Imu and the Five Elders are the Strongest Fighters in One Piece
The whole introduction of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn in his Zoan form seemed menacing and very impactful to me. I have always supported the idea that Imu and Gorosei are at a whole different league of power than anything we have seen so far.
Of course Imu would be even stronger than Gorosei but even Gorosei themselves I always believed to be in the separate tier of power we are used to. We have to remember Gorosei are the highest power in the world after Imu who rules in the shadows as the Leader of Gorosei.
We need to understand that Gorosei and Imu have no checks and balances..nothing is preventing a mutiny against them from Marines besides their own combat strength so they have to be strong, so strong that if the entire Marine organization turns against them.. they have capable strength to defend against even that.
In recent times Oda has been building Gorosei hype and pushing them as very capable fighters which supports the idea that Gorosei are at the very top of the World, literally right under the sovereign ruler of the entire world based entirely on their combat power. I mean Gorosei being combatants should never been in doubt, the very first time we saw them..we saw them with battle scars and one of them weilding what is probably a supreme grade sword Shodai Kitetsu.
During their name reveal they were called “War Gods” a directly combat focused epithet.
The Gorosei look like seasoned warriors, with serious looking designs in Goofy world of One Piece. Oda rarely gives serious designs to characters unless they mean serious business.. generally this kinda design is reserved for top tiers.
Sabo who’s called Flame Emperor..Sabo who is someone who had no fear of Fujitora..someone who had no issue fighting Green Bull and Fujitora at the same time.. was scared out of his mind, could do nothing but run away in fear. That wouldn’t happen against 5 people who are strong just in authority and not in strength. I mean Imu can’t be the only one strong while other 5 shadows around him be fodder level.
This already puts Gorosei’s presence on top tier realm because Sabo would at least be willing to put up a fight against several commander level dudes, even if he’d lose but then there is whole Saturn and his portrayal next to Kizaru.
Kizaru a Marine Admiral, the highest ranking Marine Officer, or at least one step behind highest ranking or two steps if we are counting Kong, one of the three Admirals, supposedly strongest fighting force of World Government was shown serving Tea to Saturn. This is the same Kizaru who has this attitude towards the idea of facing two emperors at the same time.
But if even that doesn’t confirm that Saturn is the greatest threat we have available in Egghead Island and not Kizaru, whose strength I respect a lot and put on highest of Yonko level if I am being serious and behind only likes of Akainu Mihawk and Shanks right now, yes above Blackbeard, Luffy, Aokiji etc..he is still considerably weaker than Saturn based on the difference in the way they are presented.
Saturn making just a movie, transforming into his Zoan form, if it is even a Zoan devil fruit and not some kind of Demon Haki like Zoro’s Ashura, is enough to have a Rear Admiral’s Head Explode with Conqueror’s Haki emanating all over him, alongside some kinda demonic Energy.
It started out with several Marines getting their heads exploded and passing out from distance. But then that aura put great deal of pressure on Lucci, Zoro, Luffy and Kizaru, three of whom are legit top tiers, they all froze for a second and felt under some kinda strain.
It’s comparable to what Shanks did to Green Bull, only difference is Saturn didn’t exactly launch his Haki at anyone.. just did a transformation from distance.
