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ONE PIECE Analysis! – Summary of Blackbeard! What about the Devil Fruit? Is his father Rocks? What is his bounty? What is the meaning of “life doubled”? Is there foreshadowing of a death flag? (Marshall D. Teach)

ONE PIECE Analysis

The greatest enemy in ‘ONE PIECE’ is Blackbeard (Marshall D. Teach). He has stood in the way of the protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, at crucial points in the story. Although the two are often depicted in contrast to each other, they surprisingly share some fundamental ideas and thoughts about what it means to be a pirate.

This time, I would like to thoroughly examine the “incredible true identity of Blackbeard.” Why is Blackbeard the only one allowed to possess multiple Devil Fruits? Is his Devil Fruit really the Cerberus? The Asura? Or the Human-Human Fruit of Asmodeus?

First, let’s review some information about Blackbeard. Blackbeard is the captain of the Blackbeard Pirates and one of the Four Emperors. Interestingly, the captains of the Four Emperors are often referred to by different titles (Shanks as “Chief,” Kaidou as “Governor-General,” etc.). Hence, Blackbeard is sometimes referred to with the title “Admiral.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

He is also one of the Worst Generation, just like Luffy (though not a Super Rookie). Morgans, the Bird-Bird Fruit user, has mentioned that the next King of the Pirates will emerge from the Worst Generation, so I personally believe that Blackbeard will become the next King of the Pirates.

Blackbeard’s real name is Marshall D. Teach. “Blackbeard” is merely an alias, so he is often called by his name, Teach.

Blackbeard is 40 years old, stands 344 cm tall, and is from the Grand Line. The model for Blackbeard is the historical pirate Edward Teach.

Blackbeard’s current stronghold is Pirate Island Hachinosu. His pirate ship, age, and stronghold are closely related to his true identity, which I will analyze in detail later.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Let’s summarize Blackbeard’s life history.

Blackbeard joined the Whitebeard Pirates “28 years ago” and remained a member for over 20 years. He served under Portgas D. Ace, who was the commander of the second division. Although he appeared to be a loyal subordinate, he was secretly after a specific Devil Fruit, the Dark-Dark Fruit.

When a crewmate named Thatch (the commander of the fourth division) obtained the long-desired Dark-Dark Fruit, Blackbeard stole it from him and left the Whitebeard Pirates. Shortly after, he founded the Blackbeard Pirates with initial members like Laffitte. They first attacked Drum Island, where Chopper and his friends were.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC
ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Incidentally, the historical pirate Edward Teach also used the alias “Edward Thatch.” The number four (as in the fourth division commander) might have symbolized “death.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Even among pirates who defy ethics, killing a crewmate is strictly forbidden. Especially furious was the captain, Whitebeard (Edward Newgate), who valued the bond of family above all else. Despite this, Whitebeard did not actively punish Blackbeard due to Blackbeard’s mysterious strength.

However, Portgas D. Ace, who admired Whitebeard, pursued Blackbeard. “Two years ago,” they fought in a duel on Banaro Island, where Ace was ultimately defeated by Blackbeard. The name Banaro Island may be derived from the Bahamas, where the historical Edward Teach was based.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC
ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Blackbeard handed Ace over to the Marines and was chosen as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Right after Crocodile was defeated by Luffy in the Arabasta Kingdom, Laffitte directly negotiated in the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, using Ace as a bargaining chip.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Afterward, Blackbeard used his authority as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea to infiltrate Impel Down, recruiting Shiryu, Sanjuan Wolf, and Catarina Devon, significantly strengthening his crew. Blackbeard’s career, characterized by betraying his comrades for personal gain, exemplifies the cutthroat nature of a true pirate.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

The execution of Ace triggered the Marineford War. Although the situation was eventually defused by the intervention of Red-Haired Shanks, Blackbeard killed Whitebeard, who had come to rescue Ace, and acquired the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, thus gaining the powers of two Devil Fruits.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

A year later, in the Payback War, Blackbeard defeated Marco, the first division commander of the Whitebeard Pirates. The leaderless Whitebeard Pirates were thoroughly crushed by Blackbeard. His crew even destroyed the Revolutionary Army’s headquarters at Baltigo, leading the world government to view the Blackbeard Pirates as a significant threat.

