One Piece: Imu Was Born Before the Void Century?

by

Summary

  • Chapter 1138 of One Piece is considered one of the best, with lore about the Void Century and maybe even the mysterious Imu.
  • Imu has likely been active since the Void Century, rules from the Empty Throne, and has a connection to Nefeltari Lily.
  • Imu’s role as a shadow ruler may tie into a cyclical world theory, potentially linking them to Blackbeard in the series.

The mural carved on the Adam Tree in Elbaf is ancient, offering readers not just glimpses of the past, but also hints about what’s to come. Due to the astonishing revelations and intricate details embedded within this mural, many fans agree that Chapter 1138 stands out as one of the finest ever published for the One Piece series, as it was a significant and eagerly anticipated lore dump about the Void Century, as well as the era prior to it.

One of the least clear aspects about it is the intricacies of the ‘One Piece’ world’s ‘First World’, which remains largely unspecific. Yet, there’s no denying that it was governed by a monarch or deity, of whom fans have limited knowledge at present. Some speculate this ruler could be Imu. Here, we delve into the possibilities of who this enigmatic character might be and how they could link to being Imu.

Everything Currently Known About Imu

The Mysterious Ruler of the World

First Appearance One Piece, Chapter 906, “The Holy Land Marijois”
Debut Date June 4, 2018
Story Arc Reverie

At present, there’s a hidden figure controlling global events, known as Imu. Fans find this character enigmatic because much about them remains undisclosed. Various theories about their true identity have surfaced since they debuted, including speculations that they could be Joyboy’s sibling or Nefeltari Lily in disguise. The information provided is intentionally ambiguous to keep fans intrigued and guessing until the big reveal occurs.

It is strongly suggested and appears to be accurate that Imu orchestrated the downfall of Joyboy and the Ancient Kingdom, and has been operating since the Void Century. Despite the World Government’s structure, designed by the 20 opposing nations to prevent any single ruler, Imu has held sway on the Empty Throne for over 800 years, secretly wielding power that surpasses everyone else’s, effectively controlling the world from the shadows.

The Empty Throne represents an agreement among rulers worldwide, signifying their equality and the lack of any wish for autocratic rule.

As an avid follower, it’s clear that Imu is the one who has empowered the Five Elders with their fearsome Yokai abilities. The intriguing question here is why and how this happened. While theories abound, there’s a strong suspicion that these powers are derived from a unique or corrupt form of Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit. What’s undeniably true is that Imu possesses the authority to remove or grant these powers among his followers whenever he sees fit.

To sum up, it appears that Imu has had a connection with Nefeltari Lily, though the nature of this bond remains uncertain. What’s clear is that Imu harbors an intense interest or obsession towards the Nefeltari family, as evidenced by their strong reaction upon discovering Lily’s loyalty to Joyboy and the D Clan. Additionally, during their first appearance, Imu was found with a photograph of Lily while they destroyed pictures of Luffy, Blackbeard, and Shirahoshi, hinting at some link between them.

Is Imu Older Than We Previously Thought?

A New Dilemma To Answer

In Chapter 1138 of the “One Piece” comic, a crucial revelation took place which had been eagerly anticipated by fans. Although the information provided was somewhat unclear, it shed light on the mysterious events that transpired during the Void Century and the first era of the world prior to it. The mural at the chapter’s end, teeming with characters and plot elements, sent waves of excitement through the fandom as they speculated about the potential impact of this lore on the series’ upcoming narrative.

Before the Elbaf arc, the concept of the ‘First World’ was unknown to many fans, but it was later revealed that there existed an even more enigmatic era preceding the Void Century, connected only by the Sun God Nika Devil Fruit across the three ages. Yet, upon further examination, this connection might not hold water, as the representation of the First World features a secretive monarch adorned with an elongated crown reminiscent of Imu. This observation has led some fans to speculate that Imu could be older than previously presumed.

The origin story of Imu remains highly conjectural and uncertain. Yet, one plausible theory suggests that Imu might be an entity with a longstanding ambition to rule the world. This supposed ruler could have achieved domination by defeating the Sun God of each epoch, using immense power at its disposal. If this hypothesis holds true, it contradicts the prevalent fan theory that portrays Imu as Joyboy’s sibling or ally who later betrayed him.

It’s possible that this theory holds water, as Imu might have assumed a benevolent persona to trick Joyboy and the original Nika into thinking he was friendly, thus gaining control over the world. The resemblance between this enigmatic ruler and Imu has led some fans to speculate they could be one and the same. If that turns out to be correct, it would significantly alter our understanding of events, suggesting that the world’s current state has been orchestrated since its inception by someone like Imu who has consistently played a leading role.

Without Lily’s error on that particular day, the enigmatic relics known as the Poneglyphs wouldn’t have been dispersed across the globe.

Instead, the primary theory points towards the recurring pattern inherent in the world. Each era seems to feature a character embodying the Sun God, acting as a significant liberator. It’s plausible that each world also holds a counterpart to this archetype. However, due to amassing immense power and seemingly disrupting this cycle, the figure representing the Void Century and present day is believed to be this antithesis.

This scenario suggests that Blackbeard might have been destined to become the modern-day global ruler with dark powers, but due to Imu’s schemes and manipulation of the cycle, he was thwarted from reaching that position. If this is true, it could lead to fascinating developments in the storyline, potentially culminating in Blackbeard serving as Luffy’s ultimate adversary.

Indeed, there seems to be a hint of a shared history between Blackbeard and Imu that is still shrouded in mystery. From my perspective as a devoted fan, it’s intriguing to note the contrasting yet parallel paths these characters seem to tread. While Luffy strives to become the Pirate King with dreams of freedom and justice, Blackbeard seeks dominion over the world amassing power and control – a pursuit that mirrors Imu in some ways, who appears to have risen to power themselves within the One Piece universe. However, this is all mere speculation at this point.

In this tale, Blackbeard and Luffy share a common goal, yet their approaches are polar opposites. This dynamic may have caused conflicts between Imu and Joyboy in ancient times, and if the theory about Imu’s immortality proves accurate, could explain events during the First World involving the original Nika. This suggests a potential link that might indicate Imu as the world ruler who has orchestrated many catastrophic incidents throughout history.

One Piece can be streamed on Crunchyroll.

Read More

2025-02-05 03:35