The latest spoilers from the One Piece manga have dropped a huge surprise for fans of the series. The mysterious ruler of the world, Imu, has finally shown a major new weapon in the fight against Loki on Elbaf. This weapon is not a devil fruit power or an ancient weapon, but a massive sword named Nemesis. This revelation is changing how fans view the strength of the World Government and its connection to the world’s greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk.
The introduction of Nemesis adds another legendary blade to the story, and its design and use have the entire fandom talking about what it means for the final saga.
Imu Conjures a Supreme-Grade Blade in Elbaf
According to detailed spoilers for One Piece Chapter 1181, the confrontation between Loki, the Prince of Elbaf, and Imu has reached its peak.
Loki begins the attack, swinging his massive hammer, Ragnir, with full force at the sovereign of the world. Imu, showing incredible control, stops the attack perfectly using a wall of black flames. Following this display of defense, Imu transforms their body to match Loki’s giant size. Then, in a shocking move, Imu pulls a massive black blade out of thin air.
The sword is named Nemesis. Imu does not waste any time showing its power. Using the sword, Imu stabs Loki directly through the chest. The attack is described as being on a massive scale, cutting through everything in the area. Eyewitness accounts of the leaks compare the attack directly to the one used by Mihawk during the Marineford War, specifically the slash that was intercepted by Diamond Jozu.
How Nemesis Compares to Yoru and Other Black Blades
To understand the importance of Nemesis, one must look at the lore of swords in One Piece. There are only twelve Supreme-Grade Blades in the world. These are the peak of weapon craftsmanship, and they are usually held by only the strongest fighters. Nemesis appears to belong to this group, or perhaps even stands above it due to the nature of its wielder.
Currently, there are only two known permanent Black Blades in the world: Mihawk’s Yoru and the legendary Shusui (formerly owned by Ryuma of Wano). A blade becomes a permanent Black Blade when it is saturated with Armament Haki over many battles until the color changes permanently.
In the spoiler images, Nemesis is clearly black. This raises a huge lore question. Did Imu forge this blade over the last 800 years? Or did Imu use their strange devilish powers to create the sword out of flames instantly? The answer to that question will tell fans if Imu is a master swordsman who earned their blade, or if their power is something else entirely.
Visual Similarities Spark Fan Theories
The description of Nemesis confirms that it looks very similar to Yoru. Both are large, ornate, black blades with a distinct crossguard design. This is not the only similarity between Imu and Mihawk that fans have noticed.
For years, readers have pointed out that both characters share the same ringed eyes. In the One Piece world, unique eye designs often signal a specific lineage or a shared secret. Chapter 1181 confirms that their sword styles are also nearly identical. This has led to a massive wave of speculation online.
“Imu and Mihawk must be related, having the same style of sword is definitely not a coincidence. Mihawk must be apart of the Nerona family.” — Fan reaction on social media
The Dracule Mihawk and Imu Connection
Many fans now believe that Dracule Mihawk is a descendant of Imu. The theory goes deeper when you look at Mihawk’s full name. “Dracule” is a clear reference to Dracula. In some interpretations, the name translates to “Son of the Devil” or “Son of the Dragon.”
Since Imu has been referred to as the “Devil” or the “God of the World,” the connection fits. If Imu is the patriarch of the Nerona family (the founding family of the World Government), then Mihawk could be a distant relative who chose a life of piracy instead of ruling.
At the moment, Oda has not confirmed any family ties. However, the visual language used in the chapter makes it hard to ignore. Imu used a sword that looks like Yoru and swings it like Mihawk. Whether they are father and son or just related by blood, the connection is now a major talking point.
What This Means for the Ranking of Swordsmen
The arrival of Nemesis changes the landscape of power scaling regarding swords.
For a long time, fans argued about whether Shanks or Mihawk was stronger based on their sword skills. Now, a third figure enters the conversation. If Imu is truly a swordsman (and not just using the sword as a tool), then Imu might be the strongest sword user in the series.
However, there is a catch. In the spoilers, Imu summons the sword out of liquid-like black flames. Some fans argue that this means the sword is not a real “forged” blade like Yoru, but a construct of Imu’s devil fruit.
If Nemesis is just a summoned weapon, then Imu is likely a devil fruit user first and a swordsman second. If Nemesis is a real supreme-grade blade, then the final battle for the title of “World’s Strongest Swordsman” might actually involve Zoro facing the King of the World.
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The Attack on Loki and the Aftermath
The chapter ends on a tense note. Loki is stabbed, but the conversation between him and Imu continues.
There is no sign that Loki is defeated for good. Instead, Imu is seen smiling at the end of the chapter. This suggests that Imu is enjoying the fight and is simply testing the strength of the Elbaf prince. For the readers, however, the focus is on the sword. Oda has spent decades building the myth of the Black Blade. To give one to Imu this late in the game confirms that the final war will involve swordplay at the highest level.
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