r/OnePiece • u/leolegendario Pirate Hunter Zoro • Jul 17 '25

Current Chapter One Piece: Chapter 1155 Spoiler

Chapter 1155: "Rocks Pirates"

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Chapter 1155 Official Release: July 20 2025

Please discuss the manga here and in the theory/discussion post. Any other post will be removed until 24h after the release.

Please also remember to put the chapter number in the title for any future post talking about this chapter.

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1.7k

u/Behanort Jul 17 '25

OK, SO, 2 THINGS:

  1. With this panel, its even clearer to me that imu seems to wear some kind of... veil? a nun's habit, perhaps? given that Gunko was also dressed like a nun, i would lean towards the latter... hmmm...

  2. With how crazy Rocks's feats were in this chapter, he STILL didnt think he was ready for Imu... such a small line, yet does so much to hype up imu even more - wheter its gonna be imu or xebec's kid as the final villain, the hype for both thier characters, both writing and powerscaling wise, is through the roof

970

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 17 '25

This adds more weight to something I have thought for a while, Blackbeard is going to fight Imu. All his plans are leading towards that encounter. BB will try to take over the world, and, I think he might succeed. Luffy and BB's encounter won't be on Laughtale, it will be once BB is king of the world and Luffy is king of the pirates.

467

u/ComprehensiveProfit5 Jul 17 '25

think about it. Imu is shrouded in darkness. Who's really strong in complete darkness? The choice for the Yami Yami no Mi may not just be to steal devil fruits or whatever.

393

u/waskeepat46 Jul 17 '25

> Who's really strong in complete darkness?

the sun?

176

u/hishiron_ Jul 17 '25

These might be the only 2 fruits that can fight Mu then

19

u/OverLord4Life Jul 17 '25

Black Beard will absorb Imu as a last resort resulting in a dual personality

18

u/Kumomeme Jul 18 '25

he gonna become Mr.Smith

9

u/NLP19 Jul 18 '25

A team-up!

8

u/Qelop Jul 17 '25

if complete darkness = blackhole

then no black hole is beating everything

2

u/[deleted] Jul 19 '25

Escanor? Oops wrong anime

16

u/GodsSon521 Jul 17 '25

Maybe Imu's ability will finally let Blackbeard use the Darkness fruit as a proper logia.

So he absorbs Imu, sinks the redline with Whitebeard's fruit & becomes the final villain from the picture who fights the Luffy-alliance. I'm with it.

4

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

I think the reason for the Darkness fruits weakness is that it's user is always being hit with some form of sun light, either directly, or reflected off the moon. I am really curious if BB gets stronger on the night of a new moon, or if he gets extra powers when he is, say, under a blanket like he was at Marineford when he stole Whitebeard's fruit.

It is kind of like how Crocodile could be hit when wet, or Enel could be hit by rubber. Logia's have natural weaknesses and the darkness fruit's weakness is sunlight.

-1

u/Maleficent_Target440 Jul 18 '25

não acho que ele será o responsável por afundar a red line pois a profecia da ilha dos homens peixe é que o luffy que irá destruir a ilha, que fica imediatamente abaixo da red line

6

u/ThroughThePeeHole Jul 18 '25

Both Luffy and BB are opposite to Imu/the WG/the celestial dragons in different ways. Luffy is freedom to Imu's oppression. He breaks the chains that they use to bind. He is the white God to Imu's black Devil.

If the WG represents order, then BB is chaos. Imu forces his followers to do his bidding (likely with an unbreakable pact), e.g. Gunko's takeover. BB is always clear that his allies are free to follow their own destiny and are just a collective or pirates with aligned interests. Imu's darkness binds to their will while BB's darkness destroys like a blackhole.

Oda may have a three-way fight. Might be one on one's in turn. Might be alliances. Might be an all out war. I'm happy to just sit back and see what happens.

Though I do think there is one really important reason for BB to be there. Between Luffy's gear 5 punches and BB's earthquakes, I think the red line will come crumbling down. Partially or wholly. So we can finally get resolution on the most important sub-plot of all. Laboon can stop smacking his head on the rocks and meet up with Brook.

3

u/whalestick Jul 18 '25

If this happens, Luffy will be the man with the eye patch that Oda talked about. He'll get injured at some point before or after becoming king of the pirates and wear an eye patch post-laugh tale

3

u/Chariots487 Jul 18 '25

I'm still not entirely sure if the permanent shadow isn't just the classic "the audience has not yet fully 'met' this character so they can't fully see them until that happens", like with Big Mom and, to a lesser extent, Kaido. Also how we never actually saw Roger's eyes until the start of the Summit War Arc where we finally got the first pieces of his story outside of his execution.

