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Admiration and idolization of notable pirates is not a foreign concept inOne Piece. In fact, it is one of the significant factors that propels the beginning of new eras in the pirate world ofOne Piece, giving new pirates the drive to achieve their dreams.
But in Loki’s case, his reverence for Xebec might spell doom for the Straw Hat Pirates and severely alter the current era of piracy. Despite such a horrid rejection from Xebec, Loki blames the timing of his birth for his denial and still holds Xebec in high regard. The question is, would Loki’s history favor the Straw Hats? Or would his admiration be the driving force that endangers them?
Loki The Shame Of Elbaf
Despite being a pure-breed and one of the princes of Elbaf, Loki is greatly despised by his people, and just for his troublemaking as his mischief and destructiveness know no end. He would play dangerous pranks on the people of Elbaf, including releasing beasts in villages to cause chaos. Driven by unhealthy ambition, he entered a conflict with his father and Jarul that ended with a sword in Jarul’s head and the death of Harald. Loki was initially believed tohave killed King Harald, but as he recently raised suspicions on that topic, whether or not he did is unknown.
DON’T TELL ME YOU’RE LIKE THE REST…THINKING I ACTUALLY KILLED OUR FATHER IN COLD BLOOD… YOU DON’T REALLY BUY IT, DO YOU?- Loki to Hajrudin
Nevertheless, the people of Elbaf believe him to be the killer, and the very mention of his name leaves a bitter taste in their mouths, let alone his presence. Captured later on with the help of Shanks, he was imprisonedin the lowest region of Elbaf, the Underworld.
Loki’s Admiration Of Xebec
Shared Dreams Of Destruction
Although Loki had been a nuisance from birth, some of his actions could be linked to hisadmiration of Rocks D. Xebec, the legendary, tyrannical, and destructive pirate. Xebec as a pirate was a nightmare. In contrast to the freedom that most pirates envision, he sought domination through ridiculous strength, ruthlessly dealing with anyone who stood in the way of his goals. As seen with Loki, even children were not spared. His viciousness ruled his era of piracy with utter chaos and conquest, laying down a template for subsequent eras, one Loki may have picked up.
Loki believes himself to be the Sun God,the one who will end the world. This ambition resembles Xebec’s dream of becoming the King of the World through mass destruction. Had he been born earlier, he would have probably been a part of Xebec’s crew, causing havoc to his heart’s content with his idol. However, it goes against the true freedom and friendship that the new era of pirates prioritizes. This difference in philosophy could set Loki against them, especially the Straw Hats, who envision a future where everyone is truly free and happy.
Story Arc
The Straw Hats are not weak in any way, but the threat that Loki would be if he goes against them would be immense. He has already given them a preview of what he is capable of. After Luffy unlocked his chains, save for one, Loki immediately tried to blackmail them to escape. Just to drive in the fear, he attackedTreasure Tree Adamwith its major weakness. If setting his home ablaze and endangering his people does not bother him, how much more the Straw Hats?
Loki’s strength is undeniable, even among the Giants. The God’s Knights' intense desire to recruit him shows the extent of his might. However, what makes Loki truly dangerous is his convictions. His ideology that only the strong should rule echoes that of Xebec, who once beat him and left a lasting impression. His clash with the Straw Hats, should it occur, would be Loki’s indirect attempt at proving the validity of his ideals, allegedly shaped by Xebec. While the victor is highly debatable, the Straw Hats could face their most physically overwhelming battle yet.
Loki’s Impact On The Final Saga
What This Means For The Straw Hats
Overcoming the odds and coming out victorious in battle is not a foreign concept for the Straw Hats. Time and time again, they have defeated powerful foes with their incredible strength and camaraderie. However, Loki as an enemy is a different ballgame. His ideologies make him far more dangerous than the power-hungry tyrants the Straw Hats regularly face. Loki would view them not as direct enemies but as part of an era he wants to change. If Loki decides to commence an era reformation, conflict between them is inevitable.
The progression of the Final Saga might also hang on this possibility. Elbaf’s long-awaited debut is shaping up to be more than just a detour, with the reveal ofShamrock as Shank’s twin brotherand currently unfolding events. Considering Elbaf is one of the stops in the Final Saga, the last Poneglyph could be there, and that possibility skyrockets Loki’s role. He could either be the one who ushers the Straw Hats into the next saga or the threat they would have to overcome to continue their journey.
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.
