One Piece 1169: Oda Keeps Elbaf Lean, Dodging Naruto's Infamous Cast Bloat

Chapter 1169 of One Piece has arrived in Weekly Shonen Jump, immediately plunging readers into the escalating conflict on Elbaf as Loki confronts a mind-controlled King Harald. The chapter confirms the worst fears surrounding Imu’s influence, showcasing Eiichiro Oda’s commitment to a tight narrative focus.

King Harald has completely succumbed to Imu’s Deep Sea Pact, forcing him to turn against his own people. The tension is heightened by Harald actively begging Loki and Elder Jarul to stop him before he loses himself entirely to the control.

The battle saw Loki unleash Ragnar, his legendary thunder-summoning hammer, which appears to wield power far exceeding Nami’s current weather capabilities. The action quickly escalated when Loki secured a mysterious Devil Fruit tied to Elbaf’s ancient history, potentially consuming it on the spot to match Harald’s immense strength.

Shanks and Scopper Gaban also made key appearances during the chaos. Shanks is shown attempting to break Harald’s control, realizing his prior concerns about the situation have fully materialized.

Oda is deliberately maintaining a tight focus on the giants shaking the island, ensuring Harald’s downfall remains directly connected to Imu’s overarching plot and Loki’s ascent. This focused approach avoids the massive cast expansion issues that complicated later arcs in other major shonen series.

The current brawl involving Loki, Harald, and Jarul is expected to resolve quickly, potentially within the next chapter or two, according to the chapter preview. While Loki’s subsequent sea voyage hints at wider conflict, the flashback itself remains concise.