Then, “one year ago,” Blackbeard was recognized as one of the Four Emperors. Assuming he founded the Blackbeard Pirates about three to five years ago, Blackbeard became an Emperor faster than anyone in history.

Though his foster parent, Whitebeard, harshly criticized Blackbeard’s character as “reckless and overconfident,” Blackbeard’s long-term plans, pursued with persistent cunning and audacity, reveal him as the polar opposite: a nefarious strategist.

Next, let’s explore Blackbeard’s childhood. According to Kozuki Oden’s flashback, Blackbeard was an orphan taken in by Whitebeard (Edward Newgate) “28 years ago.” Since Blackbeard is currently 40 years old, it can be inferred that he was around “12 years old” at the time.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Afterward, Blackbeard joined the Whitebeard Pirates and was raised as one of “Whitebeard’s sons.” In his youth, Blackbeard wielded a claw as a weapon. It is well-known that he used this claw to scar Red-Haired Shanks‘ left eye.

The grudge with Shanks likely originated during Blackbeard’s time with the Whitebeard Pirates. This claw is also crucial for understanding the Devil Fruit, so keep it in mind.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

During the Marineford War, as Whitebeard was dying, Blackbeard said, “I respected and admired you from the bottom of my heart.” These words of gratitude are probably genuine. Considering his past, Blackbeard had no reason to harbor any resentment toward Whitebeard.

Whitebeard, like Blackbeard, is modeled after the historical pirate Edward Teach, highlighting the deep bond between them. This makes Blackbeard’s act of killing his foster parent even more despicable.

Next, let’s consider Blackbeard’s lineage. As his real name (Marshall D. Teach) suggests, Blackbeard is also part of the “Family of D,” just like Luffy and others.

The Family of D is depicted as adversaries of the World Government, Imu, and the Marines, often referred to as “enemies of the gods.” Thus, the Family of D can be seen as “allies of justice.” However, looking back at his past, Blackbeard appears to be an outlier within the Family of D.

In reality, Blackbeard tends to engage in “irregular” actions. For example, he allied with Aokiji (Kuzan), who left the Marines after clashing with Akainu (Sakazuki). The goals of both individuals are unclear (likely different), but Blackbeard’s ability to gain the trust of even an Admiral is due to his belonging to the Family of D.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Additionally, it was revealed in the cover story series that Ace, while pursuing Blackbeard, stole a “mysterious secret suitcase” from the Marines. Since this item would be unnecessary just to track Blackbeard’s location, it must contain “Blackbeard’s secret.”

Let’s consider who Blackbeard’s father might be. Just as Ace’s father was the King of the Pirates, Gol D. Roger, and Luffy’s father is the Revolutionary Dragon, it’s possible that Blackbeard (Teach) is also the son of a famous pirate.

To get straight to the point, it seems highly likely that Blackbeard’s father is “Rocks D. Xebec.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Rocks was once the captain of the Rocks Pirates, who were known as the strongest crew in the world. However, 38 years ago, he was defeated by Marine Vice Admiral Garp and Roger. Blackbeard’s despicable personality and his notorious history of killing his comrades might indeed be traits inherited from his vile father, Rocks.

Just as Ace was persecuted for being “Roger’s son,” Blackbeard might have been persecuted for being “Rocks’s son,” which would explain why he wandered as an orphan until around the age of 12.

However, Whitebeard, who was once a member of the Rocks Pirates, seemed unaware of Blackbeard’s lineage. This could just be a twist of fate. The slight discrepancy between “Rocks’s death (38 years ago)” and “Blackbeard’s birth (40 years ago)” leaves some mystery about his birth.

In any case, the reason Imu is wary of Blackbeard is likely because of his “Rocks lineage.” Considering that Princess Shirahoshi is the Ancient Weapon Poseidon, it’s also plausible that Blackbeard could be related to another Ancient Weapon.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Let’s explore the hints and evidence suggesting that Rocks is Blackbeard’s father.

