One Piece chapter 1128: Elbaf Arc's Sun God appears as the East Blue crew recues Chopper

One Piece chapter 1128 was expected to see the East Blue Straw Hats begin exploring Elbaf to the fullest, getting a better understanding of their current location and situation. Officially released earlier this weekend, this endpoint certainly was reached, but not in the way fans were expecting whatsoever.

One Piece chapter 1128 sees Monkey D. Luffy co-discover their current surroundings are a fabrication, resulting in their discovering and rescuing Tony Tony Chopper. This also leads to the introduction of the Sun God, who is also the first new, true Giant to appear in the Elbaf Arc thus far.

One Piece chapter 1128 sees the East Blue Straw Hats start their first major fight of the Elbaf Arc

One Piece chapter 1128: An illusion, shattered

Expand Tweet

One Piece chapter 1128 begins with Sanji jumping down from the Bigstein Castle with Nami in his arms, with the Castle seemingly falling apart from all the commotion. Zoro, Luffy, and Usopp are already down on the ground, with Zoro discussing how the Monster Trio reunited. Luffy then teases Usopp for not beating the cat, who tries to make excuses on why he didn’t.

Usopp then explains how their clothes are accurate, but the fact that they come in sizes for humans is what’s fishy. This prompts the group to head into town to ask around for adventures, commenting on how they don’t feel any wind as they walk. One of the locals then appears in a similar garb, riding a giant grasshopper like it’s a motorcycle.

One Piece chapter 1128 sees the crew berate the man with several queries, but he says he’s in too much of a rush to chat. He instead offers them advice that this is the Sun God’s land, and that locations like the Bigstein Castle belong to deities like the Great Iskat. He explains that it’s a cat, which causes Luffy to begin apologizing for fighting it.

Luffy and Zoro pair up yet again to chase after strong opponents in One Piece chapter 1128 (Image via Toei Animation)

However, Usopp covers his mouth quickly enough to prevent the local man from hearing, prompting him to continue by saying that this is a land of gods. He then departs while saying that the Needle God must be hungry and lamenting the uproar over the Ear God. The man also tells them not to follow a certain road, since guardians protect the Sun God’s Temple beyond the road’s end.

He adds that no one has ever gone past that point and come back, prompting Luffy to immediately begin running in that direction. One Piece chapter 1128 sees Nami apologize to the man for what they did before departing, with Zoro chasing after Luffy and also wanting a fight. The man then realizes the state of the castle as focus shifts to Luffy.

In classic goofy fashion, Luffy runs into a mirror due to thinking his reflection was another person on the road. This leads him to shatter the mirror in the area of impact, with cracks spreading to the point where they can be seen from the town. As the mirror fully breaks in a small area, it’s revealed the group is in a giant cage covered with one-way mirror walls. The cage takes up a large portion of a room, and has a massive door on the front of it.

One Piece chapter 1128: Welcome to Elbaf

Expand Tweet

One Piece chapter 1128 sees the crew realize they were essentially in a Giant’s pet cage as they hear someone calling out from a nearby table. This is revealed to be Chopper, who is consoled by Nami as he cries. Sanji comments on how the entire town and region was made out of the LEGO-like blocks, hence the scent of plastic burning when they ate the rabbit.

It’s implied that they are truly on Elbaf given their circumstances, but not fully confirmed via additional dialogue from Nami. Chopper suggests they escape, while Usopp says they should go back inside to the townspeople and get some info. It’s then revealed that a giant snake has begun attacking Luffy, with some giant rats surrounding Nami and a giant crow heading towards Sanji.

One Piece chapter 1128 confirms that these are the guardians of the Sun God’s Temple, as focus shifts to a Giant walking down a hall. They wield a staff with a sun symbol on it and a shield on their back. However, their features are indiscernible since they’re wearing a long black coat and a deer skull with a mane.

Luffy continues to use Gear 5 as his main form in One Piece chapter 1128 (Image via Toei Animation)

They approach a door before hearing commotion inside from the Straw Hats, bursting in to see their “beloved temple” on fire as a Gear 5 Luffy and the other Straw Hats fight. The two animals are seemingly named Muginn and Hilmungandr based on the Sun God’s screams as each is defeated. The Straw Hats then begin their escape, going back into the cage and running into Iskat.

One Piece chapter 1128 sees the group attack it briefly before mounting and riding it. Nami then reveals she found the blueprint for the block country while looking for loot. However, the Sun God chases after them through the cage’s town area. The crew decides to run straight ahead and exit the mirror on the other side, with the Sun God promising that they won’t escape as the issue ends. It’s also confirmed that there is no planned break for the series next week.

One Piece chapter 1128: In summation

Expand Tweet

Given chapter 1128’s events, it’s safe to say that the Elbaf Arc has officially begun as the Straw Hats get a full grasp of their surroundings. Likewise, their plan to exit the block country cage on its other side should lead to them getting an even better feel for their surroundings.

This should also prevent the Sun God from chasing them for a few brief seconds, which will likely prove invaluable as they escape whatever larger building they’re in. Chapter 1128 also sees the East Blue crew reunite with Chopper, which may be setting up the arrival of the other Straw Hats to Elbaf just as Luffy and co make their way outside.