One Piece is one of the longest-running anime and manga series. The manga started publishing in 1997 and the anime came out in 1999.
The story is given by Oda Eiichiro, who quickly stole the hearts of the public with his amazing art and story that tickles our fantasy. The story revolves around Monkey D. Luffy, who gathers a bunch of crew members to set sail and explore the world.
While doing so, he also wishes to find the legendary treasure named "One Piece" and become "King of the Pirates". Luffy sets out on his journey, gathering a group of people to join his crew.
This journey that started more than 25 years ago is finally drawing its conclusion. As the final saga of the series commences, we can't help but look back at some of the most badass moments in the previous arc.
1. Jinbe Joins the Straw Hats
Jinbei joining the straw hat crew is something that the fans have been anticipating for well over a decade. Luffy felt indebted to all the help Jinbe provided in the Marineford Arc and the support he gave after Ace’s death.
During the Fishman Island Arc, Luffy finally asks Jinbe to join. However, Jinbe delays it because of the responsibility he feels towards his people. Even in the Whole Cake Island Arc, Luffy tells him that he will be waiting for him in Wano. Jinbe promises to come back alive and join his crew.
Finally, the fans’ wish to see Jinbe as a member of the Straw Hat crew came true in the Wano Arc. His epic entrance and reunion with the Straw Hats were certainly worth the wait.
2. Zoro Vs Killer
Zoro has achieved several milestones in the Wano Arc. It is obvious to everyone that Zoro’s dream of becoming the world’s strongest swordsman may not be that far. After the hype created in the Sabaody Arc about the Worst Generation, quickly died down when the Marineford Arc started.
However, the Worst Pirates of the era are now in the New World either forming alliances or at each other’s throats. Killer and Kid were at Wano when the Straw Hats arrived. Orochi manipulated Killer in a lot of ways by holding the Kid hostage.
Killer, believing it was the only way to save his friend, followed Orochi’s orders blindly. Zoro clashed with Killer to protect Hiyori and Toko. Killer manages to land a serious hit on Zoro when the latter was distracted. Regardless, Zoro and Killer’s fight was one of the coolest moments in the Wano Arc.
3. Oden Vs Kaido
Although Oden is only shown in flashbacks, he has become a fan-favorite character. And fans have every reason to love the delightful character. Not only was he a good-natured person who cared deeply for his subjects, but he was also an adventurer who had seen the One Piece along with Roger and his crew.
Oden is one of the legendary figures in the series who is said to be the only person to inflict a wound on the King of the Beasts, Kaido before the Straw Hats arrived. He was also able to fight against people like Whitebeard and Roger.
A character as strong as Oden would’ve easily defeated Kaido if not for the distraction created by Kurozumi Higurashi. Regardless of the tragedy that followed, Oden and Kaido’s clash is one of the most epic moments in not just the Wano Arc, but in the entire series.
4. Zoro Gets Enma
Zoro has been wielding the legendary sword Shusui since the Thriller Bark Arc. It was then that Wano Arc was first foreshadowed in the series. Shusui is the sword wielded by the legendary swordsman Ryuma and is the national treasure of Wano.
Moreover, Enma is the sword wielded by Oden and it's the same sword Oden used to injure Kaido. Enma and Shusui are both one of the 21 Great Grade swords. After Oden’s death, Enma was inherited by Hiyori, who promised to give it to Zoro in exchange for returning Shusui to Wano.
Due to its special attributes, no samurai before Oden has ever been able to wield it. So, Zoro being able to wield the swords is a validation of his skills. As he picks the sword, he eventually cuts the side of a cliff with ease, proving he’s more than worthy of wielding this legendary sword.
5. Luffy Walks Past Two Yonkos
This scene is unarguably one of the most thrilling scenes in the series. The anime adaptation intensified the already epic scene that was in the manga. Despite being a happy-go-lucky character, Luffy is serious when any of his friends are hurt.
When he arrives at the scene, Luffy sees the condition of the Kozuki clan after their defeat. As the two yonkos stand in his way, Luffy casually walks past them and meets Kinemon. He asks Law to get them somewhere safe while the worst generation of pirates gets to face Kaido and Big Mom.
