If Eiichiro Oda plans to bring a non-canon character to the main One Piece storyline, Luffy will have to unlock a new power to defeat him.

SUMMARY

One Piece fans are quite eager to find out who is the mysterious man who is roaming all over in Elbaph.
Speculations point out that this character is Shiki the Golden Lion from One Piece: Strong World.
If these speculations turn out to be true, Luffy will need a lot more power than gear 5.

The beginning of Elbaph’s arc brought some unexpected plot twists that One Piece fans never anticipated. One such twist that made the fans excited and confused at the same time was the return of the mysterious character who was first seen with Crocus on the cover of One Piece manga chapter 631.

Mysterious Man with Crocus | Credit: Viz Media

Although this character has not been revealed, he has made quite a few appearances since the beginning of the Elbaph arc and will most likely hold a lot of importance in the One Piece narrative. As fans try to figure out who this mysterious figure is, all the fingers point towards one individual character who, although a part of the One Piece storyline, has never made an official appearance in the main storyline.

This character is none other than Shiki, the Golden Lion. Shiki was Roger’s one of the biggest rivals, and he was also the main villain of the One Piece: Strong World movie, which came out in 2009. If Eiichiro Oda is planning to make Shiki canon to the main storyline, it might prove to be a big problem for Luffy, as Shiki’s powers are on the next level, and it would take a lot of effort from Luffy’s side to defeat him and advance towards the next phase of One Piece.

Eiichiro Oda might be making Shiki canon

One Piece manga chapter 1124 was the first chapter where the mysterious character from the cover page of chapter 631 made his first appearance. This character instantly grabbed fans’ attention as he knew about the Straw Hat Pirates’ arrival at Elbaph. He was then seen in chapter 1132 comfortably passing through a dangerous area in Elbaph.

This led to a lot of speculation about who this character could be and how he knows about the Straw Hat Pirates. While the initial thought was that this character was Scopper Gaban, the former member of the Rogers Pirates, the scale tilted more towards Shiki the Golden Lion because of his attire that was seen on the One Piece cover page.

Mysterious Character in One Piece Chapter 1124 | Credit: Viz Media

It was exactly like the villain of One Piece: Strong World. However, this speculation was a little confusing as Strong World was not canon. Still, there is a chance that Eiichiro Oda might make Shiki canon considering his connection to the Rocks Pirates and his significance as a One Piece villain.

Shiki might be too tough for Luffy’s Gear 5

If Oda decides to make Shiki canon during the Elbaph arc in One Piece, it might pose a big problem for Luffy. This is because Shiki’s Devil Fruit has the power to take down entire islands if utilized perfectly. Shiki has the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that allows him to fly and also levitate other nonliving objects around him.

Shiki the Golden Lion | Credits: Studio Toei Animation

When Shiki was first introduced in 2009, the Devil Fruit power was not as evolved as it is today. Also, in the movie, Shiki never used the full extent of his powers. But if he becomes canon and poses as the main villain of Elbaph, it is safe to say that his power will allow him to make the entire island float and drop on each other, making him extremely dangerous.

Also, if he awakens his Devil Fruit power, he will prove to be tough competition against Luffy’s Nika transformation. This is why Luffy will need a new power-up to take him down. However, in the end, it all depends upon Oda and whether or not he makes Shiki canon in One Piece.