Eiichiro Oda has been dropping breadcrumbs about the Serpent of Hellfire ever since Chapter 1138 unveiled the Harley mural in Elbaf, and with the Final Saga heating up in Chapter 1187, this ancient entity is starting to look like one of the most critical pieces of the endgame puzzle. The question every fan should be asking right now: is the Serpent of Hellfire actually connected to Loki’s Mythical Zoan, the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nidhoggr?
The Harley Text and the First World’s Greatest Mystery
Back in One Piece Chapter 1138, Robin read the Harley text aloud to the Straw Hats in Elbaf, and the revelation was staggering. The One Piece world has been destroyed and rebuilt three times, and the First World — an era that existed over 3,000 years ago — ended in a cataclysmic war involving the Sun God Nika, the Earth God, and a terrifying creature called the Serpent of Hellfire.
According to the Harley: “The Earth God was enraged, and together with its Serpent of Hellfire, shrouded the world in death and darkness.” This wasn’t just some random monster. The Serpent of Hellfire was powerful enough to participate in a battle that literally destroyed the entire world. That puts it on a scale far beyond anything we’ve seen in the current timeline — or so we thought.
Elbaf’s 3,000-Year-Old Laboratory: The Missing Link
In Chapter 1144, Oda revealed something that sent shockwaves through the fandom: a laboratory in Elbaf that dates back over 3,000 years. This aligns perfectly with the First World timeline from the Harley. The Giants of Elbaf have been guarding secrets from the very beginning of recorded history, and this lab is almost certainly connected to the Mother Flame — the same infinite energy source that Vegapunk spent his life trying to recreate.
Here’s where it gets wild. The Mother Flame existed in the First World. Mankind exploited it for power and greed. Slaves were forced to mine it, and from their suffering, the Sun God Nika was born. The Earth God, feeling threatened, unleashed the Serpent of Hellfire to destroy everything. This cycle of destruction and rebirth is the fundamental pattern of the One Piece world, and the Serpent is the Earth God’s ultimate weapon.
Loki’s Nidhoggr: Too Coincidental to Ignore
Now let’s talk about Loki, the Accursed Prince of Elbaf. In Chapter 1175, Oda officially introduced the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nidhoggr — a Mythical Zoan that transforms its user into the largest dragon in the entire world. According to the ancient giant Jarul, this dragon breathes lightning, and when it flies, its jet-black wings turn day into night.
Sound familiar? The Serpent of Hellfire “shrouded the world in death and darkness.” A dragon whose wings literally blot out the sun. A creature associated with fire and destruction. The parallels are impossible to ignore.
The Nidhoggr fruit was guarded by Ragnir in Elbaf for centuries before Loki consumed it 14 years ago. If this fruit has existed since the First World, it’s entirely possible that the Serpent of Hellfire was a previous user of this very same Devil Fruit. Devil Fruits reincarnate after their user dies, and a 3,000-year-old fruit would have had dozens — maybe hundreds — of users throughout history.
The Norse Mythology Connection Oda Can’t Resist
Oda has been drawing heavily from Norse mythology throughout the Elbaf arc. Jormungandr, the World Serpent, is one of the most famous creatures in Norse legend — a colossal snake that encircles the entire world and is destined to fight Thor during Ragnarok. The Serpent of Hellfire shares almost every characteristic with Jormungandr: it’s a massive serpent-like creature associated with the end of the world.
And then there’s Nidhoggr itself — in Norse mythology, Nidhoggr is a dragon that gnaws at the roots of Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Elbaf is literally built around a massive tree. The giants’ entire civilization is arboreal. If Nidhoggr represents a force that destroys the World Tree, and the Serpent of Hellfire represents a force that destroyed the First World, then Oda is building toward a Ragnarok event where Loki’s dragon form becomes the instrument of world-ending destruction.
Imu, the Earth God, and the Serpent’s Master
Here’s the theory that ties everything together: Imu is the Earth God, or at least the current vessel of the Earth God’s will. The Harley states that the Earth God commanded the Serpent of Hellfire. Imu has existed since the Void Century, possesses immortality through the Ope Ope no Mi’s Perennial Youth Surgery, and has been pulling the strings of the World Government for 800 years.
In Chapter 1085, Oda first teased Imu’s Devil God form — a transformation that fans have been waiting three years to see fully realized. With the Elbaf arc now in full swing and Imu making moves against the giants, the setup is clear: Imu needs the Serpent of Hellfire — or something equivalent — to complete their plan for a fourth world destruction.
And Loki, currently imprisoned and enraged, holds the key. The Nidhoggr fruit may be the modern incarnation of the Serpent of Hellfire, and if Imu can somehow control or coerce Loki, the Earth God would once again have its ultimate weapon.
What This Means for Luffy and the Final War
If the Serpent of Hellfire is indeed connected to Loki’s Nidhoggr, then the Final War takes on a completely different dimension. It’s not just about Luffy vs. Imu — it’s about the Sun God vs. the Earth God, replaying a conflict that’s been raging for over 3,000 years. Luffy’s Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika represents the Sun God’s return, and the Serpent of Hellfire represents the Earth God’s wrath.
The fact that both fruits are Mythical Zoans from the ancient past suggests that Devil Fruits themselves may be manifestations of these primordial gods. Every Devil Fruit could be a fragment of a god’s power, scattered across the world after each destruction cycle. This would explain why Devil Fruits reincarnate — they’re not just abilities, they’re divine shards.
The 1187 Connection: Why Now?
Chapter 1187 is setting up the pieces for the endgame. With Shanks, Blackbeard, Monkey D. Dragon, and the Revolutionary Army all converging on Elbaf, the stage is being set for the most explosive confrontation in One Piece history. The Serpent of Hellfire theory isn’t just about ancient lore — it’s about what’s about to happen.
Loki is currently chained and imprisoned, but his Nidhoggr power is too significant to stay locked up forever. Whether he allies with Luffy, gets manipulated by Imu, or goes rogue on his own, Loki’s dragon form is going to play a pivotal role in the coming chapters. And when it does, we might finally see the Serpent of Hellfire reborn in the modern era.
Final Thoughts
Oda doesn’t do coincidences. Every detail in the Harley mural, every mythological reference in Elbaf, and every power-up Loki has received is building toward something massive. The Serpent of Hellfire isn’t just ancient history — it’s the key to understanding the entire One Piece endgame.
Keep your eyes on Loki, the Nidhoggr fruit, and the Mother Flame. When these three elements converge, the Third World will either be saved or destroyed, just like the two worlds before it.
What do you think? Is Loki’s Nidhoggr the reincarnation of the Serpent of Hellfire? Or is there another ancient beast hiding in the shadows? Drop your theories in the comments below!
Related: One Piece Chapter 1187 Theory: Why Imu and Joy Boy’s Friendship Could Decide the Final War | One Piece Chapter 1187: The Luffy vs Imu Showdown Could Finally Reveal What the D. Clan Really Means | One Piece Chapter 1186: Brook’s Past, Gunko’s Identity, and Why Luffy vs Imu Is Closer Than You Think
