Introduction

As the season of spring begins to take hold, I find myself battling drowsiness, but I can’t let that stop me from diving into the latest chapter of ONE PIECE! After a two-week wait, the excitement is palpable, and I’m eager to share my thoughts on Chapter 1143, titled “The Knights of God.” This chapter brings us back to the mysterious events surrounding the children of Elbaf and introduces us to some intriguing new characters. Spoilers ahead for those who are not caught up!

The Manifestation of Dreams

This week, we finally uncover the strange occurrences affecting the children of Elbaf. The leader of the Knights of God, Shamrock, ominously states, “With your abilities… make it a ‘game’!” This sets the stage for the sinister events that follow. The character Kirin-gam, who possesses the ability to manifest dreams, plays a crucial role in this chapter. He puts the children to sleep and extracts terrifying creatures known as MMA (Muma) from their dreams. The term MMA seems to be a clever play on the word UMA (Unidentified Mysterious Animal), and the name Muma likely references the dream demons known as “Yume-ma.” Oda’s wordplay continues to impress!

The Thorned Saint Somars

Next, we meet Somars, who uses invisible thorns to harm those who try to help the children. Initially, he appears to be a bumbling character, reminiscent of a boxing champion from the Karate Island, but his true nature is far more sinister. Watching a parent get pierced by his thorns while trying to embrace their child is a chilling moment that highlights the cruelty of this Celestial Dragon. Somars’ innocent demeanor contrasts sharply with his brutal actions, making his character all the more disturbing.

Gunko and the Arrow Arrow Fruit

Gunko, who has been introduced earlier, is revealed to have the Arrow Arrow Fruit ability, which he uses to guide the children towards the port. His character is portrayed as somewhat comical, especially when he reacts to the delicious food manifested by Kirin-gam. However, his past actions, such as torturing Loki and mercilessly attacking guards, remind us that he is still a Celestial Dragon who views others as beneath him.

The Knights of God: A Mixed Bag

Compared to the typical Celestial Dragon like Charlos, who is portrayed as lazy and incompetent, the three Knights of God wield powerful Devil Fruit abilities. However, after witnessing the intense actions of the Gorosei on Egghead, these characters feel somewhat less threatening. Their abilities are useful, but they lack the overwhelming menace that we might expect. This leads them to resort to underhanded tactics, such as taking the children hostage. While Luffy and Zoro could potentially defeat them and break the spell on the children, it remains to be seen how easily that can be achieved.

Conclusion

As we wrap up this analysis, it’s clear that Chapter 1143 of ONE PIECE has set the stage for some intense confrontations ahead. The introduction of the Knights of God adds a new layer of complexity to the story, and I can’t wait to see how Luffy and his crew will handle this new threat. Stay tuned for more thoughts in the next installment!