One Piece 1076 dropped recently and it revealed some of the biggest and most interesting things about the character that is Red-haired Shanks. Fans know Shanks to be a bit of a mystery and it is very rarely that Oda gives fans a good look at him. After all, his appearances can actually be counted on fingers and, despite that, he has remained extremely popular. Shanks is a character who is truly important to Luffy and the man responsible for putting him on the path to becoming the Pirate King.
Shanks entrusted Luffy with his Straw Hat and believed that he would, one day, become a Great Pirate. The two have promised to meet again and when they do, Luffy will return his Straw Hat to Shanks and show him that he has acquired a crew greater than his. In the final saga of One Piece, Shanks has finally joined the main game and he is now an active competitor in the battle for the One Piece. Recently, it was finally revealed that Shanks is currently on the island called Elbaf.
Shanks On Elbaf
Elbaf is a very important island and the One Piece world. It was first teased to the fans during the Little Garden arc where the Straw Hat Pirates met two giants named Dory and Broggy. Thanks to them, the crew was introduced to the legends of the Giants of Elbaf and it is here that Usopp gained his dream of becoming as prideful as the Giants of this island. Elbaf was brought into the story even more after the 2-year timeskip when fans got a look at Big Mom's past, which is deeply linked to this place. It was also revealed that Big Mom tried to forge an alliance with the Giants because they are, objectively speaking, the most powerful race in the world of One Piece. She wanted Chiffon to pose as Lola and Mary Prince Loki, who was enchanted by her sister.
Unfortunately for Big Mom, this plot of hers was exposed and her relationship with the Giants got even more sour. Now, the island of Elbaf has finally appeared in the main timeline of the story with Emperor of the Sea, Red-Haired Shanks, recently seen drinking there. Shanks claimed to have met two of his old friends on the island, Dory and Broggy. Fans will remember them from the Little Garden arc, and now, they have finally returned home.
Shanks As The Protector Of Elbaf
Immediately after finishing up a drinking session at a tavern, Shanks was made aware of the threat of Eustass Captain Kid. Kid has been following his Logpose and that has led him to Elbaf. He was seen fighting against the ally ships of Emperor Red-haired Shanks right outside the country of Elbaf. Shanks, meanwhile, revealed that he loves Elbaf quite a lot and, as such, he would not let any harm come to it at all. That is why he set out to sea to confront Eustass Captain Kid and defeat him for good. While heading out, the people who lived nearby hugged Shanks and claimed that they are big fans of his, meaning that Shanks is very popular among those living there.
However, what was even more interesting was the fact that Shanks was confirmed as the protector of Elbaf. This happened when the people in his surroundings claimed that they wanted to give him tribute, however, Shanks outright refused, saying that he does not do things that way. Shanks always protects his friends and taking money from them would simply be wrong. He also claimed that he would not want any harm to come to the land of the Giants and this is why he wanted to confront Kid on the sea instead. This all but confirms his status as the protector of Elbaf and places the country under his flag.
The Future Of Red-Haired Shanks On Elbaf
The future of Red-Haired Shanks on Elbaf is very interesting. First of all, he is going to engage Kid in combat right outside the island. This means that Shanks will fight his very first battle in One Piece that the fans might get a glimpse of very soon. However, given all the hype that has been built around him, and the fact that Shanks is among the strongest characters alive, it is more likely than not that Eustass Kid will lose this fight. This is a parallel to how Law is fighting Blackbeard and, more likely than not, he will also end up losing his battle. Furthermore, Kid defeating Shanks would take a lot of weight off the plot point that sees Luffy connect with him. As such, it is all but a certainty for Kid to lose this fight.
Once that is done, Shanks' future in Elbaf gets even more interesting. It was only recently revealed to the fans of One Piece that Elbaf has all the books of Ohara, thanks to Saul. Now that Vegapunk is actively researching the history of the world, the crew could very well be headed to the island of Elbaf very soon. As such, the Straw Hat Pirates will face off against the Red Hair Pirates sooner rather than later. Shanks and Luffy are going to meet on this very island, which makes it one of the most important places in the One Piece world. It is also where they will meet old friends like Dory and Broggy, along with Oimo and Kashi. Furthermore, Hajrudin will also be present on the island and most importantly, some big secrets about the Ancient Kingdom will be revealed here in the presence of the Yonko, Red-Haired Shanks. Fans have been desperately waiting for Luffy to reunite with him and this is likely going to be the most significant part of the character and mystery that is Shanks.