The Most Shocking Trace of Secret History: Information Feared by the State
Even a single stone tablet containing information about the Void Century is considered a “cause for war” by the World Government. The fact that Robin has a bounty of 79 million berries on her head for reading the Poneglyph in Alabasta proves how dangerous this information is considered to be. The fact that Nico Robin was seen as a threat rather than a scientist throughout her childhood reveals how information about the Void Century was punished even at the individual level. The destruction of Ohara, where Robin lived, was carried out solely because a group of academics were researching the past.
The only survivor of the Ohara massacre was Robin; however, what is truly striking is that Dr. Clover, who directed the research, nearly revealed the name of the civilization destroyed during the Void Century in his speech, which was abruptly cut off by the government. Even knowing this name was a threat to the government. Books related to the Void Century were not only erased from the face of the earth, but also from the seas and even from people's memories. The government's all-out war against knowledge reveals that its enemies are not an army, but an idea.
Gigantic Engineering in the Shadow of an Ancient Civilization
The existence of the massive Poseidon, Uranus, and Pluton weapons, one of the clearest traces of the Void Century, shows that it was not only a historically but also technologically advanced era. These weapons remain unexplained even with today's science. The engineering marvels in Water 7 are remnants of the era that followed the Void Century. Sea Train technology was developed by the descendants of the engineers who worked on Pluto's construction.
When it was revealed that the warship plans Franky burned as a child actually belonged to ancient Pluto, the idea of a “war legacy passed down to the future” came to the fore. The weapons were not only physical but also ideological vehicles of transmission.
Poneglyphs: Resistance Carved in Stone
Poneglyph stones are not just historical information; they are documents of a rebellion. These stones were produced by the civilization that existed before the establishment of the World Government to “transmit information to the future,” and their inscriptions cannot be erased. The number of people who can read the language of these stones is so small that they can be counted on the fingers of two hands. The deliberate isolation of this language from the present day shows that the information is not only being kept hidden, but also that efforts are being made to ensure it is forgotten.
Even the location of the last Poneglyph, believed to be in Raftel (Laugh Tale), shows that “the truth” is hidden in the most dangerous route of the seas. In other words, there is not a physical barrier, but a mental and historical one.
The Void Century and the Mystery of the Letter D
The theory that those with the letter D are the heirs of the civilization destroyed in the Void Century is not just fan theory; it has been hinted at repeatedly throughout the series. Characters like Gol D. Roger, Portgas D. Ace, and Monkey D. Luffy share a common fate. The name “Water” in Trafalgar D. Water Law, the real name of Trafalgar Law, may be linked to the Void Century through its connection to Water 7. Such name details provide important clues about Oda's integration of historical details into the characters.
The fact that Wapol, the former king of Drum Kingdom, referred to people with the letter “D” in their names as “cursed people who bring disaster” shows that even the World Government fears these individuals.
Traces of Forbidden History in Today's Resistance
In a world where everyone who tries to access information about the Void Century is either killed or ignored, “the courage to seek knowledge” is considered revolutionary. Dragon's Revolutionary Army is motivated precisely by this desire to access information. Kozuki Oden's departure from Wano to join Roger in searching for the last Poneglyph shows that this struggle is not only embraced by scientists but also by warriors and kings. Wano's isolation from the outside world did not lead to the events of the Void Century being forgotten, but rather preserved. Oden's people were not enemies of knowledge, but its protectors.
The Birth of the World Government and a Victory Filled with Emptiness
The formation of the World Government by 20 separate kingdoms immediately after the Void Century was part of a military and ideological cleansing operation. These kingdoms, as the “winning side” of history, aimed to completely erase the traces of the lost civilization. One of these 20 kingdoms, the Kingdom of Alabasta, chose to keep the Poneglyph hidden despite joining the World Government. This demonstrates that Alabasta, unlike the other 19 kingdoms, accepted its historical responsibility. The royal family did not seek to hide the truth but to reveal it when the time was right.
The empty throne in Mariejois—which was secretly claimed by “Im-Sama”—once symbolized the equality of the 20 kingdoms. However, the fact that someone sat on that throne revealed that the 800-year-old “equality” myth was nothing but a lie.
