A compelling new theory gaining traction among One Piece fans suggests that the eternal punishment of the massive elephant Zunesha may not be a simple divine sentence, but the direct result of a sinister power wielded by the mysterious world ruler, Imu. This theory provides a potential explanation for one of the series’ biggest mysteries: why Zunesha has been forced to walk the seas for over 800 years.
The core of this idea connects Zunesha’s established backstory with Imu’s recently revealed abilities. Fans propose that Imu used a technique called Domi Reversi on Zunesha during the Void Century, effectively placing the giant elephant under a curse rather than a traditional punishment. This would mean Zunesha’s endless walking is a form of magical control, not a penalty for a crime it willingly committed.
What is Imu’s Domi Reversi Power?
Imu’s power was recently showcased in the story, revealing abilities that go beyond typical Devil Fruits or Haki. Imu commands a form of magic, using a magical book and the ability to draw pentagrams in the air. A key technique within this arsenal is Domi Reversi.
Domi Reversi is described as a spell that inverts the will of its target. It is a sub-technique of a “Demonic Contract” that allows Imu to bring out an “evil version” of someone, stripping them of their autonomy and turning them into a permanent slave loyal only to Imu. The process involves the target sinking into a magical circle and emerging with their personality completely switched, often granted immortality and prodigious strength in exchange for their freedom.
One fan summarized the implication of this power, stating, “Zunesha and Emeth weren’t traitors… they were victims — bound by Imu’s control, forced to raise their hands against the very king they swore to follow. Their eternal apology echoes through time, a cry of guilt that was never theirs to bear.”
Zunesha’s Punishment and Connection to Joy Boy
Zunesha is a Naitamie-Norida elephant that is over 1,000 years old. For the last 800 years, it has been walking the seas with the island of Zou on its back as a punishment for an unspecified crime committed during the Void Century. It is forbidden from acting without permission from someone who can understand its will.
Critically, Zunesha was a known companion of Joy Boy, the figure who opposed the World Government during the Void Century. Both Zunesha and the ancient robot, Emeth, have been shown apologizing to Joy Boy for failing a promise, suggesting they played a part in his downfall despite being his allies.
The theory asks a simple question: why would Joy Boy’s own allies turn against him? The proposed answer is that they were not in control of their actions. Fans note that Zunesha’s punishment feels “eerily personal,” as if administered by someone with “immense authority and supernatural control.”
How The Theory Connects The Dots
This fan theory seamlessly ties together several plot points. If Imu used Domi Reversi on Zunesha and other allies of Joy Boy, it would explain their sudden betrayal. Their subsequent punishment—eternal wandering for Zunesha—could then be seen as the permanent state of Imu’s control, a “slave contract” that has lasted for centuries.
The theory also recontextualizes Zunesha’s actions in the present story. Its need for permission to act could be a remnant of this curse, and its immediate recognition of Luffy’s awakened Devil Fruit as the “Drums of Liberation” underscores its deep, buried connection to Joy Boy. One popular fan post on social media speculated, “What if Zunesha’s punishment, ‘to walk the seas for eternity’, wasn’t a divine curse, but the result of Imu’s Domi Reversi?”
This idea has sparked intense debate within the community. Fan reactions show many are intrigued by the possibility. One commenter expanded on the theory, writing, “So that’s why every creature that connected to Joyboy… say ‘sorry joyboy’. because they are all taken by Imu’s domi reversi? thats how imu defeated joyboy?”
The Void Century Mystery
The Void Century is a 100-year gap in recorded history that the World Government considers the worst crime to research. The period concluded with a Great War that led to the formation of the World Government and the downfall of the ancient Great Kingdom, which was allied with Joy Boy.
The theory that Imu directly cursed Zunesha provides a tangible character-driven story from this lost era. It paints the conflict not just as a war between armies, but as a battle where the enemy’s greatest weapon was the power to corrupt and control the opposition’s strongest allies. This adds a tragic layer to Zunesha’s long existence, transforming it from a punished criminal into a victim waiting for liberation.
Dr. Vegapunk’s recent global broadcast about the Void Century has brought these ancient secrets back to the forefront, forcing the world to confront its hidden history. As the story moves toward its final saga, answers about Zunesha’s true past and its connection to Imu are highly anticipated.
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