I think it's pretty clear that Shanks is showing up at some point on Elbaph, and Oda is saving him for when shit really gets dire. Personally, I think Shanks will show up around when either/or both Shamrock and Garling show up.
Shanks, afterwards, will have a unique opportunity: to meet the two most prolific Cyborg-scientists of the modern era, Chopper and Usopp.
Heh?
Oh, I mean, Franky and Vegapunk Lilith.
The Revolutionaries, who have NO MONEY, are still able to produce both a mecha-arm for Ahiru, and Lindbergh's tech.
My only question is: how powerful IS Imu's magic? Like... if Shanks got a mecha-arm from Franky and Lilith... would his Mark show back up? It sounds ridiculous, but Imu's powerset is SOOOO stupidly broken, I could actually see it happeing.
Low-key, though, I think there's a really interesting alternative here:
Captain Kidd
I've speculated since Shamrock's introduction that the reason Kidd hates Shanks is because SHAMROCK did some shit on Kutsukku Island, Kidd's homeland.
If Kidd and Shanks ever overcome their differences, I can see Kidd building Shanks a new arm.
I believe Shanks ordered Saul to save the Kidd Pirates, and that Shanks feels deep gratitude to Kidd for helping save his Nakama Oden's Homeland, Wano.
Shanks told Saul not to tell Kidd, because he wanted to preserve his pride.
If Kidd realizes he had the wrong guy, and attacked Elbaph over nothing, AND then learns Shanks helped protect him after the attack on Elbaph, I could see Kidd seeing Shanks in a new light, and help build a new arm for him.
Considering Vegapunk's scientific prowess, I think it's possible they could just... grow a new arm, but, MECHA-ARM IS COOLER, MECHA ARM YEAHHHHHH. With a rum compartment. And a hentai manga compartment, OH YEAH.
Shanks, afterwards, will have a unique opportunity: to meet the two most prolific Cyborg-scientists of the modern era, Chopper and Usopp.
Heh?
Oh, I mean, Franky and Vegapunk Lilith.
The Revolutionaries, who have NO MONEY, are still able to produce both a mecha-arm for Ahiru, and Lindbergh's tech.
My only question is: how powerful IS Imu's magic? Like... if Shanks got a mecha-arm from Franky and Lilith... would his Mark show back up? It sounds ridiculous, but Imu's powerset is SOOOO stupidly broken, I could actually see it happeing.
Low-key, though, I think there's a really interesting alternative here:
Captain Kidd
I've speculated since Shamrock's introduction that the reason Kidd hates Shanks is because SHAMROCK did some shit on Kutsukku Island, Kidd's homeland.
If Kidd and Shanks ever overcome their differences, I can see Kidd building Shanks a new arm.
I believe Shanks ordered Saul to save the Kidd Pirates, and that Shanks feels deep gratitude to Kidd for helping save his Nakama Oden's Homeland, Wano.
Shanks told Saul not to tell Kidd, because he wanted to preserve his pride.
If Kidd realizes he had the wrong guy, and attacked Elbaph over nothing, AND then learns Shanks helped protect him after the attack on Elbaph, I could see Kidd seeing Shanks in a new light, and help build a new arm for him.
Considering Vegapunk's scientific prowess, I think it's possible they could just... grow a new arm, but, MECHA-ARM IS COOLER, MECHA ARM YEAHHHHHH. With a rum compartment. And a hentai manga compartment, OH YEAH.