Manga
One Piece finally unveils the mystery of the devil fruits, their powers, and the curse of the sea
In One Piece manga’s chapter 1069, Vegapunk explains where the devil fruits (Akuma no Mi) come from and why their bearers cannot swim in the sea.
Devil fruits, also called Akuma no Mi, are why certain One Piece characters have special powers or abilities. Luffy is a rubber man is because as a child he ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi (Gum-Gum Fruit). However, all users of such fruits share the same weak point: seawater. They cannot swim and lose all their strength when they come into contact with the ocean. This is one of the great ironies of the series. The aspiring Pirate King cannot touch the water. One of the great ironies... and one of the great mysteries: where do these fruits come from and their relationship with the sea? Well, these two questions have been answered in episode 1069 of One Piece.
In 2007, more than 15 years ago (15!), Eiichiro Oda was asked the following question about One Piece’s Devil Fruits. “At one point in the manga, Usopp says that no two people in the world have the same power. But that doesn’t make sense. If the Gomu Gomu no Mi and its powers were in the Devil Fruit book before Luffy ate it, that means he must have eaten at least the second copy of that fruit. Someone had to have it before in order for its properties to be recorded.”
A most insightful question, as the mangaka admitted. "A very intelligent observation. But it doesn't mean there's anything wrong. But let me clarify: no one has the same power AT THE SAME TIME. In any case, for more details, you’ll have to wait for a certain professor to make his appearance in the story and explain what the devil fruits REALLY are." Although these past few years we had seen several fruits reappear once their previous bearer died, we didn't have many more answers. Or so it was until Vegapunk appeared....
The well-known navy scientist is the mysterious professor that Oda already had in mind 15 years ago. It is Vegapunk who answers the question in chapter 1069, called "All things are brought into this world with hope". The title says it all. According to Vegapunk, "Every Devil Fruit is a possibility for human evolution that someone desired. If only I could be like this… if only I could be like that! All of those powers represent the many branches of the future of humanity." Some of people's wishes and dreams came true and took shape through akuma no mi.
Vegapunk also confirms that Luffy's fruit is not the Gomu Gomu no Mi. As already revealed in the Wano arc, his fruit is actually the Hito Hito (Persona Persona), and the desire behind it is to make people happy, to bring smiles and joy to everyone, and to free anyone who is subdued. "But as long as people wish for him, his existence will never truly disappear."
Now, what’s with the sea’s vengeance? According to Vegapunk, these desires are unnatural and, angered by their mere existence, “But that unnatural status is loathed by the sea, the mother of nature. A fitting punishment for its sin!”. The scientist concludes the explanation with the cry “This is only my theory!” and clears up a question that Goda already had in his head more than 15 years ago. The author has stepped on the accelerator and the mysteries of One Piece have begun to fall one after another. Is he taking seriously his idea of finishing the series in three years?