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When it comes to the many races of theOne Pieceworld, no other group is more mysterious than the Buccaneers. While other nearly extinct races, like the Lunarians, also have an air of mystery surrounding them, the Buccaneers seem to be special for several reasons. Between their unique history and biology, the Buccaneers seem to be an important part of theOne Pieceworld that should be explored further.
Despite this, the Buccaneers have already been a very important part ofOne Piece’sFinal Saga, providing interesting details of the history of both Nika and the World Government. Additionally, although the Buccaneers have been given time to shine during the Egghead Arc, it seems very likely that more information regarding the near-extinct race will comeduring a future arc inOne Piece, like Lodestar. Once this information is revealed, fans will understand the full scope of why the Buccaneers are so important to the overall story ofOne Piece, both in terms of lore and thematically.
The Buccaneers Were Wiped Out By The World Government In One Piece
Only One Buccaneer Remains To This Day
InOne Piece, there is a nearly extinct tribe of people called the Buccaneers. Looking mostly like a large human, the Buccaneers are said to contain the blood of multiple different races, including that of giants. Additionally, the Buccaneers possess very high levels of natural strength and durability and are long-timeworshipers of the Sun God Nika.
It is not the physical strength of the Buccaneers that makes them remarkable… - Vegapunk
Sadly, due to an unspecified crime committed in the past, the World Government set out to capture or kill all the Buccaneers, forcing them into hiding. However, over time, from this persecution, almostevery Buccaneer inOne Piecewas wiped out, leaving only one left in the current story: Bartholomew Kuma. Although Kuma is only half Buccaneer on his father’s side, outside of his clones like S-Bear and the Pacifista, he is currently the last of their kind.
Other Buccaneers Could Reveal Themselves In The Final Saga
S-Bear Could Also Be The Future Of The Buccaneers In One Piece
Firstly, while there is currently only one revealed Buccaneer in the story, there could be plenty more members of the race hiding throughout the series ofOne Piece. For example, since most Buccaneers are indistinguishable from large humans, there may be some characters in the story that unwittinglycarry the blood of Buccaneers. These characters, who could already be major characters in the story, like Blackbeard, could potentially realize that they are members of the Buccaneer race, unlocking an entirely new side of their character.
However, if this isn’t the case, there is already a character who could carry on the legacy of both Kuma and the Buccaneers: S-Bear. While S-Bear is currently under the control of the World Government, possessing Kuma’s DNA, and thus the blood of the Buccaneers, it seems likely that ifany ofOne Piece’sSeraphimwere to fully break free of their orders, it would be S-Bear. Potentially, while there may be few Buccaneers left, if S-Bear were to fully learn the plight of the Buccaneer, he may join the side of the pirates fighting against the World Government.
The Buccaneers Are Thematically Important To Luffy’s Journey
They Represent The Hope And Freedom Luffy Strives For
Finally, the Buccaneers, even if the group does not return to the world ofOne Piece, symbolically represent the ideas of the Sun God Nika, and Luffy himself. Mainly, through their belief in Nika and the stories of the Sun God, thematically, the Buccaneers have already shown how importantOne Piece’sprotagonist, Luffy, is to the people of the world. Through Luffy, although he isn’t Nika, there could be a new legendary figure that inspires the idea of hope and freedom, just like the Sun God did in the past with the Buccaneers. Although it would be sad to see Kuma remain as the last of his species, his belief in Luffy could be one of the most important aspects of his character.
The descendant of a clan that once committed a grave crime against the world! - Saint Saturn about Kuma
In the end, while it may seem like there isn’t much left to tell beyond learning their history, the Buccaneers could still be very important tothe Final Saga ofOne Piece. Whether established characters will reveal themselves to be Buccaneers, or S-Bear will be forced to carry on the legacy of the group, there are plenty of stories to tell with this group ofOne Piececharacters. Hopefully, if more ofOne Piece’sancient history is revealed on Elbaf or Lodestar, fans will finally receive some answers.
