The Baku youkai (Japanese: 獏 or 貘, Sino-Vietnamese: baku) are Japanese supernatural beings that are said to be able to devour nightmares, so they are also known as “dream-eating beasts”. Baku’s identity and beliefs have changed over thousands of years in Japan. Legend has it that when the gods created the world, they gathered the leftover pieces to create Baku, so it took on a hybrid form. It can be said that Baku was formed by the gods from the parts left over after other animals were created.
Legend has it that if children have nightmares, they will wake up and repeat three times “Baku-san, come eat my dreams” then Baku will appear and eat those dreams to give the children peace of mind. back to sleep.
However, one must refrain from calling Baku to appear because if they still feel hungry after eating the nightmares, they will also eat the person’s dreams, beliefs and hopes, leaving them with an empty life. This comes from ancient legends that say, if they are not satisfied after eating dreams, they can also eat the hopes and dreams of the person who called them.
When Luffy met Blackbeard at Jaya Island, everyone laughed, mocking his thoughts and desire to fly to the sky. Up until now, no matter how many times he was ridiculed for his goal of becoming the Pirate King, Luffy still had his heart, regardless of everything, and continued to move forward. However, that was the first time doubt and anxiety crept in to shake Luffy’s resolve. Stepping out of the pub, Blackbeard’s words helped Luffy regain his resolve.
“Is the era of pirates with dreams over? Is that true?”
“HUMAN DREAMS NEVER END!!!”
Blackbeard is a person with big ambitions, dreams and goals. However, he is not like Luffy and his crew, to achieve his goal despite all tricks, stomping on other people’s corpses.
Throughout the series, Luffy’s strongest weapon is his ability to give hope and faith to others and turn them into allies with him. Mihawk considers it to be the most terrifying ability.
Oda built the image of Blackbeard as the dark, evil version of Luffy. If Luffy gives hope and faith, he creates fear, chaos, and darkness with his Shock and Shadow left powers. And eat the dreams and hopes of humanity with the Baku power he possesses.
Blackbeard and Luffy, darkness and light, darkness is everywhere but light only comes at dawn.
Source: Tuan Le – Group ESOP – Association of people who eat and sleep with One Piece