Elbaf Arc in One Piece Could Reflect Sabaody Archipelago Arc: Here’s Why It Makes Perfect Sense

With renowned author and illustrator Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece manga series currently on a break week, fans are buzzing with anticipation over what they can expect from the upcoming Elbaf Arc. Unsurprisingly, discussions are rife as fans analyze the chapters that have been released for this arc, particularly focusing on chapter 1127.

Indeed, many One Piece enthusiasts believe they’ve uncovered compelling evidence suggesting that the Elbaf Arc may mirror the iconic Sabaody Archipelago Arc from the pre-time-skip era. While this is not yet confirmed as of the writing of this article, it makes sense, considering that the series is now in its final saga and the pivotal role Sabaody played in the narrative.

The Potential of One Piece’s Elbaf Arc Leading into the Final War Arc as the Sabaody Archipelago Did for Marineford

One of the main reasons some readers are convinced that the Elbaf Arc will reflect the Sabaody Archipelago Arc is how the arc begins. After the events of Sabaody, the Straw Hats were separated, and the same is true at the onset of Elbaf. At the conclusion of Sabaody, Bartholomew Kuma rescued the Straw Hats, which continues in the buildup to Elbaf during the final stages of the Egghead Arc.

Additionally, there’s an interesting parallel between their post-Sabaody separation and the Norse mythology themes influencing Elbaf. Following Sabaody, each of the nine Straw Hats was sent to a different island, while Elbaf itself is presumably divided into the nine realms of Yggdrasil due to its Norse influence. This suggests that the Straw Hats might currently be dispersed across these nine realms.

This mirrors how each Straw Hat trained on different islands after Sabaody, potentially enabling them to train in their respective Elbafian realms. There could also be a romantic parallel, wherein Boa Hancock develops feelings for Luffy during the Sabaody events. In Elbaf, it’s conceivable that Prince Loki of the Giants might fall for Nami instead, paralleling Nami to Lola, who was the original romantic interest of Prince Loki.

Moreover, the narrative structure of One Piece could also align the two arcs through Garp’s current predicament as Blackbeard’s captive on Hachinosu Island, echoing Portgas D. Ace’s capture by the World Government during the events of Sabaody. This situation could directly pave the way for the series’ anticipated final war arc—centered around Garp’s capture—much like the Marineford Arc, which focused on Ace’s captivity.

This setup would naturally provide a means to involve Shanks in the final war arc. Rather than just ending the War of the Best, he could meet his demise or help resolve the conflict in this final chapter. This development would also bring closure to the stories of Luffy and Shanks, culminating in an intense narrative cycle. Whereas Shanks returned the straw hat to a fading Luffy post-War of the Best, Luffy might return the Straw Hat to a dying Shanks at the conclusion of the final war.

It’s anticipated that these events could introduce Scopper Gaban as a mentor for Luffy and the Straw Hats, reminiscent of Rayleigh’s guidance post-Marineford. This scenario could directly usher in the final arc that leads Luffy and his crew to the long-awaited Laugh Tale.

However, all of this remains speculative at this point and should be viewed with caution, despite the substantial evidence presented and Oda’s known penchant for parallels. Fans can look forward to gaining more insights on these theories and others as the series resumes with chapter 1128 next Monday, October 7, 2024.

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