As the Holy Knights land on Elbaf, the land of giant warriors is gradually becoming a "second God Valley". With the direct confrontation between Shanks and Saint Figarland Shamrock, the blood ties between these two characters are the most crucial link.
Is the God Valley incident in Elbaf repeating itself, or is this the decisive turning point to unravel the darkest secrets in the final arc of One Piece?
Looking back at the past: The "erased" secret of God Valley
Before analyzing the situation in Elbaf, we need to understand what truly happened in God Valley 38 years ago.
Confirmed truths
According to what was revealed through Kuma's flashback and recent chapters, God Valley was not merely an ordinary pirate battle. It was where the World Nobles held a brutal "Human Hunt Tournament," submerging innocent races in a sea of blood.
This incident brought together the most terrifying forces of that era: the Rocks Pirates, Roger, Garp, and the Holy Knights led by Figarland Garling.
A crucial detail confirmed in chapter 1159: a young Monkey D. Dragon, then a rookie Marine soldier, was present at God Valley and inadvertently encountered Rocks D. Xebec's family.
Witnessing firsthand the brutality of the World Government and the World Nobles there was the turning point that led Dragon to leave the Marines and foster the will to form the Revolutionary Army later.
Community theories
Although the nature of the battle has been revealed, the fan community continues to discuss unresolved mysteries:
Theory 1 – Was Rocks D. Xebec mind-controlled by Imu? Many believe that Rocks did not act entirely of his own free will but was manipulated by Imu to create a pretext for exterminating ancient races in God Valley.
Theory 2 - Imu's reality-warping power experiment: There's a theory that Imu exploited the deaths of the strongest warriors in God Valley to perform ancient rituals, consolidating control over reality and sealing ancient weapons.
Why is Elbaf the key to unlocking the world's secrets?
If God Valley was where the World Government tried to erase history, then Elbaf is where that knowledge is preserved. The land of giants holds an unparalleled strategic position in the Final Saga due to two core factors:
A vast treasure trove of knowledge from Ohara
After the Buster Call tragedy in Ohara, all the books and research manuscripts of Professor Clover were salvaged by the giants and brought to Elbaf.
This is a library preserving the most authentic records of the Void Century and the ancient kingdom – something the World Government was willing to destroy an entire island to conceal.
The presence of Scopper Gaban
The appearance of former Roger Pirates member Scopper Gaban in Elbaf (chapter 1140) is not accidental. He is playing the role of "guardian" of the Pirate King's legacy, guiding Luffy's new generation to unravel the final secrets.
Connecting the will from the old generation to the new generation in this land is the key to unveiling historical mysteries, making Elbaf the ultimate target the Government wants to eliminate.
The "God Valley Incident in Elbaf" is gradually taking shape
The similarities between the two events become clearer as the Holy Land Mary Geoise expeditionary force officially sets foot on Elbaf.
Intervention by the Holy Knights and Saint Figarland Shamrock
When the Gorosei Figarland Garling was promoted, his son, Saint Figarland Shamrock, took over command of the Holy Knights.
Possessing an identical appearance to Emperor Red-Haired Shanks and wielding a sword that consumed the Mythical Zoan Inu Inu no Mi, Model: Cerberus, Shamrock is one of the most dangerous antagonists currently.
Shamrock's landing with the Holy Knights on Elbaf aims to force this giant nation to submit to the World Government, replaying the oppressive scenario from God Valley years ago.
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God Valley Incident (38 years ago) |
Elbaf Incident (Present) |
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World Nobles oppressed, hunted people. |
Holy Knights land to enforce submission. |
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Presence of Figarland Garling. |
Garling's son: Shamrock leads. |
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Dragon witnessed a life-changing moment. |
Luffy and allies confront directly. |
Mystery of the Manmayar family and Bipolar Irises (Chapter 1186+)
A shocking turning point in chapters 1185-1186 is the story of Manmayar Gunko (Princess Shuri of the Esperia Kingdom) and her Bipolar Irises.
This is a rare bloodline possessing special mental abilities of the Manmayar family. Craving this power, Imu massacred the Esperia kingdom 62 years ago, kidnapping Shuri to turn her into the "puppet" Gunko.
Not only did Imu manipulate her to kill her adoptive father, but Imu also directly took over her body to fight against Luffy and Loki in chapter 1149.
The appearance of this eye technique suggests that the battle in Elbaf will not just be a contest of Haki or physical strength, but also a confrontation against spiritual control from the supreme entity.
Whose side will Shanks take in the fated battle?
The blood connection between Emperor Red-Haired Shanks, Gorosei Garling, and Holy Knights leader Shamrock is the most complex link in Elbaf.
Theories about Shanks' choice:
Path 1 - Protecting his lineage: Shanks might be torn between his duties to the Figarland family and his ideals of freedom. Will he compromise with Shamrock to protect family secrets?
Path 2 - Fighting alongside Luffy: Most fans believe Shanks will choose to side with the new generation. The encounter between Shanks and his twin brother Shamrock will be the most spectacular "all-in" confrontation, affirming the will for freedom and ending the Figarland family's influence on the fate of the One Piece world.
Regardless of Shanks' choice, the convergence of forces in Elbaf is pushing the Final Saga into an irreversible situation. Unlike the complete annihilation of God Valley, the battle in Elbaf, led by Luffy "Sun God Nika," is expected to break the cycle of hatred, ushering in a true dawn for the entire world.
Elbaf is the focal point of historical mysteries. As clues about the God Valley Incident in Elbaf gradually unravel, the situation in the Final Saga becomes more unpredictable than ever. Whether Shanks sides with Luffy or protects the Figarland family, the battle here will certainly reshape the world of One Piece.
To accompany these milestones, visit the One Piece Toy collection at Hobiverse to get your hands on the most realistic character figures, fully capturing the spirit of legends on their journey to conquer the ocean.
See more
Holy Knight in the Elbaf arc: Is Shamrock as strong as Shanks?
Loki One Piece Elbaf: Unraveling the "disgrace" of the giants