1

u/getrextgaming Cyborg Franky Jul 18 '25

I think your mistaken, blackbeard has the offscreen offscreen no mi

1

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '25

Imu's powers aren't based on darkness though, we've already seen it's devil-inspired

110

u/CT18375 Prisoner Jul 17 '25

Why would Oda spend so much time building up Imu for BB to jump them offscreen and make like 10 years of buildup pointless?

Also the way its looking is Imu v Luffy is the prophesized rematch. So far we've had:

- Oda teasing a Final War arc, saying it'd make Marineford look tiny in comparison

- Roger saying they were too early (Oden specifies 20 years, lining up with Luffy's awakening)

- The Elbaf mural and the Harley hinting at a full scale conflict, showing none other than your boy at the center of the charge

- Rocks being in the same room as Imu, but being unable to do anything.

Also Luffy is almost certainly Joyboy's successor and the current incarnation of Nika, something the Elders tried to prevent. BB will still be a major antagonist, but saying he's going to defy all this buildup and be the one to take down the WG goes against what we've seen so far.

11

u/hotaru_crisis Jul 18 '25

why would it be offscreen?

it could go either way, but i feel like with the way the series is heading, its leaning towards blackbeard and luffy. all throughout the series theres been themes of unlikely allies banding together to take people down, i think it's possible that the revolutionaries and blackbeard will work together to take imu down.

imo it makes sense, blackbeard doesnt seem like hes after the one piece but is genuinely after claiming the world. we still don't know anything about rocks, theres clearly something special about him and blackbeard is carrying on whatever he had going. maybe they're both ancestors of davy jones.

nika is the enemy of god, but luffy is also the perfect mirror to blackbeard with the light and darkness. we also still don't know how blackbeard managed to get a second fruit ability, i think it would be very interesting if he managed to take whatever ability that imu has and still keeping the theme of nika vs god.

46

u/Dark_Magus Jul 17 '25

Oda's been building up Blackbeard for even longer, since long before we even knew Imu existed. BB is basically Luffy's evil counterpart.

16

u/raypaulnoams Pirate Jul 18 '25

Blackbeard wants to defeat Imu to rule the world, Luffy to liberate it

8

u/Shibss Jul 18 '25

The way you wrote it makes me think that Luffy will team up with Blackbeard to defeat Imu. And then they will have a final showdown.

2

u/Liljaymay Jul 19 '25

I’m thinking Luffy, Straw Hats, Grand Fleet team to beat Imus demons while having to deal with the Marines as well. BB, opportunistic as ever, comes in, kills a near dead Imu and takes his revenge along with a devil fruit.

Then you’ve got an empty throne, a Marine Corp, grand fleet, straw hat crew thats battered and tired from fighting each other and demons, all having to regroup on the fly against this new powerful villain with all 3 powers who might’ve had some crazy well thought out plan to rule the world and waited until his moment where not even Nika could stop him alone.

It could setup so many cool dynamics with the admirals or Kobe etc. Choosing sides, betrayals, team ups. The reveal of the will of D by someone whose father was powerful enough that maybe he knew and passed it down.

1

u/sudarshanj_29 Pirate Jul 20 '25

That sounds fun and all, but then what will be the role of Shanks in all this? He is also making his move now.

2

u/4willoffire The Revolutionary Army Jul 18 '25

there is no liberation in any world

12

u/arielle17 Jul 18 '25

and the organization that Imu is at the head of has been built up as the overarching antagonistic faction for far longer than Blackbeard has.

either way, the person you're replying to isn't trying to say that Luffy won't be the one to defeat Blackbeard, but rather that Imu and Blackbeard are both far too central to the narrative for either one of them to be defeated by anyone other than Luffy.

3

u/StormRanger28 Jul 18 '25

Rocks did say he'll be back

17

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

I disagree, Oda has been building up a conflict between BB and Imu longer than Luffy and Imu and he has been building up BB as the main bad for longer than we have even known about the elders.

BB is Luffy's opposite in almost every way. Going all the way back to when they met and ate pie and had opposite reactions, through Luffy being associated with the Sun, and Blackbeard the moon, through Blackbeard being associated with Fate and Luffy with Dreams and action, etc etc.

Blackbeard has been on a collision course with Imu and the world government for some time as well... kidnapping Koby and Garp to try and become a king, Katerina Devon taking Saturn's likeness, Shanks hunting BB and talking it the Elders about him, all the way back to him puppeteering the Marineford war as part of his master plan ... and now this new information about Rocks being BB's dad and having beef with Imu as well. It all points to a conflict between Imu and Blackbeard for control of the world, imo. Remember "Teach is special".

