One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda introduces the biggest new power up since Gear 5 in Elbaph

Elbaph bow of One Piece has introduced fans to quite a few new characters, as well as developed some very powerful pre-existing individuals. With Loki's introduction in Chapter 1130, the reveal of Scopper Gaban in Chapter 1139, along with the arrival of individuals like Shamrock, Gunko and other Holy Knights, Elbaph has been packed to the brim with exciting characters and unique new power revelations.

None of it even comes close to what Eiichiro Oda did with the official introduction of Nerona Imu in chapter 1179 of the manga. Imu's abilities have been continuously explored in Chapter 1181, and through his use of Akuma no Mi, also known as The Devil's Fruit, the creator of One Piece has officially introduced what is the biggest power-up in history since Gear 5 in the Wano Country Arc.

Why Nerona Imu's Omen is the greatest power since Luffy's Nika Transformation

As officially confirmed by Eiichiro Oda in chapter 1179 of the manga, Nerona Imu has the power of Akuma no Mi, the original Devil Fruit, also known as The Devil's Fruit. This fruit allows Imu to turn into a devil at will. As the Devil, Imu can use various demonic powers, at the top being Omen or Maki. In Chapter 1181 of the manga, which was released on Manga Plus on April 26, 2026, Eiichiro Oda elaborated on the power of Omen, setting it up as one of One Piece's greatest power-ups of all time, second only to Monkey D. Luffy's Gear 5 from the Wano Country Arc.

At its core, the Nerona Imus Omen is a form of energy that exists within everyone, and it serves as his primary military power. The omen is born from the envy that leads one to achieve their goals. According to the creator of the series, Omen is incredibly powerful and gives Imu the ability to produce black flames. Using these black flames, Imu can propel herself in a multitude of ways, such as increasing her own size to that of a giant, creating powerful weapons such as the Blade of Judgment: Nemesis or a Morningstar, or even something resembling a gun.

Imu can even block incoming attacks and launch them to cause devastating damage, strong enough to shoot the likes of Zoro and Sanji, as seen in chapter 1180 of the manga. This power is absolutely huge, and what makes it a true power-up is the fact that Nerona Imu can give Omens to any of his minions. In Chapter 1180, Imu gave an omen to Saint Sommers and Saint Killingham, who both gain a halo of black flames above their heads. This omen strengthened them immensely, restoring them to full strength and even giving Saint Sommers the ability to fly. Obviously, the Omen serves as one of the most convenient, as well as dangerous, power-ups in the One Piece world, and unlike Gear 5, it doesn't seem to come at any cost to the Holy Knights.

Scale the power in ohms to switch 5

In general, Nerona Imu's Omen is quite easily one of the most versatile and incredible powers available in the world of One Piece. The Omen is incredibly overpowered, as it not only empowers Imu himself and allows him to overpower the likes of Loki, as seen in the latest chapter release, but it also allows him to massively increase the strength of his minions.

The power of the Omen also takes effect through Covenants and through Corruption, as confirmed by Eiichiro Oda in the latest chapter release of One Piece. In that regard, it is through the Omen that Nerona Imu has created the entire structure of the World Federation and established powerful individuals alongside him, akin to making a pact with the Devil. This makes Omen one of the most versatile powers in One Piece and the exact opposite of Luffy's Nika power.

Although Luffy can transform into the warrior of liberation, his effect on other people is limited so far. Luffy can't significantly increase the strength of others around him with Gear 5, and as such it makes it much less convenient than Nerona Imus' Akuma no Mi.

All abilities of Nerona Imu's Omen

Image by Toei Animation

As one of the most versatile forces in the world of One PieceThe omen has many applications, with many more to be revealed by the author as the fighting continues in Elbaph in Chapter 1182 and beyond. So far, Nerona Imus Omen has shown the ability to shoot projectiles that can knock out someone as strong as Zoro. He has also shown the ability to coat his body in the Black Flames of Omen and knock out individuals as strong as Sanji. He can fire Omen-like bullets, as seen when he knocked out Hajarudin in chapter 1180, and he can even shape it into any type of weapon he wants. In Chapter 1181, Imu shaped Omen flames into a Morningstarwhich he then attacked Loki with, and later down the line, turned it into the Sword of Judgment: Nemesis, which he stabbed him with.

Imu even used the Black Flames of Omen to block Loki's Ragnazuchia very powerful lightning-enhanced attack, effortlessly. He augmented his own body with the Omen to grow enormously in size to match Loki, and above all he uses these black flames to further strengthen himself. The fact that the Omen can also amplify the power of the Five Elders and the Holy Knights makes it a dangerous ability that Imu rightly calls his military might. This is a power that can hardly be matched by anyone else in the world of One Piece, and one that has no peers right now.

Although Sun God Nika can match Nerona Imu in terms of individual strength with her unique powers, Nerona Imu's Omen has a more far-reaching effect that Nika simply cannot replicate. Since Imu stands as the final villain in One Piece, Eiichiro Oda has created the perfect power-up for him and his underling through Omen and Akuma no Mi, and that's what makes him an incredibly compelling character.

The latest chapters of the One Piece manga can be read on Manga Plus.