Luffy vs Kizaru: Shockingly Short Fight, What Happened Next?

In the Egghead Arc, Admiral Kizaru was strategically positioned as a significant adversary. Not only did he hold a high rank within the Navy, but during the Marineford War, he effortlessly overpowered Luffy, raising expectations that he might be the final antagonist of the arc. As fans eagerly anticipated his confrontation with Monkey D. Luffy in Chapter 1091 titled “Sentomaru,” they prepared for a lengthy battle. The expectation was that this encounter would determine whether Luffy’s reputation as strong as portrayed on paper was valid, or if he still needed to progress further to truly deserve the title of Emperor.

In the anticipation, many assumed this battle would span numerous chapters. However, quite unexpectedly, it concluded in just three instalments starting from Chapter 1094 titled “The Five Elders, Godhead of Science and Defense, St. Jaygarcia Saturn.” Luffy managed to defeat Kizaru, and surprisingly, the character known as St. Jaygarcia Saturn revealed himself as the main adversary of the arc. Although Luffy had a brief skirmish with Kizaru again in Chapter 1109, the fight fell short of fan expectations in terms of length. Given the extensive build-up for Kizaru’s villainous role, it seems unusual that he was defeated so abruptly. Yet, this outcome aligns perfectly with what readers have been led to understand about power dynamics within the world of One Piece.

Originally published by Ajay Aravind on May 7, 2025: In the world of One Piece, the Egghead Arc has been replaced by the Elbaph Arc in the manga, giving fans a glimpse into the realm of giants and the Straw Hats. However, the anime is still showing the Egghead Arc episodes, culminating in Luffy’s fight against Kizaru in Episode 1128, which was released on May 4, 2025. Since Kizaru may be considering a change of loyalty, this article has been updated with his intriguing response to Luffy at the end of their battle.

How Was Luffy vs Kizaru Expected to Go in Egghead?

Luffy Has Grown Since Their Previous Fight in Marineford

It seems most logical for Luffy to defeat Kizaru in this encounter, given their previous history with the Admiral resulted in a humiliating loss. As Luffy has now declared himself “100 times stronger” than before, it’s important for him to win this fight to demonstrate the progress he and his crew have made. Fans were curious about how tough the battle would be, and many had assumptions that Kizaru would serve as the main antagonist in the Egghead Arc. This assumption persisted even after it was revealed Saturn would also be present on Future Island, since no one knew just how powerful the Elder could be.

Luffy Wasn’t an Emperor of the Sea at Marineford

In much the same way that many battles of this caliber stretch over numerous chapters, the showdown between Luffy and Kizaru was anticipated to be no exception. Despite Luffy’s physical prowess, Kizaru’s swift agility and battle acumen made him a formidable opponent. However, Luffy entered the fray with two distinct advantages. Firstly, he had recently been elevated to the rank of Emperor, a title that historically grants its bearer an edge against Admirals in the world of One Piece. While Admirals have proven capable of offering stiff resistance, they are generally outmatched by Emperors.

Although Luffy has just earned

Did Luffy vs Kizaru Go as Expected?

The Fight Between Luffy and Kizaru Was Surprisingly Short

Despite the widespread assumption that Kizaru would be the Egghead Arc’s ultimate antagonist, the length of the battle was unexpected. The fight commenced towards the end of Chapter 1091 and concluded midway through Chapter 1094, spanning just four chapters at most. This duration is relatively short compared to the extended battles that preceded it. However, the following chapter confirmed Saturn as the final boss of the arc. This was until Chapter 1109 when St. Marcus Mars, St. Topman Warcury, St. Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro, and St. Shepherd Ju Peter were summoned by Saturn. Over time, they formed the ultimate barrier to the Straw Hats’ escape from the Future Island.

Regarding the battle between Luffy and Kizaru: As anticipated, albeit brief, their fight sprawled across Future Island due to both characters’ high mobility. In the end, Luffy managed to hit Kizaru with Gomu Gomu no Star Gun, causing him significant harm. This suggests that Gear 5 was powerful enough to defeat an Admiral and validate the Emperor’s title. However, the battle came down to the last moments as Luffy depleted the final seconds of his transformation. Remarkably, their confrontation spanned three episodes in the anime, falling between Episodes 1126 and 1127. Despite this, there were numerous other battles and lengthy conversations that filled the remaining time.

Fans Expected More from Luffy vs Kizaru

The power of Luffy’s hidden strength can be demonstrated by the moves he didn’t utilize. In the current storyline, Luffy’s most potent attack is his Gum-Gum Bajrang Gun, a punch capable of demolishing a small island. Yet, he employed only his Gum-Gum Star gun to defeat Kizaru. Despite how powerful this new attack appears, it seems unlikely that it holds enough power to be considered Luffy’s latest ultimate move. Contrary to what fans initially believed, Kizaru’s speed was not the decisive factor in their battle. Although Kizaru was swift enough to block, his speed became inconsequential once Luffy activated Gear 5. Regardless of whether Kizaru’s reaction time was slow or Gear 5 was fast, they evenly matched each other.

