Out of all the amazing qualities of the world-famous One Piece series, its compelling and fascinating mysteries are among the most beloved. With each new chapter, fans of Eiichiro Oda’s work wait to find new clues that will help them understand the many enigmas hiding within the pages of the manga. Among these mysteries, the real meaning behind the Will of D. is one of the biggest.

From Luffy, the protagonist and captain of one of the world's strongest pirate crews, to the sinister Blackbeard, several characters possess the enigmatic "D" initial in their names. To this day, fans remain uncertain about the meaning of this for the pirates, as Oda has ensured to keep the answer hidden. Nonetheless, thanks to the most recent clues found in the manga, fans believe that they have discovered the truth behind this mystery.

Is the Will of D. A Weapon Against Imu?

The of This Clan Could Be Immune to Their Power

According to the lore of the One Piece universe, The Will of D. is a surname shared by hundreds of people around the planet that has its origins in the Ancient Kingdom. Once a family that helped lead the world, they became enemies of the World Government after defying the will of Imu, the enigmatic villain whose identity remains a mystery. The ruler themself confirmed the roots of the D. included in Luffy’s name during chapter #1085. Previous entries have also referred to this legacy by calling them God’s Natural Enemy, hinting at their conflict with the World Government.

Although Oda has been giving fans more hints than ever about the true meaning behind these warriors, a definitive answer has not yet been shared in the manga. However, by studying the data that has already been shared with readers, X (formerly Twitter) the horrifying abilities of the franchise’s biggest villain. Imu seems to have the ability to control the minds and bodies of people under their command.

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This was more evident during chapter #1149 when Imu took control of Gunko’s body without any issue. The theory suggests that The Will of D. acts as a natural protection against the abilities of One Piece’s final villain. Their bloodline is the only one capable of withstanding the powers of Imu, making them a major threat to the plans of the sinister king. The shadow ruler has constantly made their distaste for of the D. clan known, which could be a sign of Imu knowing their powers will not work on these enemies.

Luffy Has Already Defied a God

Ennel Could Have Been Foreshadowing Luffy’s Abilities

Nami says Luffy is Enel's natural enemy during their fight.

As One Piece’s Elbaph arc has progressed, fans have noticed that Oda has been making callbacks to several events in the story to connect them to the main plot. One of the most surprising was the introduction of the Skypiea gods, making this once-underappreciated arc one of the most important for the series. This sudden relevance might go beyond the deities of the Sky Islands, as there is another villain who could have acted as a subtle foreshadowing for the inevitable final battle against Imu.

Enel, considered by many as one of the best antagonists in the franchise, dubbed himself an immortal god destined to rule the world, not too dissimilar to the leader of the World Government. His Devil Fruit, which gave him control over electricity, made him an almost invulnerable enemy, allowing him to easily become the ruthless leader of the Skypiean people. Yet, despite his power, Enel was quickly overwhelmed by Luffy, whose rubber body made him immune to the villain’s powers. During the battle, Nami went as far as to call her captain Enel’s natural enemy.

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Seeing as the Skypiea arc has become fundamental for readers to understand the events of Elbaph, there is a possibility that Oda might have hidden Imu’s weakness during Enel’s fight. The fact that both Luffy’s Devil Fruit, one of the strongest in the series, and The Will of D. have been described as natural enemies of deities might not be a coincidence. If the theory is correct, only those with the blood of this ancient clan running in their veins will be able to face Imu without fear of falling victim to their powers.

Did Queen Lily Defy Imu’s Power?

The Villain Seems To Have a Raging Hate for the Woman

Imu complaining about Lily's decision during the Void Century.

As most One Piece fans must be aware, The Will of D. was supposedly born during the Void Century, the enigmatic period of constant wars between the World Government and those who opposed them. While Joy Boy, the mysterious first pirate in history, is often regarded as the biggest exponent of this clan, the first person to ever exhibit its traits was Queen Lily, former leader of Alabasta. Imu has shown on several occasions a massive disdain for the woman, claiming that it was her mistake that caused the world to suffer as it did during the Void Century.

While the story has not yet revealed what Lily did to earn the rage of the shadow ruler, it is heavily implied that she was the first person to question their authority as a leader. This could imply that Imu hated the queen for having a special ability that prevented her from being mind-controlled by the villain’s powers. Their anger stems from the fact that Lily’s descendants inherited that power, making them immune to their abilities and transforming them into a major threat to the World Government.

Could the Theory Be True?

​​​​​​​The Will of D. Still Needs Extensive Explanation

Luffy after awakening Gear 5 and being declared the new Joyboy

Although the theory created by @Buggy could explain the origins and powers of The Will of D., Oda is known for writing plot twists that no reader could predict. The similarities between Elbaph and Skypiea make the idea of Luffy’s clan being immune to Imu’s powers a compelling possibility, but there are still too many questions about this mystery to make a definitive statement. Queen Lily’s legacy could also be related to the Ancient Weapons used during the Void Century, which have also been heavily featured during the last couple of arcs.

It might be frustrating for fans, but the truth behind this recurring mystery will remain an enigma for several more months. Fortunately, seeing as the One Piece series has entered its final saga, there is not much time left for Oda to develop this storyline. Sooner than expected, the origins and abilities of the D. clan will become clear to readers, putting an end to this decades-old question.

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One Piece
Release Date
October 20, 1999
Network
Fuji TV
Directors
Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Mayumi Tanaka
    Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kazuya Nakai
    Roronoa Zoro (voice)

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
BUY

Writers
Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
Franchise(s)
One Piece
Creator(s)
Eiichiro Oda