One Piece 's final arc is rapidly revealing ancient secrets, and with it, Eiichiro Oda begins revisiting legends that defined the previous era. One name that has always been at the forefront is Gol D. Roger , the legendary Pirate King . But surprisingly, Oda has now confirmed: there is a pirate who was stronger than him.
Gol D. Roger was the monster of his generation
Gol D. Roger didn't have a Devil Fruit , but that never stopped him from conquering the seas. With absolute mastery of Haki, he stood out despite coming from the East Blue, the sea considered weakest. In his time, only Whitebeard was able to stand toe-to-toe with him. However, that doesn't mean he's never been surpassed.
In a revealing passage by Eiichiro Oda, Kaido stated, "Only Haki can overcome everything." This statement is further reinforced by Sengoku's revelation of the most formidable enemy Roger ever faced.
Rocks D. Xebec: a power that not even Roger could face alone
Sengoku revealed that Rocks D. Xebec was Roger's greatest rival, someone so powerful that he demanded an unprecedented alliance between Roger and Garp. This alone indicates that the Pirate King, alone, stood no chance against the captain of the Rocks Pirates. Even Whitebeard was subordinate to Xebec—a clear indication of his superiority.
This union between rivals was essential to defeat Xebec, consolidating his position as the only pirate that Roger could not defeat alone.
Luffy: The Future Pirate King Who Goes Beyond
Thus, with the Nika Fruit and ever-evolving Haki, Luffy is destined to surpass Roger . His journey symbolizes a new era, and Oda already hints that the protagonist will surpass all previous legends.
Eiichiro Oda returns with chapter 1156 of One Piece on August 3, 2025 , available for free on the Manga Plus .
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