The Ultimate Conquest: Luffy's Extraordinary Journey to Surpass Roger's Legacy

From the very beginning of One Piece, the name Gol D. Roger, also known as Gold Roger, has been ever-present. His final words set off a chain of events that brought about significant changes in the world, leading to the Golden Age of Piracy and eventually the New Age after the Summit War of Marineford. While the full story of his life and deeds was revealed later on in Kozuki Oden's account of his legendary voyage to Laugh Tale, there have been subtle hints about his life scattered throughout the series, shared by his former crew members and allies. The main character of One Piece, Monkey D. Luffy, has often been compared to Roger due to their shared beliefs and qualities, particularly since Luffy drew inspiration from the former Pirate King.

One Piece is, in many ways, the tale of Luffy's pursuit of his dream and his determination to fulfill the challenge presented by Roger before his death. However, it encompasses much more than that. Roger's accomplishments, such as conquering the Grand Line, reaching its final island, and uncovering the true history of the world and the Void Century, stand as unparalleled feats since his passing. Many have attempted to follow in his footsteps but have fallen short, with only a few even coming close. While it is evident that Luffy may be the first to discover and claim Roger's treasure on Laugh Tale, the exact manner in which he will build upon Roger's legacy and potentially surpass it remains uncertain. This raises questions about Luffy's true objective, the differences that will arise between their respective journeys, and why he is regarded by many as someone who will bring about world-changing events.

Conquering The Grand Line

During Roger's fabled journey to Laugh Tale, he faced the harsh reality of his terminal illness, realizing that his time was limited. Despite his prolonged accumulation of power and fame, Roger's path to becoming the Pirate King was far from straightforward. He encountered numerous obstacles on his way, and even his closest allies believed that his survival in the face of danger was nothing short of miraculous. Furthermore, his initial voyage through the sacred sea ended in disappointment as the Roger Pirates unknowingly reached only Lodestar Island, unaware of the existence of the Road Poneglyphs.

Although Lodestar Island was the final destination indicated by the Log Pose, Roger intuited that there was another elusive location just beyond his reach. In his final year, he embarked on a second voyage, enlisting the help of Kozuki Oden to decipher the scattered Road Poneglyphs discovered throughout their travels. It was on this second attempt that he finally accomplished his goal, arriving at the shores of Laugh Tale. Here, Roger and his crew were at last privy to Joy Boy's account of the enigmatic Void Century and the prophecy foretelling his return twenty years into the future.

Luffy's voyage on the Thousand Sunny has been comparatively more straightforward. The Straw Hats are well informed about the Poneglyphs and have already discovered three of the four Road Poneglyphs required to locate Laugh Tale. Unlike the former Pirate King, Roger, who needed two attempts, Luffy, on his first journey across the Grand Line, has the potential to conquer this treacherous sea in a single try. Additionally, Luffy has also become a symbol of freedom and revolution in every territory he visits, liberating the oppressed along the way. Consequently, his journey holds a significant impact, aligning with the prophecies of Joy Boy on Laugh Tale.

Uncovering The Void Century

One crucial aspect of Roger's role in the story is how he utilized the attention he garnered during his execution to encourage people from all corners to venture into the vast seas in pursuit of Laugh Tale. While this may have appeared as a final attempt to seek publicity, it was, in reality, a meticulously calculated maneuver with the aim of locating the individual mentioned in Joy Boy's message on the ultimate island of the Grand Line. Despite numerous individuals becoming pirates in their quest for the One Piece, none have achieved success to this day, which underscores the immense challenge embedded within the mission that Roger set before them.

Roger's inability to utilize the knowledge he acquired from Laugh Tale stemmed from his premature arrival, which ultimately led to his untimely demise due to an incurable illness that gradually deteriorated his health. Consequently, one of his primary motivations for initiating the Golden Age of Piracy was to seek out an individual who possessed the determination and strength to challenge the world's most formidable forces, triumph over them, uncover the true history of the world, and subsequently take action against the World Government armed with this newfound knowledge. Nevertheless, no one has thus far managed to meet these lofty expectations. However, if Luffy succeeds in exposing the truth about the Void Century, he will undoubtedly be revered as the most formidable pirate in recorded history, having fulfilled each aspect of the prophecy outlined by the Ancient Kingdom.

Taking Down The World Government

By being a pirate, Roger had a complex relationship with the World Government. Despite being a wanted criminal, he formed an alliance with the Marines on God Valley and fought alongside Monkey D. Garp. He even entrusted his child, Portgas D. Ace, to Garp shortly before his own demise. Although Roger had animosity towards anyone who posed a threat to him or his crew, he was willing to collaborate with more moderate members of the World Government and Marines when necessary. However, it is evident that he intended to take action against them based on the information he acquired on Laugh Tale. Unfortunately, his impending death from illness prevented him from doing so.

Luffy's relationship with the World Government has always been strained, and while he has occasionally joined forces with Marines and Cipher Pol members when necessary, his true allegiance lies with his crew. Their declaration of war against the World Government during the Enies Lobby incident was just the beginning, and now, after learning about the secrets of the Void Century, they have a greater purpose. The responsibility of sharing this suppressed information with the world falls on the Straw Hats, and given Luffy's unwavering loyalty to his allies and his determination to fight against oppression, it is not difficult to imagine him leading a revolution.

The events that have unfolded, such as the events at Fishman Island, the awakening of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, and Zunesha revealing Luffy as Joy Boy, further solidify his role as the one who will fulfill the promise made by the Joy Boy of the Void Century. For pirates in the One Piece world, there is no greater cause than standing against the tyranny of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons. This would be the realization of a wish that has been in motion for centuries. It is through this that Luffy surpasses the achievements of Roger as the Pirate King, as he strives to create a world where everyone can experience true freedom, liberated from the totalitarian rule of the World Government that favors the few over the many.