Summary
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For years, the land of Elbaf has been insinuated to be a mythical land inOne Piecethat would shake and excite fans to their very core. Now that the Elbaf arc is finally in play, it is not as spectacular as imagined. The pacing feels off, the stakes are not as intriguing, and even the Straw Hats are underperforming.
Eiichiro Oda’s writing is undoubtedlyone of the best in anime history, but the progression of thisOne Piecearc raises questions. And depending on how it develops, it could either be the crown jewel arc it is supposed to be… or a surprising fall-off in Oda’s pen game.
The Predictability Of The Elbaf Arc
Is There A Twist Coming?
With all the hype that came with the Elbaf arc, the progression of events seems too familiar. It shares a pattern withthe averageOne Piecearc, with the Straw Hats enjoying a new environment, a big exposé on the villains for that arc, and the crew trying to put a smile on the people’s faces while defeating the threat. For any other arc, this would do. For Elbaf, not so much. So much groundwork has been laid for Elbaf that this boilerplate script is not cutting it for most fans, especially after Egghead.
The Egghead arclaid down massive foundational knowledge: the Void Century, ancient technology, and the true scale of the World Government’s manipulations. The Straw Hats even had more action in Egghead. To reset this momentum, in a supposedly peak arc no less, is diabolical. Was a reset the only purpose? Or is there a curveball that readers are just being too impatient for? Although transitioning from such an action and lore-filled arc requires a delicate touch, the following events could easily reduce Elbaf to a mere bus stop if not delivered well.
Strength Fading In The Land Of Warriors
The Straw Hat’s Surprising Capture
For a crew that battled some of thestrongest characters inOne Piecetwo arcs in a row, their performance in the current Elbaf crisis is astonishingly subpar. Their altercation with Gunko, one of the Gods’ Knights, barely lasted a chapter, and they managed to get themselves defeated and restrained. Yes, the crew’s powerhouses were busy with Loki in the world. But what of Jinbe?
How could you let this happen, Jinbe? I thought we’d be good with you here!- Nami
Bounty is not, in any measure, a solid means of comparing strength, but his is higher than that of Sanji. Interestingly, it’s not looking like it. Granted, he is the only one who has positively contributed to the mess currently unfolding, using his abilities to quench the raging fire in Elbaf. Nevertheless, is that all it took? Gunko barely even struggled, as if it were a normal day to control lost sheep in the field. This is not the Straw Hat fans have come to know, and Odamaybe treading a thin line with this.
Lingering Character Arcs and Unresolved Controversies
Usopp’s Lack Of Development
Just as most of Luffy’s crew have a dream they want to accomplish,reaching Elbaf is tied to Usopp’s dream. Now that he is finally in Elbaf, barely anything has happened. The mangaseemsto be blowing one of the longest-standing emotional threads inOne Piece, especially when it matters the most.
While the excuse of bigger narrative concerns, such as the looming Final War, seems plausible, it is not enough. Robin, who also had a long-standing relationship with Elbaf through Saul, got her emotional reunion that had the Straw Hats and fans tearing up. This begs the question ofwhat will happen with Usopp?If Oda does not do something, it would be a major disappointment because, for a manga focused on chasing dreams, it seems to be killing Usopp’s own.
Sun God Nika’s True Purpose
Pre-Elbaf, Nika has always been portrayed as the mysterious character who will spread true freedom, the god of liberation. Now, Nika’s exact role in the series seems to be unclear. The people of Elbaf havedifferent translations of Nika’s purpose, and Robin’s translation of the Harley texts, which links the giants to the Void Century, does not simplify it.
Who can say if he was the world’s savior or the great destroyer who brought it crashing down… All we know for sure is that he heralds great change!- Jarul
As much as this breeds confusion, it gives Oda versatility, allowing him to twist this key discovery in many ways. Fans may not be too worried about this end, as their faith lies with the god of foreshadowing.
One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
