[What’s the topic of this week’s “ONE PIECE”?] The first five members of the “East Blue” are so emotional in the Elbaf arc! The self-homage of Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji’s combined technique was also hot…! “He has a talent for making enemies lol” “A flag for a reunion with Vivi?” <Episode 1127>”ONE PIECE” (original work by Eiichiro Oda), a manga currently being serialized in Shonen Jump Weekly, depicts the exploits of the protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his companions as they set out to sea to become the King of Pirates.

The way the characters deepen their bonds with their allies through exciting adventures on unknown islands and thrilling battles with formidable enemies is right in the middle of Jump’s three principles: friendship, effort, and victory. At the same time, this work also depicts the darkness of the world surrounding erased history, discrimination, slavery, and more with detailed foreshadowing and a grand worldview, and even now, in its final chapter in its 27th year of serialization, it continues to hold the hearts of readers captivated by its raging developments.

In the September 23rd (Monday, holiday) issue of Weekly Shonen Jump, the 1127th chapter of “ONE PIECE”, “Adventure in a Mysterious Country”, the original members Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji explore a new island, which has been a hot topic for its emotional development. In this article, we will look back on the key points of the latest chapter along with the reactions on social media.

*This article contains spoilers for the latest episode of “One Piece” (episode 1127). Please be careful if you are a comic book or anime fan, or if you have not read Jump.

The subtitle is “Adventure in a Mysterious Land,” and as many readers predicted in the previous episode, it appears that Nami and her friends have indeed landed in Elbaf.

At present, the Straw Hat Crew members who are confirmed to be in what is believed to be Elbaf are Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji. The fact that the adventure on a new island has begun with the five members from the East Blue, reminiscent of the early “ONE PIECE”, has caused a big stir on social media.

Readers have been sending in comments such as “It’s so moving to finally reach Elbaf, which has been mentioned since the beginning,” “It feels as exciting as when all five of them entered the Grand Line together!”, “Thanks for showing us such a nostalgic sight,” and “The humor is reminiscent of Nami and Usopp’s early days, and I like it,” from readers who are emotionally attached to the descriptions that overlap with the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates when they first entered the Grand Line.

Also, a post stating, “It’s so touching that the people Nami asked for help from are the four who helped her in the Arlong Arc” garnered a lot of sympathy. It seems that many readers have a special attachment to the five who colored the prologue of the adventure, gathering companions, forming a pirate crew, and entering the Grand Line. While we are looking forward to seeing the rest of the group, we can’t help but feel that it is significant that these members, who once encountered the Titans at Little Garden, made it to Elbaf.

In the previous episode, there was a rumor that the world Nami was seeing was a hallucination caused by the dangerous liquor “absinthe” that she drank at the banquet, but Usopp proved it with his own body. In reality, a big incident is developing in the midst of Luffy roasting and eating the “ear god” worshipped in this area. The Giant Pirates led by Dorry and Brogy, who could be his strongest allies, are searching the sea for Luffy and his friends who suddenly disappeared after the banquet, so it seems that the situation will get worse if Luffy and his rampage in Elbaf goes unstoppable…

Readers have responded to Luffy, who has a tendency to attract trouble, with comments such as, “Luffy has an incredible ability to make people his allies, but he’s also incredible at making enemies,” and “He should have been able to enter the country easily thanks to the Giant Pirate Crew, but before you know it, he’s become surrounded by things that make him hostile.”

As the word “sun god” has also appeared, the “sun god Nika” is an object of worship in Elbaf. It will be interesting to see how Luffy, who has committed acts that are tantamount to blasphemy for the people of Elbaf, reacts when he transforms into Gear 5.

The highlight of the second half of this issue that got readers excited was the finishing moves performed by Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji.

The powerful blow, a self-homage to the combined technique “Gomu Gomu no Whip,” Zoro’s “Dragon Roll,” and Sanji’s “Epole Shoot,” which simultaneously hit Luffy’s “Gomu Gomu no Whip,” “Dragon Roll,” and “Whip” and “Shoot,” took down the giant lion.

Even though the composition is the same as back then, the techniques used by each artist show how much they’ve grown over the past two years, making for a heartwarming lineup! Even long-time fans were excited by this sudden homage, which was made after more than 20 years.

また、元となっている合体技がアラバスタ編で登場していることからSNSでは「そろそろビビとの再会が近いのでは？」という声もチラホラ。ビビはリトルガーデンに上陸した際すでに麦わらの一味とともに旅をしており、ドリー＆ブロギーとも親交があるので、エルバフでの再会が待っているという可能性にも期待してみたいものですね。

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