One Piece Anime Teases A Major Battle Between Two Old Enemies

Highlights

• The One Piece anime aired a special recap episode on the Four Emperors, setting up exciting alliances and rivalries.
• The preview for Episode 1109 teases a showdown between Luffy’s ally Rob Lucci and the mysterious Seraphim on Egghead Island.
• Fans are buzzing over the potential clash between Shanks and Eustass Kid, two formidable fighters with unique powers and histories.

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Episode 1108, “Incomprehensible! The Seraphim’s Rebellion!”, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The One Piece anime did not release a canon episode after 1108. Instead, a special episode covering the Four Emperors of the Sea premiered. The purpose of the episode was to provide fans with a recap of who the Four Emperors are. So far, a total of seven different characters have served as the Four Emperors, and almost everyone is stupidly overpowered.

​​​​​​The special episode contained a preview for Episode 1109, which is supposed to be released on June 23rd, 2024. The preview lasted for just a few seconds but consisted of some interesting things. The first one was the formation of the alliance between Luffy and Rob Lucci. The two have been enemies since the Water 7 arc but decided to put aside their differences to take down the Seraphim on Egghead Island. The other highlight from the preview was the appearance of Shanks and Eustass Kid.

An Old Rivalry

Seeing Kid and Shanks together in the preview sparked many debates. The two red-haired characters have a bit of history, which goes back to the two-year time skip. After the Kid Pirates entered the New World, they decided to target one of the Yonko. Their options were Blackbeard, Big Mom, Kaido, and Shanks. Rationally, Shanks would have been the best target, as he did not have a Devil Fruit. Eustass Kid was confident in his abilities and those of his crew, which was another reason why he decided to attack Shanks. However, his decision came to haunt him as Shanks cut off the Supernova’s left arm. This was a humbling experience for Kid and his crew, as they were utterly humiliated by the Yonko.

Following the loss of his arm, Kid decided to change his target. He allied with Basil Hawkins and Scratchmen Apoo to take down Kaido, the captain of the Beasts Pirates. Unfortunately for Kid, Apoo was an informant for Kaido, so he disclosed all the details to the Yonko. This resulted in Kaido arriving at their base and thrashing Kid. He took Kid and Killer hostage, and they remained there until the Straw Hats landed in Wano.

Shanks Vs. Kid Round 2

Judging from the preview, it appears that Eustass Kid and Shanks are destined to fight again. While it is unclear if the two will fight in Episode 1109, it seems likely to happen within the next couple of episodes. Kid was last seen sailing toward Elbaf, the land of giants, so it is safe to assume that Shanks will be there. The presence of Shanks in the country confirms the age-old theory of giants being under Shanks’ protection. The big question on everyone’s mind is: who is going to win the fight?

The Strength Of The Two Fighters

Shanks is a master of using Haki. He is among the few individuals who have access to all three types of Haki. On top of that, he can use their advanced versions as well, which means he can use Future Sight. Shanks’ Conqueror’s Haki is so potent that a burst was able to scare Admiral Ryokugyu. This is a big feat considering the Admirals are considered the strongest fighters within the Marines. Shanks can also imbue Conqueror’s Haki into his attacks, just like Whitebeard, Roger, Kaido, and Luffy. Furthermore, he is able to use it to block the opponent from using Observation Haki or Future Sight.

Eustass Kid is not a pushover either. He is a pirate with a bounty of 3 billion berries, making him one of the most notorious criminals in the world. While Kid possesses all the forms of Haki, he does not rely on them in battle. Kid’s strongest asset is his Jiki Jiki no Mi, which is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit. It gives him the power to control magnetic forces and use them in whatever way he pleases. Most of the time, Kid uses the Jiki Jiki no Mi to create massive limbs and weapons that can cause widespread destruction. As Kid has awakened the Devil Fruit, he can magnetize an individual and make them the center of attraction, causing all manner of metallic objects to be drawn towards them. Given their respective powers, it is safe to say that both fighters are dangerous and should not be taken too lightly.

Who Will Win?

After going through the abilities of the respective fighters, it is clear that predicting a winner is not easy. However, most fans will be backing Shanks, who is a Yonko and has a lot more fighting experience. Kid, on the other hand, is younger, and he will be under pressure to get the better of his opponent. Another thing to keep in mind is that even if the two captains nullify each other’s powers, Shanks’ crew is more balanced. The likes of Ben Beckman, Yasopp, and Lucky Roux will demolish the other members of the Kid Pirates.