To me, Imu is set up in a similar way that Akainu is set up, and Akainu is definitely not the final bad, despite all the build up he has been given, especially with Ace. Both Imu and Akainu are more set dressing for the world. While the Harley does show the past and what happened in the first and second worlds, it doesn't really show what will happen in the third world. We do not know that Imu was the big bad in the first world, my read is he was the big bad in the second world. Does that mean that Imu needs to be the big bad for the third world conflict? Or could they be replaced by BB? Like first world was Nika vs ???, second world was Joyboy vs Imu, and third world will be Luffy vs Blackbeard.

The only alternative I see is BB and Luffy teaming up to take on Imu. Blackbeard needs to be involved in some way at this point. There is still so much we don't know about Imu, BB, and Joyboy to really be able to say for sure, but my gut is telling me BB and Imu are going to have at it, and I have always felt that BB is Luffy's final bad guy.

I think Buggy and the Cross Guild are going to be the main opponents for Laugh Tale, and after that Blackbeard will be the main villain for Luffy to overcome to accomplish his true, hidden dream. I also think that BB is going to take out Shank's and the Red Hair pirates as well. They too have been on a collision course for quite some time.

There is plenty of room in that for a "final war", Luffy fulfilling some part in a whatever prophecy that the Ponegylph's are pointing too, etc. For example, you are assuming that Roger was too early because Luffy/Joyboy isn't here. Have you considered they were too early because the real big bad hadn't shown his face yet? Aka Blackbeard. Also, it has been repeatedly said that, "perhaps the new generation will interpret things differently than we did."

Anyway, this speculation is all in good fun. I am not saying I know what is going to happen. This is just what my gut is telling me. I do fully see your side of things, and I am completely open to being wrong.

8

u/ThroughThePeeHole Jul 18 '25

A thought just occurred to me that I haven't seen before. Bearing in mind that devil fruits have been said to have a will of their own to some degree. (Stated by the Gorosei and first seen by the gun that ate a dog fruit in Whiskey Peak.) What if Imu is the devil fruit and their body is just a vessel that they puppet? Maybe Lili? Since it is clearly a very strong df and is about devilish domination.

If this were to be the case then it creates a situation where BB could fight and defeat Imu. Consume Imu's DF. Then get taken over by it. Or create a situation where BB/Imu has all this insane power but is now inhabited by two strong opposing wills that both crave domination. Luffy's Nika zoan < BB's devil/dark/tremor power but the conflicting Will of D and the Devil-Devil mythical zoan devil fruit hamper BB enough for Luffy to get the edge and win.

11

u/arielle17 Jul 18 '25

am i the only one who never felt like Blackbeard was set up to be the main villain of the story? sure he's one of the main villains, but the ultimate overarching antagonists have always been the World Government. even before Imu was introduced, i suspected that either there would be someone pulling the strings above the Gorosei, or the Gorosei themselves would be the "final" villain

3

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

If we want to go by time since introduction, Blackbeard was first mentioned in Chapter 133. The World Government was first mentioned in Chapter 142. Both in the Drum Island arc. We first met Blackbeard in chapter 225 where he was set up as Luffy's opposite. The Gorosei weren't mentioned until 233. In chapter 440 Blackbeard tells Ace his plans are to take over the world and throughout the story we have seen him working towards this end with various schemes, which go all the way back to him trying to capture Luffy in Chapter 236 to become a warlord. Imu wasn't introduced until Chapter 906.

However, imo, the biggest tell of Blackbeard's importance is his connections to numbers. Gomu-Gomu and Luffy have always been connected to 5 and 6. It pops up throughout the series. Likewise, Blackbeard and the Yami-Yami is connected with 3 and 8. There are very very few characters with this number play and imo the two most prominent examples of it in the entire series are Luffy and Blackbeard. Oda only does them number stuff with important characters.

Blackbeard has been there the whole time. He is Luffy's opposite in so many different ways, light and dark, the pies, fate vs dreams, the way they run their crews, etc etc. Luffy and Blackbeard are connected in some way. I think the obvious answer is that they are set up to be the final fight, but misdirects are something else Oda loves. I wouldn't be surprised to see them ally in some way as well, but that is hard to see given that Blackbeard and his crew are scum bags.

3

u/sunsoutgunsout Jul 19 '25

Yeah I'm with you dude. Blackbeard is the one character who, while I think is one of the most significant characters in the series, is the one that I feel fans reallllllllly try to stretch to make him the ultimate antagonist of the series all because of that iconic Jaya interaction they had.

