Good afternoon, One Piece Wiki!
Since the next chapter, Chapter 1143, will be coming out on March 24, 2025, I have once again updated the three final arcs and their descriptions:
Elbaph Arc: The Straw Hat Pirates travel to Elbaph with the Giant Warrior Pirates. Meanwhile, as the world reels from Vegapunk's shocking announcement, the Red Hair Pirates, Cross Guild and the Blackbeard Pirates actively search for the One Piece. Along the way, half of Luffy's crew gets kidnapped by Road, with Luffy lured before Loki, who is actually Imu in disguise trying to coax him into joining the World Government to recreate the world in his own image (while the God's Knights as a forefront to trick Luffy into surrendering his straw hat to their commander Shamrock, who is also the older twin brother of Shanks)—and all it takes is a trump card from the Straw Hat Pirates, in the form of their former member Nefertari Vivi, to bring the crew together again and rescue Luffy in exchange for her full-time position as Luffy's official first mate, and then drive Imu from Elbaph for good. Consequently, Vivi is now wanted by the World Government for her involvement in reuniting the Straw Hat Pirates under the new title of "Warrior Princess Nefertari Vivi" despite staying with Morgans and Wapol according to the Alabasta Royal Guard led by Igaram, Chaka and Pell. (NOTE: This arc is based on the first episode of the 1994 Gatchaman OVA.)
Laugh Tale Arc: Having fully recovered with their ship fully repaired, along with a permanently recruited Vivi as Luffy's full-fledged first mate (as well as Vivi's pet duck Karoo as the crew's official mascot), the Straw Hat Pirates finally set out to Laugh Tale, a place where Luffy's now deceased role model, Shanks, told them where the One Piece is in his last words before he dies peacefully along with his Red Hair Pirate crew. There, they must face off against the Blackbeard Pirates and the Cross Guild in a race over who claims the One Piece—Luffy, Teach or Buggy.
Mary Geoise Arc (the last arc of the Final Saga, as well as the final arc of the whole manga series itself, also known as the Final War Arc): With the One Piece (the legendary treasure itself that actually looks like a sword—the one weapon forged by the heavens that can harm Imu and the Five Elders with) in their hands, the Straw Hat Pirates led by Monkey D. Luffy, now the new king of all pirates, lead all other pirates around the world to battle as they march their way to Mary Geoise for the ultimate fight to determine the fate of the world as the devastating global war between the forces of good and evil is finally underway. There, they must face off against the omnicidal Imu, who seeks to destroy all life in the world (all which he deems inferior) using the Mother Flame and then recreate the world in his own image from scratch as a world of darkness—with Vivi as his better half.
And now, here are some latest predictions from Chapter 1143 and beyond:
After Luffy frees Loki, the latter takes him to Walrus School where the God's Knights are taking the Giant Children hostage when they are surprised that Loki has brought Luffy before them (so says a quote from Shamrock: "Behold, Loki's substitute, Monkey D. Luffy! (「見ろよ、ロキの代役、モンキー・D・ルフィだ！」) "). Eventually, Shamrock pretend to be Shanks to trick Luffy into surrendering his hat back to "Shanks" in exchange for the Giant Children's lives spared (so says a quote from one of the God's Knights: "You've been a great pirate, Luffy. So, give our boss back his hat, because your journey to claim the One Piece and become the next Pirate King is over. (「君は偉大な海賊だった、ルフィ。だから、お頭に帽子を返しなさい。