The world of One Piece has always been full of secrets. From the Void Century to the true meaning of the Will of D. , creator Eiichiro Oda has kept fans guessing for decades. But as the manga moves through its Final Saga, one question is on everyone’s mind. What is the real link between Imu, the shadowy ruler of the World Government, and Joyboy, the legendary first pirate?
Recent chapters and fan theories are pointing to a connection that could completely change how we view the entire story. This is not just about who wins a fight. It is about the very core of freedom, control, and the history of the world Monkey D. Luffy is trying to change.
The Theory That Changes Everything
For a long time, fans assumed Imu was simply the enemy who killed Joyboy 800 years ago. But a deeper look at the story suggests something much more personal. A popular theory gaining traction online suggests that Imu might actually be a dark version of Joyboy himself, or at least deeply connected to his power.
The idea centers on the Sun God Nika. We know Luffy’s Gear 5 form represents total freedom and joy. But what if Nika had two sides? One side represents liberation ( Luffy ), while the other represents absolute control ( Imu ). Some fans believe Imu could be the suppressed dark nature of Joyboy that broke away to become its own person.
This would explain why the World Government fears the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika so much. It is not just that the fruit gives power. It is that history might be about to repeat itself, and Imu is terrified of facing that free spirit again.
A Betrayal Between Brothers
Another very popular explanation for the Imu and Joyboy connection is the theory of a broken partnership. Many fans believe that Imu was not always the ruler of the world. Instead, they suggest Imu was once Joyboy’s right-hand man, similar to how Zoro is to Luffy or Rayleigh was to Roger.
If this is true, the story of the Void Century becomes a tragedy of betrayal. Imagine the strongest pirate crew in history, led by Joyboy, with Imu as the loyal vice-captain. Something happened during the ancient war. Maybe Imu grew jealous of Joyboy’s light. Maybe they disagreed on how to free the world. Whatever the reason, Imu turned against his captain.
This betrayal would have split the ancient world into two factions. Those who stayed loyal to Joyboy (like the ancient giant Emeth and Zunesha ) and those who sided with Imu (the 20 Kings who founded the World Government ). It would make Imu a truly complex villain, someone who destroyed the world because of a broken friendship.
“If this theory ends up becoming true, then the final battle will be memorable to fans because it will not just be a battle of strength, but rather it will be a battle of ideologies.” – Fan Analysis
The Evidence Hidden in the Mural
Chapter 1138 , titled “The Harley,” gave fans a massive piece of the puzzle. The ancient mural in Elbaph depicts the three worlds of One Piece : the past, the present, and the future. In these drawings, fans noticed a giant elephant-like creature carrying a figure that looks very similar to Imu.
This has led to the theory that Zunesha (the giant elephant carrying Zou ) was originally a servant of Imu. But during the Void Century , Zunesha chose to defect and side with Joyboy. For this crime, Imu cursed Zunesha to walk the seas forever, unable to fight unless given permission by someone with the “Voice of All Things.”
The mural also shows a large figure fighting against a giant serpent and other dark entities. Many believe this confirms that Imu is not human in the normal sense, but an ancient being who has been alive for over 800 years, possibly using the Ope Ope no Mi ( Law’s fruit) to perform the “Perennial Youth Surgery.”
Freedom Versus Absolute Control
Regardless of the specific details, the core of the Imu and Joyboy connection comes down to one thing: ideology.
Joyboy (and now Luffy ) represents freedom. The Sun God dances, laughs, and wants everyone to have the right to eat what they want and chase their dreams. Luffy’s Gear 5 is chaotic, silly, and unpredictable because true freedom is messy.
Imu represents control. Every time Imu appears, the atmosphere is cold and silent. Imu sits on the “Empty Throne,” a seat that was supposed to belong to no one, claiming total ownership of the world. Imu destroyed the island of Lulusia without hesitation just to test a weapon. Imu wants a world where nothing changes and no one challenges their authority.
This is why the final battle will be different from any other fight Luffy has had. It will not just be about punching harder. It will be a battle of wills: the freedom to live happily versus the order of absolute control.
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What This Means for Luffy
If Imu is truly connected to Joyboy , either as his dark half or his betrayer, then Luffy is not just fighting for the One Piece. He is fighting to clear the name of the man who came before him.
The Straw Hat that Luffy wears is the same one that Joyboy once wore, preserved in a frozen vault in Imu’s castle. Imu keeps it as a trophy, a reminder of a victory long ago. But for Luffy , that hat is just a promise to his idol, Shanks , and a symbol of his dream.
As the Elbaph arc continues to reveal more about the Void Century , the connection between Imu and Joyboy will become clearer. For now, fans are left with a thrilling idea: the ultimate villain of One Piece might be the ghost of a friendship that went very, very wrong.
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