Enel Post timeskip would have had Chapters of flashbacks about people who kicked his ass before Luffy
One Piece worldbuilding led to the Villains not seeming so godlike anymore, people legit believed Lucci was admiral level because they lacked info.
Compare how we react to Arlong wanting to take over East Blue to Hody wanting to invade Mariejois, nowadays we realise that Arlong would have been butchered but when you read it without hindsight, he seems threatening
Doflamingo also suffered from this due to Aokiji humiliating him, Kaido making him scared and Fuji/Sabo being in his arc.
He was just charismatic enough that it didn't harm him , Big Mom and Kaido suffered heavily from being constantly called Silver Medalists and from The Oden Flashback
One Piece worldbuilding led to the Villains not seeming so godlike anymore, people legit believed Lucci was admiral level because they lacked info.
Compare how we react to Arlong wanting to take over East Blue to Hody wanting to invade Mariejois, nowadays we realise that Arlong would have been butchered but when you read it without hindsight, he seems threatening
Doflamingo also suffered from this due to Aokiji humiliating him, Kaido making him scared and Fuji/Sabo being in his arc.
He was just charismatic enough that it didn't harm him , Big Mom and Kaido suffered heavily from being constantly called Silver Medalists and from The Oden Flashback
He wasnt just “I’m Strong! You’ll never beat me!” Like other post timeskip villains, the thing that made me like him was his meticulous plan to take over Dressrosa. Making the people doubt the ideal king. Then making the guards kill innocents to create hatred and take the throne while everyone praised his name.
This was why he and Crocodile are the best imo