One Piece: The True God, Explained

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This post contains spoilers for One Piece.

The One Piece manga has moved past the long God Valley flashback and is now focusing on King Harald’s story. When the flashback started, readers didn’t expect Eiichiro Oda to reveal the truth behind such a significant event involving major characters from One Piece’s history.

Now that God Valley is in ruins, the story is turning to Harald, the leader of Elbaf. He was deeply shaken by the news of Xebec’s death, which led him to take a surprising step. Soon after learning about his friend’s fate, Harald went to Marine Headquarters to discuss Elbaf becoming an official ally of the World Government.

Harald Became A Servant Of Imu And The World Government

Harald Gave Up His Freedom For The Sake Of Elbaf

  • Harald willingly became a servant of the World Government
  • He was eventually promoted

At the end of chapter 1166, Harald declared to the Marines he’d do whatever it took to atone for Elbaf’s troubled past, even going so far as to break his horns to prove his sincerity. Imu noticed Harald’s desperation and decided to take advantage of it. It seems Imu instructed the Five Elders to contact Harald and manipulate him into becoming a loyal follower.

I want a chance to atone for our sins. If that means I must be a slave, so be it. —Harald

Harald received orders from his superiors and immediately began carrying them out. He started attacking pirate and criminal ships, sinking them in the ocean. This helped the Marines eliminate those who were causing trouble. As a result of his success, Harald was promoted to Devoted Blade and joined the Shallow’s Covenant, demonstrating his dedication to Imu and the World Government.

Once Harald received his mark, the Five Elders told him about two other, more powerful agreements. They explained that only thirteen individuals had been chosen to make a pact with the True God. This mention of the True God left Harald confused.

Imu Is The True God Of The One Piece World

Harald didn’t seem to realize it, but most One Piece fans already understood who the Five Elders were referring to: Imu. Imu is widely believed to be the true ruler of the World Government, a mysterious figure with seemingly supernatural powers. For example, Imu can transform anyone into a loyal, demonic slave using a power called Domi Reversi. The exact nature of this ability is unknown, but it appears to be a form of magic.

Imu can make agreements with people, and those who join both the Depths Covenant and the Abyssal Covenant receive immortality and the ability to heal quickly. However, this comes at a significant cost: they must give up control of their own bodies. We’ve seen this happen before – Imu took over Gunko’s body in Elbaf to prevent her from going after Brook, and also possessed Saturn’s body during the God Valley Incident to fight against the pirates.

Imu can also give people Devil Fruits, which explains the incredible powers held by leaders in the World Government and Marines. The Five Elders possess rare Mythical Zoan Devil Fruits, and the Admirals wield powerful Logia-type fruits. Given Imu’s vast capabilities, it’s understandable why people in the One Piece world consider them a god.

Imu’s Life Is Still A Mystery To The Readers

Imu was introduced earlier in the story, but remains a mystery. Currently, very few details about them are known, though we’ve learned their family name is Nerona. According to Ivankov, the Nerona family was one of the twenty that joined forces to defeat the Ancient Kingdom. It seems Imu has lived for a very long time, possibly since the Void Century, meaning they likely know the complete history of the world. This suggests they may have known important figures from the past, like Joyboy and Davy D. Jones, who appear to be connected to each other.

Saturn… Joy Boy was behind that escape, and you allowed it to happen. —Imu

Imu clearly hates both of them, especially Davy D. Jones, who was referred to as the ‘King of the World’ by Xebec. Imu’s furious reaction when Jones’s name was mentioned suggests they had a direct encounter with the famous pirate. As the story unfolds, we can expect to learn more about Imu’s history and who they really are.

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2025-12-05 19:34