One Piece: Elbaf Arc's villain may not be what fans expected

Modified Oct 26, 2024 13:04 GMT

One Piece: Elbaf Arc's villain may not be what fans expected (Image via Toei Animation)

With the release of the latest One Piece spoilers, fans saw the true beginning of the Elbaf Arc as it was confirmed that Luffy and co were actually in the titular island nation. Likewise, fans are incredibly excited to see the arc get underway, presumably introducing its antagonists and supporting characters in the near future.

One introduction that fans were especially eager for is Prince Loki, with the Giant first being mentioned in passing during the events of the Whole Cake Island Arc. Thankfully, the latest One Piece spoilers claim that the upcoming chapter 1130 will not only introduce Prince Loki but also reveal his full character design. However, the spoilers also tease that Loki may not play the role fans previously thought he would.

One Piece chapter 1130 seemingly sets Loki up as an Elbaf Arc antagonist, not ally

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One Piece’s latest spoilers see Loki’s formal introduction prefaced with some commentary on him from various Giants. He’s first called a “shame of Elbaf” by two Giants who’re newly introduced in the issue. This is later followed by Dorry and Brogy explaining that Prince Loki killed his father to obtain a legendary Devil Fruit passed down in the Elbafian royal family.

Loki is also teased and outright said to be incredibly powerful. The former comes via Luffy sensing the Prince’s menacing presence, while the latter comes via Dorry and Brogy claiming all of Elbaf’s warriors were needed to restrain him. It’s presumed that this level of strength is a result of his Devil Fruit, especially since Dorry and Brogy speak of his murderous actions in the past tense per spoilers.

What’s especially damning is Loki’s words to Luffy at the issue’s end. Per the latest One Piece spoilers, Loki claims himself to be “the Sun God who will bring the end to this world.” Obviously, Luffy’s status as Joy Boy and wielder of the Nika Fruit immediately puts him at odds with Loki’s claimed title. There’s also the fact that Loki is saying he’ll destroy the world, which Luffy likely won’t stand for.

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With all of this in mind, it seems incredibly likely that Loki is the main antagonist of the Elbaf Arc. However, this may not actually end up being the case for a variety of reasons. The most significant is Oda’s penchant for sudden twists and shake-ups, which could reveal Loki as in the right for whatever reason. Also worth considering is the idea that Loki is being controlled by someone or something.

However, one argument against this is who fans are getting this information from. Dorry and Brogy are long-established characters in the series who are clearly trustworthy and on the side of “good.” With this in mind, it’s difficult to call their words doubtful since Oda has established them as trustworthy sources. It’s certainly still possible, but their role and reputation in the series thus far would suggest that their words are gospel in this context.

Final thoughts

Loki doesn't appear to be the gentle Giant fans once thought he'd be (Image via Toei Animation)

While it certainly seems like Loki will be Elbaf Arc’s antagonist given currently available information, a single line in a future issue could change this completely. Likewise, it’s best to not pass judgment on Loki or what his role will be until fans have more information. Unfortunately, this will be slightly delayed, as the series is set to enter a two-week break following chapter 1130’s official release.