‘One Piece’ hints at Luffy’s next transformation after Gear 5

The return of ‘One Piece’ following its latest hiatus has once again turned all eyes toward Monkey D. Luffy and his highly anticipated showdown with Nerona Imu in the final stretch of the Elbaph arc. With Chapter 1183 published on May 24 in Weekly Shonen Jump, more and more fans believe that Eiichiro Oda is setting up the protagonist’s biggest power-up since the introduction of Gear 5.

The latest chapters have made it clear that Luffy is still far from Imu’s level. Although the awakening of Nika turned the Straw Hat captain into one of the most powerful characters in the series, his recent battles have also highlighted his limitations. In Wano, he had to push his body to the limit to defeat Kaido, and later, he was unable to completely overpower Kizaru during the events at Egghead.

Imu’s arrival in Elbaph has taken the conflict to a whole new level. Chapter 1179 surprised fans with the appearance of the King of the World in the Land of War, while Chapter 1180 showed him to be several levels above characters like Zoro, Sanji, and Hajrudin.

Luffy’s New Level of Haki

Chapter 1181 also featured one of the most revealing scenes regarding Luffy’s current state. After sensing Imu’s Haki, the protagonist admitted he had never experienced anything like it: “I need to eat more! I’ve never felt anything like this before! It’s so heavy and rough! What’s wrong with this guy’s Haki?”

The scene makes it clear that even Gear 5 seems insufficient against an opponent like Imu. However, Oda had already dropped several hints about the path Luffy might take to reach that level. The most important one appeared in Chapter 1152, when Scopper Gaban warned him about using Conqueror’s Haki before facing the Holy Knights. “You, Straw Hat! Remember how to use the Color of the Supreme King. They aren’t immortal!”

Gaban’s words suggest that Luffy has not yet fully mastered his Haki. Throughout the series, Oda has shown that there are huge differences among users of this power. The best example came in Chapter 1122, when Joy Boy’s Haki was portrayed as a force capable of even causing Imu to suffer.

Shanks has also become a constant benchmark for mastery of Haki. His appearances in recent chapters have made it clear that his skill level remains above Luffy’s, especially after defeating Eustass Kid and Killer with a single blow.

The Mystery of the “Awakening Ring”

But Luffy’s next power-up could go beyond Haki. In the most recent chapters, Oda has introduced a visual detail that many readers interpret as a direct clue to a new transformation. Both Nerona Imu and the Rain Goddess Zaza have appeared with a sort of ring positioned behind their bodies: Imu with black flames and Zaza with a ring of water. Luffy, despite being the Sun God Nika, has not yet displayed a similar trait.

This detail has fueled a theory that Nika’s awakening is not yet complete. According to this theory, Luffy could manifest an “Awakening Ring” during his battle against Imu, possibly linked to solar flames and a final evolution of Gear 5. If confirmed, this transformation would not only increase his physical strength but also the power of his Conqueror’s Haki, which would align with what Rayleigh explained long ago: Haki grows in tandem with the user’s strength.

With the Great War drawing ever closer, everything points to Elbaph marking Luffy’s next major leap in power and the beginning of his final transformation before the conclusion of One Piece.

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