Since the Elbaph arc officially began, two names have dominated the spotlight: Shanks and Loki. Under the masterful storytelling of Eiichiro Oda, the mysteries surrounding the relationship between this Yonko and the giant prince have ignited the online community. The biggest question now is: why did Shanks get involved in imprisoning Loki?
What drove Shanks to connect Loki and Luffy?
Although Loki was first portrayed as a villain, even a reckless antihero, recent developments in One Piece have cleared his name. This has sparked a compelling theory: Shanks imprisoned Loki to “freeze” his power until Luffy arrived.
Shanks is known as a visionary leader shaping the era, always thinking several moves ahead in the world’s grand chessboard. Pairing Loki, the strongest giant warrior of Elbaph, with Luffy, the Sun God Nika, is a trump card to overthrow the World Government. No matter how strong Loki is alone, he can’t stand against the Five Elders or Imu by himself, but alongside the Straw Hats, his power becomes unstoppable.
Loki carries the royal bloodline of the giants, unmatched physical strength, and secrets tied to the world’s history. Meanwhile, after awakening Gear 5, Luffy has risen to the stature of a king.
Shanks understands that ending centuries of tyranny requires a fusion of mythical power and the mightiest army, the warriors of Elbaph. Having Luffy rescue or ally with Loki would forge a stronger alliance than any political deal. This could be Shanks’ intricate plan to protect Luffy from premature sacrifice on his perilous revenge journey.
A shared grudge and the ultimate target: Imu
Loki’s hatred for the World Government is no accident. Details from chapter 1969 confirm that Imu and their subordinates were directly involved in King Harald’s death. As a witness, Loki carries a burning flame of vengeance, explaining why the government issued such a terrifying bounty on him.
Luffy has a tradition of helping friends reclaim their kingdoms and seek revenge, as seen with Vivi, Rebecca, and Momo. With support from the Straw Hats, Loki will have the resources to strike a decisive blow at the sacred Mariejois.
Many fans are betting that Loki will become the final member of the Straw Hat crew or at least a key leader of the Grand Fleet under Luffy’s command.