Back on three chapters in a row, and the main plot is keeping on picking up steam. This is bliss! The chapter may only have two segments but both are rich with new lore and statements with deeper implications.

We start in the castle, and I have to first compliment the ruined aesthetic. Like previous Elbaph chapters, Oda uses almost exclusively very low and very high camera angles to create a towering sense of scale. It feels very Dark Souls, especially the panel looking down on the crossing walkways.

And what are we learning here? Tons of cool stuff. Horns are evidence of Ancient Giant blood? It was a safe guess but I love having confirmation. Wonder how far that extends to non-giant races. There are no witnesses to what happened between Loki and Harald except the wounded Jarul? Fascinating. Let’s give some more good guy points to Loki because it could not be more guaranteed that we don’t have the full story. Anything from brain damage-induced memory loss to the cross-guard obscuring Jarul’s view of the true culprit (or motive) could be used to explain this away. Ancient Giants are connected to an “era of war?” Hmmmm… anyone remember how the symbol on Oars’ loincloth was also carved on the walls of the Marie Geoise straw hat room? Wonder which side the Ancient Giants fought for then. The World Government’s obsession with either recruiting or genetically engineering giants for the Marines could be an attempt to restore old power, or it could be a plan to capture the power once used against them. And there are more giant tribes in the world? I figured all the talk of warring giants was just Elbaph infighting. Sure, we knew of giants like Saul who had birthplaces in other seas, but I’d figured they were one-offs, not members of other full societies.

We also get some interesting giant social dynamics. Blood purity is serious business here, explaining the issues with Hadjrudin’s claim to the throne, but also giving more power and context to his dream of being king of the giants. We sure as hell didn’t need a backstory for Rodo’s presence on his crew, but the one we get ties well into that goal.

It’s definitely a little odd that the castle was sealed with all the bodies inside. I wonder how giant society feels about funeral rites, or if there’s some kind of cultural thing about leaving warriors where they fall if they do so in battle. Do these giants believe in a Valhalla? And then there’s Harald’s appearance. The head scars are cool, but if we’re talking horn removal I would have loved to see a Hellboy homage. Takahashi managed an art exchange with Mignola, why not Oda? Regardless, that portrait does not look like a man of peace, and Oda even added an ominous sound effect to be sure we get the message. If Harald was not what we’re told he was, did that factor into his assassination?

We cut to the Realm of the Dead, and to open on aesthetics again, Gunko’s style is growing on me, seeing her in motion this week. What seemed to be a fabric-based power is actually… arrows? Like, the concept of arrows. Sometimes they form out of or extend her clothes and sometimes they just seem to appear. Sometimes they’re physical things that can spear attackers. Sometimes they create vectors for her other attacks of accelerate on. It’s abstract with vague rules, but it’s so visually striking I hope she gets a meaty fight to show off in. I remember Medusa from Soul Eater and how good her battles looked, and maybe Oda does as well.

And on the topic of the arrows acting as vectors, Loki is very, very curiously aware of the directions they’re setting up for a blindfolded man. Could be even basic observation haki reading Gunko’s intended movements, but they talk about it like he has a pretty keen and immediate awareness.

And we end on a reveal that’s been teased for weeks and coming for years. Figarland Shamrock. Waaaaaaay back in mid-2018 when we first saw “Shanks” meeting the Five Elders, I actually did think it was the real Shanks. He’d put forward appearances as kind of a peacekeeper of the New World, taking actions to maintain the balance of power when he prevented the Marines and Blackbeard from taking their victory too far at Marineford. Having that role go further, with some kind of rapport with the Elders seemed within the realm of possibility. It wasn’t until Film Red dropped its line about “Figarland blood” that I became a believer in a brother/twin for that scene, but once that last piece fell into place it was impossible to read it any other way. It’s so perfectly framed to keep the right arm and the place where the scars should be out of sight, but it does so without being so blatant that the deception is obvious. A great long con deception, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what Shamrock’s relationship with Luffy and Shanks is going to be as the story goes forward.

This is all building up in some very exciting ways, but it feels like Luffy’s team is going to have to step on the gas if they want to arrive in Loki’s scene before it ends. There’s no way Loki dies here, but maybe it’ll be the Oda classic bad guys forgetting to confirm the kill when he’s only mostly dead, then Luffy meets Shamrock as he returns to the castle (assuming he has to do that to teleport again). Well, whatever happens, it’s great to know we’ll be finding out in just a week’s time. Good to be back.