This might come across as random, but I think there are puzzle pieces that are starting to fit together, here.
Take another look at Imu's newly-revealed form.
(Chapter 1179)
Imu seems to have what looks like a Elbaph-style viking-like belt around their waist. Combine that with Imu probably being pretty tall, maybe even Ancient-Giant size like Loki, and it feels like Oda is hinting that Imu actually has more of a tie to Elbaph than we originally thought.
I think it's possible that Imu actually originally came from Elbaph during the Void Century. Elbaph could be Imu's homeland. Imu might have some Ancient Giant blood in him. Which, if this is the case, could explain why Imu cares so much about getting this country under his control. He doesn't want to have to fight his own people during whatever conflict he's worried about coming up.
So, if we assume that Imu originally came from Elbaph, that would mean that at some point, Imu was a child. Just like everybody else. And remember what Ripley had to say about who originally made the Elbaph Mural?
(Chapter 1138)
The Mural was likely drawn by a child. Imu MAY have been a child from Elbaph. This is all VERY circumstantial, but I think it'd make for a interesting reveal if Imu was the one who originally drew the Mural. Imu may have been the one who drew the Mural showing us the history of the World up to that point. Possibly right before going off to help Joyboy fight in the then-upcoming War. Imu MAY be that "Ancient Giant with a Spear" we see in the Mural.
Let's take another look at that Mural.
(Chapter 1138)
The Ancient Giant in the Mural, underneath "Joyboy", is wielding a spear. When we first see Imu in Chapter 1178, he's wielding a "naginata"-like weapon. That's not QUITE the same thing, but it IS pretty close. Close enough for me to speculate that these could be a picture of Imu during Joyboy's battle during the Second World. The Ancient Giant in the Mural also has a belt, and white hair, just like Imu does. These are possibly the same people.
Also, this is a bit of a side-tangent, but I want to bring up the Statues in Mariejois, who are likely depicting the First Twenty.
(Chapter 906)
Not only does this show that there's SOMEONE in Mariejois with some artistic skill, and plenty of time on their hands. But, also, this reddit thread below makes a interesting point. There seems to be a ongoing theme of characters who use spears clashing with other characters who use swords. Rivals who end up respecting each other, by the end of their fights. Roger vs Whitebeard. Nekomamushi vs Inuarashi. Noland vs Kalgara. Possibly as part of the whole "Sun vs the Moon" theme.
reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/rpse1w/mary_geoise_statues_and_the_god_a_common_detail/
And we see that, in the Mural, the Ancient Giant has a spear, and "Joyboy" has a sword. So, in a roundabout way, that kind of implies that at one point, Imu and Joyboy may have been more "friendly rivals", until something soured between them.
But, now for the big one, because there's a line in the Harley Text that seems to give away the game.
https://thelibraryofohara.com/2025/02/02/chapter-secrets-one-piece-chapter-1138-giga-analysis/
During the Second World portion, the text begins with:
"Within the nothingness, there is breath."
Which in Japanese is:
虚無に息吹あり
"Kyomu ni ibuki ari."
"Kyo...MU". And as we all know, Imu tends to refer to themselves as "Mu". "Nothing"
(Chapter 1163)
So, how does the line read change if we replace "Kyomu" with Imu's name in Japanese? (イム)
イムに息吹あり
"Imu ni ibuki ari."
"Imu has breath."
In other words, "Imu is born". The Second World begins with Imu being born. Imu is referring to themselves as "Mu". Which means Imu may have not just been the one who drew the Mural, Imu might be the one who wrote the Harley Text, too.
I also find Imu's weapon interesting. We're all focusing on the pointy end. But, Imu's weapon also has that black, fluffy cloud around it. Which...kind of makes it look like a paint brush, sorta. Kind of like Miss Goldenweek's paint brush.
I've talked about this several times before, but Miss Goldenweek's Color Trap seems suspiciously similar to Imu's Contract Marks. Possibly because they're both tapping into some sort of "Symbol Magic" themed Third Power System. So much so, that I have to wonder if that's why Miss Goldenweek is being portrayed as a lot more sinister in the Live Action series. Miss Goldenweek may be a early parallel for Imu. And if their powers are similar...could that mean that Imu is ALSO a artist? Giving some credence to the idea that Imu could have been the one who painted the Mural?
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/imu-still-may-not-be-the-sea-god.76012/#post-6482582
And if Imu IS a artist, that could mean that Kanjuro could also be a parallel with Imu.
Which would kind of make sense. If Imu can create "Devils", like the Gorosei's "Yokai" forms, that would be pretty similar to Kanjuro's power to bring his drawings to life. Also, Kanjuro betrayed the other Scabbards. And it seems likely that Imu betrayed Joyboy, by forming the World Government.
