Sanji has finally managed to unleash his Conqueror’s Haki in One Piece chapter 1197, according to early spoilers from leaker Pew. The chapter is reportedly titled, “Love Is Defense,” and ends with Sanji landing a spinning back kick on Saint Killingham that combines a new type of flame with Conqueror’s Haki.
The chapter opens with Killingham annoyed by Sanji’s barrage of kicks, and he eventually coats himself in Omen, the black power Imu introduced in chapter 1180, to form an armor that only Conqueror’s Haki can destroy. Sanji realizes Armament Haki alone is not enough to protect him, and a new flame appears on his leg.
He blocks Killingham’s next attack, which shatters the tip of his spear, Longinus, but knocks Sanji to the ground. From there, Sanji raises his leg and notices his flames cause him no pain, which tells him his Armament Haki has reached an extreme level.
Back on his feet, Sanji thinks of Luffy and Zoro and settles his own place beside them. Zoro should be Luffy’s sword, the one who attacks, while Sanji will be Luffy’s shield, the one who protects. It is the first time in the fight he decides who he is meant to be for his captain.
That decision appears to be what triggers his Conqueror’s Haki. Gaban told Sanji in chapter 1187 to become a king himself if he wants to help Luffy become Pirate King, and a shield that gets destroyed protects no one. Choosing to defend, and to value himself enough to survive, is the resolve Gaban’s warning in chapter 1195 said he lacked.
Black lightning, the visual effect tied to Conqueror’s Haki, appears right after, and his spinning back kick breaks the shaft of Longinus and shatters Killingham’s helmet. The chapter closes on Killingham spitting blood.
The new flame resembles Ifrit Jambe, though the surrounding fire looks purer and the aura is more fluid. Pew does not name it, but WorstGenHQ claimed it is a new flame color and that Sanji now has advanced Conqueror’s Haki, though it remains unconfirmed.
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How Gaban, Ivankov and Omen Set Up Sanji’s Conqueror’s Haki
The setup began in chapter 1152, when Gaban said another Straw Hat besides Luffy can use Conqueror’s Haki. Sanji assumed he meant him, but Gaban pointed at Zoro. A flashback in chapter 1187 then showed Gaban telling Sanji he has the potential and should become a king himself if he wants to help Luffy become Pirate King.
Chapter 1195 added the catch. Gaban had warned that a self-sacrificing streak could hold Sanji back, and Killingham taunted him for lacking Conqueror’s Haki. Chapter 1196 answered it through Ivankov: Killingham’s Dream Output conjured a nightmare version of him, and a Kamabakka flashback revealed his lesson on self-love.
“Anyone who doesn’t love themselves can never truly love anyone else!” Emporio Ivankov in One Piece chapter 1196
Chapter 1197 title ties back to that lesson, and Sanji’s first realization is that protecting his body should come first. That explains why his Conqueror’s Haki arrives through defense rather than raw power.
Meanwhile, Omen was first used by Imu in chapter 1180 to revive Killingham and kick Sanji with a leg coated in black flames, and in 1197 Conqueror’s Haki is what breaks it, matching Gaban’s claim from chapter 1152 that high-level Conqueror’s Haki can beat the Holy Knights.
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What It Means For Both Sanji and Zoro To Have Conqueror’s Haki
Zoro had already gained control of his Conqueror’s Haki by chapter 1195, when Sommers ran from him in fear. With Sanji’s awakening, both Holy Knights the pair have been fighting now face an opponent with the one thing Gaban said beats them.
The sword and shield split gives the crew a clear structure. Zoro handles the offense, and Sanji, whose Haki came from learning to defend himself, covers the defense.
It also changes the Imu problem. Imu called Omen a power that lurks in all things back in chapter 1181, and Killingham’s armor suggests Conqueror’s Haki is the counter. I think that matters because Luffy ran out of energy mid-fight in chapter 1193, so two more crew members who can hurt Omen means Luffy and Loki no longer carry that fight alone.
One Piece Chapter 1197 will officially releases on Sunday, November 1 on MANGA Plus and Viz. Click here for region wise release times and full spoilers.
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