Just as Theorized
Last week’s analysis predicted: (1) Kandel was bedridden because she was impregnated by a World Noble despite having feelings for King Leuven; (2) Leuven’s sudden marriage announcement to Kandel was his way of protecting her after she became a World Noble’s victim.
This week, God’s Knight Saint Manmaiya Glow appeared — sharing the same “Bipolar Eyes” as Shuri. Last week’s theory confirmed. And the true reason Leuven resolved to go to war was also revealed. It had been depicted as “hand over 1,000 citizens as slaves if you can’t pay the celestial tribute” — but actually, the demand was for just one person: Princess Shuri herself.
Almost certainly all of it was a plan orchestrated by Im:
- Shuri, who inherited Manmaiya Glow’s blood, was born with Bipolar Eyes
- In the Age of Exploration era, 15 was considered adult — old enough to marry, suitable for political arrangements
- Im desired Shuri for her Bipolar Eyes
- The royals were demanded: “hand over your daughter”
The cause of Esperia Kingdom’s economic collapse was a sudden dense fog that turned to smog — destroying the instrument trade, and a lung epidemic that killed millions. “Smog” itself is a portmanteau of “smoke” and “fog.” And conveniently, Saint Manmaiya, who arrived at just the right moment, happens to be a heavy smoker.
But the smoke from his cigarette seems drawn as somehow more toxic than normal.
In other words: God’s Knight Saint Manmaiya Glow is a Devil Fruit user — either the Smog-Smog Fruit or the Fog-Fog Fruit — and has been systematically attacking Esperia Kingdom with dense fog to weaken it and claim Shuri. Just like Crocodile’s strategy in Alabasta.
Self-Homage Explained
Brook’s childhood closely mirrored Luffy’s: raised in a trash heap; finding an older brother figure who saved his spirit; captured and tortured by adults.
And now in ch1186: the death of the person he called brother. This is a direct homage to the moment Luffy faced Ace’s death.
Even the pose at the end of the flashback is identical — holding a bandaged, bleeding head in both hands and weeping.
Coming out of the flashback, Jimbei is there at his side. A perfect reconstruction.
Wanting to Become a World Noble
Shuri discovers she has World Noble blood — and kills her adoptive parents. This feels close to York, who killed her Stella-like figures in order to go to Mary Geoise as a World Noble herself.
The Awakening of Rare Eyes
Saint Manmaiya Glow and Shuri both possess odd-eyes called “Bipolar Eyes” (双極の瞳) — a rare condition that is itself uncommon from birth, and when it “awakens” it apparently grants some kind of special ability. Very much like Pudding’s Third Eye — less a direct homage, more a shared concept.
The Blade That Pierced Brook’s Skull
The origin of the scar carved into Brook’s skull was revealed this chapter — it was made by Shuri. A similar scene occurred in the Thriller Bark arc.
Cover Page Theory
“Loki secretly drawing a portrait of Ida, and Ida secretly delighted by it.” Loki being tsundere toward the Ida he loves — a warm, heartwarming cover page. And the homage source is obviously Bonney and Kuma. Even the portrait style is strikingly similar.
Ida secretly delighted is a homage to Kuma secretly watching over Bonney from a distance at Sabaody Archipelago — a parent keeping watch over a beloved child without being seen.
And in the chapter’s final panel, Luffy punching Im is a self-homage to Luffy punching Saint Charloss at Sabaody Archipelago. So the cover page naturally features Ida and her parent-figure — evoking Kuma and Bonney at Sabaody. That’s how these cover pages connect.
That’s all for today. See you next week.