crewmates. However, this trait is precisely what has endeared Luffy to fans of the series. His intuition has also allowed him to demonstrate exceptional judgment of character, forging unbreakable bonds with many remarkable individuals. This highlights Luffy’s unique ability to recognize good people and place his trust in them.
As a result,Luffy has never truly experienced betrayalby those he has trusted, as these characters have always proven to be on the good side, regardless of how evil they initially appeared. However, the newest character introduced in the arc, Loki, the Accursed Prince, may finally challenge Luffy’s ability to judge others based on intuition. Loki has already been portrayed as one of the most evil and selfish characters, willing to betray others for his own desires.
Just beforeLoki’s impressive introduction, the natives of the Elbaph revealed that to acquire a legendary devil fruit, Loki murdered his own father, King Harald. This shocking revelation, if true, underscores Loki’s untapped evil and draws a parallel to the infamous Donquixote Doflamingo, another villain who murdered his father for selfish gain. It is evident that inOne Piecechapter #1131, titled, “Loki in the Underworld”,Loki is manipulating Luffy into trusting himby piquing his interest with information about Shanks.
In exchange for information about Shanks, it appears that Luffy has chosen to trust Loki and even made a secret deal with him. This is evident when Goldberg, a member of the New Giant Warrior Pirates, questioned Luffy about his presence in the underworld, and Luffy couldn’t answer, having promised Loki to keep it confidential. This highlights that Luffy is placing his trust in Loki but is likely to face betrayal, as ample evidence suggests Loki will stop at nothing to achieve his goals.
After 25 Years, One Piece Is Exploring Elbaph, And the Arc Will Change Everything
The Elbaph arc has arrived after more than two decades of waiting, and it promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
This will bring Luffy an unexpected yet increasingly necessary character development, especially as the series approaches its climactic final war. It will add emotional depth to Luffy’s character, likely influencing the narrative significantly while steeringOne Piecetoward a darker tone.
Loki’s Betrayal Will Give Luffy a Different Character Development
When Loki was first introduced, he declared himself the Sun God, destined to bring about the end of the world. It appears that Loki views himself as part of a prophecy, likely culminating in the world’s destruction. This suggests that Loki may have killed his father to obtainhis legendary Devil Fruit, believing it was the right thing to do. However, this ultimately leads to Loki being captured in the underworld by the other giants, and in his desperation to free himself, Loki resorts to any means necessary.
Now that Loki has gained Luffy’s trust, the latter may end up helping Loki escape his current predicament. Once freed, Loki could initiate the destruction of the world, believing it to be his destiny. His plan would likely begin with wreaking havoc in the land of the giants, which could be catastrophic, especially if Loki indeed possesses a legendary Devil Fruit with immense destructive potential.
This betrayal would forceLuffyto confront the consequences of misplacing his trust in others based on intuition, offering him significant emotional character development for the first time in years, before ultimately facing Loki in the climax of the latestOne Piecearc.
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
