Luffy is Secretly Helping One Piece’s Greatest Villain Take Over the World, and Fans Completely Missed It

The story of One Piece has definitively entered its endgame with Luffy gearing up to confront the World Government’s Supreme Ruler Imu. However, it’s becoming more and more likely that the Straw Hat Captain will accidentally help the true final boss of One Piece, a move that will descend the world into chaos.

Elbaph has become a dramatic arena filled with demonic forces, unkillable enemies, and nightmares come true. Thankfully, the Straw Hats and Giants turn things in their favor before it is too late to save the island’s children and library filled with forbidden knowledge. Now all they have to do is defeat the Supreme Ruler of the World Government.

Not much has been proven about the identity of the secret ruler, but the Egghead and Elbaph arcs have showcased more about their abilities. While the scope of their powers has proven to be devastating, their major weakness could trigger the exact moment One Piece‘s real greatest villain has been waiting for.

Imu Was The Ultimate Villain, Until…

Imu’s incredible introduction late into One Piece‘s story created a villain shrouded in mystery that allowed the audience’s imagination to run wild with possibilities. However, after the daunting figure used their power and influence to wipe out entire islands and possess the world’s strongest fighters, the World Government’s secret Supreme Ruler seemed untouchable, until the end of the Egghead arc.

The climax of the Egghead arc gave fans more than they ever expected as the Straw Hats struggled to escape the island during a super-charged Buster Call and the full might of The Five Elders. The foes were granted horrific power from Imu with demonic contracts, but when that power was overwhelmed, fans saw Imu crumble for the first time.

In arguably the most pivotal moment of the Egghead arc, a long-dormant burst of Joyboy’s Conquer’s Haki is unleashed in a single blast that defeats each of the transformed Elders. Their demonic energies are completely neutralized, and Imu is shown falling to their knees. This adds to the theory that Imu’s contracts may lead directly to their ultimate defeat.

The highest-ranking members of the World Government, like the Elders and the Holy Knights, each agreed to a contract with Imu. Particular tiers of said contract allow the connection to Imu to strengthen. Going off the ending of Egghead, if Imu grants an individual enough power, their defeat brings a considerable toll on the once invincible figure.

Luffy Won’t Be The One To End Imu

For years, Imu seemed like the perfect candidate for One Piece’s final boss that Luffy would need to best to reach the One Piece. Their defeat would free the world from the oppression that the World Government has enforced for over 800 years, but Luffy would be one of the first to say that he is no hero.

If the theory about Imu’s contract is true, then the ultimate battle One Piece chapter #1177 sets up will truly upset the world’s balance. Luffy and Loki’s fight against the possessed Gunko could drain Imu and weaken them, allowing any foe waiting for the perfect time to strike the World Government’s HQ, Mary Geoise.

The last few arcs have spent more time in Mary Geoise than ever before for a few specific reasons. One visit in chapter #1126 shows Blackbeard speaking to his most sneaky crewmate, Laffitte. The expert spy has been staking out the increasingly tense hometown of Imu and was told to prepare for the next stages of Blackbeard’s ultimate plan.

Author Eiichiro Oda has teased Imu’s potential weakness and laid the groundwork for the Blackbeard Pirates’ assault on the World Government’s HQ. One Piece seems primed to subvert expectations and have Blackbeard be the one to defeat Imu’s main body and take over Mary Geoise. And after learning about his past, he might deserve it more than Luffy.

Why Blackbeard Taking Out Imu Makes More Sense

The Elbaph arc has provided more information about Blackbeard’s origins, which has made his potential defeat of Imu even more narratively satisfying than if Luffy had done the deed. With the God Valley flashback, it is revealed that Blackbeard is the son of Rocks D. Zebec, known as one of history’s most dangerous pirates. A figure that surprisingly met with Imu.

Rocks had not only infiltrated Mary Geoise and confronted Imu, but he was also taken over by the Supreme Rule’s Reversi ability and ordered to murder his own wife and young son, Teech. Thankfully, he failed. The Imu controlled Rocks forced the legendary team-up of Garp and Roger to form in order to silence his rampage.

If Imu is severely weakened by a loss of their forces on Elbaph, there is a good chance that a concentrated assault from the Blackbeard Pirates could best Mary Geoise. Since they control many of One Piece‘s most powerful Devil Fruits, the chaotic crew has helped trigger many huge shifts in their world, saving the biggest for last.

Blackbeard ending Imu would avenge his father and his ancestors, the Davy Clan. The World Government has worked for centuries to erase all mention of the clan from history. Having shown himself to be a student of history, Teech’s decades of planning may have all been devoted to taking down Imu and taking the world’s throne for himself.

A New King of the World Is Coming

When Blackbeard’s crewmates met Elder Saint Saturn on Egghead Island, they were not kidding when they told him that Teech planned to take over the world. Their mission was only one of the few pieces of Blackbeard’s plan that would give him the opportunity he needed to succeed, and Luffy is about to provide another.

Like many arcs in the past, Luffy is not fully aware of all the dark deeds his opponent has committed when he decides to fight. He likely has no clue who Gunko is or that they are directly tied to the World Government’s ruler. All he needs to know is that they hurt his friends, then the battle is on.

Blackbeard’s preparing for something big, but his crew has yet to be seen on Elbaph. It’s unclear if they are aware of Imu’s active assault on the Giants’ homeland, but his spies are clearly keeping a watch on Mary Geoise. If Luffy and Loki do defeat Imu, it will likely create some kind of shockwave that will rock Imu’s home.

If my theory plays out as expected, the Straw Hat captain would be accidentally helping Marshall D. Teech take over the world by defeating Imu on Elbaph. While Mary Geoise would likely not go down without a fight, One Piece‘s world would be a chaotic mess for its final arc if Teech becomes the new King of the World.