The Importance of the Void Century in One Piece: Unveiling the Secrets and Lore The Importance of the Void Century in One Piece's Lore-1112

Introduction

For many years now, the epic pirate series One Piece has tantalized manga and anime fans with enticing mysteries of all kinds, such as who Luffy’s mother might be, where Gol D. Roger’s treasure is, and far more.

One of the best ongoing mysteries is the enigmatic Void Century, the name for a conspicuous gap in the historical record. The World Government strictly forbids any research or even any discussion about it, and most people in One Piece’s world are at peace with that.

One Piece readers and viewers certainly want to know more about the Void Century and why it’s so important, and the same was true for the people of the island Ohara, before the World Government burned the place to the ground. Even now, not all the details of the Void Century have been revealed, but One Piece fans do know a few basics of that phase of history, and that allows fans to make educated guesses about the missing details — and how the Void Century may affect the plot going forward here in the final saga.

In fact, the Void Century’s full truth will probably reveal what Gol D. Roger’s One Piece treasure is and how it may impact the final war.

The Void Century as a Setting

The World of One Piece as a Character

On a meta level, the Void Century is an important piece of lore because the setting itself serves as a character. This literary technique isn’t always necessary in movies, anime, and novels, but if the writer has good reason to, they can use the setting itself as a character, from the chosen terrain types to human settlements, notable landmarks, or even natural disasters such as desertification, post-apocalyptic ruins, and more.

The Literary Technique of Using the Setting as a Character

A story’s setting may have its own unique flair and embody the themes or narrative of the story, anything from healing and hope to the inevitability of death or the price of technological progress. Post-apocalyptic fiction, for example, never fails to show the ruined world as a character who suffered immensely from humanity’s mistakes, such as nuclear war. The “character” setting took a beating to represent the tragedy, with hollowed-out city ruins and deserts standing for humanity’s downfall and self-destruction.

The Creation of the World Government

Formation of the World Government

It seems that the World Government is content to let the people of One Piece’s world believe that the World Government has always existed as the ruling body of the universe, and the people have no idea that the world used to have continents. However, the World Government is not ageless — it’s around 800-900 years old, having formed in the Void Century when twenty different royal families came together to create this political entity, thus becoming the First Twenty.

The First Twenty Royal Families

Today, the world’s people are aware of the Celestial Dragons and their lofty status as the royal “chosen ones” of a sort, but the people don’t know that this system is younger than one might expect.

The Celestial Dragons

Another major factor is that the World Government didn’t just rise to power in the Void Century — it also replaced the Great Kingdom. It’s not 100% clear yet to One Piece fans, but in all likelihood, the Great Kingdom was a far more benevolent place than the villainous World Government is today, which is no doubt why the first Joy Boy fought so hard to defend it.

The Great Kingdom

Description of the Great Kingdom

The people of this world could have lived in peace, freedom, and prosperity if the Great Kingdom had continued to exist, but the World Government denied that to everyone when it rose to power and overthrew the existing world order. If the people knew the truth, they would no doubt be outraged that the First Twenty destroyed such a wonderful world order of freedom and advanced technology, so the World Government goes to extreme lengths to hide all that and let the people think that the current, oppressive world order has always existed.

The Benevolence of the Great Kingdom Compared to the World Government

The Great Kingdom is often depicted as a utopia compared to the current state of the world under the World Government’s rule. The loss of such a society emphasizes the tragedy of the Void Century.

Joy Boy’s Role in Defending the Great Kingdom

Joy Boy is a key figure in the lore of the Void Century, known for his efforts to protect the Great Kingdom. His story is intertwined with the fate of the Ancient Weapons and the promise he made to the mermaid princess of that era.

The Sinking of the Continents

The Use of Ancient Weapons

By now, manga fans know all about the sinking world problem, with the World Government using unknown Ancient Weapons to eliminate the world’s continents of the Void Century and thus destroy the Great Kingdom.

The Rise in Ocean Levels

The ocean levels rose by an incredible 200 meters, literally drowning out the Great Kingdom and reducing the world to scattered islands, which made humanity much easier to control.

The Transformation of the World into Scattered Islands

In the Void Century, the world was a prosperous place on continents, until the fledgling World Government attacked and effectively killed that world “character.” And now, the World Government is about to do it again.

The Destruction of Ohara

The Buster Call on Ohara

In the Water 7 saga, fans of One Piece learned about the horrible reality of the Buster Call, the Navy’s formula for using extreme firepower to utterly destroy an island or similar location until nothing and no one remains.

Nico Robin’s Backstory

When Nico Robin was a kid, the people of Ohara used their vast library to research the Void Century, which brought the wrath of the World Government down upon them. Almost everyone was wiped out and the research tree was flattened, though Jaguar D. Saul managed to survive the Buster Call and helped Nico Robin survive and escape as well.

The Impact on Nico Robin’s Life

Research into the Void Century is the reason Nico Robin went from a happy child on Ohara to the “devil child” who was wanted by the Navy, running around the world to escape her past.

Nico Robin’s Journey

Joining Baroque Works

That led Nico Robin to join the Baroque Works organization at one point, and that, in turn, put her in a position to join the Straw Hat Pirates crew.

Joining the Straw Hat Pirates

Nico Robin’s knowledge and skills made her a valuable member of the Straw Hat Pirates, and her personal quest for truth aligns with the crew’s adventures.

Luffy’s Declaration of War on the World Government

Luffy’s declaration of war on the World Government was a pivotal moment in One Piece, underscoring the crew’s commitment to their friends and their resistance against oppression.

The Mystery of the One Piece

Connection to the Void Century

Perhaps the most exciting part about the mystery of the Void Century is its obvious connection to Gol D. Roger’s treasure, the One Piece. Fans still don’t know what that item is, even 27 years after the manga’s debut, but the answers are no doubt right around the corner as the Void Century’s details are fleshed out in the story.

Theories about the One Piece

There are plenty of theories, with a few simple possibilities standing out. For one, the One Piece might be an Ancient Weapon itself, such as the Pluton or Uranus, or it might be a fourth and previously unknown Ancient Weapon. Whoever controls it might dictate the course of this final war.

Ancient Weapons and Their Role

Pluton, Poseidon, Uranus

The Ancient Weapons are central to the power struggles in One Piece. Each has the potential to cause massive destruction or bring about significant change.

The Possibility of the One Piece Being an Ancient Weapon

If the One Piece is indeed an Ancient Weapon, it could be the key to ending the tyranny of the World Government or reshaping the world once again.

The Revolutionary Army

Dragon’s Role

Dragon, Luffy’s father, leads the Revolutionary Army, which seeks to overthrow the World Government and bring about a new era of freedom.

The Revolutionary Army’s Goals

The Revolutionary Army aims to expose the truth about the Void Century and the World Government, rallying the world’s oppressed people to their cause.

The Final War

The Anticipated Conflict

As the final war takes shape, the two sides may fight over the One Piece, and a race to Laugh Tale may ensue. This conflict will likely determine the future of the world.

The Race to Laugh Tale

Laugh Tale, the final island in the Grand Line, is believed to hold the key to the One Piece and the secrets of the Void Century.

Impact on the Current Plot

How the Void Century Influences Current Events

The events of the Void Century have set the stage for the current plot, with ancient conflicts and secrets shaping the present-day struggles.

Predictions for Future Revelations

Future revelations about the Void Century are expected to shed light on the true nature of the One Piece and the final war’s outcome.

The Role of the Straw Hat Pirates

Their Quest for the One Piece

The Straw Hat Pirates’ journey to find the One Piece is at the heart of the series, driving their adventures and battles.

Their Involvement in the Final War

The Straw Hats are expected to play a crucial role in the final war, with their discoveries and alliances influencing the battle’s outcome.

Speculations and Fan Theories

Popular Fan Theories about the Void Century and the One Piece

Fans have speculated endlessly about the Void Century and the One Piece, with theories ranging from the treasure being a symbol of freedom to an actual weapon.

Analysis of These Theories

Analyzing these theories provides insight into the story’s direction and the possible revelations that may come as the series progresses.

Conclusion

The Void Century is a critical element of One Piece’s lore, offering depth and intrigue to the story. Its secrets not only shape the past but also influence the current events and future outcomes of the series. As fans eagerly await the final revelations, the importance of the Void Century in understanding the world of One Piece cannot be overstated.

FAQs

What is the Void Century in One Piece?

The Void Century is a 100-year gap in the historical record of the One Piece world, shrouded in mystery and forbidden knowledge by the World Government.

Who were the First Twenty?

The First Twenty were the royal families who founded the World Government during the Void Century, now known as the Celestial Dragons.

What are the Ancient Weapons?

The Ancient Weapons are powerful tools from the Void Century, capable of mass destruction and significant impact on the world, including Pluton, Poseidon, and Uranus.

How did the Void Century affect Nico Robin?

Nico Robin’s life was profoundly affected by the Void Century, as her home island of Ohara was destroyed for researching it, leading her to a life on the run until she joined the Straw Hat Pirates.

What is the One Piece treasure?

The One Piece treasure’s true nature is still unknown, but it is believed to be connected to the events of the Void Century and holds significant power or knowledge that could change the world.