As mentioned earlier, Blackbeard’s current stronghold is “Pirate Island Hachinosu.” This was also Rocks’s base of operations. While Blackbeard’s birthplace is vaguely stated as the Grand Line, Pirate Island Hachinosu is also located in the Grand Line, making it likely that Blackbeard was born there.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Incidentally, Blackbeard took over Hachinosu from Ochoku, a former member of the Rocks Pirates, during the Rocky Port Incident. Since Blackbeard is grateful to Marine SWORD member Coby, it suggests that Wang Zhi was a formidable opponent.

The Blackbeard Pirates’ ship is named the “Saber of Xebec,” incorporating Rocks’s real name, “Rocks D. Xebec.” This clearly includes his father Rocks’s name, strongly supporting the hypothesis that Blackbeard has a father complex.

Meanwhile, Blackbeard’s real name, Marshall, might be derived from the Marshall Islands. These islands were occupied by Japan during World War I and later used by the U.S. for nuclear tests at Bikini Atoll after the war. Japan also suffered from this, with the fishing boat Daigo Fukuryu Maru being affected by the fallout.

Rocks was ultimately defeated by Roger and others at God Valley. It’s said that the Celestial Dragons were conducting some experiments there, but Imu eventually erased it without a trace. The fates of God Valley and the Marshall Islands seem to overlap through Blackbeard.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Next, let’s analyze Blackbeard’s bounty amount.

Blackbeard’s latest bounty stands at 3.996 Billion Berries.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Compared to Red-Haired Shanks‘s bounty (4.049 Billion), Blackbeard falls slightly short. However, considering that his bounty was 2.200 Billion at the beginning of the Wano Country arc, it’s a significant jump in a short period. Could this be attributed to the enhancement of the Blackbeard Pirates’ strength through Devil Fruit hunting?

Similar to Whitebeard’s bounty, the significance of the number 96 likely comes from the alias “Kuro” (meaning “black”). However, there seems to be a hidden foreshadowing in the number 39 as well. This is because 39 could be a reference to Shanks‘s birthday, March 9th.

Setting Blackbeard’s bounty slightly below Shanks‘s, say 3.700 Billion or 3.800 Billion would have sufficed. But the insistence on 3.996 Billion might imply a connection to Shanks. Shanks also has similarities with Blackbeard, such as being rescued by Roger on God Valley Island.

While there have been theories suggesting that Shanks and Blackbeard were originally comrades (or even brothers), the fact that Shanks, who tends to act impulsively, hasn’t sought revenge against Blackbeard is suspicious.

For reference, Blackbeard’s bounty progression has been 0 (before becoming a Seven Warlords of the Sea) → 2.248 Billion (after becoming one of the Four Emperors) → 3.996 Billion (after the Wano Country arc). Considering Blackbeard’s penchant for dreaming big, the number 4,760 in his previous bounty has been interpreted as a “premonition dream.”

Next, let’s examine the meaning behind the phrase “living twice the life of a normal person.”

This phrase was used by Ace to describe Blackbeard during their duel on Banaro Island. At the time, Ace was 20 years old, while Blackbeard was 38. Initially, it might seem like a simple expression of their age difference. However, it actually carries a significant hidden meaning.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

During a conversation between Buggy and Shanks, it is revealed that Blackbeard has never slept a day in his life. Shanks remarks, “I wonder if life is [twice] as enjoyable for him,” upon hearing this. Ace’s earlier statement, “he’s awake even during the night,” suggests that he was alluding to this fact.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

In essence, Ace’s statement “living twice the life of a normal person” represents Blackbeard’s ultimate insomnia. Marco’s remark about Blackbeard’s “abnormal body structure” likely also refers to this insomnia. Could Blackbeard’s insomnia be related to his ability to possess multiple Devil Fruits?

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Furthermore, Blackbeard’s frequent quotes about “dreams” may stem from his innate desire to sleep and dream for real. While recent discussions have focused on Luffy’s dreams, Blackbeard’s insomnia surely holds significant importance as well.

Next, let’s delve into Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit, the Dark-Dark Fruit.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

This Devil Fruit falls under the category of Logia-type Devil Fruits, specifically the darkness Logia. Logia-type Devil Fruits are already known for their formidable power, but according to Blackbeard himself, the Dark-Dark Fruit is considered the “most heinous” ability among Logia-type Devil Fruits in history.

