One Piece: Oda Hints at Elbaf’s True Main Villain—Could It Be Imu?

by

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf arc.

Summary

  • Villains in big One Piece arcs are usually hyped up before their introduction.
  • New villains always pose more danger to Luffy.
  • The main villain of the Elbaf arc could be Imu, the strongest in One Piece.

The thrilling Elbaf storyline of “One Piece” is reaching its boiling point as events transpire on the Sun World. Fans are anxiously anticipating more enthralling battles, particularly with the Holy Knights now taking center stage. Earlier, the Holy Knights were mostly off to the side, allowing their traps to do all the work.

Currently, they find themselves right in the middle of things, which means tensions are likely to escalate even further from her end. Nonetheless, while the Holy Knights demonstrate significant power, they don’t seem like the ultimate antagonist for this storyline to many. It’s possible there’s a major reason for that. The true villain of Elbaf might be someone else entirely.

How Oda Introduces Villains in Big One Piece Arcs

  • Villains Are Usually Hyped Up Before Their Introduction
  • New Villains Always Pose More Danger

In creating major antagonists for a One Piece story arc, Oda often takes his time to gradually introduce them. For example, in the Arabasta arc where Luffy fought Crocodile, Mr. 0 was meticulously set up as the main villain. Conversely, Enel was swiftly established as the antagonist for Skypiea, just like Lucci for Water 7, Gecko Moria for Thriller Bark, and so on.

Let’s destroy this boring world! — Kaido

In the storyline following timeskip, Doflamingo was established as a major antagonist on Punk Hazard, while Kaido took over as the main villain at the conclusion of Dressrosa. However, in Elbaf, it remains uncertain who will serve as the primary adversary. The Holy Knights possess great strength, but none have been definitively identified as Luffy’s opponent. This uncertainty is what makes the situation intriguing for fans.

Why The Holy Knights Alone Aren’t Enough For Luffy

Furthermore, in the world of One Piece, it’s common to find that new antagonists present a greater challenge to Luffy. For instance, Kuro surpassed Buggy in strength, Krieg surpassed Kuro, Arlong was stronger than Krieg, Crocodile was more powerful than Arlong, Enel had an indestructible fruit with capabilities far exceeding those of Crocodile, and Lucci dealt Luffy a severe defeat. This pattern continues as Moria forced Luffy to grow stronger, but the Straw Hat crew met their end on Sabaody. In the New World, Host was no match for Luffy, but Caesar proved stronger, Doflamingo surpassed him, Cracker outclassed Doflamingo, and Katakuri stood at the pinnacle. Ultimately, Kaido outshone them all as the strongest of them all.

That Harald! He’s gone and messed it all up now! — Sommers

After Kaido, Oda introduced the Five Elders, infamous beasts who even Luffy fled from. However, following the Five Elders, it seems Luffy will encounter the Holy Knights, despite them being weaker. This isn’t typically how Oda writes his storylines. The main point here is that the primary antagonist of the Elbaf arc has yet to make an appearance.

The Main Villain Of Elbaf Could Be Imu

Imu Is The Strongest In One Piece

If Elbaf hasn’t yet introduced its main antagonist, there might be a surprise appearance of a new character following the fights against the Holy Knights. This character should ideally match or surpass the power level of the Elders, and even exceed the Yonko, as Luffy requires a formidable opponent for more engaging battles. It’s unlikely that an Elder will appear at this point, but the introduction of Imu could be possible, potentially through someone else like Gunko acting as a temporary vessel for Imu. This would set up a potential confrontation between Imu and Joy Boy, which would add complexity to the Elbaf storyline and excite fans. However, it’s important to note that Imu wouldn’t be defeated so early in the story.

It’s unclear if Imu will take action or not at this point, but it’s clear that the Holy Knights require reinforcements. Taking on Gaban, Luffy, Loki, Sanji, Zoro, Dorry, and Brogy is beyond the capabilities of just three knights, no matter their strength. Not even the 3 Admirals could handle this group. The Holy Knights are in a similar predicament, and to escalate the drama, Oda might introduce an even stronger character.

One Piece Chapter 1146 will be published soon, specifically on Sunday this week for most readers worldwide. In Japan, it’s released at 12AM JST on Monday, but international fans will generally access it on April 20. The official release date is April 20, 2025. Readers can enjoy the chapter for free on Manga Plus.

Read More

2025-04-21 22:57