The much-anticipated Elbaf Arc in the One Piece manga has officially kicked off. Unfortunately, Monkey D. Luffy and his crew commenced their journey to Elbaf in an unfavorable manner; they succumbed to sleep while navigating through a sinister area of slumber before even reaching the island. This led to their capture by a notorious self-proclaimed Sun God, who dressed them in traditional Viking-style attire representative of Elbaf and trapped them within a diorama-like realm of his creation.
This self-styled Sun God of Elbaf aimed to keep the Straw Hats as his playthings, but Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, and Chopper quickly escaped from his clutches. As recent chapters of One Piece reveal, they easily overcame the guardians of this Sun God, ultimately defeating him as well. While it is entertaining to witness the original Grand Line crew in action, this particular subplot feels somewhat lackluster, especially when considering the alternative ways to introduce the Elbaf Arc.
Fans speculated that the Straw Hats might encounter the Red-Haired Pirates or the enigmatic Man with the Burn Scar. Instead, they were confronted by an unfamiliar character, who turned out to be far too weak to pose any legitimate challenge. This seemed almost disrespectful, given the esteem of the Straw Hats as a Yonko crew. Upon deeper reflection, though, the beginning of the Elbaf Arc seems to symbolize the overarching narrative of One Piece.
Disclaimer: This article reveals significant spoilers from the One Piece manga up to chapter 1129.
While recent chapters of One Piece may seem unexciting, the Elbaf Sun God subplot holds deeper significance
Are the latest chapters of One Piece pointless?
A prevalent sentiment among One Piece enthusiasts is the belief that the latest manga chapters are a waste of space, particularly as they mark the beginning of a long-awaited arc like Elbaf. It’s understandable given the underwhelming depiction of three chapters spent on Elbaf’s false Sun God, Road, a largely insignificant character in the grand scheme.
Road is a former ally and subordinate of Hajrudin from the New Giant Warrior Pirates, who chose to detach himself when Hajrudin pledged his loyalty to Luffy and joined the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. It’s worth mentioning that Hajrudin was much weaker than Dressrosa Arc Luffy in combat abilities.
During that arc, Luffy summarily defeated Hajrudin with a single, unembellished strike, not even utilizing Gear 4. The situation is less favorable for Road, as Luffy has significantly escalated his power level – mastering Gear 4, achieving Gear 5, and becoming adept at all three forms of Haki: Color of Observation, Color of Armament, and the formidable Color of Conqueror.
Given his background as an associate of Hajrudin, Road should be, at most, on par with him, rendering him a mere nonentity compared to the current elite members of the Straw Hat Pirates. Indeed, in One Piece chapter 1129, Nami dispatches Road with little difficulty.
Consequently, many fans expressed dissatisfaction over what seemed like a frivolous use of three chapters within a notably slow-paced series like One Piece. Some deemed these chapters akin to filler material, a sentiment that’s easy to grasp. The scenario of the Straw Hats, now a fully realized Yonko crew, falling victim to Road felt contrived and unwarranted.
In theory, a Yonko and their key crew members should evoke terror, instilling fear in those contemplating confrontation. Even characters like Big Mom maintained a certain intimidating presence during lesser moments. In contrast, Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, does not effectively portray Luffy, Zoro, and the others in a similar light.
Despite the formidable growth of Luffy and his crew, Oda continues to depict them as underdogs, a narrative choice that may not serve the story well. As the series protagonist, it’s crucial that Luffy doesn’t appear infallible, as this would undermine the stakes of the plot; indeed, no character in One Piece has achieved infallibility.
Nonetheless, it remains true that fans desire to see the Straw Hats recognized for their current strength and significance in the world. While their capture was due to their unconscious state, upon awakening, they swept aside Road and his minions with surprising ease. It’s likely they would have succeeded even during the earlier post-time skip chapters.
This context renders the Road storyline feel even more unnecessary and contrived. Although it’s difficult to argue its merit, it is evident that Oda approached it with some intent.
Storytelling often features deeper layers
The Elbaf Arc has only just commenced, and more compelling challenges await the Straw Hat Pirates beyond Road. The subplot involving this false Sun God was not designed to highlight the crew’s true might, but rather to set the stage for the arc itself. Oda had a plethora of dynamic options to explore, yet this was the path he chose.
What is undeniable, however, is that Oda intricately infused these chapters with the underlying themes of One Piece. The mini-adventure that heralded the Elbaf Arc serves as a microcosm of the broader One Piece narrative, potentially a detail noticed only by the most observant readers.
The diminutive world created by Road’s diorama symbolizes the larger reality of the One Piece universe, merely showcased in miniature. Road captures unsuspecting victims, placing them in captivity to amuse himself by converting them into dolls.
In a parallel narrative, the World Government employs propaganda and deceit to dull the awareness of the populace, thus maintaining their oppression. Draped in the guise of democracy, the World Government has constructed a hypocritical tyranny.
The populace remains oblivious to the true history and the real intentions of the World Government. Recently, some have started to ponder their circumstances, thanks to Dr. Vegapunk’s revelations about the dubious findings of his research. Even then, the majority are reluctant to confront the truths of their manipulation.
Just as Road erroneously regards humans as trifling dolls, the elite of the World Government view them as mere insects—or, at times, as hapless prey to be hunted and slaughtered in a sadistic fashion.
In a manner akin to Road’s clandestine activities, the shadowy figure of Imu-sama governs from the Pangaea Castle, with only the Five Elders present. To signify the purported equity among nations, no one is meant to occupy the Empty Throne in Mary Geoise, yet Imu does. The existence of Imu and their true authority within the World Government remain concealed from the masses.
Road seduces those around him with false divinity, mimicking the way the Five Elders bear the title of “Warrior God,” ruling on behalf of Imu, who, despite their titles, epitomize malevolent entities rather than divine beings.
The Straw Hat Pirates have shattered the facade of Road’s illusory realm, posing as liberators destined to dismantle the nefarious schemes of Imu and the Five Elders. Currently, Luffy and the others break through the reflective barriers of the diorama to access the genuine Elbaf, paralleling their eventual quest at Laugh Tale to uncover the overarching truths of the One Piece world.
For this undertaking, Nami’s role is indispensable. Though she may not be the crew’s most powerful fighter, the “Cat Burglar” remains crucial to their quest. One Piece chapter 1129 serves as a brilliant reminder that the journey of the Straw Hat Pirates hinges upon their navigator.
By the conclusion of One Piece chapter 1129, the false Sun God has been vanquished, liberating his captives. It could be inferred that in the ultimate denouement of One Piece, a similar, awe-inspiring liberation of the global populace will occur—symbolically speaking.
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