Summary
Elbaf has already been one of the franchise’s most important story arcs due to the many massive reveals made about theOne Pieceworld, which have changed what the fans knew about the series. From the surprise appearance of Shamrock and the Gods Knights to the lore drops from the Elbaf mural, this arc hasn’t only set up the truth of this world’s past but also sets up the final battles in its future.
As such, fans believe that, by the end of this arc, another massive reveal will be made, which is the eventualappearance of the Blackbeard Pirateson the island. This is already speculated to be one of the greatest fights in the Final War ofOne Piecewhere they go up against the Straw Hats, but many also believe it will happen sooner than we think. So, let’s go over how and why the Blackbeard Pirates will eventually arrive on Elbaf.
Story Arc
Jaya
Ever since their debut, the Blackbeard Pirates have been a strange and elusive bunch. Even to this day, their ambitions remain unclear, only that Blackbeard himself wants to become the King of the World and the others around him are allied with him in order to fulfill their own goals. In every sense, they are themodern coming of the Rocks Pirates, which has been hinted at since their very first appearance.
Blackbeard is the exact opposite of Luffy in just about every way. Not only does he seek to become the Pirate King for purely selfish reasons, but he counters Luffy in everything else as well, showing fans that he is what Luffy would have turned out like if his life unfolded differently. This is a massive reason why many believe that he will make his long-awaited debut during the Elbaf arc because they feel the series needs a way for the character to be on an equal standing against his rival before the end of their journey beyond just strength.
As per the reveal on the Elbaf mural in Chapter 1138 of the manga, fans are facing a divide about who the true final villain of the series truly is; Imu or Blackbeard. In either case, it would make sense for Blackbeard and his crew to make their proper debut within the Elbaf arc purely becauseScopper is believed to be the Man Marked by Flamesin the eyes of many. This is an incredibly important detail if proven, since the Man Marked by Flames is the one who is rumored to have the final Road Poneglyph.
If this rumor ends up being true and Scopper is this mysterious person charged with safekeeping the last clue needed to get to the fabled One Piece treasure, it would mean that he is the only way to get to it. So, once the events of this arc conclude, Luffy and his crew will likely meet up with Scopper just as he said they should, where he will reveal the location of his Road Poneglyph.
If Elbaf is still intact by the time you’re leaving this island, come and see me again.
However, to make the chase for the treasure as difficult as it is said to be, the Blackbeard Pirates could show up on Elbaf as well, since their own journey tofind the Man Marked by Flamesand the final Road Poneglyph would lead them to Scopper’s doorstep, paving the way for the long-awaited clash between them and the Straw Hats. Of course, they could just as easily get to Scopper once the Straw Hats leave and the Elbaf arc is finished, but at that point, the lead that the Straw Hats would have would be far too great to even be an issue.
This is why the Blackbeard Pirates showing up on Elbaf makes the most sense, since any other time would put them behind the Straw Hats and would eliminate them, and everyone else, from the race to find the One Piece. The best-case scenario would be to have the final battle against the pirates happen before the One Piece treasure is revealed, though Oda can still find a way to make it work otherwise.
When Will The Battle Against The Blackbeard Pirates Happen?
The Eventual Biggest Battle of the Straw Hats
While it would make sense for the Blackbeard Pirates to show up during the Elbaf arc, it isn’t the only possibility. The theory of Scopper being the Man Marked by Flames is highly probable but still unconfirmed as there are many other details about this figure that don’t apply to him, so it could be someone else entirely. Another theory states that the final Road Poneglyphwas stashed on Lodestar Islandby the Roger Pirates, which is incredibly safe since they were the only ones to reach that island in 800 years.
Because of this, Blackbeard and his crew could simply just follow their Log Poses to Lodestar where they would come into contact with the Straw Hats directly, bypassing Elbaf altogether. On top of this, there is also the issue of the Red Hair Pirates and Cross Guild, who are also major players in the game, and Yonko crews themselves, so they would also need some sort of method to remain in the Final Saga like this.
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One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
