The final battle of One Piece is drawing near, with all the major forces around the world positioning themselves for the greatest conflict in history. As Luffy and the Straw Hat crew get closer than ever to the legendary treasure of Joyboy and Roger, and the Four Emperors stand at their peak power, the World Government is also strengthening its forces.
Leading the military wing of this organization is none other than Akainu, Fleet Admiral of the Navy. He has been a terrifying villain ever since his actions against Ace and Whitebeard during the Marineford War. However, many fans seem to overlook just how threatening he truly is for the final battle. Now, let’s explore why Akainu could be the strongest antagonist in all of One Piece.
Akainu Holds Absolute Control Over the Entire Navy
As the direct counterforce to pirates, the Navy is the World Government’s main military power. At the top of this force is Fleet Admiral Akainu, who wields absolute authority. He has full control over the Navy’s structure, operations, and orders.
Although details about Akainu’s daily duties are scarce, every marine, including the Admirals, who are considered the highest military power and command over subordinates, answer directly to him. This shows the terrifying influence and power Akainu will display in the final battle.
During the Marineford War, Sengoku, then Fleet Admiral, could have ended the entire conflict with a single command, highlighting the level of authority Akainu now holds.
Akainu Possesses One of the Strongest Devil Fruits in the World
In a world filled with incredibly powerful abilities and Devil Fruits that allow individuals to stand against entire armies, Oda has explicitly stated that Akainu’s Magu Magu no Mi is the strongest offensive Devil Fruit. This underlines how dangerous he is as a fighter. Whitebeard was known as the strongest man in the world, and although he was past his prime during Marineford, it was Akainu who ended his reign.
Early in the series, Logia-type Devil Fruits were extremely powerful due to their ability to nullify most physical attacks. However, Haki changed everything. Still, mastering advanced Haki remains a feat for ordinary people, so Akainu can realistically only be defeated by the strongest characters. Additionally, many hints suggest he has awakened his Devil Fruit, making it even more dangerous and powerful. This could explain why half of Punk Hazard is always ablaze.
Akainu May Master All Types of Advanced Haki
The emergence and development of Haki completely shifted the power dynamics in One Piece, making Devil Fruit powers less absolute than before. In particular, the “intangible” ability of Logia users is now a thing of the past. In the current Final Saga, where every character has reached peak strength, having Haki is essential. Akainu has been confirmed to use Armament Haki and even briefly demonstrated it during the Marineford War.
Logically, it’s hard to believe Akainu doesn’t possess all types of Haki, especially since his predecessor Sengoku was one of the rare Navy members to have all three. This almost confirms Akainu also has Conqueror’s Haki. Notably, Conqueror’s Haki users share an extraordinary ambition, which perfectly matches Akainu’s story, he pursues absolute justice and aims to eliminate all evil from the world, a massive ambition.
With his overwhelming power, absolute authority, and relentless ambition, Akainu is positioned as one of the most formidable, if not the strongest, opponents in One Piece’s final battle.
Source: Gamerant