Devil Fruits were properly introduced at the beginning of One Piece, and since then, this incredible power system has only gotten more diverse, with unique classifications being introduced by Eiichiro Oda, the creator of the story. The Elbaph arc of One Piece has expanded upon this very classification of powers by introducing a unique ability that stands above them all, that is, Nerona Imu’s Akuma no Mi, also known as ‘The Devil’s Fruit.’ With powers beyond all human comprehension and abilities that simply break the barriers of the classification of Logia, Zoan, and Paramecia, Imu’s Akuma no Mi is truly a deadly power.
Breaking Down Imu’s ‘Devil’s Fruit’s’ Unique Classification
Nerona Imu descended in Elbaph in Chapter 1179, and it is here that Oda confirmed the existence of The Devil’s Fruit, also known as Akuma no Mi. The Akuma no Mi is different from other fruits that exist in the world of One Piece for a multitude of reasons, but perhaps the most apparent reason is that it does not have a dual naming pattern. All Devil Fruits in One Piece have dual naming patterns, such as:
- Gomu Gomu no Mi
- Hito Hito no Mi
- Gura Gura no Mi
- Magu Magu no Mi
- Yami Yami no Mi
In the case of the Akuma no Mi, there is simply one term, and that makes it “The Devil’s Fruit” and not just the Devi Devi no Mi, or the Evil Evil Fruit. The fact that this Devil Fruit is named in kanji instead of katakana means that it carries special weight. In essence, Imu can turn into the Devil itself, which rules over all other abilities that exist in the world of One Piece, and is the original Devil Fruit. Imu’s powers are far greater than those of any other fruit. The Akuma no Mi is better than any other fruit that exists in the world of One Piece and offers abilities that are far greater. In that sense, it is already a unique power that precedes any other that exists right now.
Why Akuma no Mi Goes Beyond Paramecia, Logia, and Zoan Types
Usually, Devil Fruits are classified into one of the three categories of Logia, Zoan, and Paramecia. Logia-type Devil Fruits allow one to turn into a force of nature and manipulate the said force, as well as turn into it. Paramecias are miscellaneous abilities that are incredibly diverse, and Zoan allows for transformation into animals or other ancient or mythical creatures.
At the surface level, Nerona Imu’s Akuma no Mi might look like it falls under Mythical Zoan, but this ability is far greater than just being a Zoan fruit. Imu’s Devil Fruit allows him to become the Devil itself, but at the same time, it also allows him to affect his surroundings directly with the power of evil, which is a telltale sign of Paramecia Devil Fruit Awakening, as proven by Kaido’s statements on Luffy’s awakening in Chapter 1044. More than that, Imu can grant powers such as immortality, superhuman strength, regeneration, and even agelessness to others. These powers do not fit in the Zoan category at all.
If this wasn’t enough, Imu can manipulate unique black flames and create a power known as Maki, unveiled in Chapter 1180, which stands as the demonic version of Haki. This power also stems from his Devil Fruit ability, and once again, does not fit into any of the three categories. If that wasn’t enough, Imu has a grimoire using which he can use various magics and even produce weapons, such as pistols, rifles, blades, and utilize them at will, as evident from chapter 1150. This is only a fraction of Imu’s powers, as he can also do things like teleport, use telekinesis, and many other things. Looking at the incredibly diverse powers of this fruit, it is clear that Imu’s ability goes beyond the usual classification of Paramecia, Logia, and Zoan.
How Eiichiro Oda Dropped Massive Devil Fruit Lore With Imu’s Power
By introducing the Akuma no Mu of Nerona Imu in Chapter 1179 and expanding upon its powers in Chapter 1180, Eiichiro Oda has expanded upon the lore of Devil Fruits tremendously. Previously, all Devil Fruits were said to belong to the three classes, and there are only a select few that are unique, such as Katakuri’s Mochi Mochi No mi, which falls under the unique classification of Special Paramecia. With Imu, Oda has created a unique Devil Fruit that doesn’t fit into any true category.
Allow Mu to show thee the dominance of a God! — Nerona Imu, Chapter 1147
The Devil’s Fruit or Akuma Nomi stands above all fruits, and most certainly predates any of them. All the other Devil Fruits were likely created after this one, and, given its naming pattern, this fruit was made only for one purpose, which is to dominate and cause large-scale oppression. This ties directly to the Void Century of the One Piece world, where Devil Fruits were birthed in the first place, as put forward by Vegapunk. All Devil Fruits were created with the imagination of humans, and Imu’s Akuma no Mi was likely the first to be created with the sole purpose of dominating the world. All other Devil Fruits of the One Piece world likely came after, with the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika being a direct result of the existence of the Akuma no Mi, as people wished for liberation from oppression.
One Piece is available to read on Manga Plus.