One Piece Chapter 1181: GOD AND DEVIL

Loki really did love his father. He understood that his intentions were pure even though ultimately futile. The desire for a better Elbaph, though misguided, did improve the country in many ways. Harald was self-sacrificing to a fault, so willing to give up everything that he lost his own free will. Loki has learned the lesson from this, and will not go down quietly. Imu speaks very poetically, but he does seem to be explaining his powers, or at least the natural forces which his abilities channel.

Omen really does seem to be an evil form of Haki, a power that flows in all things and has three distinct permutations. Corruption, Covenant and The Power of Omen. I don’t think these attributes neatly align to the three types of Haki, but as elements of “Dominion” they certainly remind me of Supreme King Haki’s ability to dominate the will of others. While these concepts are evil, and Loki refuses the temptation of them, I can’t help but wonder if our heroes will be able to achieve something similar through less nefarious means. The way Luffy’s power was shared (sort of) with Bonney, comes to mind.

I particularly enjoyed the question of the difference between a god and a devil. It brings to mind Doflamingo in several ways– his iconic “justice will prevail!? of course it will!!!” Speech, and his epithet of “heavenly demon” a name intended to invoke “celestial dragon” in Japanese but I believe was a little lost in translation. He was a former celestial dragon who set himself up as a godlike figure, “you try and trap everything within your own… hands!! It’s suffocating me!!” as Luffy put it. Within that very chapter, Law remembers what Corazon said to him “the people of the D are the enemy of the gods”, but as Doflamingo said all the way back during the Paramount War… history is very much decided by the victors. Those “gods” in heaven are the devils themselves and those of the D are demonised as villains. I think there’s much to be said about the way Lunarians have been spoken about within the series as well, “the land of the gods”, their former homeland. It makes me wonder if Imu himself has tried to become a Lunarian through artificial means, Vegapunk made Lunarian clones for the government after all.

We mustn’t forget about Enel either. He was a man who positioned himself as a god but was truly evil and callous. Using the people of Skypiea as a means to achieve his delusions of grandeur and play with their lives as entertainment. While Enel was somewhat of an isolated figure, Doflamingo was the product of an evil system, he was raised a Celestial Dragon and he could not live without the privilege that afforded, despite his family’s wish to tear down the hierarchy they benefited from. Doflamingo truly believed he was not human, that he was above everyone as his birthright. All of this, I think, can be observed within Imu too.

Imu seems to believe that a perfect world is one that is dominated and controlled by the strong. Naturally, those who dream of freedom can never let that happen. It does seem from that single panel that Joyboy and Imu could have been friends in the past, seemingly laughing together in the single panel we see, unless the other figure isn’t Imu, and is someone like Lily. Luffy keeps stuffing his face, desperate to have enough energy to fight. While Loki continues battling Imu, sending a blast from his draconic jaw. The chapter ends on a smile from Imu, perhaps reminded of a clash from his past, this is far from over.