One Piece returns from break week strong with Chapter 1096, picking up at the start of the God Valley Incident. This fabled moment in the history of One Piece is also one of the most mysterious, and surprise, it stays that way. So, what does happen in Chapter 1096 that sets it apart since the God Valley Incident turned out to just be a tease?
Warning that this contains full manga spoilers for One Piece. Catch up through Viz or MangaPlus before reading further, or beware of spoilers!
What Happens in One Piece Chapter 1096?
The chapter begins with the God Valley Native Extermination Event kicking off in full swing. The point system is explained, with the victims being named Rabbits and assigned a value. Meanwhile, the multiple slaves are listening to a young Ivankov lay out his plan- steal two of the extremely powerful Devil Fruits there as prizes and use them to escape. They even know which Devil Fruits are there, the Paw-Paw Fruit and Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon.
While everything is happening with the slaves, Garp gets a call from Fleet Admiral Kong telling him to immediately go to God Valley. Garp doesn’t even really care, until he hears that Roger and the Rocks Pirates are going to be there. Everyone leaps into battle, while the scene switches away to later on in the Sorbet Kingdom, following up on Kuma and the others.
The Games Begin
When things kick off in God Valley it’s the talk of the entire world, mainly because Ginny made sure everyone knew. She was a slave in Marijoa for years, since she was four years old, and somehow she’s become an expert in tampering with transmissions. She uses this to send out a mass message across the world, leaking information about the Devil Fruits held as prizes, and making sure everyone knows. Except nobody really knows what’s happening in terms of the games, other than those competing.
Even after taking his massive point penalty in the last chapter, Saint Figarland Garling of the Holy Knights is way ahead. Seriously, one hundred thousand points ahead, making him a clear favorite. There’s a distinct similarity between some of the Holy Knights and the kids in Mother Carmel’s orphanage as well, which raises questions. Most of the higher-point slaves are doing their best to break free of their chains, and Iva is telling people that they need to run while they can.
Calling in Garp
Young Garp is almost a spitting image of Luffy, even down to the scar, and he’s just as lazy. He’s even lying out by a pool lounging when Kong calls him, telling him to get to God Valley as soon as possible. Garp is just as stubborn as ever though, and won’t go until he hears that Gold Roger and his crew are just one of many after the treasure there. He leaps into action, making his way toward the battle to come.
The Rocks Pirates
This is the first time seeing the actual Rocks Pirates in action in the series, and they make a terrifying sight. The combined forces of Big Mom, Kaido, Shiki, Stussy, Gloriosa, Whitebeard, and even Captain John are just the start of them too. It’s great finally seeing that Stussy and Whitebeard had a thing for each other, and that Whitebeard really didn’t consider himself a part of the Rocks Pirates anyway. More importantly though, this sets the stage for the strange relationship between Big Mom and Kaido.
Big Mom has Prometheus and Napoleon both at the time, too, so that brings in the question of where Zeus is. If he was present at the God Valley Incident, Zeus could be the key to finding out everything that went down there. As things go, it does show that Big Mom takes Kaido’s Devil Fruit away from Ivankov, which he later gives to the young Beast Captain.
Gold Roger Arrives
The Roger Pirates only have the briefest appearance in the chapter, showing up right as the battle starts. Gold Roger himself is big on going back into battle, claiming that it’s been a long time to wait. This could be after he found out about his illness, but otherwise it’s unknown why he’s been off the battle lines for so long. Still, the crew tells him that he doesn’t get special privileges on the battlefield, and they’re all going to go after the Devil Fruits all-out.
Kuma’s Paw-Paw Fruit
The most essential moment in the chapter comes when Kuma grabs his Paw-Paw Fruit. Even after Big Mom comes in and steals the Fish-Fish Fruit from Iva’s hands, Kuma devours his Fruit in a hurry, making sure they can’t take it. Things flash away after that, but pick up later in the Sorbet Kingdom. Turns out, Kuma was able to save hundreds of people from the God Valley Incident, and he, Ginny, and Iva escaped the entire event.
They have no idea what happens in God Valley after they leave, as the only information coming out is about Garp being an incredible hero. While the younger Kuma and Ginny stay behind to grow and learn about the place they’re in, Iva sails off on his own to eventually form the Revolutionary Army.
Will God Valley Be Shown?
This is probably the third time that God Valley has been teased, just for the scenery to shift away as things are getting good. Eventually, there will be a full flashback to the actual battle, and people can see what really went down. Not during the Egghead Island arc though, apparently. Though nobody ever knows what Oda is cooking up, and God Valley could very well finish out later in this arc.
As things stand, this arc stands to canonize Golden Lion Shiki officially as a Rocks Pirate. There’s also an interesting new theory that springs up about Yamato’s mother, who many believe is Gloriosa. Of course, Gloriosa is one of the Elders from Amazon Lily, and one of their former Empresses seen when Luffy stays there to heal.
Sorbet Kingdom
The new home of Kuma and Ginny after they escape the God Valley Incident is the Sorbet Kingdom, which Kuma eventually becomes king of. This chapter seems to start off his journey to becoming King, showing how he uses his Paw-Paw Fruit to help heal people from small injuries, taking all their pain. Kuma and Ginny work their way through the Sorbet Kingdom, and there’s a sweet moment at the end of the chapter where Ginny starts crying after realizing she’s full for the first time.
This healing power Kuma has might play a huge part in the Egghead Island Incident and resolution. Kuma himself is currently hurtling toward Egghead in the present, and this healing power could be just what Luffy needs to get his drum beating again. He even says it himself, that if he can live however he wants, he wants to be like Nika, and bring joy to whoever he can.
What’s Next?
The next steps in One Piece are a mystery at the end of this chapter. It looks like the flashback is going to continue, probably further exploring the bond between Ginny and Kuma. Maybe an answer to Bonney’s parentage will finally find its way onto the page, confirming it was Ginny all along, but the mystery remains what happens to her. In the meantime, the God Valley Incident seems to be in the past once more, and things are focusing once more on Kuma himself.
The present Egghead Island Incident has a lot to uncover still, and last seen, things are a total mess. Jay Garcia Saturn is in full Awakening form, and he’s trying to kill Luffy, though not really bothering to keep the damage to only Luffy. Bonney is in big trouble too, as are Vegapunk and the other Straw Hats scattered across the island. Everything is coming to a head soon, because Egghead Island can’t take much more chaos. One Piece is setting a grand stage for Kuma to enter as chapter 1096 closes, and it’s almost time to pick up where things left off.
