The Abyss is a type of magic circle (魔法陣, mahōjin^?) that, once summoned, can enable instantaneous transportation between locations akin to teleportation. Appearing to originate from Nerona Imu's array of demonic abilities granted by the Akuma no Mi,^[2][3] Imu grants it to the Five Elders and Knights of God via Covenant.^[1][4]

Design

The numbered magic circles used respectively by Nusjuro (2), Warcury (3) and Mars (4).

The magic circle used by Knights of God.

The magic circle used by Nerona Imu himself.

The Abyss' summoning circle consists of a thick outer ring with writing on it. Within the ring lies a secondary circle circumscribing a pentagram. The limbs of the pentagram are solidly filled, while the central pentagon remains blank. At the five cardinal points of the pentagram—aligned with its vertices that touch the edge of the inner circle—small, solid, triangular motifs are embedded in the outer ring's design.

In the case of the Five Elders, each of their personal summoning circles bears further distinctions. Numerals are inscribed between the jags of each pentagram, corresponding to their specific Elder: "5" for Saturn,^[1] "4" for Mars, "3" for Warcury, "2" for Nusjuro and "1" for Peter.^[5] By contrast, the magic circle employed in Mary Geoise, used collectively by multiple Elders, and the one used by the Knights of God, did not bear these identifying numbers.^[6][7]

Users

The ability appears to originate from Nerona Imu as part of the ruler's set of demonic powers as granted by the Akuma no Mi. Imu can then bestow the ability on those who bear the mark of a Depths or Abyssal Covenant, which are the Five Elders and full-fledged Knights of God.^[3] Only those marked with the Covenant can travel through the Abyss, and they cannot bring along people without the mark in any circumstance.^[4]

Abilities

Those with the power may either conjure the Abyss to send themselves to a different location, or summon other users to their own location. An Abyss can be conjured instantaneously, seemingly just by a user holding out their hand and willing it to manifest. When activated, the circle emits black lightning, reminiscent of Haki, accompanied by eruptions of fiery energy. The summoned or traveling individual appears from within the circle as if emerging through a portal.^[1] The transportation happens instantly, akin to teleportation, as Sommers and Killingham did not even realize they had been transported until realizing their new surroundings.^[4]

It appears that users need an Abyss already at the desired destination in order to travel a large distance. Saturn traveled from Mary Geoise to Egghead via ship; however, he was then able to summon an Abyss on Egghead's coast once it was in sight and teleport himself onto it. Shamrock and Gunko were seemingly able to warp to Elbaph by utilizing an Abyss that Harald had conjured in Aurust Castle 14 years earlier.^[7][8]

Of course, this apparent limitation can be bypassed if there is already a user at the desired location, who can then conjure an Abyss and summon any other user they wish from Mary Geoise. Those who are marked do not necessarily need to be conscious of, or prepared for, imminent travel via an Abyss. If summoned by another party, they may be transported without forewarning—potentially physically or mentally unready for the journey.^[4] Saturn appeared to be able to create multiple circles at once to summon others who had entered a single Abyss together, as he conjured four to teleport his fellow Elders from Mary Geoise to Egghead.^[9][5] During each teleportation, a corresponding circle is also activated at the point of origin, potentially suggesting a bidirectional or linked mechanism.^[6]

Imu is able to make use of the Abyss to a far greater and more casual extent in battle. While the Elders and the Knights use it only for travel, Imu has the ability to summon weapons like cannons from the Abyss,^[10] and to send targets into the Abyss to transform them into demons.

There is evidence to suggest that Abyss travel is not necessarily permanent and that there are methods to force users back to their starting point. Mars returned to his original location after being launched a great distance from the site to which he had been summoned. A powerful enough burst of Haki, or at least Supreme King Haki, can also seemingly disrupt the summoning process, repelling those who traveled through the circle and sending them back to their original location.^[11]

Translation and Dub Issues

The term "Abyss" has been spelled with just katakana, as well as with kanji meaning "Pentagram" (五芒星, Gobōsei^?) with the kana for Abyss used as furigana. To communicate this meaning, VIZ translates these instances as "Abyss Pentagram".

Trivia

• A magic circle is another name for a sigil, a special symbol popular in occult rituals for the summoning of deities or demons.
• The concept of magic circles was also known to the people of Harahettania on Namakura Island, who attempted to use one in a ritual to summon Satan (Brook would appear on it due to the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi, which can be considered appropriate due to it being a Devil Fruit).^[12]
  • According to Nami, the symbol used can also be found in books, which some countries have used to attempt demon summoning, giving some credence to the people of Harahettania's usage of it.^[13]
• In the anime, the individual summoned or traveling through the Abyss emerges from within the circle as a dark liquid, rather than black flames or black smoke as in the manga.

References

External Links

• Magic circle – Wikipedia article on the concept of magic circles.
• Pentagram – Wikipedia article on pentagrams.

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