Upcoming Parallel to One Piece’s Marineford Arc Surprises Fans with Unexpected Twist

One interesting narrative device that Eiichiro Oda frequently employs in the post-time-skip arcs of One Piece is the way certain storylines mirror or echo those from before the time skip. A prominent example of this is the comparison between the Egghead and Sabaody Archipelago arcs, which showcase numerous clear similarities and contrasting elements.

Many fans of One Piece speculate that a new version of the Marineford Arc may soon emerge. This speculation intensified following the recent disclosure of Monkey D. Garp being alive, albeit as one of Blackbeard’s captives on Hachinosu Island. While indications suggest that a Marineford Arc parallel is on the horizon, the actual scenario may deviate from fan expectations, particularly with Blackbeard’s complicated motives in play.

Blackbeard’s Strategies Regarding the Revolutionary Army Hint at Garp’s Role in One Piece

Chapter 1126 of One Piece not only confirmed Garp’s captivity under Blackbeard but also hinted at Blackbeard’s intentions regarding him. At first glance, it seems Blackbeard aims to use Garp as leverage in negotiations with the World Government, striving to turn Hachinosu Island into an allied nation. This was part of Blackbeard’s original strategy involving Koby, whom Garp heroically sacrificed himself to save.

However, chapter 1126 further unveils Laffitte’s activities while the other Blackbeard Pirates execute their plans. He is observed at the Umit Shipping Company’s headquarters, monitoring the Revolutionary Army’s efforts against Mariejois and their impact. The implications of Blackbeard’s orders to Laffitte strongly suggest a connection to the Revolutionary Army’s siege.

Notably, the broader One Piece community theorizes that Blackbeard might support the World Government and the Celestial Dragons using Caribou’s Devil Fruit abilities. With the Revolutionary Army’s siege hampering food supplies to Mariejois, Caribou could effectively transport large quantities of food, making him an invaluable asset—a proposal that the World Government would find hard to refuse.

This development also means that Garp’s value as a negotiation tool would diminish, since Blackbeard would already have secured significant goodwill from the World Government and Celestial Dragons. This scenario opens the door for the Cross Guild, which has reportedly placed a bounty of 3 billion Beri on Garp’s head. It’s likely that Blackbeard could hand Garp over to the Cross Guild to capitalize on this bounty and advance his personal agenda.

In this setting, Garp might find himself in a situation reminiscent of Portgas D. Ace’s plight during the Marineford Arc. However, unlike the pre-time-skip scenario where pirates battled Marines to rescue one of their own, the post-time-skip narrative seems poised to reverse those roles. This shift could provide Koby and other members of SWORD an opportunity to atone for past missteps at Hachinosu and ensure the rescue of both Garp and Koby.

This scenario also paves the way for Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat crew to confront the Blackbeard Pirates, a far more fitting rival for them. Luffy pursuing his dreams rather than pausing to save his grandfather presents a logical progression in the narrative and reflects a deeper thematic parallel, contrasting Garp’s duties as a Marine during the Marineford Arc with Luffy’s commitment to his pirate lifestyle.

Conclusion

Koby will likely lead the charge against the Cross Guild in the eventual rescue mission for Garp (Image via Toei Animation)

As Blackbeard clearly strategizes to win the World Government’s favor by addressing the food crisis caused by the siege at Mariejois, his next move involving Garp centers around the bounty from the Cross Guild. This sets the stage for a potential second Marineford conflict, showcasing the growing threat that the Cross Guild poses to both the Marines and the World Government. Additionally, it positions Luffy and the Straw Hats against Blackbeard’s crew, increasing the likelihood that the outlined trajectory for the series is indeed plausible.

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