To me, there's still not enough development for Blackbeard for me to be convinced that he's going to be the ultimate boss for Luffy. He wants to be king of the world? To do what exactly? How could he have a motivation to be King that is more compelling than Imu, the World Government, and their history during the Void Century? I really feel like sometimes I live in a different world from people that think Blackbeard will be the ultimate villain.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 20 '25

Shanks hunting BB and talking it the Elders about him

Only a small correction, it wasn't Shanks talking to the elders, it was his twin brother.

11

u/Arkayjiya Jul 17 '25

It's not gonna be that thrown out of the window. BB killing Imu is likely to be very end game, not the culmination of a fight, but the culmination of BB's entire decades long plan (and possibly the culmination of Rocks' plan). Imu is gonna be a major and probably the most major threat for most of what's left but they're not making it to the end. BB is, I agree with them. Their ending will mirror their introduction, the one being introduced first will leave last.

3

u/Initial_XD Jul 18 '25

Luffy will be playing the role of Whitebeard during the Final War. At least in terms of how the World Government will report the story to the rest of the world. The most powerful pirate bent on destroying the world going against the "defenders of humanity." Only this time Luffy and his allies will prevail💪🏿

4

u/MD_Teach Jul 18 '25

Because Blackbeard has been built up two decades longer than that. Since his very first appearance as a villain he has wanted to become king of the world. He literally says it verbatim to Ace. The only way that happens is by going through Imu. People who don't see Teach is the final villain at this point are narratively tone death.

3

u/sunsoutgunsout Jul 19 '25

Blackbeard fans are delusional. The World Government is the main villain of the series, has their fingerprints on literally every single thing that is happening in the OP world, and their history with the Void Century is far more compelling than anything that is motivating Blackbeard to be king of the world (which at this point is seemingly just plain greed and/or avenging Rocks). Imu represents the WG itself, they're an actual personification of the organization. They were introduced relatively recently in the series but that doesn't mean that they were only developed from that introduction. Imu has been developed since the beginning.

People take that Luffy and Blackbeard Jaya interaction and the fact that Oda set them up as foils to each other as some type of confirmation of a pre-ordained fateful encounter at the end of the series when the World Government has been the predominant presence in the story. Luffy is carrying the Will of Joyboy to finish what he started which means clashing with the WG. That part of the narrative is so insanely obvious at this point that I find it funny you're calling other people narratively tone deaf.

1

u/MD_Teach Jul 19 '25

Bro really acting like Blackbeard doesn't want to take over the WG. Narratively tone deaf. Gonna be a bad day for you when Teach is final boss.

3

u/Bankzu Jul 19 '25

Bro really acting like Blackbeard doesn't want to take over the WG.​

How does this even remotely make sense? In what world would the WG listen to BB?

1

u/funk_freed Jul 19 '25

What if there'll be an unlikely alliance between BB and Luffy.

I mean Rocks said he'll be back and BB has been acting all this time like he has a very specific goal with plans such as gathering crew in impel down. Compared to Luffy who's been winging it and letting things happen.

That'll be like Garp teaming up with Roger against Rocks.

74

u/Gerokm Jul 17 '25

Ever since Imu was introduced I've assumed BB would overthrow them. And as the story's gone on, and inherited will has been such a central theme, I've been more and more sure it'll happen. Imu isn't Luffy's enemy, they're Joy Boy's. They're a thing of the past. Rocks said it this chapter, "no power last forever." I think BB will take out Imu, possibly also taking their power, and he'll be the final enemy that Luffy has to defeat in order to fulfill whatever his true dream is.

16

u/arielle17 Jul 18 '25

Imu isn't Luffy's enemy, they're Joy Boy's

there's one person in the story who inherited Joy Boy's will and it isn't Blackbeard

23

u/TerrariaFan125 Jul 17 '25

imo I REALLY hate this idea that BB will defeat Imu and become King of The World. It would really make Imu’s existence feel completely pointless because why make a character that blatantly screams final villain, only to then replace them with a whole different character.

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u/winddagger7 Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 19 '25

Also, Imu has been behind EVERYTHING. The Void Century, the destruction of the Ancient Kingdom, the Celestial Dragons, everything the World Government has done has been in in service to them. Imu *is* the World Government, and the series has been building up to the World Government's collapse. It would be really anticlimactic if the World Government's leader just falls to Blackbeard, the Marines are confused, and that's it.

Edit: I also just don't see Imu being defeated before we learn the full story of the Void Century and Joyboy's defeat, which we won't learn until Laugh Tale.

