Summary

  • Devil Fruits are explained by Vegapunk as manifestations of human desires, shaping future evolution with unique powers.
  • A theory suggests a mystical Devil Fruit Tree origin, linked to the Great Kingdom, possibly connected to the Sunlight Tree Eve.
  • Speculation on the Devil Fruit Tree location above Fishman Island is inspired by the biblical story of the Forbidden Fruit & Tree of Knowledge.

One of the biggest mysteries in One Piece that continues to draw fans in and theorize is the origin of the Devil Fruits. Devil Fruits are supernatural fruits that grant special powers to anyone who eats them, and these powers can range from simple abilities to very destructive ones. The only drawback to a Devil Fruit is that they lose the ability to swim in seawater and are forever cursed by the sea. The exact origin of the fruits continues to be a mystery, but there are several theories about where they originate from.

In One Piece Chapter 1069, Vegapunk reveals that Devil Fruits are created by a person's desires. In his theory, he believed that the fruits manifest the next possible step in human evolution. This represents a potential future for humanity, and the powers of these fruits are derived from people's wishes. However, since these fruits are made this way and don't follow natural evolution, this could explain why Mother Nature rejects them. Mother Nature uses the sea to curse those who deviate from Nature so fruit s cannot swim.

Vegapunk holding two blue orbs in the One Piece anime.

This is only a theory presented by Vegapunk, who still did not find an answer to the mystery. Still, in 25 years, it is the closest that the One Piece fandom has come to get an official explanation of where Devil Fruits originated. This is a grand theory to go on with, but it still leaves many questions unanswered. There must be a more significant explanation of how Devil Frutis came into existence, and this next theory may be the perfect reason to explain it.

The Devil Fruit Tree Theory

This Tree Could Be the True Origin of Devil Fruits

Fruits are known to be grown from trees, and it's plausible that this is the case for Devil Fruits. The idea that there is a Devil Fruit Tree from where all these fruits originated makes a lot of sense since Eichiro Oda mentioned a tree like this in the early days of One Piece. Romance Dawn was the first iteration of what would eventually become One Piece, and Oda had mentioned the existence of a Devil Fruit Tree in that manga. After Luffy had eaten the Gomu Gomu no Mi, the Red Hair Pirates exclaimed that the fruit had come from the Illusion Tree.

This idea was never mentioned in the actual One Piece manga, but Oda could still include it later in the story.

The existence of this tree is heavily ed by the fact that there are already two mystical trees that fans know about in the One Piece world. The first is the Sunlight Tree Eve, which helps provide Fishman Island with sunlight by absorbing sunlight on the surface and sending it down to the island through its roots. The other one is known as the Treasure Tree Adam, which is very special because it contains the world's strongest wood. The Pirate King's ship, the Oro Jackson, and the Straw Hat Pirate's ship, the Thousand Sunny, are made from wood from this tree.

It's possible that the Great Kingdom of the D. clan birthed a particular tree that contained their imaginations and desires.

Oda introduced these particular trees into his story for a specific purpose, and the idea of another mystical tree's existence is starting to make more sense. What Vegapunk said about a person's desires becoming a fruit's power may be misunderstood. Instead, a person's wishes are put into the creation of these mystical trees, which are the true mystery of the world. It's possible that the Great Kingdom of the D. clan birthed a particular tree that contained their imaginations and desires. They were incredibly advanced as a civilization and may have devised a method to harvest Devil Fruits from the tree that held their desires.

The Location of the Devil Fruit Tree

Where Does This Special Tree Exist?

Sunlight_Tree_Eve

Many fan theories speculate where this tree would exist and if it had already been introduced into the story without the audience noticing. One of the most likely answers is that Devil Fruits come from the tree that sits above Fishman Island in Marijoa, the Sunlight Tree Eve. The same tree that gives sunlight to Fishman Island is the same one that also bears Devil Fruits. The World Government must know about the existence of the Devil Fruits from this tree, which is why Marijoa is so protected from the outside world.

Oda is inspired by many different religions worldwide and often puts that inspiration into his writing for One Piece. There is good reason to believe that the story of Adam and Eve inspired him to make the mystical trees in One Piece. In the story, God placed two trees in the garden, the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge, to test Adam and Eve's free will. God allowed them to eat fruit from the Tree of Life but forbade them from eating from the Tree of Knowledge. It would make sense that Oda made his concept of the Devil Fruits based on the Forbidden Fruit from this biblical story.

Every One Piece fan knows that the Tree of Knowledge in Ohara was destroyed along with almost every citizen due to the Buster Call ordered by the World Government. Thus, if the Tree of Knowledge didn't contain the Devil Fruits, the Sunlight Tree Eve should, since sunlight is essential to fruit growth.

This is just one of many theories surrounding Devil Fruits in One Piece, as their origins are still entirely unknown. Oda tells a riveting story, and many fans anticipate the day that the origin of Devil Fruits will be finally explained in full.

One Piece franchise poster
Created by
Eiichiro Oda
First Film
One Piece: The Movie
First TV Show
One Piece
Video Game(s)
One Piece: Unlimited World Red, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece Odyssey
Cast
Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
Character(s)
Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)

Created by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece is a multimedia franchise that began as a manga series and follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as led by Monkey D. Luffy. Luffy, an enthusiastic pirate with a thirst for adventure, is afflicted by a mysterious curse that gives him various powers he uses to protect himself and his friends. The manga eventually gave way to the anime series, with the two being some of history's longest-running anime and manga series. Along with over fifty video games made over the years, the series entered the live-action world with Netflix's 2023 adaptation.