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The Rock Piratesmight not be a currently existing group inOne Piece, but their history still sends shivers down the spines of pirates and marines alike. That fear stems from one man, the captain of the Rocks Pirates, Rocks D. Xebec. With the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom, former members of his pirate crew, a few arcs back, Xebec’s legacy seemed near dead.
However, with the recent discovery of his harsh treatment of Loki, the Accursed Prince of Elbaf, his legacy appears to run deeper than previously thought, and his reign of terror still haunts the pirate world ofOne Piecetoday.
The following contains spoilers based on the Elbaf arc; proceed with caution.
Rocks D. Xebec
The Pirate Of Terror
It takes undeniable traits to become captain of a group of pirates and maintain them, and in the case of Rocks D. Xebec, it was his unparalleled strength, desire for destruction, and fear. Unlike most pirate crews united by charisma, Xebec united his crew through raw terror and strength, and he could back it up. To date, Xebec is considered to be one of the mostformidable rivals of Gol D. Roger. His strength was so immense that Roger and Garp had to ally to defeat him. Garp was given the title “Hero of the Marines” for this particular feat.
Kaido, previously known as undefeatable, also included him in the list of pirates who could face him in a duel. All of this and many more are a testament to his strength. However, his subordinates had no respect for him, a fact that Big Mom and Whitebeard made clear by openly spitting on his name. Despite this, this culture of absolute dominance shaped notable pirates like Kaido and Big Mom, who used similar iron-handed ideologies to rule over their crews and dominate the seas.
One Piece,Chapter 1145, “Loki and Rocks D. Xebec’s Connection”
Story Arc
Elbaf
I DIDN’T COME ALL THIS WAY TO TAKE IN A BRAT LIKE YOU. DON’T MAKE ME REPEAT MYSELF!- Xebec
Xebec flat-out denied him. His rejection was not out of concern for Loki, as he simply did not want to deal with a child in his crew. However, Loki did not give up. He challenged Xebec to a fight and was beaten to a pulp. Xebec even used a bladed weapon, a fact that shocked Whitebeard. Nevertheless, Loki reveres Xebec and blames the harsh rejection on his young age rather than Xebec’s personality, claiming to be born in the wrong era.
The Significance Of Legacy In One Piece
The Major Factor In The Pirate World
Legacy is a consistent concept in the world ofOne Pieceand significantly shapes the pirate world. Without legacy, piracy would not be where it is today. If not for Roger, who laid down his life to announce the legitimacy of the One Piece, there would probably be noOne Piecefor fans to watch. We also havethe legacy of piratessuch as Shanks and Whitebeard. These legacies of such characters have positively impacted the world of piracy, birthing pirates like Luffy who are against the World Government but still believe in doing what is right.
On the other hand, Rocks’ legacy has, more often than not, negatively impacted the world of piracy. Molding pirates to believe in ruling through fear and destruction poisoned an entire generation of piracy, setting an unideal standard of leadership and action that unfortunately echoes all over the world, branding pirates as nothing more than bandits of the seas. While Loki looked up to Rocksthe same way Luffy does to Shanks, his role remains unclear. However, the side of piracy he chooses, if he chooses piracy, would contribute immensely to the progression of events in the series.
Rocks' Shadow Still Lingers Over The New World
Will It Ever End?
The legacy of a character does not end unless every connection to them no longer exists, and Xebec has had relations in every generation since his death, further extending his legacy. Though the Rocks Pirates, which he headed, disbanded decades ago, their influence still haunts the seas of One Piece.Kaido’s complete dominance of Wanois a direct reflection of Xebec’s worldview, ruling through fear and absolute control. So was Big Mom’s domination of Totto Land. Even Blackbeard, who was not a former member, idolizes Xebec, naming his ship after him and embodying his destructive hunger.
Loki’s case is but a small example of the scars his legacy has left in the pirate world. Currently, there is no doubt that Xebec’s legacy still exists. The question is, will its influence ever end? His legacy has played a significant role in three eras of piracy, and it does not appear to come to an end anytime soon. Will Loki be the one who signifies the end of his tyrannical history? Or will it continue to shape the following eras of piracy? This is a question no one but Eiichiro Oda can answer.
One Piece
One Piece is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. The series follows protagonist Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat Pirate crew as they explore the Grand Line to find the King of the Pirates' ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the next king. The manga’s popularity helped it spin off into a larger media franchise, including an anime with more than 1,000 episodes.
