One Piece has recently disclosed Imu's deepest dread, perhaps even his singular vulnerability—and it is not the Nika Fruit. Alongside the startling revelation of Joyboy’s Conquer haki, the most recent chapter of One Piece has uncovered a detail about Imu that might prove pivotal in the Final Saga.
Chapter #1122 hints that Imu’s greatest terror and weakness could actually be Joyboy’s Conqueror’s Haki, rather than the Nika Fruit. Within the chapter, Imu is depicted crouched, screaming, and trembling in fear following Emet’s unleashing of Joyboy’s haki. Curiously, it is Joyboy’s haki that also compels the Five Elders to retreat from Egghead Island, either through force or fear, much like Imu.
This not only confirms a connection between Imu and the Five Elders but might also elucidate why the World Government has been somewhat indifferent toward capturing Luffy and reclaiming the Nika Fruit during the Egghead Arc.
One Piece Teases Imu and the World Government's Greatest Dread
Could Joyboy’s Haki Be Imu’s Only Vulnerability?
In chapter #1122, the Five Elders return to Mariejois from Egghead after being struck by Joyboy’s potent Conqueror’s Haki. It remains unclear whether they were compelled out of their yokai forms and forced to return due to the haki or whether the Five Elders chose to withdraw of their own volition. Intriguingly, upon their arrival, the Five Elders appear exhausted and out of breath, with the exception of Saint Mars, who is depicted calmly seated in the corner of the panel.
At that exact moment, Imu is seen doubled over and screaming, evidently consumed with thoughts of Joyboy. Imu, too, seems short of breath, mirroring the Five Elders, and appears to be trembling, as indicated by the squiggly lines surrounding his silhouette. Moreover, the 'b-bmp' onomatopoeia suggests his heart is racing, which, coupled with his other symptoms, implies that Imu is experiencing intense fear and panic.
The most plausible explanation for Imu’s reaction is that he, too, must have felt Joyboy’s haki through the Five Elders. His intense scream hints that he might have also felt some pain upon feeling the haki, though the implications of his reaction are far more intriguing. The most likely reason Imu fears Joyboy’s haki so profoundly is that it could be the only force capable of vanquishing him.
Experiencing it again might have even resurrected memories of a time when Joyboy nearly defeated Imu during the Void Century. While these are merely theories and speculation, they do help explain the Five Elders’ peculiar behavior at Egghead thus far.
The World Government’s True Fear Explains Their Indifference Towards Luffy on Egghead
One particular detail that has perplexed fans throughout the Egghead Arc is the Five Elders’ apparent lack of interest in capturing Luffy and reclaiming the Nika Fruit. The Five Elders had previously expressed a strong desire to obtain the Nika Fruit and even asserted that they could not allow it to awaken under any circumstances.
Yet, since their arrival at Egghead, the Five Elders have failed to prioritize capturing Luffy, choosing instead to secure the Mother Flame and eliminate Vegapunk. Rather than confronting Luffy together, the Five Elders have split up for much of their time on Egghead, pursuing the Pacifista, the Straw Hats, and the Transmission Snail instead of focusing their collective efforts on Luffy.
This suggests that perhaps the Five Elders do not view Luffy as an immediate threat just yet, as his haki is nowhere near as powerful as Joyboy’s, and Luffy’s evident struggle against the Five Elders has proven as much. Arguably, more than any other factor, these skewed priorities are what allowed Luffy and the Nika Fruit to slip through their grasp once again.
Ultimately, this indicates that despite awakening his devil fruit, Luffy still has a long journey ahead in One Piece. The Final Saga may yet see him grow even stronger as the adversaries he will face in the future will only become more formidable. It is almost certain that Luffy will have to confront the Five Elders and Imu at some point in the final stages of the story. However, at his current strength level, Luffy is neither Imu’s greatest fear nor does he possess the key to defeating the Five Elders—Joyboy’s haki has made that abundantly clear.
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