One Piece Chapter 1049: Kaido is Defeated, Luffy Wins the Battle

The world we wish for is here. Luffy has defeated Emperor Kaido!

Not a single One Piece fan is calm right now. The most anticipated battle in ongoing manga finally has a conclusion – our boy Luffy has taken down the strongest creature in the world!

There are a few people who think that this can’t be the end – I understand why they feel like this, but honestly, at this point, they’re in denial. Oda has presented us with undeniable proof that the great Yonko has been felled once and for all.

I’m not completely ruling out a surprise twist where both Orochi and Kaido return – this is One Piece we’re talking about, after all – anything can happen.

According to the panels in chapter 1049 and the foreshadowing from the previous chapters, it is certain that Kaido has been defeated and Luffy has won the Wano battle.

Let’s go over the clues that prove this is the end for our favorite Yonko.

How do we know Kaido is Defeated?

1. The Sky Lanterns

In chapter 1048, we see the citizens of Wano releasing lanterns into the sky with messages written across them.

One of them reads: “Please make Orochi disappear”, and in the next panel, Denjiro chops off Orochi’s eighth and final head.

The other lanterns have messages praying for someone to free Wano from the hell that the tyrant Kaido has made it.

The latest chapter continues from this symbolism with two more sky lanterns with the messages:

“Please vanquish the scary dragon”, and “Restore the Kozuki Clan”

Luffy then delivers his final blow and the “scary dragon” is vanquished.

2. Conqueror’s Haki

Ever since Luffy unlocked his Gear 5: Nika in chapter 1044, we’ve been expecting him to defeat Kaido. But in chapter 1047, Kaido tells Luffy:

“In the end, a strong Devil Fruit power isn’t enough to conquer the seas! Such hurdles can only be overcome … with Haki!”

He even confirms that the late Pirate King Gol D. Roger himself had no Devil Fruit power and yet he was known as the strongest pirate of the seven seas. This was only due to his Haki.

We’ve always known that Conqueror’s Haki was going to play a big role in helping Luffy become stronger. This is because Conqueror’s Haki represents willpower, which is the driving force of not just Luffy’s character, but of the series itself.

Luffy learned Advanced Conqueror’s Haki in chapter 1010, where he used it in conjunction with Advanced Armament Haki/Ryou and his Devil Fruit abilities. This was the first time he was able to land some damage on Kaido, but he had just unlocked the skill so he was defeated.

Now, with all his new powers and his affirmation as Joy Boy, Luffy has never been stronger. Additionally, he’s had plenty of time to practice his Advanced Conqueror’s Haki.

Even when Luffy transformed to Gear 5, we could see his raw Haki spitting across the dome. In a battle of Haki, it does come down to whose will is stronger.

In a fierce clash of Haki with Luffy bringing on a new move called Bajrang Gun, he lands the final blow infused with Haki on the blazing dragon.

3. Flame Clouds

Kaido’s Mythical Zoan Uo Uo no Mi, Model: Seiryu gave him the ability to create Flame Clouds. He has been using this ability since the beginning of the Wano arc to lift Onigashima island off the ground and move it towards the Flower Capital.

In chapter 1049, the Flame Clouds veritably go out. Since Momonosuke ate the artificial Devil Fruit of the original, he too possesses the ability to create the Flame Clouds, but he is still struggling to do so.

Yamato and Momo note that Onigashima is falling and is about to crash with the Flower Capital. The absence of Flame Clouds directly indicate the Kaido has been incapacitated.

4. A Public Victory

Whenever Luffy defeats a big dog, it’s before lots of people. There is no one bigger than Kaido, and fittingly, the entire nation he subjugated is there to see him fall.

Since Onigashima itself is falling, it is right above the Flower Capital, and all the citizens (who have been sending up lanterns) can see the fight happening above their heads.

This battle is also the fight for Wano’s liberation, and it’s very poetic to see Kaido defeated in the presence of the Wano people.

5. Momo takes on the Mantle of the Kozuki Clan

As the heir of Oden, we have all been waiting for Momo’s moment to shine. Oda has been building it up for a while now, and chapter 1049 brings Momo into the limelight just as Kaido falls.

I had said in my previous article that Momo’s moment would come in tandem with Luffy’s final blow. With Kaido’s Flame Clouds gone, the only person who can save Onigashima is Momo. At the end of the chapter, Momo manages to summon Flame Clouds and save his people.

Kaido being alive would take away from Momo’s achievement.

6. Only Joy Boy Can Defeat Kaido

Perhaps the most on-the nose sign that the battle is over is Kaido’s flashback.

In the flashback, we see Kaido having a conversation with King about identity of the legendary Joy Boy. Kaido tells him that Joy Boy is the person who will be able to defeat him.

The next panel literally shows Kaido’s dragon head destroyed.

We know from Zunesha and the whole Drums of Liberation and Luffy’s Awakening that Luffy is Joy Boy. It couldn’t be clearer. Joy Boy aka Luffy has defeated Kaido.

7. Monster Trio Symbolism

Oda loves his symbolism. We see the Straw Hat Pirates draw a clear victory over the Beasts Pirates as the 3 strongest members of each crew go up against each other.

Sanji destroyed Queen’s cybernetic arm; Zoro clips off King’s Lunarian wings, and Luffy breaks off Kaido’s Oni horn.

This sends more of an indication that this is the end of the Beasts Pirates.

8. The Flashback Theory

Up until this point, we knew that Luffy vs. Kaido wasn’t over yet because Kaido hadn’t had Kaido his flashback yet.

In One Piece, something big always happens after a flashback in the middle of the fight. And this just happened in chapter 1049. Oda follows patterns throughout his narrative and seeing it unfold at the culmination of the battle, just proves this is the actual end.

Conclusion

The lack of a longer flashback for Kaido has fans cribbing about how he could be defeated so quickly. But it hasn’t been quick at all! And plus, I think Oda is saving the awaited Rocks Pirates backstory for another chapter.

This flashback is purely about how strong Kaido is. The only one more powerful, as Kaido says so himself, is Joy Boy.

Apart from the fact that the narrator hasn’t yet officially announced that Luffy has won, all signs point towards the fact that the dragon has been slayed. Now all that needs to be seen is how Oda wraps up the arc and introduces the next one.

About One Piece

One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.

The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!

Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.