Although it made sense beforeĀ One Piece‘s power scaling became more clear, the idea that an Emperor of the Sea would lose their arm to a low-level Sea King feels preposterous by modern-day standards. Thankfully,Ā One PieceĀ Chapter 1168 has shed some light on this event, confirming that Shanks’ dismemberment played a much bigger role in his story than he initially let on.
One Piece Chapter 1168 Confirms That Shanks Stopped His Connection to Imu by Losing His Arm
Back inĀ One PieceĀ Chapter 1152, Eiichiro Oda snuck in a small detail that keen-eyed fans quickly picked up on. On Shanks’ left arm ā the same one he lost when Luffy was a child ā was a tattoo that suspiciously resembled the symbol worn by the Knights of God who arrived on Elbaph, adding legitimacy to the theory that Shanks may have actually lost his arm for a reason.
However, until more recently, the exact meaning of this tattoo, as well as how Shanks came to be adorned with it after being raised by the Roger Pirates, was a mystery. Thankfully, King Harald’s flashback has finally explained this insignia, and safe to say, it’s even more important than fans initially thought.
Shortly after this scene,Ā One PieceĀ Chapter 1167 confirms that Shanks is indeed a Devoted Blade of God, putting him and King Harald on the shortlist of candidates to become the next Knight of God. As explained by the Five Elders, this tattoo, which is given to all Devoted Blades of God, is known as the Shallows Covenant, and it is the first of three Covenants that an individual can make with Imu.
InĀ One PieceĀ Chapter 1168, the series reveals that Shanks left the Celestial Dragons during his final mission before becoming a Knight of God and receving the second mark, the Depths Covenant. While the effects of the Shallows Covenant remain unknown, the Depths Covenant gives an individual the undying ability wielded by the Five Elders and the Knights of God, signifying a significantly more intimate connection to Imu.
Ultimately, King Harald falls victim to Imu after accepting the Depths Covenant in Shanks’ stead, which robs Harald of the ability to resist Imu’s decrees. It’s a heartbreaking turn of events that sets up Harald’s death at the hands of Lokiu; however, as sad as Harald’s tragic death is, things could have been even worse had the Red-Haired Pirate been snared in this plan.
Shanks’ Arm Could Change the Fate of Elbaph
Therefore, it’s also highly likely that the loss of his arm during Luffy’s childhood was a purposeful act on Shanks’ part. After all, Chapter 1167 insinuated that the notorious pirate enabled Fisher Tiger’s slave rebellion decades before abandoning his post as a Devoted Blade of God ā two acts Shanks would only perform if he was staunchly opposed to Imu and the Celestial Dragons’ way of life.
The state of affairs on Elbaph is already dire in modern-dayĀ One Piece, but it’s terrifying to think about what kind of danger the Straw Hat Pirates would be in if they were pitted against a Depths Covenant-bearing Shanks. The Red-Haired Pirate is already one of the strongestĀ One PieceĀ characters, so there’s no telling how powerful he would become with Imu’s powers.
Thankfully, this isn’t the case, and as the stakes rise in Elbaph, the door is more open than ever before for Shanks’ reunion with Luffy. Although the Red Hair Pirates departed from Elbaph shortly beore the Straw Hat Pirates’ arrival, it would be easy for them to turn around after hearing news of the Celestial Dragons’ attack on the Land of Giants, potentially catching Imu off-guard as they begin their assault.