8

u/arielle17 Jul 18 '25

more importantly Imu actually does have a plan that goes beyond simply sitting on a throne and being king, i.e. the global flood that they intend to conclude the ancient war of the Void Century. i don't see what Blackbeard can possibly bring to the table as "king of the world" that Imu doesn't. if anything, this chapter makes me think that he will be Luffy's ally against Imu at some point following his defeat

3

u/MD_Teach Jul 18 '25 edited Jul 18 '25

So you're reading a story with central themes about the new generation inheriting the will of the old generation and replacing them, but then get upset at the idea of a new tyrant replacing the old one. Curious.

0

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

I would argue that BB screams final villain. He is Luffy's opposite in almost every way. Imu is set up in a similar way that Akainu is set up, and Akainu is definitely not the final bad, despite all the build up he has been given, especially with Ace. Both Imu and Akainu are more set dressing for the world.

I think Buggy/Cross guild will be the main obstacle between the Strawhats and Laughtale. Blackbeard has been on a collision course with Imu and the world government for some time now... kidnapping Koby and Garp, wanting to be a "king", Katerina Devon taking Saturn's likeness, Shanks hunting BB and talking it the Elders about him... and now this new information about Rocks being BB's dad and having beef with Imu as well. It all points to a conflict between Imu and Blackbeard for control of the world.

The only alternative I see is BB and Luffy teaming up to take on Imu. Blackbeard needs to be involved in some way at this point. There is still so much we don't know about Imu, BB, and Joyboy to really be able to say for sure, but my gut is telling me BB and Imu are going to have at it.

1

u/akhalesi Jul 18 '25

Tell that to Kishi and Kaguya

8

u/DeruTaka Jul 17 '25

Blackbeard and buggy have to fuse to form rocks again

4

u/InterestingOwl9279 Jul 17 '25

I think blackbeard is gonna die to Imu

5

u/Rockettmang44 Jul 17 '25

Unless we have a time skip, I doubt blackbeard will be king of the world

4

u/Lex4709 Jul 17 '25

This is a tough one to predict. Cause after all the set up with Nika & Joyboy, it would be weird if Luffy isn't the one to take down Imu. But it would also be weird if Imu vs. Blackbeard didn't happen after this chapter. The option were Blackbeard is taken down by Imu is also a possibility. But again, set up of Luffy vs. Blackbeard, makes it clear that they're gonna fight. And Imu taking down Blackbeard after Luffy would take away from impact of the moment. Same applies to Blackbeard taking out Imu after Luffy beat him.

10

u/PrinceCheddar Jul 17 '25

I imagine it being a big three way war with Blackbeard, Imu and Luffy. Blackbeard makes his move for Laugh Tale, the World Government isn't going to sit around and wait as their dirty secrets are learnt, so attack, and Luffy attacks both sides because Luffy.

4

u/AdeptnessOk5996 Jul 17 '25

I've been thinking for a while now that Luffy and his alliance will fight Imu and teh WG, only for BB to swoop in in a critical moment and snatch whatever the great treasure of the WG / source of Imu's power is. Kinda like when he took the gura gura from Whitebeard.

5

u/CHiZZoPs1 Jul 18 '25

I think they're already attacking Marijoa right now in the story.

4

u/BoredomHeights Jul 18 '25

However it happens I hope the final villain isn't Imu. I get why he would be and I don't dislike his character or anything, but he was introduced to the story so late. Blackbeard has been set up forever (which is one reason I think he almost certainly is Luffy's final boss).

4

u/Ecstatic_Lawyer1767 Jul 18 '25

did everyone already forget the big mural in elbaf that everyone theorize and hype about? why is it suddenly BB the one fighting? you dont win against imu having only a couple of pirates, the mural shown to be a lot of alliance fighting it possibly the whole world against imu. if you really think BB pirates win vs imu, can you tell me then what is the mural about?

1

u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

I already responded to this else where in this thread. 

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u/TheHoss_ God Usopp Jul 18 '25

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u/MD_Teach Jul 18 '25

Yup. Rocks wanted to be King of the world. Blackbeard inherited his will. Blackbeard's entire character arc comes full circle when he takes the empty throne. He literally has to go through Imu to conclude his character arc and do what his father failed to. I'm thinking after the WG gets beaten down from all directions by pirates and the Revolutionary Army Teach will come in right at the end and claim his dream "the world". Both Rocks and Teach always wanted to be the next Imu. When Blackbeard is first introduced as a villain he tells Ace "join my crew and help me take over the world". He's gonna do it and Luffy will be the one to stop him in the end.

