One Piece Chapter 1169 is delayed as the manga is on a break week

Still from the manga
Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)

Fans who are eagerly waiting for One Piece Chapter 1169 will not have to wait for a long time, as the manga is on a break. After the story showcasing the flashback focusing on Ida, Harlad, and Loki, fans were really looking forward to knowing what Eiichiro Oda has planned next. The recent chapters ended up delivering some detailed world-building.

We also have some more information on Imu, and this character continues to be terrifying. This break has upset a few readers because we are at a very important point in the story. One Piece has already entered Final Saga, and all the chapters that have come out since Elbaf has started it has left an impression on readers, as all of the information we are getting now has been extremely important.

Additionally, readers are deeply invested in the tragic history of Elbaph, its fallen royals, and the shadow of Imu looming over the giants’ fate. While delays can feel frustrating, Oda’s scheduled breaks are important because they help the creator to maintain the high-quality storytelling and detailed artwork the series is known for.


The shocking Imu connection

Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)
Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)

Perhaps the most explosive part of the latest chapter was Harald’s meeting with Imu in the Empty Throne Room. In one of the biggest revelations of the arc, Imu personally grants Harald the Depths Covenant, offering immortality and immense strength in exchange for total obedience.

This twist recontextualized Harald’s downfall: he wasn’t corrupted by ambition but forcibly weaponized by an order he could no longer resist. His desperate command for guards to chain him to a pillar illustrated the horror of losing one’s agency, one of the darkest moments in modern One Piece storytelling.

Fans also received a significant new detail about Shanks: he was on track to become a Knight of God but abandoned the position just before his promotion. The timeline suggests complex motives, raising new theories about his connection to the World Government and his true goal at Marie Geoise.


Fan reaction to getting a break week and Chapter 1168

Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)
Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)

One Piece Chapter 1168 has left fans emotional, delivering a sweeping flashback that reshaped everything we thought we knew about Elbaph, Harald, Loki, and even Shanks’ past ties to the World Government. Fans have been hyped after reading this chapter are and since the news of the break week has been revealed, the most common reactions have been:

"Noooo! I caught up with manga literally yesterday and its on break? 😭😭" said one fan.
"Oda is the goat man, wish nothing for him but peace and health so he can stick this landing," added another fan.
"hope he takes good care of himself," stated a netizen.

While readers do want to read One Piece Chapter 1169 as soon as possible, they are understanding of the fact that the creator needs a break and respect his decision.


Why the break week matters before One Piece Chapter 1169 releases

Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)
Still from the manga (Image credit: Shueisha)

Because Chapter 1168 dropped such heavy lore, the delay of One Piece Chapter 1169 gives fans a chance to unpack:

  • Harald’s tragic transformation
  • Loki’s emotional fallout
  • One Piece Chapter 1169 could showcase a political chess match involving Shanks
  • The foreshadowing of Elbaph’s eventual massacre
  • The growing threat of Imu and the true role of the Knights of God

This upcoming installment is setting itself up to make a path to Loki's narration, and in One Piece Chapter 1169, we might also be getting closer to the long-awaited climax of this flashback, a moment readers know will end in bloodshed.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade