One Piece Elbaf Arc: Why Oda Remains Unbeatable in Storytelling

Earlier today, the most recent One Piece spoilers provided fans with significant insights into the Alabasta crew’s location and predicament. A highlight among this latest information is the revelation of the identity of the Sun God, who is said to be none other than Road, the navigator from Hajrudin’s New Giant Warrior Pirates, as disclosed in the upcoming chapter.

Furthermore, it appears that fans are also introduced to Road’s motives for seeking out Luffy and his companions. It seems that his actions stem from disagreements with Hajrudin regarding their alliance with the Straw Hat Grand Fleet. Although the specifics of his plans following the capture of the Straw Hats remain vague, the connection between the two characters is clearly established.

The most striking aspect of Road’s return in the One Piece manga’s Elbaf Arc is a testament to the genius of creator Eiichiro Oda. This situation reinforces the notion that Oda excels in the art of long-term storytelling, with masterful setups and payoffs for characters who may have once seemed insignificant.

Road’s return in One Piece showcases Oda’s storytelling prowess

A significant part of Road’s re-entry in the One Piece narrative highlights Oda’s narrative skill, particularly regarding the character’s debut. Road first appeared in Chapter 898 during a cover story focused on the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, which spotlighted each member of this team and hinted at future plot lines.

While Road’s initial role seemed to primarily introduce him, upon closer examination, it is evident that Oda was laying the groundwork for developments to come. The chapter’s title, “I Will Return,” which is positioned above the cover story introducing Road, cleverly underscores these future ramifications. Additionally, his introduction amidst the Straw Hat Grand Fleet cover story foreshadowed the underlying reasons for his grudges against Luffy and his crew.

The latest spoilers from One Piece further reveal a spectacular narrative moment orchestrated by Oda concerning Road’s comeback. According to leaks from chapter 1129, the forthcoming issue will culminate with Nami and Zeus launching an extraordinary assault on Road, coinciding with Luffy’s endeavor to break free from his prison. This dramatic setup signals a navigator versus navigator confrontation that Oda might have meticulously planned from the very beginning.

Oda’s prior planning becomes evident, as Road was introduced explicitly as the “navigator” for Hajrudin’s crew, reinforced by his design holding a map while aboard their ship, the Naglfar. Although this setup is subtle, it’s clear Oda assigned this navigatorial role to Road for a distinct purpose and intention.

It can also be posited that Oda possesses significant plans regarding Hajrudin’s goals, especially in light of Road’s motivation to capture a segment of Luffy’s core crew. Given the foreshadowing already in place, it is plausible that Road may be influenced by something Luffy did or said to Hajrudin in the past. This narrative could elucidate the extreme measures Road is taking to ensure the Straw Hats’ capture and vulnerability.

In conclusion

The Elbaf Arc continues to prove Oda's brilliance as a writer (Image via Toei Animation) — The Elbaf Arc highlights Oda’s literary genius (Image via Toei Animation)

It’s evident that Oda meticulously crafted Road’s narrative role from his very first introduction in chapter 898’s cover story. Fans can confidently anticipate that Oda has thoughtfully mapped out Road’s continued involvement in the Elbaf Arc, including his likely eventual defeat at the hands of Luffy and his crew. Fortunately, with no breaks scheduled after the release of chapter 1129, fans can look forward to revelations sooner rather than later.

Source