WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE EGGHEAD ISLAND
Summary
Shanksplayed a huge role in kicking off Luffy’s adventure in theOne Piecestoryline, but he essentially became a background character until the Egghead arc changed everything. While some fan theories have speculated what the final saga ofOne Piecehas in store for Pirate Emperor Shanks, one particular moment in the latest arc saw the beloved character violently switch from a passive role in the story into a fearsomely active one.
Meeting the accomplished Red Hair Pirates was a significant turning point in Monkey D. Luffy’s life. They and their captain, Shanks, demonstrated to many what an effective and happy pirate crew could look like, and the results were inspirational.The future Straw Hat captain looked up to Shanksto become the pirate he believed he needed to earn the title of Pirate King.
After departing Luffy’s home, known as Dawn Island, Shanks and his crew went on their own adventures. However, after several years and the defeat of Pirate Emperors Big Mom and Kaido,Shanks declared that he’d no longer reside on the story’s sidelines. And during Egghead Arc, he did more than talk about it.
Something Is No Longer Holding Shanks Back
Shanks Prepares To Battle The Kid Pirates In One Piece Anime Episode #1109
When Shanks was younger, he traveled with the former Pirate King’s crew, but he decided not to go to the final island where the One Piece resides to care for his sick friend, Buggy. The location of the final island,Laugh Tale, is only known to those who find and decipher the four red Road Poneglyphs. Without the knowledge gained from the enormous ancient relics, each hidden in incredibly difficult-to-reach locations, the mysterious final island would be seemingly impossible to find in the treacherous oceans of the New World. And the Red Hair Pirates might have enough.
It’s currently unclear what information Shanks already had and what Road Poneglyphs he was missing, butOne Piece’s anime is quickly approaching a moment of rapid progression for Luffy’s mentor. Episode #1081 adapted the dramatic moment of Shanks and his First Mate, Benn Beckman, discussing the shift in their priorities. It’s been some time since Shanks has been something more than a passive character, and Eustass Kid and audiences will soon see that change in the anime when Shanks becomes one of theclosest to reaching Laugh Tale.
Shanks Is Ready To End The Race To The One Piece
Even though Shanks played a role in subduingAdmiral Greenbull’s threat to Wano, it was a situation that Luffy and the Straw Hats could have handled. Until Egghead Island, the Red Hair Pirates helped add more mysteries to the franchise by operating in the shadows. That all changed whenthe Kid Pirates challenged Shanks to a fightto avenge Eustass’s left arm. While the series begins with Shanks igniting a spark in Luffy’s dreams, chapter #1079 sees the Pirate Emperor ending the dreams of another when he soundly defeats Kid and his crew’s morale with a single attack: Divine Departure.
The defeat of Worst Generation Pirate Eustass Kid signaled a definitive escalation in Shank’s role in the events ofOne Piece’s final saga. After the solid defeat, the Kid Pirates quickly offered their Road Poneglyph information for their captain’s life. Now thatShanks has shot down a solid contender in the race to become the next Pirate King, the Red Hair Pirates have set a precedent for anyone wishing to find the One Piece before Shanks. That includes those they’ve once been on fond terms with.
“One particularly tragic twist could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can deliver the straw hat.”
Shanks' Next Opponent Will Likely Present A Bigger Challenge Than Kid
The Red Hair Pirate Captain’s Advanced Haki Skills Will Be Tough To Beat
The momentLuffy received his iconic straw hat from Shankscame with the promise that the young boy would grow up and return the hat after becoming a great pirate. It’s difficult to deny that the Straw Hat Captain has accomplished that feat, especially after playing a prominent role in defeating two ruthlessly strong Pirate Emperors: Big Mom and Kaido. Fellow Pirate Emperor Shanks likely felt this way, which could very well be the signal he was waiting for before deciding to take more active steps in the race toward the One Piece.
One of the shōnen medium’s most anticipated reunions between Luffy and Red Haired Shanks is closer than ever. Now that Luffy has gained a high reclaim around the pirate world, he’s finally in a position where he deserves to give Shanks his hat back, but his mentor is likely not waiting around for that to happen. One possibility is thatShanks wanted to claim the One Piece when a worthy opponent presented themselves, a position that Luffy has likely attained. With Kid’s defeat, Shanks has truly established himself as a rival to Luffy in the race to become the Pirate King.
One Piece Finally Shows Why Blackbeard Is Luffy’s Greatest Threat
Blackbeard’s overpowered Devil Fruit abilities proved to be more than Law and fans expected in one of One Piece’s best Egghead Island fights.
Author Eiichiro Oda Has Suggested The Final War Will Dwarf Marineford
Author Eiichiro Oda has made a habit of defying expectations with incredible twists that often lead to the most exciting outcomes. One particularlytragic twist could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can deliver the straw hat, something Blackbeard and his crew may be preparing to do. The Blackbeard Pirates have been evolving their abilities and renown at a similar rate as Luffy’s Straw Hat Pirates. Throughout the Egghead arc, Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shanks have all proven that they each stand a good chance of claiming the One Piece.
Pirate Emperor Buggy, his formidable Cross Guild, and the Celestial Dragons will likely have pivotal roles to play inthe ending ofOne Piece’s story. After several years of masterful buildup, the final saga of the story has begun to see a lot of plotlines lining up for an exhilarating final act. With Shanks’s defeat of Pirate King wannabee Eustass Kid, he’s become a real obstacle for others who are in the race to claim theOne Piecethat is warming up like never before.
One Piece
Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history’s longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix’s 2023 adaptation.
