One Piece's previous chapter finally saw the conclusion of Luffy's fight against Kaido as well as the conclusion of the Fire Festival in the Flower Capital of Wano Country. As expected of Oda's fight-concluding chapters, the emotions were packed to the brim as Luffy's fist of rage carrying 20 years of weight finally crashed into Kaido and sent him down to the bottom of hell for good. At the same time, fans also got to see a glimpse of Kaido's flashback which, while short, gave an incredible look at the life that he lived.
From a 10-year-old mercenary in the Vodka Kingdom to a prisoner of the Marines, fans got to see how Kaido became the man that he is today. Eventually joining up with Rocks, and then going his own way, Kaido became the "Embodiment of Strength," and made quite a name for himself. The chapter also made it quite clear that he was indeed waiting for Joy Boy to come and defeat him for good. Chapter 1049 finally granted all his wishes to him, and he eventually lost to Joy Boy, as Wano was finally liberated from his and Orochi's clutches. With that, all eyes are on One Piece 1050 which could be key in shaping the conclusion of the arc.
One Piece 1050: What To Expect
One Piece 1050 will be the beginning of the end for the Wano Country arc. Although quite a lot of fans expect the war to continue somehow through means such as Kaido entering an Awakened Devil Fruit state, it is highly unlikely for that to happen. Kaido's fight against Luffy has concluded for good and the Yonko has been completely knocked out, as evident from his Flame Clouds completely disappearing from underneath Onigashima. Oda also handled fight conclusions in a very specific manner and this is another one of those finishers laden with thematic importance. The conclusion of the Fire Festival, the messages across the Sky Boats sent into the sky, Luffy's promise to feed every one of his friends, and even Onigashima finally coming down is proof enough that the fight is done for good.
With that being established, fans can now look forward to the post-war revelations. Although Luffy vs Yonko Kaido is finally over, Dawn hasn't reached Wano just yet. It is highly likely that the sun will rise over the Land of Wano in the next chapter and mark the coming of a new age for the country. The gates of Wano Country are likely to finally open, fulfilling the 20-year promise of the Red Scabbards to Kozuki Oden.
One Piece 1050: The Aftermath Of The War
It is quite likely that fans will see the alliance treat the injured and, most importantly, for the Straw Hat Pirates to reach out to their captain, who just passed out after knocking Kaido out. While Luffy did defeat Kaido, he is no fighting shape himself. In fact, Luffy is likely to be unconscious for quite a while and it is up to Chopper and the Straw Hat Pirates to help him recover. From here onwards, the focus will likely shift to the rest of the Straw Hats while Luffy, as well as Zoro, recover.
At the same time, the Nine Red Scabbards could get their own character moments as well. More importantly, the focus could shift to the outside of Onigashima, where the World Government ships await the order from the Gorosei to seize Wano Country. In their way stands none other than Zunesha, who is powerful enough to protect the land by himself. If the World Government sends backup forces to Wano, however, it could spell trouble for everyone.
For the most part, One Piece 1050 will likely see a triumphant cry of happiness from the alliance and, eventually, the citizens of Wano once dawn comes to the country. More than anything, the chapter is expected to pack an emotional punch and showcase how the misery of 20 years that the people of Wano suffered is finally over. The likes of Hiyori could very well also reunite with Momonosuke and it'll be quite interesting to see how the Kozuki clan rises from the ashes once again.
Whether Oda ties this into the attack of the World Government on Wano Country or not remains to be seen, however, for the next chapter and a few more to follow, it is likely that the tone will be more emotional and on the positive side. That could quickly change, however, if the World Government does indeed make their move on the country.
When Will One Piece 1050 Release?
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One Piece is, unfortunately, going on break next week. After wrapping up the spectacular fight against Kaido, Oda certainly deserves his break as the story will finally be heading into the final part of the arc. One Piece 1050 will release on May 29, 2022. Fans can read the chapter for free on MangaPlus or the Shonen Jump app.