Now, let’s briefly introduce Dark-Dark Fruit’s special moves.

First up is the “Black Hole.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

This technique creates a void of darkness, pulling in surrounding objects into darkness. The compressed objects can then be released through “Liberation.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Even members of the Blackbeard Pirates were seen scrambling to escape when caught in the darkness, indicating that once sucked into the darkness, escaping seems challenging.

Another technique is “Kuro Uzu,” which utilizes the gravitational pull of darkness to drag others in.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Its main feature is that “while in contact, opponents are unable to activate any techniques or abilities,” akin to the “Forced Zetsu” seen in “Hunter x Hunter.”

Currently, Dark-Dark Fruit exhibits only two abilities. However, in the future of “ONE PIECE,” we can expect Blackbeard to unveil even more special moves.

Former Roger Pirates member Silvers Rayleigh once remarked that “you can’t win against Blackbeard head-on.” Considering Kaido’s comment on the strength of Haoshoku Haki using Roger as an example, it’s highly likely that Dark-Dark Fruit can even “nullify Haki.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

In fact, when Blackbeard captured Boa Hancock, who can also use Haoshoku Haki, she couldn’t resist him at all. This cannot be simply explained by the fact that her Love-Love Fruit ability was nullified. In this context, Blackbeard seems to be the only one capable of countering Red-Haired Shanks, who is currently considered the strongest.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Perhaps the power of Dark-Dark Fruit increases during the deepening darkness of the night. Darkness shines the brightest at night, similar to the reverse version of Escanor from “The Seven Deadly Sins.” It’s logical to assume that Dark-Dark Fruit would only grow stronger by absorbing infinite darkness.

By the way, judging from such statements, it’s likely that Rayleigh’s bounty is below that of Blackbeard’s. However, since bounties generally reflect the individual’s peak strength (in Rayleigh’s case, during his time as vice-captain of the Roger Pirates), it wouldn’t be surprising if Rayleigh’s bounty exceeded 4 billion berries.

However, Blackbeard possesses more than just the Dark-Dark Fruit. Another Devil Fruit that Blackbeard owns is the Tremor-Tremor Fruit, which he obtained during the Marineford War. Its original owner was Whitebeard. While it is a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was feared by the Marines as the strongest Devil Fruit capable of destroying the world.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

However, Devil Fruits are supposed to adhere to the principle of “one person, one fruit.” It is said that consuming multiple Devil Fruits would cause the body to explode into tiny pieces. So why can Blackbeard possess multiple Devil Fruits?

In conclusion, the reason why Blackbeard can possess multiple Devil Fruits remains unclear, but it is undoubtedly related to Blackbeard’s unique physiology. Blackbeard’s “ultimate insomnia constitution” is likely due to his abnormal bodily structure.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

For instance, according to CP9’s Jabra, Devil Fruit users are said to harbor “devils” within their bodies. Eating two or more Devil Fruits causes these devils to fight inside the body, leading to an explosion. This phenomenon is sometimes described as a curse, suggesting that Devil Fruits contain the “souls of demons.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Therefore, when one consumes a Devil Fruit, its soul may inhabit human organs such as the “heart” or “brain.” It’s speculated that Blackbeard can possess multiple Devil Fruits due to his structural makeup of having “multiple organs.” However, if he were to have multiple brains, Blackbeard’s personality might become that of a person with multiple personalities.

Thus, the hypothesis that Blackbeard’s body has a “multiple hearts” structure seems most plausible by process of elimination. In fact, during the Marineford War in ONE PIECE Chapter 563, there is a significant title: “One Heart, One Man,” suggesting a deeper meaning. Perhaps he can’t sleep because his body is constantly in motion?

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

On the other hand, the hypothesis that Blackbeard’s unique constitution stems from the side effects of Devil Fruits is also plausible.

Therefore, a hypothesis that has been circulating in the ONE PIECE community for years suggests that Blackbeard might be a Mythical Zoan type user of the “Dog-Dog Fruit (Model: Cerberus).”

