Jones

Biodata

Power Progression

Background and History

Jones and his twin sister Minnie were separated shortly after birth. Although born into the Athos Family's Dragon Person bloodline, he was rejected because one parent was a commoner. His parents died under the family's brutal treatment, and Jones grew up in servitude. A child in the family later made him eat an unknown Devil Fruit out of curiosity 149 150.

The family sent Jones into the Underworld and kept him on Kuriswia Island, while Minnie was trained as a World Government spy. Once he became strong enough to protect her, the family used her life to ensure he remained on the island. Their permitted contact amounted to a brief Den Den Mushi call once a year 150. Jones fought off rival pirates and Underworld figures for three days and nights to secure control of Jade Street; his reputation for loyalty helped keep followers behind him 120 353.

When Loa attacked Kuriswia, Jones's prepared ambush failed. Loa defeated him, discovered his connection to Minnie and used her safety to compel his cooperation. Jones then agreed to become the first general in Loa's proposed organization against the Dragon People 125 146 150. He subsequently left Kuriswia, gained the allegiance of Island Turtle and established a base for Loa's plans 151 231 260.

Jones later became a Shichibukai and hunted pirates near Turtle Island. After more than a year in the position, he was described as firmly established; he is identified as a former Shichibukai by the time Rayleigh warns the Straw Hats about him 465 631.

Appearance

Jones is tall, broad-shouldered and muscular, with long dark-gold hair. On Kuriswia, he habitually wore animal skins; he later grew more accustomed to ordinary clothes 120 465 635.

• Snake form — black scales, slit pupils, a forked tongue and purple markings around his eyes 147 271.
• Disguised composite form — combines Black King Snake scales with other animal traits, including claws 271.

Personality

Jones plans carefully and prefers traps or concealment when facing an opponent he cannot safely confront head-on. His public image as a loyal Underworld ruler was partly cultivated to win followers, but his concern for Minnie and Gangying is genuine. Threats to either can overwhelm his usual caution 120 125 146 147.

He is proud of his strength but capable of reassessing it. After narrowly surviving Crocodile's desiccation attack, Jones admits that his versatility does not make him invincible and chooses escape over another prolonged fight 351 353.

Abilities & Skills

Beast-Speech Fruit and evolution

Jones initially describes his Paramecia ability as the Beast-Speech Fruit: he can completely transform into animals he has eaten. He later learns that the ability to speak with animals comes from a separately awakened Voice of All Things, and that the fruit's true nature is evolution 149 500.

• His acquired forms include flying creatures, burrowing animals, a Sea King, a Silverback Great Ape and a Black King Snake 149 271 288 320.
• He can combine traits or transform individual body parts. A Lava Turtle shell on his arm blocks Tony's Haki-hardened sword strikes, though Tony eventually hurts him with blunt-force attacks 271 374.
• Snake-like shedding lets him escape Crocodile's desiccation attack by leaving behind a dried outer skin 351.
• Seawater still suppresses his Devil Fruit power; taking an aquatic form does not remove that weakness 149.

Animal communication and training

• Jones communicates with animals; while searching for Mechanical Island, he talks to a sea turtle by lowering his intelligence to its level 320.
• He trains animals under his command. His mount Steel Shadow learns Soru and Geppo 465.

Haki, combat and fieldcraft

• Jones uses Armament Haki to strike Crocodile's Logia body and withstand an attack 344.
• He can conceal himself so effectively that Loa's Observation Haki fails to detect him at a distance of less than ten meters. Loa instead locates him through Enemy of All Life 146.
• His fighting style relies heavily on hand-to-hand combat, enhanced by transformations. Jones and Zephyr's first clash shattered the island where they fought; Zephyr won, aided in part by greater mastery and a Seastone-equipped weapon 260.

Relationships

• Minnie — his twin sister and the person he most wants to protect. The Athos Family, and later Loa, use her safety as leverage over him; the siblings eventually reunite in person 150 285 465.
• Christopher Loa — defeats and recruits Jones. Jones follows his plans, though their alliance begins under a threat to Minnie 147 151.
• Gangying — his longtime black-panther companion, who hunts alongside him and intervenes to protect him 120 125 147.
• Zephyr — defeats Jones in their first meeting, then helps him develop Loa's plan 260.
• Baron William — a rival subordinate whom Jones had personally saved and considered one of his own; William's death deeply unsettles him 125.
• Tony — a recurring combat rival. Their fight on Turtle Island is interrupted when Minnie and Loa arrive 374 375 465.
• Drake — placed in charge of defending Cannibal Island during Jones's absence; their later exchanges include a rivalry over who should lead 338 399.

Trivia

• Jones once dreamed of hunting a legendary creature, but hardship forced him to abandon the ambition 149.
• Despite his fearsome reputation, he shops for limited-edition gifts and accessories for Minnie 631 635.
• An alternate world's Jones also possesses the Evolution Fruit, but has no siblings and serves the Athos Family to advance his own position 757.