Why Chopper Takes Center Stage
Recent Drum Kingdom Arc Homages
Here’s a quick recap of the Drum Kingdom arc homages I’ve already covered from the Egghead arc:
- Kuma climbing the Red Line bare-handed → Luffy climbing Drum Rock bare-handed
- Luffy gripping Saint Saturn’s face → Luffy gripping Wapol’s face
- Kaku in a top hat pushing Stussy away → Hiriluk in a top hat pushing Chopper away
And in the previous chapter (1126), Bartolomeo attempting to self-sacrifice by swallowing poison → Hiriluk self-sacrificing by swallowing an explosive.
In this chapter (1127), here are the Chopper-related keywords:
- Yamato’s Cover Story Vol.15 → Chopper’s first appearance was in volume 15
- The kidnapping case occurring in Wano in the cover story → the disappearance incident in Drum Kingdom
- Events inside the castle in the main story → the original 5-member crew during the Drum Kingdom arc
- The Ear-God (giant rabbit), the lion-like cat, and Inuarashi in the cover story → the new and old kings of the Mink Tribe
Chopper Is Missing
On the New Giant Warrior Pirates’ ship, and inside Lego Kingdom’s massive castle — Chopper is nowhere to be found.
Come to think of it, Foxy appeared during the final stretch of the Egghead arc — and the Foxy Pirates are famous for the match where Chopper was the prize. Could the adventure in this mysterious land turn into a story about getting Chopper back?
Chopper’s Secret Lies in the Roots of Norse Mythology
What we call “Norse mythology” is itself a compilation of myths from different regions and eras. The oldest tradition within it is Celtic mythology, and I believe Cernunnos — the forest god and king of animals in Celtic myth — is the true identity of Chopper’s ability.
The mysterious land and the Elbaf arc are set in the north, where Celtic mythology was born. Within those arcs, Chopper’s ability will be revealed — and after everything that unfolds, he’ll finally receive his title as the “5th member.”
Alabasta Arc Homage
The “spin,” “whip,” and “strike” techniques unleashed simultaneously:
- Ifrit Jambe + Shoulder Meat Strike (Sanji)
- Gear 4 — Gomu Gomu no Elephant Whip (Luffy)
- Three-Sword Style: Black Rope Great Dragon Twister (Zoro)
This combined technique is clearly a homage to the Alabasta arc.
Which means Robin — who was an enemy in Alabasta, who seems about to reunite with Sauro, and who still hasn’t received her “6th member” title — will likely get that title during the Elbaf arc.