Apart from his lightning speed not being a major factor, fans anticipated Kizaru to excel in other areas. They expected him to demonstrate advanced abilities like future-sight, Conqueror’s Haki, Devil Fruit Awakening, and more, similar to other antagonists. While he did show some new moves, they didn’t quite live up to his Marine Admiral rank. This was particularly noticeable when compared with Akainu and Kuzan, as Kizaru’s moves appeared somewhat underwhelming. However, it should be noted that Kizaru’s main goal wasn’t to fight Luffy; instead, he pursued his primary target, Dr. Vegapunk. If he had prioritized defeating Luffy, their encounter could have unfolded quite differently. Interestingly, the long-standing friendship between Vegapunk and Kizaru also hints at the Admiral’s later transformation.

Is Kizaru’s Role on Egghead Finished?

The Admiral Completed His Main Objective

During the initial phase of Saturn’s battle against Bonney, Luffy, Sanji, and Franky, Admiral Kizaru was immobilized due to severe injuries inflicted by Luffy. However, he rallied his strength later on to protect Saturn from attacks by Sanji and Franky, even managing to blast Franky from behind. His primary objective remained the elimination of Dr. Vegapunk, but he was eventually directed by Saturn to focus on killing Bonney and Bartholomew Kuma instead, deviating from his original mission.

In the heat of the battle, as Kizaru lunges towards their father and daughter, I slam him back with a fierce punch, momentarily halting our skirmish. Yet, before we could resume, an interruption occurred. I engaged Saturn in combat while Kizaru redirected his focus to his prime target – Vegapunk. Initially, Sanji managed to deflect Kizaru’s beams, but eventually, Kizaru struck a fatal blow, taking one of my oldest friends from us.

In the midst of sorrow, I activated Gear 5 and clobbered Kizaru with my signature move, Gomu Gomu no Dawn Cymbal. With a powerful smash, I sent Kizaru hurtling out to sea, claiming another victory against him in this very arc.

Although his affection for Vegapunk was strong, Kizaru’s choice to obey orders marked a turning point in his character development that could lead to significant changes in the future. With Vegapunk deceased, Kizaru lost the will to carry on fighting, as the loss of his closest friend became an unbearable burden. In truth, when Fleet Admiral Akainu contacted Kizaru about the situation, he subtly implied that Kizaru wasn’t performing optimally. This was when Kizaru lashed out at his superior in rage, asserting that Akainu couldn’t comprehend the grief of killing a friend. However, after apologizing for his insensitivity, the damage had already been done. Fans speculate that Kizaru’s actions will eventually lead him to become a hero.

Kizaru Could Come Back to Support the Straw Hats Later

Kizaru Was the One Who Fed Luffy in Chapter 1103

Kizaru completed what was necessary, demonstrating just how far Luffy and his Straw Hat crew have progressed during their journey while preserving his role as an adversary by fulfilling his own objectives. After recovering swiftly from his encounter with Luffy and overpowering Sanji, it’s clear that Kizaru hasn’t yet reached the pinnacle of his abilities. This implies there’s a good chance he could return in the future, possibly as an ally. A subtle hint at Kizaru’s potential character shift occurred right after his initial clash with Luffy, a hint that fans have picked up on.

In a state of exhaustion and injury, Luffy hollered for something to eat, aiming to restore his energy. Usually, food is his quick fix for refueling, but the chaos surrounding him made it impossible for anyone to supply him with sustenance. Nevertheless, Saturn was taken aback when he saw Luffy eating at the exact spot where he had fallen. The identity of the one who brought the food remained a mystery, and Saturn instantly suspected it was one of Luffy’s friends. Many fans deduced that it was Kizaru himself due to the Admiral’s lightning-fast speed, and this suspicion was later validated by Oda in SBS Volume 110.

Given Oda’s knack for humorous dialogues, it seems clear that Kizaru’s unexpected assistance to Luffy, as hinted by his “speed of light” comment and reference to his name, portrays the Admiral as an unlikely savior for our hero. This occurred before he allegedly killed Vegapunk and appeared to lose trust in the Marines – since Kizaru hasn’t made an appearance since reprimanding Akainu – fans speculate that Kizaru may have been on the brink of moral ambiguity when he helped Luffy. While there is a precedent for career changes, like Kuzan who left the Marines to join the Blackbeard Pirates, it’s unlikely that Kizaru will follow in his footsteps. If he comes to the conclusion that the Five Elders are the true threat, Kizaru might instead ally himself with the Straw Hat crew or their allies.

2025-05-08 08:08