Saturn’s Pattern Reveals the Remaining 4 Five Elders’ Abilities
As explained in the Saturn theory article, every spider-related character that appeared in the past contained elements of Saint Saturn.
- Tararan → spider-shaped monster
- Vice Admiral Onigumo → spider Devil Fruit
- Squard → spider was the one who turned against the king (Whitebeard)
- Doflamingo → enemy who controls spider webs = Celestial Dragon
- Black Maria → spider Devil Fruit Mythical Beast type
- The Five Elders’ names contain planets whose names mean days of the week
- Saint Saturn → top of the Celestial Dragons, spider Devil Fruit, Mythical Beast “Gyuki (a.k.a. Earth Spider)”
Earth Spider refers to those who defied the king in Japanese history
I believe this is the result of Oda carefully crafting spider-type enemies so that younger readers can follow along.
But conversely, this suggests that the remaining 4 have already appeared as hints in the past.
So let’s try to predict the remaining 4 abilities with proper supporting evidence.
3 Conditions for Prediction
- A creature that can be considered a Mythical Beast or Ancient Type within the range not contradicting the silhouettes in the image above
- A creature with a legend connected to the planet contained in the respective Elder’s name
(Saturn → Saturn → Earth Spider) - A character of similar form must have been drawn in the past
I’ll present creatures that satisfy the above conditions and that I feel “this is it.”
⚠️ Note: I’m assuming the monster silhouettes above correspond to the following order.
Topman Warcury Is Behemoth
The silhouette at the far right clearly has hippo ears. The part that looks like an elephant’s trunk is probably a large beard in human form.
The hippopotamus is said to be the most dangerous mammal on Earth, responsible for over 500 deaths per year.
Hippo in kanji is 河馬 (“river horse”) — Warcury is Mercury, so water attribute / the “river” character clears the water attribute condition.
A plain hippo ability would already be powerful and ferocious, but a Mythical Beast Behemoth would be even stronger.
Behemoth is a beast described in the Old Testament’s Book of Job, with the elephant or hippo said to be its model.
Also, in recent depictions Behemoth is drawn as a trunkless mammoth, so the silhouette’s protrusion might be tusks rather than a beard.
Originally, Behemoth was a holy beast in the Bible said to become food for humans, but by the Middle Ages a view that it was a demon akin to Satan became widespread.
This also connects to Saint Saturn, who emerged from a magic circle just like Satan.
Has Appeared as an Enemy Multiple Times in the Past
The image of the Straw Hats launching an all-out attack on a hippo.
Hippo in English is “hippopotamus” — the highest authority in Christianity, the Roman Pope, is called “pope” in English. The names sound similar.
This cover story was drawn around the time of the Aqua Laguna arc, and afterward the Straw Hats who arrived at Enies Lobby burned the cross-marked flag, the symbol of the World Government.
In other words, the World Government with the cross flag is modeled on Christianity.
A hippo wearing a crown with a cross = top of Christianity
= top of the World Government
= one of the Five Elders.
This seems like a reasonable conclusion.
The hippo has continued to be depicted as an adversary since then.
First, Dobon, who unreasonably picked a fight with Luffy in the prisoner mines ↓
A hippo brushing teeth alongside Blackbeard, Luffy’s rival — wearing noble clothing for some reason — noble = unpleasant guy ↓
With all this evidence gathered.
Therefore, Topman Warcury’s ability is…
The Ushi Ushi no Mi, Mythical Beast Model: Behemoth — or the Kaba Kaba no Mi, Mythical Beast Model: Behemoth.
Marcus Mars Is Yatagarasu
When it comes to a bird-form Mythical Beast type that serves as a confidant of the supreme authority, it’s the Yatagarasu.
A three-legged crow, also called Jin’u or Sansokuu, all sharing the legend of being “a bird that dwells in the sun.”
In One Piece, the sun represents Ace’s “Flame Emperor” — in other words, “fire.”
Marcus Mars is the fire planet (Mars/火星), so fire attribute — the Yatagarasu dwelling in the sun clears the fire attribute condition.
In Japanese mythology, the Yatagarasu guided the first Emperor Jimmu and led him to victory.
However, I believe the Imperial family is the model for the Celestial Dragons.
That means they are false gods — descendants of plunderers.
The evidence for this is the Celestial Dragon clothing, particularly around the collar: it’s a kimono — traditional Japanese clothing.
In other words, Oda is taking shots not only at the Roman Catholic Pope but also at Japan’s Imperial family.
The reason is likely that myths and histories around the world, including Japan, have been recorded for the convenience of the victors and seem dishonest.
Therefore, he’s drawing a manga that systematically denies rulers who claim “we’re descendants of the gods, so we’re the legitimate rulers.”
And so, the Yatagarasu — said to be a messenger of the first Emperor Jimmu — fits perfectly as a Five Elder’s ability.
Hasn’t Appeared in the Past, But…
I was absolutely convinced Karasu was a crow Zoan user, but his ability turned out to be the Soot-Soot Fruit (Karasu).
I think this was intentional — Oda introduced a character with a misleadingly named ability to make readers imagine there’s another crow Zoan user out there.
So Marcus Mars’s ability is…
The Tori Tori no Mi, Mythical Beast Model: Yatagarasu (or Jin’u, or Sansokuu).
Shepherd Ten Peter Is Shoujou
For something humanoid, wood attribute, that appeared in the past and qualifies as a Mythical Beast candidate, the only thing I could think of was the Shoujou.
I’m not very confident here, so take this one loosely.
The past Shoujou that appeared is this one ↓
Since the protagonist is “Monkey” (D. Luffy), the Saru Saru no Mi (Monkey Monkey Fruit) would be hard to use for other characters.
So maybe it was held in reserve for a final boss-type character.
Shepherd Ten Peter = Jupiter = wood attribute / Shoujou = forest people = wood attribute condition cleared.
Also, since it appeared as a god in Princess Mononoke, the Ghibli homage element is another piece of evidence.
Therefore, Shepherd Ten Peter’s ability is…
The Saru Saru no Mi, Mythical Beast Model: Shoujou.
Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro Is Itzamna
Seeing it cling to the ceiling, it looks like a gecko, newt, or lizard type.
Among past appearances with mythical elements, there’s the salamander, but that’s completely fire attribute.
Looking for something better, I found Itzamna, the supreme god of Maya mythology.
Depicted as a serpent, crocodile, or lizard with an old man’s face, and it’s the etymological origin of “iguana.”
And speaking of serpents and Maya civilization — that’s Shandia.
Itzamna is said to have 4 names and roles:
- Supreme God: “Itzamna Kabul”
- Sun God: “Itzamna Kinich Ahau”
- Fertility God: “Itzamna Kawil”
- Rain God: “Itzamna Tol”
These correspond to the 4 types of gods that appeared during the sacrificial rituals.
Furthermore, Itzamna also had an aspect as the symbol of the dawn sun and the morning star (Venus).
The morning star is the planet Venus.
This connects to Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro’s planet — Venus.
Therefore, Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro’s ability is…
The Hebi Hebi no Mi, Mythical Beast Model: Itzamna.
And that’s a wrap for today. At least one of these should be correct.