Roger and the Truth in Laugh Tale
When Gol D. Roger reached the end of the Grand Line, he did not find gold or infinite power, but the truth about the Void Century. Naming it “Laugh Tale” implies that they believed this tragic past was so painful that it could only be met with laughter. Roger's pirates did not spread the knowledge they gained in Laugh Tale because “the time had not yet come.” This decision was not about hiding the truth but waiting for humanity to be ready for it. Thus, truth gains meaning not just by being discovered but by being shared.
The phrase “This history foretells that someone will overturn the world in the future” written in Oden's diary implies that the Void Century not only shaped the past but also the future. That history is not a legend; it is a plan for revolution.
Wano: The Lock of the Past, the Key to the Future
The main reason Wano Country was kept closed was not external threats, but the knowledge hidden within. The Kozuki family was the only family that carved the Poneglyph stones for generations, making them the sole producers and guardians of all knowledge. The Road Poneglyph in Wano is the key to reaching Laugh Tale, making Wano not only a geopolitically strategic location but also a historically significant one. These stones are like GPS devices for history.
Kaido's goal in taking over Wano was not only production but also control of information. Those who hold history in their hands can write the future. This has more to do with Kaido's obsession with power than his warrior nature.
Modern Representatives of Forbidden Truths
Monkey D. Dragon's rebellion against the World Government is not just a political but a historical resistance. Dragon's revolutionary stance after the Ohara incident, his protection of Robin, and his conflict with those trying to erase information about the Void Century suggest that he is also a carrier of this history. Vegapunk's discovery of traces of Void Century technology while analyzing ancient robots shows that this science cannot be erased. Science is another language of history and leaves traces even under oppression.
When it was revealed that a copy of Vegapunk recorded an explanation of the “True History” on Egghead Island, it became clear that the past is not only the responsibility of the dead but also of future witnesses. This recording may serve as a “preface” to Laugh Tale.
Signs That the Void Century Was Not Just a Period of Silence
Although information about what happened during the Void Century has been destroyed, its traces on the world have not been erased. The remains of Shandora in Skypiea show that this civilization had a branch even thousands of kilometers above the earth. Thus, this civilization was not only a power spanning continents but also spanning the skies. The presence of information within the Poneglyph on Fishman Island about Poseidon's future birth suggests that the Void Century contained not prophecies but plans. In other words, the past civilization did not write merely to be remembered but to shape the future.
A False Reality Built on Suppressed History
The World Government's policy of “rewriting” history is not merely censorship; it is a process of creating an alternative narrative. The government monopolized the concept of “justice” and portrayed the civilization of the Void Century as evil—the name of this civilization is not even mentioned. The government's propaganda language is so tightly controlled that even most Marines are not given any information about the Void Century. Thus, even the guardians of justice do not know which past they are defending. Im-Sama's presence in the shadows is not merely a matter of leader secrecy; it is a tactic designed to prevent the individualization of the connection to the past. If there is no leader, there is no enemy—only the system.
Constructed Gods and Myths Replacing Truth
The Celestial Dragons are a result of the World Government established after the Void Century, which declared its own royal lineage “divine” and began to rule the minds of the people. This deified class was declared privileged and untouchable in a way that made it impossible for the people to connect with history. This lineage, referred to as “the children of the gods,” is actually the descendants of the destructive kings from 800 years ago. Thus, their declaration of divinity is an act of sanctifying a sin. This act ensures that the people look upward rather than backward.
The “sacred land” status of Mariejois serves as a psychological wall rather than a geographical one. Presenting it as a place the people cannot reach makes this area unquestionable and, therefore, history inaccessible.
The Silent Rebellion of Those Who Bear the Letter D
Those who bear the letter D are presented as seemingly unrelated individuals, but what they have in common is that they were born outside the system, not by fate. Many of these individuals are either in direct conflict with the system (Luffy, Dragon) or have been targeted for destruction by it in the past (Ace, Law). It has been observed that most of those bearing the D dance with death while smiling. This is not merely courage but can also be interpreted as “accepting the fate of those who know the truth.” The smiles of Roger and Ace at the moment of their execution are therefore symbolic.
The information Trafalgar D. Water Law learned from Corazon about “the will of D” makes him not just a doctor, but a carrier of the past and a protector of the future. Corazon himself was a government official, meaning that the information was passed from the inside out.
