One Piece has officially entered one of the most exciting phases of its entire 27-year run, and the latest revelations from the Elbaf Arc have left fans completely stunned. In One Piece Chapter 1186, released on June 28, 2026, series creator Eiichiro Oda unveiled a brand-new power tied to the Manmayer family — the bipolar irises — and the implications of this reveal are massive. Not only does it connect directly to Nerona Imu, the mysterious ruler of the World Government, but it may also hold the key to understanding Imu’s true identity and the 800-year secret that has defined the entire One Piece story.
If you have been following the Elbaf Arc closely, you already know that Chapter 1186 was a lore bomb. But what most fans are missing is the deeper theory hiding in plain sight: that Imu is not just a political ruler, but a being whose power is directly tied to this legendary eye bloodline — and that the bipolar irises may be the one power capable of defeating Joy Boy himself.
The Bipolar Irises: One Piece’s Newest Legendary Power
In One Piece Chapter 1186, Eiichiro Oda confirmed that the bipolar irises — the peculiar eyes first spotted on Holy Knight Manmayer Gunko — are not just a cosmetic trait. They are a rare bloodline ability that can only awaken in select members of the Manmayer family. Gunko’s father, Manmayer Gurou, was also revealed to possess these same eyes, and even Imu has shown a deep, personal interest in recovering Gunko specifically because of them.
As Gurou himself stated in the chapter: “Her bipolar irises are an extremely rare trait, and the Great One desires her.” This line alone confirms that Imu — the Great One — sees the bipolar irises as something worth personally intervening for. Why would the ruler of the entire world care about one Holy Knight’s eyes unless those eyes held power that could shift the balance of the Final War?
The Manmayer Family’s Connection to the Ancient Kingdom
Here is where the theory gets interesting. The Manmayer family is one of the 20 Founding Families who fought against the Ancient Kingdom 800 years ago and established the World Government. But unlike the other families, the Manmayer clan has remained unusually active in combat roles. Gunko was deployed to Elbaf as a Holy Knight, and Gurou appeared personally to retrieve her. This suggests that the Manmayer family holds a unique position within the Celestial Dragon hierarchy — they are not just political figures, but warriors with abilities that the World Government cannot afford to lose.
The bipolar irises may very well be a remnant of the power that the 20 kingdoms used to defeat the Ancient Kingdom during the Void Century. If the Ancient Kingdom possessed the power of the Sun God Nika — as confirmed through Luffy’s Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika — then the opposing force must have had something equally powerful to counter it. The bipolar irises could be that counter.
Imu’s True Form: The Original Wielder of the Bipolar Irises?
This is where we enter deep theory territory. Nerona Imu has been alive for over 800 years, sustained by the Ope Ope no Mi’s Perennial Youth Surgery. But what if Imu’s longevity is not just the result of a Devil Fruit surgery, but also connected to the bipolar irises? If the Manmayer bloodline carries this eye power, and Imu is the oldest living member of the original 20 Founding Families, then it is entirely possible that Imu was the very first wielder of the bipolar irises.
Think about it: Imu has demonstrated abilities that go far beyond any normal human. The Stigma technique that instantly defeated Loki in Chapter 1187, the ability to possess other bodies, and the terrifying aura that even seasoned warriors like the giants of Elbaf fear — all of these could be manifestations of the bipolar iris power at its highest awakening level. The reason Imu desires Gunko so badly may be because her eyes represent a fresh source of the same power that Imu has been using for centuries, and Imu needs to absorb or study it to maintain dominance.
The God vs Devil Battle: Eyes vs Sun
Eiichiro Oda has framed the Elbaf climax as a “God vs Devil” battle, pitting the Sun God Nika (Luffy) against the Devil God Imu. But if we look at the symbolism carefully, the bipolar irises represent something deeper than just a combat ability. In many mythologies, eyes represent perception, truth, and control. A being with bipolar irises — two different-colored eyes — could symbolize the ability to see two worlds at once: the world of light (Joy Boy’s legacy) and the world of darkness (Imu’s dominion).
This would explain why Imu has ruled from the shadows for 800 years. The bipolar irises may grant the ability to perceive and manipulate the will of others on a massive scale — essentially, the ultimate form of Conqueror’s Haki. If Imu’s eye power can suppress the will of entire populations, then Joy Boy’s power of liberation (Nika) is the only natural counter to it. The entire One Piece story becomes a battle between control and freedom, perfectly encapsulated in these two opposing forces.
Monkey D. Dragon’s Role in the Eye Power Mystery
Recent reports from Game Rant have also set up Monkey D. Dragon’s legendary Devil Fruit reveal after the Elbaf Arc, with three legendary Devil Fruits already confirmed in Elbaf. But what if Dragon’s power is connected to the bipolar irises as well? Dragon has been fighting against the World Government for decades, and his Revolutionary Army represents the only organized force capable of challenging Imu’s rule. If Dragon possesses an ability that can counter or nullify the bipolar iris power, it would explain why the World Government has never been able to capture him despite knowing his identity for years.
Some fans have speculated that Dragon’s power is related to wind or weather manipulation, but the bipolar iris theory adds another layer: perhaps Dragon awakened a dormant form of the same eye power through his D. lineage, using it not for control but for liberation — the exact opposite of how Imu uses it.
What This Means for One Piece’s Final Saga
The introduction of the bipolar irises in Chapter 1186 is not a throwaway detail. Eiichiro Oda does not introduce new powers in the climax of a 27-year story without a reason. This eye power is going to play a central role in the Final War, and the fact that Imu personally wants it suggests that it is either the key to Imu’s continued dominance or the one thing that can destroy him.
With Luffy now in full Gear 5 confronting Imu directly in Chapter 1187, and Chapter 1188 promising to reveal the secrets of Conqueror’s Haki, the pieces are falling into place. The bipolar irises, Conqueror’s Haki, and the Will of D. are all interconnected threads that Oda is weaving together for the grand finale.
What Do You Think?
Do you think Imu is the original wielder of the bipolar irises? Could this legendary eye power be the ultimate counter to the Sun God Nika’s abilities? And what role will Dragon play when his Devil Fruit is finally revealed after Elbaf? Share your theories in the comments below — the One Piece community is buzzing with speculation, and your take could be the one that cracks the code!
Also check out our other One Piece coverage:
- One Piece Chapter 1188: The Secret of Conqueror’s Haki Theory
- One Piece Chapter 1187: Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki and the Demon God’s Awakening
