Movies News Talk
Fans have always been enthralled with the mysterious Devil Fruits in One Piece because they can give those who eat them superhuman ability. Although Vegapunk presented a convincing hypothesis in One Piece Chapter 1069—that they manifest from a person's desires as a possible evolutionary leap—this raises many more questions. Further investigation of Devil Fruit legend points to a more basic source: a magical tree.
Early One Piece legend inspired the concept of a Devil Fruit Tree—a single source for all these supernatural fruits. Eiichiro Oda mentioned a such a tree in the prequel manga Romance Dawn. The Red Hair Pirates said the Gomu Gomu no Mi started from the "Illusion Tree," after Monkey D. Luffy ate it.
Although this idea wasn't specifically carried over into the main manga, given the One Piece world's other magical trees, it gains weight. The Sunlight Tree Eve, essential for Fishman Island's sunlight, and the Treasure Tree Adam, the strongest wood source worldwide, help to explain the existence of a tree with such remarkable qualities.
The Great Kingdom of the D., distinguished for their sophisticated civilization, could have been connected to the development of the Devil Fruit Tree. Their great knowledge and possible mastery of ancient technologies could have let them grow a tree reflecting the aspirations and imaginations of their people. Hence, the actual source of Devil Fruits would be this tree.
Fan hypotheses hold that the Devil Fruit Tree may be the Sunlight Tree Eve above Fishman Island, Marijoa. This idea fits the World Government's rigorous control over Marijoa, maybe because of their awareness of the Devil Fruits living there. < Devil Fruits' silence about Marijoa could be explained by the World Government's denial of knowledge on their actual source.
One Piece frequently finds Oda's inspiration from many religions reflected in itself. One striking parallel is found in the biblical account of Adam and Eve, in which God placed the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. Connected to the Devil Fruit Tree, which stands for the power and repercussions of eating its fruits, the Tree of Knowledge, standing for forbidden knowledge and the cause of humanity's fall, could be related to.
Further enhancing this link is the destruction of the Tree of Knowledge in Ohara. The acts of the World Government imply that they appreciated the actual importance of this tree and its link to Devil Fruits. Should the Tree of Knowledge lack the Devil Fruits, the Sunlight Tree Eve—symbolizing the sun's life-giving force—becomes a logical contender.
The Devil Fruit Tree idea presents a thorough justification for the existence and character of these potent fruits. Though still only a fan theory, it offers an intriguing framework for deciphering the secrets about Devil Fruits. The real source of Devil Fruits stays one of the most fascinating riddles just waiting to be revealed as One Piece travels on its epic trip.