The One Piece manga has entered its most explosive stretch yet, and Chapter 1188 is poised to drop a bombshell that fans have been theorizing about for years. After Eiichiro Oda officially confirmed Sanji as a King in Chapter 1187, the stage is now set for the next revelation: the secret of Conqueror’s Haki and who among the Straw Hats will awaken it next.
What Chapter 1187 Confirmed: Sanji Is a King
Released on July 5, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32, One Piece Chapter 1187 delivered one of the most satisfying confirmations in the entire series. During the intense battle on Elbaph against Saint Killingham of the Holy Knights, Sanji officially displayed the qualities of a King.
The confrontation began when Sanji declared that he knew Saint Killingham’s greatest weakness. The Holy Knight responded with a chilling challenge: Sanji should try to kill him, but only if he possesses the Color of the Supreme King. This exchange alone sent shockwaves through the One Piece community.
What made this moment even more powerful was the flashback conversation between Sanji and Scopper Gaban, the legendary Roger Pirates member who has been hiding on Elbaph. Gaban confirmed that Sanji carries the disposition of a King, placing him in the same rare category as Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, and the most dangerous pirates to ever sail the seas.
The King Hierarchy in One Piece
To understand why Chapter 1188 matters so much, we need to revisit what Don Chinjao told Luffy back in Chapter 717 during the Corrida Colosseum arc: “There are countless on these seas with the qualities to become a King. Only the one who stands on top of all the Kings can call himself the Pirate King!”
This statement established a clear hierarchy. Supreme King Haki, also known as Conqueror’s Haki or Haoshoku Haki, is not just a power. It is proof that a person carries the will of a ruler, someone born to stand above others. Throughout the series, only a handful of characters have been confirmed as users: Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, Shanks, Gol D. Roger, Portgas D. Ace, Silvers Rayleigh, Whitebeard, Boa Hancock, Donquixote Doflamingo, Charlotte Linlin, Kaido, Chinjao, Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, and a select few others.
Now Sanji has joined this elite group. But the question burning in every fan’s mind is: who is next?
Chapter 1188 Preview: The Secret of Conqueror’s Haki
The official preview for Chapter 1188 has teased that “the secret of Conqueror’s Haki” will be revealed. This is unprecedented. In nearly 30 years of One Piece serialization, Oda has never explicitly stated that there is a hidden secret behind Supreme King Haki itself.
We know that Conqueror’s Haki can be infused into attacks, as demonstrated by Luffy, Shanks, and Roger. We know it can be coated into weapons and fists. We know Advanced Conqueror’s Haki allows users to project their will without physical contact, as Shanks did to intimidate Admiral Ryokugyu from miles away.
But what if Oda is about to reveal something deeper? What if Conqueror’s Haki is not just about the will of an individual, but is connected to the Ancient Weapons, the Void Century, and the true history that the World Government has been hiding for 800 years?
Theory: Conqueror’s Haki and the Ancient Kingdom
Here is where things get wild. The Ancient Kingdom that was destroyed during the Void Century was said to possess technology and knowledge far beyond the modern world. Joy Boy, the mysterious figure from 800 years ago whose will Luffy has inherited through the Gomu Gomu no Mi (Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika), was a key figure of that kingdom.
What if Conqueror’s Haki originated from the Ancient Kingdom? What if it was not simply a born trait, but a power that was deliberately cultivated and passed down through specific bloodlines? This would explain why certain families consistently produce Conqueror’s Haki users:
- The Monkey family: Monkey D. Garp, Monkey D. Dragon, Monkey D. Luffy
- The Portgas family: Portgas D. Ace
- The Gol family: Gol D. Roger
- The Charlotte family: Charlotte Linlin (Big Mom)
The “D.” in their names has always been connected to the will that opposes the Celestial Dragons and the World Government. If Conqueror’s Haki is tied to the Ancient Kingdom and the D. clan, then every awakening of this power is essentially a piece of the Ancient Kingdom’s will reasserting itself against Imu and the Celestial Dragons.
Who Could Awaken Conqueror’s Haki Next?
With Sanji now confirmed, the spotlight shifts to the remaining Straw Hat Pirates. Several crew members have shown hints that they might carry this dormant power:
Nico Robin is perhaps the strongest candidate. As the sole survivor of Ohara and the key to reading the Poneglyphs, Robin carries a will that the World Government has feared since she was eight years old. Her connection to the Void Century and the Ancient Kingdom runs deeper than any other Straw Hat besides Luffy.
Franky and Brook are less likely candidates, but both have demonstrated extraordinary willpower. Franky stood against CP9 at Enies Lobby, and Brook spent fifty years alone on a ghost ship without losing his sense of purpose. That kind of mental fortitude aligns perfectly with the qualities of a King.
Even Jinbe, as a former Warlord of the Sea and the helmsman of the Straw Hats, carries the will of Fish-Man Island on his shoulders. His declaration at Marineford that he would not flee from an Admiral showed the world that Jinbe possesses an unbreakable spirit.
Imu, the Holy Knights, and the Final War
Meanwhile, the battle between Gear 5 Luffy and Imu continues to escalate on Elbaph. The Holy Knights, including Saint Killingham and Saint Gunko (whose father was recently revealed), represent the World Government’s most dangerous military force. They were specifically chosen because they possess Conqueror’s Haki themselves, making them direct counters to the Straw Hats.
If Chapter 1188 reveals that Conqueror’s Haki is the key to unlocking the Ancient Weapons or accessing Laugh Tale, then the Final War becomes not just a physical battle, but a clash of wills between two opposing forces: those who would free the world and those who would enslave it.
Loki, the Prince of Elbaph who has been imprisoned for killing his father King Harald, also enters the equation. His own Conqueror’s Haki and his connection to Elbaph’s ancient traditions could provide the missing piece that ties the giants to the larger conflict.
What This Means for the End of One Piece
We are approaching the endgame. Eiichiro Oda has stated that the Final Saga will answer the biggest questions in One Piece: What is the One Piece? What happened during the Void Century? Who is Imu? And what is the true meaning of the Will of D.?
If Conqueror’s Haki is revealed to be more than just a combat ability, if it is the manifestation of the Ancient Kingdom’s will fighting back against 800 years of oppression, then every character who awakens it becomes a piece of a larger cosmic puzzle. Sanji’s awakening in Chapter 1187 was not just a power-up. It was a declaration that the Straw Hats are not just pirates chasing a treasure. They are the inheritors of a will that spans centuries.
Final Thoughts
One Piece Chapter 1188 could be one of the most important chapters in the entire series. If Oda delivers on the promise of revealing the secret behind Conqueror’s Haki, the implications will ripple through every arc that came before it and redefine how we understand the power system of One Piece.
Will Robin awaken Conqueror’s Haki? Will Imu reveal a dark version of this power? Will the Ancient Weapons respond to those who carry the King’s will? The answers may be closer than we think.
What do you think will be revealed in Chapter 1188? Is Conqueror’s Haki connected to the Ancient Kingdom? Who among the Straw Hats will awaken it next? Share your theories in the comments below!
Check out our other One Piece coverage:
- One Piece Chapter 1187: Shocking Theory About Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki
- One Piece Chapter 1189: Sabo’s Return and the Revolutionary Army’s Secret Plan
- One Piece Chapter 1190: Imu’s Devil God Form and the Legendary Eye Power
