Chapter 1169

At Gaban's house he tells Shanks that Roger left behind a child, something Garp confided to him at their last meeting. Overjoyed, Shanks claims the boy as his little brother, and Gaban, who counts him and Buggy as sons too, reflects that those burdened with great hopes often cannot meet them, which is part of what makes life worth living. Inside Aurust Castle, Harald cuts down the very guard he had asked to chain him, baffling everyone including himself, as he realizes Imu's commands are steering his body. Dreading that further orders will rewrite his mind, he names himself Elbaf's gravest danger and begs his men to kill him before he butchers them all.

The guards reluctantly drive their weapons into him just as Loki and Jarul enter, but his immortality knits every wound shut. Shanks explains to Gaban that a Shallows Covenant only lets one defy Imu past a certain distance, whereas a Depths Covenant, the wellspring of the knights' strength, immortality, and Abyss travel, leaves its bearer powerless to refuse any order anywhere, which is why he never wanted Harald to take the rank. Confronted by his son, Harald confesses the government deceived him and tells Jarul to hand Loki their sacred Devil Fruit, the only thing that might stop him, pleading with Loki to kill him, brand him the worst king Elbaf ever had, and rise as a hero in the people's eyes.

Imu's control then fully overtakes Harald: he slaughters the surrounding guards, drives a sword through Jarul's helmet, and chases Loki, vowing to devour the fruit and claim Ragnir, though Jarul survives. Loki, reluctant to forfeit his power to swim, still bolts for the chest at Jarul's urging, while Shanks and Gaban arrive to intercept Harald, who now feels superior to all living things. Just as Loki reaches the legendary fruit, Ragnir moves by itself and lashes out at him, leaving him bewildered. The chapter belongs to the Elbaf Arc; its color spread dresses the Rocks Pirates in black suits, with Gill Bastar absent, and Jarul warns that if Harald ate the fruit the world would end.