One Piece Chapter 1193 just flipped the entire Elbaf War on its head. While everyone was watching Monkey D. Luffy collapse after injuring St. Nerona Imu with the insane Gomu Gomu no Dawn Thor Bullet, Roronoa Zoro quietly stole the chapter with five chilling words: I am still practicing.
If you think that line was just classic Zoro arrogance, think again. Oda never wastes dialogue in a Holy Knights fight. That single sentence might confirm the wildest Swordsman theory in years: Zoro is about to master Infused Conqueror’s Haki on the fly, and St. Sommers is going to be his test dummy.
Chapter 1193 Recap: I’m Still Practicing
Chapter 1193, titled I’m Still Practicing, picks up right after the events of Chapter 1192. Luffy breaks through Imu’s invisible Shield of Emptiness using Loki’s giant hammer combined with Gear 5 lightning. The Dawn Thor Bullet actually makes Imu cough up blood, eyes turning white, stomach stretching from the impact. For the first time in the Final Saga, the King of the World looks genuinely hurt.
But the cost is massive. Luffy collapses from exhaustion after overusing Gear 5. Loki transforms into his mysterious hybrid form, shown only as a silhouette for now, while Hajrudin holds the line. On the other side of Elbaf, Gunko finally wakes up inside the Owl Library, where Biblo tells Nico Robin, Tony Tony Chopper, and Jaguar D. Saul that he wants to show them something special.
Then Oda cuts to the Sea Cloud Port. Zoro is surrounded by thorns conjured by St. Sommers of the Holy Knights. He is actively wondering how to infuse Conqueror’s Haki into his attacks. Sommers sees an opening and strikes, but in a blink, every thorn is sliced apart. Zoro appears behind him and stabs straight through his chest, barely missing the heart. Sommers is left terrified. Zoro apologizes: Oh, sorry. I am still practicing.
Theory 1: Zoro Is Developing Black Blade Infusion in Real Time
Let us break down what actually happened at the Sea Cloud Port. Sommers uses a thorn-based ability, likely tied to a Mythical Zoan or a Paramecia Devil Fruit granted or enhanced by Imu. These thorns previously trapped even veteran fighters. Zoro questioned out loud how to coat his blades with Supreme King Haki, exactly like Kaido, Big Mom, and Dracule Mihawk do at the highest level.
Here is the shocking part: the thorns were cut before Zoro even completed the thought. That means his body moved on instinct, the same way Luffy’s Observation Haki evolved into Future Sight during the Katakuri fight at Whole Cake Island. Oda loves parallel growth under pressure. Zoro learning Conqueror’s infusion mid-battle against Sommers mirrors Luffy learning Advanced Armament against Kaido in Wano.
Manga evidence supports this. Back in Chapter 1033, Enma forced Zoro to release his latent Conqueror’s Haki against King the Lunarian. In Chapter 1111 against Rob Lucci and Nusjuro, Zoro’s King of Hell style showed black lightning sparks but inconsistent control. Now in Elbaf, he is consciously trying to stabilize it. The stab that nearly pierced Sommers’ heart was not a named attack. It was raw, unrefined Conqueror’s infusion leaking out. That is why he says he is still practicing.
Theory 2: Sommers Cannot Regenerate From Conqueror’s Wounds
Remember why the Holy Knights and the Five Elders felt invincible? St. Jaygarcia Saturn, St. Topman Warcury, and St. Shepherd Sommers all showed absurd regeneration on Egghead and Elbaf. Normal cuts healed instantly. But there is one established exception: wounds infused with supreme-grade Haki leave permanent scars, just like Kaido’s chest scar from Kozuki Oden and Luffy’s chest scar from Akainu.
Sommers looked terrified for a reason. He felt it. Zoro’s blade did not just cut flesh, it cut through the immortality contract Imu grants to the Holy Knights. If that stab leaves a permanent hole, even a small one, it proves Conqueror’s Haki is the hard counter to Imu’s regeneration. That would explain why Imu personally fears Joy Boy and the Will of D. Only a Conqueror can wound a god.
