One Piece Introduces The Strongest Duo Of All Time in Elbaph

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The latest arc in Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece, the Elbaph Arc, has reached its peak. Chapter 1182, published on May 10, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24, officially kicks off the battle to protect Elbaph. This arc has been particularly strong in revealing key details about the series’ history and important characters from the Void Century. Most notably, chapters 1181 and 1182 confirmed the most powerful pair in One Piece: Joy Boy and Nerona Imu.

Fans generally believed Imu and Joy Boy were enemies during the Void Century, but the latest events in the story revealed they were actually allies at one time. This suggests their combined strength was immense – far greater than anything we’ve seen in the series so far.

One Piece Finally Confirms Joy Boy And Imu As A Duo From The Void Century In Chapter 1181

Chapter 1181 of One Piece, released on April 27, 2026, primarily featured the fight between Nerona Imu and Loki. This chapter, part of the Elbaph arc, offered fans a second look at Joy Boy from the Void Century and confirmed a surprising connection: Imu and Joy Boy weren’t always enemies. While they opposed each other during the Void Century, it’s now clear they were once friends, even before the start of the great war.

Rocks D. Xebec asked Nerona Imu, ‘Are you more scared of Joy Boy or Davy D. Jones?’

It’s not yet fully explained how close they were, but the recent artwork in Chapter 1181 confirms they were friends. This came as a shock to me and other One Piece fans, as we previously thought Imu was always an antagonist. This new development completely changed our understanding of the story and added a surprising level of complexity to Imu’s character, which was a welcome addition to the chapter.

This recent reveal strongly suggests that Nerona Imu and Joy Boy would have been the most powerful pair in all of One Piece, surpassing anyone else in strength.

Why Joy Boy And Imu Made The Strongest Duo In The History Of The Series

It’s easy to see why Joy Boy and Nerona Imu are considered the most powerful pair in One Piece history. Their incredible strength sets them apart from everyone else in the series. Eiichiro Oda officially revealed in chapter 1122 (released August 5, 2025, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #36-37 during the Egghead arc) that Joy Boy possesses the strongest Haki ever seen – surpassing even that of Shanks, one of the most powerful Emperors.

I overheard Dorry and Brogy talking after Shanks showed his Haki. They were really struck by it, commenting that it didn’t feel aggressive at all, and they even wondered if it was more powerful than Red Hair’s usual Haki. It was a surprising observation, considering how strong Shanks already is.

This demonstrated only a small part of Joy Boy’s abilities, which also included Gear 5. Thanks to the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika fruit, Joy Boy could transform his body into rubber, just like Monkey D. Luffy, and use the full extent of his imagination to warp reality within the world of One Piece.

The recent introduction of Nerona Imu in One Piece revealed a glimpse of his incredible power during the events in Elbaph. He demonstrates masterful control over Maki, allowing him to seemingly defeat strong fighters like Zoro and Sanji with ease – a truly frightening display of strength. Furthermore, Imu possesses exceptionally potent Conqueror’s Haki, powerful enough to knock out many people in Elbaph and leave even seasoned fighters like Scopper Gaban and Loki astonished.

Imu possesses the power of a unique and incredibly strong Devil Fruit, one that existed before all others in the One Piece world and essentially gives him control over the power of the devils themselves. This fruit also allows him to manipulate people as he pleases. Evidence suggests Imu was as powerful as Joy Boy approximately 900 years ago, and since he won the battle of the Void Century, he likely believes himself to be even stronger. Together, Imu and his companion were an unmatched duo during that era.

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How Nerona Imu And Joy Boy Split Up During The Void Century Of One Piece

The recent climax of the Elbaph arc officially revealed that Joy Boy and Nerona Imu were friends, but the details of their falling out are still a mystery. Chapter 1181 offered a significant clue, as Nerona Imu stated that true happiness comes from domination. This wasn’t just a casual remark; it’s his core belief – that humanity only reaches its full potential under the control of a single leader. This belief sharply contrasts with Joy Boy’s, as the previous Sun God Nika, who clearly held different values.

True happiness comes from having complete control. Don’t you agree, Joy Boy? – Nerona Imu, One Piece Chapter 1181, Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #22-23

Joy Boy, a figure who championed freedom for everyone, held beliefs completely different from Imu. Because of these opposing views on how the world should be governed, conflict between the two was unavoidable. Joy Boy envisioned a unified, free world for all people, while Imu believed in a system where a select few would rule over everyone else, living in luxury in Marijoa. This fundamental disagreement likely sparked the conflict known as the War of the Void Century, ultimately resulting in Joy Boy’s defeat and Imu’s rise to power as the World King, establishing the World Government.

With the story of One Piece nearing its biggest conflict, creator Eiichiro Oda will delve deeper into the connection between Imu and Joy Boy. We’ll learn more about their relationship and how powerful they were together. Most of these mysteries, however, won’t be solved until Luffy discovers the One Piece and uncovers the world’s hidden past. For now, fans will need to be patient as the story unfolds.

All the new One Piece manga chapters can be found in English via Manga Plus and Viz Media.

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2026-05-16 19:10