The clash between Monkey D. Luffy and Admiral Kizaru in the Egghead Island arc of One Piece has been a highly anticipated and controversial battle among fans. This confrontation took place during a crucial moment in the story, with Kizaru attempting to reach Dr. Vegapunk while Luffy sought to protect him [1].
The battle between Luffy and Kizaru was characterized by intense exchanges of powerful attacks. Luffy, employing his advanced forms of Haki and Gear techniques, faced off against Kizaru's light-based Devil Fruit abilities. However, the fight was not as straightforward as many fans expected. Some viewers found the battle underwhelming, noting that Kizaru's primary objective was to reach Vegapunk rather than engage in a prolonged fight with Luffy.
In the initial phase of their encounter, Luffy managed to overpower Kizaru, delivering a significant blow that seemed to give him the upper hand. However, this victory was short-lived as Luffy found himself low on energy after the intense exchange. This depletion of stamina is a common drawback of Luffy's more powerful forms, particularly his Gear 5 transformation.
The fight took an interesting turn when Luffy, after replenishing his energy by eating, returned to the battle with renewed vigor. He delivered another powerful attack against Kizaru, demonstrating the effectiveness of his advanced techniques against even a high-ranking Marine Admiral [2]. This moment highlighted Luffy's growth and his ability to contend with top-tier opponents in the One Piece world.
As the battle progressed, both Luffy and Kizaru showed signs of fatigue and injury. In a dramatic moment, both fighters were seen falling to the ground, indicating that the fight had taken a toll on both of them. This outcome suggests that while Luffy has indeed reached a level where he can challenge an Admiral, the gap in power is not as wide as some fans might have expected.
The conclusion of the fight has been a subject of debate among fans. Some argue that Kizaru emerged victorious, citing that Luffy's collapse was due to the drawbacks of his own techniques rather than Kizaru's attacks. Others contend that the fight ended in a stalemate, with both fighters pushed to their limits.
An interesting aspect of this battle is the role of Haki. In the One Piece universe, using Haki against an Admiral is considered one of the greatest challenges a pirate can face [6]. Luffy's ability to effectively use advanced forms of Haki against Kizaru demonstrates his growth as a fighter and his increasing threat level to the World Government.
The fight between Luffy and Kizaru is part of a larger conflict on Egghead Island, which also involves other powerful figures such as Saturn, one of the Five Elders. This broader context adds layers of complexity to the battle, as the outcome has implications not just for Luffy and Kizaru, but for the overall balance of power in the One Piece world.