Loki may be One Piece's next hero, not villain

With the start of the Elbaph Arc in recent weeks and months of mangaka Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece series, one aspect fans have been honing in on is Prince Loki’s introduction. This is specifically because what fans have learned about Loki so far has been diametrically opposed to the picture painted of him during the Whole Cake Island Arc.

Likewise, the One Piece community’s first impression of Loki has culminated in the conclusion that he must be Elbaph Arc’s antagonist. Given that he’s claiming to be the true Sun God and is hated by all of Elbaph’s Giants, this is certainly a logical endpoint. However, there are additional context clues regarding the nation of Elbaph in general and Loki’s introduction, which may suggest him to be the nation’s hero.

One Piece’s Giants may have imprisoned Loki due to not understand the full reasoning of his murderous actions

Loki may actually be as noble and good as One Piece previously led fans to believe (Image via Toei Animation)

The biggest flag that there’s more to Loki than meets the eye comes in One Piece chapter 1131, which shows that the World Government has issued a “special bounty” on Loki. While bounties aren’t exclusive to pirates necessarily, heights like Loki’s 2.6 billion Beri valuation are typically only reserved for very strong pirates. Thus, it’s possible Loki could be a pirate by nature of his high valuation, especially considering his ongoing six years of inactivity during imprisonment.

Further supporting this idea is the fact that readers know at least two different generations of the Giant Warrior Pirates were led by co-captains. This is Dorry and Brogy, as well as Jarul and Jorul. Coincidentally, or rather not so, Loki also has an identified Giant pairing with Hajrudin, the other son of the late King Harald whom Loki murdered. Likewise, it’s possible that Loki and Hajrudin were meant to be the next captains of the original crew.

This would establish why Loki has such a high bounty value but doesn’t quite explain the “special” classification. However, Loki specifically mentions Shanks in the issue, criticizing him in what he claims to be a joking manner despite his body language and demeanor saying otherwise. It’s possible that the pirate whom Shanks spoke about with the Gorosei was none other than Loki.

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This would also suggest that the two have had a relationship throughout the course of One Piece’s events, which span over a decade in-series from the first issue to current releases. It’s possible that Loki calling Shanks a coward and why Loki has a special bounty may both be answered by his murdering King Harald. It’s likewise suggested that there might be more to the truth of Loki’s killing than fans currently think, maybe even making him out to be a hero.

The first sign of this is the alleged method of Loki’s attempted execution being crucifixion. Crucifixion is a Roman-Catholic punishment, which doesn’t mesh with Elbaph and the Giants’ Norse mythology and Viking culture influence. This could suggest that King Harald and his subordinates and citizens were influenced by the World Government and the Celestial Dragons.

The heavy Roman-Catholic symbolism surrounding both groups further supports this, as does the fact that Saint Garling Figarland crucified Saint Donquixote Mjosgard to execute him. While one could argue Elbaph’s isolation prohibited such influence, the nation hasn’t been totally shut off from the outside world. Mother Carmel’s role in the story both proves this to be true and may answer how Harald was influenced.

Mother Carmel's role in One Piece may be more meaningful than fans think (Image via Toei Animation)

This is done via her church, clearly being Roman-Catholic themed. Carmel’s attire was even reminiscent of Roman-Catholic nuns. Religion has likewise been a core part of Elbaph’s story since its first appearance, a theme that will likely be integral to the Elbaph Arc’s events. Given this, it’s possible that King Harald fell under the World Government’s control due to influence from Mother Carmel and her own government ties.

One Piece could reveal this as Loki’s true reason for killing his father, attempting to free Elbaph from the World Government’s influence and become the nation’s hero. This would also explain why the World Government has always seemingly ignored Elbaph; there’s no point in worrying if the nation’s leader is already under their control. Thus, it seems likely that Loki killed Harald and was then imprisoned by Shanks six years ago, who became a Yonko as a result.

This would also explain Loki’s obvious distaste for Shanks, which may even only be a part of it. Loki may have even asked Shanks for help in the plot, who refused and instead fought against Loki. This would also answer why Shanks felt compelled to speak with the Gorosei about Elbaph’s prince, as he knows all too well just how powerful the Giant is.

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Further supporting this theory are the similarities Loki seems to so far have to Donquixote Doflamingo. Both are viewed as being inherently evil, with Doflamingo also having survived crucifixion and killed his own father. Likewise, it would make sense to have the major distinction between them be their patricidal motivations. While Doflamingo wanted to rejoin the Celestial Dragons, Loki wanted to be rid of them and their influence.

Such a reaction from Loki upon discovering King Harald’s treachery also tracks with his core beliefs, which seem to center around his being the Sun God. If this belief is based on the powers his so-called Legendary Devil Fruit gives him, then this would make even more sense; since the Fruit is passed down in Elbaph’s royal family, Loki likely viewed his father as unworthy of wielding it, further “justifying” his actions in his own eyes.

In conclusion

Shanks and Loki's history likely has a much deeper meaning than fans currently think (Image via Toei Animation)

Loki’s 2.6 billion Beri special bounty in One Piece immediately indicates to readers that there’s more to him than meets the eye. Given various context clues, potential foreshadows, and parallels to other characters, it seems likely that Loki has this special bounty for killing King Harald, a World Government sympathizer. Loki likely did so to become Elbaph’s hero, which he may be proven as by the Elbaph Arc’s end.