After a long wait, one piece We finally return to Elbaf's current timeline, and this return is celebrated by writer Eiichiro Oda, and the battle between Gods and Demons that marks the climax of the arc officially begins. in one piece In episode 1186, officially released on June 28, 2026, Monkey D. Luffy, known as Sun God Nika, officially clashes with the demons Nerona Imu. one piece A world first, it sets the battlefield for what could potentially be the greatest battle in all of One Piece.
One Piece Episode 1186 officially announces the beginning of Sun God Nika VS Demon God Nerona Imu
After a very long wait, one piece Episode 1186 was officially released in the 31st issue of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump on June 28, 2026. This chapter officially marks the conclusion to Brook's flashbacks, where he explained how Princess Shuri was taken to the Marijoa Shrine and how Esperia was destroyed long ago. Just as One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda officially established a plot to save Princess Shuri, One Piece also began its Elbaf climax with the main character Monkey D. Luffy joining the battle against Nero and Immu. Officially released on April 27, 2026, in One Piece Chapter 1181, Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump 2 Issues 22-23, Eiichiro Oda showed Monkey D. Luffy consuming a huge amount of food to gain enough energy to face Nero or Imu in battle.
“I need to eat more! I've never felt anything like this before! It's so heavy and rough! What is this guy's hockey?” — Monkey D. Luffy eats food to power up before the Immu battle, One Piece Chapter 1181
One Piece officially introduces a 3,000-year-old mythical creature
The mythical animal Devil Fruit class is being prepared to receive a new divine addition depicted in Harley's mural in Chapter 1138 of One Piece.
in one piece In 1186, Luffy publicly declared that he now had enough energy and that no one in the world could beat him at this point. Like this, Luffy went into battle with great confidence, and threw a powerful punch coated with both the color of the weapon and the color of the Great King directly into Nero and Imu's face. This officially means that the battle between God and Demon has begun at the end of the Elbaf arc, but it is clearly an ominous battle that foreshadows the defeat of the Straw Hat Pirates.
The guy who brings that bad news is Elbaf's enemy, right? So that means that person is also my enemy. I am full of energy. Now I can’t see anyone hitting me.” — Monkey D. Luffy declares himself invincible. One Piece Episode 1186
Eiichiro Oda predicts defeat between Luffy and Nero or Immu
During the God vs. Demon battle that sees Nika clash with Akuma. one piece Chapter 1187 on July 5, 2026 and beyond is most definitely incredibly exciting, and it's likely that Luffy will lose this battle for a variety of reasons. It's important to remember that Monkey D. Luffy is clashing with his ultimate opponent. one pieceThe person who even killed Joy Boy 800 years ago. He then played a major role in the destruction of the Old Kingdom, established a world government, and placed himself on top of it, where he has now ruled the world as king for 800 years. It is virtually impossible for such a character to fall from Elbaf, especially when the war against the World Government has not even officially begun.
Founder of World Government (one of the first 20)
Power: Devil Fruit (Devil's Fruit)
Castle Nerona Imu, King of the World
— Nerona Imu’s Introduction Box, One Piece Chapter #1179
Imu made an early appearance to Elbaf in One Piece Chapter 1179 in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 19 on April 5, 2026, so it is highly unlikely that he will be defeated here. More importantly, in One Piece Chapter 1186, we officially saw Luffy going into battle, and he said that now he can't imagine losing to anyone in the world. This message from Luffy was intentionally placed in the intestines by Eiichiro Oda and is definitely very sinister. By telling Luffy that he can't imagine losing the battle, Eiichiro Oda is completely flipping the script and setting the stage for Monkey D. Luffy to be defeated.
“You get out of Elbaf right now! – Luffy punches Immu in the face. One Piece Chapter 1186
Luffy has not been defeated in battle since One Piece Chapter 1042 on March 7, 2022, when Kaido officially unleashed Horai Hakke and killed him in battle. Ultimately, this led to the awakening of the Devil Fruit and the return of the sun god Nika through Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, in One Piece Chapter 1044 in Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 17 on March 28, 2022. Since then, Luffy has had smooth sailing on the Grand Line, but now it's time for him to hit a wall once again. This battle with Nero or Imu will test Luffy and force him to take his power to the next level, but Eiichiro Oda nonetheless seems to be predicting the Straw Hat Yonko's defeat in Elbaf.
Why Elbaf can still be rescued from Immu due to Immu's time limit
Now Loki and Luffy are fighting Nero and Imu, one piece Episode 1187, which is scheduled to be officially released in the 32nd issue of Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump on July 5, 2026, will continue this fight. As the King of the World, we all expect Imu to be powerful in battle after getting punched by Luffy, and that intensity will only increase in the next few chapters of the series. As mentioned before, in the battle with Luffy, either Nero or Imu will likely be the winner, but in the grand scheme of things, Elbaf can still be saved because Imu himself is on a strict timeline.
“The body of the Great Imu is not meant to support the outside world. But even if we push against it, the power we need and the power we need to destroy is all here.” — Super Sommers explains Nerona Imu's time limit. One Piece Episode 1182
in one piece In Chapter 1182, which was officially released in Issue 24 of Weekly Shonen Jump on May 10, 2026, Saint Sommers mentions to Saint Killingham that Nerona Imu's body was not designed to be in the outside world and therefore has a strict time limit. This was also emphasized in Chapter 1180 of One Piece, where Imu himself tells Sommers that time is very short and every second is precious. Additionally, in Episode 1179 of One Piece, which was officially released on April 5, 2026, when Imu landed in Elbaf, in the 19th issue of Shueisha Weekly Shonen Jump, the King of the World was seen weakening himself and vomiting blood. In this way, neither Nero nor Imu can maintain their power for a long time, and this is directly supported by the narrative constructed by Eiichiro Oda at the climax of the Elbaf arc.
“Anyway, Mr. Imu, you must not leave Pangea Castle. I will dispatch the Marine Admiral stationed at headquarters.” — The five elders beg Imu not to go to Elbaf, One Piece Chapter 1179
Even if Imu defeats Luffy and Loki at the climax of the arc, he may run out of time and have to retreat to the Marijoa Shrine. In that sense, Eiichiro Oda can either ensure that Luffy suffers his first defeat since awakening his Devil Fruit, or protect Elbaf by allowing Luffy to hold out long enough before he is eventually defeated, forcing Nero or Imu to retreat to the Holy Land. This means that while the demons will claim victory over the Sun God one-on-one, the overall battle will be won by the Sun God by defending Elbaf from the threat of the Celestial Dragon.
All One Piece manga chapters by Eiichiro Oda can be read through Manga Plus and Biz Media.
