This article contains spoilers from the One Piece manga.
One Piece is currently in the Final Saga where Oda is revealing a ton of exciting information about the biggest antagonist of the entire series, Imu. As fans know, Imu possesses tremendous powers and this is quite apparent in the Elbaf Arc. Even in the most recent flashback, Imu's abilities were clearly shown in God Valley, and the only conclusion that fans could come to was that they are overwhelmingly stronger than any other character alive right now.
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Now, in One Piece Chapter 1167, it appears that Oda has given the fans their first big hint at what Devil Fruit power Imu might possess. By the looks of it, Imu's powers are related to the Sea Devil and he might just be the entity itself.
One Teases Imu's Sea Devil Powers In Chapter 1167
One Piece chapter 1167 focused on King Harald and his entry into the ranks of the Holy Knights. Given his incredible strength, he was blessed with a seal from the Five Elders and this seal is exactly what gives the Holy Knights and even the Five Elders great powers. Naturally, this seal comes from Imu, as fans know that they are the one who bestows people with different powers.
Allow Mu to show thee the dominance of a God! — Saint Imu Nerona, One Piece
While the entire power of the seal was not revealed to the fans in One Piece chapter 1167, what was quite clear was the naming pattern of the seals. All the seals of Imu are inspired by the ocean itself. In other words, Imu's powers are connected to the deep sea. Each seal is based on a particular level of depth. The deeper the sea, the stronger the power that they get from Imu. Given that fans already know that Imu is a devil, this quite clearly implies that Imu's powers are those of the Sea Devil itself.
Imu's Seal Has Three Sea Levels
All the powers of Imu's seal have not been revealed in One Piece chapter 1167. But, fans know that there are three different depths of the seal. The first is the Shallow Sea Seal, and this is the most basic seal that anyone receives from Imu and the Five Elders. This is the seal that was bestowed upon Shanks and Harald, as seen in One Piece chapter 1167.
The second seal is the Deep Sea seal. This one is deeper than the Shallow seal and most definitely grants more dangerous powers to those who wield it, like immortality or maybe even Devil powers. Characters such as higher-ranking members of the Holy Knights and potentially even some Elders might wield this power.
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Mu shall grant thee immeasurable strength and an undying body. — Imu
The strongest form of the seal is the deepest sea, and it is called the Abyssal seal. It is unclear as to what abilities one gets after getting the Abyssal seal, but it can be assumed that the powers of the Five Elders, such as the Yokai, or potentially even Imu themself come from this level.
Imu's Power Of The Sea Devil Will Be Tied To The Earth God
At this point in the story, it is quite clear that Imu is the Sea Devil. Imu's powers come from the depths of the ocean, and it could also mean that the ocean itself does not affect Imu, making them the only character in One Piece with a Devil Fruit that doesn't sink in the ocean. This is further backed up by the fact that Imu uses the power of the Abyss, and to Domi Reversi someone, they must first sink in the Abyss to become Imu's slave.
While Imu will most definitely be the Sea Devil, that should not be confused with the Sea God of the One Piece world. The Sea God has already been established to be Poseidon, and that power belongs to Shirahoshi. As far as the Gods go, Imu will most definitely be the Earth God, which means that they will have dominion over all natural things, which includes the ocean itself, thus making them the Sea Devil.
Eiichiro Oda's One Piece will be featured in this week's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue. The official release date of One Piece Chapter 1167 is November 30, 2025. In Japan, One Piece drops at 12AM JST on Monday, which is 11:00 AM EST, or 8:00 AM PT. Fans can read the chapter for free on Manga Plus and the Shonen Jump apps.