In a stunning turn of events, One Piece has just unveiled two of the most powerful figures in its history — Joy Boy and Imu — both revealed to be pirates of godlike strength with deep, world-altering ties to the Void Century. This revelation not only redefines the origin of the Great Pirate Era but also sheds light on the mysterious ancient war that shaped the current world order.
The Truth About Joy Boy and Imu
For decades, Joy Boy has been known only as a mythical figure — the man who once promised to bring freedom to the world, whose laughter echoed through history but whose story was cut short. Imu, on the other hand, has been portrayed as the shadow ruler of the world, a figure who sits upon the Empty Throne, silently pulling the strings of global power. But Eiichiro Oda’s latest chapters have now drawn an earth-shattering connection between the two: both Joy Boy and Imu were pirates from the ancient era, rivals who stood on equal footing, each wielding power so immense that they were revered — and feared — like gods.
According to newly revealed historical fragments, Joy Boy and Imu weren’t just products of the Void Century — they defined it. Joy Boy led the Great Kingdom, a civilization that sought to unite the world through freedom and laughter. Imu, however, commanded an opposing empire driven by order, control, and the suppression of chaos. Their ideologies clashed violently, culminating in a war that reshaped the seas, destroyed entire islands, and led to the birth of the current World Government.
The Void Century: A War Between Gods
The Void Century has always been shrouded in mystery — a hundred years of erased history that no one was ever meant to know. Now, Oda’s revelations suggest that this missing era was not just a political conflict, but a divine war between two godlike beings: Joy Boy, the embodiment of freedom, and Imu, the god of dominion.
Ancient texts uncovered through the Poneglyphs hint that Joy Boy’s heart and ideals were so powerful they awakened a force within the Sun God Nika’s will, giving rise to abilities that transcended logic. Imu, meanwhile, wielded powers said to come from the Demon God lineage, a force tied to darkness and immortality. When these two collided, their battle didn’t merely shape nations — it divided the very concept of freedom and control that governs the world to this day.
Joy Boy: The Forgotten Sun of Freedom
Joy Boy’s legacy has always been wrapped in tragedy. Once seen as a beacon of hope who tried to fulfill an ancient promise to the people of Fish-Man Island and beyond, his failure became the cornerstone of history’s silence. The new revelations paint him as more than a freedom fighter — he was a godlike pirate king of the ancient seas, whose laughter carried the power to awaken the will of the world itself. His symbol, the great smile, now carries a divine meaning: the mark of resistance against oppression.
Oda’s decision to link Joy Boy to the Nika fruit and the concept of inherited will ties perfectly into Luffy’s role in the modern age. It suggests that Joy Boy’s power — and perhaps even his soul — continues to live through the generations, waiting for the world’s dawn to rise once again.
Imu: The Eternal Shadow
In contrast, Imu represents the absolute opposite of Joy Boy. Once a pirate who sought to conquer and control the sea, Imu’s transformation into the undying ruler of the world reveals the ultimate consequence of his victory in the Void Century. By erasing Joy Boy and the Great Kingdom from history, Imu established the foundations of the World Government, ensuring that his reign of silence would last for centuries.
Hints from the manga suggest that Imu’s power may be connected to an ancient “demonic fruit,” granting eternal life and the ability to manipulate darkness itself. His army, often described as “demons in human form,” may have been the original force that hunted down Joy Boy’s allies and destroyed the last remnants of the free world.
A Clash That Defines All Eras
Now, centuries later, their conflict is beginning anew. With Luffy’s awakening as the new Joy Boy and the shadow of Imu finally emerging from the darkness, the stage is set for the greatest war in One Piece history — one that transcends generations. Their battle represents more than good versus evil; it’s a fight between freedom and tyranny, laughter and silence, sun and shadow.
Oda has long hinted that the story’s final saga would “reveal the world’s true history.” With the confirmation that Joy Boy and Imu were godlike pirates bound by destiny and opposition, that prophecy is finally taking shape.
As fans across the world react with awe, one thing is clear: the true One Piece isn’t just a treasure — it’s the culmination of Joy Boy’s dream, the hope to end Imu’s eternal reign, and the long-awaited dawn that will decide the fate of the seas once and for all.
