WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1031, “Warrior of Science,” by Eiichiro Oda, Stephen Paul, and Vanessa Satone, available in English from Viz Media.

In One Piece‘s latest chapter, Eiichiro Oda, series creator, appears to be plotting the death of at least one Straw Hat. In the whole series, death has been ignored till any character’s original story or past demanded it. The death of Whitebeard and Ace can be regarded as the conclusion of Luffy’s story.

One Piece has shown most deaths as part of character developments or they have been fakes. Eiichiro Oda has not much, put Straw Hats in circumstances where they can die. Things may be a little different now. The Wano Country arc has been put up and publicized after Punk Hazard, or even Fishman Island when we consider the involvement of Big Mom. The given situation, the stakes are required to be set high and reflect it and it looks like the fans will be able to watch the might of the Four Emperors. Sadly, while one of the Straw Hats, particularly, has had their death foreshadowed, actually, there might be more than one Straw Hats whose fate is unfortunate.

Sanji

Sanji Vinsmoke
Vinsmoke Sanji

Out first pick is Sanji. It looks like his death has been foreshadowed more than anyone. In the past few chapters, we can see that there is much change in Sanji’s body making it more like his siblings. There are multiple reasons as to why are these change not good for him, the foremost being that he does not want to become merciless monster just like his brothers.

Kindness and Chivalry are the core characteristics of Sanji. Throughout the Onigashima Raid, Sanji’s chivalry has been shown many times, specially when he is captured by Black Maria. Sanji cannot hit females at any cost. In the past, it has been told by the in-story characters as well as Eiichiro Oda that it is not something that Sanji will not do, it is something he just cannot do, most probably because of his upbringing and personality.

Many problems have been caused in the story due to that and it has been a point of dispute among the fans since many years. However, in the latest chapter, Sanji might have hit a purely innocent woman. The exact reason is unclear, but it has taken Sanji in a state of panic at the thought of submitting himself to his father’s amplifications. It is made to worse when Sanji realizes that what he might become, can be more helpful to the crew, even if he has to give up his soul.

Sanji keeps his pride aside and requests Zoro to kill him if Sanji is not able to maintain his old self after the raid has ended. In terms of depth and character development, this is an immense moment, but it can be derived that some future event is might being overshadowed. Not to say that said event is the death of everyone’s favorite pirate cook, but with nothing else to go on it’s very hard to not accept that the Wano Country arc ends on a much more somber note than previously thought.

Zoro

Roronoa Zoro
Roronoa Zoro
Zoro is in a fascinating dilemma himself, he never wants to be outshined by Sanji. Zoro has his role assigned to him which is to handle Kaido’s right-hand-man, King, the Wildfire. Not like Sanji, who is having many new powers in the arc, Zoro should not be even fighting. It was disclosed earlier that Zoro can use Conqueror’s Haki and its advance form. Zoro has not been able to use the Conqueror’s Haki again and again like Luffy. Post using Ashura Technique, Zoro can be seen much debilitated, much as a result of the injuries Zoro suffered and all the energy he spent fighting against Big Mom, Kaido and the other Supernovas.

The Minks’ miracle drug is the only reason that Zoro is able to even stand. While the drug restored all of  Zoro’s strength and energy, Zoro was warned that the pain and injuries he suffers will be much more than it was before, just like a double-edged sword. On top if it, Zoro is experiencing much more hardships fighting with King, than Sanji is having, dealing with Queen, due to the fact that King can fly and he also has an incredible fighting style, difficult for Zoro to handle.

Above being said, Zoro is not likely to die here. It will not make any sort of sense to have Zoro die here, narratively or even practically. Zoro’s whole characterization is based on becoming the Greatest Swordsman in the World, defeating Mihawk in a rematch. If Zoro dies on Wano, it will be quite illogical, specially when his Conqueror’s Haki has recently made a new revelation.

Brook

Brook
Brook

Now, Brook might sound like a bit off the topic, but astonishing facts are there that support the possibility. Presently, Brook is with Nico Robin, escorting her back to the crew. But, the Cp-0 agents, who have been in hiding in the Wano Country throughout the raid are in pursuit of her. The other major fighters in the Straw Hots crew are either busy or are nowhere to be seen, including Robin, which puts the responsibility on Brooks to defend Robin against the Cp-0 agents, all on his own.

Now this, would be logical to happen as other than Usopp, the only crew member who has not got their one-on-one fight, is Brook. Much like Usopp actually, Brook acted as support for one of their crew’s Femme Fatales. Sadly, as Robin has already told about the CP-0 agents that they are in a league of their own, the agents might be even tougher than the Tobi Roppo of Kaido.

Brook, as much strong as he can be, let us assume could beat even one of the CP-0 agents, it cannot be regarded true that he can beat both of the agents. Robin is commanded to be captured alive, but there are no such commands for Brook. It may not guarantee his death but at the same time, it is not easy to ignore the possibility. But, due to the fact that he is already dead and has been revived by his Yomi Yomi No Mi fruit, it will be much harder to kill him that it seems.

In totality, the Onigashima Raid has set up a very interesting storyline. With so many things going on, it is not possible to track all the possibilities, and it has even lead to a situation of an unknown possibility. It is right now unclear what does Eiichiro Oda have in mind for the characters, but it can be definitely said  that the fans should prepare for worst, just in case.

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