This connects directly to Scopper Gaban’s warning. Gaban, the former left hand of Gol D. Roger, told Luffy to run because Imu cannot be beaten by raw power alone. But Zoro, Sanji, Loki, and Hajrudin each represent a different counter. Sanji battles St. Killingham with Ifrit Jambe fire, Loki brings ancient giant lightning with his hammer Ragnir, and Zoro brings the one thing Imu cannot heal: a Supreme King’s will.
Theory 3: Biblo’s Secret Will Give Zoro the Final Piece
Do not ignore the Owl Library subplot. Biblo, the giant owl librarian of Elbaf, specifically summons Robin, Chopper, and Saul to show them something special at the exact moment Zoro struggles with Haki control. Why those three? Robin seeks the Rio Poneglyph, Saul protects the Ohara library, and Chopper is a doctor who understands body limits.
Our theory: Biblo holds a Harley text or an ancient Elbaf record describing how the original Sun God Nika and the first giant swordsmen coated weapons with Conqueror’s Haki to fight the World Government 800 years ago during the Void Century. Elbaf is the land of warriors. It would make perfect sense for their oldest books to contain Haki manuals. Robin will read it, Saul will confirm it, and the knowledge will reach Zoro via a Den Den Mushi just in time for the finishing blow in Chapter 1194 or 1195.
This also ties into Gunko waking up. Gunko, the Holy Knight with the mysterious eye and deep connection to Brook and the Rumbar Pirates, wakes right as Zoro powers up. If Gunko defects or reveals Imu’s weakness, the Straw Hats suddenly have two paths to victory: Luffy’s Dawn Thor Bullet to break the Shield of Emptiness, and Zoro’s Black Blade Haki to land the permanent kill.
What This Means for the Final War
If Zoro fully masters Infused Conqueror’s Haki in Elbaf, the power hierarchy changes forever:
- Zoro joins Luffy, Shanks, Mihawk, and Roger as a true Supreme King swordsman
- His dream to surpass Mihawk and become the World’s Strongest Swordsman becomes tangible, not distant
- The Monster Trio dynamic shifts, with Sanji forced to awaken his own Conqueror’s Haki against Killingham to keep up
- Imu loses the aura of invincibility, setting up a real Final War at Mary Geoise and Laugh Tale
- Loki as an ally gives the Straw Hat Grand Fleet a giant with hybrid Zoan power rivaling Kaido
Oda even hinted at this with the cover page. Chapter 1193 features King the Wildfire with a raccoon dog. King was Zoro’s greatest Haki teacher, the Lunarian who forced Enma to obey. Featuring King now is Oda’s way of saying: remember Wano, this is the payoff.
Release Date and Predictions for Chapter 1194
One Piece Chapter 1193 releases officially on Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 7 AM PT on Manga Plus by Shueisha and Viz Media. Japanese readers get it on September 14 at midnight JST. There is no break next week, so Chapter 1194 arrives right after.
Our prediction: Chapter 1194 opens with Sommers trying to regenerate and failing. The chest wound stays open, black lightning crackling around it. Zoro names the technique, possibly King of Hell Purgatory Oni Giri, and the Elbaf crowd led by Hajrudin and Dorry and Brogy witness the birth of a new Supreme King. Meanwhile Luffy stays down, forcing Loki and Gaban to stall Imu until Zoro arrives.
One thing is certain. When Zoro says he is still practicing, the gods should be afraid. Last time he practiced, Kuina died and he made a promise. This time, a Holy Knight might die and he will make history.
What Do You Think?
Is Zoro about to permanently scar a Holy Knight and prove Conqueror’s Haki beats Imu’s immortality? Or is Sommers hiding a second awakening that will push Zoro even further? Share your wildest theory in the comments!
Read our other Elbaf theories: One Piece Chapter 1196 Theory: Loki’s Chains Are About to Break, One Piece Chapter 1195 Theory: Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki Awakening, and One Piece Chapter 1194 Theory: The 4 Gods Battle Begins.
