WARNING: SPOILERS FOR ONE PIECE EGGHEAD ISLAND

Summary

• Shanks' defeat of Eustass Kid escalates his role in the final saga, setting a precedent for others in the race to find the One Piece.
• The final act of One Piece is expected to be full of twists and exciting outcomes, with Shanks, Luffy, and Blackbeard as the main contenders for the Pirate King title.
• The Blackbeard Pirates may challenge Shanks before Luffy can return the straw hat, as they have evolved at a similar rate to Luffy's Straw Hat Pirates.

Shanks played a huge role in kicking off Luffy's adventure in the One Piece has in store for Pirate Emperor Shanks, one particular moment in the latest arc saw the beloved character violently switch from a ive role in the story into a fearsomely active one.

Meeting the accomplished Red Hair Pirates was a significant turning point in Monkey D. Luffy's life. They and their captain, Shanks, demonstrated to many what an effective and happy pirate crew could look like, and the results were inspirational. The future Straw Hat captain looked up to Shanks to become the pirate he believed he needed to earn the title of Pirate King.

After departing Luffy's home, known as Dawn Island, Shanks and his crew went on their own adventures. However, after several years and the defeat of Pirate Emperors Big Mom and Kaido, Shanks declared that he'd no longer reside on the story's sidelines. And during Egghead Arc, he did more than talk about it.

Something Is No Longer Holding Shanks Back

Shanks Prepares To Battle The Kid Pirates In One Piece Anime Episode #1109

When Shanks was younger, he traveled with the former Pirate King's crew, but he decided not to go to the final island where the One Piece resides to care for his sick friend, Buggy. The location of the final island, Laugh Tale, is only known to those who find and decipher the four red Road Poneglyphs. Without the knowledge gained from the enormous ancient relics, each hidden in incredibly difficult-to-reach locations, the mysterious final island would be seemingly impossible to find in the treacherous oceans of the New World. And the Red Hair Pirates might have enough.

It's currently unclear what information Shanks already had and what Road Poneglyphs he was missing, but One Piece's anime is quickly approaching a moment of rapid progression for Luffy's mentor. Episode #1081 adapted the dramatic moment of Shanks and his First Mate, Benn Beckman, discussing the shift in their priorities. It's been some time since Shanks has been something more than a ive character, and Eustass Kid and audiences will soon see that change in the anime when Shanks becomes one of the closest to reaching Laugh Tale.

Shanks Is Ready To End The Race To The One Piece

Kid Versus Shanks Is One Of Egghead's Most Anticipated Battles

Even though Shanks played a role in subduing iral Greenbull's threat to Wano, it was a situation that Luffy and the Straw Hats could have handled. Until Egghead Island, the Red Hair Pirates helped add more mysteries to the franchise by operating in the shadows. That all changed when the Kid Pirates challenged Shanks to a fight to avenge Eustass's left arm. While the series begins with Shanks igniting a spark in Luffy's dreams, chapter #1079 sees the Pirate Emperor ending the dreams of another when he soundly defeats Kid and his crew's morale with a single attack: Divine Departure.

The defeat of Worst Generation Pirate Eustass Kid signaled a definitive escalation in Shank's role in the events of One Piece's final saga. After the solid defeat, the Kid Pirates quickly offered their Road Poneglyph information for their captain's life. Now that Shanks has shot down a solid contender in the race to become the next Pirate King, the Red Hair Pirates have set a precedent for anyone wishing to find the One Piece before Shanks. That includes those they've once been on fond with.

"One particularly tragic twist could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can deliver the straw hat."

Shanks' Next Opponent Will Likely Present A Bigger Challenge Than Kid

The Red Hair Pirate Captain's Advanced Haki Skills Will Be Tough To Beat

The moment Luffy received his iconic straw hat from Shanks came with the promise that the young boy would grow up and return the hat after becoming a great pirate. It's difficult to deny that the Straw Hat Captain has accomplished that feat, especially after playing a prominent role in defeating two ruthlessly strong Pirate Emperors: Big Mom and Kaido. Fellow Pirate Emperor Shanks likely felt this way, which could very well be the signal he was waiting for before deciding to take more active steps in the race toward the One Piece.

One of the shōnen medium's most anticipated reunions between Luffy and Red Haired Shanks is closer than ever. Now that Luffy has gained a high reclaim around the pirate world, he's finally in a position where he deserves to give Shanks his hat back, but his mentor is likely not waiting around for that to happen. One possibility is that Shanks wanted to claim the One Piece when a worthy opponent presented themselves, a position that Luffy has likely attained. With Kid's defeat, Shanks has truly established himself as a rival to Luffy in the race to become the Pirate King.

Egghead Has Proven Who Is Worthy Of Reaching The Final Act

Author Eiichiro Oda Has Suggested The Final War Will Dwarf Marineford

Author Eiichiro Oda has made a habit of defying expectations with incredible twists that often lead to the most exciting outcomes. One particularly tragic twist could see Shanks defeated before Luffy can deliver the straw hat, something Blackbeard and his crew may be preparing to do. The Blackbeard Pirates have been evolving their abilities and renown at a similar rate as Luffy's Straw Hat Pirates. Throughout the Egghead arc, Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shanks have all proven that they each stand a good chance of claiming the One Piece.

Pirate Emperor Buggy, his formidable Cross Guild, and the Celestial Dragons will likely have pivotal roles to play in the ending of One Piece's story. After several years of masterful buildup, the final saga of the story has begun to see a lot of plotlines lining up for an exhilarating final act. With Shanks's defeat of Pirate King wannabee Eustass Kid, he's become a real obstacle for others who are in the race to claim the One Piece that is warming up like never before.