ワンピースを奪って次の海賊王になる旅は終わりだ。」)") Then, in his next bargain, Loki gives Luffy a choice between working with him in recreating the world in his own image on behalf of the World Government or watching the Giant Children get slaughtered at the God's Knights' hands. Eventually, Luffy ultimately refuses, blaming Loki for tricking him into freeing him in exchange for Shanks's whereabouts (so says a quote from Luffy: "I would never betray my own nakama! A true Sun God can only bring balance to the world and not leave it in darkness! And don't you ever forget that there will be no more mercy for you this time for tricking me, Imu, Overlord of the World Government! (「自分のナカマを裏切ることはない！真の太陽の神とは、世界に均衡をもたらし、闇の中に放置してはならないている！よく覚えておきた前、騙していたお前をぶっ飛ばす、世界政府大王イム！」)", only to deliberately reveal Loki's real name, Imu, blowing his cover in the process. In response, Loki does reveal himself as Imu in disguise (so says Loki's last words before revealing himself as Imu in disguise: "So, you finally know my true identity after you unchained me? I knew you're the chosen one I'm looking for! (「私の正体を見破ったのは鎖から解き放たれた後かな？やはりあなたは選ばれし者だない！」)"). That is when Imu debuts his full appearance before Luffy and forces him to watch Egghead get destroyed by the Mother Flame to finish the Buster Call there, a final operation which Imu approves (once York's further replication of its technology is fully complete) (so says a quote from Rob Lucci: "All units who participated in the Buster Call on Egghead, listen well. Now that the World Government has been compromised of its most precious secrets, Dr. Vegapunk should not have studied the Void Century to begin with - and neither did Bartholomew Kuma possess the blood of the Buccaneers...nor did the Straw Hat Pirates awaken the legendary Nika the Sun God. But starting today, Egghead is done and outlawed. So, let no one ever speak its name from this time on - because it doesn't even exist anymore. (「さて、海軍たちよ、よく聞け。世界政府は危険にさらされている。Dr.（ドクター）ベガパンクは空白の１００年を研究すべきではない。バーソロミュー・くまはバッカニア族 の血を継ぐべきではない。麦わらの一味は太陽の神ニカを目覚めさせるべきじゃない。『エッグヘッド』？─── そんな国は...元々...ないではないか...」)"); this is the first Buster Call that successfully destroyed an island (i.e. Egghead via Mother Flame) after the last one failed on Enies Lobby two years ago, and the one before that partially succeeded on Ohara twenty-two years ago (so says a quote from Imu: "We're not going to kill you, no. So, don't waste your time pestering me with all your fantasy theories about saving the world - and stop acting like a goddamn pirate. All of your nakama will soon be gone in the blink of an eye. Dr. Vegapunk has declared an all-out war against me - and has forced my hand. So, here is my reply to him; and Straw Hat, allow me to restate my intention: All inferior life in this world...must cease to exist! And I would've gotten away with it too, if it weren't for you and your nakama. Thankfully, my plan has only begun. Therefore, I will continue posing as Loki for the time being - but a Day of Reckoning is still near. And when that happens, it will mark the doom to all those who defy the World Government! As proof of your imminent defeat, you will now say goodbye to your role model, Shanks, as I finish the Buster Call on Egghead with the Mother Flame! (Lilith: "Do my eyes deceive me? Or is that--?! No, it's Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates! They're the only ones left who can stop the ongoing Buster Call from finishing on Egghead!") (Zoro: "Impossible! How can they stop it?!") (Lilith: "They...can't, I'm afraid.") (Lilith: (stammering) "I-I can't bear to watch! (「み…みちゃおれん………！」)") (Nami: "Oh, God! (「しまった…！」)") (Jinbe: "Oh, no! (「まずい…！」)") (Usopp: "D-Dad... Don't die... DON'T DIE!!! (「お...お父さん...... ......死ぬな............ 死ぬなーーーーー!!!!!」)") Gaze upon your future, Straw Hat! Once I raise the Sea Level to the highest peak, I shall wash away all inferior life from every region of the world and then restart the world in my own image - with Nefertari Vivi by my side as my wife. (Luffy: "Vivi will come back to me someday rather than marry some total dictator like you!") You both have no choice! Soon, everyone will know the World Government is always right! That is, once you've changed your mind.") After the Straw Hat Pirates later save Elbaph from the corrupt World Government, the captive Luffy taunts Imu for his failure (so says a quote from Luffy: "Well, Imu? Was this not the checkmate you wished for? (「どうだ、イム？