Uncovering the Secrets of One Piece's Mysterious Void Century

The Void Century remains shrouded in mystery within the world of One Piece. Spanning 100 years from 900 to 800 years ago, it was a period of intense turmoil and conflict between two powerful entities. The Ancient Kingdom is known to have been at the height of its power during this time, and it faced opposition from a coalition of 20 monarchs. Though the outcome of the conflict resulted in the victory of the 20 monarchs and the creation of the World Government, little is known about the Ancient Kingdom itself. Nevertheless, the latest chapter in the final saga of One Piece has unveiled new and intriguing revelations about this enigmatic power, including the identity of one of the 20 monarchs.

The 20 Monarchs

During the Reverie, King Cobra had a crucial encounter with the Five Elders, which Sabo recounts in his flashback on Momoiro Island. The highlight of their meeting was when Cobra revealed to the Elders the origins of the World Government, which was established almost 800 years ago by 20 monarchs who united after the Great War. These monarchs went on to establish their rule over the entire world.

After establishing themselves as the Celestial Dragons, they created the Empty Throne as a symbol of their equality and mutual agreement to not seek more power. This meant that the world had no single ruler, but rather a collective of 20 monarchs. However, when these monarchs relocated to the Holy Land of Marijoa, a power vacuum was created in their respective countries. As a solution, the 20 monarchs elected new royal families to rule their countries. Interestingly, these 20 kings chose to erase their own records from history to ensure a seamless transition of power to the new rulers.

Nefertari Family's Queen

The Celestial Dragons migrated to the Holy Land of Marijoa and began living as the deities of the world, leaving behind their descendants who continue to play a significant role in the One Piece universe. However, among the 20 ruling families, the Nefertari dynasty stood out from the rest. Fans are well acquainted with this dynasty, having met members of it during the Arabasta Saga. Notably, Vivi, a vital character in the story, and her father King Cobra, whom fans are familiar with, belong to this dynasty.

Queen Nefertari Lily was the leader during the formation of the World Government and fought alongside the other 19 monarchs. Despite her significant role in the establishment of the government, she chose not to become a Celestial Dragon. Instead, she returned to Arabasta to rule her country independently, driven by her sense of belonging and duty to her people. The fact that a weapon is missing from the Empty Throne indicates that there are only 19 weapons present, which symbolize the monarchs who contributed to the formation of the World Government.

Queen Lily's actions were perceived as a betrayal by the other 20 monarchs, leading the Five Elders to consider the Nefertari Family as traitors to the Celestial Dragons. However, tragedy struck on her way back to Arabasta, where she intended to rule her people for the rest of her life. Cobra explained that Lily's records were erased from ancient texts, not because someone deliberately erased them, but because she died or vanished under mysterious circumstances during her journey. The exact details of what happened to her remain unknown to fans of the series. As a result, Lily's brother took the throne and Vivi, the current Princess of Arabasta, is descended from his line.

The Five Elders admitted to not having any information about Lily's disappearance, citing the length of time that had passed. However, their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Imu, the world sovereign who had taken the Empty Throne despite the opposition of the founding 20. Imu's appearance shocked both the Five Elders and Cobra for different reasons. For the elders, Imu's presence was unexpected as they believed that Imu should not reveal themselves to anyone. For Cobra, however, the shock was twofold as Imu's act of sitting on the Empty Throne shattered Cobra's belief that the world had no true ruler. Additionally, Imu's mention of Queen Lily suggested that they were somehow involved in the tragedy that befell her on her ill-fated journey back to Arabasta from Marijoa.

Oda's revelations about the Void Century have been groundbreaking, with the emergence of a family from this enigmatic era and the uncovering of another figure who lived during that time. While the details of the war remain shrouded in secrecy, fans eagerly await Imu's revelations about Queen Lily and the potential for even more information to be divulged in upcoming chapters of One Piece. With the Final Saga underway, the anticipation for major revelations to be unveiled is palpable, and Oda's excitement is contagious amongst fans. It is also possible that Imu's identity will finally be revealed, as they have thus far remained a mysterious silhouette.