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In One Piece Chapter 1149, titled “One Second,” the story balances a fun, vibrant opening with a devastating progression in the main narrative. The chapter spans 19 pages and begins with a two-page color spread showing the Straw Hats operating a maid café. Nami, Robin, Lilith, and Bonney serve as maids, while Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, a cat, and a humanoid goat lounge as customers. The scene includes a humorous moment with Usopp and the cat shocked at the high menu prices, a visual nod to the manga and novel series Izakaya Bottakuri. This lighthearted moment offers brief respite before the chapter dives into intense and tragic developments.
In the main plot, the battle intensifies as Scopper Gaban lands a devastating blow on Saint Shepherd Sommers using a powerful technique called “Futenraku” (“Heavenly Music Axe”), slicing across his chest. Despite Sommers’ immortality, the strike causes him to fall upon his own thorny terrain, leaving him incapacitated for the rest of the chapter. Gaban quickly turns his attention to the chaos unfolding at the burning school and library, where Saint Killingham’s arson leaves the Elbaph giants weeping in despair. Gaban rushes in as Colon calls out for help, raising the emotional stakes.
As Gaban reaches the scene, Gunko threatens Colon with an arrow-sword. The moment turns desperate as Gaban pleads, “Hold on one second,” but Gunko begins stabbing Colon, drawing blood. Gaban, overwhelmed with rage, emits black lightning from his axe—a clear sign of advanced Haki—yet his Observation Haki reveals he won’t reach Colon in time. He chooses to surrender, dropping his weapon in a heartbreaking decision. In a dramatic double-spread, Gunko stabs Gaban with three arrows through his torso. Gaban falls from the tree, grievously wounded, and apologizes to both Colon and Elbaph in what feels like a potential farewell.
As Colon cries out for his father, the chapter takes an introspective turn. Gunko begins to remember her past: a flashback of a crying woman shouting “Father!” and a poignant scene of Brook holding a young girl’s hand, promising to become a pirate. These moments heavily imply that Gunko is the girl from Brook’s past, giving her character a tragic new depth.
The tone shifts again in the final pages as Imu’s voice invades the minds of the three Holy Knights. Imu, now fully aware of the escalating conflict, declares the Holy Land is in flames and that it’s time to respond with military might. The chapter ends with a chilling image: Imu seizing control of Gunko’s body. Her eyes turn menacing, black lightning engulfs her, and Imu ominously proclaims, “Mu will show thee… what it means to be ruled by God!!!”
Chapter 1149 is a dramatic turning point—highlighting Gaban’s selfless bravery, the emotional bonds between fathers and children, and the terrifying reach of Imu’s power. It sets up a climactic confrontation as war looms and alliances are tested.