After 4 years, One Piece is finally channeling a new Haki for Luffy

in a piece Chapter 1044, which was released on March 28, 2022, in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump issue #17, about 4 years ago, series creator, Eiichiro Oda, gave Monkey D. Luffy his final power-up Gear 5. This gear was officially introduced after Devling F no Hiva. Model: Nika, and it stands out as Luffy's most reliable power. Using this power, Luffy was able to defeat Kaido and even defeat Kizaru and Rob Lucci in the Egghead Arc.

However, as time goes on, stronger enemies are appearing in the final saga, such as Nerona Emu's Clan One Piece Chapter 1179, April 5, 2026. Luffy needs more than just Gear 5 if he is to fight and defeat such a monster. All three types of major hockey power-ups are already lined up for him. Eiichiro Oda has yet to make him a true hockey expert, and a power that could see him become even better when it comes to hockey manipulation is Observation Killing, which is powered by his idol Shanks. In the final section of the story, Luffy must get his hands on this power if he really wants to stand a chance of defeating Nerona Emu.

Eiichiro Oda sets up an observational assassination for Luffy after mastering the Supreme King Infusion.

Luffy is already among the elite pirates a piece world, and over the years, he has significantly strengthened both his Devil Fruit and Haki. In the Wano Arc, specifically One Piece Chapter 1010, which was released in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump issue #19 on April 12, 2021, Monkey D. Luffy learns to tap into the Supreme King's advanced color and eventually learns how to infuse it into his body. At this point, he had also learned how to use his Observation Haki to see into the future, as well as his Armament Haki to deal internal damage. Using advanced grades of all three types of Haki, Luffy became one of the few who could manipulate Haki at a high level.

Luffy: You can attack yourself with the colors of the Supreme King, right?

Kaido: Only a handful of the strong can. Dead people don't walk!

– Luffy learns how to infuse the Supreme King's color, One Piece Chapter #1010

On top of that his awakening of the Devil Fruit, Hito Hito no Mi, model: Nika, was added. a piece Chapter 1044 on March 28, 2022. All of these powers combined made him one of the most powerful characters in the world, strong enough to outwit and defeat even Yonko Kaido, which officially happened. a piece Chapter 1049 on May 16, 2022, in Shuisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24. That said, all of these power-ups aren't enough, and Luffy still needs to grow if he's to fight and defeat the likes of Nerona Emu. This is why he needs to make his Haki even stronger, and Oda is lining up Observation Killing for him.

“Having a body with the power of rubber, and fighting in any way possible, bringing smiles to people's faces, a warrior of liberation…also known as the Sun God, Nika!” – The Elders hype Luffy's Gear 5, One Piece Chapter #1044

Observations are not performed on murder a piece Manga still, but the author himself mentioned a piece in volume 4 billion. It was said that observational killing is a very advanced grade-winning hockey technique used by the one and only red-haired Shanks. By using Observational Assassination, Shanks can cancel his enemies' Observational Haki and prevent them from seeing the future. All this was made possible by using the colors of the Supreme King at a high level. This, in turn, gives Shanks a huge advantage in battle, as his enemies cannot understand what he is going to do next. Meanwhile, Shanks himself can see far into the future, giving him a great advantage, which was clearly shown in One Piece Chapter 1079 on March 27, 2023, where he destroyed Kid and Killer with a single swing of his sword. To reach the same level, Luffy must also gain control of Observation Killing Haki, which would also complete the parallel between him and his idol.

Shanks: This is bad! There will be a lot of damage.

Ben Beckman: He must have seen a terrible future.

– Ben Beckman hypes Shanks' ability to see the future, One Piece chapter #1079

Master observes Luffy to kill his idol to pass the key, Shanks

Image created by author Ray Penber using official One Piece assets.

In One Piece Monkey D. Luffy's biggest goal is to be able to overcome Shanks and the Red Hair Pirates. It was a goal Luffy had set for himself a piece Chapter 1 on July 18, 1997, in Shuisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #34. To surpass Shanks is to reach a level even higher than him. While Luffy already commands great power with Gear 5 and all three types of advanced Haki, it's not enough. Shanks is a monster that was able to easily outwit and defeat Loki, something that Luffy will struggle to do now.

“Before Shanks stopped Loki 6 years ago, no one could stop him in his path! Do you know what kind of power Loki wields? Or how many casualties he gets on the off chance that he runs a little?” – Scooper Gaban describes Shanks' immense power, One Piece chapter #1139

To truly surpass Shanks, Luffy would need to master Haki like him and, as such, learn abilities such as observational killing. By mastering the ability to kill his enemies' Observation Haki, Luffy will be able to deal lethal damage to his enemies, become more unpredictable, and maintain a greater advantage over them. It is because of this power that Shanks dominates the high seas. By including it in his arsenal, Luffy could then potentially surpass the Red Haired Emperor's level and officially surpass him, just like he promised in the first chapter.

Why would Luffy possibly cross Shanks after the events of the Elbaf arc?

hero of a pieceMonkey D. Luffy has already made it clear that he wants to surpass all the emperors of the world. He's already passed Big Mom's level by defeating Kaido. Buggy is already weaker than him, and Blackbeard is set to clash against him at some point in the final saga. This leaves no one but the red haired Shanks, and at some point, Luffy will have to get past him. In fact, Shanks wants Luffy to overtake him and fulfill D.'s wishes, which is one of the many reasons why he gave up his hand in the first chapter of the series.

“One day, I'll have a better ship and crew than you. And then I'll find a piece!” – Monkey d. Luffy, One Piece Chapter #1

As such, Shanks surpassing Luffy is inevitable, and this can only be accomplished through additional power-ups in the final saga, whether it's higher efficiency with the Supreme King Haki infusion, or learning abilities like Observation Killing, or gaining entirely new power-ups. Monkey D. Luffy must rise to surpass the red-haired Emperor Shanks in the Final Saga if he truly wants to stand up to and defeat Nerona Emu, and other powerful figures in the World Government.

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