One Piece is currently in the climax of the Elbaf arc, and here, Eiichiro Oda has expanded upon Monkey D. Luffy’s Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika powers drastically. After being introduced in the story and properly explained around four years ago, the powers of Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika are dramatically growing.
In Elbaf, Luffy tested his Nika form against Nerona Imu and was utterly outclassed. More recently, Luffy ran out of steam completely before Loki took over in battle to cover for him. However, just as Loki has now tapped into a new hybrid Ryu Ryu no Mi Model: Nidhoggr transformation, Luffy is likely to receive a new Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika transformation of his own, which we are all eagerly waiting to see.
Monkey D. Luffy’s Defeat Vs Imu Confirms The Limit Of Gear 5
Monkey D. Luffy has most certainly been impressive against Nerona Imu. He joined the battle officially at the end of One Piece chapter 1186 on June 29, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31. However, shortly after, in One Piece chapter 1188, Luffy was beaten by Imu and utterly outclassed without even going all out. The difference in strength between the two couldn’t have been clearer. Had it not been for Scopper Gaban, who stepped in at the right moment to save the life of the Yonko, Luffy would most certainly have died right there and then. Thankfully, due to Gaban’s interception, Luffy was able to live longer and rejoin the battle against Imu in the underworld.
“That’s right! Listen, in this sea, the higher you climb, the more enemies you gain! The ‘Pirate King’ is a title given to someone whose death is rejoiced! Because everybody wants to sit on that throne! If you think you can become the ‘Pirate King’ peacefully, cheerfully, and merrily, go back to your home!” — Scopper Gaban saves Luffy, One Piece Chapter #1190
Now, in One Piece chapter 1192, which was released on September 6, 2026, in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #41, Luffy launched a powerful counterattack against Nerona Imu and broke through his Shield of Emptiness: Tohu Va Vohu, in the process. However, he is now out of gas completely, meaning Gear 5 is ineffective. Despite being an incredibly powerful transformation, the battle between Luffy and Imu confirmed to us that Gear 5 is tremendously limited in the grand scheme of things. Against someone as strong as Imu, this transformation simply cannot help Luffy win the battle, and that goes to show that Luffy still hasn’t finished his evolution into an elite pirate just yet.
“Why am I still alive? If I go out of this form, it’ll be bad news! Hey old man, I’m sorry. You lost an arm because you were defending me.” — Luffy confirms Gear 5’s limits, One Piece Chapter #1191
Why Loki’s New Hybrid Form Sets Up An Upgrade For Luffy
In One Piece chapter 1193, Loki decided to cover for Luffy and tapped into the hybrid form of the Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nidhoggr. This form will give Loki access to all the powers of the Lightning Dragon Nidhoggr in his humanoid body, making him stronger than ever before. This is Loki’s strongest form, which helped him fight against Harald and defeat him in combat 14 years ago. Now, this very same power will be utilized against Nerona Imu. While it will certainly help him hold his own for a while, it will, in the grand scheme of things, not be enough to take down the King of the World. Nerona Imu, despite being nerfed, is simply way too powerful for Luffy or Loki to defeat as things stand. This means that the best Loki can hope to do here, with his new transformation, is to buy more time for Luffy.
“Dogahaha! Looks like you’re at your limit!! I’ll be the one to finish him off! You just rest there!” — Loki uses his Hybrid Nidhoggr form, One Piece Chapter #1193
At the end of the day, Luffy is the protagonist, and his return to battle is crucial. This means that there is a significant chance for a new Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika form to show up immediately after Loki’s defeat. Just as Luffy tapped into a new hybrid form, Monkey D. Luffy could do something similar. Luffy does have a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, but we have only seen one form of this fruit so far. Luffy’s fruit doesn’t work like a regular Zoan, as he is always seen in his human form. Given how Devil Fruits operate, Luffy should have another transformation up his sleeve that he hasn’t tapped into yet. To that end, we are certain that Monkey D. Luffy will show a new Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika transformation in the next couple of chapters when the focus returns to him. This was also teased in chapter 1193, when Luffy suddenly felt his body react differently.
Luffy Will Unleash His New Form Vs Imu In Their Rematch
Since Gear 5 proved to be ineffective in the grand scheme of things against the King of the World, Nerona Imu, it was Oda’s way of telling us that Luffy will still gain further powers as One Piece continues. Gear 5 is impressive, but it is not enough to see Luffy defeat Imu. Given that Imu is his ultimate antagonist alongside Blackbeard, to take down, we can say with absolute certainty that Monkey D. Luffy will need to grow stronger. There are only two ways for Luffy to grow stronger. The first is attaining a new transformation, and the second is gaining a Haki upgrade.
Most fans prefer Luffy to improve his Color of the Supreme King. For those who have been paying attention to the story, however, it is really explained very well in One Piece Chapter 597 that the Color of the Supreme King cannot be trained directly and made stronger. It can only grow stronger when the user grows stronger, meaning only when Luffy improves upon his overall physical capabilities and gains new transformations can his Color of the Supreme King grow as well.
“Though you can control the Color of the Supreme King, you can’t train it to be stronger directly. It is the embodiment of the spirit of the user. The only way to make it stronger is for the user to grow stronger.” — Silvers Rayleigh explains Supreme King Haki, One Piece Chapter #597
This is precisely why Luffy gaining a new Hito Hito no Mi Model: Nika form in the Elbaf arc, is crucial for his next Haki upgrade as well. As Luffy gains his new form, which may well be tied to his hybrid form, he will most certainly gain an increase in Haki as well. This new form will help him even the battlefield against Nerona Imu in the Elbaf arc as it edges closer to its conclusion. Whether Luffy’s next upgrade is going to be enough to defeat Imu or not remains to be seen, but what we can say with certainty is that a new upgrade for Luffy is on the way.
The new One Piece manga chapters by Eiichiro Oda are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
