This article contains spoilers for the Final Saga of One Piece.
After a very long break, One Piece finally returns with Chapter 1171 this week, and fans couldn't be more excited for what Oda is set to deliver. Currently, One Piece is in the Elbaf Arc, and it is quite clear that the ongoing flashback surrounding the character of Loki as well as the old legends of the One Piece world, such as King Harald and Rocks, is now at its end.
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One Piece Chapter 1171 will most likely tie up the remaining loose ends of the flashback and herald the story back to the present timeline, which is something that the fans have been clamoring for for quite a while now. As is usually the case, fans often love long flashbacks in One Piece, but it often comes at the expense of losing to the Straw Hat Pirates for months. Now, the Straw Hats are set to return, and fans absolutely cannot wait to see them once again.
Loki's Adventure After The Fall of Harald Will Be Shown
- Loki Has Already Killed Harald
- His Adventures Across The Seas Will Be Shown Soon
Following the logical progression after the events of Aurust Castle from 14 years ago, fans know that Loki will be central to the upcoming chapter of the story. One Piece 1171 will most likely show Loki being forced out of Elbaf for the reasons that were mentioned at the beginning of the arc. The perception of the people of Elbaf is that Loki was the one who killed King Harald and stole the legendary Devil Fruit of the country.
The reality is that Loki actually saved the country by killing Harald because he had fallen under Imu's spell. By killing Harald, Loki made himself a villain, and while his own father had asked him to tell the truth about what happened in Aurust Castle to the entire country, Loki decided to preserve the dignity of his father and take the blame upon himself.
King Harald passed after a vicious battle with Loki. What you are seeing are the scars of that fight. Loki is strong for sure but King Harald was also known to be a Great Warrior in his own right. All this destruction was inevitable. The only surviving members in the castle were Chief Jarul and Loki that day. — Rodo on the Battle in Aurust Castle, 14 Years Ago
As fans know, Elbaf most likely did succeed in subduing Loki at some point, but eventually he went off to the sea for a grand adventure. Eventually, after rampaging, he received a bounty of 2.6 billion berries which was termed "special" by the World Government. Then, Shanks was the one who decided to put Loki in chains and bring him back to Warland, Elbaf.
This is what fans know about what happens following the events of Aurust Castle from 14 years ago, and all this will most likely be glossed over in One Piece Chapter 1171.
Oda Will Likely Skip Shanks Vs Loki
As far as the upcoming One Piece chapter is concerned, there is one thing that all fans of the story will most likely be eagerly awaiting: the battle of Shanks and Loki. While it is a possibility for Oda to show this battle, the truth is that Oda is moving this flashback at a blistering pace, and there is absolutely no way that he is going to show Loki fight in an all-out battle before he actually reveals his powers in the current timeline.
While it cannot be denied that Oda will draw silhouettes in the battle of Shanks vs Loki that took place in the world 6 years ago, the more likely option is for Oda to completely skip over this battle and not show the fans the reality of what happened when Shanks collided with this gargantuan beast.
This might be sad for many fans, but the truth is, this is how Oda has always operated and it is most likely going to be this way in the upcoming chapter of the story as well. Fans should keep their expectations low for a battle of Loki vs Shanks because it doesn't seem to make much sense for Oda to include it at this point in the story, especially when taking into consideration the fact that he actually only gave one chapter to the real battle of this flashback, that is Loki vs Harald.
One Piece 1171 should see the story rush to the present timeline and then allow Luffy and the Straw Hats to take things from there.
Luffy and The Straw Hats Are Set To Finally Return
- Luffy Will Return After Many Months Of Absence
- The Straw Hats Vs the Holy Knights Begins
While losing out on a potential battle of Loki and Shanks would most certainly be upsetting for some fans, the bigger picture is that fans will finally see the return of the Straw Hat Pirates. It has been way too long since the Straw Hats appeared in the story, and fans have been missing them for quite a while now. The best parts of One Piece always come with the Straw Hats, and that is not going to change in Elbaf either.
I am the Sun God enshrined in the legends of this land. You will not speak to me without permission, human. I consider myself the strongest alive in the Lands. This is the Warland, Elbaf's Kingdom of Violence. The most powerful nation in the world which once lived and breathed warfare. And I'm the Sun God who brings the world to an end, Loki! — Loki introducing himself in the Elbaf Arc.
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The Elbaf flashback has been one of the longest in the entire story, so a return to the present timeline would be a welcome change in the upcoming chapter of the story. Loki has now successfully told his story, which means that Hajrudin and Luffy will have a decision to make. The most likely outcome of this storytelling is that Loki will be freed from his shackles and he will be asked to join in the battle against Imu, which is going to take place in the Sun Realm of Elbaf.
As such, One Piece Chapter 1171 will most likely end with Luffy and his entire team regrouping and heading to the Sun Realm, where Imu is wreaking havoc. Fans absolutely cannot wait for this major change to come in the next chapter, and it is certainly going to be something worth the months-long wait.
The Time To Fight Imu Has Arrived
From here onwards, One Piece will focus on the battle in Elbaf, and that is where all the excitement comes. All the fans of the story that love storytelling and lore have had their time already. Now is the time for the exciting clashes and intense battles, and it seems that Elbaf is full of wonderful opportunities for the Straw Hat Pirates to strut their stuff.
In the next chapter of the story, fans will most definitely see Luffy and the crew back in the Sun Realm, which means the clashes against the Demon Army of Imu will finally begin. Fans are particularly excited to see a confrontation between Luffy and Imu, given that they are going to fight it out at the end of the story as well.
More than that, there are other exciting battles that are going to take place, such as Zoro and Sanji's intense clash with Dory and Brogy. Of course, most importantly, fans are excited to see Loki unleash his Devil Fruit powers because that is desperately needed at this point in the story. No matter which way fans look at it, One Piece chapter 1171 is going to be absolutely incredible and it will set up some very intriguing things for the future of the Elbaf arc.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece focuses on the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Hat Pirates as they sail the seas to lay claim to the grand treasure known as the One Piece. The manga is currently in its Final Saga. One Piece will be featured in this week's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1171 is January 18, 2026. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps. Doing so will ensure that fans always support the author.