Amidst the ever-mounting mystery surrounding the Five Elders, One Piece has just teased that a strange theory about its final villains may actually be true. The latest of One Piece secretly provides what could be a huge clue to explaining the Five Elders’ regeneration and other powers while also confirming a surprising connection to Imu.
In chapter #1122, the Five Elders are forced to go back to Mariejois after Emet unleashes Joyboy’s powerful Conqueror’s Haki. As soon as the Five Elders return, Imu is seen in the chamber of flowers screaming and trembling while thinking of Joyboy, implying that Imu also saw or even felt Joyboy’s haki which confirms that Imu and the Five Elders are connected in some way.
The Five Elders are known to possess the ability to communicate telepathically, and the latest chapter hints that Imu may also be telepathically connected to them, if not on an even deeper level. In fact, this revelation teases the theory that the Five Elders are satellites created by Imu could be true, which is also supported by the Five Elders’ regenerative powers.
4One Piece Teases The Five Elders May Be Imu’s Satellites
Imu and the Five Elders’ Connection May Have Been Foreshadowed by Vegapunk and His Satellites
In addition to the subtle revelation in the latest chapter, chapter #1120 also provides another huge hint that the Five Elders are not entirely human through Saint Nusjuro’s regeneration. In the chapter, Atlas sacrifices herself to save the Straw Hats from Saint Nusjuro as he attempts to board the Thousand Sunny, blowing up herself and Saint Nusjuro in the process. Unsurprisingly, Nusjuro emerges unscathed from the explosion and is seen regenerating from the attack.
Interestingly, the panel of Saint Nusjuro regenerating is accompanied by an unnatural crackling onomatopoeia coming from Nusjuro’s skull, the inside of which appears to consist of swirling shadows. This hints that the Five Elders may not be corporeal at all, but rather beings created by Imu, much like Vegapunk’s satellites.
An unnatural buzzing sound is seen even when Saint Saturn regenerates his arm in chapter #1104, which swirls almost as though it is liquid. Though Saturn and Nusjuro regenerate quite differently, it is quite clear that the two Elders are not fully corporeal when in their yokai forms. This would also explain their ability to teleport as well as their immortality through a means other than the Op-Op Fruit.
Seeing as the Five Elders were introduced in the same arc as Vegapunk and his satellites, it would be rather fitting for the Five Elders to mirror them in a way. Much like Vegapunk’s satellites, the Five Elders have proven to possess some individuality, as seen when they questioned Imu’s decision to destroy Lulusia. However, as the Egghead Arc has gone on to prove, Vegapunk’s satellites are no different and are very much capable of questioning, defying, and even betraying their creator.
The Five Elders Could Be The Key to Defeating Imu
Professor Clover’s Name Suggests A Connection to Irish Folklore and Horcruxes
Another prevalent idea is that the Five Elders could be akin to Horcruxes created by Imu and defeating the Five Elders may be the only way to defeat Imu. Interesting as this idea may be, there is little proof to support it. However, it is possible that Imu and the Five Elders could be based on the Irish folklore surrounding the Claíomh Solais, a mystical weapon also known as the Sword of Light.
The Claíomh Solais entered discussions among fans of One Piece after Professor Clover’s full name was revealed in chapter #1120, which was translated by some as Claíomh, in contrast to the official translation. Many fans noticed that this weapon was oddly identical to the one carried by Sun God Nika’s silhouette in One Piece.
In many folktales, the sword is guarded by a keeper who has only a single weak spot, which in some cases is its soul, which is hidden externally in animals which may or may not be the direct inspiration behind Imu and the Five Elders, who each transform into animalistic yokai.
Custom image by Rohit Jaiswar
Overall, there are still countless other theories surrounding the Five Elders and their powers. The final saga of One Piece will likely revisit the truth behind their regeneration and their origins sooner or later, but as things stand, the Five Elders are surely shaping up to be the biggest, most intimidating adversaries of the series, worthy of being the endgame villains.
