Saint Ethanbaron V. Nusjuro – Godhead of Finance
Tarot cards : King of Pentacles (minor), The Empress reversed (major)
Elemental connection : Earth
Theorized Power : Special Paramecia : Hoshi Hoshi no Mi – The Star Star Fruit
Reverse Character : Shimotsuki Kuina
This one is the most surprising and unexpected one of them all. You would think he would be related to war due to his sword, but he gets the title of wargod of Finance. Considering most of his dialogues have been around keeping the balance of power in check, we can expect his power to involve equilibrium and trade, but it’s hard to imagine how it could work. This is where Tarot gives us some precise answers: Pentacles.
The Pentacle is a very widespread magical symbol of protection, known even in Japan where it is used to represent elemental balance. It follows the chinese conception of elements: earth, water, fire, wood and metal all interacting with one another. Saint V. Nusjuro might use his sword to draw stars that turn into rings of protections from any element, depending on what he needs. You can easily imagine how powerful it is, as it allows him to create metal cages to imprison his enemies, water seals to limit devil fruit users, and even fire rings to threaten with incineration. The giant mountain range around Wano, Impel Down and the Red Line might have been the most consequential uses of his powers.
But did you ever wonder why he has a “V” in his name? Well, when you start drawing a pentagram with a V, it means you’re about to make the symbol of Baphomet. This is still about balance, but now you’re trading souls and blood for powers of the Underworld. This power might allow him to transform into a demon, summon devilish creatures and bring back souls from the dead… But always for a heavy price. The slaves and inhabitants of Marigeoise might be nothing more than a reservoir of worthy sacrifices. In fact, it makes sense that the most extreme rituals such as redemption would require the heart of a close family member, forcing them to keep inbred relatives in proximity and making sure they would never want to leave. I think we’ll definitely see a gorosei getting killed and return to life shortly after a bloody ritual, in a way comparable to Enel death.
In addiction, the name Venus has always been associated to femineity, and connected to the Empress card in Taromancy. When reversed, it indicates a lack of fertility and confidence; his very masculine Wano name might hide some ancient insecurity from his distant past. This is something noteworthy as cross-dressing has been a recurrent theme of Wano, and gender inequality seems very integrated in their belief as we saw with Kuina’s despair from being born a woman.
Saint V. Nusjuro might have been a woman with high ambition, but who was shamed by the Wano citizens despite her efforts, growing insecure and resentful to the point of joining their enemy. In that regard, there might be some room to give Kuina’s story a conclusion.
Final match-up This is without a doubt a Zoro fight: It has Wano connections, cutting every material in the world, facing literal hell against a shapeshifter opponent and ghosts from the past… This feels like all Zoro previous fights combined into one. Brook would also be a very needed help to deal with the underworld powers at play, as his soul powers could disrupt rituals and his music appease the tormented souls forced into this. This also seems like a good fight for a Yamato return, as most of these themes are relevant to her as well.
Saint Shepherd Ju Peter – Godhead of Agriculture
Tarot cards: Page of Cups (minor), The wheel of Fortune (major)
Elemental connection : Water
Theorized Power : Mythical Zoan : Yokai Yokai no Mi, Model Umibozu
Reverse Character : Judge Vinsmoke
Other theorist have already pointed out the fact that the Hearts and Cups are always about hidden allegiances and treason, and how St Peter got executed by emperor Nero for his religious beliefs, so I’ll try to bring something new to the table through the tarot perspective.
For a long time, quite a few people had this headcanon that he was related in blood to Sanji. This idea has been discarded after Judge was introduced, and even more now that we have Ju Peter real name… But in regard to the symbolic of tarot and his title, this idea might not be as silly as you think, this isn’t just a meme.
Cups are all about emotions and loyalty, and so is the Vinsmoke family in a way. Judge is a character who couldn’t deal with his own emotions, he ended up regarding them as a weakness that should be erased. He tried to suppress them from his 5 children, but he couldn’t remove them all.
Just like Sanji, Ju Peter might also be that odd one out: someone true to his moral values, protecting those he cares about in secret and feeding anyone he can without discrimination. As a result, he would need a power that allows him to control water and look over those in need of help. My guess would go for the mythical Umibozu, a creature that appears in the night and can suddenly change a calm sea into a tumultuous nightmare.
