Manga
Spoiler Warning: This article contains major spoilers from the
Final Saga, including revelations from Chapters 1085, 1086, and 1179.
For
years, the World Government claimed that no single person ruled over the entire
world. Yet behind the walls of Mary Geoise, a mysterious figure secretly
controlled the Five Elders and influenced the fate of countless nations.
That
figure is Imu, the hidden ruler of the world in One Piece.
But
how did Imu gain such extraordinary authority? Was Imu already powerful when
the World Government was founded, or did Imu seize control sometime later?
Although the manga has revealed important details about Imu's identity, the
complete story behind the rise to power remains a mystery.
1. Imu
Was One of the First Twenty Founders
One of
the biggest revelations came in Chapter 1086, when Emporio Ivankov mentioned a
Saint Imu from the Nerona Family. This family was among the original royal
lineages associated with the founding of the World Government approximately 800
years ago.
The
connection became definitive in Chapter 1179, which officially identified the
mysterious ruler as Saint Nerona Imu, one of the First Twenty and a founder of
the World Government.
This
revelation changes how readers understand Imu's position. Imu was not simply a
modern political leader who gradually climbed the ranks. The character is
directly connected to the original group that established the current world
order.
However,
the manga has not yet explained exactly what happened during the Void Century
that allowed Imu to become the world's undisputed ruler.
2. The
Empty Throne Was a Symbolic Lie
When
the World Government was established, the Empty Throne supposedly represented
equality among the twenty founding kings. No single monarch was supposed to
rule over the others.
But
Chapter 908 revealed the truth: Imu was secretly sitting on that very throne.
The
Five Elders, who occupy the highest public positions within the World
Government, bowed before Imu and treated the mysterious figure as their
ultimate authority.
This
arrangement allowed the World Government to maintain the appearance that power
was shared among its founders while concealing the existence of a single
supreme ruler.
Imu's
rise to power may therefore be less about winning a public throne and more
about establishing an absolute authority that the rest of the world was never
allowed to recognize.
Exactly
when this secret arrangement began—and whether it existed from the earliest
days of the World Government—has not been fully explained.
3. Did
Imu Gain Immortality?
One
popular explanation for Imu's extraordinary longevity involves the Ope Ope no
Mi, the Devil Fruit belonging to Trafalgar D. Water Law.
The
fruit possesses a legendary ability known as the Perennial Youth Operation,
which can grant a person eternal youth at the cost of the user's life.
In
Chapter 1086, Ivankov speculated that the technique might explain how someone
from the Void Century could still be alive in the present day.
However,
this remains a theory rather than a confirmed explanation of Imu's survival.
The manga has not definitively established whether Imu underwent the operation,
who might have performed it, or the precise nature of the character's lifespan.
If Imu
has truly lived for centuries, that longevity would help explain how the same
individual could preserve a hidden position of power across numerous
generations.
4. Imu
Maintains Control Through Fear and Powerful Abilities
Imu's
authority does not depend on political influence alone.
The
ruler has demonstrated the ability to exercise control over others through
supernatural means. During the Elbaph arc, Imu took control of Gunko and used
the terrifying technique known as Domi Reversi to turn Dorry and Brogy into
demonic warriors.
The
manga also reveals that contracts associated with the God's Knights can give
Imu influence over those who enter into them. King Harald's tragic history
demonstrates how these arrangements can become instruments of control.
Imu
has also demonstrated the willingness to eliminate even powerful subordinates.
After the Egghead incident, Imu stripped Saint Jaygarcia Saturn of his position
and the power sustaining his life, allowing Figarland Garling to replace him
among the Five Elders.
These
events reveal an important part of Imu's rule: even the highest-ranking members
of the World Government are not beyond the ruler's authority.
5. Why
Has Imu Remained Hidden for So Long?
Imu's
secrecy protects more than a personal identity. It helps preserve the
legitimacy of the World Government itself.
If the
public discovered that a single ruler secretly occupied the Empty Throne, the
founding principle of equality among the twenty kings would be exposed as a
deception.
Imu's
connection to the Void Century, the Will of D., and Nefertari D. Lili also
suggests that the ruler is closely tied to historical events the World
Government has attempted to suppress.
The
reaction to Joy Boy's Haki during the Egghead incident further indicates that
Imu has a deeply personal connection to the ancient past.
Yet
the exact reasons for Imu's secrecy, including the significance of the giant
frozen Straw Hat and the ruler's interest in Vivi, remain unresolved.
What
Do the Latest Manga Chapters Reveal?
In
Chapter 1179, Imu left Mary Geoise and appeared personally in Elbaph, revealing
the character's full form and confirmed identity. The decision marked a major
change: the world's hidden ruler was no longer acting exclusively from behind
the scenes.
The
confrontation continued through Chapters 1180–1193, bringing Imu into direct
conflict with Luffy, Loki, and the giants.
As of
Chapter 1196, released on October 18, 2026, the full explanation of Imu's rise
to power and centuries-long survival remains unknown. The recent chapters have
expanded the mystery rather than completely resolving it.
For
readers following the Final Saga, the central question is no longer simply who
rules the world, but how that rule began—and what really happened during the
Void Century.
Final
Thoughts
Imu
became the most powerful hidden figure in One Piece through a position
rooted in the founding of the World Government. The manga confirms that Imu is
Saint Nerona Imu, one of the First Twenty, and that the supposedly empty throne
has concealed the world's true ruler.
However,
the exact process through which Imu secured absolute control remains
unconfirmed. Immortality through the Ope Ope no Mi is still a theory, while the
full history of the Void Century has yet to be revealed.
One
thing is clear: Imu's rule is built upon secrecy, fear, and the suppression of
history. As Luffy and his allies approach the truth behind the world's
creation, the secret of Imu's rise may become one of the most important
revelations in the entire series.
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