The Purpose of Ancient Weapons: Apocalypse or Salvation?
Although Pluto's power to destroy a city makes it seem like a mere weapon of war, the real question is when and for what purpose this power will be used. Ancient weapons may not be threats but tools prepared to restore balance. Poseidon's, or Shirahoshi's, control over the sea kings indicates that during the Void Century, there was not only physical but also ecological dominance. In other words, the ancient civilization did not fight against nature, but rather guided it.
Although very little is known about Uranus, its association with the heavens suggests that the civilization of the Void Century influenced not only the seas but also the atmosphere. This strengthens the possibility that what is feared as “god technology” was actually created by humans.
Skypiea and Shandora: Far Away But Connected
The ancient inscriptions on the island of Skypiea reveal that the Void Century was not limited to the blue seas, but also extended to the sky. This was so advanced that it raises questions about the technological level of the past civilization. The Shandora people's 400-year-long war to protect the Poneglyph shows that the Void Century is not just a thing of the past but also the foundation of today's ideological wars. The truth is protected not only by words but also by blood.
History Passed on to the Future and Vegapunk's Final Move
The developments on Egghead Island showed that Vegapunk had decided to go beyond science and confront the past. It is no coincidence that a robot from the Void Century attacked “injustice” even centuries later; that robot was not following a command, but a principle. The record Vegapunk prepared to explain history was on the verge of revealing a secret hidden not only from the government but also from the people. This was not just the cry of a scientist, but the cry of an era's memory.
The Warlord System: Controlled Chaos Established to Suppress History
The Shichibukai (Warlord) system, which appears to have been created under the pretext of maintaining order by using chaotic pirates on behalf of the government, was actually a functional tool designed to soften pirate culture and prevent awareness of the Void Century. The discrediting of the pirate figure kept the public at a distance from potential “symbols of freedom.” This system diluted the theme of “rebellion” by instilling the idea that pirates served the government.
The inclusion of characters such as Mihawk, whose historical context is almost unknown, in this system is an attempt by the government to control not only the powerful, but also those who potentially carry information.
Admirals and the Establishment of Absolute Justice
Admirals are the most direct enforcers of the system that took shape after the Void Century. The doctrine known as “absolute justice” is an ideological tool demonstrating that justice exists not for the people but for the system. Sakazuki (Akainu)'s “merciless justice” is directed not only at criminals but at any thought opposed to the system. The targeting of a young girl (Robin) in the Ohara incident shows that the system's definition of an enemy knows no bounds.
Kuzan (Aokiji) is a figure who was born into the system but turned against it. This character's departure from the government shows that the system can crack from within, meaning that historical oppression is questioned not only from the outside but also from within.
CP0: The Darkest Representative of History
Cipher Pol Aigis 0 (CP0) is the institution that has come closest to obtaining knowledge of the Void Century, yet it is also the one that has suppressed it the most. Their duties are not merely physical executions; they also involve the destruction of information and memory. In every incident where CP0 appears, it is not the people but the government's reputation that is sought to be protected. This is not justice but “legitimacy management.” In other words, the goal is not to be right, but to appear to be right.
CP0's intervention in the battle between Kaido and Luffy in Wano is an attempt to maintain not only the balance of power, but also the balance of information. It is no coincidence that CP0 springs into action when Kaido mentions Joy Boy's return; it is panic.
Revolutionary Figures Raised in the Shadows of History
The fact that characters like Sabo, Ace, and Luffy chose different paths yet are connected to the same source (the ideal of freedom) shows that the Void Century is not merely a historical event but a memory that has seeped into the subconscious of today's characters. Sabo being one of the names Im-Sama wanted to erase after his attack on Mariejois indicates that he was seen not as a warrior but as a bearer of knowledge. Dragon's positioning as a figure trying to restore history rather than as the leader of an armed organization makes him a guardian of history rather than a revolutionary.
The Price of Denied History: World Chaos
As the Void Century is suppressed, instability increases on the surface of the world. Fishmen still cannot surface, giants continue to work in collusion with the government, and countries like Wano close their doors to the outside world. This geographical division is a manifestation of the past being concealed. In the New World, constantly shifting alliances and the “necessity to make deals with enemies” convey the message that the system can only be resolved through knowledge, not violence. Today's war will be won not with weapons, but with truth.
