Marineford is often praised as one of the most intense and emotional arcs. This arc brings together the characters, factions, and tensions that have built up over the years. However, Eiichiro Oda has made a bold promise that One Piece's final story will surpass the legendary Marineford arc. Judging from recent events in Elbaf, this may be about to come true.
With the start of the Elbaf arc and theories emerging about the character Loki – the prince of Elbaph, this could be a potential villain and Oda could be preparing for the big battle he promised. This speculation is not unfounded. Recent chapters of One Piece show that the journey of the Straw Hats will be as intense as possible.
In One Piece: Is Loki the new villain in Elbaf?
One Piece's Elbaf arc has been long anticipated by fans, and now it's clear that Eiichiro Oda is laying the groundwork for an intense conflict. Elbaf, the land of the giants is currently shrouded in mystery, but we know that its people are formidable warriors with a rich culture and many stories.
However, their recent hostility towards humans, especially the Straw Hats, suggests that something darker is going on. This hostility can be traced to manipulation and deception, as seen from their strong belief in the fake Sun God or Road. And if we talk about deception, the name that often comes to our mind is none other than Loki.
In Norse mythology, Loki is famous for his deceit, deceit, and chaos. If this element is introduced into the One Piece world, Loki's role could be more than that of a rebellious prince. He may be a puppet of the World Government, using his influence over Elbaf to further the Government's plots.
This would make Loki a dangerous villain, not only because of his strength but also because of his ability to manipulate the giants against the Straw Hats through trickery and deception. Given the World Government's history of manipulation and control, using Loki as a pawn to turn Elbaf against Luffy's crew would be a suitable strategy in One Piece's storyline.
Eiichiro Oda's Vision for One Piece's Final Saga: A New Marineford-Level Conflict?
Eiichiro Oda weaves themes of misinformation, rewriting history, and control of knowledge throughout One Piece. The World Government has distorted the truth many times, whether by erasing the Void Century or spreading false stories about pirates and kingdoms.
The introduction of Road as a false Sun God in recent chapters further emphasizes the idea that lies are being fed to the masses, to maintain control. This fits perfectly with the potential role of Loki, a character rooted in deception.
If Loki is truly working for the World Government, this could set the stage for an equal, or even greater, conflict in Marineford. In fact, a statement made by Oda in 2012 has haunted fans ever since.
“One thing that pushed me to continue drawing One Piece was that I wanted to draw the finale. The finale would be so amazing that it would make the Marineford arc look like nothing. To me, the Marineford arc was just a side trip. I didn't expect it to be so loved.”Oda once said.
The battle in One Piece's Marineford arc mainly took place between the navy and the Whitebeard pirates. Only Luffy was there to save his brother Ace, not all of the Straw Hats. But the Elbaf arc could make the Straw Hats the focus of a whole new global conflict.
The Straw Hat Pirates are about to face an entire race of giants, the Elbaf arc could be the turning point that brings One Piece into the climactic final saga. Loki's true status as a villain could be the key to unlocking this massive conflict, and if Oda's previous statements are true, fans are in for an unforgettable ride.