Summary
Due to the sheer length and depth of theOne Piecestory, there has been no shortage of incredible and iconic rivalries that have been shown in this series. This character dynamic exists for many of the characters, with a few characters having even more than just one rival, of which there is no better example than Luffy himself. However, none come close to being as good of a parallel to him as Blackbeard.
These two haven’t interacted much within the story, butthe dynamic they share is one of a kind. It is clear that both of their fates are intertwined, and the most damning evidence of this relates to how each of them has inherited the wills of some ofOne Piece’smost important figures. In this article, let’s go over how their rivalry has been recurring over the ages and what it could mean for the future.
The Two Versions Of Nika Could Be The First Evidence Of This
Conflicting Reports of the Sun God
The Elbaf arc is already among the best thatOne Piecehas to offer for several reasons, chief of which are the massive lore reveals within it. Here, perhaps the biggest revelation was the fact that there are conflicting reports onthe identity of Sun God Nika, whom some believe to be a great liberator, whereas others think of him as a great destroyer. What’s clear is that they both signify the coming of a new age by ending the previous one.
Is he the hero who appeared to save the world from disaster? The destroyer who lays waste to all? He appears when the world is about to undergo a great transformation!
While it’s too soon to say anything concrete about this, many fans have taken this reveal to be evidence of an opposite to the original Sun God in the First World who served as his main rival/foe. Where one represented light and freedom, the other represented darkness and destruction, so it’s very plausible for these to be two different characters that were rivals thousands of years ago.
One Piece, Chapter 1115, “Pieces of a Continent”
Imu’s First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 906, “The Holy Land Marijoa”
Similar to how the events of the First World happened, the theory states that the roles of a liberator and their opposite were repeated when the Second World came about, represented by Joyboy and Imu respectively. Of course, Joyboy is thefirst known wielder of the Nika fruit, with which he traveled around the world to bring freedom to the oppressed peoples. He was opposed by Imu, who managed to defeat him and plunge the world into chaos that persisted for the next 800 years.
Apparently, slaves in ancient times believed in a legendary warrior that would come and save them!
Of course, the dynamic is a little different this time around, since there is only one version of the Nika fruit present, but the roles are the same from a symbolic perspective. Imu managed to defeat Joyboy but the latter had set an amazing plan into motion upon his defeat which would only bear fruit centuries later. Because of this, Imu stays the greatest villain inOne Piecewho Luffy must defeat at the end.
A Battle Of Wills
Roger’s First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 1, “Romance Dawn - The Dawn of Adventure”
Rocks' First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 957, “Ultimate”
Just like the previous instances, the battle of the most important figures of their age, representing light and darkness, was last seen 38 years before the current story whenRoger and Rocks battled it out on God Valley. These two pirates were the most powerful and important pirates of their era but each represented opposing wills, with Roger wanting freedom and to find the truth of the Void Century whereas Rocks was obsessed with becoming the King of the World.
What do you say to turning the world upside down with me?
Unlike the ones before them, the rivalry between Roger and Rocks is the closest to what we currently know about Luffy and Blackbeard’s own, with many notable connections and parallels between them. While the exact details remain blurry, it can be seen that Luffy has inherited the will of Roger while Blackbeard has inherited the will of Rocks, which has set these two characters on a collision course since the start of their journeys.
The Greatest Rivalry In The Series
Luffy’s First Appearance
Blackbeard’s First Appearance
One Piece, Chapter 223, “I Promise Never to Fight in This Town”
Ultimately, the journeys of Luffy and Blackbeard will bring them to face off against one another, most likely asthe final fight of the entire series. Not only this, but both of these characters are the symbolic manifestations of the wills and roles of all the previously mentioned characters, with Luffy representing all the good characters aligned to the light while Blackbeard represents the evil ones aligned to the darkness. This is a rivalry that Oda has deliberately set up as the most profound inOne Piece.
People’s dreams… have no end!
Of course, there are notable differences between these two and those whose wills they inherit, but the main factors of their character arcs are the same throughout as the most important figures of every age being pitted against one another to see which ideology is superior. At the climax ofOne Piece, the series' most poignant battle, Luffy vs. Blackbeard, will take place.
