Summary
Chapter 1137 of theOne Piecemanga remains one of the most important chapters not only in the Elbaf arc, but for the entire story altogether. This chapter had many important moments, but the most notable of these was hinted at by its very name, since it confirmed a long-standing fan theory that had eventually become one of the most popular in the community; that of Shanks having a twin aligned with the World Government.
The official introduction of St. Figarland Shamrockand the confirmation of Shanks' true identity as a Celestial Dragon has set the board for the Final Saga ofOne Pieceon a far grander scale than other reveals, since it pits both brothers against one another in the Final War. The outcome of their inevitable battle will be one of the most important parts of the entire story, so let’s take a look at why this is.
A Battle Of Brothers
Shanks' First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 1, “Romance Dawn - The Dawn of Adventure”
Shamrock’s First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 907, “The Empty Throne”
For the longest time, fans of the franchise were split between two camps after the release of Chapter 907. Here, it was shown that one of Luffy’s most important allies, Shanks, was seen entering the Room of Authority, wherethe 5 Elders stay and oversee the World Government, asking to speak about a ‘certain pirate’. This came as a huge shock to everyone, since Shanks was an Emperor of the Sea and one of the greatest threats to the organization, prompting some fans to say that Shanks was actually evil. However, others believed that this was actually a previously unheard-of evil twin.
Alas, those with the latter opinion ended up being correct, since Chapter 1137 introduced St. Figarland Shamrock and confirmed Shanks' familial ties to the Celestial Dragons. Narratively, these reveals have led many in the fandom to speculate that Shanks vs. Shamrock will be one of the most important fights in the entirety of the Final Saga, the outcome of which will have massive reverberations across the world.
These brothers are both among the most powerful characters in the world, and the story is building them up to be equal in strength. Shanks has shown some of the greatest feats of Haki in the entire story across the board, withhis Conqueror’s Haki being the greatestin the current setting. Similarly, seeing as how great ambition is a common factor in the select few users of Conqueror’s Haki that fans have met, Shamrock would be just as proficient with this power as his brother due to being the Supreme Commander of the Gods Knights.
They also share the same Lineage Factor due to their family, which is probably the strongest of all the Celestial Dragon clans. This all goes to show that their eventual battle will be one of the most destructive and legendary in the franchise’s history, the outcome of which will change the entire landscape and power hierarchy ofOne Piece. Shamrock has the backing of the World Government on his side, whereas Shanks will likely be allied with Luffy and the other pirates.
You and the World Government fear the Great War that will come to this world one day!
There are many unique matchups in the Final War, but this one is among the most obvious to make. Many fans even speculate thatShanks will somehow lose this engagementfor whatever reason, prompting a new power-up or an unmatched sense of resolve within Luffy that may somehow be the most instrumental part of his journey in the Final War.
Shanks' death at the end ofOne Pieceis one of the most contested yet widely believed theories among the community. As such, him meeting his end at the hands of Shamrock and Garling would be an insane event, though many fans even speculate that Blackbeard could be the one to do this as well. Whatever the case may be, whether victory is achieved by Shanks or Shamrock, it will undoubtedly be one of the most important moments in all ofOne Piece.
Alternative Theories Regarding These Battles In The Final War
Who Else Could Fight These Characters?
Alternatively, many fans believe that Shanks could also fight his father, St. Figarland Garling, at the end of the series. This is mainly because, in terms of feats,Shanks greatly outscales Shamrock, making many fans believe that he is far stronger than his brother, though there is no way to fully know this currently. However, if this ends up being true, then Shanks would undoubtedly battle against his father, which would make for an arguably better and more poignant battle for the story.
Alternatively, if Shanks and Shamrock are destined to battle, as many believe they are, then characters such as Monkey D. Dragon could face Garling, which would be quite a fitting fight since both are the leaders of their respective organizations. Plus, a popular fan theory states that Dragon is the true son of Rocks D. Xebec, whom Garling likely fought in the God Valley Incident. If true, this would be a really cool fight in the end.
