SWORD aren’t like regular Marines in the One Piece world. Here’s a closer look at the differences between the two.
The Marines are one of the biggest and most powerful organizations in One Piece. It was created years prior to the beginning of the story to nullify the threat of the pirates and protect the sovereignty of the World Government. While the Marines are supposed to represent justice, they aren’t necessarily moral. Throughout the series, One Piece fans have seen several instances where the Marines have committed worse deeds than the pirates or any other criminals. Due to the organization being so massive, there are lots of different ideologies. Absolute justice is the most followed, despite being extremely radical. The Ohara Incident perfectly exemplifies how bad the ideology really is. As if the decision to murder scholars wasn’t bad enough in itself, Akainu decided to destroy the ship carrying the innocent civilians of Ohara. He stated that he didn’t want to take any risks.
In the Marineford arc, Akainu showed his ruthless side again, as he mercilessly slaughtered one pirate after another. Furthermore, he went after any Marine who tried to intervene. While most of the Marines appreciated Akainu’s actions, there were a few who questioned his approach, although they weren’t vocal about it. Once the Summit War was over, Akainu and Aokiji were shortlisted to become the next Fleet Admiral. Akainu was backed by many higher-ups, while Aokiji was only supported by Sengoku. Due to their inability to come to a conclusion, they decided to fight at Punk Hazard. After several days of fighting, the cul-de-sac was finally broken, and Akainu emerged as the winner. He was appointed Fleet Admiral, and Aokiji left the Marines. This was an extremely significant event in the story, and it most likely led to the creation of SWORD.
What is SWORD?
SWORD is a secretive branch of the Marines that is entirely made up of those people, who in a way have already handed in their resignations. While they are technically still Marines, they are not obligated to follow orders from the higher-ups. However, the choice to not obey orders comes at a price. In exchange for becoming a member of the SWORD, they run the risk of being abandoned in their time of need. The Marines do not take responsibility for their actions, and they are not required to rescue them in case they run into some trouble. Due to this reason, Koby would have remained Blackbeard’s prisoner if it weren’t for Garp’s decision to go to Hachinosu.
The members of SWORD have the freedom to go after anyone that they like, including the Yonko. This is another thing that separates them from the regular Marines, who have to wait for orders before engaging any of the Yonko or any other big-name criminals. When Blackbeard captured Koby, he was not aware that the latter was a member of SWORD. The Yonko wanted to use Koby as a bargaining chip to strike a deal with the World Government. But his plans took a hit when he found out about Koby’s actual position.
What Role Will SWORD Play In The Story?
Considering the fact that SWORD is going after the Yonko and other big-name pirates, there is every chance that they will be involved in some of the major battles in the final saga. They have already been involved in the massive war in Wano Country, and in Chapter 1080, it was revealed that Monkey D. Garp and many other Marines had made their way to Hachinosu to rescue Koby. Garp is known for being reckless and doing whatever he wants, but it was refreshing to see other Marines follow in his footsteps. On the last page of the chapter, Garp was seen using Galaxy Impact, an attack powered by Advanced Haoshoku Haki. It was so potent that it destroyed an entire array of buildings. It’s safe to say that this was only a glimpse of Garp’s strength. After seeing the attack, it is not surprising that he was the only Marine who could fight Gol D. Roger.
The battle between the Marines and the Blackbeard Pirates will have severe consequences. Both sides could potentially suffer casualties. There is also a slight chance that Aokiji might also decide to betray Blackbeard now. The former Admiral perfectly fits the mold of a SWORD member, and it is highly likely that he is the mastermind behind the entire operation. Aokiji has been inspired by Garp, who doesn’t like to do the bidding of the Celestial Dragons, and it is likely that he might have also picked up the idea. If Aokiji does double-cross Blackbeard, the latter would suffer a major setback. It would also give the Marines a major advantage in the battle, as there is hardly any other character apart from Blackbeard who can match Aokiji’s strength.
Aside from the battle at Hachinosu, there will undoubtedly be many more events featuring the members of SWORD. There is also a small but possible chance of SWORD siding with Monkey D. Dragon and the Revolutionary Army. This is something that fans might see before the final war, as the two organizations have a few things in common. So far, all SWORD members have condemned the bootlicking done by the Marines. They also do not like how the Marines go against the idea of justice just to please the Celestial Dragons and the Five Elders. Monkey D. Dragon is also against the current regime. Therefore, an alliance isn’t completely out of the question. Whether this prediction comes true or not, both organizations are extremely important to the story. There is no doubt that fans will learn more about them in the upcoming chapters.
Src: gamerant.com
