One Piece Returns to Elbaf as God vs Devil Clash Kicks Off in Chapter 1186

After a long stretch away from the present timeline, One Piece has finally come back to Elbaf—an arrival that Eiichiro Oda marked as the official kickoff of the God vs Devil showdown powering the arc’s endgame. In One Piece Chapter 1186, published June 28, 2026, Monkey D. Luffy (the “Sun God” Nika) makes his first direct clash with Nerona Imu (the Devil God of the series’ world). The result is a battlefield moment that positions this matchup as potentially the biggest fight in One Piece history.

Quick facts

• One Piece Chapter 1186 releases on June 28, 2026.
• The chapter begins the God vs Devil battle in the Elbaf arc climax.
• Luffy, identified as Sun God Nika, clashes for the first time with Nerona Imu, the Devil God.
• Chapter 1186 is published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31.
• The chapter wraps Brook’s flashback about Princess Shuri being taken to Marijoa and about Esperia’s destruction.

One Piece Chapter 1186 officially kicks off Sun God Nika vs Devil God Nerona Imu

One Piece Chapter 1186 officially hits on June 28, 2026, within Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31. The chapter also closes out Brook’s flashback sequence, covering how Princess Shuri was brought to the Holy Land of Marijoa and how Esperia was destroyed long ago. With that backstory resolved, the story pivots fully into the Elbaf climax—having Monkey D. Luffy step into the fight against Nerona Imu.

Oda previously set up this confrontation with Chapter 1181, released on April 27, 2026, as part of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Double Issue #22–23. In that earlier chapter, Luffy is shown consuming a massive amount of food to build up enough energy to fight Nerona Imu. The manga even includes Luffy’s own reaction as he powers up, emphasizing how intense and unfamiliar the pressure feels—plus his suspicion that something about Imu’s abilities and “Haki” is different.

“I need to keep eating! I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s so heavy and brutal… what’s up with this guy’s Haki?” — Luffy powers up with food ahead of the Imu clash, One Piece Chapter #1181

The mythic Zoan lineup is also being positioned to gain a new “godly” addition, hinted through the Harley mural shown in One Piece Chapter 1138. That visual cue adds another layer to the arc’s mythology as the final stretch approaches.

Luffy’s opening strike in Chapter 1186

In Chapter 1186, Luffy declares that he now has sufficient energy and can’t picture anyone in the world beating him at this point. He charges in with high confidence and lands a decisive punch across Nerona Imu’s face, using both Armament Color and the Color of the Supreme King. This moment serves as the official start of the God vs Devil battle in the concluding portion of the Elbaf Arc, though the tone is clearly ominous—foreshadowing trouble ahead for the Straw Hat.

“That bad guy from Elbaf, right? Then he’s my enemy too. I’m overflowing with strength. I can’t see anyone defeating me right now.” — Luffy calls himself unbeatable, One Piece Chapter #1186

Eiichiro Oda foreshadows Luffy’s defeat vs Nerona Imu

Even with the excitement of the God vs Devil fight that places Nika against Akuma starting in One Piece Chapter 1187 on July 5, 2026, it still seems likely that Luffy will eventually lose. The reason is that Luffy isn’t just fighting a random opponent—he’s taking on the final antagonist of One Piece, a figure who, 800 years ago, managed to kill Joy Boy. That same presence also played a major role in the destruction of the ancient kingdom and in the establishment of the World Government, ultimately placing itself at the top and ruling as “King” for eight centuries.

“Creator of the World Government (One of the First 20)”
“Power: Akuma no Mi (The Devil’s Fruit)”
“King of the World St. Nerona Imu” — Nerona Imu’s introduction box, One Piece Chapter #1179

Imu first shows up in Elbaf in One Piece Chapter 1179 on April 5, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #19. Because Imu’s presence arrives this early, the idea of him getting defeated here feels unlikely. More importantly, Chapter 1186 has Luffy going into the matchup saying he can’t imagine losing to anyone right now. The way Oda frames that line matters: it reads less like casual confidence and more like a deliberate setup for a dramatic reversal later.

“You get out of Elbaf right now!” — Luffy punches Imu across the face, One Piece Chapter #1186

Luffy also hasn’t been beaten in a straight fight since One Piece Chapter 1042 on March 7, 2022, when Kaido unleashed the Horai Hakke and killed him mid-battle. That defeat ultimately leads to Luffy’s Devil Fruit awakening and the return of Sun God Nika via the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika in One Piece Chapter 1044 on March 28, 2022, published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17. Since then, things have run smoothly for Luffy across the Grand Line—but now is the moment to slam into a wall again.

This showdown with Nerona Imu is positioned as a real test that forces Luffy to push his abilities further. Even so, Oda’s narrative signals still suggest he’s setting up the defeat of the Straw Hat Yonko in Elbaf.

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Why Elbaf can still be saved thanks to Imu’s time limit

At the moment, both Loki and Luffy are fighting Nerona Imu, and One Piece Chapter 1187—slated for publication in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #32 on July 5, 2026—will continue that same battle. With Imu expected to respond strongly after being punched by Luffy, the next stretch should escalate quickly. While it’s still plausible that Nerona Imu comes out on top against Luffy, Elbaf may still avoid total collapse because Imu is operating under a strict timeline.

“Great Imu’s body isn’t made to handle the outside. But even if you push past that, the power we need—and the power we must destroy—are already right here.” — Super Sommers explains Nerona Imu’s time limit, One Piece Chapter #1182

In One Piece Chapter 1182, released May 10, 2026 in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24, Saint Sommers tells Saint Killingham that Nerona Imu’s body wasn’t built to stay in the outside world, meaning Imu’s time is limited. This idea is reinforced in Chapter 1180, when Imu himself tells Sommers that they’re running out of time and that every second matters. The problem also shows up earlier: when Imu arrives in Elbaf in One Piece Chapter 1179 (April 5, 2026, Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #19), he’s depicted spitting blood, implying the lower world is weakening him.

“In any case, Imu-sama, you must not leave Pangea Castle. We shall dispatch the Marine Admirals stationed at the HQ.” — The Five Elders plead with Imu not to go to Elbaf, One Piece Chapter #1179

So even if Nerona Imu manages to defeat both Luffy and Loki during Elbaf’s climax, he can still run out of time and be forced to retreat back to the Holy Land of Marijoa. That allows Oda to shape the arc with two outcomes at once: Luffy still suffers his first defeat since awakening his Devil Fruit, while Elbaf is protected long enough to survive the immediate threat. In other words, the Devil might win in a one-on-one exchange against the Sun God, but the larger war could still be claimed by the Sun God—by holding Elbaf against the Celestial Dragon threat until Imu has to pull back.

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All the manga chapters of One Piece by Eiichiro Oda are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.