One Piece fans realize they owe Sanji an apology after latest spoilers confirm him as a key Egghead arc character

The release date for One Piece chapter 1123 has been announced as August 19, 2024. However, the spoilers for the chapter have already been revealed, giving a glimpse of the Straw Hat Pirates as they make their journey to Elbaf Island. Amidst the joy of escaping Egghead Island, one member of the crew stood alone, gazing at the lifeless body of Vegapunk.

Despite being mocked by the fandom for his lackluster performance and remaining silent for the majority of the arc, Vinsmoke Sanji proved his true strength with the heart-breaking sacrifice of Vegapunk revealed in the latest chapter. This revelation led the fandom to apologize for misjudging his character.

Please be aware that this article contains spoilers for the One Piece manga series.

What made Sanji stand out on Egghead Island after One Piece chapter 1123?

Sanji carrying a dead Vegapunk away from the enemies (Image via Shueisha)

The latest installment of One Piece, chapter 1123, began with the Straw Hats relishing their successful getaway from Egghead Island. While the rest of the crew celebrated, Sanji remained apart, gazing at the lifeless body of Vegapunk. The chapter then delved into a flashback, revealing how Vegapunk’s satellites uncovered the treachery of Vegapunk York. It then shifted to the present time, with Sanji holding the deceased Vegapunk in his arms.

During their run, Sanji was taken aback by Vegapunk’s words and desperately wished for him to survive. Despite Vegapunk’s insistence that something positive would come from his death, Sanji viewed it as a tragedy for Egghead Island. However, upon Vegapunk’s pleading, Sanji had no choice but to let him pass away.

Despite promising Bonney to bring the scientist back alive, Sanji was forced to make a brutal decision and sacrifice him. This was necessary for the success of his crew’s journey to Laugh Tale, and despite initially mocking him, the fandom began to apologize upon realizing the crucial role of the cook in the arc.

Response from the fan community

Sanji as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

After the latest chapter was released, the internet was abuzz with the fandom that had previously mocked Sanji’s character. However, this time, the majority of them humbly admitted that they owed the One Piece character an apology. In addition, true fans proudly declared Sanji as the MVP of the arc, delighted by how the Straw Hat cook once again proved his innocence against the fraudulent accusations.

“Sanji….we owe you an apology”a fan said.

“The kindest soul on heart… VINSMOKE SANJI!! CLOSED THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE MVP OF EGGHEAD,”another fan said.

“Sanji beat the fraud allegations like he ain’t ignore what Vegapunk told him,”another one said.

Finally, a fan pointed out Sanji’s smile, which conceals his feelings of hopelessness. This reminded fans of the Zou arc, where Sanji considered leaving the Straw Hats in order to marry Pudding and not hinder their journey through the Grand Line. They drew parallels between this smile and the one he had when he made a promise to Bonney to bring Vegapunk back alive.

“We should know what Sanji looks like when he’s hiding the pain of a lie behind a assuring smile,”another one claimed.

Concluding Remarks

One significant aspect mentioned in the chapter, which may have gone unnoticed by many fans, was the scene where Luffy was resting on Nami’s lap while Sanji did not object. This serves as evidence of the immense emotional impact of Dr. Vegapunk’s passing on Sanji. Despite shouldering the weight of the entire Straw Hat crew without their knowledge, the cook’s state of mind remains uncertain as he sets foot on Elbaf Island.

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