Latest One Piece chapter may have just introduced a character beyond the Yonko

One Piece has never ceased to amaze fans with an abundance of jaw-dropping twists, and the newest chapter may be the most shocking of them all. Chapter 1158 focuses on a new character that could rival, or possibly surpass, the strength of the Yonko, the infamous four pirate emperors that influence the seas.

As fans are aware, the Yonko are perceived as the rulers of the New World that cannot be interfered with, but also some of the most powerful individuals. Eiichiro Oda has now introduced a character whose strength is on par with that standard. The power dynamics in One Piece may never be the same after this.

Disclaimer: The article reflects the writer's opinion and includes spoilers from the One Piece manga.

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How One Piece chapter 1158 may have just introduced a character more powerful than the Four Emperors, explained

Rocks fights on the same level as Harald in One Piece (Image via Shueisha)

One Piece chapter 1158 has given an expected reveal, confirming a character whose authority exceeds even that of the Yonko. For years, the Yonko have stood as the utmost powers of the sea, emperors of the New World, respected and feared as rulers who sit at the top of the pirate hierarchy.

Big Mom held terrifying endurance, and Kaido was nearly invincible, but each Yonko is defined by a level of strength that few in the world could dream of matching. But even with this, Eiichiro Oda just revealed someone who has the power to break that ceiling. Readers are again awed by how the power system in One Piece is in a continual state of change.

The character in question is King Harald of Elbaf, the land of giants. While Harald was introduced earlier, fans still likely did not grasp how strong he was or how much influence he could have. Fans assumed he would be strong, yet even a few were thinking he would be placed at the same level as Rocks D. Xebec, who is among the greatest pirates in history.

King Harald could be more powerful than a Yonoko in One Piece (Image via Shueisha)

Rocks has been depicted as a monster even higher than Whitebeard at his peak, and Roger himself considered him his greatest rival. To equate Harald with Rocks is to place him on par with the all-time legends of the One Piece universe.

Oda's storytelling explicitly expressed this power comparison during Harald's confrontation with Rocks. Oda illustrated their encounter at Mary Geoise as so destructive that it blew everything away within a 5 km radius. The sheer power of two sailors involved in a fight that essentially eliminated every object in that area shows the sheer power of one side of this power comparison.

Later, Oda ensured Harald's stature by explaining that he fought Rocks until the two lay on the ground and knocked each other out as equals. This confirmation essentially meant that Harald shall, in fact, exist in another level above most of the Yonko, rivaling characters that were considered the strongest characters in the world at the same time in history.

Loki as seen in the manga (Image via Shueisha)

Harald's introduction entails massive implications for the series. For one, it fleshed out Elbaf's significance, which has been mentioned previously and hinted as the major upcoming location in its Final Saga. It also raises further questions about how many other hidden figures in the world might be players on the same level or even beyond the Yonko, changing the perspective of fans of the world of One Piece around its power comparison.

If Harald is better than Whitebeard and possibly even close to Roger, fans can only imagine how much Harald's existence can influence the path of Luffy and the Straw Hats in the future.

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Final thoughts

One Piece chapter 1158 has raised the stakes by introducing King Harald as a character who might be equal to or even more powerful than the Yonko. His battle against Rocks D. Xebec cemented Harald as one of the strongest characters fans have ever seen, and pulled the thread on an entirely new level of power in the series.

Given that Elbaf will play a huge role during the Final Saga, Harald guarantees that things will be a lot more uncertain than fans ever dare imagine.

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