Oda’s Opportunity to Address One Piece’s Time Issue in the Elbaf Arc and Why it Would Benefit the Story

Despite its many virtues, One Piece has faced a recurring issue with time management in its storyline. One notable instance is the relatively short timeframe of a few weeks in which the New World arc takes place, making the growth and achievements of Luffy and the Straw Hat crew seem somewhat implausible. This is particularly evident when comparing them to the veteran crews of powerful figures like Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks, who have been ruling the seas for decades.

It is highly likely that the upcoming Elbaf arc in One Piece will tackle this recurring problem. The arc is set to follow the events of Egghead and may involve a training plot that could provide much-needed power-ups for the weaker Straw Hats. This could also add a sense of realism to the manga’s timeline.

This article includes spoilers for the series.

The Elba Arc and Its Potential Impact on Time Issues in One Piece

One significant challenge the story has consistently encountered is the fact that many of the arcs occur within a short period of time. It is hard to wrap one’s mind around the idea that major events, such as Dressrosa, unfolded in just one day or that the New World storyline spans only a couple of weeks.

Despite the fact that experienced pirates such as Kaido, Big Mom, and Shanks, who possess immense power and vast resources, have been on their journeys for many years, Luffy’s own journey may seem quite unrealistic.

Nevertheless, it has been officially announced by author Eiichiro Oda that the next arc, following Egghead, will take place in Elbaf, the highly anticipated land of the Giants. This has been a long-awaited arc for fans, and it presents Oda with the opportunity to address any time inconsistencies in the manga and potentially incorporate a training arc that could span a couple of months within the story’s timeline.

Many fans believe that during this arc, the Straw Hats will undergo training in Elbaf to increase their strength before the final phase of the story, which will revolve around reaching Laugh Tale and engaging in the ultimate battle against the World Government. This training period could allow for the main characters to realistically become stronger.

What could happen in the Elbaf arc

The Giants fighting in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

There are numerous possibilities for how the Elbaf arc could unfold in One Piece, and one popular theory is that it will involve a reunion between Shanks and his crew. Hints have been dropped that Shanks has a connection to Elbaf, and fans are eagerly anticipating a potential meeting between him and Luffy in this arc, although this is currently only speculation.

There is a strong possibility that the Giants’ relationship with Nika will be further explored, as it was revealed during the Egghead arc. Many fans are anticipating a significant role for Usopp, given his long-standing interest in the Giants of Elbaf since the Little Garden arc in the Grand Line.

Concluding Remarks

It is possible that the Straw Hats could address their time problems by taking advantage of the Elbaf arc and using its span of several months to train and improve their abilities. However, it should be noted that there is currently no information available about the details of this arc, so any theories about its potential impact are purely based on fan speculation at this time.

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