Speculations When the one piece is found, the series ends

[Sugoi]

Oda has already stated in an interview about two years ago, that the series will end once the one piece is found.

Oda: I've always pictured what the final chapter of ‘ONE PIECE’ would be like, though from time to time, the situation surrounding it changes. It will still be over whenever the One Piece is found in the series, haha. Anyway, this next arc is the final one.

People did not want to accept it because it conflicted with their interpretation of whitebeard's speech in Marineford. Their interpretation is wrong (Disagreeing with an author about what he says will happen in his own series in ridiculous anyway, so there shouldn't even be a debate about this anymore in the first place).

The latest chapter, vegapunk says the fate of the world will be decided by the one that finds the one piece. Finding the one piece is the win condition. Once Luffy finds the one piece, the fate of the world is happiness and freedom, the end.

Here's how people misinterpreted this statement. Whitebeard says, "Someday one will arise who will challenge the world, fear the great war that will come to this world one day". No where does it says that the war begins after the one piece is found. The reason people thought that is because whitebeard then says "but when it's found, the whole world will be turned upside down." The world being turned "upside down" is not referring to the beginning of the war. "Upside down" just means how the fate of the world will be decided by Luffy. This of course will be a happy ending from odas view and the readers perspective, but from the world governments view, (and one piece world who believe in world government and see all pirates as evil), the world will be seen as "upside down" in Luffy's hands. Whitebeard is also misinformed, as Vegapunk said that the war that begun in the void century is still ongoing.

This doesn't confirm or disconfirm anyone as the main/final villain, but it's not going to be as linear as people think. Its not everyone vs imu. There are many players in this, and imu is included in that panel, being potrayed as one as many players.

 

[RebelliousSoma]

Oda intended manga to end in 5 years. It's not about head canon.

 

[Salah WG]

So only SHs will know what One Piece is lol

 

[Monkey D. Luffy]

I was going to do a thread on this until I stumbled upon yours. You took the words right out of my mouth especially with the Whitebeard part.

To add to his point, here's this Ch. 979 SBS.

"Okay. It’s not so much that I’m “quitting” as that the series will end when I’ve finished drawing the most exciting part of Luffy’s adventures, which is the big story of what the One Piece is. But right now we’re in a really exciting story in the land of Wano, but if Luffy manages to survive and sail away, I’ll be drawing major international developments, the “biggest battle in One Piece history,” which will be a thrilling and wild story the likes of which no one’s read before. It’ll be great!! So I put out a statement indicating that this very long story is actually moving toward an ending, so that you readers can mentally prepare yourselves. But for now, we’re in Wano and it’s really heating up, so sit back and enjoy it. I’ll draw with all of my strength!!"

The blue reinforces that this war happens before the One Piece is found. It won't be Luffy leaving Laugh Tale to challenge the World Government because they are already active antagonists with having an intro arc for the Five Elders that ends with one being replaced and Imu's "ticking time bomb" being set in motion and now the attempted recruitment of Loki. No, it will be the World Government stopping Luffy from finding the One Piece. It won't be Teach, Sakazuki, and Imu getting their own long arcs, it'll be a battle royal between the Four Emperors fighting for the One Piece, the World Government and Marines trying to stop them, and the Revolutionary Army going after the last two.