Oooh, we got a Shonen Jump cover AND a neat bit of artwork of the Rocks Pirates. I like the stained glass window cover. And it looks like we're getting another a mini-magazine called Legend & Next? I wonder if there's going to be anything interesting in that. Rocks is petting a tiger. Hmm...could that mean Rocks has some connection to Fujitora? Eh, probably not. Ochaku is giving us the finger. Kind of fitting since he's probably the biggest traitor in the group. And Marlon is...smoking. Wait, was Marlon supposed to have Smoker's Devil Fruit? With how many old Devil Fruits this group had, I wouldn't be surprised if he did. I do NOT think that was clear, if that's what Oda was going for, but now I'm not sure.
14 years ago, Shanks finds out that Roger had a secret son. Wow. Roger is SURPRISINGLY good at keeping secrets. NO ONE had any idea he had a wife and son. And Shanks...doesn't really seem to have any ambition to claim the King of the Pirates title for himself, at least right now. Interesting. He's perfectly okay with Ace getting that title. I feel like this is telling with Shank's ultimate goals.
Harald is no longer in control of his own body, being forced to obey Imu's will. "The last 144 years of my life". A VERY specific number. Two "4"s isn't good, since "4" sounds like "death" in Japanese. Although, according to the Goroawase number-pun calculator I use, 144 can mean "will", which is interesting, given that Harald was using his "will" to make his dreams for Elbaph come true all this time.
https://seoi.net/goro/144
「144」を語呂合わせにすると「遺書」です。
144
1位
い し ょ
遺書
The pun for "144" is "will."
144
1st place
Isho
Will
So, Shanks and Harald talked after that scene we saw before. And it seems like Harald met the Red Hair Pirates before, in the past. So...Harald didn't recognize him from Roger's crew, but from Shank's own crew. Interesting. Oda's setting something up.
We're getting further clarification with these Contract level abilities. So, the Shallows Contract doesn't seem to actually DO anything? Just puts you slightly under Imu's (and probably the God's Knight's) command when you're close by, it sounds like. The Depths Contract is the one that gives you enhanced strength, and regeneration, and the ability to use the Abyss Pentagrams, with the drawback that Imu can command you from anywhere. Now, if only we can get word on what the Abyssal Contract gives you, we'll have a complete set!
And Harald actually wanted Loki to tell everyone about what a colossal screw up he was, and to warn everyone what Imu and the World Government has planned for Elbaph. So...what happened? It's definitely weird that Jarul didn't back Loki up, even with the brain damage he's about to receive.
So, Imu wants Harald to eat Elbaph's Legendary Devil Fruit. Interesting. So, whatever this Fruit actually is, Imu doesn't want it for themselves. Imu just wants to control whoever has it. And Jarul says Harald eating that Fruit would be the "end of the world". Also, interesting. Given how often Imu calls themselves "The World".
OOF! That scene of Harald stabbing Jarul in the head is brutal! And cool!
And Shanks and Scopper arrive...not QUITE in the nick of time, but close enough, I guess. Shanks...doesn't seem confident in his ability to stop Harald. So, I guess Shanks hasn't awakened his full Wifi-Haki powers, yet?
...Jarul sure SEEMS fine, right now. It doesn't SEEM like he forgot what Harald said before. So, again...why didn't he back up Loki? Why let Loki get hunted and chained up for years? It's something Loki CHOSE to do, isn't it? It's a sacrifice Loki chose to do, so his father wouldn't be remembered as a horrible failure, isn't it? Oof...wrong call, but if so, that should make for a good chapter later, if I'm right.
So, Loki was the shadow we saw before in Chapter 1152. And I had to check to be sure, but yeah...sure enough, Ragnir WAS right next to the Treasure Chest even back in Chapter 1152, and nobody really noticed it. Seems like this hammer and the Devil Fruit go together, somehow. Not sure if that means the hammer is a PRODUCT of the Devil Fruit power, or if it's just a piece of Ancient Technology that's programmed to protect and serve the User of this speicific Fruit. But, we should see...either next week or next year, depending on how the release schedule goes. I'm not sure if this is the last chapter of the year or not. Not a bad chapter to end the year on, if so.
