I think this recent chapter has potentially added and gave us some clue about pre-Void Century history of the One Piece world, and adding to what I've stated before that Nika is not something Oda came up with post-TS, but was part of the mythology he envisioned for his world even back in pre-TS, with post-TS just being where he fleshes out the details. But on to the topic of the thread.
This recent chapter mentioned how the World had been destroyed twice before. We know one of the potential time it's referring to is the Void Century, which had the apocalyptic battle of the Ancient Kingdom vs the 20 Kingdoms. That leaves 1 other time something similar happened.
When the world was first destroyed
The Age of Heaven and Age of Sea Circle:
In chapter 203, Nico Robin mentions the "Age of Heaven".
Then, 25 chapters later, in chapter 228, Nami reads the logs of the adventurer Mont Blanc Noland from 400 years ago. The starting of the log she reads is "The age of Kaien 1120, June 21" . Age of Kaien also translated as Age of Sea Circle. Then again mentioned by Nico Robin in chapter 261.
Chronology and placement of the ages + 1st Destruction of the World:
So we essentially have two ages in the world of One Piece right now, the Age of Heaven and the Age of the Sea Circle. But in addition to this information, we also know the Palace of Alabasta has been there for 4000 years. Not only that, but the Tree of Knowledge that was planted in Ohara was planted over 5000 years ago. 4000 years ago is our equivalent of the Ancient Egyptian Dynasties, which Alabasta is heavily inspired off of. But also of Ancient Indian empires, which also contribute to the inspiration behind Alabasta.
So we know the history of the OP world goes as far back as 5000 years. However, the Age of Sea Circle only goes back 1522 years based on Noland's diary. This would make Age of Heaven, being the one that existed before the Age of Sea Circle (AoK). But we don't know when exactly the Age of Heaven starts. However, these two I think function essentially as BC/AD. Age of Sea Circle being the AD, and Age of Heaven (AoH) being the BC. So going with that, if we calculate the history of Alabasta that Robin mentions:
1750+ years ago: Kahira is conquered by Alabasta, this would be the foundation of the Alabastian dynasty. (AoH 239)
1770+ years ago: Tymar of the Bitein Dynasty took the throne (AoH 260)
1800+ years ago: The Great Taph Temple in Erumalu is built (AoH 306)
1820+ years ago: The Great Hero of Oltea, Mamudin, did something (AoH 325)
4000+ years ago: Palace of Alubarna was founded (AoH 2400+)
Now our AD/BC usage stems from the Christian belief system of Before Christ (BC) and Year of the lord/ Anno Domini (AD). Basically a great religious figure, and in Christian ideology, the most important event in history happened, that triggers upon a whole new era of the world from which the calendar starts anew.
I think very similarly, the first "destruction of the world" happened 1520+ years ago, after which is when the Age of Sea Circle starts. This would mark the first time "Nika" appeared as the person who greatly changed the world. And it's greatly possible that during the Age of Heaven the likes of Lunarians and such thrived on the planet, and after the 1st big war that occurred, the sea levels rose, which paved ways for Joyboy to end up being the "1st pirate".
1522 years ago (AoSC 0) - First Destruction
800 years ago (AoSC 722) - Second Destruction
Now based on this statement from VP, the Ancient Weapons likely predate the Ancient Kingdom as well, and Joyboy used to preserve them. (Though this is all dependent on how you interpret that statement.) Because VP says in the past there were three ancient weapons, rather than in the past there were three great weapons or something of that sort. Implication to me being that even in the past they were considered ancient.
Meaning the Ancient Weapons were first used 1522 years ago during the 1st destruction of the world.
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ALTERNATIVELY:
It's also possible that the start of each Age marks when the world was destroyed. This would mean that the Void Century wasn't as destructive as the battles that took place then. Though the likelihood of this is low, since the war in the Void Century led to a rise of 200 meters in sea level. BUT again this also, is just VP's speculation and it's possible this rise in water happened BEFORE Joyboy, rather it happened, in this theory, during the 2nd destruction of the world, 1522 leading to the "Age of Sea Circle".
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Alright y'all this is my take on the two destructions of the World. And all of this ultimately does translate to Luffy being sort of a jesus like figure, but not really, since he's not preaching a religion. But I think that's a given in all major mangas, they're all about the chosen ones, all it depends on is the scope of that chosen on. IE, even Sena from Eyeshield 21 is a "Chosen one" for japanese football. And I don't really have any issues with it either, I'm just here for the story, which I've been enjoying so far.
