One Piece’s protagonist Luffy feels like he has lost his resolve because of his Gear 5 transformation, and thus he needs an epic moment in the story.
Ever since Luffy earned the status of an Emperor of the Sea in One Piece, the story and developments have changed in a major way. However, it still doesn’t feel like he has become one of the most notorious and powerful captains in the world. And the main reason behind it is his Gear 5 power, also known as the Nika transformation in One Piece.
Luffy’s fighting style as Nika often comes across as overly goofy and childish, which undermines the gravitas that fans expect from a Yonko. While the freedom of his powers is part of his charm, the exaggerated humor sometimes feels opposite to the weight an Emperor of the Sea is supposed to carry. Thus, Eiichiro Oda needs to fix this soon by giving Luffy and his crew an epic moment.
Why Luffy Needs a One-Shot Victory Over a Strong Enemy
Since the beginning of One Piece, Luffy has carried a funny vibe to his battles and clashes, but when he gets serious, the atmosphere changes instantly, and you can feel the weight of his resolve. That was one of the main things that fans liked about him, and it certainly highlighted his evolution and maturity as a character. However, ever since he unlocked Gear 5, this determination in his fights has completely disappeared.
Even against menacing opponents like the Five Elders and Admiral Kizaru, Luffy didn’t get too serious and often defaulted to his goofy Nika behavior, which made the clashes feel less intense than expected. While it is understandable, as it fits his personality as a smiling liberator filled with creativity, it undermines his status as an Emperor who could potentially be the King of Pirates one day.
Thus, he needs something big and serious that could once and for all showcase the full depth of his power and resolve, reminding the world why he stands among the Emperors. And the perfect way to do this is to give Luffy a one-shot victory against a powerful enemy in One Piece. It would not only create a hype for his character, but also give an understanding of his power as Nika when things finally get serious for him.
Elbaph Is the Perfect Arc for Oda to Redeem The Monster Trio
Along with Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji also need a redeemable moment as they are a part of the Emperor’s crew and thus, have to establish their status. The perfect arc for this would certainly be Elbaph, as they will be facing their biggest opponent, Imu, in the upcoming chapters. Imu and his subordinates are currently wreaking havoc in the lands of giants, and no one, not even the giants, has managed to take him down.
As the ongoing flashback is slowly coming to an end, the next step for Elbaph is most likely the interaction between the Supreme Leader of the World Government and the One Piece protagonist. Even though he might not be able to take down Imu with one shot, the power of the Monster Trio together might have to potential to at least force him back to Mary Geoise, which would be considered a victory in itself.
It would establish the Monster Trio as a legitimate threat within the pirate world and would also hype up their status as one of the strongest Emperor crews in One Piece. Hopefully, Eiichiro Oda is planning something big for Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji, and we will get to witness it soon. Do you think Oda will give us a special monster trio moment in One Piece? Let us know below!
