Still to this day i think Im is the single worst decision in OP. Or maybe not Im in itself, which i suppose could've been fine, but rather that it took decades to even hint at it's existance and the effect suddenly throwing it into the endgame has had on the world building up to then.
I honestly don't even want to start theorizing about Imu, because the whole reveal was just that bizarre. Impossible for me to judge either way at this point.
But on the subject of "secret endboss in the basement", if Imu is actually that and not just some weird oracle figurehead:
I always thought that there would be a bigger force behind what was introduced so far, even past the Great Balance of Power between Marines and Yonkou. Because the idea that the fate of a 200+ country strong World Government lies in the hands of 3-5 Admiral-level characters is just as surreal to me. Always was.
Like, what would happen if not only Kuzan, but also Akainu and Kizaru go rogue? What stops those handful of characters from turning on the Government, ruling the world how they see fit? Something or someone is stopping them from even considering that.
And this goes on for several hundred years now. Different times, different admirals. Were they just lucky to always have a stable cadre of super powerful and obedient marines? Or is there something else keeping everything together? Something more tangible than "duty" or "justice"?
Maybe Oda should have hinted at Imu earlier, but maybe there is no need for that if Imu is not such a big deal after all. But that there is something waiting behind the scenes? No need to mentally prepare me for that. I would actually welcome a good explanation for what I described above.
With Coby going up so fast in ranks I wonder who actually decided when someone get's a higher rank. In the upper regions it should be Akainu right?
I would think he will have a problem with the marine that stopped him in the marineford war.
I doubt the upper levels are concerned with promotions on such a relatively inconsequential level. If Oda didn't make a mistake then Coby is a Rear-Admiral, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things. Even Vice Admirals (the next rank?) are plentiful and not exactly that impactful when we look at the big picture.
Coby is clearly depicted as a fast learner and he will obviously be an Admiral post EOS, but as of now this is not that outrageous.
I assume it's Vice-Admiral and higher where you would see people brainstorming promotions, Akainu included.