BUT LET ME KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE... OR FEEL FREE TO ADD IN MORE.
This recent chapter mentioned how the World had been destroyed twice before. We know one of the potential time it's referring to is the Void Century, which had the apocalyptic battle of the Ancient Kingdom vs the 20 Kingdoms. That leaves 1 other time something similar happened.
When the world was first destroyed
The Age of Heaven and Age of Sea Circle:
In chapter 203, Nico Robin mentions the "Age of Heaven".
Then, 25 chapters later, in chapter 228, Nami reads the logs of the adventurer Mont Blanc Noland from 400 years ago. The starting of the log she reads is "The age of Kaien 1120, June 21" . Age of Kaien also translated as Age of Sea Circle. Then again mentioned by Nico Robin in chapter 261.
Chronology and placement of the ages + 1st Destruction of the World:
So we essentially have two ages in the world of One Piece right now, the Age of Heaven and the Age of the Sea Circle. But in addition to this information, we also know the Palace of Alabasta has been there for 4000 years. Not only that, but the Tree of Knowledge that was planted in Ohara was planted over 5000 years ago. 4000 years ago is our equivalent of the Ancient Egyptian Dynasties, which Alabasta is heavily inspired off of. But also of Ancient Indian empires, which also contribute to the inspiration behind Alabasta.
So we know the history of the OP world goes as far back as 5000 years. However, the Age of Sea Circle only goes back 1522 years based on Noland's diary. This would make Age of Heaven, being the one that existed before the Age of Sea Circle (AoK). But we don't know when exactly the Age of Heaven starts. However, these two I think function essentially as BC/AD. Age of Sea Circle being the AD, and Age of Heaven (AoH) being the BC. So going with that, if we calculate the history of Alabasta that Robin mentions:
1750+ years ago: Kahira is conquered by Alabasta, this would be the foundation of the Alabastian dynasty. (AoH 239)
1770+ years ago: Tymar of the Bitein Dynasty took the throne (AoH 260)
1800+ years ago: The Great Taph Temple in Erumalu is built (AoH 306)
1820+ years ago: The Great Hero of Oltea, Mamudin, did something (AoH 325)
4000+ years ago: Palace of Alubarna was founded (AoH 2400+)
Now our AD/BC usage stems from the Christian belief system of Before Christ (BC) and Year of the lord/ Anno Domini (AD). Basically a great religious figure, and in Christian ideology, the most important event in history happened, that triggers upon a whole new era of the world from which the calendar starts anew.
I think very similarly, the first "destruction of the world" happened 1520+ years ago, after which is when the Age of Sea Circle starts. This would mark the first time "Nika" appeared as the person who greatly changed the world. And it's greatly possible that during the Age of Heaven the likes of Lunarians and such thrived on the planet, and after the 1st big war that occurred, the sea levels rose, which paved ways for Joyboy to end up being the "1st pirate".
1522 years ago (AoSC 0) - First Destruction
800 years ago (AoSC 722) - Second Destruction
Now based on this statement from VP, the Ancient Weapons likely predate the Ancient Kingdom as well, and Joyboy used to preserve them. (Though this is all dependent on how you interpret that statement.) Because VP says in the past there were three ancient weapons, rather than in the past there were three great weapons or something of that sort. Implication to me being that even in the past they were considered ancient.
Meaning the Ancient Weapons were first used 1522 years ago during the 1st destruction of the world.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ALTERNATIVELY:
It's also possible that the start of each Age marks when the world was destroyed. This would mean that the Void Century wasn't as destructive as the battles that took place then. Though the likelihood of this is low, since the war in the Void Century led to a rise of 200 meters in sea level. BUT again this also, is just VP's speculation and it's possible this rise in water happened BEFORE Joyboy, rather it happened, in this theory, during the 2nd destruction of the world, 1522 leading to the "Age of Sea Circle".
----------------
----------------
Alright y'all this is my take on the two destructions of the World. And all of this ultimately does translate to Luffy being sort of a jesus like figure, but not really, since he's not preaching a religion. But I think that's a given in all major mangas, they're all about the chosen ones, all it depends on is the scope of that chosen on. IE, even Sena from Eyeshield 21 is a "Chosen one" for japanese football. And I don't really have any issues with it either, I'm just here for the story, which I've been enjoying so far.
BUT LET ME KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE... OR FEEL FREE TO ADD IN MORE.