Blackbeard’s memorable introduction in One Piece was accompanied by a legendary speech that none of us can forget, especially when Luffy and Zoro noticed something was off about the villain. After Chapter 1154 revealed that Rocks D. Xebec was his father, many theorize that his soul rests in Blackbeard and that he was the one speaking in that iconic scene.
Before their connection was confirmed, a popular theory was that Blackbeard had multiple souls within him, as he’s able to use two Devil Fruits (so far). Having gotten to know Rocks D. Xebec more, the villain’s speech sounds a lot more like something his father would say. Did One Piece hide the legendary pirate from us in plain sight?
These Hints in One Piece Tell Us Exactly How Blackbeard Has Xebec’s Soul
The biggest clue that Rocks’ soul is in Blackbeard is that the villain can carry two Devil Fruits at the same time, and is clearly on the hunt for a third one. No normal human, not even a Buccaneer, can use more than one, so the theory of him carrying more than his own soul became popular.
One Piece has already debunked that his original Devil Fruit granted him the powers of Cerberus, a three-headed hound from Greek mythology. It would’ve explained why he had multiple souls, but it was confirmed to be a Mythical-Zoan Fruit that has been animated into Figarland Shamrock’s sword. However, this is another explanation that has been hinted at in a recent chapter.
In Chapter 1160, it was revealed that Teach and Rocks aren’t the only members of the Davy clan. There were several of them residing in God Valley, and they were presented as “Super Rare Rabbits” for the Native Valley Competition. The Celestial Dragons spewed insults at them, but one dialogue in particular stood out.
A Celestial Dragon present at the hunt looked at the Davy clan and assumed they were Buccaneers, the nearly extinct race to which Bartholomew Kuma belongs. While this isn’t confirmation, Teach’s body is quite similar to Kuma’s, so for years, fans had theorized the same.
Moreover, Vegapunk, in Chapter 1104, has implied that something other than the Buccaneers’ physique makes them special. Kuma was able to override the total shutdown activated by Saturn and protect Bonney. The scientist is about to reveal something about their past, but the panel cuts off. Could this mysterious power be connected to how Rocks’ soul lives on in Blackbeard?
Xebec’s Soul Explains Blackbeard’s Constant Personality Change in One Piece
Before Blackbeard made his full appearance, there were several mentions of the type of man he is. He and his newly formed crew ransacked Drum Island, causing Wapol to flee and leave the country defenseless. Ace had told Luffy that he was in search of the traitor who killed Thatch, a fellow Whitebeard Pirate, who turned out to be Blackbeard.
Overall, it’s established that he’s a terrible person, driven by greed and thirst for power. However, Blackbeard’s introduction said otherwise. It was a goofy one, bickering with Luffy over nothing. Moreover, his speech was inspiring and didn’t exactly match the vibe of a villain. His farewell to Luffy was also genuine.
Now that we know the real Rocks, the context of that scene changes. It could be a case of him taking over Blackbeard’s personality. We’ve rarely seen that side of him. His laugh also subtly changed, from his usual “Zehahaha” to a different one, though it keeps his tone and might not be Rocks’ “Vohahaha.”
His personality constantly flip-flops, which only strengthens the theory that another soul resides in him. Seeing how Rocks behaves with Harald and his loved ones, the “good” side of Blackbeard has to be his father.
What do you think of this theory? Is it far-fetched, or is Eiichiro Oda a genius of foreshadowing? Let us know in the comments below!
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