One Piece wants everyone to know that the Straw Hat crew is very powerful when Luffy is away

One piece Fans are aware of the power and influence that the Straw Hats have over the pirate world of the series. Despite their humble beginnings as a small East Blue team, they have become one of the most fearsome groups to travel the seas. Its fame is often attributed to the incredible power demonstrated by its captain, Monkey D. Luffy, who is undoubtedly one of the strongest characters in the series.

However, the other members of this iconic and beloved pirate crew are nothing to scoff at. Each of the Straw Hats is an example of bravery, style and power, as they performed feats that no normal human being could imagine. One of the best examples of this comes from episode #998 of the anime, which portrayed one of the most exciting and cool scenes in the entire series.

Straw Hats don't bow, not even to a Yonko

Brook and Franky embody their team's ideals

During the intense battle inside Onigashima Castle in One pieceIn the incredible Land of Wano arc, the Straw Hat crew and their allies face the terrifying forces of Kaido and Big Mom. These two former Yonkos were respected and feared throughout the world due to their monstrous strength, cruel personalities, and impressive Devil Fruit abilities. Despite this, Luffy and his friends charged into battle armed with their bravery and an unbreakable will, hoping to defeat the tyrants and free their friends. The arc focused mainly on the captain, understandable given that he awakened Gear 5.

However, his loyal friends did not disappoint, with an incredible example of their bravery being shown in episode #998. At one point in this entry, Nami was being chased by Big Mom, who was angry at her for daring to steal Zeus and attack her in a previous episode. When the Yonko is just minutes away from picking up the navigator, Brook and Franky appear in the distance, riding the Kurosai FR-U IV, Franky's impressive motorcycle and a recent addition to the Thousand Sunny's Soldier Dock.

Franky and Brook are singing a song about freedom, probably Eiichiro Oda's homage to the many cycling superheroes of tosukatsu programs, like Kamen Rider. Franky runs over Big Mom's face with his wheels, while Brook calmly cuts Zeus in two, saying "Consider yourself sliced". The landing, however, is the icing on the cake of this scene. Franky apologizes for overlooking "something" and adds that "it's okay as long as it's not a flower." Nami's tears of gratitude and her cry of “brother!” complete one of the greatest sequences of One piece.

What makes it so special is that Nami was not rescued by the “monsters” of the crew, Luffy, Zoro, Sanji or Jinbei. However, neither Franky nor Brook showed any fear during this event, despite having provoked one of the most powerful pirates in the world. This says a lot about how confident they are in their abilities despite not being the strongest members of the crew. This trend continues later, during the Future Island arc, where all the Straw Hats contribute to defending themselves against attacks from the monstrous and unbeatable Five Elders.

The anime scene contains many details that make it even more incredible

From the music to the animation to the characters' personalities, everything fits together perfectly.

THE One piece The anime has often been praised for how incredible its battle scenes can be, thanks to the many elements that come together to create a memorable scene. The brief but epic encounter between Franky, Brook and Big Mom is an example of how anime can improve on the source material. While this scene is also great in the manga, it doesn't achieve the same raw “freshness” as the anime. The characterization of the Straw Hats is complemented by other elements of this unforgettable moment, such as music, which increases the feeling of admiration, helping the spectator to become emotional when witnessing this feat.

Although they are in the midst of an all-out war against Kaido's forces, the Straw Hat shipbuilder and musician does not adopt new personalities. Franky's comment about not wanting to hurt a flower fits perfectly with his cold but gentle manner. Brook never loses his elegance or style, and his movements remain graceful and calculated. This fight scene served as an incredible reminder to fans that no matter how powerful the Straw Hat crew becomes, they are still the same characters they adore.

Overall, this monumental moment between Franky, Brook, and Big Mom is an incredible way to demonstrate how far the Straw Hat crew has come. They know and trust their abilities and that of their companions, not afraid to face even the most powerful pirates in the world. His confidence, actions, music, and dialogue undoubtedly make this moment one of the most memorable scenes in all of history. One piece franchise. Anyone who doesn't get goosebumps watching this cannot be considered a true fan of the series.