Highlights
- The idea of a clear end point in One Piece has kept the franchise relevant and maintained a sense of narrative progression over 20 years.
- Sakazuki, with his responsibility for Ace's death and extremist outlook, is a compelling candidate for Luffy's final opponent.
- Blackbeard, with his parallels to Luffy and symbolic conflict of good vs. evil, as well as his role in Ace's death, makes him a strong final antagonist.
For a series that has been running as long as One Piece, the idea of a clear end point has been a major factor in keeping the franchise relevant, even as the story experiences lulls in its momentum. Having one eye focused on the Straw Hat Pirates' final destination in the distance has provided a greater understanding of the scale of the world they inhabit, making it easier to comprehend the importance of experiencing each stage of the journey.
As a result, One Piece has been able to maintain a constant sense of narrative progression over the course of more than 20 years, since each small step in the journey is slowly bringing the crew towards their goals. That being said, a journey of such epic proportions would be incomplete without an adversary to confront at the end, and the identity of Luffy's true enemy is something that the series' creator Eiichiro Oda has yet to shed light on. So far, there are a few compelling candidates for the title of the series' main antagonist, stemming from the positions of power they hold, their ideological leanings, and their personal connections to Luffy and his crew.
The Case For Sakazuki
When the Summit War of Marineford had concluded, there was a strong case for Fleet Admiral Sakazuki — formerly Admiral Akainu — to wind up being Luffy's final opponent at the end of his journey to become King of the Pirates. As the one who killed his sworn brother Portgas D. Ace before his very eyes, Sakazuki was responsible for one of the most traumatic events of Luffy's life. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Luffy struggled with his grief and sense of purpose. At his lowest point, he even briefly lost sight of his goal, only to be reminded by Jinbe that he still had everything to fight for.
Beyond this, Sakazuki's reputation as a hardliner, combined with his extremist outlook, have painted him as a villainous figure on many occasions. His firm and uncompromising adherence to the Marines' philosophy of "Absolute Justice," has earned the ire of many high ranking Marines such as Garp, Admiral Fujitora, and former Admiral Aokiji. This primarily stems from how Sakazuki is willing to kill innocents in the name of duty, and refuses to listen to reason. The best instance of this could be seen in how he executed civilians who were fleeing the Ohara Incident on the off chance that one of the island's scholars had snuck aboard a departing ship.
Fueled by a blind sense of hatred towards all pirates, Sakazuki is quick to use deadly force and often takes no prisoners, representing the harsh outlook the World Government has towards anyone who dares to defy them. Hence, in defeating him, Luffy would finally gain revenge for Ace's death in an almost poetic fashion. Conversely, Sakazuki has also shown disdain towards the Celestial Dragons, despite being bound by his duty to serve them, which indicates that there may be more to his character than meets the eye. In this vein, he might not be the last enemy Luffy has to confront, and his role in the Final Saga may diverge from present expectations.
The Case For Blackbeard
Blackbeard is another major contender for the role of the series' final antagonist, and his case is fairly more compelling for a number of reasons. To begin with, the parallels between Luffy and Blackbeard have been evident as far back as the Jaya Arc when he was first introduced. Despite having similar views on the nature of dreams, the manner in which both pirates strive to attain their goals could not be any more different. Luffy's fearlessness, recklessness, and strong sense of morality, are contrasted by Blackbeard's cowardice, carefully planned strategies, and deceitful methods.
Furthermore, as the user of the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit known as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, Luffy carries the will of Sun God Nika, an embodiment of joy and liberation. Conversely, Blackbeard is the user of the Yami Yami no Mi, the most powerful and sinister of the Logia types, and a herald of darkness. This sets up an intriguing sense of symbolism in the conflict between the pair, which could be an allegory for the conflict between good and evil itself.
Both characters bear the hallowed "D." initial in their names, which makes them both carriers of the mythical Will of the D. Not much is known about the initial and its larger connotations in history, but it serves to strengthen the links between Luffy and Blackbeard. Lastly, Blackbeard was also the one who defeated Ace and handed him over to the Marines, which assigns him a certain level of responsibility for Ace's death. This, coupled with his incredibly powerful crew, and his unique ability to wield two Devil Fruits simultaneously, makes him a superb final obstacle for Luffy's journey.
The Case For Imu
There is a puzzling dichotomy between how little information is known about Imu, and how most One Piece fans would agree that they possess the most convincing case for being cast as the story's final antagonist. As the de facto leader of the World Government, Imu rules the world in secret, superseding even the Five Elders in authority. It has long been rumored that Imu is a true immortal who has held the highest seat of power since the Void Century, which adds another dimension to their potential conflict with Luffy.
Despite remaining confined to the shadows for most of the Straw Hat Pirates' journey, the Final Saga of One Piece has seen the World Government take on a far more prominent role, particularly in the Egghead Arc. The revelation of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn's powers in the Egghead Incident illustrated the existence of abilities that Luffy and his crew had never encountered before, indicating that the Five Elders and Imu are on a whole other level of power. This creates a new ceiling of power for Luffy to strive for, as his strength in Gear 5 is nearly on par with some of the Admirals and Emperors of the Sea.
Moreover, the connections between Imu and the Void Century, along with their disdain for the Will of the D., makes a potential confrontation with Luffy all the more intriguing. In essence the act of taking down Imu and the Five Elders would bring an end to the 800 years of tyrannical rule the world has experienced under the World Nobles. With this, Luffy would prove his worth as Joy Boy's successor and bring freedom to the world, just as was foretold. This is why Imu currently has the strongest case for being the story's final antagonist, but only time will tell if this is how things will transpire.
One Piece is available to stream on Prime Video.