Probably one of the biggest mysteries of the series, One Piece’s Void Century has brought many theories to the fandom because even through 25 years of storytelling, Eiichiro Oda has only provided snippets of the possible answers to our questions.
But what exactly do we know about the void century so far?
What is the Void Century?
The Void Century is a particular time period in the One Piece world where nothing about that period is known. For some reason, the truth about this time period is being kept by the World Government, and they don’t plan on letting anything out.
Apart from the poneglyphs, which are written in a language that only two living people understand, this time became known as the Void Century since there is nothing left to recognize anything that transpired during it.
However, it creates an issue with the world’s known histories because nothing ties up because of that missing period. Though many people appear to be aware that there is a gap in the historical record, almost no one is aware that it is feasible to fill this gap. For example, when Nico Robin told Nefertari Cobra about the missing time, she was astounded that a means to “weave the threads of history together” existed. Filling the gap was demonstrated when “Dark King” Silvers Rayleigh stated that the Roger Pirates uncovered the actual history.
The actual history of the Earth appears to include secrets so harmful that people who know about them, including criminals, are extremely hesitant to discuss them. The Roger Pirates and Edward Newgate did not divulge to the world what was concealed at Laugh Tale, and Kozuki Oden did not reveal the actual history to his followers because he saw it as a burden. Silvers Rayleigh promised to tell Nico Robin the actual history but cautioned her that the way she was at the time, she wouldn’t be able to do anything about it.
Furthermore, any knowledge of the true events of the Void Century is considered a death sentence, and holding such knowledge is liable to death in the eyes of the World Government, regardless of the affiliation of the person knowing it. Even entire nations will be destroyed and erased from existence should even a single person attempt to learn anything about the Void Century, as the World Government is not shy about killing innocents and getting rid of nations that are not willing to kill innocents.
The Great War: Void Century
Do you remember the story of Noland the Liar? If you do, good for you because that story is extremely important in uncovering the truth about Shandora, the hidden city in the sky. The Great War was undoubtedly the most significant event of the Void Century. It came to an end about the year 722 with the collapse of Shandora.
There is an old city on the moon with a swarm of similar Machines in Enel’s cover story. On the wall is a painting of a Skypiean with Machines following him on the left, while a Shandorian and Birkan work on the right. After resources on the moon were out, the three races embarked on the “Blue Star”.
The Shandorians, one of the three races, wound themselves to the island of Jaya, where they created the city of Shandora a thousand years ago. The magnificent city of Shandora crumbled during this conflict, the Shandorians defended the city from “those who want the stone”. The city fell, but the Shandia, the descendants of the Shandorians, defended it for eight hundred years thereafter.
All three races have wings on their backs (albeit each has a slightly different form) and may have been the same race in the past.
The poneglyph left on Skypiea for the Shandia and Shandorians before them to safeguard is the link between Skypiea and the Void Century.
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Joy Boy and the Void Century
Joy Boy came to Fish-Man Island and struck a deal with Poseidon involving a massive ship named Noah. Part of their agreement included Poseidon’s assistance in rearing Noah, but for unexplained reasons, he failed to maintain his end of the bargain. He apologized on the Poneglyph in the Sea Forest. The Fish-Man Island will continue to house Noah until the “designated moment” arrives.
Joy Boy also left behind an object of unthinkable worth on the Grand Line’s final island. When it is discovered, the world will be rocked to its core, according to Whitebeard.
After learning about the events of the Void Century, Kozuki Oden decided that Wano Country should be exposed to the world before Joy Boy returns.
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Wano Country and the Void Century
Wano most certainly had a major part in the Void Century and was somehow connected to the Great Kingdom, given the Kozuki Family developed the poneglyphs and Pluton, one of the Ancient Weapons, is now buried under the land. The ancient Wano country that existed at the time was also very different from the one that exists today, being more akin to a standard island at sea level rather than the unique water-bowl mountain structure that it now displays.
During his journey to Laugh Tale, Kozuki Oden discovered that the country was formerly connected to the rest of the world, but chose an isolationist stance to defend itself from a “great adversary,” resulting in gigantic walls being built around the country. According to Oden, the world has to reunite with Wano, thus its boundaries must open before Joy Boy returns. This would also result in the re-release of Pluton.
Despite the fact that the World Government cannot enforce the country’s research ban, the inhabitants of Wano appear to be unaware of why their country is isolated and what transpired during the Void Century. Because it is illegal to leave the nation, most residents in Wano are unaware of what lies beyond their borders.
Technology During the Void Century
According to Vegapunk, 900 years ago, there existed a highly evolved civilization similar to the ones seen on Egghead. Although it is uncertain whether it has anything to do with the Great Kingdom. However, the technology from 900 years ago vanished after the conflict, only to be replicated by Vegapunk.
During the Void Century, a massive robot known as the Iron Giant was developed for unexplained reasons. It attacked Mary Geoise 200 years ago for unclear reasons but was defeated.
The robot, according to Vegapunk, relies on a power source that cannot be duplicated today but was prevalent in the Void Century. What this is is yet unknown.
Poneglyphs and the Ancient Weapons
These are two of the things that come closest to revealing what the void century was and its real history about it.
Poneglyphs are strange stone blocks with history carved onto them that may be found all across the Grand Line. The government has made it illegal for anybody to do research or analyze these blocks. Professor Clover claims that they are indestructible.
The Ancient Weapons are three weapons of mass devastation capable of wreaking havoc on the whole earth. They are known as Pluton, an ancient battleship capable of immense damage, Poseidon, a Mermaid who can speak with and control Sea Kings, and Uranus, whose abilities are unknown. The World’s Government’s reason for prohibiting study into the lost years is the Ancient Weapons.
There we have it. The void century and its multiple mysteries. It’s definitely something we should be looking forward to in the coming chapters and episodes of the final saga.
