One Piece’s Creator Eiichiro Oda Introduces The Biggest New Power Up Since Gear 5 In Elbaph

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The Elbaph arc in One Piece has brought in many new characters and expanded on the abilities of those we already know. From the introduction of Loki in chapter 1130 and Scopper Gaban in chapter 1139, to the arrival of characters like Shamrock and Gunko, along with other Holy Knights, Elbaph is full of exciting faces and surprising power-ups.

Watching the latest One Piece chapters unfold has been incredible. Eiichiro Oda really blew everyone away with the official introduction of Nerona Imu in chapter 1179. We’ve been learning more about Imu’s powers ever since, especially in chapter 1181, and the way Oda revealed his Devil Fruit ability felt like the biggest power boost we’ve seen since Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation during the Wano Country arc. It genuinely felt like a massive turning point in the story.

Why Nerona Imu’s Omen Is The Biggest Power Up Since Luffy’s Nika Transformation

I recently read chapter 1179 of the One Piece manga, and Eiichiro Oda officially revealed that Nerona Imu possesses a unique Devil Fruit – the original one, sometimes called ‘The Devil’s Fruit.’ It lets Imu transform into a devil whenever they choose. In this form, they can use incredible demonic powers, the most powerful of which seems to be something called Omen, or Maki. Then, in chapter 1181 (released on Manga Plus on April 26th, 2026), Oda went into a lot of detail about Omen, and it looks like it’s going to be one of the most powerful abilities we’ve seen in the series, right up there with Monkey D. Luffy’s Gear 5 from the Wano Country Arc.

Omen is my military might. A power that lurks within everyone! — Nerona Imu, One Piece Chapter 1181

Nerona Imu’s Omen is an energy source everyone possesses, and it’s the foundation of his strength. It originates from ambition and the desire to succeed. According to the series creator, Omen is exceptionally powerful, allowing Imu to generate black flames. He can use these flames to enhance himself in various ways – growing to gigantic size, creating weapons like the Blade of Judgment: Nemesis or a morningstar, or even forming gun-like constructs.

Imu isn’t just incredibly powerful offensively, capable of instantly defeating strong fighters like Zoro and Sanji (as shown in chapter 1180 of the manga), but also defensively, blocking incoming attacks. What truly sets him apart is his ability to grant ‘Omens’ to his followers, significantly boosting their power. In chapter 1180, he gave Omens to Saint Sommers and Saint Killingham, both of whom were surrounded by black flames. This instantly restored them to their peak condition and even gave Saint Sommers the power of flight. Unlike Gear 5, this power-up appears to have no drawbacks for those who receive it, making it one of the most effective and dangerous abilities in the world of One Piece.

Scaling The Power Of Omen To Gear 5

Nerona Imu’s Omen is easily one of the most powerful and adaptable abilities in the One Piece universe. It’s incredibly strong – not only does it significantly enhance Imu’s own power, allowing him to defeat opponents like Loki as shown recently, but it also massively boosts the strength of those who fight alongside him.

So, you call your ability ‘God’s Domination’? Or is it more accurate to say you’ve made a deal with the Devil? — Loki, One Piece chapter 1181

Omen’s power, as explained by Eiichiro Oda in the latest One Piece chapter, extends to Covenants and Corruption. It’s through Omen that Nerona Imu built the World Covenant system, essentially forming powerful alliances—similar to making a deal with the devil. This makes Omen an incredibly flexible ability, contrasting sharply with Luffy’s Nika power.

Although Luffy can transform into the Warrior of Liberation with Gear 5, he hasn’t shown a strong ability to empower those around him. This makes his transformation less helpful in boosting others’ strength compared to the Devil Fruit used by Nerona Imu.

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All Abilities Of Nerona Imu’s Omen

I’m completely fascinated by Omen, one of the coolest powers in One Piece! It’s already proven incredibly versatile, and I’m so excited to see even more of what it can do as the Elbaf arc unfolds, starting with chapter 1182. We’ve already seen it pack a serious punch – it knocked out Zoro with a direct hit! And it’s not just ranged attacks; Imu can coat himself in those Black Flames and take down opponents like Sanji. Remember when he took out Hajarudin in chapter 1180 with those Omen bullets? But the coolest part is how Imu can shape Omen into anything! In chapter 1181, he formed it into a massive Morningstar to attack Loki, and then, get this, he transformed it into the Sword of Judgment: Nemesis, and actually stabbed Loki with it! It’s just unbelievably creative and powerful.

Imu skillfully countered Loki’s incredibly strong, lightning-charged attack, the Ragnazuchi, with his Black Flames of Omen. He used Omen to drastically increase his size, matching Loki, and further enhance his strength. Because Omen also boosts the power of the Five Elders and Holy Knights, Imu correctly identifies it as a key component of his military power. This ability is nearly unmatched anywhere in the world of One Piece, and currently has no equal.

Although Sun God Nika’s powers are comparable to Nerona Imu’s in a one-on-one fight, Imu’s Omen ability has a much wider impact that Nika can’t achieve. As the ultimate villain in One Piece, Eiichiro Oda has created a fitting and powerful upgrade for Imu and his followers through Omen and the Devil Fruit, which is a key reason why Imu is such a captivating character.

The latest chapters of the One Piece manga are available to read on Manga Plus.

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2026-05-02 04:35