The Mystery Man Who Blocked Imu’s Attack
One Piece Chapter 1189 dropped one of the most unexpected moments in the Final Saga: Scopper Gaban materialized out of nowhere to block Imu’s Xingtian Axe mid-swing, saving Luffy from what looked like a fatal blow. It wasn’t just a rescue — it was a statement. Gaban, one of only three surviving Roger Pirates, stepped directly into the path of the World Government’s shadow ruler like he’d been expecting the moment his entire life.
And that’s exactly what has fans losing their minds. Because Gaban didn’t show up confused or overwhelmed. He showed up prepared.
If you’ve been following our earlier coverage — from the shocking revelation about Imu calling Luffy “Not the One” to the Primordial Sea God theory — you know Imu is anything but a conventional villain. But Gaban’s arrival adds an entirely new layer to this story that nobody saw coming.
What We Know From Chapter 1189
Let’s recap the critical beats before diving into the theory:
- Luffy was pinned by Imu using the Void Sword and Fragarach, completely immobilized against a tree.
- Imu revealed a massive arsenal — weapons connected to the 19 monarchs who founded the World Government. Sommers received Gram to fight Zoro, and Killingham wielded Longinus against Sanji.
- Scopper Gaban intercepted the Xingtian Axe before it could strike Luffy down.
- Loki recalled Shanks’ warning about a coming war against someone he called the “King of the World” — heavily implied to be Imu.
- Gunko remains unconscious after being freed from ice, her connection to Imu unresolved.
The chapter ended on a cliffhanger that screams one thing: there’s far more to this battle than Luffy understands.
Gaban’s Preparation: Why Was He Ready?
Here’s the theory that nobody is talking about yet — and it changes everything about how we see this arc.
Gaban has been absent from the story for decades. The last we heard, he was a legendary figure sailing with Roger on the journey to Laugh Tale. We assumed he retired somewhere after Roger’s execution, living out his days like Rayleigh on Sabaody.
But what if Gaban never actually stopped fighting?
Think about it. Roger had knowledge about the Void Century, the Ancient Kingdom, and the truth of the world that drove him to laugh at the end of the Grand Line. Gaban was right there with him. He heard everything Roger heard. He understood everything — or at least enough to know that the day would come when someone like Imu would need to be confronted again.
The Roger-Gaban Connection to the Void Century
When Roger visited Laugh Tale, the final island didn’t just tell him about the One Piece — it told him about the cycle. The Ancient Kingdom’s technology. The true purpose of the Ancient Weapons. The identity and nature of Imu. Roger knew something was coming. He couldn’t stop it in his lifetime — Joy Boy wasn’t ready yet — but he could prepare.
Gaban may have been Roger’s insurance policy. The crew member tasked with watching, waiting, and intervening when the next Joy Boy appeared. Not to fight Luffy’s battles for him — but to ensure Luffy survives long enough to finish what Joy Boy started 800 years ago.
The Weapons Match
The weapons Imu distributed to the Holy Knights — Gram, Longinus, the Void Sword, Fragarach, and the Xingtian Axe — aren’t random. They’re named after legendary swords and axes from real-world mythology. Gram is the sword from Norse myth that killed the dragon Fafnir. Longinus is the Holy Lance. These are weapons of ancient legend in our world, transposed into One Piece’s universe.
But here’s the kicker: Gaban intercepted the Xingtian Axe specifically. Xingtian is a Chinese mythological deity who continued fighting even after being decapitated — the ultimate symbol of an unstoppable warrior who refuses to die. If Oda named Imu’s arsenal after these specific myths, and Gaban blocked the weapon representing immortal resistance, that’s not a coincidence. That’s Oda telling us Gaban knows exactly what each weapon does.
Why Gaban Can Damage Imu When Others Can’t
Chapter 1189 revealed something terrifying: Imu has survived every attack thrown at them. They’re not just powerful — they’re fundamentally untouchable by conventional means. Luffy’s Gear 5, the most devastating form in the series, wasn’t enough. Luffy got pinned and immobilized.
So how does Gaban think he can help?
Our theory: Imu’s immortality is tied to a specific vulnerability — something connected to the Ancient Kingdom’s technology or the nature of the bond between Imu and the 19 founding monarchs. Gaban may have learned this weakness from Roger’s discoveries at Laugh Tale, or from his own independent investigation during the decades between Roger’s death and the present day.
Remember the theory about severing bonds: attacking a Holy Knight’s body is useless until the bond sustaining that body is severed. If Imu’s power depends on maintaining an ancient connection — whether to the Void Century, the original Imu, or some form of possession ability — then Gaban’s role might be to disrupt that connection rather than fight Imu directly.
The Possibility of Ancient Kingdom Technology
We’ve discussed before how Elbaph holds secrets that could change everything, but there’s another angle: the Ancient Kingdom’s technology may have survived in the form of weapons or devices that can counter Imu’s abilities. Gaban could possess one — something Roger recovered from Laugh Tale that he passed on, or something Gaban found on his own during his years in hiding.
What This Means for the Straw Hats
Gaban’s arrival doesn’t make Luffy irrelevant — it means Luffy’s fight just got a much higher ceiling. If Gaban can neutralize Imu’s advantage and create an opening, Luffy won’t waste it. But the real question is: can Gaban hold Imu off alone?
Meanwhile, Zoro faces Sommers wielding Gram, and Sanji is locked in with Killingham and his Longinus. Two more Holy Knights with ancient weapons that might share the same immortality problem as Imu. If Gaban reveals how to sever the bond sustaining these fighters, suddenly Zoro and Sanji’s battles become winnable too.
And what about Gunko? She’s unconscious, freed from Imu’s ice, but previously under Imu’s control. When she wakes up, she could be the single most important source of information about the Knights of God — or she could be Imu’s sleeper agent, ready to betray everyone at the worst possible moment.
Shanks’ Warning: The Piece That Connects Everything
Remember what Loki recalled: Shanks warned him about a coming war against the “King of the World.” If Imu is that figure, then Shanks has known about this confrontation for years. And if Shanks knew, and Gaban was ready, and Roger laughed at the truth — then the entire Final Saga has been building toward a single revelation:
The World Government was never meant to be eternal. The 20 kings who founded it created a system of control that Imu maintains through fear, ancient weapons, and possession. Roger couldn’t topple it alone. But Luffy, backed by the people Roger trusted — Gaban, Rayleigh, and perhaps the entire legacy of the Roger Pirates — might just be able to finish it.
The Next Chapter Is Coming
One Piece Chapter 1190 is expected to release on August 9, 2026 (August 10 in Japan), but fans should expect another break afterward. The manga is on a hiatus schedule, meaning the next major reveal might not arrive until August 23. Oda is clearly building toward something massive — and Gaban’s mysterious arrival is the centerpiece.
Your Take
What do you think Gaban knows that Luffy doesn’t? Is he carrying a weapon or secret from Roger’s journey that could turn the tide against Imu? Or is his real purpose something even more unexpected — maybe even tied to the Ancient Kingdom’s technology hidden in Elbaph itself?
Drop your theories in the comments below — and don’t forget to check out our full breakdown of Joy Boy’s hidden motive if you haven’t already.
