One Piece Reveals Holy Knights’ Immortality and Devastating Power

by

Although the Holy Knights from One Piece have only recently emerged, they are swiftly making a formidable impact and appear set to play a crucial part in the Final Saga. At first glance, it seemed unlikely that the Holy Knights could compare to the Five Elders; however, the Elbaf Arc of One Piece is increasingly challenging this assumption. The Holy Knights we have encountered thus far possess devil fruits of immense power or, like Shamrock, a sword empowered by one. Recent developments in One Piece suggest that the Holy Knights might be even stronger than initially thought, as their true potential has now been disclosed.

In Chapter 1147 of One Piece, viewers witness the instance where Saul first asks Robin and Chopper to conceal themselves in his hair. Saul discloses that he has encountered St. Sommers before and recognizes him as a Holy Knight. He also reveals that the Holy Knights are incapable of being defeated and are immortal, which is why he urges Robin and Chopper to remain hidden for the sake of the children. This revelation by Saul, coupled with St. Sommers’ unharmed appearance, substantiates a theory that fans have harbored since the last chapter: the Holy Knights share the same regenerative capabilities as the Five Elders. In essence, Saul’s statement hints at the possibility that the Holy Knights might also be ageless like the Five Elders.

One Piece Reveals the Holy Knights Are Immortal

To date, only one Holy Knight, Gunko, has been observed to regenerate in this manner. In Chapter 1146, she regenerated half her torso following an explosion by Usopp’s star cannon. Initially, it was uncertain whether this ability was exclusive to Gunko or shared among all the Holy Knights. However, Saul’s recent statement has provided a resolution to this question. Although the latest chapter doesn’t depict St. Sommers or St. Killingham regenerating like Gunko, the absence of any injury on Sommers after battling Saul, a former Vice Admiral, implies either Saul was overpowered before inflicting significant damage or Sommers healed off-screen.

In addition to their regenerative abilities, what makes Saul’s usage of the term “immortal” intriguing is that it suggests the Holy Knights can not only rejuvenate like the Five Elders but may also have ceased aging altogether, much like them. This opens up thought-provoking questions about the former Holy Knights we glimpsed fleetingly at God Valley in Kuma’s flashback and how they were ultimately defeated. Characters such as Gunko and Shamrock appear to be significantly younger and seem to have gained immortality only relatively recently, most likely from Imu, who is hinted to have bestowed these powers on the Five Elders originally.

The Holy Knights Just Got Way Harder to Beat

To put it simply, if all Holy Knights are immortal, this implies a grim outlook for Elbaf and the Giants. Given Luffy’s difficulties against the Five Elders at Egghead, it seems likely that he and the strongest Straw Hat members will face significant challenges in defeating the Holy Knights. Unlike their encounter with Egghead, escape isn’t an option on Elbaf because the Holy Knights have taken the Giant children hostage and won’t back down until Elbaf submits to the World Government and becomes part of it.

In my perspective as an onlooker, the Holy Knights have filled a significant void within the narrative of “One Piece.” Given the Straw Hats’ remarkable growth since the time skip, the Admirals, who were once formidable adversaries, now appear less intimidating. This shift has become particularly noticeable during the Wano and Egghead arcs, where the Straw Hats encountered challenges far greater than the Admirals. It seems that the Five Elders and Imu will be the ultimate opponents in this series, making the Holy Knights ideal precursors for the final showdown. Although it won’t be an easy journey, the Egghead Arc has hinted at one weakness of the Five Elders—Joyboy’s enigmatic Haki. Moreover, “One Piece”‘s Elbaf Arc might pave the way for Luffy to eventually master this intriguing power himself.

One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus and Viz Media.

Read More

2025-04-27 20:42