A Covenant is a supernatural contract made between Nerona Imu and his closest subordinates, namely the Five Elders and Knights of God, as a symbol of their loyalty to "God" through the use of Imu's Akuma no Mi.[2] Those who enter a higher Covenant pact are granted access to multiple supernatural abilities, but at the cost of being under the absolute control of Imu, whose voice can reach them anywhere in the world.[3]
Types
There are four known types of Covenant. Three of them are very similar in nature and invoke progressively stronger levels of ability, being used on pledged subordinates of Imu like the Five Elders and Knights of God, who are refered to as Covenantees (契約者, Keiyakusha?).[2] These Covenants are represented by distinct "marks" (マーク, māku?)[4] that are branded somewhere on the Covenantee's body.
It appears that Covenantees are capable of granting certain Covenants to others without direct involvement from Imu. Harald was granted a Shallows Covenant by the Five Elders,[2] and during the God Valley Incident, Figarland Garling and the Knights of God were able to turn multiple Davy Family members into demons, with Rocks D. Xebec saying that the same fate would befall himself, Eris, and Teach if they were overtaken by the Knights.[5]
Shallows Covenant
The Shallows Covenant symbol on Harald's arm.
The Shallows Covenant (浅海契約, Senkai Keiyaku?, lit. "Shallow Sea Contract") is the first of the three subordinate Covenant stages, the symbol of which is a circle with crossbones. This Covenant is given to the Devoted Blades of God as their "Contract with God" and described as no more than a faint "bond" (結, yui?). While it does not appear to grant any special abilities,[2] it does prevent the holder from disobeying a direct order from Imu when close to him.[6]
Depths Covenant
Harald's Shallows Covenant changes into a Depths Covenant.
The Depths Covenant (深海契約, Shinkai Keiyaku?, lit. "Deep Sea Contract"),[2] is the second of three stages, having the same symbol as the Shallows but with an extra line superimposed, resembling a pair of ox-horns. The Depths Covenant is granted by Imu directly once someone has officially joined the Knights of God, with the bestowal accompanied by smoke being emitted from the preexisting Shallows mark, as well as pain on the recipient's part. This is the first Covenant stage that grants abilities, but also an unbreakable tie to Imu that is in effect no matter the recipient's location.[3][6]
Abyssal Covenant
The Abyssal Covenant (深々海契約, Shin-shinkai Keiyaku?, lit. "Deep-Deep Sea Contract") is the final stage of Covenant for subordinates. Its symbol and purpose are still unknown, along with who receives it.
According to the Five Elders, both the Depths and Abyssal Covenants are reserved for 13 individuals.[2]
Demon Covenant
Imu invoking a Demon Covenant on Brogy.
The Demon Covenant (
Once transformed into a demon, a target gains an immortal body and greatly enhanced strength, which Imu dubs the "power of god" (神の力, kami no chikara?), but this comes at the cost of some of their existing lifespan.[9] Unlike the other three Covenants, those under the Demon Covenant are completely stripped of their rational mind and become bloodthirsty, violent monsters whose only goal is to cause destruction and fight Imu's enemies. Interestingly, both Luffy and Loki were capable of rejecting Imu's attempts at conversion. It should be noted that both were transformed with their Devil Fruit abilities at the time.[10] For those who do not possess whatever ability Luffy and Loki do, sufficient willpower can delay the transformation, even if only briefly.[11] Should a demon be killed by any means, such as decapitation, the Covenant will be undone and the victim will be fully restored to before they were afflicted.[12] Strangely, Chopper has showcased the ability to undo the Demon Covenant. With simple strikes in his Monster Point form, he can somehow knock the demon itself from the bodies of those afflicted.[13]
Abilities
Strength
The Depths Covenant and the Demon Covenant grant their bearers increased physical strength, described as "superhuman strength" (人間離れした筋力, ningen banareshita kinryoku?) and "uncanny strength" (常ならざる腕力, tsune narazaru wanryoku?).[6][9]
Telepathy
The most basic benefit granted by the Depths Covenant is the ability for one who bears it to communicate telepathically with Imu.[3] This telepathy has a vast range that can reach across the world, as Imu's communication with subordinates has spanned from Mary Geoise to the New World islands of Egghead and Elbaph. The Five Elders have also shown the ability to telepathically communicate with each other as well, which the Knights of God have yet to be shown doing.[14][15]
Immortality
Nusjuro surviving a fatal blow to the head.