This isn't the only time Imu's been associated with artwork, either. Because, arguably, the first time we saw Imu was actually IN a piece of "artwork".
(Chapter 722)
Momo takes the place of someone huddling away in a crown, which looks suspiciously like Imu's crown in his "Shadowy" form. And now that we know Imu is a man, Momo actually makes a lot of sense as a parallel for Imu, overall.
Giolla's Dying Art is probably another perspective on the event that the Chapter 1138 Mural is also depicting. Chopper is a "Dragon"-like character with a long neck, and Nami is a blocky "Robot"-like character, both trying to seal a Sun away behind a gate, which looks a lot like the Gate of Justice at Enies Lobby. While the Sun itself is split between "Good" and "Evil" halves, possibly representing the Joyboy and Davy factions.
Brook looks like he has wings like a Lunarian in this shot which may make him a parallel with Joyboy, since we've gotten a few hints that Joyboy may have been a Lunarian with wings. Which leaves Giolla herself...probably as Davy Jones?
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/for...-fruit-users-before-luffy.56319/#post-6439582
If Imu DOES turn out to be the literal "Guardian of the Gate", like I think is possible, then this was all foreshadowed a long time ago in a piece of artwork.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/for...will-lose-in-elbaph.80593/page-8#post-6658028
A villainous character with a paintbrush as a weapon, who likes to disguise themselves in shadows, leaves special marks around everywhere they go, and really isn't that bad of a person, deep, DEEP down? That kind of reminds me of someone else, actually.
(Bowser Jr and Shadow Mario from Super Mario Sunshine)
Hmm...Do you think Oda was really looking forward to the Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Imu's just the mid-boss. And those "Shadows" that Imu covered himself with...could just be paint. Which might explain why he was coughing stuff up.
So, just wanted to put all that out there. Imu potentially has a lot of connections to artwork. So, don't be surprised if Imu has some sort of "art powers" when we actually see him make his move. In addition to all the OTHER potential powers he could have in his arsenal.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/so-imus-power-is.80684/#post-6658116
I might be jumping the gun on all this, since we really haven't even seen what Imu can do yet in his "Awakened" form. But, just in case I'm right, I just wanted to get this all out there. Time will tell if I was on the right track, or not.
Take another look at Imu's newly-revealed form.
(Chapter 1179)
Imu seems to have what looks like a Elbaph-style viking-like belt around their waist. Combine that with Imu probably being pretty tall, maybe even Ancient-Giant size like Loki, and it feels like Oda is hinting that Imu actually has more of a tie to Elbaph than we originally thought.
I think it's possible that Imu actually originally came from Elbaph during the Void Century. Elbaph could be Imu's homeland. Imu might have some Ancient Giant blood in him. Which, if this is the case, could explain why Imu cares so much about getting this country under his control. He doesn't want to have to fight his own people during whatever conflict he's worried about coming up.
So, if we assume that Imu originally came from Elbaph, that would mean that at some point, Imu was a child. Just like everybody else. And remember what Ripley had to say about who originally made the Elbaph Mural?
(Chapter 1138)
The Mural was likely drawn by a child. Imu MAY have been a child from Elbaph. This is all VERY circumstantial, but I think it'd make for a interesting reveal if Imu was the one who originally drew the Mural. Imu may have been the one who drew the Mural showing us the history of the World up to that point. Possibly right before going off to help Joyboy fight in the then-upcoming War. Imu MAY be that "Ancient Giant with a Spear" we see in the Mural.
Let's take another look at that Mural.
(Chapter 1138)
The Ancient Giant in the Mural, underneath "Joyboy", is wielding a spear. When we first see Imu in Chapter 1178, he's wielding a "naginata"-like weapon. That's not QUITE the same thing, but it IS pretty close. Close enough for me to speculate that these could be a picture of Imu during Joyboy's battle during the Second World. The Ancient Giant in the Mural also has a belt, and white hair, just like Imu does. These are possibly the same people.
Also, this is a bit of a side-tangent, but I want to bring up the Statues in Mariejois, who are likely depicting the First Twenty.
(Chapter 906)
Not only does this show that there's SOMEONE in Mariejois with some artistic skill, and plenty of time on their hands. But, also, this reddit thread below makes a interesting point. There seems to be a ongoing theme of characters who use spears clashing with other characters who use swords. Rivals who end up respecting each other, by the end of their fights. Roger vs Whitebeard. Nekomamushi vs Inuarashi. Noland vs Kalgara. Possibly as part of the whole "Sun vs the Moon" theme.
reddit.com/r/OnePiece/comments/rpse1w/mary_geoise_statues_and_the_god_a_common_detail/
And we see that, in the Mural, the Ancient Giant has a spear, and "Joyboy" has a sword. So, in a roundabout way, that kind of implies that at one point, Imu and Joyboy may have been more "friendly rivals", until something soured between them.
