The Road to Laugh Tale Opens! One Piece Returns

One Piece Chapter 1054 Review/Recap

We’re in the endgame now. After a month-long hiatus, Oda brought One Piece back with a vengeance with one of the biggest chapters ever. From here on out, the Straw Hats are on the road to Laugh Tale, and the story will reach new heights of chaotic insanity! I just finished reading the latest chapter, and I’m still processing everything! All the major players start making moves, and major revelations drop. This chapter is so big, I’m going to have to break it down into multiple sections just to cover everything!

Recap

As Admiral Ryokugyu reaches the outskirts of the Flower Capital, five of the Scabbards and Shinobu block his path, refusing to let him rob Wano of its newfound happiness. However, the Admiral just unleashed his plant-based Devil Fruit powers while spouting garbage about how “prejudice keeps the world in line” and stuff. It just pisses off Yamato and Momonosuke off, though, the former head butting the Admiral, and the latter vowing to drive him from the Capital on his own.

In the seas around Wano, the Red-Haired Pirates can’t help but be amazed at how Luffy has now reached their level. All of Shank’s officers want to go and meet him already as Shanks remembers how Luffy ate the Devil Fruit he stole from the World Government. However, Shanks refuses to meet Luffy. Instead, he tells Beckman that it’s time for them to go to Laugh Tale, and claim the One Piece.

At Navy HQ, Akainu’s dealing with problems of his own. In addition to the news of the fall of Big Mom and Kaido, there’s also what happened at the Reverie.

• King Cobra was apparently killed by Sabo
• Princess Vivi has vanished
• Sabo attacked the home of the Celestial Dragons and destroyed a monument to them.
• Sabo and his Allies rescued Kuma
• 8 kingdoms are now in open revolt.

All throughout this, Sabo’s legend and reputation have started to eclipse even Dragon’s. The people are worshipping him, calling him the Emperor of Flames and rallying to the Revolution. The whole world is plunging into chaos, and the Navy can barely stop it. The road to Laugh Tale has begun.

Review

Okay, this is one of those chapters where Oda gives us a lot in one go, and I love that. It’s one of the reasons I love his manga so much.

Let’s go over everything now.

Ryokugyu’s a Jerk!

Firstly, I hate Ryokugyu. He reminds me so much of Akainu, and that man is everything wrong with the Marines. Self-serving, kills anyone to justify his actions, and says it’s for Justice. I hate Akainu, and now I hate Ryokugyu. Even if his powers are pretty cool. Hashirama Senju’s are better, though.

As much as I don’t want Momo to fight Ryokugyu, he has to do this. It’s to make a statement to the outside world: Kaido is out, but we will not tolerate the World Government walking over us. More importantly, it will show Wano and the world that he will not be trifled with as Shogun. I think Momonosuke’s got this.

Shanks Has a Plan

I’m surprised that Shanks still doesn’t want to meet Luffy yet. He’s now at Shanks level as a fellow Yonko, after all. Plus, all his officers want to see him again. However, I think he’s got his reasons. Just like how he had reasons for meeting with the Gorosei.

In fact, I think his theft of the Gum-Gum Fruit might not have been dumb luck. Maybe Shanks planned on taking it because he somehow knew a little about it’s true nature. Maybe he thought the next wielder would be the one to finish what Roger started. Or maybe I’m overthinking things. Either way, now he’s throwing his proverbial hat into the ring.

Speaking of whom…

I Don’t Buy What Happened to Cobra and Vivi

Okay, until I see proof that King Cobra is dead, I don’t buy that he is. Or that Sabo killed him. In fact, I question the entire idea that Vivi’s gone missing.

There are a few possible explanations for all of this, though:

• The World Government killed Cobra, blamed it on Sabo, and held Vivi prisoner.
• The World Government did all of that, but Vivi escaped with Sabo
• Cobra faked his death and Vivi her disappearance so that both of them could join the revolution with Sabo.

I’m very much hoping that it’s the last one. I can’t see Sabo killing someone like Cobra. If anything, the Nefertari family would likely support the Revolution since they know how corrupt the World Government is. It needs to go. The Celestial Dragons need to go (Except Mjorsgard. He’s cool.) the whole system needs to be brought down and restarted. And it looks like Dragon and Sabo will be the ones doing that.

Sabo, the Emperor of Flames. So Cool!

As an aside, I love Sabo’s new title, the Emperor of Flames, or Flame Emperor. Ace would be proud of his brother.

No matter how you slice it, there’s an even bigger war coming. One that the World Government cannot hope to stop. The road to Laugh Tale is almost open, and the world will plunge into chaos when it does. Good. Chaos can be the remedy to this kind of corruption.

The end of One Piece draws near. It will likely be several more years, but we should savor it. I know I will.

Also, I’m glad to see that Oda left a tribute to the late Kazuki Takahashi.

I Give “Flame Emperor” a 5/5

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