One Piece Manga Reveals Significant Callback to Alabasta Arc

Recently, there have been some exciting spoilers circulating about the forthcoming 1130th chapter of Eiichiro Oda’s renowned One Piece manga series. These hints suggest an enlightening installment, as fans are set to witness Elbaf for the first time and finally encounter Prince Loki, a character first mentioned during the Whole Cake Island Arc.

In addition to these developments, an intriguing detail in the latest chapter has sparked a discussion among fans. An X mark is reportedly visible on Luffy’s Gear 5 image in the Giant Warrior Pirates’ newspaper. Many speculators suggest that this could be an attempt by Nefertari D. Vivi to reach out to Luffy and his allies, utilizing Big News Morgans’ potential offer of protection.

While this theory seems plausible, Oda is notorious for misdirection and crafty plot twists throughout his narrative. Hence, it’s possible that this reference to the Alabasta Arc might have other implications connected to the ongoing events in the Egghead Arc.

Potential Revelations in One Piece Regarding the X Mark on Emeth

In chapter 1122, readers witnessed the conclusion of Ancient Robot Emeth’s journey through a looking-back narrative to the Void Century, where Emeth converses with Joy Boy. Notably, Emeth appeared more advanced in this flashback than in the present-day storyline, and keen observers spotted an X mark on each of his arms that closely resembles Luffy and his crew’s markings during the Alabasta Arc.

Though this parallel was readily apparent, fans remained curious about when Oda would delve deeper into it or what narrative purpose it would ultimately serve. Fast forward to the new spoilers from chapter 1130, and the notion of Vivi marking Luffy’s image appears less definitive. The introduction of this X mark on Luffy’s portrayal in the Egghead Arc strengthens the hypothesis of a deeper connection.

Moreover, Joy Boy is depicted merely as a silhouette in chapter 1122, which could have been a conscious choice by Oda to conceal a potential X mark on Joy Boy’s arm as well. This becomes more intriguing considering Joy Boy is suggested to have possessed the Nika Devil Fruit in the same way Luffy does today, hinting that the X mark’s reappearance carries significant weight.

Further validating this perspective are the connections drawn to the Alabasta Arc and its rising importance in the saga’s final stages. Elements such as the Nefertari family’s D. clan membership, the introduction of Nefertari D. Lili, and the relevance of Ancient Weapons all echo back to the Alabasta storyline. While this remains speculative, it certainly adds credence to the possibility of a meaningful callback to the Alabasta Arc.

Concluding Thoughts

Major implications regarding the X mark in the One Piece manga (Image via Toei Animation)

As of the current article’s publication, the true nature of the X mark remains shrouded in mystery. While the theory surrounding Vivi makes logical sense, there are also compelling arguments suggesting it may be linked to Luffy’s prospective role as the next Joy Boy. However, fans may have to wait for clarity since the series will pause for a two-week break following the official release of chapter 1130.

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