2025 has been an exciting year for One Piece fans. While the anime dives into the intense Egghead arc, the manga is exploring the mysterious Elbaf arc. This arc has gained popularity thanks to the introduction of the Holy Knights, a terrifying group of villains who serve directly under Imu.
When the Holy Knights were first revealed, their intimidating presence and fearsome appearance immediately caught fans’ attention. However, a recent update has sparked a wave of debate within the One Piece community.
Fans Disappointed by Oda’s Color Choices
Recently, the official One Piece X account shared the cover art for Volume 113 of the manga. The cover features Luffy, Scopper Gaban, and prominently, the Holy Knights. While the artwork is visually striking, fans voiced some complaints.
The main issue fans have with the cover is the color scheme used for the Holy Knights. Many expected these mysterious and menacing villains to be portrayed with darker, colder tones that would better convey their authority and ruthlessness.
Instead, Oda chose a much brighter and somewhat unusual palette.
This isn’t the first time fans have been disappointed by Oda’s color choices. Before the Holy Knights, there was similar backlash over the color palette for the character Loki. When a video featuring Loki was released, many fans noticed that Oda’s initial color choices seemed more fitting and visually appealing than the final decision.
That said, looking at it fairly, the Holy Knights’ colors aren’t entirely off. Shamrock and Gunko’s outfits still look impressive. On the other hand, the colors for Shepherd Sommers and Killingham come across as a bit odd and don’t quite fit the solemn atmosphere the group is meant to convey.
A Deadly Battle Looms on Elbaf
Now that Oda has finalized the colors, fans can only hope he makes wiser choices for future characters.
Currently, the manga is revisiting the God Valley incident from the past, but the story will soon return to present-day Elbaf. Here, the Straw Hat crew faces a life-or-death challenge: they must defeat both the Holy Knights and Imu to save Elbaf from total destruction.
So far, the Holy Knights have held the upper hand, leaving the heroes with little room to maneuver. Still, fans remain hopeful. They believe the Straw Hats have what it takes to overcome the Holy Knights and rescue this giant land from looming annihilation.