Cerberus refers to the “three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the underworld, ruled by Hades, in Greek mythology.” Only two heads are always awake while the other sleeps. The three heads rotate periodically, allowing Cerberus to maintain a state of perpetual wakefulness.

This aligns perfectly with Blackbeard’s condition of never sleeping. Considering that Uta, the heroine of “ONE PIECE FILM RED,” ate a Devil Fruit at the age of one or two, it’s not implausible that Blackbeard’s father, Rocks, fed him a Devil Fruit at birth.

In fact, during his battle with Ace, Blackbeard once said, “This power chose me.” When Luffy’s Devil Fruit was revealed to be the Human-Human Fruit (Model: Nika), the Five Elders mentioned that Zoan-type Devil Fruits house a will.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Could it be that the “Cerberus Devil Fruit chose Blackbeard”? There is also a story that Cerberus, startled by the light of the sun, inadvertently barked and from the saliva that scattered, deadly wolfsbane sprouted. Could this hint at a confrontation with Luffy, who possesses the power of Nika?

In fact, there were numerous references to the number “3” associated with Blackbeard.

The prime example is the “three-headed skull mark” depicted on the flag of the Blackbeard Pirates.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Pirate flag designs often symbolize the character of the captain. In the case of Red-Haired Shanks, who has a deep connection with Blackbeard, the Red-Haired Pirates’ flag features three scars over one eye. Considering Blackbeard’s physical characteristics, could this be a representation of Cerberus?

Another significant detail is Blackbeard’s carrying of “three guns.”

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

But the most noteworthy point is Blackbeard’s “teeth alignment.” While Blackbeard is often depicted with crooked teeth, there is a scene during the attack on Impel Down where “Blackbeard’s teeth were perfectly aligned.” The prevailing hypothesis is that this suggests he acquired the ability to possess “three faces” by consuming the Cerberus Devil Fruit.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

There are other similarities between Cerberus and Blackbeard.

For instance, in Greek mythology, Cerberus was said to have a fondness for “sweets,” while Blackbeard similarly had a penchant for cherry pies. Referencing the earlier dining scene with Luffy.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

On the other hand, Cerberus’s weakness in Greek mythology was “beautiful music.” When the lyre of the legendary musician Orpheus reached the ears of Cerberus during a visit to the underworld, all three heads of Cerberus fell into a deep slumber. Speaking of the Straw Hat Pirates’ musician, there’s Brook. He’s a character I personally still can’t quite get used to, but would Blackbeard be weakened by Brook’s music?

Additionally, in Greek mythology, Cerberus’s three heads symbolize “preservation,” “regeneration,” and “spiritualization,” respectively. Cerberus’s heads signify the sequence souls follow after death, and if we follow the order in which Blackbeard obtained his Devil Fruits, Preservation → Cerberus, Regeneration → Dark-Dark, Spiritualization → Tremor-Tremor can be established.

Therefore, it would be natural to consider Blackbeard as possessing all three types of Devil Fruits: “Logia-type (Dark-Dark Fruit),” “Paramecia-type (Tremor-Tremor Fruit),” and “Zoan-type (?).” Hence, could the Cerberus Devil Fruit grant the ability to “preserve the souls of devils”?

Next, let’s consider the other hypothesis. Assuming that Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit is based on Zoan-type animals, there are apparently candidates other than the Dog-Dog Fruit (Cerberus).

One such candidate is the Devil Fruit of the “octopus.” Octopuses belong to the cephalopod family, just like squids, so it would likely be straightforwardly named the Octopus-Octopus Fruit. If categorized as a Mythical Zoan similar to Cerberus, the famous monstrous octopus known as the “Kraken” would be the most plausible model.

In other words, could Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit be the Mythical Zoan Octopus-Octopus Fruit (Model: Kraken)?

In fact, octopuses have “three hearts.”

There was an enemy who possessed abilities similar to Cerberus: Kurozumi Orochi. He was a Zoan-type user known as “Yamata no Orochi,” possessing eight heads. Despite demonstrating high regeneration capabilities, with the ability to resurrect even after having his heads severed multiple times, Kurozumi Orochi couldn’t hold multiple Devil Fruits.

