Last chapter, Oda possibly reveals the One Piece Treasure, and this chapter we might have just found out about the Void Century. We're on a roll, if you love vague hints about big reveals. And I DO love me some vague hints about key plot points!
Okay, so like a lot of people, I found the latest chapter (c1123) a little underwhelming. I just didn't get why Oda would choose to spend a entire chapter on the things he did. It kind of felt like a waste of time.
But, then I remembered the title of the chapter. "The Void Fortnight". Clearly a reference to the Void Century. Ha-ha, Oda, we get it. Forgotten history, whatever. Nice little joke. Not the best, but cute.
But, then I realized...Vegapunk chose to erase his own memory. The "good guys" just erased their own memory of the past, in order to enact a long-term scheme.
We all know that Oda loves his parallels. So, is it possible that the entire purpose of "The Void Fortnight" was to show us all a direct parallel to the Void Century? Could Vegapunk, in this situation, actually represent the Ancient Kingdom during the Void Century?
Did Oda just reveal that the Void Century was actually erased by the Ancient Kingdom themselves?
I think a lot of us, myself included, always kind of assumed that the Void Century was erased by the "bad guys" of the story. So much history and knowledge seemed to have been lost because someone erased any trace that the Ancient Kingdom ever existed. It seemed like a petty act of revenge by another force that hated them. The World Government trying to erase any existence of a competing power. Or Imu erasing them so no one would oppose their rule over the world.
But, this latest chapter feels like a hint that this might not be the case.
If Vegapunk is supposed to be a parallel to the Ancient Kingdom this chapter, then that means the Ancient Kingdom chose, of their own volition, to erase 100 years of history from the World and possibly even themselves from the history books.
The Ancient Kingdom might have even gone farther, erasing the memories of everyone on the planet.
And if that includes Imu and the Gorosei, that would actually explain a few things. Remember back when the Gorosei seemed shocked about the Gum-Gum Fruit actually being the Nika Fruit? (Chapter 1037...with a little bit of a follow up in 1044). That conversation suddenly makes a lot more sense. Because, even if the Gorosei were around back during the Void Century, they might not remember everything that happened. Because, the Gorosei have probably ALSO had their memories of the Void Century erased. Even if they knew about the Nika Fruit, the Ancient Kingdom may have erased the knowledge of it from everyone's minds. The Gorosei are playing catch up along with the rest of us, because they've had their memories erased by the Ancient Kingdom.
Which means, a lot like Vegapunk hiding the Video Snail inside of Emeth, the Ancient Kingdom was hiding the existence of the Nika Fruit from the rest of the World.
And it means the Poneglyphs aren't just for future generations to find. They're the "note" that they left for themselves to remind them of their own history, after they erased their own minds. The Poneglyphs are the parallel for Vegapunk's note he left for himself.
In another parallel to Vegapunk this chapter, if the Ancient Kingdom did erase themselves from everyone's memories, that probably means that it's all part of a extremely complicated plan to get one over on the World Government from beyond the grave. Chances are, the Ancient Kingdom knew they had to let themselves fall, in order to achieve a greater victory later. Just like how Vegapunk had to let himself die. It's the only way for all the dominos to fall in the right places.
If this is all true, then it kind of changes...everything about how we see the Ancient Kingdom. They're no longer the victims of revisionist history by the cruel victors of a war caused by a tyrant. They're long term planners who sacrificed themselves in order to gain the upper hand and achieve a greater victory for the people of the world 800 years in the future. They sacrificed themselves to create a brighter future that they'd never live to see.
Because, if this is all true, the biggest question in the manga is no longer "What happened during the Void Century?" The question now becomes "What is the Ancient Kingdom's plan for the present of the World?" What is the Ancient Kingdom's plan that they sacrificed all memory of themselves for, and what how will it change the world?
...Of course, that requires me to be right about all this. But, I don't think this is just copium over a weaker chapter. I feel like there's something here. We'll just have to wait and see.
Okay, so like a lot of people, I found the latest chapter (c1123) a little underwhelming. I just didn't get why Oda would choose to spend a entire chapter on the things he did. It kind of felt like a waste of time.
But, then I remembered the title of the chapter. "The Void Fortnight". Clearly a reference to the Void Century. Ha-ha, Oda, we get it. Forgotten history, whatever. Nice little joke. Not the best, but cute.
But, then I realized...Vegapunk chose to erase his own memory. The "good guys" just erased their own memory of the past, in order to enact a long-term scheme.
We all know that Oda loves his parallels. So, is it possible that the entire purpose of "The Void Fortnight" was to show us all a direct parallel to the Void Century? Could Vegapunk, in this situation, actually represent the Ancient Kingdom during the Void Century?
Did Oda just reveal that the Void Century was actually erased by the Ancient Kingdom themselves?
I think a lot of us, myself included, always kind of assumed that the Void Century was erased by the "bad guys" of the story. So much history and knowledge seemed to have been lost because someone erased any trace that the Ancient Kingdom ever existed. It seemed like a petty act of revenge by another force that hated them. The World Government trying to erase any existence of a competing power. Or Imu erasing them so no one would oppose their rule over the world.
But, this latest chapter feels like a hint that this might not be the case.
If Vegapunk is supposed to be a parallel to the Ancient Kingdom this chapter, then that means the Ancient Kingdom chose, of their own volition, to erase 100 years of history from the World and possibly even themselves from the history books.
The Ancient Kingdom might have even gone farther, erasing the memories of everyone on the planet.
And if that includes Imu and the Gorosei, that would actually explain a few things. Remember back when the Gorosei seemed shocked about the Gum-Gum Fruit actually being the Nika Fruit? (Chapter 1037...with a little bit of a follow up in 1044). That conversation suddenly makes a lot more sense. Because, even if the Gorosei were around back during the Void Century, they might not remember everything that happened. Because, the Gorosei have probably ALSO had their memories of the Void Century erased. Even if they knew about the Nika Fruit, the Ancient Kingdom may have erased the knowledge of it from everyone's minds. The Gorosei are playing catch up along with the rest of us, because they've had their memories erased by the Ancient Kingdom.
Which means, a lot like Vegapunk hiding the Video Snail inside of Emeth, the Ancient Kingdom was hiding the existence of the Nika Fruit from the rest of the World.
And it means the Poneglyphs aren't just for future generations to find. They're the "note" that they left for themselves to remind them of their own history, after they erased their own minds. The Poneglyphs are the parallel for Vegapunk's note he left for himself.
In another parallel to Vegapunk this chapter, if the Ancient Kingdom did erase themselves from everyone's memories, that probably means that it's all part of a extremely complicated plan to get one over on the World Government from beyond the grave. Chances are, the Ancient Kingdom knew they had to let themselves fall, in order to achieve a greater victory later. Just like how Vegapunk had to let himself die. It's the only way for all the dominos to fall in the right places.
If this is all true, then it kind of changes...everything about how we see the Ancient Kingdom. They're no longer the victims of revisionist history by the cruel victors of a war caused by a tyrant. They're long term planners who sacrificed themselves in order to gain the upper hand and achieve a greater victory for the people of the world 800 years in the future. They sacrificed themselves to create a brighter future that they'd never live to see.
Because, if this is all true, the biggest question in the manga is no longer "What happened during the Void Century?" The question now becomes "What is the Ancient Kingdom's plan for the present of the World?" What is the Ancient Kingdom's plan that they sacrificed all memory of themselves for, and what how will it change the world?
...Of course, that requires me to be right about all this. But, I don't think this is just copium over a weaker chapter. I feel like there's something here. We'll just have to wait and see.
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