WARNING: The following contains spoilers for One Piece Episode 957, "Big News! An Incident That Will Affect the Seven Warlords!," now streaming on Crunchyroll and Funimation.
As things heat up in Wano, One Piece fans are reminded that the country is isolated, cut off from the rest of the still-spinning world. A break from the Straw Hats in Episode 957 reveals that the world has been thrust into chaos due to the incidents following the conclusion of the Reverie event.
Something has happened concerning the Kingdom of Alabasta, the Revolutionary Army's Sabo has made headlines that have his allies in disbelief and, most noteworthy of all, the Seven Warlord system has finally been abolished, forever shifting the balance of power within the world of One Piece.
The Seven Warlords, along with the Navy and the Four Emperors, have been integral in maintaining a sort of peace on the seas. While the consequences have yet to fully be revealed, it would be foolish to think there won't be any at all. At the very least, those that once held the title of Warlord are in immediate danger, as in Episode 957 fans quickly see the Navy bearing down on the pirates. Still, those pirates became Warlords for a reason, and it doesn't seem like they intend to go down easily.
The Seven Warlords Were Integral To The Balance Of Power
The Seven Warlords included the likes of Dracule Mihawk, Crocodile and Donquixote Doflamingo. These pirates were absurdly powerful and operated as allies of the World Government. They were able to operate with impunity and, in turn, they would deal with other pirates for the World Government. Despite it being common for any acting Warlord to really serve their own interests first and foremost, these legendary pirates served as a sort of middle point between the Navy and the Four Emperors due to their unique alliance.
In theory, the Seven Warlords kept the pendulum from swinging too far in either direction. If any of the Four Emperors became too powerful, the Warlords were powerful enough to join the Navy and combat them. Alternatively, if the Navy became too powerful, the Warlords could also challenge them. Now, pirates like Boa Hancock, Buggy the Clown and Edward Weevil are simply powerful forces left to fend for themselves. The now-former Warlords seem more than ready to do what they need to do for their own safety.
Without The Warlords, The World May Already Be In Trouble
Existing between the Navy and the Four Emperors to ensure a balance of power is one thing, but the events of Wano may be perfectly timed to spell danger for the rest of the world. After all, the biggest danger to the balance of power now that the Seven Warlords are no longer a force is the alliance between the Emperors Kaido and Big Mom. Without the Warlords in place, the two are down one obstacle in their effort to fulfill the goals that they seek to accomplish: conquering the world and finding One Piece.
Before word of Kaido and Big Mom's alliance goes too far, though, they'll have to face the Straw Hats and their allies. If they can pull off the unthinkable and take down the two emperors, then the World Government will have an even bigger potential threat to the power balance in the form of the fan-favorite Straw Hat crew. As Admiral Issho said, there is no way to know of the consequences until after the balance has been upset, but already events are beginning to snowball. What's in store for the world is something only time and the next episode of One Piece will tell.
