One Piece fans have eagerly awaited the true power of Imu ever since creator Eiichiro Oda revealed the existence of this ultimate villain. Now, as the story delves into the Elbaf arc, that moment is finally unfolding.
Before the flashback about Loki on Elbaf officially begins, Imu demonstrated overwhelming strength by single-handedly crushing Elbaf. This power was further confirmed in Loki’s flashback, where Imu was shown fighting legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Garp, and Kaido simultaneously at God Valley.
Despite facing such “monsters,” Imu remained unharmed, clearly invincible so far. However, there was one pirate who once terrified Imu, and that was none other than Joy Boy.
Joy Boy Is the Only One Who Can Defeat Imu
Fans had long anticipated a fierce battle between Imu and Rocks D. Xebec since their first encounter was revealed. Yet, few expected the fight to be so one-sided. Even though Rocks wielded incredibly strong Conqueror’s Haki, Imu remained completely unharmed.
With just one strike, Imu defeated Rocks D. Xebec. Not only that, Imu enslaved him. According to One Piece chapter 1163, Imu used the Domi Reversi technique to control Rocks. Now, the task of stopping the controlled Rocks falls to Roger and Garp.
Clearly, Rocks D. Xebec is no match for Imu. However, Joy Boy is definitely capable of standing against him. Joy Boy, who lived during the Void Century, was a user of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika Devil Fruit. He belonged to a once-great kingdom, was the first to set sail, and was called a pirate.
Most importantly, Joy Boy possessed tremendous power, especially as the second incarnation of Nika in the One Piece world. He fought Imu and other kings during the Void Century and lost, but he instilled deep fear in them. When Joy Boy’s Haki was unleashed in the Egghead arc, Imu was seen trembling with fear.
Luffy Is the New Joy Boy and Will Defeat Imu
It’s important to remember that Joy Boy is a title, not a name. The original Joy Boy couldn’t defeat Imu, but the current Joy Boy, Monkey D. Luffy, will ultimately overcome him. As the embodiment of Joy Boy, Luffy is the only one who can defeat Imu, and this will come true thanks to the power of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika Devil Fruit.
However, Luffy won’t be able to defeat Imu anytime soon. Their battle may take place during the Elbaf arc, but it’s unlikely to be resolved quickly. The power gap between them is still too wide, and it’s too early for Imu to fall. Luffy must reach a new level of strength before he can take down the World King.