One Piece’s Endgame Has Officially Begun

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For the past ten years, fans have speculated that Eiichiro Oda’s One Piece is nearing its end. Oda has given estimated completion dates before, but those have come and gone. However, the beginning of the Final Saga felt like a real indication the story was wrapping up. Imu, the main villain of the series, has been increasingly important, especially during the current Elbaph arc and the flashbacks to the God Valley Incident. Finally, in One Piece Chapter 1179, which came out on April 6, 2026, readers got their first look at what Imu actually looks like.

Even though the Straw Hat pirates still have a long way to go, the recent reveal of Imu confirms that the story of One Piece is entering its final stages. Imu, a mysterious and powerful figure, appears to be a major threat standing between the Straw Hats and their ultimate goal. Now, fans are speculating about how the Straw Hats and their friends might possibly overcome what seems like the strongest character in the entire series.

Eiichiro Oda Has Finally Fully Unveiled Imu as One Piece’s Endgame Villain

Imu first appeared in chapter 906 of the manga in 2018, watching a massive Straw Hat symbol deep within the Holy Land Mary Geoise. Readers quickly understood this character held incredible power and influence, ultimately revealing them to be the one sitting on the Empty Throne.

Sabo secretly entered Mary Geoise and found Imu, sharing this news with Emporio Ivankov. Ivankov believed Imu was connected to Saint Nerona Imu, an original founder of the World Government, and many fans shared this idea. Chapter 1179 of the manga later proved Ivankov’s theory to be correct.

From chapters 906 to 1179, Imu emerged as the most threatening character in One Piece—many believe he’s the story’s primary villain and Luffy’s ultimate opponent. While the Egghead Arc offered a quick glimpse of Imu and his reaction to events, the current Elbaph arc has heavily featured him and his actions.

Honestly, the way Luffy withstood six of the most devastating attacks in One Piece just proves he’s on a whole other level – a true monster! It reminded me of when Imu took control of Gunko during the Elbaph arc and we first saw the power of Domi Reversi. It’s terrifying to think Imu turned giants all across the Warland Kingdom into devils, and even Xebec wasn’t spared that fate on God Valley. It really highlights just how unbelievably powerful Imu is.

Unlike Rocks D. Xebec, Dorry and Brogy found a surprisingly simple solution to the Domi Reversi curse: eliminating those affected just brought them back to normal. Meanwhile, both Luffy and Loki easily countered the seemingly invincible conversion abilities – Loki even froze Imu and Gunko solid with ice from Niflheim. This caused Imu to separate from Gunko and flee back to Mary Geoise, which leads us to…

One Piece Chapter 1179 Finally Gave Imu a Face After 8 Long Years

As soon as Imu arrived at Pangaea Castle, they decided to go back to the Elbaph battlefield to address concerns – with Figarland Garling being the only one who didn’t seem to object. Imu pointed out that the roots of the current situation stretch far into the past. By thinking about figures like Roger, Shirahoshi, Shanks, Loki, Luffy, Blackbeard, Joy Boy, and Davy Jones, Imu suggests these characters are all key players in a larger scheme, and it appears the final stage of that plan is now unfolding.

Imu instantly travels to Aurust Castle on the island of Elbaph, using a dark magical circle that causes flooding. Strangely, upon Imu’s arrival, trees and buildings seem to come alive with a sinister energy – a twisted take on Big Mom’s power to create souls. A haunting song accompanies this event, and while the anime will likely clarify its full impact, the sounds used to represent it are already quite unsettling.

Surprisingly, the final burst of black lightning doesn’t show Imu’s real body – instead, the shadowy figure appears weak and drained. In the next moment, the shadow cries out and grows wings, and Imu instantly appears on top of a tower at Aurust Castle.

Imu has two distinct appearances: a shadowy, shapeless form and a more defined, humanoid one. In his humanoid form, he has flowing white hair and dark skin, hinting at his connection to the Lunarian race, like King. He’s easily recognizable by his striking, almost demonic features – including horns and black, pointed nails. Intricate tattoos cover his body, and he appears to wield a bladed weapon held by his long, serpentine tail.

Imu’s appearance is notably androgynous, with striking red eyes framed by elaborate eyelashes. Black flames constantly surround their head, seemingly a symbol of something significant, and these flames even contain eyes that resemble Imu’s own. It’s now widely accepted that Imu possesses a powerful and unusual Devil Fruit – known simply as the Devil’s Fruit – granting them abilities like Abyss, the three Covenants, Domi Reversi, and even immortality.

One Piece Is Building Imu Up as the Endgame Boss

Imu has always kept his real appearance hidden, and there’s probably a good reason for it. The fact that he hesitated and coughed up blood suggests this form isn’t sustainable for him. That’s fortunate, because the Straw Hats aren’t ready for the battle that’s about to begin in Chapter 1180.

Seeing Imu take on a humanoid shape makes me think they’re preparing for a fight, which is pretty significant when you consider their shadow form once withstood attacks from legends like Whitebeard, Big Mom, Garp, Kaido, Roger, and Rocks all at once. Some fans theorize that what we saw in Chapter 1179 wasn’t Imu’s only form, but maybe a mix of different abilities. Either way, it’s clear Imu is getting ready for battle, and it looks like Prince Loki and Monkey D. Luffy are the ones they’re targeting.

Imu has taken notice of the dangers presented by both Luffy and Loki. Luffy’s abilities, linked to the Nika fruit, allow him to bend reality like a cartoon, while Loki’s Nidhöggr fruit lets him transform into a massive, night-black dragon inspired by Norse mythology. The depiction of Loki’s dragon form is incredibly dark and powerful, matching the epic nature of Luffy’s joyful power. It’s also heavily suggested that there’s a connection between the origins of Luffy and Loki’s Devil Fruits and their shared ability to resist certain forces.

Even the strongest pirate wouldn’t stand a chance against this duo, but Imu is far more powerful. Luffy and Loki might need to wait for Imu to return to Mary Geoise before they can truly fight. Any battle that does happen could be interrupted, saving the biggest reveals and displays of power for a later, more important fight. Plus, many characters still have unfinished stories that need to be resolved before Imu can unleash their full strength.

Reaching the final island, Laugh Tale, is still a long way off for the Straw Hats, as they haven’t found all the necessary clues yet. While the recent appearance of Imu has raised a lot of questions, his true purpose is still unknown, and fans are eager to learn more about his story. Although Imu seems to be playing a bigger role in the final events of One Piece, how to defeat him remains a complete mystery.

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Imu’s Shadowy Secrets: Test Your One Piece Endgame Knowledge
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2026-04-06 23:46