It wouldn’t be a stretch of the imagination to say that every pirate captain, first mate, quartermaster, or gunner sailing the world’s seas in One Piece desired to become the legendary pirate Pirate King yet Monkey D. Luffy does just that in new fan art. One of the key obstacles in his quest, however, has been the very ability that makes him so special, namely his “Gum-Gum power” vulnerability to water. However, its new Gear Five form seemingly unlocks an ability that eliminates this vulnerability. If this is the case, Gear Five brings Luffy closer to realizing his dream. Nothing shows the potential connection between Gear Five and Luffy’s future as the Pirate King as superbly as a new piece of fan art from Shyrose on Twitter.
Luffy wanted to be a pirate ever since he met Red-Haired Shanks as a kid. After accidentally eating a Devil Fruit known as the Gum-Gum fruit, he gained the ability to stretch any part of his body like a rubber band. The problem is that his Gum-Gum powers are not particularly suited for pirates. The more he comes into contact with water, the more helpless he becomes. However, Luffy’s “Gum-Gum power” has been awakened in his all-out fight with Kaido. As a result, Luffy has unlocked an unprecedented reserve of power known as Gear Five which, by all indications, overcomes any vulnerabilities he’s experienced with it. Indeed with Gear Five, no one seems to be much of a threat to his goal of becoming the Pirate King.
On Twitter, Shyrose’s (@Shyroceruss) image of Luffy sitting on a throne perfectly imagines what a Pirate King Luffy with Gear Five abilities would look like. First, there’s Luffy’s fire-like hair that is, considering the fact that for most of the series Luffy covered his hair with a straw hat, perhaps one of the most surprising physical transformations brought on by Gear Five. Second, there’s the striking eyes that Shyrose brings to life even more than their depiction in the manga. They are the type of eyes that will serve a Pirate King Luffy well as they are sure to weaken the spine of any pirate or government official coming before him.
Another important element of the image is the inclusion of the Gear Five. While Gold D. Roger, the prior King of the Pirates was nearly unstoppable, his power did not derive from a Devil Fruit but rather from Haki. A Pirate King Luffy, on the other hand, would not only possess the Haki, but also the Gear Five capabilities. That is, Luffy will be the strongest Pirate King ever. Shyrose’s image emphasizes this point with the “Gear Fifth” lettering floating behind Luffy’s back in front of the throne’s headboard.
As the Pirate King, life would be easier, power would be more complete, and enjoying a day off would be more acceptable. However, despite his longstanding desire to become the Pirate King, the promise of Shyrose’s image is just that, an aspiration for Luffy to work towards in the ongoing quest for the One Piece.
Source: Shyrose