Upon receiving the Depths or Demon's Covenant, a person gains an "immortal body" (不死の体, fushi no karada?).[3][6] Their body is able to quickly regenerate from nearly all attacks, making them impervious to most injuries and death.[16] There is a way to counteract this immortality and injure those with the Covenant, which Scopper Gaban successfully accomplished against Shepherd Sommers;[17] the overall method is unknown, but is indicated to be related to Supreme King Haki.[18] Interestingly, certain people with the Covenant, like the Five Elders, have been shown to also be unaging while others are immortal but still age, like Figarland Garling during his time with the Knights of God.
Furthermore, they can be revived and buffed when an Akuma no Mi's Omen bestowed upon them.
Abyss
An Abyss cast by Saturn.
Those with the Depths and Abyssal Covenants gain the "ability to generate an Abyss" (
Drawbacks
Tie to Imu
Saturn being killed by Imu from afar.
The drawback of all Covenants lies in Imu's ability to take control of those who possess them. Imu is capable of overriding their free will, forcing their body to carry out his orders and destroy whoever gets in his way. The Depths Covenant also appears to corrupt the marked person's mind, meaning the people inflicted by this condition seem to keep their original personality quirks only with the added factor of their motives being guided by an obedience towards Imu, as well as them becoming ruthless and cruel with an added god complex being installed into their minds.[20][21] Interestingly, the mark being damaged briefly allows an individual to regain control over themselves, at least until their immortality repairs it.[22] Imu can also outright possess a marked person, bringing his own abilities to any fray the victim is at without needing to leave Mary Geoise. This makes it impossible for any Elder, Knight, or demon to overtly rebel against Imu.[3]
Additionally, at least in the event of Jaygarcia Saturn who had a Covenant and lived for over 200 years on account of his immortality, Imu was capable of causing him to die, by telepathically causing a mysterious dark substance resembling tangible darkness to seep out of his body and resulting in an explosion. It is unknown if this act would have killed a Covenant marked person with a regular lifespan, or if Saturn withered away to only a skeleton due to his immortality being stripped away and being left with an irregular lifespan that biologically was impossible for his body to maintain.[15]
But in turn, making a Covenant with another person requires a "cost" paid by Imu as well. The specifics of this drawback are yet to be revealed, but after Harald was killed by Loki despite his immortality, Imu was in pain and refused to send any more Knights of God to Elbaph out of fear they would be killed as well.[23]
Supreme King Haki
It has been demonstrated that Covenant abilities can be bypassed and nullified to various extents by opponents with sufficiently powerful Supreme King Haki. Combatants capable of infusing this Haki into their attacks have shown the ability to somewhat bypass immortality; though most applications only slow down the regeneration,[24][25] it has been shown that a sufficiently powerful infused attack can kill Covenant bearers.[18][26] Supreme King Haki can also affect Abyss travel, as a burst of Joy Boy's Haki managed to force the Five Elders who had teleported from Mary Geoise to Egghead back to their starting position.[27] A sufficient amount of Haki is even capable of breaking the Demon Contract altogether, as Gol D. Roger and Monkey D. Garp were able to return Rocks D. Xebec to his normal state by striking him with a tremendous combined mass of their Haki.[28]
Trivia
- The Covenants resemble the "Deal with the Devil" motif of medieval and post-medieval European folklore, popularized by the German legend of Faust and Mephistopheles (hence the term Faustian bargain). It refers to a magical pact—oral or written—made between a human and demon (sometimes the Devil himself) whereby in exchange for the human's soul, the demon grants diabolical favors such as forbidden knowledge, wealth, fame, or magical powers. The demon is often portrayed as a cunning trickster, initially appearing as a benefactor offering what seems like a fair trade, only to later twist the terms of the deal or cleverly conceal the true toll, leading the human to unknowingly pay a far steeper price than anticipated. Alternatively, the mortal may attempt to outwit the demon, though the pact is almost always irrevocable.
