One Piece’s newest chapter feels like a big middle finger from its creator

[Ed. note: Major spoilers ahead for chapter 1155 of One Piece.]

One Piece chapter 1155, “The Rocks Pirates,” released on Sunday, delves deeper into the life of the lurking legend Rocks D. Xebec and his band of big-name pirates, including how the man was able to amass so many powerhouses and keep them together despite constantly butting heads. Now that it’s been confirmed the Rocks Pirates were formed through various Davy Back fights, one of the most hated arcs in One Piece history has become relevant yet again.

Since his introduction in chapter 957, “Ultimate,” fans have wondered how Xebec was able to get the likes of Big Mom, Kaido, and Whitebeard to fight on the same side together with him. They are all feared pirates and future Emperors of the Seas; they don’t like each other and have each gone on to become leaders in their own right. But in chapter 1155, as Xebec stands before Imu in his flower room, it is revealed that the former describes himself as “a worshipper of Davy Jones.” Later on, Xebec is shown using the Davy Back fight in order to gain crewmates.

The Davy Back fight is an ancient pirate tradition in the world of One Piece, where crews compete in matches with their flags or members at stake. Through multiple battles, this is likely how Xebec was able to recruit the likes of Whitebeard, Shiki, Miss Buckingham Stussy, the newly introduced Don Marlon from West Blue, Ganzui the Smuggler, and Wang Zhi, the future commodore of the pirate island of Hachinosu.

This revelation not only explains why so many powerful and egotistic pirates all joined Xebec’s crew, but it also hearkens back to one of the most detested arcs within the One Piece community: the Long Ring Long Land arc featuring Foxy the Silver Fox.

For those who might’ve forgotten, in this arc, Foxy challenges the Straw Hats to a Davy Back fight — a time-honored pirate competition inspired by the legend of Davy Jones, where rival crews wager their own members. For a brief time, Foxy claims Chopper and later Robin to his crew before Luffy defeats Foxy in the final round, and he wins back all of the claimed Straw Hats. But instead of taking pirates from Foxy’s gang in retaliation, he elects to take their flag instead.

This storyline is often disliked by fans due to its lack of connection with the bigger story, with many veteran fans even recommending newcomers skip it altogether. However, while another arc was criticized for the same reasons, the Sky Island arc features a compelling villain, Long Ring Long Land lacks one, which lowers the overall stakes.

In what seems like a calculated response to criticism of these arcs, author Eiichiro Oda delivers a brilliant narrative twist. The revelation that Xebec used Davy Back Fights to build his infamous crew redefines the significance of Long Ring Long Land, much in the same way Luffy’s Gear 5 awakening casts the Skypiea arc in a new light. It’s a clear reminder that nothing in One Piece is ever accidental.

Oda’s meticulous planning has been woven into One Piece from the very start, and as the series steers toward its final arcs, seemingly minor moments are proving pivotal. For over two and a half decades, fans have questioned Oda’s every move, especially when the payoff felt distant or when an arc was lackluster in the case of Fishman Island.

As the story sails toward its horizon, more questionable narrative threads will come together, quieting the skeptics and rewarding those who’ve trusted Oda’s vision from the start. Moments like Gear 5 and the reveal of Xebec not only feel fulfilling as a fan, but like a victory lap from an author finally allowed to let his work do the talking.