Summary
TheOne Piecefranchise owes a lot of its success to the many antagonists it has introduced over the years. Of course, for any story to be compelling, the obstacles that the heroes have to face must be substantial, both in terms of how big of a threat they are and how captivating they can be, and this story has understood this balance quite well. Because of this, many of the series' villains are some of the best in the anime industry.
However, for as many antagonists as there are for the Straw Hats to deal with, three stand out in particular as the greatest hurdles that must be overcome beforeOne Pieceends. Whether through sheer power, influence, or hidden agenda, thesevillains represent some of the most important themesand organizations of the story and stand as counters to Luffy in their respective regards, so let’s break down who they are.
Story Arc
Enies Lobby
Throughout the series, there have been very few characters who have had as big of an impact on Luffy’s journey as much as Akainu. Ever since he was first teased, fans had been told just how violent and merciless of a character he was since he had the blood of the entire nation of Ohara on his hands due to being the one to erase the island and its residents without a second thought. After his promotion to the rank of Admiral, his strength and influence would only grow greater, when he evenmanaged to kill Whitebeard and Ace.
I won’t forgive the evils of piracy!
Due to this, his eventual reunion with Luffy and some of the biggest players inOne Piecehas been implied, which will likely happen in the Final War with them being on opposing sides. As the new Fleet Admiral following the time skip, Akainu’s power is at an all-time high, as he represents the highest level in the Navy, making him vital for the Celestial Dragons in the Final War, and if he is defeated, it will mark the fall of the Navy and his brand of justice.
Reverie
For the longest time, fans of the franchise believed that the 5 Elders sat atop the World Government and that they would be the final obstacle for the heroes to overcome. However, Imu was revealed to be the true sovereign of the world who had been ruling over the planet with an iron fist for the past800 years following Joyboy’s defeat, confirming themselves as the leader of all Celestial Dragons and the strongest being in the entire series, perhaps across history.
Oh, Great Imu! The Five Elders are at your service! Have you decided upon another light to be erased from history?
Just as how Akainu represents the Navy, Imu is the embodiment of the World Government, since they were presumably the one to form the alliance between the 20 kingdoms that created the organization all those centuries ago. Luffy’s eventual battle against the world’s ultimate villain has been destined for ages, as can be seen in the Elbaf mural, and the plans for it had been set in motion by Joyboy. In the end, Luffy will have to fight and defeat this villain so that the corrupt rule of the World Government is abolished and the world can finally see a new dawn.
The Most Mysterious Character Of Them All
First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 223, “I Promise Never to Fight in This Town”
Jaya
Ever since his introduction in the Jaya arc, fans knew thatthere was much more to Blackbeardthan him just being a simple pirate who loved cherry pie. Although his appearances throughout the franchise have been brief, he has been built up as the thematic opposite to Luffy who wants the same thing as him but for wholly different reasons. Because of this, many fans believe that he will beOne Piece’sfinal villain instead of Imu, despite the latter being the great evil of the world who has ruled over it for centuries.
Fate has chosen me to conquer this world!
Blackbeard’s journey mirrors Luffy’s perfectly and the two of them need to confront one another before the series concludes, and this would be the most poignant if it happens at the very end. Of course, Blackbeard’s Yami Yami no Mi is perhaps the only Devil Fruit that can counter Luffy’s Gear 5, but the prevailing theory states that he will also acquire a Mythical Zoan type due to the current trend of him stealing Devil Fruits, since he already has a Logia and a Paramecia. If this is the case, he may even somehow steal Imu’s mysterious Devil Fruit, which would make him the strongest character in the series and the perfect final villain who Luffy must defeat in the end.
