One Piece revealed more through Gunko’s agelessness than fans initially thought

One Piece Chapter 1159 has left the fandom buzzing, and for good reason. Gunko, the mysterious female member of the God’s Knights, has once again become the focal point of speculation. From her unsettlingly youthful appearance to her connection with Imu, fans can’t stop theorizing about what her role means for the future of the story.

Could her apparent agelessness be the very reason she holds Imu’s attention? And if so, what does that say about her past, her true identity, and the way forward in Elbaf? While most members of the Knights in One Piece have aged naturally, like Garling showing his years, and Shamrock mirroring Shanks’s maturity, Gunko’s youthful appearance has remained frozen.

This is no small detail as Oda rarely makes visual choices without narrative weight. If Saturn can appear unchanged from 200 years ago and Imu has lived through eight centuries, then Gunko’s agelessness ties her to the same sphere of unnatural longevity.

It separates her from her comrades, aligning her closer to Imu and the Five Elders rather than the rest of the Knights. The question is: why? We already know Imu is capable of manipulation that borders on parasitic control. Multiple panels across Egghead and Elbaf have suggested that Imu can project themselves into others, through eyes, through willpower, even through direct possession.

If Gunko in One Piece is more than just a subordinate, if she is a vessel, it makes sense that she would not age naturally. Imu may be prolonging her existence as a preferred “container.” This also fits Imu’s pattern of obsession. In Sabo’s flashback, we saw how fixated they were on Vivi.

In past references, Oda hints that Imu chooses certain individuals who embody an ideal, princesses, symbols of purity, and figures tied to the Void Century. What if Gunko was an earlier “choice”? Her agelessness may not be a blessing but a curse, proof of Imu’s hold over her body and soul.

Why Imu might keep her close in One Piece

But why does Gunko specifically stand out in One Piece and not another God’s Knight, or a Celestial Dragon? Several reasons stand out:

1. Resemblance to Nefertari Lily: Fans have speculated that Gunko may remind Imu of Queen Lily, the figure who once betrayed the World Government. If Gunko carries even a faint resemblance, Imu’s attachment could be emotional as well as practical. A vessel that reminds them of Lily would explain centuries of fixation.
2. Compatibility as a Vessel: Imu may not be able to fully control just anyone. Gunko’s physiology, Devil Fruit, or bloodline might make her uniquely suited as a vessel. Her asymmetrical eyes and ability to summon the Abyss, something even her peers cannot, suggest she was given abilities directly from Imu.
3. Frozen in Time: By halting her natural aging, Imu has ensured that Gunko will always remain usable. Eternal youth means an eternal vessel, and that would explain why she looks unchanged since Brook’s time.

Could she be the key to Imu’s defeat?

Gunko’s agelessness in One Piece doesn’t just mark her as special; it might mark her as essential. If she is bound to Imu as a vessel, then freeing her could weaken or even destroy Imu. Luffy doesn’t just need to fight the World Government; he may need to liberate Gunko to defeat the shadow ruler once and for all.

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Her tears, her connection to Brook, her frozen youth, all point to her as a tragic figure caught between the ancient past and the chaotic present. And in true Oda fashion, the tragedy may become triumph, with Gunko playing the role of an unexpected ally at the climax.

One Piece Chapter 1159 hasn’t given us all the answers, but it’s made one thing abundantly clear: Gunko is not just another knight in God’s order. Her agelessness, her asymmetrical eyes, her link to Brook, and above all, her connection to Imu all scream significance. She may be ageless, but her time to shine and perhaps her time to finally be free could be fast approaching.

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