One Piece is the most iconic adventure story in the history of shonen manga, and like most of its contemporaries within the genre, the series has introduced myriad high-powered combatants over the years. From Gol D. Roger to Monkey D. Luffy, plenty of individuals have been heralded as One Piece‘s strongest character, yet after the events of the series’ latest chapter, this debate may finally have a clear-cut answer.
One Piece Chapter 1163 (titled “Promise”) continued the God Valley flashback, and as expected, Imu’s arrival on the island was an instant game-changer. With the World Government’s shadow leader now entrenched in combat, it seems that author Eiichiro Oda is finally ready to reveal the true extent of Imu’s power.
Imu Goes Toe-to-Toe With One Piece’s Strongest Characters in Chapter 1163
Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, and Monkey D. Garp attack Imu and Saturn in One Piece Chapter 1163Image via VIZ
Imu’s true form has been obscured since they first appeared in One Piece‘s Reverie Arc, and although they’ve directly interacted with Sabo and the residents of Elbaph, the mysterious figure hadn’t actually taken part in a fight until the events of Chapter 1163. That said, their display of strength in “Promise” is more than enough to assert them as the most powerful One Piece character to appear in the series so far, especially considering the caliber of their opponents.
Kaido, Big Mom, Whitebeard, Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, and Monkey D. Garp all join forces for a simultaneous attack against Imu after noticing the ominous figure, marking a team-up that is literally over a decade in the making. However, rather than suffering any effects from the combined power of these six characters, Imu simply regenerates his body before using Domi Reversi to transform Rocks into a devilish figure resembling Dorry and Brogy’s new forms.
The six characters who attack Imu are among the strongest fighters that One Piece has to offer, and prior to Chapter 1163, it would have seemed impossible for a single character to tank the combined strength of their most powerful attacks. Unfortunately for the series’ protagonists, raw strength seems to be meaningless when pitted against the World Government’s leader — a revelation that bodes poorly for not only the characters in God Valley but also Monkey D. Luffy and his allies in One Piece‘s core narrative.
The Straw Hat Pirates’ Goals Just Got a Lot Harder
Gear 5 Luffy stands in front of the Five Elders on Egghead Island in One Piece Episode 1144Image via Toei Animation
From the jump, Monkey D. Luffy’s goal of becoming the next King of the Pirates is presented as an uphill battle, so the prospect of the Straw Hat Pirate facing seemingly impossible odds is nothing new for One Piece. However, even compared to Luffy’s role in the Egghead Incident, his escape from Impel Down, and his attempted rescue of Portgas D. Ace at Marineford, the prospect of defeating a character who survived (and potentially won) a clash with six Emperor of the Sea-level fighters is an exceedingly long shot for the Straw Hat Pirate.
The reason for Imu’s invulnerability has yet to be explained, but between it and his Domi Reversi technique, the World Government’s shadow leader seemingly has the ability to defeat an entire kingdom, let alone one pirate. Once the God Valley flashback concludes, the Straw Hat Pirates and the residents of Elbaph will be up against the strongest One Piece character in the series so far, and they’ll need every bit of ingenuity they can summon if they hope to defeat Imu.
If there’s one thing going for One Piece‘s modern cast that separates them from the characters who faced off against Imu at God Valley, it’s the power of Sun God Nika. Luffy’s Gear 5 transformation legitimately struck fear in the hearts of the Five Elders when they saw its strength, and it’s entirely possible that it will be the differentiating factor in the Straw Hat Pirates’ looming clash with Imu on Elbaph.
If Monkey D. Luffy’s Devil Fruit — or another factor, such as Conqueror’s Haki — does end up introducing a way to hurt Imu and his subordinates, then the prospect of Luffy accomplishing his dream becomes significantly more realistic. Until then, One Piece‘s protagonist and his allies will need all the help they can get, lest they fall under the control of Domi Reversi like the many poor souls who came before them.
