One Piece: How A Single Panel Revealed One Of One Piece’s Strongest Characters

In the world of One Piece, the series consistently illustrates the immense power of its key characters and the significant advantage this power confers upon them compared to others. The mightiest figures often occupy the highest echelons within the storyline, as exemplified by a select few whose names tower above all others: Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard, and Garp.

For quite some time, these giants had been unrivaled in their dominance during the age of piracy, thanks to their exceptional skill with Haki. Yet, it appears that One Piece manga’s Chapter 1155 has introduced another figure who matches their power level, placing him among the highest echelons of strength throughout history. Intrigued? Let’s delve into what made Harald a formidable warrior.

King Harald Was As Strong As Roger, Rocks, Whitebeard, And Garp

The Strongest Of The Old Era

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 1136, “The Land That Awaits The Sun”
Story Arc Elbaf

Generally speaking, the colossal beings hailing from Elbaf are widely recognized as the strongest race across the globe. Their enormous stature and unrivaled physical strength are evident to all. So powerful are they that during the Final War, Imu acknowledged their importance and attempted to persuade them to fight on the side of the Celestial Dragons, as it is foretold they will aid Luffy in defeating these forces. In response, Imu sought to turn the race to his cause.

In the New World, legends speak of colossal beings that instilled fear for centuries, as no other force could match their immense power. Even the common Giants possessed capabilities surpassing the average human’s. Among these giants, there were ancient ones, bigger and stronger than their counterparts from all over the world. Out of all these ancient titans, only one man ever claimed the title of the mightiest king of Elbaf – Harald.

This painting depicts King Harald, known for his efforts to establish harmonious ties with foreign lands, and famed as Elbaf’s mightiest ruler.

From the outset, the Elbaf storyline hinted at Harald’s extraordinary strength and unyielding spirit. Yet, it wasn’t until Chapter 1155 that this assumption was confirmed. Loki’s flashback journeyed deep into the series history, revealing a Reverie from 56 years back, where Harald secretly attended to evaluate if Elbaf should join the World Government. Unfortunately for him, this was also the same Reverie where Rocks D. Xebec, the legendary pirate, would publicly emerge by slaying an Admiral.

The might of Rocks, a formidable adversary to Roger, is extensively portrayed within the realm of One Piece. Known as Roger’s initial and most powerful rival, even Roger and Garp had to combine forces to vanquish him during the God Valley Incident. Additionally, he stands alone among those who have ever slain an Admiral and demolished the Gates of Justice. While Oda has undeniably illustrated Rocks’ strength throughout the series, there are hints suggesting that Harald too possesses great power.

During this reverie, Harald and Rocks found themselves pursued across the Holy Land. Their paths ultimately crossed, leading to an immediate confrontation. In this encounter, they unleashed a fierce clash of Conqueror’s Haki, causing a devastating shockwave that spanned 5 kilometers, flattening anyone unfortunate enough to be nearby. Amidst the chaos, Rocks and Harald stood defiantly, seemingly evenly matched. A dark electrical energy surged from their battle, verifying both of them as masters of Conqueror’s Haki.

The solitary display indicating Harald’s possession of a seldom-seen power, coupled with his status as the strongest known descendant of Ancient Giants, unequivocally positions him among the most legendary characters in the realm of One Piece. For an extended period, Rocks extended invitations for him to join his crew, demonstrating that Xebec acknowledged and highly esteemed his remarkable strength.

So, How Did Harald Die If He Was Such A Powerful Character?

A Tragic Twist

  • Imu was the main culprit behind Harald’s assassination.

In the flashback from Elbaf, it was revealed that Harald truly deserved the title of Elbaf’s greatest monarch. This wasn’t just a nickname without substance. Harald prioritized diplomacy with neighboring countries above everything else throughout his life, striving to change Elbaf’s reputation as a brutal, barbaric nation. His efforts resulted in global recognition for his peaceful approach, but they may have also attracted the notice of Imu and the World Government.

It’s not yet definitive, but there’s widespread speculation that Imu suggested Elbaf join the World Government, an idea that Harald might have initially agreed to. However, as we’ve seen in previous chapters of this arc, it seems there was a hidden condition: Imu wanted this alliance to secure the loyalty of the Giants for the impending war. Eventually, Harald realized this and, in response, Imu is said to have murdered the king by manipulating his guards into doing his bidding.

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2025-07-22 20:36