The creator of One Piece, Eiichiro Oda, has long teased a reunion between Luffy and his childhood hero, Shanks. Fans have been looking forward to this moment for years, especially because both characters have grown immensely in power and influence. However, despite the growing anticipation, Oda seems to be setting the stage for something else entirely — possibly disappointing those expecting the reunion to happen in the very next chapter of the manga.
Chapter 1124 of One Piece, titled, “Best Friend” teases a new twist involving a mystery character at Elbaf, who may steal the spotlight for the time being. This cryptic scene has sent waves of speculation throughout the fanbase. Who is this character, and what role will they play in the story of the upcoming Elbaf Arc?
A Glimpse of Chapter 1124 of One Piece
The next chapter of One Piece is gonna be setting the groundwork for Elbaf Arc and the spoiler of this chapter reveals some interesting stuffs. The setup for chapter 1124 begins in the cover story featuring Yamato, who has embarked on her own journey after she made the decision to stay in Wano. In this story, she saves a woman’s life, setting up what could be a series of adventures for the heir of Kaido.
In the meantime, the main plot’s other key events keep happening. News of Eustass Kid’s devastating loss to Shanks and Trafalgar Law’s defeat by Blackbeard along with Luffy’s antics are being disseminated by media tycoon Morgan. However, the report is eventually interrupted by Vivi, resulting in a fight between them.
In another part of the world, Akainu reaches out to Egghead Island, where Kizaru answers the call. The conversation between the two Admirals is loaded with tension. When Akainu accuses Kizaru of failing at Egghead, Kizaru responds with tears in his eyes, asking,
Have you ever killed your best friend? If you doubt me, come here and see for yourself.
As the chapter progresses, the focus shifts back to the Straw Hat Pirates. The crew is dispirited, believing they have failed in their mission to rescue Vegapunk. However, a surprising twist emerges when Lilith, one of Vegapunk’s satellite bodies, awakens and reveals that she is, in fact, Vegapunk. This revelation lifts the spirits of the crew, and they celebrate their unexpected success as they prepare to journey towards the fabled land of Elbaf.
Just as the Straw Hats set their sights on Elbaf, Oda throws another curveball. In the final panel of the chapter, a silhouette of a mysterious figure is shown drinking on the coast of Elbaf and the figure utters a single word: “Come.” This obscure scene has made the fanbase buzzing with curiosity, trying to unveil the identity of the person.
Who is the Mystery Man?
With the Straw Hats heading to Elbaf, many expected that this would be the place where Luffy and Shanks finally meet again. However, the introduction of the mysterious character at Elbaf throws this assumption into question. Oda may be using this character to delay the reunion even further, building tension while introducing new narrative threads that need to be resolved.
Since Shanks presumably already left Elbaf, the mystery man is unlikely to be him. Thus, it leads to the question of who this person might be. Is it an entirely new character that will be introduced in this new arc? Or, a familiar face that is most likely to reappear?
The first person that comes to mind is Jaguar D. Saul since he is possibly in Elbaf right now. It was previously stated that a man with a burn mark knows the exact location of the final road Poneglyph. As this final piece is missing at this point, Saul is probably gonna be an important character in One Piece, who also happens to have a burn mark.
Among the other speculated characters is Loki, the prince of Elbaf. Also, according to many fans, it could be Scopper Gaban waiting for the Straw Hats at Elbaf. It is also assumed that the person may be the mysterious character foreshadowed in some earlier chapters with a sword almost similar to Shanks, as this person is also one of the final players for the race to “One Piece”.
Eiichiro Oda has always been a master of misleading, often subverting fan expectations to create deeper and more complex plots. While the Shanks and Luffy reunion remains one of the most anticipated moments in the series, Oda may be deliberately delaying it to allow other storylines to unfold. The mystery character at Elbaf could be a key figure in the final act of the series, someone who will challenge the Straw Hats in ways they haven’t been before.
One Piece is currently available to read on Viz Media.
