What We Know
Im-Sama, often referred to simply as Imu, is perhaps the most significant mystery remaining in the One Piece world. Introduced during the Reverie arc, Imu is the secret sovereign who sits upon the Empty Throne in Pangaea Castle at Mary Geoise. While the world believes that no single monarch rules over the alliance of nations, the Five Elders (Gorosei) are shown kneeling in absolute submission to this enigmatic figure. This revelation completely redefines the political structure of the series, placing Imu as the ultimate antagonist of the final saga and the personification of the world's systemic oppression. To understand the Im-Sama identity, we must look at the few clues provided: a tall, slender silhouette, a massive crown with four sharp points, and distinct, ringed eyes that bear a striking resemblance to those of Mihawk or Zunesha.
Immortality Theory
One of the most widely accepted Im theories is that the ruler is immortal. This belief stems from Emporio Ivankov’s observation in Chapter 1086, where he mentions that among the "First Twenty" kings who founded the World Government 800 years ago, there was a monarch named Saint Imu of the Nerona Family. If the current Imu is indeed that same person, it would mean they have survived since the Void Century. The primary mechanism for this would be the "Perennial Youth Surgery" of the Ope Ope no Mi (Op-Op Fruit), which grants eternal life at the cost of the fruit user's own life. This potential immortality explains how Imu has maintained a grip on history for centuries, systematically "extinguishing lights" from the world to prevent the truth of the Void Century from ever surfacing.
Connection to Lily
The mystery of the Im-Sama identity is deeply intertwined with Queen Nefertari D. Lily of Arabasta. Lily was the only one of the twenty founding monarchs who refused to become a Celestial Dragon and subsequently vanished before returning home. During the Reverie, Imu is seen in the Room of Flowers interacting with a giant straw hat and later speaking Lily’s name with a sense of personal history. Some fans believe Imu is actually Lily herself, while others suggest Imu is a rival who "erased" her because she spread the Poneglyphs across the world. The fact that Imu shows a particular obsession with Vivi, Lily's descendant, suggests that the "sin" Lily committed 800 years ago remains Imu's greatest grievance.
Im's Powers
While we have yet to see a full-scale battle, the glimpses of Im's powers are terrifying. During the destruction of the Lulusia Kingdom, Imu used a mysterious weapon—potentially the Ancient Weapon Uranus or a Vegapunk invention called the Mother Flame—to erase an entire island from existence in seconds. Furthermore, in the confrontation with King Cobra and Sabo, Imu transformed into a massive, bestial silhouette capable of "consuming" fire and striking with a pointed, arrow-like tail. This suggests that Imu possesses a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, with many speculating it represents a "Devil" or "Void" deity that serves as the polar opposite to Luffy’s Sun God Nika powers. Their ability to communicate telepathically with the Gorosei further cements their role as a god-like entity.
Top 5 Identity Theories
The community has produced several compelling possibilities regarding who is Im One Piece, ranked here by their prevalence in lore discussions:
- Saint Imu of the Nerona Family: The most "canon-supported" theory, suggesting Imu is a founding monarch who used the Ope Ope no Mi to live forever.
- The Sea Devil (Umi): A linguistic theory based on reversing the name "Imu" to get "Umi" (Sea). This suggests Imu is the literal embodiment of the ocean and the source of the curse on Devil Fruit users.
- A Possessed Nefertari Lily: This theory posits that Imu is an ancient spirit or entity that took over Queen Lily’s body 800 years ago, explaining the obsession with the Nefertari line.
- An Extraterrestrial Being: Given the lunar connections in One Piece (Enel’s cover story), some believe Imu is a "God" from the moon who descended to rule the Earth.
- The First "User" of the Void: A theory that Imu represents "Nothingness" or the "Void," acting as the ultimate conceptual rival to Luffy’s "Freedom."
FAQ
Is Im-Sama a man or a woman?
Imu's gender remains unconfirmed. In Japanese, Imu uses the pronoun "Mu," which is archaic and gender-neutral. However, the Five Elders refer to Imu with the suffix "-Sei," which is typically used for male Celestial Dragons, though this could simply be a default title for the sovereign.
What is the relationship between Imu and the giant straw hat?
Imu keeps a massive, frozen straw hat in a vault within Mary Geoise. It is widely theorized that this hat belonged to Joy Boy, the original inhabitant of the Void Century, and Imu keeps it as a trophy or a reminder of their ancient enemy.
Is Imu stronger than Luffy?
As the final antagonist, Imu is expected to be the ultimate challenge. While Luffy has reached the pinnacle of power with Gear 5, Imu’s ability to control the World Government and transform into a demonic entity suggests a level of power that may require the combined efforts of the "Will of D" to overcome.
