One Piece’s Void Century War: A Battle of Philosophical Ideals

One Piece chapter 1113 marked the start of Vegapunk’s live broadcast, during which he exposed the ‘truth of the world’ to the Grand Line, while the Five Elders desperately attempted to halt his broadcast.

The main topic of this stream revolved around the Void Century and Joyboy, which are two of the most puzzling enigmas in the series. Fans were eagerly anticipating an enthralling revelation. As Vegapunk continued to explore revelations that challenged the widely accepted beliefs of the Grand Line, he eventually uncovered the truth about the Void Century and the war that took place during that time.

The conflict between the first pirate of Grand Line and the 20 Kingdom alliance resulted in the downfall of Joyboy during the war. Vegapunk chose not to take sides in the conflict, but rather portrayed it as a clash of differing philosophical beliefs. To gain a deeper understanding of the Void Century War, one can look to a short story that recounts the experiences of a slave.

Please note: The following article includes the author’s opinion and may contain spoilers from the One Piece manga series.

The Similarities between the Void Century War and The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas

Vegapunk as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

In chapter 1115 of One Piece, Vegapunk concluded his discussion on the Void Century and shifted the focus to a ‘great war’ that took place during this period. The opposing sides in this war were the first pirate of the Grand Line, Joyboy, and the alliance of the 20 Kingdoms, which eventually formed the World Government.

Despite not using physical violence, the war was a formidable one due to Vegapunk’s revelation that the technology of that era far exceeded the most advanced scientific developments of the present time. As a result, Joyboy encountered numerous obstacles in his battle against the alliance. Tragically, the war ultimately resulted in Joyboy’s death and marked the end of the Void Century.

It is intriguing to note that the brilliant scientist Vegapunk was unaware of the cause of this conflict and refrained from making unfounded assumptions. This may have been due to his past transgressions, as a criminal does not appear credible when passing judgment on others. Nevertheless, he did stress that the war was fueled by opposing ideologies. So, what could these two ideologies possibly be?

To achieve this goal, we will explore the early 1970s and examine a short story that illustrates these ideologies. The story centered around the Kingdom of Omeles, where endless joy reigned supreme.

Despite the happiness experienced by the citizens, it came at a cost – one individual was forced to endure suffering and hardships as a slave. Over time, the true cause of their happiness was revealed, leading to the emergence of two conflicting ideologies among the people of Omelas.

The Utilitarians viewed the slave’s sacrifice as justifiable in order to maintain their own happiness, while the Liberals actively advocated for the slave’s rights and spoke out against the injustice. As fans may have observed, the former ideology aligns with the beliefs of World Government officials, while the latter is shared by Joyboy and the D, who strive for freedom.

The Shandians as seen in the anime (Image via Toei Animation)

Interestingly, a similar situation unfolded in One Piece during the Skypiea arc. The Shandians revered Kashigami, a massive snake, as their deity and offered sacrifices to it in gratitude for their happiness. However, everything changed when Noland arrived and slew the snake, revealing its true nature as just another creature.

Similarly, during the Void Century War, the 20 Kingdoms, like the Utilitarians and the Shandians, derived their pleasure from dominating the enslaved population. However, Joyboy, like the Liberals and Noland, refused to stand idly by and persisted in his struggle for the freedom of the slaves. Therefore, the conflicting ideologies during the Void Century War were Utilitarianism and Liberalism.

Final Thoughts

Hyakkimaru as seen in the anime (Image via MAPPA)

As some fans may have noticed, such occurrences are not uncommon in anime series. For instance, in Dororo, the son of a lord was sacrificed for the prosperity of his kingdom. However, the child was born as a lifeless being, lacking both organs and limbs.

Despite being abandoned by the lord, the son managed to survive and as a result, the lord was forced to face consequences. This is also reflected in One Piece, where the presence of individuals willing to resist oppression serves as a source of hope.