Blackbeard Will Gain an Abyssal Covenant from Imu

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Blackbeard Will Steal an Abyssal Covenant from Imu!

TLDR: Blackbeard will make a covenant with Imu to become king of Hachinosu. But unlike Harald, this will be for the sake of his own power, not for his country. Blackbeard's final Zoan will be a Yokai fruit like the Gorosei, and Maki/Immortality will complete his moveset. And Blackbeard's unique body will allow him to break free from Imu's control and keep the powers for himself.

Blackbeards plan

Blackbeard has only ever joined an organization for 3 reasons:

Access (Impel Down, traveling on the Moby Dick)

Crew (laying low beneath WB, recruiting Level 6 prisoners)

To gain a Devil Fruit ability (Yami Yami from Thatch, Gura Gura from Newgate)

Blackbeard as a king likely want's to Gain access to Maryjoa and Bolster his crew through stealing the Seraphim.

In Egghead, Catarina Devon and Van Auger mark St. Saturn, allowing her to transform into him.

Imu and the Gorosei know Saturn is dead, so this won't fool them, but Saturn's Voice and Image could still work on the Seraphim and Pacifista.

Harald's end is blackbeard's means.

Harald is the only other example of a non-member nation trying to join the world government. He had to serve the Government for decades to amend Elbaf's bad reputation, which Hachinosu also has.

Harald's role as a Government Privateer that works alongside yet separate from the Navy may have been the prototype for the Warlord System. Harald even picks off pirates in the mists of the Grand Line like Moria.

Pre-Timeskip, the Warlord system was the only way for a pirate to work for the World Government, but Blackbeard has already exploited that organization and its since been abolished. But perhaps the Holy Knights are the post-timeskip version, as they are actively recruiting allies for the final war.

Narrative Reasoning: It would be foolish for Imu and the Gorosei to take Blackbeard at his word again, as he will most likely betray them. But by having Teach make a Covenant, Imu can reasonably believe that Blackbeard CAN'T betray him, which will make it an interesting twist when he does.

Blackbeard's Abilities

Gunko's Abyssal Covenant

The Gorosei told Harald that Depths and Abyssal Covenants are reserved for 13 individuals total — likely 8 Depths Covenants for the Holy Knights and 5 Abyssal Covenants for the Gorosei.

But Gunko has eternal youth and can be possessed by Imu just like the Gorosei, despite not being one of the five.

So perhaps there is actually six Abyssal Covenants, Gorosei + Gunko, leaving one extra slot outside the 5 elders that Blackbeard can take.

The Elbaf arc likely frees this slot: Zoro and Sanji are expected to kill Sommers and Killingham respectively, and Gunko will either be freed or killed by arc's end — opening at least 2 Depths Covenants and one Abyssal Covenant.

Blackbeard NEEDS a Zoan Fruit.

It's unknown whether or not the Gorosei's demon forms are a product of Devil Fruits or something else. They at least likely take the slot of one, as Garling seemingly didn't eat a Devil Fruit, perhaps in anticipation for one to be granted to him when he became a Gorosei. Gunko had already eaten her Arrow Fruit and was never meant to be a Gorosei anyways.

Blackbeard likely has another slot open as he's already eaten two, and is heavily associated with the number 3.

A Zoan ability would complete Blackbeard's trifecta of powerful Devil Fruits of each kind.

Currently Teach has one of the most powerful Logia and Paramecia abilities, it's intuitive to think that he will complete his trifecta with a powerful Zoan ability.

Blackbeard's two fruits give him powerful offense, but his defense is a weak spot, which a Zoan fruit would cover in terms of durability.

Blackbeard Needs X Maki

Interestingly, Blackbeard's Logia is the only one that doesn't grant intangibility. Perhaps Oda withheld it in anticipation of Blackbeard gaining the Black Flame regeneration that comes with the Undying Bodies of the Gorosei and God Knights.

This not only fits aesthetically, but completes the biggest blindspot in Teach's moveset. But Undying Bodies still feel pain from Supreme King Haki, so this may stay Blackbeard's one vulnerability even after gaining the Covenant.

Narrative Reasoning: Maki/omen is also said to be "the envy that seeks to achieve one's goals". This is a clear parallel to Haki. But between Haki and Maki, Maki fit's Blackbeard's character much more, as he lies and cheats his way to power, as opposed to Luffy who works for his strong Haki.

Conclusion

Many people think it would be unlike Blackbeard to become a subordinate to Imu, as he values freedom almost as much as Luffy. But while Luffy seeks freedom through staying in his own lane and focusing on building his own strength through Haki. Blackbeard seeks freedom by taking every opportunity to steal and cheat his way to power. Luffy is uncorruptible by being pure; Blackbeard is uncorruptible by being even more corrupt.

The Idea that Blackbeard will steal and use Imu's abilities is out of character in my eyes. Blackbeard is not a magician who makes contracts with others, he's a chaotic improviser who wields darkness in one hand and destruction in the other. He doesn't demand loyalty or even fear from his subordinates- he expects betrayal as soon as their interests no longer align because that's what he would do. And that's what i think he will do with Imu.