What followed after that was the compilation of all the iconic scenes that led to the present scenario. Luffy punches Kaido down with his new skills and the background playing our favorite opening “we are” was the icing on the cake. All in all, this scene couldn’t get any better as it commences the fight of the worst generation against the yonkos.
6. Zoro Uses Conqueror's Haki
Since the time-skip, Zoro has shown exceptional talents in haki. However, fans have always found it a pity since he is unable to use the strongest haki type, which is so rare that only a select few are born with this power.
Zoro is not only one of the strongest swordsmen in the series, but he is also Luffy’s right-hand man. As someone who has to back Luffy in every fight, Zoro is always in the limelight. But after being introduced to so many Conqueror Haki users, fans had almost given up on the hope of Zoro using it.
Anyhow, it was a shock to us all when Zoro used it for the first time. This scene signifies that Zoro is just one step away from achieving his dream to become the world’s strongest swordsman.
7. Luffy Uses Advanced Conqueror’s Haki
Conqueror’s Haki is the strongest power in the One Piece series. Being able to intimidate your opponents even to the point of knocking them down without hitting anyone is an extraordinary talent. However, even among the Conqueror's Haki users, Luffy is exceptional.
Being able to knock down 50,000 people on Fishman Island is something that no ordinary person can achieve. In Wano, he learns how to use an advanced stage of Haki. With this power, Luffy is able to coat his body with conqueror's Haki. He can land an attack on Kaido without even touching him directly and knocking him down.
This power is fundamentally similar to armament Haki since the user is able to coat themself with it. One key difference between the two would be that the one using advanced conqueror’s Haki can hit their opponents without actually touching them.
8. Zoro Cuts Kaido and Saves Luffy
The fight between the worst generation and the two yonkos was a fierce one. Luffy uses his fourth gear against Kaido, which immediately drains out his energy. As Luffy falls to the ground, Zoro wastes no time in going to his rescue.
The rest of the worst generation worries for Luffy but they have to fight Big Mom. Kaido gives Luffy no chance to recover and immediately launches an attack. Luffy gets caught in the wind torrent and gets sucked into Kaido’s mouth.
Zoro saves Luffy in the nick of time, as he always has. He unleashes a powerful attack using Enma and slashes Kaido. His attack extends the wound Oden had inflicted on Kaido. As a result, Luffy gets thrown out of Kaido’s mouth and Zoro manages to save his captain.
9. Luffy's Devil Fruit Awakening
Wano Arc has been full of unexpected moments, but none quite like this. Luffy’s devil fruit awakening is something that not only plays an important role in his victory against Kaido but also hints at the fact that Luffy is not that far from being King of the Pirates.
Gum-gum fruit is not the paramecia-type fruit that we had all believed it to be for all this time. It’s a mythical zoan type called the human-human fruit model Nika. This fruit is said to be possessed by Joyboy, a mysterious character who lived in the void century.
As stated by Gorosei, the user’s body gains the properties of rubber and they’re only limited by their imagination. Gorosei also states that it’s the most ridiculous power in the world. During his fight with Kaido, Luffy takes a serious blow that looked fatal. When all seems lost, he awakens his devil fruit, acquiring exponential strength and even overpowering someone as strong as Kaido.
10. Shanks' Conqueror's Haki
After the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom ended, the people who fought tended to their injuries all the while celebrating their victory with the people of Wano. However, one of the admirals soon arrives at Wano to kill Luffy. The already injured Yamato, Momonsuke, as well the Red Scabbards stands in his way and tries to stop him from approaching Luffy, who is in no condition to fight.
However, before the fight could go on, Shanks intimidates Greenbull using his Haki. Shanks was near the coast of Wano at that time, celebrating Luffy’s victory with his crew. Realizing the presence of an admiral there, Shanks confronts Greenbull against injured people who are exhausted from making pirate history.
He also asks Greenbull if the new age frightens him that much. Being terrified by such a strong Haki, Greenbull quickly surrenders. Meanwhile, Luffy, Jinbe, Sanji, and Zoro discuss whose Haki was that. Luffy didn’t take Shanks' name but implies that it's a familiar person.