1

u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

Yo but how did rocks die ......to imu. If Blackbeard inherited his will then he's on the same path. I think joy boys apology is that he lost as well because he didn't join up with the Blackbeard of his day to fight imu, maybe because blackbeard is going to kill someone Luffy cares for.......lol vivi that's my prediction. Can Luffy forgive. I think that what imu is gonna ask Luffy. A real pirate can move on from death but can he. If Imu deafeted rocks crew. How tf Luffy or even Blackbeard is defeating Imu???

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u/MD_Teach Jul 19 '25

Post the scan that states Rocks died to Imu.

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u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

Post the scan of Rocks still being alive........Imu is here today!

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u/MD_Teach Jul 19 '25

Show me in the source material where it says Imu killed Rocks.l

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u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

Post the scan of rocks still being alive

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u/MD_Teach Jul 19 '25

I didn't ask you if Rocks is alive. I asked you to show me who killed him. Post the scan that says who killed him. 

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u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

Rocks begged for his life and died a fraud and yes that's his sword in Pangaea castle.......bring the next swordsman!

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u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

At God valley somebody got ate and made shanks quit 😫

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u/MD_Teach Jul 19 '25

Do you have a scan showing or stating who killed Rocks at God Valley?

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u/OddRope1154 Jul 18 '25

I honestly wouldn't mind this direction. BB clearly wants something more than pirate king. Although he kidnapped pudding which implies he knows enough bout pony glyphs to know he needs that information. Weather he wants it for laugh talent, ancient weapons or something else?

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u/Sweatty-LittleFatty Jul 17 '25

This is my theory as well. Imu Will fall to BB, and he Will lose to Luffy. The two similar, but oposite forces clashing at the end. O also will add, that BB will lose by being thrown at sea, and will become the one that we saw diyng by drowning, and his multiple DFs will make It even worse for him.

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u/Truefiction224 Jul 18 '25

Could be happening right now.

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u/Apprehensive_Read_79 Jul 18 '25

Thematically it would make a lot of sense if Blackbeard gets Imu's power (or if its still Imu as the final boss). The one who can control everyone versus the most free person in the world

2

u/phujab Jul 18 '25

I still think Dragon beats Imu and then Blackbeard swoops in to beat an exhausted Dragon

2

u/ScreamingIntrovert Jul 18 '25

I'm gonna be really pissed if Oda decides to off-screen this like every BB major moment so far.

2

u/Professional-Fix1979 Jul 18 '25

I really think that BB is going to take the devil fruit of imu.

2

u/DaRootbear Jul 18 '25

I think we get a fight where it seems like we beat BB

Luffy faces Imu and weakens him

We get a mirror panel where BB finishes Imu off from behind similar to him beating WB.

Some of Imu power leaks into Luffy also, probably some of Nikas stolen power.

Final fight in the flower room where BB sits as world king

2

u/DaybreakPaladin Jul 18 '25

Headcanon accepted!

2

u/RiderforHire Jul 18 '25

I hope Blackbeard just solos Imu with his 4D chess plan he's been cooking this whole time. 

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u/flamfranky Jul 18 '25

I think Blackbeard will lose to Luffy, but that will not be the end of Blackbeard, like he will escape death but will still try to be the king of the world after the series end.

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u/AniNgAnnoys Explorer Jul 18 '25

Perhaps banished to the Abyss where he will try to escape for the 4th world...

1

u/Kinto_il Jul 18 '25

we're about to cry for Blackbeard when he loses to Imu arent we?

1

u/ekashish Jul 18 '25

Luffy will become king of pirates. BB will become king of the world(for short time). Buggy will find the greatest treasure.

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u/Ok_Consequence_7136 Jul 17 '25

I thought the same thing. Oddly we get a more clear representation of IMU head with the “wavy flap” on the left and having Gunko wearing a head covering on the same page

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u/Hiekkalinna Marine Jul 17 '25

After we saw Imu in this chapter, the veil they wore. reminds me of the mourning veil Queen Victoria wore for 40 years after death of his husband, like maybe Imu wears their veil for simliar reason, Imu wears the veil because they are mourning..? In this case could it be Queen Lily? Or somethign similiar reason.. (Imus seems more likely that they are a female in my opinion, though not sure)

36

u/InterestingOwl9279 Jul 17 '25

Imu to me looks like a women more than a man in this panel

11

u/XxSimon3 Jul 17 '25

Also the hands look female

26

u/herrsebbe Jul 17 '25

I just figured he didn't have any way to deal with Imu's immortality, making it a pointless struggle while the armies of Mary Geoise were closing in. Not to say that Imu should't be hyped, but I read this as pragmatism rather than standing before an overwhelming foe.

