Die Again and Awaken
Chapter 1188 is packed with self-homage to the Wano Country arc.
For example, the scene of Im striking Luffy from above mirrors the moment Luffy landed a blow on Kaido at Onigashima — it’s almost identical.
Then there’s scorched Nika after taking Im’s attack…
…versus scorched Nika after taking Kaido’s Bolo Breath.
I also think it’s intentional that Nika’s legs go spinning wildly as he’s chased by the homing Omen — another deliberate parallel to Wano.
And finally, that last panel composition — the one that makes you wonder: is he dead?
What really caught my attention here is that Nika in the Elbaf arc is barefoot.
After filling his stomach, Luffy took off his boots before heading out to fight Im.
I figured he just switched back to his usual sandals — easier to fight in than Viking boots. But when Nika appeared before Im, he wasn’t wearing sandals either. ↓
That’s the reason I believe this is foreshadowing for yet another awakening — a different Nika.
Nika, the God of Destruction
“A hero who appeared to keep the world from breaking… or a destroyer who broke everything?”
The Nika described in Elbaf carries a slightly different impression from the one we see through Luffy. The silhouette shown at that time — armed with a sword and shield, wearing only a loincloth, and completely barefoot — is most likely the God of Destruction form of Nika. ↑
That’s probably the Nika who destroys.
The Two Faces of a God
In Japanese Shinto belief, gods possess two aspects: Nigimitama (和御魂) and Aramitama (荒御魂).
Nigimitama is the god’s calm, gentle face. Aramitama is the god’s wild, wrathful face.
Roger himself named a technique after Aramitama — so there’s no way Oda would depict a god without including this duality.
With that framework in mind:
- The Nika that the children of Elbaf depicted as something terrifying
- The Nika who was an enemy of Ragnir
- The Nika that the Giant Warriors feared
All of these represent Nika’s Aramitama — the “God of Destruction” side of Nika.
Putting it all together…
- Why Luffy went barefoot → To match the silhouette of Nika passed down in Elbaf legend
- Why the Kaido battle is being mirrored → Because he’s going to die and awaken again
- Why he transformed into a “demon god” form → Because he’s manifesting Nika’s Aramitama — the demonic face of the god
- Why Im left him near death → To die and awaken
Every one of these feels like a setup for the awakening of Nika, God of Destruction.
The image that comes to mind is Nightmare Luffy.
The terrifying Nika made real from the nightmares of Elbaf’s children — he even carries a sword. The fact that Brook has a central flashback role also links this arc back to Thriller Bark, making it the perfect callback for a self-homage.
The Sun and the Demon God Switch Places
Luffy and Sanji have always been defined by contrast.
- Luffy raised among mountain bandits on a garbage dump; Sanji raised as royalty in a castle
- Luffy who wants to eat; Sanji who wants to feed others
- Luffy sent to an island of only women; Sanji sent to an island of only okama
- Luffy who became the Sun God; Sanji who became the Demon God
- Luffy who defeated Crocodile and brought rain; Sanji who wants to stop the rain (Zaza) by defeating Kylingam
So if Luffy starts taking on the “Demon God” look — what happens to Sanji, who goes by that very title?
Right now, all eyes are on whether Sanji can awaken Conqueror’s Haki by committing to the resolve of a king.
And if he does, the theory community is buzzing about what title he’ll claim. I wrote about it in more detail elsewhere, but my conclusion is that “King of the Sun” is the right fit.
So — the ever-contrasting Luffy and Sanji will each have their own awakening in Elbaf, with the titles of “Demon God” and “Sun” swapping between them.