これはチェックメイトではないのか？」)"). Realizing that Luffy is too dangerous to join the World Government, Imu tries to kill him (so says a quote from Imu: "Straw Hat, I should've known you're just another bearer of the Will of D. It pains me to say that you are far too dangerous to live long enough to see the day I remake this world, Straw Hat. (「麦わら、やはりあなたもDの意志の持ち主ですよ。恥ずべきことに、この世界を私が作り直す日を見るには、お前はあまりにも長く生きるには危険すぎるのだ、麦わら。」)") when the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates confront him, with Vivi leading the raid to rescue Luffy (so says another quote from Luffy: "The tables have turned now, Imu! Time for us to send you home! (「立場が逆転したんだ、イム。俺たちはお前をぶっ飛ばす！」)"). Despite finally meeting Vivi face to face for the first time in his life, Imu is forced to leave Elbaph, but not before giving Vivi a holographic message saying, "Foolish Princess Vivi! Your time is running out soon! Sooner or later, you will marry me! I am the world! The past, the present, and the future! And you can't change history! (「愚かなビビ姫！もう時間がない！もうすぐ、お前は俺を結婚するがい！私は世界だ！過去であり、現在であり、未来でありだ！だから、歴史を変えるな！」)"; after making a speech to Vivi, Imu disappears, leaving the Straw Hat Pirates in question whether all he says is true or not (so says a quote from Chopper in the English dub: "Wow, a real hologram!"). On the whole, the full character design of Imu is similar to Gargoyle from Nadia: The Secret of Blue Water. This, as well as, on the other hand, his face would be a tribute to the late manga artist Akira Toriyama, who was lost to us all at the start of March. (NOTE: There is a full character concept of Imu designed by me on this post below.)
The anime adaptation of the whole scene where Luffy meets Loki/Imu and the God's Knights should be abridged, with Luffy refusing to unchain Loki (voiced by Steve Blum in the English dub) until he tells him where Shanks is, only to meet the God's Knights (consisting of the Red Hair Pirate crew's imposters) holding the Giant Children hostage until Luffy surrenders his hat to Shamrock posing as Shanks in exchange for the Giant Children's lives spared. At the same time, Loki gives Luffy one more chance to unchain him so that he will reward him with a place in the World Government, or else the God's Knights will start killing the Giant Children (so says a quote from Loki in the English dub: "Straw Hat Luffy! A new Elbaph is dawning right before your eyes! Free me from these chains and you shall be greatly rewarded, or refuse, and the children will die! If you unchain me, you will forever be remembered as no longer the captain of the Straw Hat Pirate crew, but a new member...of the WORLD GOVERNMENT!"). Luffy, however, ultimately refuses and instead, for tricking him into reuniting with "Shanks", deliberately exposes Loki as Imu in disguise, who willingly reveals himself in front of him and forces him to watch Egghead get destroyed by the Mother Flame before it can even be rebuilt along with the real Red Hair Pirates trying to stop the finishing of the Buster Call on that place only at the cost of their own lives.
The official salute for the World Government is, "Long live the World Government (「世界政府に栄光あれ！」; 'Sekai seifu ni eikōare!')", which should be first said by the God's Knights after Loki reveals himself as Imu in disguise in front of Luffy and the Giant Children.
The Devil Fruit used by Loki/Imu is the Keitai Keitai no Mi (aka Shape Shape Fruit), which allows the user to take the form of other characters (either male or female) to trick their enemies. Since Imu is actually a non-binary shapeshifting mutant, he uses the Keitai Keitai Fruit to switch between the forms of a man and woman often, just like Berg Katse from Gatchaman.
Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates finally arrive on the disintegrating Egghead to face off against the Five Elders (in the stead of Luffy, Dorry and Brogy) to inform them to stop the Buster Call on Egghead while accusing them of the death of Dr. Vegapunk (so says a quote from Shanks: "You have spilled the blood of the innocent. Explain your actions! (「お前たちは罪のない人々の血を流した。説明をしなさい！」)"). However, when the Five Elders refuse to stop the Buster Call, implying that all life on in the world is inferior according to Imu and must "cease to exist", the Red Hair Pirates try to stop the Buster Call themselves, only to sacrifice themselves by getting themselves killed by the Mother Flame in the process (so says a quote from Shanks: "Gentlemen, we are ready to fight! Let this be our final stand! (「野郎共、今こそ最後の抵抗を！」)")
After Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates are killed by the Mother Flame along with Egghead erased from existence, Zoro inspires the Straw Hat Pirates with one of Luffy's initial goals to recruit the ten people in his crew, revealing that there is only one person left to complete it (so says a quote from Zoro: "As long as Shanks will be missed, there's no need to mourn. We'd still have faith in Luffy. He knows what he's doing (「我々は嘆いてはならない。まだルフィを信じなければある。」) (Sanji: "How can we stop the World Government? (「どいゆことか？」)" Did you forget, curly brow? Two years ago, when Luffy started his journey from his hometown of Windmill Village, his first goal is to gather ten of the most powerful people to build our crew. Me, you, Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook and Jinbe are the first nine who recruited so far, and that leaves only one last person left to complete our crew. Who could it be? (「二年前、故郷のフーシャ村から旅を始めたルフィの最初の目標は、最強の仲間を10人集めることだった。ゾロ、ナミ、ウソップ、サンジ、チョッパー、ロビン、フランキー、ブルック、ジンベエの9人はこれまでに仲間になった。そして、残すはあと1人。それは誰だろう？」)")
After escaping from the World Government and its supreme leader, Imu, Nefertari Vivi eventually comes out of hiding from Morgans' airship (in an outfit that resembles the Alabasta Royal Guard's uniform but equipped with a shield (that works as a boomerang, a la Captain America) and sword, a la Xena) to reunite with the Straw Hat Pirates on Elbaph so she can reintroduce herself to everyone, officially swearing her full allegiance to them as their official permanent diplomat in the process (the tenth and final person to join Luffy's crew) (so says a quote from Vivi: "Communists of the World Government, if I may speak freely to you; I was born and raised in royal blood in the Kingdom of Alabasta, a majestic desert kingdom in Paradise located in the first half of the Grand Line. I know why you are looking for me, so you can take me back to Mariejois and make me your sexual slave for all I care, and my father's spirit will still live on inside me for all time. However, good reason or not, nobody frames Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, of a murder he did not commit on Egghead and gets away with it, or my name is not...Vivi Nefertari, Princess of Alabasta! (Morgans: "No, this can't be true! (そ、そんな！)") (Wapol: "Princess Vivi just swore her full membership in the Straw Hat Pirate crew! (「ビビ姫様は、麦わらの一味の永久会員になることを誓った！」)") Let this be a warning to communists everywhere: the time has come for us, the Straw Hat Pirates, to rise up and settle this issue once and for all! (Sanji: "SHE'S ALIVE!!! (「ビビチュワーーーン！」)") (Usopp: "Alright, Vivi! Welcome back! (「ビビ、また会えてよかった！」)") (Nami & Chopper: "We missed you! (ビビ！)") (Franky: "Ow! A super family reunion, I'll say! (「スーパー家族の再会だ！」)") (Brook: "Your Majesty, this is the first time I get to see you. Which reminds me, could you perhaps show me your panties? (「陛下様、お目にかかるのは初めてです。そういえば、パンツ見せてもらってもよろしいですか？」)") (Nami, Usopp, Sanji and Chopper: (kicking Brook on the head from above) "DON'T COAX HER!!! (「見せるかっ!!!」)") (Brook: (weakly after a kick on the head) "Sorry... (ごめんなさい!!!)") Sorry to keep you all waiting for two years, but you're all a sight for sore eyes. So, shall we go rescue Luffy together?"). As the Straw Hats later rest in Elbaph, Vivi gets her first official wanted poster (with a bounty of thirty million berries) for helping the crew escape from Egghead under the new title of "Warrior Princess Nefertari Vivi" (presented by the Alabasta Royal Guard led by Igaram, Chaka and Pell). Even so, Vivi reassures Igaram that things will be different the way she sees it, revealing her new dream to succeed to her father's throne as the new Queen of Alabasta after she helps Luffy claim the One Piece. Meanwhile, having reunited with Vivi after recovering back in Alabasta, Karoo, her pet duck, also joins the Straw Hat Pirate crew as their permanent mascot (under the title of "Mascot Karoo" with a bounty of fifty berries) after Chopper temporarily took the role of the Straw Hat Pirates' mascot over the last two years.
