The Straw Hats may be destined to fail in One Piece's Elbaph Arc (& it makes perfect sense)

Recent developments in One Piece's long-awaited Elbaph Arc suggest a shocking possibility: A potential defeat looms over the Straw Hat Pirates for the first time since their battle at the Sabaody Archipelago. The World Government's use of God Knights during chapter 1144 reveals aggressive actions, leading to speculation about their true aims.

Fans anticipated a grand adventure in the land of giants, possibly reuniting Luffy and Shanks. Instead, a strategic power struggle unfolds. The World Government, reeling from Egghead, moves to crush a rising alliance. Oda may be foreshadowing an unprecedented loss, reshaping the final saga’s stakes in a dramatic fashion.

Disclaimer: This article is a speculative theory and reflects the writer's opinion.

---

Elbaph in peril: The World Government’s master plan and Imu’s imminent revelation in One Piece

The timing of the World Government's intervention is particularly suspicious. After the Giant Warrior Pirates aided the Straw Hats at Egghead, Elbaph likely entered the Five Elders' crosshairs as an unacceptable threat. The God Knights' activities—kidnapping children and potentially recruiting the disgruntled Prince Loki— mirrors classic divide-and-conquer tactics.

These children could become brainwashed assets for the World Government's forces. Meanwhile, Loki's existing tensions with his people make him a perfect collaborator. The narrative efficiency of this theory makes it uniquely compelling.

The One Piece series has systematically prepared for a climactic showdown with the World Government. Yet Luffy remains unaware of critical details about Imu, who pulls the strings from the darkness. A catastrophic event at Elbaph could provide the perfect revelation moment while demonstrating why Imu has remained hidden for centuries.

---

The Mother Flame’s true purpose in One Piece: Elbaph’s doom and the World Government’s ultimate erasure of history

The Mother Flame, prominently featured in Elbaph's mythology, could be repurposed as a weapon of mass destruction, similar to how ancient technologies have been weaponized throughout the series. Or, perhaps more terrifyingly, Imu might personally intervene upon learning that Joy Boy's successor is present on the island.

From a storytelling perspective, this would serve multiple functions. First, it would establish the World Government's true destructive capacity beyond what we've seen from mere admirals or CP units. Second, it would give the Straw Hats and their giant allies a deeply personal motivation to overthrow the current world order.

Finally, it would explain why the Ancient Kingdom's allies created the Poneglyphs in the first place—to prevent the complete erasure of history that the World Government seems prepared to execute.

---

Conclusion

The destruction of Elbaph would be One Piece's most shocking twist yet—a place fans have anticipated visiting for over two decades, reduced to ruins before our eyes. The surviving giants would join the Grand Fleet, their homeland's destruction serving as the ultimate rallying cry for the final war.

Meanwhile, Luffy would gain critical knowledge about his true enemy while experiencing a defeat that forces him to grow beyond his current capabilities. While painful for fans who've waited years to explore giant culture in depth, such a development would perfectly position the series for its endgame, transforming the Straw Hats' journey from an adventure into a revolution.

As the New World stage continues to expand, Oda reminds us that in the face of absolute power, even the strongest pirates may need to retreat before they can truly challenge the world.

---