The Egghead arc is already off to a chaotic start. Could the Straw Hat crew be in real trouble this tie around?

In almost every One Piece arc so far, the Straw Hats have had to fight their way through to reach a goal, and the Egghead Island arc is no exception. Already the Straw Hats have had to survive the onslaught of Vegapunk’s defense system, and shortly afterward, they had to clash with CP0.

The fight with CP0 was rather easy for the Straw Hats, but the tables turned once the World Government assassins got control of the Seraphim. Luckily, the situation didn’t escalate further as Stussy betrayed Lucci and Kaku. The rampage of the Seraphim was stopped by Edison. After rounding up Lucci and Kaku, it seemed that the Straw Hats could finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, it appears that Oda has other plans for the next One Piece chapters.

The First Sign

Ever since the Straw Hats stepped foot on Egghead Island, their enemies have always identified themselves. So, it has been easy for the fans to spot all the enemies on Vegapunk’s island, but it seems that the Straw Hats have another enemy that is keeping themselves hidden. The first sign of there being another enemy was when the defense system mysteriously turned off. Considering the intellect of Vegapunk, it would be foolish to assume that the defense would suddenly just malfunction and turn off without an explanation.

The momentary stoppage allowed CP0 and the Seraphim to infiltrate the Frontier Dome, and it could have proved disastrous for the heroes if Stussy had not betrayed her comrades. Some fans overlooked this incident, while others tried their best to figure out what was wrong, and with the release of Chapter 1074, this event seems a lot more significant.

Attacking A Satellite

In the most recent chapter, the Straw Hats could be seen resting after a tiresome battle. However, they soon realized that Stella, the main body of Vegapunk, was missing, so they decided to start looking for him. Luffy was tired, so he didn’t accompany them, and meanwhile, Zoro was forced to stay back because of his poor sense of direction. Away from the commotion, Pythagoras was looking for Stella when he was attacked by someone.

This is alarming for the rest of the characters on Egghead Island, as this mysterious character could easily target them next. So far, there have been no major clues about the possible identity of this character, but many fans think that there could be a traitor among the satellites; after all, they have the freedom to act independently. So, who could it possibly be?

The Traitor

According to the prominent theories, the satellite most likely to betray Vegapunk is Lilith, the reason being that she represents the evil nature of Dr. Vegapunk. Considering she has a malicious personality, it would make sense for her to attack the other satellites. In chapter 1074, she was nowhere to be seen, which makes her one of the main suspects. However, she did show concern when Edison’s life was under threat; she was extremely worried, and there were tears in her eyes after Sanji rescued him.

Another theory states that the traitor might be Shaka. Out of the six satellites, Shaka is the only one who hasn’t displayed any emotions. Shaka has maintained his calm in every situation, which seems odd. Many fans believe that he has allied with the World Government in exchange for being spared from being killed.

The Wild Card

There is one character who has gone under the radar since the Straw Hats landed on Egghead Island. The character is none other than Caribou, one of the new Supernovas. Caribou traveled with the Straw Hats, and he revealed himself once they reached Egghead Island. However, Zoro did not treat him in the nicest of ways, which could have angered him and caused him to act out. Caribou has gained a lot of secret information during his travels with the crew, but nothing would come close to getting ahold of the most renowned scientist in the world.

Caribou possesses the Numa Numa no Mi, which is a Logia-type devil fruit that allows him to create bottomless swamps that store almost anything, including other people. Caribou could have easily kidnapped Stella, who couldn’t fight because he had been transformed into a child. Caribou has also shown that he can store weapons inside his body, which would explain how he managed to attack Pythagoras.

Will Vegapunk Survive?

The main body of Vegapunk has been turned into that of a kid, leaving him utterly defenseless. Once he is trapped inside Caribou’s swamp, the scientist cannot escape on his own. He will require the help of the Straw Hats and his satellites to free himself from captivity. Considering Caribou doesn’t have a ship, his goal will be to get off the island before the Navy arrives.

Caribou could try to negotiate his way out of danger by handing over Vegapunk and disclosing the other secrets that he has learned. However, considering the fact that Kizaru is being accompanied by Saint Jaygarcia Saturn, the Admiral won’t be in a good mood. So, it will be better if Caribou gets away on his own. In the event that Caribou makes it off the island, Vegapunk’s chances of survival will drop drastically, and he might not make it till the end of the series. Therefore, as long as he remains on Egghead Island, Vegapunk can be saved.

Src: gamerant.com