One Piece 1197: Sanji awakens Conqueror's Haki

The spoilers for chapter 1197 of One Piece are here and they bring what many Sanji fans had been waiting years for: the awakening of his Conqueror's Haki. After the break, Eiichiro Oda returns with a chapter that finally gives the Straw Hat cook the moment that had been brewing since the Elbaph arc.

The chapter is titled "Love is defense", picking up on the words Ivankov told him in the previous installment. Sanji starts by reflecting on his body and all the battles he has survived, from his days with Zeff to the hits against Queen or Jabra. He reaches a conclusion that explains a lot about his fighting style: he despises his brothers' modified bodies so much that he preferred to ignore his own physical integrity rather than resemble them.

But against Killingham he has no choice. The Holy Knight takes on his hybrid form and creates a black armor with "Omen" that can only be broken with Conqueror's Haki. That's where Sanji understands that armament haki is no longer enough.

Sanji generating flames on his legareajugones.sport.es

While punishing Killingham with a barrage of kicks, Sanji generates new flames on his leg. The tone is reminiscent of Ifrit Jambe, but the fire looks purer and the aura much more fluid. When he blocks an attack from the Longinus spear, the tip shatters and the impact knocks him down. As he gets up, he notices he feels no pain: his armament haki reached such an absurd level that it withstands attacks as if he were executing them himself. He even claims he could break bullets with his legs.

And then comes the moment that changes everything. Sanji thinks of Luffy and Zoro, and he's clear: Zoro will be Luffy's sword and he will be his shield. Right after, the black lightning of Conqueror's Haki appears. Sanji launches a spinning backward kick loaded with his new flames and that newly awakened power.

The attack splits the shaft of the Longinus spear and hits Killingham square in the face, destroying his helmet. The chapter closes with the Holy Knight spitting blood, though it's still unclear if he's completely defeated.

No break: chapter 1198 arrives next week

Insiders confirm that One Piece is not going on hiatus. Next week we'll have chapter 1198, which looks to focus on Zoro's fight or to wrap up Sanji's once and for all.

Oda left hints for weeks and delivered on all of them. Chapter 1197 not only gives Sanji the power boost we were begging for: it also reaffirms his place in the crew. Now we just have to see if Killingham gets up or if the cook already finished his part of the fight.