From this, it seems that the number of heads is merely related to the “abundance of life” and doesn’t necessarily explain the ability to possess multiple Devil Fruits. In this regard, the possibility of an octopus with three hearts seems higher than the Cerberus hypothesis.

Indeed, when Marco explained that “Blackbeard’s body structure is abnormal,” a mob character wearing an octopus mask casually appeared next to him, which adds a layer of intriguing depth.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Personally, considering the side effect of Devil Fruits, which supposedly makes one unable to swim, aquatic animals were initially ruled out as candidates. However, the concern against the Octopus-Octopus Fruit hypothesis, due to the Devil Fruit of the former Four Emperors Kaido being a Fish-Fish Fruit, has now been completely eliminated.

So, in fact, could the “darkness” that Blackbeard was generating not be natural Logia-type darkness, but rather a “special ink” released by the octopus Zoan-type?

Additionally, the Kraken is a sea monster from Norwegian folklore, popularized by the missionary Hans Egede in his writings. It’s in this literature that an important fact about the Kraken’s identity is described.

It’s mentioned that the Kraken had “many heads” and “many tentacles.” While this doesn’t explain his insomnia, as mentioned earlier, Blackbeard used to fight with claws. His famous act of giving three scars to Red-Haired Shanks‘ left eye with his claw is well-known.

Upon further consideration, octopuses are common monsters in pirate literature. For example, in “Peter Pan,” a monster octopus sinks Captain Hook’s pirate ship, the Jolly Roger. And when we talk about Roger in “ONE PIECE,” it’s, of course, the Gol D. Roger, the King of Pirates.

Could it be that the Devil Fruit called Octopus-Octopus Fruit was hinting at Blackbeard being the next King of Pirates?

On the other hand, there’s speculation circulating online about Blackbeard and his father Rocks being the same person. The hypothesis suggests that Blackbeard received a heart transplant from his father Rocks, which allows him to use another Devil Fruit. Additionally, the statement “living twice the life of a person” could imply that he carries the life of Rocks separately.

However, Rocks died “38 years ago,” while Blackbeard was born “40 years ago.” There’s an unexplained gap of 2 years. Considering Blackbeard has never slept since birth, he should have been asleep for the 2 years until Rocks’ heart was transplanted.

Moreover, it’s well-known that Rocks didn’t aim to be the “King of Pirates.” His ambition was solely to become the “<Ruler of the World>.” It seems he was planning to overthrow Imu. This contrasts sharply with Blackbeard’s pursuit of Laugh Tale to become the “King of Pirates.” Since their goals don’t align, the hypothesis of them being the same person doesn’t hold up.

By the way, Blackbeard’s mother’s identity has already been revealed in the “ONE PIECE Magazine.” Since Blackbeard doesn’t use his father’s surname (Rocks), it’s likely that Marshall is using his mother’s surname. It’s also rumored that Blackbeard has a “sister.” Will she appear in the main storyline of ONE PIECE?

Let’s consider other potential Devil Fruits for Blackbeard.

It’s speculated that Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit is Asmodeus. More accurately, it would be expressed as “Human-Human Fruit Model Asmodeus.” Asmodeus is a demon god from Judaism and Christianity. In Christianity, he governs lust and was originally an angel.

Asmodeus/Wikipedia

Asmodeus’s main feature is having three heads, specifically those of a human, a bull, and a ram. Given that Blackbeard’s pirate flag depicts three skeletons, Asmodeus fits the bill.

Recently in ONE PIECE, the Sun God Nika has appeared. The Devil Fruit with Nika‘s abilities was the “Human-Human Fruit Model Nika.” Although Luffy currently owns it, it was once owned by Joy Boy, the god’s fruit. Since Blackbeard is expected to fight Luffy in the future, wouldn’t it be natural to think that Blackbeard also possesses a “Human-Human Fruit” modeled after a god?

Another significant feature of Asmodeus is that he has snakes for tails. Blackbeard desired the Mero Mero no Mi, but Boa Hancock, the captain of the Kuja Pirates, also known as the “Snake Princess,” possessed it. Why did Blackbeard want the Love-Love Fruit? Perhaps because his true power is Asmodeus?