Before, while, or after dying, Shanks tells Luffy that the legendary treasure, the One Piece, is left in Laugh Tale by Gol D. Roger, and Luffy, determined to turn the tide of the coming global war, agrees to find it there once he and his crew recover from either the Egghead Incident or the battle for Elbaph despite asking himself in confusion if Shanks's legacy will actually live on in his heart for all eternity (even though Luffy was supposed to give his prized Straw Hat back to Shanks once he becomes a great pirate).
In the anime adaptation of Shanks' and the Red Hair Pirates' funeral scene, Brook plays "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes during the funeral for Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates.
In the anime adaptation of Shanks' and the Red Hair Pirates' funeral scene (during its climax), we look back at Luffy's past with Shanks from 12 years ago (including the scene where Luffy stabbed himself in his left cheek) once again.
The Kuja Pirates, the Giant Warrior Pirates, and the Bonney Pirates become the newest additions to the Straw Hat Grand Fleet, with their captains, Boa Hancock, Dorry, Brogy and Jewelry Bonney, taking their roles as their representatives.
The climax of the final arc focuses on the Straw Hat Pirates hunting down Imu in Mary Geoise, only to be thrown around like playthings; they manage to track Imu to his last refuge, the Empty Throne, where Luffy, supported by his crew, manages to destroy Imu and the Mother Flame with the Gomu Gomu no Flaming Sword using the One Piece while in his "Gear 5" form (before Imu ends the world with the Mother Flame) (so says a quote from Luffy: "Leave us alone! GET THE FUCK OUT OF OUR WORLD!!! (出て行け！！！こんな世界から出て行けーーーーーーー！！！！！)") - only at the cost of his and his crew's lives. The spirit of Shanks appears and pulls the fallen Straw Hat Pirates to safety in heaven (so says a quote from Shanks: "Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, Sanji, Chopper, Robin, Franky, Brook, Jinbe, Vivi, and Karoo - thank you, my friends. All your strength, all your power, all your love - everything you had - has freed the light from the darkness. With that, it is finally your turn to create your own future. Now, live on with your dreams. I know you can do it. Fly, Straw Hat Pirates - spread your wings wide. The new age of peace starts now! (「ルフィ、ゾロ、ナミ、ウソップ、サンジ、チョッパー、ロビン、フランキー、ブルック、ジンベエ、ビビ、カルー...... ありがとう、諸君。君たちの強さ、力、愛、全てが闇から光を取り戻した。それによって、未来を創るのはあなたたちです。さあ、夢に向かって生きてください。君ならきっとできる。飛べ、麦わらの一味！翼を大きく広げろ。平和の新時代が今始まる！」)"). In the end, the spirit of the Red Force, Shanks's ship, frees the Thousand Sunny and the Straw Hat Pirates aboard as both ships and its crews ascend to heaven together. This climax is based on the final episode of Gatchaman Fighter.
In the aftermath of the Straw Hats' final battle with Imu, there is a conversation with between Koby (who is unable to stop Luffy from obtaining the One Piece) and Monkey D. Garp (who is now free from the Blackbeard Pirates (based on a post by @Panda D Queen long ago), ending with Garp giving a eulogy to Luffy that ends with: "The One Piece was a legendary sword forged by the heavens long ago to protect life - and at the hands of a hero, it has fulfilled its purpose. (「ワンピースは大昔、生命を守るために天が鍛えた伝説の剣であり。勇者の手によってその目的を果たした。」)"
In the epilogue of One Piece, Garp becomes the new president of the reestablished World Government to restore the entire world to its former splendor by reuniting all twenty kingdoms, along with Koby as his prime minister, while the One Piece is kept safe within the forbidden vault of the rebuilt Mary Geoise, never to be released unless darkness may rise again. At the same time, the reestablished World Government is looked down upon from the heavens by Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew, whose dreams are now beyond reality.
So, what do you think of my updated predictions for the final three arcs for this manga series? Please let me know on the comments below.
Until then, take care of yourselves and each other.
