With the Elbaph Arc finally giving fans the full God Valley reveal, it’s clear that One Piece is truly in the midst of its Final Saga. From Imu to Rocks, to Shanks, the latest arc has been exposing the secrets of some of One Piece’s biggest enigmas, inching closer and closer to the series’ inevitable end.
That said, even with the revelation of the Harley texts, the Jewel Tree Adam mural, and the existence of the Davy clan, fans are still far from seeing the bigger picture at hand. At least, that was until an old theory recently resurfaced, finally uncovering Oda’s potential plan for One Piece’s grand ending.
One Piece’s Elbaph Arc Indirectly Reveals Imu and Joyboy’s Relationship
Back in January 2025, One Piece brought on Junya Fukuda as an editor for the manga. According to a post on X by @sandmanAP, during Fukuda’s first meeting with Eiichiro Oda, he was told that chapter #1137, which is when Shamrock made his debut, was extremely important.
Allegedly, the chapter’s significance could only be understood upon knowing what the final treasure is. For months, fans have been trying to decode what could be so significant in the chapter to no avail. However, revisiting an old theory reveals chapter #1137 may have been foreshadowing Joyboy and Imu’s relationship through Hajrudin and Loki, respectively.
The theory essentially speculates that Imu and Joyboy may have been siblings, just like Loki and Hajrudin. In chapter #1137, Road tells the Straw Hats about how Loki is a pure-blooded giant, while Hajrudin possesses tainted blood due to his mother not being from Elbaph.
Road also goes on to reveal that Hajrudin’s dream is to unite all the giant tribes of the world and become king of the giants, which may mirror Joyboy’s real dream. Luffy’s dream to be the king of the pirates and Hajrudin’s dream to be the king of the giants could both be lesser versions of Joyboy’s dream to be the king of the world.
If Hajrudin and Loki are indeed a representation of Imu and Joyboy, then perhaps Imu is the so-called pure-blooded one, while Joyboy is the one with tainted blood.
The pure-blooded lineage could play into why Imu gained the support of the twenty nations and became the king of the world, while Joyboy could not, thus spurring Emet’s apology to Joyboy for not being able to make him king.
Joyboy and Imu’s History is the Key to the Void Century
As revealed during the Reverie and the Egghead Arc, the Void Century was a time of conflict between the Ancient Kingdom and the precursor to the World Government. Interestingly, Vegapunk describes the war as one of opposing ideals.
If so, Imu and Joyboy, the two siblings, may have had different ideas of justice and freedom, which initially led to the divide between the two. According to Professor Clover, the World Government found the Ancient Kingdom’s ideals, or Joyboy’s ideals, so harmful that they erased every trace that the kingdom ever existed.
Judging by how Joyboy emulated Nika, he likely wanted the world to be free and united, much like Hajrudin dreams of uniting the giant tribes. Imu, on the other hand, likely believed in complete submission and control, likely explaining why the world of One Piece was intentionally submerged, as Vegapunk states in his broadcast.
Reducing the world to little isolated islands definitely plays a huge role in helping the World Government maintain control. Not only is travel between islands dangerous, but the World Government also strictly controls the flow of information through the World Economic Journal. Even Imu’s Domi Reversi powers exemplify this absolute, authoritarian rule.
And, of course, the individuals challenging Imu’s ideals are the pirates, starting with the so-called “first pirate” Joyboy. Heading out to sea has always been equated to freedom in One Piece, and perhaps this confirms that the series’ endgame will be all about connecting the whole world, likely using whatever treasure Joyboy’s left behind at Laugh Tale.
- Created by
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Eiichiro Oda
- First Film
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One Piece: The Movie
- Cast
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Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
- Video Game(s)
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One Piece: Unlimited World Red, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece: World Seeker, One Piece Odyssey
- Character(s)
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Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)
