One Piece Chapter 1188, titled “Void,” just dropped one of the most devastating moments in the entire series. Luffy, in his full Gear 5 genie form, was fatally stabbed by Imu’s mysterious sword—a weapon called “Void.” The chapter ends with Imu coldly declaring that Luffy cannot be Joyboy because “Joyboy could never be this weak.”
But here’s the thing—we’ve seen this before. And that’s exactly why this might be the most genius move Oda has ever written.
The Parallel That Changes Everything
Let’s go back to Wano. Chapter 1043. Luffy is completely defeated by Kaido. His body gives out. The Gomu Gomu no Mi’s dormant power activates for the first time in 800 years, and the drums of liberation begin to sound. Luffy “died” on the rooftop of Onigashima, and from that death, Sun God Nika was reborn.
Now, in Chapter 1188, history is repeating itself. Luffy is impaled by the Void Sword, a weapon wielded by the ruler of the World Government. Once again, Luffy has been “killed.” And once again, the drums of liberation are likely about to sound louder than ever before.
This is what we call the “Second Death” theory—the idea that Gear 5’s awakening in Wano was only the first stage. Luffy’s battle against Kaido unlocked the fruit’s basic awakening. But the true, final form of Nika can only be unleashed when Luffy dies a second time while in Gear 5, and this time, with the will of Joyboy fully inherited.
Why the Void Sword Is Not a Normal Weapon
Imu’s spear transforms into a sword called “Void.” The name is no coincidence. The Void Century is the 100-year gap in world history that the World Government has worked tirelessly to erase. Imu, as the immortal ruler of the world, is the guardian of that secret. His sword being named “Void” suggests it is directly tied to the erased history itself.
What if the Void Sword doesn’t just kill—it erases? The sword might have the power to remove someone from history entirely, stripping them of their legacy and inherited will. This would explain why Imu has survived for over 800 years—he literally erased any records of his true origins.
But here’s the twist: the Gomu Gomu no Mi, now revealed as the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, is the “most ridiculous power in the world” precisely because it embodies freedom and joy. A weapon that erases history cannot erase the power of liberation. That’s the fundamental conflict at the heart of One Piece—Imu’s void vs. Nika’s light.
Joyboy’s Memory and the Inherited Will
During the fight, Luffy sees flashes of Imu’s memories. One memory in particular shows Joyboy, whose smile looks strikingly similar to Luffy’s. This is not just a visual cue—it’s narrative confirmation that the connection between Luffy and Joyboy goes deeper than we thought.
Eighty chapters ago, when Luffy awakened Gear 5 on Onigashima, the five Elders sensed it and remarked that the power had not awakened in 800 years—since Joyboy. Now, the Gorosei are fighting alongside Imu on Elbaf, and they’re witnessing history repeat itself. Saint Saturn, Saint Warcury, Saint Mars, Saint Ju Peter, and Saint Nusjuro are all present, watching as their master cuts down the reincarnation of their greatest enemy.
Imu says Luffy is “too weak” to be Joyboy. But that statement is classic Oda foreshadowing. Luffy is not Joyboy’s reincarnation—he is the inheritor of Joyboy’s will. And like every inherited will in One Piece (Roger to Shanks to Luffy, Ace’s will carried by Luffy and Sabo, and Oden’s will carried by the Scabbards), Luffy will rise again stronger, carrying the weight of 800 years of liberation.
What Happens When Luffy Wakes Up?
If the Second Death theory holds, then Chapter 1189 will be the turning point of the entire series. Here’s what we predict:
- Luffy’s heart will stop, and the drums of liberation will fade. The Straw Hats across Elbaf will feel it. The Gomu Gomu no Mi will seem to have failed.
- But then, the drums return louder than ever. Luffy’s second awakening will not just be Gear 5—it will be the final form of Sun God Nika, a form that even Imu has never seen before. The white hair, the cloud scarf, the boundless freedom—all amplified to a level that matches the legend of Joyboy himself.
- Luffy will gain control over the “Void” itself. If the Void Sword erases history, Luffy’s Nika form will restore it. The truth of the Void Century will be literally written into Luffy’s body, and he will become the living embodiment of the erased 100 years.
- This is the only way Luffy can defeat Imu. The World King has been accumulating power for over 800 years. He has access to the ancient weapons (Uranus, Poseidon, and Pluton), the Mother Flame, and the Gorosei. Luffy cannot defeat him with strength alone. He needs to become the living history that Imu tried to erase.
The Role of the Other Straw Hats on Elbaf
While Luffy is down, the rest of the crew is not idle. Robin is at the Owl Library with Saul, searching for the true history of Elbaf and the Ancient Kingdom. If Luffy is about to become the vessel of the Void Century, Robin’s research will be the key to understanding how to unlock that power.
Meanwhile, Nami, Usopp, Franky, Brook, and Jinbei are trying to rescue Gunko from the huge boulder of ice. Gunko, a mysterious figure associated with the Holy Knights, might hold crucial information about Imu’s weaknesses. Zoro is fighting Sommers, and Sanji is battling Killingham—both of whom are powerful Holy Knights that have been established as major threats this arc.
Sanji’s power upgrade, teased in Chapter 1187, could be the technological counterpart to Luffy’s awakening. If Sanji’s Germa exoskeleton evolution mirrors the Nerona Clan’s secret technology, he might be the key to countering whatever Imu has planned for the Straw Hats.
What This Means for the Final Saga
One Piece has officially entered its endgame. The Elbaf arc is shaping up to be the final war arc, where all the major players converge. Shanks, Blackbeard, the Revolutionary Army, and the remaining Yonko are all waiting in the wings. If Luffy dies and is reborn on Elbaf, the whole world will feel it.
Imu’s declaration that Luffy is “not Joyboy” might be technically correct. Luffy is not Joyboy. But he is something more—the person who will fulfill what Joyboy started. The Void Century will be filled. The empty throne will be broken. And the dawn that Joyboy promised 800 years ago will finally arrive.
What do you think? Is Luffy going to pull another Gear 5 revival, or is this the end of the road for our favorite captain? Will the Void Sword become the key to unlocking the true history? Share your theories in the comments below!
Check out our other One Piece coverage: One Piece Chapter 1188: Nerona Clan’s Genie Secret Theory and One Piece Chapter 1188: Imu’s Void Sword and Joyboy’s True Identity.
