Luffy's key to attaining the One Piece may be their latest enemy

Modified Oct 16, 2024 12:00 GMT

One Piece could be setting up Luffy's path to complete his journey (Image via Toei Animation).

One Piece is currently starting the events of the Elbaf arc and has revealed that the fake Sun God is Road, someone who didn't want to join Luffy's Grand Fleet. In that regard, there is a theory on X crafted by a user named @Jays1Dwn that Road is going to eventually join forces with the Straw Hat and be the key for them to reach their main goal.

This theory suggests that Road could be one leading the main cast to the One Piece, especially considering that his role with the New Giant Warrior Pirates was that of a navigator. Moreover, there is a very good chance that he could be the Man Marked by Flames, which is something that could be a major plot twist when considering his character design and how he was introduced in this arc.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a whole.

Explaining how Road could be the key for Luffy and his crew to reach the One Piece

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It is worth pointing out the theory by @Jays1Dwn starts by stating that the author, Eiichiro Oda, was influenced by watching Vic the Viking, a cartoon of his youth, and influenced his perception of Vikings. This user draws a comparison to Road himself, who perhaps grew up with tales of the Sun God and was mentioned by Mother Carmel when she saved Elbaf from Big Mom, with Hajrudin and his companions being children at the time.

It goes further by suggesting that perhaps Road took the name of the Sun God because he grew up idolizing this figure, and perhaps he is going to change his view on the Straw Hat if he discovers that Luffy is Nika. There is also the statement that Road could be the master navigator they need to reach their goal, and there could be a link between Road and the "Road" Poneglyph and Lodestar "Roadstar."

Furthermore, there could be a chance of Road being the infamous Man Marked by Flames, who was the one holding a Road Poneglyph, and could be hiding said marks with his current look. If that proves to be the case, it could connect the Elbaf arc with the endgame of the series and would make the current predicament all the more important to the Straw Hat.

More details of this theory

Several of the Giants of Elbaf (Image via Toei Animation).

It is also worth pointing out that the One Piece manga has already established that Road's role with the New Giant Warrior Pirates was that of a navigator, which is too much of a coincidence. There is also the fact that Vikings are usually remembered as great navigators, so the idea of someone taking them to their main goal of being a Giant (a Viking) could make sense with Oda's influences.

This could also explain more details of the lore of the Giants of Elbaf since it was confirmed during the Egghead arc that they worship Nika, which is something that Oda could develop in this storyline. Perhaps that could give more details of Road's mindset and lead to his change of heart when he discovers that Luffy is Nika.

Final thoughts

Road is set to have a major role in this current One Piece arc, and his importance could become even more notorious if this theory proves to be the case. However, it is also worth pointing out that this is a fan theory and has to be taken with a grain of salt.

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Edited by Somava