Approaching the Finale: Signs of the Truth Coming to Light
Joy Boy's rebirth, or Luffy's awakening, is not just the return of a power, but the reemergence of suppressed history. This awakening shows that what the government fears most—the people knowing the truth—has begun. Zunesha's speech proved that historical memory can be transmitted even through physical entities. The Void Century has been carried over to the present not only through inscriptions but also through living beings.
Is the Void Century Really “Empty”? – The Meaning of Silence
The word “void” carries not only the meaning of loss but also that of a deliberate emptiness. The Room's designation of this period as the Void Century implies not merely the erasure of past knowledge but that its places were intentionally left empty. This is not forgetfulness; it is a seal. Determining what is not written is as powerful a tool as writing history itself. Poneglyphs are “stone memories” written precisely to fill these voids. Each one is like the physical counterpart of a suppressed paragraph.
Thanks to this void, the World Government has shaped not only the past but also identities. People have grown accustomed to living in a world where they do not even know what is forbidden. This creates “the voluntary obedience of the ignorant.”
Joy Boy: A Real Person or a Title?
Joy Boy's identity is never explicitly revealed. It is clear that Oda intentionally created this ambiguity. Because Joy Boy represents not a single individual but an ideal: “the voice of the past confronting freedom.” The letter from Fishman Island was not merely an apology; it was about the breaking of a pact. This implies that Joy Boy was not only in conflict with the government at the time but also with the system within himself. In other words, Joy Boy is not perfect—this brings the character closer to humanity rather than making him a legend. Luffy's acquisition of this title through “awakening” shows that it is not a matter of blood or knowledge but an inheritance defined by one's state of mind. Being Joy Boy is not a matter of blood but a choice.
Zunesha: The Consciousness That Carries History
Zunesha's presence near Wano for thousands of years carries not only geographical but also symbolic weight. This giant elephant is the embodiment of a memory. His speech gives rise to the theory that the civilization of the Void Century may have achieved consciousness transfer. “Being condemned to walk because of a crime” may actually be a duty rather than a curse. Zunesha is not the guardian of the past; he is its witness. His speech is forbidden, but he cannot be silenced.
The fact that Zunesha can only hear Luffy's voice demonstrates Joy Boy's power of “consciousness resonance.” This implies that power is not physical but transmitted through resonance at a frequency level. True leadership is finding resonance.
Oda's Narrative Technique: Symmetry, Silence, and Retrospective Enlightenment
Oda does not directly provide information about the Void Century. Instead, he uses the following methods:
Symmetry: The events of Ohara and Egghead occur in an identical narrative structure. This repetition conveys the message that history repeats itself when suppressed.
Silence: Dr. Clover's speech is cut short. Vegapunk's recording is also threatened with sabotage before it can be revealed. These repeated interruptions frame the narrative itself as a form of censorship.
Retroactive interpretation: Some words that appear in the Poneglyphs (such as “dawn”) reappear much later in the series in different contexts. This allows the reader to reevaluate previous episodes with new insight.
Historical Coding Through Locations
The revelation that Raftel's name means “Laugh Tale” suggests that the end of history is not a tragedy but an ironic realization. When you reach the truth, you are not expected to cry but to laugh. Because once you realize how systematic the tragedy is, you can no longer cry. Wano's closed borders are not just about isolation; they are about preserving time. This country is like a living capsule of the Void Century. It is not the people inside who have changed, but the world outside.
The legend of the “light-bearing warrior's arrival” in Skypiea shows that the person who has been awaited since the Void Century has, over time, become a savior figure. This is a detail that shows how historical events evolve into mythology over time.
Towards the End: How Close Are We to the Truth?
The Egghead Arc and recent developments show that the Void Century is no longer just a theoretical debate; it has become part of the conflict itself. In other words, history is returning to the stage, not to be told, but to be lived. The spread of Vegapunk's recording across the world means that the revolution could begin even before reaching Laugh Tale. Knowledge is no longer physical; it is ready for a digital explosion. Joy Boy's “return” is not merely an old promise; it is the rewriting of the future. This time, there will be no Void; because they cannot silence the story this time.