@CrazyMerlyn:
An Admiral is decided on the basis of strength. They are strong people who were selected to be promoted. They didn't stop at Captain because there is no real reason to work for someone when you are much stronger than them.
Akainu and Fujitora seem to have bigger goals, but Kizaru hasn't been shown to have any concrete goal.
Aokiji is again someone without any real motivation or goal. He contested for Fleet Admiral because he didn't want to work for someone like Akainu.
No, I mean that within the realms of One Piece, conviction is strength, correct? If you went this far up in the ranks, you need to have more substance to yourself than just being strong.
Though, I'd like to point out that none of the Admirals have been really explored at this point in time, which makes sense, since they are a bit more late game enemies. It can still happen.
@CrazyMerlyn:
The Admirals have friends on the basis of their position and not because of themselves. If you remove Akainu and replace him with someone else strong enough to be an Admiral, the people will behave more or less the same way.
They are not really Sakazuki's followers. The are the "followers" of his position in Marines.
Now, this is directly contradicted by what people within the series believe. The entire idea behind Sakazuki and Aokiji fighting was that the winner would shape marines according to their own beliefs. Of course, the position plays a certain role in there, but I don't think person behind it is as irrelevant as you make it out to be.
@CrazyMerlyn:
That would be a part of being Conqueror because it has become a theme in One Piece. It isn't really in the definition of the word, but almost all people with CoC till now are known for their abilities to make allies and/or loyal followers.
I'm not sure. Those two things appear to be unrelated to one another to me…
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@RobZilla:
I think Teach's idea of what comes with being Pirate King is a whole lot different from Luffy's.
Luffy wants the position for it's inherent freedom, Teach just wants power.
I agree with that, but at the same time, it's not the only thing I meant.
I mean, the whole CoC business really, really unnerves me. Same with bloodlines. We know people are free to choose their own destinies within the realms of the series, but said destinies are often in line of what people expect of them because of their bloodlines.
Or rather… If the bloodline represents power, or authority, the children, if they are portrayed as positive characters, will rebel against it. If part of the bloodline represents freedom, they will choose it, and be glorified for it.
The same with CoC. It is ability, inherited at birth, that shows the capability of becoming conqueror. Whatever it be self-fullfilling prophesy or not, it does not matter; being born with it make you predestined to a certain kind of lifestyle.
I dunno. It feels like it's a bit contradictory in that regard.