第180回：♫We’re All～ Connected, Egghead Telepho～ne♫

Vegapunk’s dream is to bring the world an infinite energy source and, in doing so, put an end to one of the world’s greatest and most deep-seated origins of conflict, wars over energy resources. A noble and bold endeavor, no doubt, even Luffy agrees! But where could he find such a source of energy? The answer might be right in front of him, Luffy.

Our real earth’s greatest source of energy is our sun, and it just so happens, that Luffy’s Devil Fruit abilities have given him fiery abilities which ancient people likened to that of a sun deity. Even before Gear 5th, he was able to weaponize flames via his ‘Red’ series of attacks.

Theoretically, if Luffy could infinitely engage his Gear 5th form (which right now he obviously cannot do without rapidly depleting his own energy) Luffy himself could serve as a powerful energy source conduit. Unfortunately, this just seems like they’d be replacing one problem with another. Even if Luffy were able to infinitely engage Gear 5th, his *own* energy would need constant refilling which, for Luffy, would mean food, an *endless* supply of food. If that’s the case, then they’re right back to square one competing for resources to feed Luffy. Not to mention the grim possibility that once Luffy passed on, the world would need another individual equivalent to Luffy’s strengths who could take on the task. So, ultimately, although utilizing Luffy as the solution seems like a quick-fix, it doesn’t seem like an even remotely sustainable solution.

It seems unlikely there’s a solitary resource that could solve the problem and achieve Vegapunk’s dream, which is why I suggest that, whatever the answer is, it would require cooperation without the enticement of competition. There must be a sustainable and cooperative large-scale effort to maintain this source of energy while also removing control of it as a temptation. Luffy himself might not be the answer, but I do think that he’ll unknowingly help Vegapunk find exactly the answer he’s looking for.

Although…now that I think about it…didn’t Enel power the Spaceys on the Moon?

Logia… Energy… Robot… Hmmm…

And so we’ve come to learn the secret of the Devil Fruits’ curse; Devil Fruits are an unnatural ‘evolution’ of the human body and this change is literally rejected by that from which life emerged, the sea. While ONE PIECE often rejects inexplicable supernatural themes, next to the mystery of Haki, this certainly adds yet another supernatural hue to the threadwork holding Oda’s universe together.

That a force like nature can selectively reject synthetic evolution, seems to mesh well with how Observation Haki has previously intimated that at least humanoid life in their world is linked in ways that aren’t easily seen. Zoro could hear the breath of steel in Alabasta which was our first sign that even inanimate objects are a part of some greater united force (for lack of a more creative term). And now we have confirmation that all things on this world are, on some level, in some way, linked.

Given Vegapunk’s desire to create a ‘sea of knowledge’, and the remarkable powers of Observation Haki seen in the likes of Momonosuke, I think that ONE PIECE may have just established its own ‘King Kai’ method of spreading information far and fast! It could unite the world unlike ever before and help them work towards a common goal!