One Piece's most mysterious man might not be a man at all

When it comes to One Piece mysteries, few characters generate as much discussion as “the man with the burn scar.” Mentioned by Kid, Blackbeard’s crew, and others, this enigmatic figure is said to possess the final Road Poneglyph, sails on a pitch-black ship, and sinks anyone who dares approach with devastating whirlpools. His identity has been debated endlessly; Saul, Scopper Gaban, a Roger Pirate, and even Rocks D. Xebec. But what if we’ve been asking the wrong question? What if the “man with the burn scar” isn’t a man at all?

Some fans now speculate that this figure could be Tritoma, a former Empress of Amazon Lily, whose name and history carry intriguing connections to fire, whirlpools, and the world’s greatest treasure. If true, this would completely change the direction of One Piece’s final saga.

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Tritoma: The forgotten empress

Tritoma reigned as Amazon Lily’s empress between Shakuyaku and Boa Hancock. She was described as benevolent, pardoning Gloriosa after her abandonment of the island, and was considered the strongest warrior of her era. Like all Kuja leaders, Tritoma wielded Haki, making her a formidable figure even in the brutal seas of the New World.

Her tragic end came 13 years before the current story when she supposedly died of Love Sickness, the same affliction that nearly killed Hancock before Luffy’s arrival. In One Piece, death by Love Sickness is framed as an absolute, yet Oda is notorious for blurring lines between myth and reality. If Tritoma had connections to the Poneglyphs or Amazon Lily’s true history, could her “death” have been fabricated to protect secrets too dangerous to reveal?

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The burn scar and the “Torch Lily”

The name “Tritoma” itself sparks curiosity. She is named after the tritoma genus of plants, also called “torch lilies” or “red hot pokers.” These flowers are named for their fiery, scar-like blooms, directly linking Tritoma’s identity to flames. The title “man with the burn scar” could therefore be a clever case of misdirection, disguising the truth in plain sight.

If Tritoma survived and became the guardian of the final Road Poneglyph, her epithet could stem from both her fiery name and the metaphorical scar left by Love Sickness. Rather than a literal burn, the “scar” might symbolize the emotional wound that changed her forever.

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Why would she guard the last Road Poneglyph?

We know each Road Poneglyph is tied to locations or individuals of massive historical significance: Zou, Wano, Big Mom, and Kaido. If Tritoma indeed possesses the fourth stone, why her?

The Kuja Tribe has always been mysterious in relation to the Void Century. Amazon Lily is one of the few places outside World Government control, and its warrior women are tied deeply to the will of Poseidon and the Sea Kings through their maritime dominance. As empress, Tritoma may have inherited the responsibility of safeguarding a piece of the ancient truth.

Her supposed connection to whirlpools is also telling. The man with the burn scar is said to sink ships with them. While some argue this implies a water-manipulating Devil Fruit or Fishman, Tritoma could have mastered Amazon Lily’s ancient sea techniques or even a fruit tied to storms and currents. Her role as “guardian” would explain why no pirate has successfully retrieved the stone.

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Clues hidden in Luffy’s past in One Piece?

Another fascinating fan theory suggests that the whirlpool Luffy encountered in chapter 1, right after setting sail, was no accident. If Tritoma is the burn-scarred guardian, perhaps she was testing him, just as Rayleigh and other Roger Pirates later tested Luffy’s worthiness.

Why Luffy specifically? Shanks in One Piece had spoken of the boy who carried Roger’s will. If Tritoma were aware of this, she might have wanted to confirm for herself whether fate truly protected him. A whirlpool is the perfect Amazon Lily trial: a natural disaster that only someone destined to survive could escape.

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Why disguise Tritoma as a “Man”?

Language in One Piece is slippery. The “man” with the burn scar may simply be shorthand, just as “Kaido’s son” Yamato was initially misidentified. In fact, misleading descriptors are a recurring Oda tactic, keeping readers guessing until the dramatic reveal.

If Tritoma has been working in the shadows, concealing her true identity would make sense. The World Government might believe she died decades ago, giving her the freedom to protect the Poneglyph without being hunted. The masculine title would throw off both rivals and allies, preserving her anonymity until the right moment.

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The long-shot but perfect Oda twist

Of course, it’s possible the man with the burn scar is someone else entirely, Saul, a Roger Pirate, or even Rocks D. Xebec. But Oda has repeatedly shown his love of subverting expectations. Revealing the figure as a long-dead Kuja Empress, someone tied to love, fire, and whirlpools, would be the kind of narrative twist that deepens One Piece’s mythology while spotlighting Amazon Lily’s overlooked legacy.

After all, if the final treasure is connected not just to freedom but also to love, the one thing powerful enough to defy the World Government, who better to hold the last key than a woman who died (or lived) for love itself?

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Final thoughts

The man with the burn scar remains One Piece’s most elusive mystery. But the more we connect the dots, torch lilies, whirlpools, Amazon Lily’s significance, and the unaccounted Poneglyph, the more it seems possible that he isn’t a man at all. Tritoma, the forgotten Empress, may have been guarding the final secret of the Grand Line all along.

Whether Oda will pull back the curtain on Tritoma or unveil another hidden legend, one thing is certain: the burn-scarred figure isn’t just another side character. Their reveal will reshape everything we know about Laugh Tale, the Void Century, and the will of D. And maybe it will show us that in One Piece, the greatest scars aren’t on the body but on the heart.