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

Considering the aspect of “a humanoid god with three faces,” Asura seems like another candidate for Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit.

Asura/Wikipedia

Asura, as a guardian deity in Buddhism, was a demon who presided over battles. Although frequently depicted in anime and manga, Asura is said to be based on the ancient Indian mythological figure Asura, who was portrayed as an adversary to the gods (Deva).

If we assume Blackbeard’s Devil Fruit to be the Asura, an adversary to the gods, then it becomes inevitable for him to fight Luffy, who possesses the powers of the god Nika. It’s highly probable that a battle between the “real world god vs ONE PIECE god” will be depicted in the climax of ONE PIECE, more so than the previously mentioned Cerberus hypothesis.

Including Imu, who possesses mysterious destructive abilities, it would be more accurate to depict a three-way battle among Asura, Nika, and Buddha.

Additionally, Asura is said to hold the “sun wheel” in the left hand and the “moon wheel” in the right hand. The sun wheel represents the sun, and the moon wheel represents the moon. The Family of D aims for the “dawn where the sun rises.” Indeed, in Hinduism, Asura is worshipped as the “sun god.”

On the other hand, Luffy’s Devil Fruit is the Sun God Nika. Perhaps Blackbeard’s initial reason for targeting Drum Island was also because he coveted the powers of the Sun God Nika. Blackbeard already knew about the existence of the Lunarians, and the lyrics of the song mentioned “Drum” in Binks’ Sake. It all connects.

ONE PIECE Eiichiro Oda / VIZ Media LLC

On the other hand, whether Blackbeard will become the final boss of ONE PIECE is debatable. While he possesses certain likable qualities, the presence of Imu cannot be ignored. Imu even targets Blackbeard himself, so it’s uncertain whether Blackbeard will reign as the final boss without considering Imu.

Predicting the final chapter of ONE PIECE, the scenario where Luffy, having reclaimed the title of King of Pirates from Blackbeard, confronts Imu seems the most natural. In fact, foreshadowing of Blackbeard’s “death flag” has been hidden in the story since the early stages.

That is the cover of Volume 25 of ONE PIECE.

This cover is famous as a foreshadowing of ONE PIECE, representing the “future members of the Four Emperors.” Indeed, Blackbeard has risen to become one of the Four Emperors, and Luffy is also counted among the Five Emperors. However, it seems that Blackbeard’s death flag was also hidden in this cover.

What you should pay attention to is the “goat” in the middle. Why is a goat depicted here out of the blue? Goats have rarely appeared in ONE PIECE before. In fact, the goat is related to Blackbeard’s death flag.

This is because “goat” in English is “Goat.” On the other hand, the term “Scapegoat,” often used in manga and dramas, translates to “身代わり” or “生贄” in Japanese. In reality, goats are often used as sacrifices in religious rituals, and the word “Scapegoat” derives from goats being used in such a manner.

Therefore, it is suggested that this foreshadows the sacrifice of one of these four individuals.

Another aspect to pay attention to is the fact that the goat in the image is a “white goat” and is somehow munching on a letter.

This brings to mind the famous children’s song “Yagi-san Yuubin” (Goat Mail). In the lyrics, aside from the white goat, there is also a “black goat.” Among the four pirates depicted here, Blackbeard is the only one associated with the color black. Blackbeard, symbolized by the goat, becomes quite literally a scapegoat (sacrifice).

Additionally, the word “letter” brings to mind the existence of “Joy Boy.” At present, it seems to symbolize the awakening state of Nika‘s power, similar to Luffy’s Gear 5. Joy Boy was a figure who, during the Void Century, left an apology letter to the mermaid princess on a Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island. As evident from the world dominated by the Celestial Dragons, Joy Boy represents the defeated side of that era. The act of sending a letter is akin to a “defeat flag” itself. Could it be that ultimately, Blackbeard’s ambition to become the King of Pirates will fail, leading to his demise?

As Gol D. Roger put it, timing is key to obtaining “ONE PIECE.” Even if Blackbeard were to reach Laugh Tale, he would ultimately become a pawn for Luffy. Indeed, the ability of Cerberus might also imply being a pawn.

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