You know, that's actually a interesting point. Shanks almost certainly had this Abyss Mark while he was fighting Teach. And Teach didn't have any sort of Devil Fruit, yet. So, if Shanks DID have some sort of regeneration ability, how did Teach manage to scar him?
Okay, here's a few possibilities, just as a brainstorming exercise:
Option 1: Shanks had the Abyss Mark, but he didn't have any Regeneration powers.
It's also worth noting that Shanks had the Abyss Mark when his arm got bitten off. But, it didn't regenerate like the God's Knights or Gorosei. So, either he CHOSE not to use those powers, biting off the Mark made him UNABLE to use those powers, or he never had those powers in the first place.
Moral posturing aside...I feel like Shanks would have used the regeneration powers if he had access to them. Losing a arm is pretty painful. In the moment, I don't know if most people would be able to resist regrowing their arm. Maybe Shanks WAS just that determined to remove the Abyss Mark. But, I feel like it's unlikely. Shanks may have chosen to let his arm get bitten off, but he most likely didn't have access to regeneration powers.
Being unable to use regeneration because the Mark itself was damaged is possible. And maybe that's the key to defeating the God's Knights. They're like Lord Zedd's Putties, you got to hit them in that exact spot. But, that makes Shanks look a little weak, and I don't think that's the way Oda's going to go with it.
SO, I think the most likely option is that Shanks never had the Regeneration powers in the first place. I've mentioned it before, but the most likely time that Shanks could have gone back to Mariejois was after Roger's execution, in a 2-year window 24 years ago when Shanks was around 15 years old.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/for...meet-ginny-in-mary-geoise.69042/#post-6162061
Like Kair0s1 said, there seem to be different "levels" or "ranks" of Abyss Mark powers. Both the God's Knights and Gorosei have Regeneration. But, only the Gorosei (and Gunko?) seem to have "summoning" and "Yokai" powers.
So, it's possible that a young Shanks was scouted to be a God's Knight candidate. But, if he was, he probably wasn't there for long before leaving. It's possible Shanks only ever reached the rank of "Cadet" or something before leaving. So, he had the Mark, but basically no powers to go along with it. Maybe just being able to pass through the summoning circles. He might even STILL be able to use the summoning circles. Because that WOULD explain how he was able to get to Marineford the day after fighting Kaido. Shanks likely has access to some sort of fast travel system. Maybe even without the Mark, he can still use the Circles, due to his "soul" still being Marked?
This is probably the most likely option. But, it's not necessarily the most interesting option.
Option 2: Teach's claws are more special than we've been lead to think.
Teach's claws are kind of weird. They're a iconic part of his design in flashbacks. But, he almost never uses them in the present day. It's a little odd.
Could Teach's claws actually be made of some sort of special material? Seastone, or something else which is the equivalent for Abyss Mark Users? "Sunstone"? Maybe this could even be the same material that Scopper's axes are made of, explaining how Scopper can hurt Abyss Mark users, if only for a little while.
Or maybe Teach's claws actually ate a Devil Fruit? Like Shamrock's Cerberus Sword, or Lassoo the Gun-Dog. I have theorized that Devil Fruits could be a key to defeating Abyss users before, as a part of a "weapons triangle". But, that seems unlikely, at this point. Still, I'm bringing it up again. I WISH it could be true, even though it most likely isn't.
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/haki-and-devil-fruits.66831/#post-6049404
https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/where-will-strawhats-train.67605/#post-6084724
The claws suddenly transforming would probably startle Shanks enough that Teach could have gotten a cheap shot in. But, if that was the case, Shanks wouldn't be confused by what Teach was able to do. It would have been obvious. Instead, Shanks treats it like a mystery how Teach was able to scar him. Shanks is just as confused as we are. So, this is almost certainly not the case.
Option 3: Teach was able to use a unique form of Conqueror's Haki.
So far in the story, we've only really seen Conqueror's being used in the same basic way. A strong-willed person projects the force of their will around them and forces those around them to submit. Usually just knocking them out.
But, in Chapter 1152, Scopper seems to be hinting at a different way to use Conqueror's Haki. There's a few ways Oda could change this up.
One is if you're supposed to use "Concentrated" Conqueror's Haki. Instead of projecting the force of your will all around you, you focus it all into a single point. Letting your Haki ooze out of you might actually be incredibly wasteful. This could be what Scopper was doing. He's focusing his Conqueror's into the blade of his axes. A single point given incredible amounts of power.
But, another way you COULD use Conqueror's is basically the opposite of how it's always been used. Instead of forcing your will on others, you let other people's will flow into you. Part of being a "Conqueror" is getting people to join you. It's one thing to force people to do what you want, but a good ruler eventually has to have the support of their "people", if they ever want to last long. You have to get people to believe in you and your cause. You have to get other people to want to see your dreams come true. So, maybe the key isn't to impose your will on others, but letting your allies will flow into you and help support you own strength. Harmonizing with them and working together as a team. Several wills all working together for the same goal. The people who work with the "ruler", all CHOOSING to support that ruler with their own wills. All uniting behind their "conqueror's" dream.
Scopper has his family, Colon and Ripley. Luffy and Zoro have their Nakama. Almost everyone who we've seen use Conqueror's had friends or family who supported them. Who believed in them. Who wanted to help them make their dreams come true.
And yes, this basically WOULD just be "The Power of Friendship". Or maybe even "The Power of Love", even though it's a VERY broad definition of "love", which Oda HAS been teasing with Sanji. And it probably would end with Luffy giving everyone Nika powers. But, we're heading in that direction, anyway. And it does feel like something Oda would do.
He'd just have to come up with a cool name to call this power. "Abdication" Haki? Meh, it sounds too much like you're giving up, even though you're just giving the power to your people. "Leadership" Haki? A little on the nose, but it's fine. "Respect" Haki? It gets the idea across better, since your crew or loved ones have to care about you. "Karmic" Haki? It does communicate that this is the "ruler" reaping what they sow. "Awakened" Conqueor's Haki? Well, it's boring, but it's the most likely one that will actually get used.
So, that raises a question....who does Blackbeard have?
Blackbeard grew up as a orphan, and he betrayed Whitebeard's crew, so "family" is pretty much out. Blackbeard has his crew, sure. But, they're really more "coworkers" or maybe "drinking buddies", rather than a tight-knit group that's almost a family. I don't feel like Blackbeard could use a similar power by using them. And Blackbeard doesn't have any serious lovers. He just has his arm (and leg and belly) candy. All the pirates on Hachinosu are just using him to carouse, they don't really seem to really deeply care about Blackbeard.
But, there are several theories out there that Blackbeard has either split personalities, or completely different souls all living within him. Thus, explaining how he can use multiple Devil Fruits. So, maybe the same ability that lets him use several Devil Fruits at the same time could ALSO allow him to use this other form of Conqueror's. Maybe Blackbeard is actually "harmonizing" with...himself, more or less? Maybe "The Wings of Blackbeard" are actually..."me", "myself", and "I"? Blackbeard could have "The Power of Love", but for him it's really more like "The Power of Self-Love".
I'll admit this is a little out there, but I do like the idea. Starting out as a "conqueror" and eventually becoming a "rightful ruler" with the support of their people. There's something a bit poetic about that.
But, those are just a few idea. I'm not sure if any of them are real slam dunks. But, time will tell.
