One Piece chapter 1149 in a shocking turn of events saw Imu jumping into the action by taking control of one of the God’s Knights, Gunko. Imu also revealed that the Holy Land of Mariejois is currently under attack and burning. This move showed the growing desperation of the World Government and Imu’s impatience with the failure of the God’s Knights.
Imu taking control of Gunko is a major turning point. The greatest threat in the world is now in the same place as Luffy, raising the stakes even more. Here’s what this could mean for Elbaph and the final war that is rapidly approaching.
Table of Contents
Imu Steps Out of the Shadows
One Piece chapter 1149 revealed Imu taking control of Gunko’s body to directly intervene in the conflict at Elbaph. This is the first time Imu has acted openly, sending a clear warning that the world will soon face the power of a god. While the Gorosei have been shown fighting before, Imu’s involvement through Gunko highlights how serious the situation has become.
Imu has remained in the shadows for the entirety of the story so far, known only to the Five Elders and the God’s Knights. But as chaos spreads with Mariejois currently under attack and the God’s Knights struggling to take control over Elbaph, Imu can no longer control events from the shadows and must take direct action. While chapter 1149 didn’t show Imu demonstrating their powers, taking control over a God’s Knight is a feat in itself, which shows that Imu is not someone to be trifled with.
What Gunko’s Role Reveals
Gunko is a high-ranking member of the God’s Knights, a group that acts as the World Government’s most elite enforcers. The fact that Imu can override her will suggests that the God’s Knights might be vessels created or conditioned for Imu’s use and this makes them all the more terrifying.
One Piece Chapter 1149 saw Gaban easily defeat God’s Knight Shepherd Sommers and cut his body into pieces, stopping him from regenerating. He would have likely defeated Gunko as well had she not threatened his son, Colon. This shows that Gaban is powerful enough to deal with the God’s Knights and their regeneration, which is a considerable threat to Imu. This could be one of the reasons why the supreme ruler decided to get involved in the conflict.
Oda is yet to reveal if Gunko has a prior connection to Imu, but he has teased that Brook knew Gunko long before he became a pirate. So, the upcoming chapters could reveal Gunko and Brook’s shared history and show why Imu chose to take control of her body specifically.
The Power Behind Imu’s Possession
Imu’s ability to take control of another person implies a supernatural or godlike power. Whether this comes from a Devil Fruit, ancient technology, or something more mysterious remains unclear. What is certain is that this places Imu in a tier far beyond even the Five Elders.
One theory suggests that Imu may not be a single person. Imu might be a being that can fragment or transfer consciousness. This could explain their long reign, possibly surviving since the Void Century by taking over hosts like Gunko and Nefertari Lily. It could also explain how Imu defeated Joy Boy centuries ago, likely by possessing Joy Boy’s allies and using their trust to deal with him once and for all.
This kind of control also raises a question about autonomy. Are the God’s Knights truly independent, or are they extensions of Imu’s will? If Imu can take over any of them at any time, then the elite guard become just vessels that Imu uses to quash down rebellion. They also become bodies that Imu uses to move around in the open world and deal with bigger conflicts.
What This Means for Elbaph and Luffy
Elbaph is quickly becoming a decisive battleground in the Final Saga. With Luffy, who currently holds the powers of Sun God Nika, already on the island alongside individuals like Loki present, a battle is bound to break out. The God’s Knights were sent to eliminate resistance on Elbaph but failed to do so. This led to Imu stepping in directly.
This failure may go beyond military setbacks. Elbaph may hold ancient secrets, possibly linked to the Void Century or the True History. If Imu is acting in person, it suggests the threat from Elbaph is far greater than previously believed. We’ve seen in the past the lengths the World Government would go to suppress any information about the Void Century, so it stands to reason that Imu might have decided to take matters into their own hands to deal with Nika and to destroy Elbaph’s history.
With Imu now in play and Dragon likely having launched a direct assault on Mariejois, the story is moving into its final phase. The possession of Gunko marks the start of Imu abandoning secrecy and stepping onto the world stage. Fans are hoping that the upcoming chapters will see Imu face Luffy in what is about to be a showdown for the ages.
Final Thoughts
Imu taking control of Gunko is a major warning. The era of hidden rulers is ending. For centuries, Imu ruled from the shadows. Now, their influence is active and direct. This action proves that the World Government can no longer sit at a safe distance and contain the waves of rebellion spreading across the world.
The world is nearing its breaking point, and what happened with Gunko may only be the beginning. It is written in the Harley Sacred Texts that the third world would see the Sun God guide the world to its end. A new era is about to begin, one that will likely see the reign of Imu and the World Government end, with Luffy being the sun which burns it all down.
