thousands of chapters and millions of panels, this is by far the most important because the people in this panel will all be the major players in the final war in fact I believe I've figured out possible final war match ups within this picture
Shanks vs Buggy- These two Parrael each other in many ways not only did they both grow up on rogers ship they both have a very close relation to Strawhat Luffy, Shanks promised Luffy to meet him again one day, I find it interesting, Luffys most recurring enemy the one who has climbed the ranks along side him was Buggy the clown the man who stood side by side with Shanks on Rogers crew and now once again through tomfoolery is side by side with him again, not only that but we also know Shanks had a rivalry with Mihawk who is now working along side buggy and his strength is the primary reason Buggy got to his position influence doesnt matter without the strength to back it and strength doesn't matter without the influence to get people to follow you. do note this fight can happen after Zoro has defeated Mihawk and claimed his title or maybe even before it either way one doesn't directly affect the other.
Sabo vs Akainu- Sabo and Akainu while they don't have a direct connection they are still connected, as we know Dragon was a marine and is the same age as Akainu which makes me think they have some kind of connection much like Kizaru-Vegapunk Aokiji-Garp Akainu-Dragon will also be one of those former friends become enemies, Akainu also killed Ace who was a brother to Sabo and tried to kill Luffy. Sabo is the one who most deserves to fight Akainu, to show that flame can surpass Manga and much like Sabo is the second in command of the Revolutionary Army, Akainu is technically the second in command of the Marines with Kong being over him in terms of hierchy.
Dragon vs Aokiji- This is the most interesting one because they both represent how people can turn away from the world government, but they went about it in two totally different ways one went on to form the revolutinoary army and directly oppose the world government the other decided to become a pirate and live the life the world government is opposed to, not only that but the blackbeard pirates also attacked baltigo and they captured Garp giving Dragon two reasons to possibly invade pirate island. Garps son vs Garps Protoge a way for Dragon to truly show us why he's the most wanted man in the world (may do a post about that some other time) there's a reason Aokiji is included in this panel in fact black beard is the only pirate here with another crew mate in the panel, he'll have an important role to play and that role will some how tie in with Dragon.
Shamrock vs Garling- now I'm not saying one will suddenly turn good and have a change or heart or anything stupid like that but what if Shamrock is working to take out Figarland and take his position has supreme leader of the God Knights, what if Shamrock for some reason blames Garling for letting Roger take Shanks away all those year's ago? even when Shamrock spoke about Shanks he didn't really speak about him in a ill manner more like he spoke down on his choices, which tells me Shanks would of been welcomed back to the holyland had he choosen to stay. I believe this infighting may lead to the weakening and the down fall of the Holy Knights, I imagine a scene where Shamrock tries to murder Garling only to discover he has the immortality the other Gorosei displayed.
Koby vs Blackbeard- Now I've been saying Koby vs Blackbeard for awhile now and they called me a mad man, but from a narrative standpoint and just from a personal standpoint it makes the most since to me, people keep saying Luffy will beat black beard, Luffy has to beat him, but no he really doesn't and with this being the final Saga unless Oda rushes it, Luffy beating both Black Beard and Imu would be boring and will make me wonder what the purpose of Koby really is? Blackbeard has constantly been protrayed as the Anthithesis of Luffy and also in some aspects of twisted reflection of him. would it not be interesting for Koby to take down the man who is Luffy's Anthithesis? between the rocky port incident, The seige on Amazon Lily and now most recently the incident on Hachinosiu Blackbeard and Koby have been tied together multiple times, Blackbeard even tried using Koby has a bargaining chip. Koby needs to do something to show how strong he's gotten and to submit his legacy, defeating blackbeard will do that. Koby is also the perfect match up against blackbeard because he doesn't even have a devil fruit to steal. This fight is basically Koby vs Luffy if Luffy took a different path.
Luffy vs Imu- The most obvious one, Luffy vs Imu isn't just Luffy vs Imu it's Joyboy vs Imu, it's Nika vs Imu it's freedom vs Oppression, it's The Sun showing the shadows hiding within the world government, Luffy is constantly growing in power and strenght that will grow to challenge Imu, and tho Imu was only recently introduced relative to the length of the series, the two have been loosesly connected from the beginning.
and that my friends is what I believe to be the final match ups of one piece final war.
