Please note: This article contains major spoilers from the latest episode of One Piece, so read at your own risk.
“When the time is right…you’ll help me. That’s right! I’ll reach out and help you from the past! Just like I always do!”
At this point, every One Piece fan is going through a very bittersweet moment in their lives. With only two more episodes left before the anime goes seasonal from 2026, a lot unfolded in the latest 1153 episode.
We get to see a silhouette of Joyboy, wearing what seemingly looks like the Straw Hat Luffy now carries, talking with Emet the Iron Giant, before the episode concluded. Fans across the internet have come together to express their feelings about how, even after all these years, these small glimpses of the past make them cry out of joy.
Bonney’s ‘Liberation Nika Punch’
The latest episode of One Piece kicks off from the scene (most fans quoted it as ‘Chef’s Kiss’) where we saw Bonney and Luffy punching one of the Gorosei named Saturn and throwing him off the Giant’s Pirates Ship.
In the background, the broadcast of Vegapunk is continuing, where he speaks about the truth of One Piece, the treasure that made Gol D. Roger the King of the Pirates. His speech speaks about how much he believes in the very foundation of science and humanity, adding Roger’s and White Beard’s deaths as “The herald of a new era!”
He acknowledges that there are people who are committed to their goals, and they will soon discover the truth about the past. He believes that Roger deliberately set himself up so that, during his final moment, he could declare that “One Piece is real.”
We see Shakky and his husband Rayleigh smiling as the genius of the world emphasizes that it’s not certain that the person who gets the One Piece will be the one Joyboy wanted to have it.
And as the truth is slowly coming out that One Piece is real, we see how every major pirate group is currently celebrating Vegapunk’s speech. Whereas the Navy is facing the turmoil of what will happen because of this.
The fate of the world will rest with the one who obtains it
“The Upheaval of an Era! The Color of the Supreme King that Leads Luffy” changes the entire trajectory of the story that was being built since 1999. Some are calling Punk’s speech basically the beginning of One Piece, as we realize the stakes that are associated with everything will change drastically.
But in the meantime, we see the Iron Giant losing the fight against Saint Topman Warcury, which leads the Den Den Mushi inside Emet to completely break down.
But Emet doesn’t give up as he apologizes to Luffy ‘Joyboy’ and tells him that there is no chance Joyboy is alive. As usual, our main protagonist is oblivious to who Joyboy is and why Emet is calling him, which kinda breaks our heart. Because Emet knows this is his final moment, and before giving up his all, he acknowledges that he feels very nostalgic just by looking at Luffy. Emet also adds that he feels sorry that he couldn’t make him the king.
Before pulling a knot that released the unbelievable amount of the Color of Supreme King Haki from his body and making three of the Gorosei disappear from the battlefield, Emet asks Luffy what his name is. Luffy screams his entire name and states that he wants to be the King of the Pirates, while Emet learns he is a “D” too. He thanks Luffy for letting him hear the nostalgic rhythm again and tells him that he should not die, adding that he will not let him die.
We see Imu losing his mind and screaming at the top of his lungs while taking Joyboy’s name. The rest of the Straw Hats have reached the ocean “safely,” reuniting the entire crew, meaning that the end of the Egghead Arc is here.
Before the screen changes into the classic black and red banner, we see Saturn standing in front of Emet as he loses his light, and before Emet loses his entire conscience, he remembers how happy he was with Joyboy and thanks him because he will never ever, ever be lonely again.