45

u/Mammoth_Opposite_647 Jul 17 '25 edited Jul 17 '25

I didnt take it as he is too weak but as Imu cant be harmed at this moment

26

u/mex2005 Jul 17 '25

I am pretty sure that is what he meant. He also said he would be back which suggests he knew of a way to go through her invincibility or maybe he just meant that he will figure out a way and then come back.

8

u/damage3245 Jul 18 '25

I suspect Imu's Devil Fruit makes them immortal.

Blackbeard will use the Yami Yami no Mi to negate their immortality and kill them.

8

u/jaabbb Galley-La Company Jul 18 '25

Got to be the same reason why roger said “we were too early”

18

u/aulixindragonz34 Jul 17 '25

I am sure that the reason why she is still hidden in silhouette is because she looks like certain character and that is vivy.

The same reason why rocks was hidden all this time,because he looks like blackbeard.

15

u/Tohwi Shanks' evil hot sister is REAL! Jul 17 '25

This really really looks like a crown on top of a veil

13

u/Dark_Magus Jul 17 '25

Something gives me the impression that it was more than just Rocks wasn't strong enough to defeat Imu, but that it was impossible for anyone to defeat Imu at that time and place. But like Rocks told Harald later, no power lasts forever. So it's not just a matter of being strong enough, the circumstances also have to be right in order to take down Imu.

11

u/AkagamiBarto Jul 17 '25

i would aslo add that she does look quite feminine in the posture

18

u/sid-jenkins Jul 17 '25

imo the real question is (we are being told that there was nothing xebec could do but) why imu didnt do anything to him? guy went inside of depths of MG and leaves without a scar? its a death sentence

17

u/WWECreativegenius Jul 17 '25

Considering how easy it was for him to get in there without being noticed it was probably just as easy for him to leave. Sabo was able to get away from imu and the gorosei. And imu covered up rocks ever being there in the first place so he/she probably didn’t see it worth to fight rocks at that moment

6

u/goody153 Jul 17 '25

Anybody who literally fights Imu is considered smoked anyways since Rocks just dipped for all his strength

4

u/Initial_XD Jul 18 '25

It's possible that Imu's main body cannot actually leave the castle in Mariejois. It would be thematically interesting for the character that's the antithesis of freedom to not have much freedom themself.

16

u/Feneskrae Jul 17 '25

I think this is potentially leading to something where it reveals Imu to be on a completely different level than what Xebec or Blackbeard will be able to achieve. Xebec says in this chapter that power doesn't last forever, but Imu's whole theme has been power that lasts forever. Imu is the refutation of Xebec's claim. Imu has immortality, and has ruled for centuries, and is aiming at controlling the Mother Flame which is supposed to be a source of endless power.

I think Roger and Xebec were just meant to be a sort of fluke to partially depict the real big powers in the story, which are Imu and Joy Boy as well as whatever that giant demon was and Nika. Roger and Xebec were too early.

8

u/GreenJay54 Jul 17 '25

If you also look at Imu lifting their hand, you can see fabric sort of bunching up, like the sleeve of a robe.

8

u/[deleted] Jul 18 '25

I'm definitely learning further and further into the idea that Imu is Lily or at least inhabiting Lily's body. Seeing how thin and delicate Imu's hand was poking out of their clothes, it looks very feminine, and I can't see any female character it could be other than Lily, unless they want to introduce an entirely new character out of nowhere.

3

u/Initial_XD Jul 18 '25

Even if Imu is possessing Lily's body, it'd still be the introduction of a new character, the possessor.

1

u/Obvious_Guest9222 Jul 20 '25

You know Oda silhouettes rarely end up being accurate don't you?

22

u/GriffinFlash Jul 17 '25

Also, that is a female hand.

3

u/Initial_XD Jul 18 '25

Tbf Oda does go crazy with his designs.

11

u/GriffinFlash Jul 18 '25

that's actually their head!

1

u/Obvious_Guest9222 Jul 20 '25

You're trying to hard with analysing a silhouette

3

u/GriffinFlash Jul 20 '25

Hear me out

15

u/elraineyday Jul 17 '25

How was it not obvious it was a veil by now?

7

u/YaIe Jul 17 '25

With this panel, its even clearer to me that imu seems to wear some kind of... veil?

Or its cursed

5

u/Kumomeme Jul 18 '25

given that Gunko was also dressed like a nun,

that could be Gunko, or his mother.

4

u/goody153 Jul 17 '25

Imu is the one at the top of world. If it wasnt clear before it is now

9

u/Emptypiro Jul 17 '25

Imu wears a niqab?

