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Kaidou was the most formidable villain of One Piece post-time skip. The amount of foreshadowing for the Wano Arc and the Beast Pirates kept fans on the edge of their seats. In the end, the final fight between Monkey D. Luffy and Kaidou was one for the ages. Luffy realised his peak, Gear 5, and defeated the former Emperor. But what was the Emperor doing all these years before the Straw Hats arrived in Wano?
A main theme One Piece operates on is the dreams and goals of the characters. We see that with the Straw Hats, and the people they meet on their journey together. Kaidou, despite being a villain, also has his humanity and his own dream. His mentality is unlike other characters and the Four Emperors. The man is much more bored and willing to die.
Did Oda set him up for failure then? Kaidou might have been the “Strongest Creature” but Luffy’s dream and his will to never give up surpasses most, except for that one time he almost did. Let’s explore how dreams are important in One Piece.
Luffy Had More Will Than Kaidou in One Piece
Luffy in Gear 5 in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]This isn’t to say that Kaidou had no will at all. The man, after all, did invade and rule Wano for 20 years. Just like every other pirate in One Piece, everyone was waiting for the right time to capture the treasure. Kaidou thought the key lied in Wano and also had a deep interest in the Ancient Weapons. He wanted to conquer the world but his mentality was also broken, for reasons we still don’t know.
When introduced to Kaidou, he quite literally tried to end his own life. It was a pretty shocking introduction for such a feared villain. He was undefeatable in the eyes of many and he tells King that the only person who can beat him is Joy Boy. Luffy, the current Joy Boy when awakening his Mythical Zoan Fruit, reignited this conversation in Kaidou’s mind. This is the moment when Kaidou knew someone could finally defeat him.
Kaidou in One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]Many fans have questioned what Kaidou’s intentions were all along. Was he a depressed drunk or a man bored after years of conquering the seas? Luffy brought him the chance to relent and give up. The biggest difference is that Luffy will never give up on his dream of becoming the King of the Pirates, and his status as Joy Boy proves that. Kaidou simply has a different outlook than others.
Are Any Villains Likely to Make Luffy Give Up?
The Straw Hat Pirates during Wano Arc of One Piece. [Credit: Toei Animation]So far, the only villain who broke Luffy was Akainu, after the Marineford Arc taught the young Straw Hat a big lesson. The post-time skip arcs have featured the strongest villains, ranging from Doflamingo to Big Mom. We have also yet to witness the Straw Hats go against Imu, the hidden ruler of the World Government, if that’s in the cards.
The most important thing to remember is that Luffy and the other Straw Hats have trained to become more resilient and stronger. They have become more well-rounded and capable. Luffy can now effortlessly use his Haki and has even reached his peak.
There’s no stopping the young boy from his dreams, not even if Akainu comes back and uses a personal attack against him, like he did with Ace. There are no weak villains, not even Kaidou. Luffy and his crew are just entirely too capable and dream bigger than most.
One Piece is available on Crunchyroll.
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