The Flame Emperor Burns Bright! The Truth About Sabo’s Fate in the Final Saga
Stop the funeral arrangements and put away the tissues, Nakama!
If you’ve been doom-scrolling through One Piece forums or traumatized by the cliffhangers around Chapter 1060, you might be asking the question that has haunted us since Marineford: Did we lose another brother?
The short answer? Absolutely not.
Sabo isn’t just alive; he has ascended to a level of infamy that rivals even the Pirate King himself. But the road to his survival was paved with some of the most heart-stopping fake-outs Oda-sensei has ever drawn. Let’s break down exactly what happened at the Lulusia Kingdom, the truth behind the Reverie, and why the "Flame Emperor" is now the World Government’s worst nightmare.
The Lulusia Incident: The Ultimate Fake-Out
We all remember the panic. Sabo calls Dragon via Den Den Mushi. He’s panicked. He says he saw something unbelievable. And then—BOOM. A shadow looms over the Lulusia Kingdom, rain of lasers descends (Mother Flame style), and the island is erased from the map. The line goes dead.
For a few agonizing weeks, the fandom was in shambles. Did Imu just nuke the Chief of Staff?
The Truth: Classic Oda misdirection! It turns out Sabo was not on the island of Lulusia when the sky fell. He had already set sail and was on a ship near the island, recruiting fresh revolutionaries and carrying refugees. He saw the destruction firsthand, but he wasn’t caught in the blast. He survived the "Great Cleansing" simply by being one step ahead of the blast zone.
Framed! The Truth Behind King Cobra’s Death
Before the Lulusia incident, the newspapers had the world shook with the headline: "Sabo Assassinates King Cobra of Alabasta."
Fans refused to believe it. Sabo, the guy who inherited Ace’s will, killing Vivi’s dad? No shot.
The Reality: Sabo was framed—big time. During the chaos at the Reverie in Mary Geoise, Sabo actually tried to save King Cobra. The real killers were the Five Elders (Gorosei) and the mysterious ruler of the world, Imu.
Cobra stumbled upon the secret of the "Empty Throne"—that it isn't empty at all. Sabo walked in on the execution, witnessing the Gorosei transform into their demonic yokai forms and seeing Imu sitting on the throne. He barely escaped with his life (and a nasty injury), but he didn't kill Cobra. He is the only witness to the World Government's darkest sin.
Rise of the "Flame Emperor" (Entei)
Ironically, the World Government’s smear campaign backfired spectacularly. By blaming Sabo for killing a king and defying the Celestial Dragons (literally destroying their symbol, the Hoof of the Flying Dragon), the world didn't hate him—they deified him!
Rebellions are popping up everywhere. People are wearing his face on flags. He has been dubbed the "Flame Emperor," and in terms of raw influence within the revolutionary world, he has arguably surpassed even his boss, Monkey D. Dragon.
He successfully brought Bartholomew Kuma back to the Revolutionary Army HQ on Momoiro Island (though that came with its own heartbreak), proving that the mission was a massive success despite the chaos.
Why Sabo is the Key to the Final Saga
Sabo surviving isn't just "plot armor"—it’s essential for the endgame. He is currently the only person alive (outside of the villains) who knows:
- Imu exists.
- The Empty Throne is occupied.
- The Five Elders are literal monsters.
He has now relayed this info to Dragon and Ivankov. This intelligence is the spark that will likely ignite the Final War. The World Government tried to silence him with an ancient super-weapon, and they missed.
So, wipe those tears, Nakama. The brother of the Pirate King is alive, he’s wielding the Mera Mera no Mi like a boss, and he’s ready to burn the corruption of the World Government to the ground.
Long live the Flame Emperor!
