• One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda.

One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. (Photo : Facebook/One Piece)

A bittersweet news awaits all the fans worldwide, as most recent reports have it that the long-time running Japanese manga series will finally enter a new arc called "VS. Four Emperors Arc" on April 4. That said, it also marks that the end is near for Eiichiro Oda's manga series.

After enjoying a two-week hiatus, the critically acclaimed manga series finally returns with a beginning of an all-new saga, and along with it, is a powerful new enemy. "One Piece" manga chapter 821 will be the time for Straw Hat Pirates' to take down the most powerful pirates in the New World called "Four Emperors" - Shanks, Big Mom, Kaido and the late Whitebeard.

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The news comes after when this year's 17th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shounen Jump Magazine revealed that "One Piece" manga will enter a new arc with a release window slated for April 4, in the 18th issue of the said magazine. Aside from that, it also accompanies a preview image for next week's issue with a note: "Facing toward Sanji's rescue, Luffy's group is...!!"

What is more interesting is that next week's issue will apparently feature "One Piece" manga on the cover with a new chapter featuring an opening color page. Aside from the Four Emperors, the arc will also concentrate on the notorious family of Underworld killers known as The Vinsmoke Family, in which "Black Leg" Sanji hails.

Fans worldwide then expressed their excitement with this new arc announcement and admitted that they are really keen to see exactly what will actually unfold in this new saga. While fans may be upbeat to see the Straw Hat Pirates continues to keep sailing after 8 years when it first appeared in comic form. However, recent reports reveal that "One Piece's" ending is already in sight.

In fact, the "One Piece" manga's current editor, Suguru Sugita, reveals that there is only 20-30 percent story left in the series. Fans worldwide then rushed to escalate that there is still approximate five to eight years of work and the manga will be finished.

"[Oda] He told me that the first part of the story, the part prior to the time-skip, was around halfway through. That was about 60 volumes, so maybe we're at 70%? I don't think it's at 80% yet," Sugita said in a late-night episode show "Gold Rush" on July 17, The One Piece Podcast reported.

Watch Luffy uses Gomu Gomu no Mi or Gear Fourth technique below: