One Piece: Void Century explained

The Void Century remains one of the greatest enigmas in the One Piece series, with speculation that it holds the secrets to both the elusive grand treasure and the true nature of the world.

In One Piece, the World Government holds dominion over a realm where they have complete control, including shaping the public’s understanding of history. The Void Century is their most closely guarded secret.

The Alabasta Arc marked the first mention of the Void Century by Nico Robin. It was also the first time the Poneglyphs were introduced in the story. However, the Enies Lobby Arc was when the time period was officially addressed, with the revelation of Robin’s past.

As the central focus of the world’s history, the Void Century is a crucial plotline in the series. With the manga now in its Final Saga and the conclusion of One Piece nearing, further revelations about this forbidden era are being revealed. Therefore, it is imperative to delve into the concept of the Void Century and how it shapes the overall narrative.

The Void Century: An Overview

Shadria City in Void Century — Eiichiro Oda/Toei Animation

The Void Century refers to the period between 900 and 800 years before the current storyline in One Piece. Its name is derived from the absence of any historical records during this time.

Despite the critical events that transpired during the Void Century, the World Government has taken great measures to conceal its significance. Any attempt to study this era is met with severe consequences, including a death sentence and the potential annihilation of an entire island.

Despite the World Government’s efforts to erase all records of this time period from history, some still remain. The ancient script detailing the history of the Void Century is preserved on massive stone blocks known as Poneglyphs.

The Poneglyphs have been dispersed across the Grand Line, evading the grasp of the World Government for centuries. Due to the extinction of the ancient culture and its erasure from history, only a select few possess the ability to decipher the ancient script inscribed on the Poneglyphs.

The archaeologists of Ohara, however, were able to decipher the ancient texts and were actively studying the mysteries of the Void Century. Unfortunately, their efforts were met with swift and brutal retaliation from the World Government, who ordered a devastating Buster Call that decimated the entire island and its inhabitants. But thanks to the efforts of Dr. Vegapunk, some of their research was salvaged and eventually revealed a small glimpse into the enigmatic history of the Void Century.

Despite the World Government’s strict gatekeeping and the limited number of individuals who can read the Poneglyphs, only a select few One Piece characters are aware of the truth. Gol D. Roger and his crew were among those who learned the truth of the world upon reaching Laugh Tale, and they eventually shared this information with Whitebeard.

In addition to them, Kozuki Toki was also knowledgeable about its history, having been born during that time. Vegapunk later became aware of it through the discoveries of Ohara’s archaeologists. Thanks to his global broadcast, the world has now become aware of the Void Century as well.

The Mystery of the Void Century

In his posthumous broadcast, Vegapunk disclosed the truth about the events of the Void Century to the world. He discussed the existence of the Ancient Kingdom that preceded that era.

The kingdom was remarkably advanced in technology, surpassing even the modern world. Despite being a genius, Vegapunk was unable to replicate their scientific progress. A prime example of this was the Iron Giant robot, which can be found on Egghead Island.

During the Void Century, the world’s geography was vastly different from the present. Instead of the current arrangement of numerous isolated islands, there were once vast continents spanning the globe. The great city of Shandora was also believed to have existed during this time.

The Great War, also known as the war of the Void Century, had a profound impact on the world. Twenty nations united to fight against the Ancient Kingdom, resulting in their defeat and erasure from history. This event forever altered the course of civilization.

The conclusion of the Great War also marked the end of the Void Century. In the aftermath, the world underwent a permanent transformation as the First Twenty Kings united their nations to create the World Government and proclaimed themselves as the ultimate authorities of the world.

After the Ancient Kingdom was defeated, the world experienced a catastrophic event that caused it to sink 200 meters into the sea, resulting in the destruction of numerous civilizations. According to Vegapunk’s theory, this submergence was not a natural disaster, but rather a deliberate act caused by the use of Ancient Weapons.

As a result, the truth of the world has been submerged beneath the sea, never to resurface.

What is the Great War?

Imu and the straw hat — Eiichiro Oda/Toei Animation

The Ancient Kingdom was destroyed and the world was forever altered by the events of the Great War. It pitted the kingdom against the First Twenty Nations, including Alabasta, ruled by their queen Nefertari D. Lili.

The Great War appeared to have spanned a century, coinciding with the duration of the Void Century. While there is still much to be uncovered about this conflict, it was a battle between the First Twenty Kings and the D Family, resulting in the family being labeled as the “enemy of gods”.

Throughout the war, there was one individual who stood out and became a thorn in the side of the First Twenty Nations: Joyboy. A enigmatic figure in the annals of history, Joyboy was a member of the Ancient Kingdom and a key player in the Great War.

Despite continuous research and speculation, the details surrounding the Great War and the Void Century remain shrouded in mystery. However, according to Vegapunk’s message, it can be deduced that the Ancient Kingdom’s downfall marked the end of both events, leading to the submergence of the world in the sea.

It can be assumed, however, that Wano was an ally to the Ancient Kingdom during the Great War, as they withdrew from the rest of the world after the war’s conclusion.

Vegapunk discovered from the limited Ponegylphs he had read that the Great War was fought as a clash between two opposing ideologies: “good”and “evil”. However, the scientist was unable to extensively research the specifics of this as he did not have enough information.

The Journey of Joyboy

Luffy's silhouette in Gear 5 — Eiichiro Oda/Toei Animation

Joyboy, considered one of the most enigmatic figures in One Piece, holds the answers to both the Void Century and the One Piece. His rise to power occurred during the Great War and he was the most dreaded individual among the First Twenty Nations.

Despite the limited information available on Joyboy, it is a known fact that he possessed the power of the Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, Hito Hito no Mi; Model: Nika, which he shared with Luffy.

Joyboy was the first pirate in history, setting sail for the seas ahead of anyone else. As a result, he journeyed to numerous destinations and made a lasting impact. Among his notable exploits was his trip to Fish-Man Island.

During the Void Century, at an unspecified time, Joyboy journeyed to Fish-Man Island where he encountered the Mermaid Princess of that era. Similar to Shirahoshi, the previous Mermaid Princess also possessed the formidable ability of Poseidon, one of the three Ancient Weapons.

Joyboy had struck a deal with her to utilize Poseidon’s power and claim possession of the formidable ship, Noah. However, for reasons unbeknownst to her, he was unable to fulfill his end of the agreement. In an act of remorse, Joyboy inscribed an apology on a Poneglyph and vowed to honor their deal upon his return. The citizens of Fish-Men Island, eagerly anticipating Joyboy’s comeback, continue to safeguard Noah to this day.

Zunesha is another character who has been eagerly anticipating Joyboy’s return. The details of their initial meeting and how they became acquainted remain unknown. However, it is clear that the majestic elephant has faithfully kept his promise to Joyboy, roaming the seas for centuries and patiently awaiting his return.

Void Century’s Connection to the Present

Luffy in Gear 5 — Eiichiro Oda/Toei Animation

The cyclical nature of history has once again revealed itself in the world of One Piece. The Void Century holds great significance to the present, as the events of that time continue to impact the present. Additionally, the patterns of the past are set to repeat themselves in the current era.

Joyboy has returned after 800 years, taking on the form of Monkey D. Luffy. Throughout the story, there have been numerous hints at the connection between Joyboy and Luffy, suggesting a possible reincarnation. This is most evident when Luffy finally unlocks his Gear 5, revealing the full potential of his Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

In the latest chapter of One Piece, Chapter 1115, readers are given their first glimpse of Joyboy in a mysterious silhouette.

As predicted by Vegapunk, the upcoming Great War will bring about significant changes in the world. History will repeat itself as the world is once again threatened with destruction. The World Government will stop at nothing to maintain their power and control, even if it means annihilating everything in their path, as seen when they blindly obeyed Imu’s orders and obliterated the entire Lulusia Kingdom.

The D Family continues to thrive as numerous characters with “D”in their names are spread out across the seas. With Joyboy’s return, the impending Final War draws near, where the forces of “good”and “evil”will clash once more.

As of now, this is the entirety of the information revealed about the Void Century in One Piece. As the series gradually moves towards its finale, further details about this enigmatic era will be uncovered.

To learn more about One Piece, you can read about Trafalgar Law’s transformation into a woman, the character with the highest bounty, all the confirmed deaths in the series, and the most anticipated battles in the Egghead arc. Additionally, our analysis of the recent plot twist in One Piece might interest you.