User blog comment:Ricizubi/Luffy's Evolution and why becoming pirate king is going to be quite a storytelling challenge/@comment-24850639-20180425150311/@comment-3986064-20180426150429

Do you consider it possible though that Oda might try to break away from the meta-narratives of Shounen Manga? The tried and tested formula of Dragon Ball has worked, but it only functions to a certain pace. Within ten more years, even the kids from today will have grown up to the point where they would understand and enjoy a change from the meta - respectively "final boss, Luffy strongest character in the series" type thing.

While at that point, the only three realistic options that I see for Luffy would be - the awakening, an incredible boost in haki or a leap in strength after an insurmountable battle (one in which dying and winning against death could be a potential wall-break - even though I strongly stand against having a main charater [esp. the protagonist] die in order to become stronger - DB, Bleach or with Kakashi in Naruto - even more annoyingly with Madara). Oda either writes longer than he anticipates or rushes the story to get Luffy to become the strongest character.