- The "marks" of Imu's Covenants also evoke the concept of the "devil's mark" (stigma diabolicum), an indelible mark believed to brand those who have struck a deal with the devil, particularly those accused of witchcraft. The term gained prominence during the height of the European witch trials of the 16th and 17th centuries.
- The Shallows Covenant symbol is similar to the astronomical symbols for Earth or the alchemical symbol of oxygen.
- The Depths Covenant symbol resembles the astronomical symbol for Neptune superimposed on to the existing Shallows Covenant.
- Certain Devil Fruit abilities also enable a "covenant" or "contract" (契約, keiyaku?) between the user and their victims, which results in the victims' absolute obedience. These include the Hobi Hobi no Mi and the Kage Kage no Mi.[29][30] In these instances, however, the victim does not benefit from the contract in any way.
- The 13 indidviduals who entered Abyssal Covenant matches the number of apostles: the twelve apostles plus Paul, who is considered as an Apostle in Canonical Bible due to received the gospel not from teachings of the Twelve Apostles but solely and directly through personal revelations from Jesus.
- The Haki of those who have received a Depths Covenant or above has been noted to be powerful and abnormal by others. It is yet to be confirmed if this is a side effect or another benefit of the Covenant.
References
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 112 Chapter 1140 (p. 15), Killingham's Covenant symbol is seen.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 One Piece Manga — Chapter 1167 (p. 6).
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 One Piece Manga — Chapter 1168.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 112 Chapter 1140 (p. 17), The "mark" is mentioned as a prerequisite for traveling via the Abyss.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1162 (p. 6).
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 One Piece Manga — Chapter 1169 (p. 8-9).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1163 (p. 17).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1164.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 113 Chapter 1150 (p. 11).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1178 (p. 6), Luffy and Loki are unaffected by Domi Reversi.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1164 (p. 2-4), Rocks fights off the Domi Reversi.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1176 (p. 17-18), Dorry and Brogy revert to normal.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1177 (p. 8), Chopper restores a giant to normal.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 109 Chapter 1109 (p. 4-5, 13) and Episode 1143, Saturn telepathically talks with the other Elders.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 111 Chapter 1125 (p. 10-13) and Episode 1155, Imu kills Saturn.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 113 Chapter 1146 (p. 8).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 113 Chapter 1148 (p. 19), Gaban cuts off Sommers' arm.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 One Piece Manga — Vol. 113 Chapter 1152.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 112 Chapter 1140 (p. 12-17), The Abyss is named and its mechanics explained.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1169, The Depths Covenant takes control over Harald, forcing his body to carry out Imu's order against his own will.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1170 (p. 13), Harald tells Loki that under the Depths Covenant, he was influenced to think of himself as some sort of God.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1170 (p. 14), Harald regains his mind while his Depths Covenant is damaged.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1171 (p. 6).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 113 Chapter 1150 (p. 7).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1162 (p. 7).
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Chapter 1170, Loki kills the immortal Harald.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 111 Chapter 1122 (p. 12-14), The Five Elders are sent back to Mary Geoise.
- ↑ One Piece Manga — Vol. 114 Chapter 1165 (p. 13).
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 47 Chapter 457 (p. 3) and Episode 351, Moria forms a contract with Luffy's shadow.
- ↑ One Piece Manga and Anime — Vol. 74 Chapter 738 (p. 13-15) and Episode 671, Sugar forms a contract with people turned into toys.
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