In japanese folklore, the Umibozu will demand sailors a barrel that he will use to drown them. This feels curiously reminiscent of chapter 2, where Luffy is already trapped by a gigantic whirlpool that forces him to hide inside a barrel to survive. We rarely have seen anything like this happen ever again in East Blue, and I actually believe this is the first display of Ju Peter’s power to set Luffy toward the right direction.
He might also have been the one who created the knock-up stream on Jaya as an effort to protect the island from the inevitable destruction greed would cause it. This makes Mont Blanc Noland flashback makes so much sense : First he tried to kill him by forcing an earthquake, but failed. Once he realized he couldn’t stop his outstanding navigation skills, he chose to hide the island in the sky instead. In the end both Noland and Kalgara had been right and wrong : There was no god, but there was still someone who had a right reason to stop him from what he was doing.
Other strange locations like Reverse Mountain and Wano reverse waterfalls might also be products of his fruit, which seem to leave lasting effects wherever he acts. It is likely he also acted in more subtle ways to supply fresh water sources, even to the dried lands of Alabasta.
In Taromancy, Jupiter is often associated to the wheel of fortune. It seems to fit very well this idea of a character who deeply believes in fate, causing good luck for characters he believes in, until the wheel turns over and starts a new cycle. His luck will eventually run out and he will be discovered by Imu, but he’ll smile, as he knows it will mean Dawn is finally back.
Saint Topman Warcury – Godhead of Justice
Tarot cards : King of Cups (minor), The Magician Reversed (major)
Elemental connection : Water
Theorized Power : Mythical Zoan : Kaba Kaba no Mi, Model Seth
Reverse Character : Fisher Tiger
Similarly to Vergo, Saint Warcury might also have infiltrated enemies in the past. In taromancy, Mercury is associated to the magician, a card that once reversed is synonymous of manipulation, trickery and greed. He might have been considered a good ally and protector of the ancient kingdom, but that was nothing but a ruse to achieve his plans. He is shown to care more about appearances than reality : he was displeased on how Aokiji didn’t publically act like someone of his rank and also showed concerns about the departure of Jimbei as a Shichibukai since he was a symbol of harmony between men and fishmen.
Moreover, everything about his name and position seem to be related to water. In japanese, Mercury is pronounced “Water Planet”, and this doubled down by Oda by having his name be Topman “Wota”cury, or, Watercury. For that reason, we should expect him to also have a power related to water that would be thematically relevant to the ancient kingdom.
While Warcury (on the right) look like some kind of boar or tentacle creature, he’s more likely a hippo with a very big mustache. Nevertheless, the few mythical hippos that exist all come from Egypt. The most famous one is Taweret, a goddess of fertility, but there is another: Seth. He might not look like it, but he was sometimes considered as a male hippo by some. He is the god of chaos and ruler of the red land. This one feels more thematic, as he also betrayed and killed his own brother for power.
But how good would a hippopotamus fruit be, if its user can’t swim? Well, real hippos can’t actually swim either, they just hold their breath and push themself upward. He might lie and pretend to be the only devil fruit user unaffected by the sea, while he would actually float on the surface while using his mustache to propel himself in water, as classic One Piece rules go.
I imagine him as a competent version of Wapol, a massive gluttonous brute, with a power that confuse the minds of his enemies and make an ordered resistance difficult.
From his powers, he might have orchestrated disputes from other races who considered him a protector. The war of long-arms and long-legs might have all started because of him in an effort to blind them from the oppression caused by humans.
Final match-up: Since he’s the god of Justice, it would be best for him to be faced by the races he oppressed. This feel like a fight for Jinbe and Chopper, and probably a third character like Carrot, or a giant who is yet to be introduced. But it would work best with several armies at play, who couldn’t help from attacking one another under the effect of his power.
As for Luffy and Vivi, they would most likely be involved in the fight against Imu and couldn’t take part in all of this. I won’t delve into what his power could be as of yet as this theory is already long enough like this. This is my first one piece theory, so I hope it was interesting, thanks for reading.
*Theory by Allifeur