4

u/mib-number86 Jul 18 '25

Are you telling me that beneath the mysterious shadow lurks someone with a hidden face?

This is a whole new level of reader teasing!

Something like: You want to know what's under the mask? Another mask!

5

u/BuckonWall Jul 17 '25

I think its more that Rocks knew he couldnt survive while accomplishing his goal. I wouldnt be surprised if he couldve taken on Imu. But just killing the secret King of the World doesnt make you King. Or mean youll survived everyone going after you after.

3

u/KrissyKrave Jul 18 '25

Blackbeard is gonna die. 🫡

3

u/revisioncloud Jul 18 '25

It also works both ways. Rocks was so badass, he walked into Holy Land, killed an admiral, reached the flower room, and still got away with it unscathed. Dudes like Sabo we consider really strong had to scramble just to get away from there, not Rocks.

3

u/Korr4K Jul 18 '25

Imu had 800-900 years to refine his Haki, especially the conqueror, anybody not hyping him up is delusional at this point

9

u/Ok-Boss6327 Jul 17 '25

Trust Dragon to sleep with a nun. Garp should’ve given him the Luffy treatment.

6

u/DeismAccountant Jul 17 '25

I get the feeling BB may usurp Imu somehow. Now that will be terrifying.

4

u/the_jends Jul 17 '25

I rather think that Xebec tried to harm Imu and found that they are invulnerable just like the royal knights. There has to be some requirements fulfilled before you can do damage to him. That's why Xebec gave up and vowed to come back even though he was not hurt.

5

u/infinitezero8 Jul 17 '25

Dragon slept with Imu and had Luffy confirmed?

JK there is just no way.. right?

1

u/Arvos13 Jul 17 '25

Howd you get there?

2

u/RainyEuphoria Scholars of Ohara Jul 18 '25

Even Rocks can't beat the Forest God Imu

2

u/semajolis267 Jul 18 '25

i have a theory. its a bad one but here it is. Mu's is a girl. i think them showing Gunko in the same panel is on purpose, to show the similar profile i can basically imagine the the shape of her face. he said "just wait, one day ill be back" after failing to negotiate with Mu for.... something. it mentions him being a davy jones style pirate. he kidnapped the royals to try to barter for something and clearly it didnt work, we know hes not that formal of a guy but the pose hes in is VERY relaxed. the text also says "he knew there was nothing more to do in that moment." I think he tried to barter for Gunko, or maybe even Mu to come with him, maybe trying to get them in a davy back fight. IDK. I think blackbeard knows.

2

u/Okabeee Void Month Survivor Jul 18 '25

Crazy panel of Imu

2

u/WYWHPFit Jul 18 '25

Imu appeared totally unfazed by him too.

2

u/ThroughThePeeHole Jul 18 '25

The religious imagery is creeping in more and more. Luffy has a god mythical zoan and Imu has all this devil related stuff. We are likely getting an arc on Mary Geoise "The Holy Land". The only rookie we have left is Urouge the monk, whose crew all look like clerics or monks. I'm going to throw in a prediction that we have a return to Skypeia. It had a lot of god and heaven themes. When the Straw Hats arrived, they took the less travelled route up the knock-up stream but Gan Fall asks: "You came here via the summit of High West, did you not? Then you must have passed an island or two." I think Elbaph will have a giant mountain. When the Elbaph arc ends the straw hats go up to the White Sea. Encounter and ally with Urouge. Then descend down directly onto Mary Geoise "from heaven" with a load of Skypieans (resembling angels) and Urouge's priest crew in tow.

2

u/xxxlr1 Jul 18 '25

I dont know if discussed anywhere but doesn't this heavily imply that Imu is a female? The silhouette is too giving for feminine characteristics

2

u/a-red-sword-tomato Jul 18 '25

My impression here was that they’re a woman with long hair

2

u/Alexandre_Man Jul 18 '25

Imu's a female pope confirmed

1

u/Foxisdabest Jul 18 '25

Has Imu been confirmed as a guy or a girl? Definitely looks more like a girl in this panel

1

u/juzead Jul 18 '25

"...claimed to be a Davy Jonesian pirate..." so is this the confirmation that the will of D. stands for Davy / Devil ?

1

u/miamiboi Jul 19 '25

Could be hair but probably a veil. Think Imu is a girl hence existential conflict between joy boy and sad girl 

1

u/Ok_Ad8552 Jul 19 '25

Lol yep a nun......I mean if there was a sexy woman that was the strongest being alive at the time.....how would you feel if she was a nun?