The current One Piece storyline is heating up with intense developments on the Giant Island of Elbaf. To fill in historical gaps and resolve long-buried mysteries, creator Eiichiro Oda has been delivering high-quality flashback scenes.
After Loki shed light on events at Elbaf 14 years ago, revealing connections between Harald and Rocks as well as the battle at God Valley 38 years prior, now it’s time for Brook’s story to unfold.
Brook’s flashback focuses on his origins, his bond with Princess Shuri, and the true cause behind the fall of the Esperia Kingdom. It turns out that in the past, Esperia fought a desperate war against the World Government. During this time, Brook went berserk, slaughtering countless enemies to carve a bloody path toward the royal castle in an effort to rescue the king and princess.
When Brook reached the castle, an unbelievable sight awaited him. Alongside the appearance of the Five Elders’ Mars in the form of the Itsumade beast, a completely new character was revealed.
Notably, this figure seems to be a supreme power, worthy of standing alongside the Five Elders. Initially, many speculated he was a Holy Knight. However, close-up details of his appearance immediately reminded hardcore fans of a familiar character: Shiryu of the Rain, a member of the Blackbeard Pirates.
This mysterious figure resembles Shiryu almost perfectly. From the distinctive hat, the cigar in his mouth, to his mouth shape and fierce aura.
This striking resemblance sparked theories that this mysterious figure is not a Holy Knight, but the original warden of Impel Down prison at that time. His presence in the Esperia Kingdom was to escort King Leuven and the entire population into the dungeon to enslave them.
Some fans speculate: “The man smoking could have been the Navy admiral back then. Since he looks exactly like Shiryu, they must be related by blood. Based on the timeline, he’s very likely Shiryu’s grandfather!”