WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE'S EGGHEAD ISLAND
Summary
Shanks' defeat of Eustass Kid has elevated his role in the final saga, setting a precedent for others in the race to find One Piece. The final act of One Piece is expected to be full of interesting twists and turns, with Shanks, Luffy, and Blackbeard being the main contenders for the title of Pirate King. The Blackbeard Pirates may challenge Shanks before Luffy can return the straw hat, as they have evolved at a similar rate to Luffy's Straw Hat Pirates.
Foot played a huge role in launching Luffy's adventure in A piece plot, but he essentially became a side character until the Egghead arc changed everything. While several fan theories have speculated about One Piece's final story for Emperor Pirate Shanks, one particular moment in the latest arc saw the beloved character suddenly go from a passive role in the story to a terrifyingly active one.
Meeting the talented Red Hair Pirates was a major turning point in Monkey D. Luffy's life. They and their captain, Shanks, demonstrated to many what a productive and happy pirate crew could look like, and the results were encouraging. The future captain of the Straw Hats admires Shanks To become a pirate, he believed he needed to achieve the title of Pirate King.
After leaving Luffy's homeland, known as Dawn Island, Shanks and his crew went on their own adventures. However, after many years and the defeat of the Pirate Emperors Big Mom and Kaido, Shanks declares that he will no longer stay out of the story.. And in the Egghead Arc, he did more than just talk about it.
Something is no longer holding Shanks back.
Shanks prepares to fight the Kid Pirates in Anime One Piece Episode #1109
When Shanks was young, he traveled with the old pirate crew, but he decided not to go to the last island where One Piece lived in order to take care of his sick friend, Buggy. The location of the last island, Laugh Tale, known only to those who find and decipher the four red Road Poneglyphs. Without the knowledge gleaned from the massive ancient relics, each hidden in extremely difficult-to-reach locations, the mysterious final island seems impossible to find in the treacherous ocean of the New World. And the Red Hair Pirates might have had enough.
It's still unclear what information Shanks has and what Road Poneglyphs he's missing, but the One Piece anime is quickly approaching a moment of rapid progression for Luffy's mentor. Episode #1081 featured a dramatic moment of Shanks and his First Mate, Benn Beckman, discussing their changing priorities. Shanks has long since been a passive character, and Eustass Kid and the audience will soon see that change in the anime as Shanks becomes one of the closest people to reaching Laugh Tale.
Shanks is ready to end the race to One Piece
Kid Versus Shanks is one of Egghead's most anticipated battles.
While Shanks played a role in containing Admiral Greenbull's threat to Wano, it was a situation that Luffy and the Straw Hats could handle. Up until Egghead Island, the Red Hair Pirates had helped add a lot of mystery to the series by operating in the shadows. That all changed when Kid Pirates Challenged Shanks to avenge Eustass's left arm. While the series began with Shanks lighting a spark in Luffy's dream, chapter #1079 saw the Pirate Emperor end another one's dream as he defeated Kid and the crew's morale with a single attack: Divine Departure.
The defeat of Worst Generation Pirate Eustass Kid signaled a clear escalation in Shanks' role in the events of One Piece's final saga. After their crushing defeat, the Kid Pirates quickly offered up information about the Road Poneglyph in exchange for their captain's life. Now Shanks has taken down a formidable opponent in the race to become the next Pirate King.The Red Hair Pirates set a precedent for anyone who wanted to find One Piece before Shanks. Including those they used to have good relationships with.
“A particularly tragic turn of events could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can hand over the straw hat.”
Shanks' next opponent may be a bigger challenge than Kid.
The red-haired pirate captain's advanced Haki skills will be very difficult to defeat
The moment Luffy received his iconic straw hat from Shanks came with a promise that he would grow up and return it after becoming a great pirate. It is hard to deny that the Straw Hat captain achieved that feat, especially after playing a prominent role in defeating two ruthless and powerful Pirate Emperors: Big Mom and Kaido. His fellow Pirate Emperor Shanks probably felt the same way, which could very well be the signal he was waiting for before deciding to take more aggressive steps in the race towards One Piece.
One of the most anticipated reunions in shōnen media between Luffy and Red-Haired Shanks is closer than ever. Now that Luffy has earned a high claim in the pirate world, he's finally in a position to return the hat to Shanks, but his sensei probably isn't waiting for that to happen. One possibility is that Shanks wants to take over One Piece when a worthy opponent appearsa position that Luffy could have achieved. With Kid defeated, Shanks has truly established himself as Luffy's rival in the race to become Pirate King.
Egghead proves who deserves to reach the final stage
Author Eiichiro Oda has hinted that the final war will dwarf Marineford.
Author Eiichiro Oda has made a habit of defying expectations with surprising twists that often lead to the most interesting results. One A tragic twist could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can hand over the straw hat.something that Blackbeard and his crew may be preparing to do. The Blackbeard Pirates have grown in power and reputation at a similar pace to Luffy's Straw Hat Pirates. Throughout the Egghead arc, Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shanks have all proven that they each have a good chance of obtaining the One Piece.
Pirate Emperor Buggy, his formidable Cross Guild, and the Celestial Dragons could be playing a pivotal role in the conclusion of the One Piece story. After years of masterful build-up, the final saga of the story has begun to see multiple storylines line up for an exciting finale. With Shanks defeating Eustass Kid, the man who wanted to become the Pirate King, he has become a real obstacle for others in the race to claim the title. A piece is getting warmer than ever.