Shanks is the strongest character in the One Piece Anime/Manga

I have no doubt that it will be fun and challenging! ===================================================================== Framework: There are two thing that need to be mentioned before I dwelve straight into my contentions, and that is the answer to this question: Haki or Devil Fruit(s), which one is more powerful? The answer is simple: Haki. But allow me to explain why: Let’s go back to the beginning of the series when we were at East Blue. At the beginning of the series Devil Fruits were simply myths. If you were to tell someone that you had a Devil Fruit, they would be in great amazement, and would state that you were a super-powerful person. However, as the series went on and we got into the Grand Line, we started to see that everyone had a Devil Fruit. There were loads of Devil Fruit users left and right, and just mere fact of owning a Devil Fruit was not enough to prove that you were strong - everyone had Devil Fruits so you really weren’t any more special than the next person. As the series progressed we got introduced to Haki, what it was, and what the three different types were. In the Grand Line, Haki is something that no one really knows of, but in the New World Haki is well aware by everyone. Haki is more powerful than Devil Fruits when compared. And Shanks - He has the greatest Haki of every person in One Piece. Secondly, We can’t just look at Destructive Power between these two characters; we have to look at the overall combat ability. It’s also Intelligence, Speed, etc. You have to look at all of the skills - not just Destructive Power And now, onto my contentions: Contention 1: It takes years to master the powers of a Devil Fruit The thing is that Blackbeard has only had ~3 years with his Devil Fruits. And it takes many many years to be able to master the Devil Fruit Powers When Luffy was a little kid, he was training with Ace and the others on the island, just to get to where he is today with his Devil Fruit ability. Even some other characters like Crocodile took many years to master his ability. Even if we look at Ace, who got his Devil Fruit after he left the island, he was pretty powerful. He could do a lot of cool attacks, but even he hadn’t mastered the technique that other logia users have, and that is to be able to move and travel as his own element. Crocodile, Kizaru, and Aokiji, just to name a few, could do this - but Ace couldn’t. Why? Because he hadn’t mastered his Devil Fruit to the fullest extent yet. Blackbeard has yet to master his Devil Fruit Powers, due to the fact that he hasn’t had them long enough. I don’t think, that at this moment, he could be considered the strongest. Contention 2: Shank’s Raw Physical power is immenseShanks used to have Daily Duels with Mihak. Every single day, he would fight the greatest Swordsman in the World. Now we don’t know when Mihak became the greatest swordsman, but it can be assumed that Mihawk was very powerful still at that point. Also, Shank’s sword is nothing special. It’s a very typical sword, that you would expect a regular marine soldier to have - not the most powerful Pirate in the World to have. There is nothing special about it, it’s just a regular saber, but he is still so good at using it. Contention 3: Strongest Haki in the One Piece World Shanks first used his Haki when the Sea King came, and bit his arm off. It has been ~10 years since then. Shanks has had a long time to perfect his Haki to the Max. We can see some examples as to why his Haki is so immense: 1. Encounter with Whitebeard - Conquerors Haki knocks out people, as far as we have seen. When Shanks was on Whitebeard’s ship, the ship was cracking. He was barely trying at all. He was just walking, and the Ship was breaking. Furthermore, people in Whitebeards crew were being knocked out, and once again - Shanks wasn’t even trying. 2. Stopped Akainu’s Magma Fist - Akainu was in Full Motion! This also proves that he has Busosoku Haki. Akainu was coming straight at Coby, and then. .. Shanks comes in. He blocks Akainu's Magma fist like it was nothing. 3. Weak Saber - As I mentioned earlier, Shanks has a really crappy sword. Yet it was still able to stop Akainu’s Magma Fist! And it was also able to stop Whitebeard’s Strike. Once again shows How much Haki he must have put into that strike. Contention 4: Blackbeard himself stated that he was not ready to face Shanks Once Blackbeard was able to obtain the Guro Guro No Mi, he went crazy. He was on a power-high trying to destroy ships, and he wanted to destroy the island. Senjoku was trying to stop him, but Blackbeard still didn’t stop. But when Shanks came, Blackbeard himself stated that he was not ready to fight Shanks yet. He essentially admits that Shanks is more powerful than him. Even with 2 Devil Fruits, he still didn’t think he had the skill/power to defeat Shanks. =====================================================================Those will be my arguments. I would just like to kindly remind my opponent to not post any rebuttals, and to only post his arguments. Just a reminder. Vote Pro! =====================================================================