In Issue 33 of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, July 12, 2026 one piece Creator Eiichiro Oda published the 1188th chapter of the series titled “Void”. In this chapter, a lot of focus is placed on the battle between Monkey D. Luffy, Emperor of the Sea, and Nerona Imu, King of the World. Meanwhile, Eiichiro Oda also added many stories about the world. one piece.
One of the most interesting things the series creators expanded on was the Harley text, which was first revealed in One Piece Episode 1138 on February 3, 2025. Now, the latest One Piece release has officially revealed the identity of the God of the Forest, the powerful deity we all desperately want to see, first mentioned in Harley's Second World. The identity of this god may be Nero or Imu, based on his ability to dry the forest, which first appeared in episode 1188 of One Piece.
One Piece Chapter 1188 makes fun of Nero or Imu, the world's forest god.
One Piece Chapter 1188 was officially released on July 12, 2026, and focused heavily on Nero and Imu's various abilities. Previously, Imu presented us with Sword of Judgment: Stigma, an ability that was also used extensively in Chapter 1188. Monkey D. Luffy was able to successfully avoid this stigma's powerful blow thanks to his latest Devil Fruit transformation called Gomu Gomu No Majin, which allows him to transform into a genie. However, the ability that Imu soon utilized, Blade of Nothingness: Vohu, proved to be too strong for Luffy. Utilizing this new ability, Nerona Imu was able to leap into the air at such incredible speeds that Gear 5 Luffy couldn't see him coming. Immediately afterwards, Luffy was stabbed in the torso and completely defeated.
“Of course I know you're not Joy Boy! Joy Boy wasn't that weak!!” — Nerona Imu declares Luffy weak. One Piece Episode 1188
What made this even more shocking was that Nerona Imu, despite being the Sun God Nika, declared Luffy to be too weak, awakened his Devil Fruit, and mastered all three types of Haki. At this point, it becomes clear that Luffy is too weak to fight Nero or Imu. It was quite a shocking scene for all of us fans to take in, but what made it even more special was the ability that Immu utilized to defeat Luffy. When he harnessed the power of Omen, which originated from Akuma no Mi, to create the Sword of Nothingness: Vohu, the plant that stemmed from the Adam Tree immediately withered and was completely destroyed at some point. With this ability, Imu was able to clear the entire forest in the blink of an eye, something Luffy himself said.
Imu: Sword of Nothingness: Vohu!
Luffy: What? The forest has dried up!
Imu: The vision is much clearer now.
Luffy: Same here!
— Imu's Sword of Nothingness: Vohu, exchange showing One Piece Chapter #1188
When Yimu used Bohu, the surrounding environment was immediately affected, and it seemed as if he had some control over the forest. Similarly, when Nerona Imu arrived at Elbaf one piece In Chapter 1179, which was officially released on April 5, 2026, in the 19th issue of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, the surrounding forest immediately took on demonic life and developed a demonic face. When Imu left the area, these faces disappeared with him. This once again suggests that he may have some level of demonic manipulation that particularly affects the forest. Combine this with the new release one piece In Chapter 1188, where Nero or Imu was able to drain life from the forest itself, it makes sense to view him as the world's forest god.
Why Nerona Imu, God of the Forest, Matches Harley Lore
Nero or Imu is the god of the forest. one piece This world matches perfectly with Harley's story in Chapter 1138 of One Piece, which was officially released in the 10th issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump on February 3, 2025. In this release, Harley officially revealed that the Forest God appeared in the second world after the birth of Breath, and that the Forest God sent out demons shortly thereafter. This story fits perfectly with Nerona Imu.
“There was a breath in the void. The forest god tamed the demons, the sun spread the flames of war. The half-moon ones dreamed. The moon ones dreamed. The men killed the sun and became gods, and the sea god raised the storm. And they will never meet again.” — Harley introduces the Forest God. One Piece Episode 1138
First of all, Nerona Imu's Sword of Nothingness is directly related to Harley's first opening line, which states that in nothingness there was breath. The same term is used for the sword of Nero or Imu, implying that this nothingness came from the sword of Nero or Imu, and that life was reborn from this nothingness. When this happened, the forest god sent demons once again. On July 12, 2026, the ability to control the Forest of Imu, shown once again in One Piece Episode 1188, is demonstrated.
What is more accurate is that the demons sent by the forest god are similar to not only the Holy Knights but also the Five Elders who were reversed. All of these possess demonic powers that stem directly from Imu's Akuma no Mi. That said, Imu has the Forest God Devil Fruit that allows her to send demons, as mentioned by Harley, making it a perfect parallel between the two.
How the Forest God of Imu used his power to establish a world government.
If you are to believe the legends associated with The Harley, it makes sense how the forest god came to create the world government. First of all, the Forest God's main role is to send demons to the second world of One Piece and exert his power. Considering all of Nerona Imu's powerful allies, this makes sense. Imu's allies are all now in Marijoa, and they were once 20 kingdoms that united to fight against the threat of the Old Kingdom. All of these families currently reside in the Holy Land except for the Nefertari family, and they all have unique and powerful demons within the Holy Knights that protect the Holy Land.
Likewise, the five elders are also descended from these 20 kings and possess demonic powers. So they were all sent in some way by the forest god, and it makes sense that the forest god would be none other than Nero or Imu. Simply put, Nerona Imu took on the role of the forest god at the time by harnessing the power of Demonomi, the most powerful devil fruit in the world of One Piece.
Taking on the role of the God of the Forest, Nerona Imu unleashed the demons of the Paladins, the Five Elders, and Domi Rebirth's slaves, using them to overthrow the ancient kingdom and eventually kill Joy Boy. Following this battle, Nerona Imu was crowned King of the World, as officially confirmed in One Piece Episode 906 on June 4, 2018. Now Nero or Imu will seek to harness the power of the Forest God Fruit once again in Elbaf, and it will be interesting to see how this battle unfolds in the coming weeks and months.
All chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece can be read through Manga Plus and Biz Media.
