RJ Writing Ink

One Piece Chapter 1144 Review/Recap

When the Straw Hats and learned the giants of Elbaph were moving away from their warrior culture, I knew this would backfire. Living a life of peace is always a welcome decision. Peace is what allows most people to grow and thrive as a whole. However, with the World Government attempting to conquer them, the giant’s decision to abandon their warrior ways was very poorly timed. Now, Elbaph is under attack by the God’s Knights, an army of monsters, and their kids are in danger of being kidnapped! As the Straw Hats and Giant Pirates mobilize, hopefully this will be a wake-up call for the nation. With armageddon lurking on the horizon, the world needs warriors to help save it!

Recap

Ripley and Franky continue their tour of the Treasure Tree when the former shows the latter something amazing: a giant robot lying in the middle of the tree! Bonney and Lilith are already there, and Lilith thinks the machine’s over three thousand years old! Before Franky can let that number sink in or start investigating, one of Qillingham’s monsters arrives and starts attacking them.

In the western village, the Giant Warrior Pirates sober up as another monster starts bearing down on them. Nami, Jinbei, Brook, and Usopp offer to help, even telling Jarul about the other intruders. However, the giants insist that, as guests, they sit things out. Nami, unwilling to let children get hurt, rallies the others to help anyway. As fate would have it, Colon (who was also told to stay put) had the same idea. He agrees to let them go on his Svar, but he becomes the captain (LOL).

Back with the kids, Saul tries using shields to stop the hypnotized kids. While they do protect him from the thorns, stopping the kids makes them prick each other. Changing tactics, Saul lassos the backmost kid out of line. However, he’s then attacked by another giant monster! Everyone around Elbaph is under attack at this point!

Thankfully, the first wave of the cavalry arrives. After throwing up all the booze, Dorry and Brogy lead the Giant Warrior Pirates in a counterattack on their now-flying ship. Dealing a dual-blow to one of the monsters, Dorry and Brogy tell everyone the Giant Warriors will handle the threat. The others can focus on saving the kids.

They’re not alone, either. Scopper Gaban is aboard the Great Eirik, ready to battle!

Review

I think most One Piece readers knew something was up when we learned the giants were abandoning their warrior ways. Oda is excellent when it comes to foreshadowing things, and savvy readers should have picked up that something was about to happen. Something that would make the giants see that now was not the time to give up being warriors. Striving to be peaceful is usually a good thing, but there are moments when one needs to fight. Hopefully, the events of this arc will make the giants see that, with the world as it is now, they can’t afford to give up being warriors. The World Government is not content to leave them be, instead choosing to stoop as low as kidnapping innocent kids. That’s grounds for declaring war.

In any event, it was surprising to see the Giant Warrior Pirates rally so quickly. I’m pretty sure that throwing up all that alcohol isn’t enough to make one sober, but beggars can’t be choosers. Thankfully, Dorry and Brogy are being backed up by Scopper Gaban, one of the legendary Roger Pirates. After seeing how he made Luffy and Zoro take him seriously, it’s safe to say Scopper will be a great help. Whether he can fight the God’s Knights is up in the air. However, at least the Giant Warrior Pirates can hold the line until Luffy and the others show up.

Speaking of Gaban, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as Colon is as fearless as his dad. I had a feeling that if some big incident happened, Colon would wind up playing a big role. Hopefully, him helping to save the kids will make them stop treating him like an outcast.

In any event, this chapter helped build up a lot of anticipation for the fight that’s only started. I also found it funny that Gunko’s favorite song is “New World.” Imagine her reaction if she winds up facing Brook? It could be hilarious! I’m looking forward to it!

I Give “Time for Warriors” a 4/5

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