Ive been thinking about this a lot lately, but its really come to light more recently with recent chapters suggesting that the seat of power at the top of the world is the pinnacle and final goal of the series. But what has concerned me (and probably like, 99% of the fanbase) is how Oda will tackle the remaining factions in the series before this, because you have like 4-5 major ones that frankly have nothing or little to do with the WG as a controlling entity. Like, most threads are about the powerscale, but in reality its about who loses first and when.
How do you, after Kaido and Big Mom, continuously attempt to scale other powers at a higher level in a linear fashion? Then it got me thinking: that probably isnt Oda's intent. He's gone on record, multiple times, stating that the bigger endgame conflict will dwarf anything that has come before.
This really starts to get traction if you go back to Doflamingo's speech after losing. Interestingly, he includes the Marines on the war for higher power, but not the World Government, only referencing them after the fact:
But what really made question Akainu's placement, funny enough, had to do more with what Oda had Ryokugyuu say to Shanks:
If Oda put out dialogue implying the Marines will fight the RHP, then it lends credence to them potentially being involved in the war for the 4th RP or road to LT as a means to prevent anyone from going there.
What Im starting to see is Akainu ideally shouldnt sit around and do nothing, especially if Egghead ends with Kizaru in the least losing. At that point, sitting and waiting is just allowing others to amass power and gain more victories.
This is why I think now, it would make far more sense for Marine HQ to take part in this war, against Luffy and his fleet, Shanks, Blackbeard and Cross Guild. In this way, all major factions lose in close proximity. The Marines top brass (Zodiac VAs, Fuji, Ryo) can all take part against the other forces. You can have Zoro fight an Admiral, and also fight Shiryu, and also fight Mihawk in the end. Mihawk can also clash with Shanks. He can also clash with Fuji or Shiryu. Same with Akainu, Blackbeard, Luffy and Shanks together.
Hopefully this starts to make sense. With very few tertiary arc characters, Oda has a really good opportunity to flesh out and characterize 4-5 factions in a grand scale war similar to Marineford, but with actual, proper conclusions. You reduce the need to escalate powerscale between all of these characters and just have them at a more level playing field to see who is left in the end. People can fight dirty/clean and win/lose. You can dish out flashsbacks and have shocking reveals for characters when relevant (if not characterized earlier). Oda doesnt have to focus on general 1v1s that take up too much time until there are only 2 people left (i.e. Zoro vs Mihawk directly or Luffy vs Blackbeard/Akainu/Shanks, etc). He doesnt have to focus on scabbard type characters (unless you hate the SHF lol). By the end of this, you have your Pirate King crew. One that surpasses all Yonko and Marine fleets.
In this way, you also reduce the clutter for the "grander" conflict with the World Government, where the Revolutionaries, allied Kingdoms, and Luffy's other allies (i.e. Kid and Law; other Supernova, Hancock, former Whitebeard/Roger Pirates) take the stage with Ancient Weapons, One Piece itself, etc. The WG, to me, is just starting to feel like its being set up to be a stronger entity than anyone else, considering Dragon highlighting God's Knights before even finding out about the Gorosei and Imu from Sabo.
To summarize, you'd:
- Knock out 3-4 factions without needing to individually spend time on each, but instead in a larger conflict with proper buildup
- Not regurgitate 1v1 matchups for all eternity (the man will never finish this manga), the figts are more chaotic and grandiose.
- Give the Grand Fleet Purpose (Maybe this is their great incident they are involved in?)
- Leave enough breather for the WG fight to mean something separate from the Marines, which Oda has been specifying with God Knights and the Gorosei, Imu being "monsters"
What do you guys think? Does this make sense?
Tldr: What if Luffy fought like 3-4 Kaido's together but all Kaido's were also fighting each other?
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