But, now for the big one, because there's a line in the Harley Text that seems to give away the game.
https://thelibraryofohara.com/2025/02/02/chapter-secrets-one-piece-chapter-1138-giga-analysis/
During the Second World portion, the text begins with:
"Within the nothingness, there is breath."
Which in Japanese is:
虚無に息吹あり
"Kyomu ni ibuki ari."
"Kyo...MU". And as we all know, Imu tends to refer to themselves as "Mu". "Nothing"
(Chapter 1163)
So, how does the line read change if we replace "Kyomu" with Imu's name in Japanese? (イム)
イムに息吹あり
"Imu ni ibuki ari."
"Imu has breath."
In other words, "Imu is born". The Second World begins with Imu being born. Imu is referring to themselves as "Mu". Which means Imu may have not just been the one who drew the Mural, Imu might be the one who wrote the Harley Text, too.
I also find Imu's weapon interesting. We're all focusing on the pointy end. But, Imu's weapon also has that black, fluffy cloud around it. Which...kind of makes it look like a paint brush, sorta. Kind of like Miss Goldenweek's paint brush.
I've talked about this several times before, but Miss Goldenweek's Color Trap seems suspiciously similar to Imu's Contract Marks. Possibly because they're both tapping into some sort of "Symbol Magic" themed Third Power System. So much so, that I have to wonder if that's why Miss Goldenweek is being portrayed as a lot more sinister in the Live Action series. Miss Goldenweek may be a early parallel for Imu. And if their powers are similar...could that mean that Imu is ALSO a artist? Giving some credence to the idea that Imu could have been the one who painted the Mural?
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/imu-still-may-not-be-the-sea-god.76012/#post-6482582
And if Imu IS a artist, that could mean that Kanjuro could also be a parallel with Imu.
Which would kind of make sense. If Imu can create "Devils", like the Gorosei's "Yokai" forms, that would be pretty similar to Kanjuro's power to bring his drawings to life. Also, Kanjuro betrayed the other Scabbards. And it seems likely that Imu betrayed Joyboy, by forming the World Government.
This isn't the only time Imu's been associated with artwork, either. Because, arguably, the first time we saw Imu was actually IN a piece of "artwork".
(Chapter 722)
Momo takes the place of someone huddling away in a crown, which looks suspiciously like Imu's crown in his "Shadowy" form. And now that we know Imu is a man, Momo actually makes a lot of sense as a parallel for Imu, overall.
Giolla's Dying Art is probably another perspective on the event that the Chapter 1138 Mural is also depicting. Chopper is a "Dragon"-like character with a long neck, and Nami is a blocky "Robot"-like character, both trying to seal a Sun away behind a gate, which looks a lot like the Gate of Justice at Enies Lobby. While the Sun itself is split between "Good" and "Evil" halves, possibly representing the Joyboy and Davy factions.
Brook looks like he has wings like a Lunarian in this shot which may make him a parallel with Joyboy, since we've gotten a few hints that Joyboy may have been a Lunarian with wings. Which leaves Giolla herself...probably as Davy Jones?
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/for...-fruit-users-before-luffy.56319/#post-6439582
If Imu DOES turn out to be the literal "Guardian of the Gate", like I think is possible, then this was all foreshadowed a long time ago in a piece of artwork.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/for...will-lose-in-elbaph.80593/page-8#post-6658028
A villainous character with a paintbrush as a weapon, who likes to disguise themselves in shadows, leaves special marks around everywhere they go, and really isn't that bad of a person, deep, DEEP down? That kind of reminds me of someone else, actually.
(Bowser Jr and Shadow Mario from Super Mario Sunshine)
Hmm...Do you think Oda was really looking forward to the Super Mario Galaxy Movie? Imu's just the mid-boss. And those "Shadows" that Imu covered himself with...could just be paint. Which might explain why he was coughing stuff up.
So, just wanted to put all that out there. Imu potentially has a lot of connections to artwork. So, don't be surprised if Imu has some sort of "art powers" when we actually see him make his move. In addition to all the OTHER potential powers he could have in his arsenal.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/so-imus-power-is.80684/#post-6658116
I might be jumping the gun on all this, since we really haven't even seen what Imu can do yet in his "Awakened" form. But, just in case I'm right, I just wanted to get this all out there. Time will tell if I was on the right track, or not.
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