The Final Saga’s Biggest Secret Is Hidden in Plain Sight
Eiichiro Oda has been planting seeds for over 25 years, and now, in the climax of the Elbaf Arc, those seeds are finally blooming into something extraordinary. While fans are laser-focused on Imu’s descent and Brook’s heartbreaking past, there’s a deeper pattern that most readers are completely missing — every single legendary figure from the Void Century already has a successor in the current story.
This isn’t coincidence. This is Oda’s master plan unfolding exactly as he designed it decades ago.
The Void Century’s Big Four: Who Were They?
Before we connect the dots, let’s establish the four most powerful figures from the 100-year blank period — the era the Harley text calls the “Second World.”
- Joy Boy — The Sun God Nika, leader of the Ancient Kingdom’s resistance, wielder of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. The first pirate. The man who fought the Alliance of 20 Kings.
- Nerona Imu — The Sovereign of the World. One of the original 20 kings who won the war and has ruled from the shadows for 800 years.
- Davy D. Jones — The previous King of the World, Imu’s greatest rival. Cursed to sail the ocean floor, but his legacy lives on through the Davy Back Fight and the deep-sea legends.
- Nidhoggr — The ancient giant dragon that has slept for centuries. Imu’s power suggests a direct connection to this creature from the Void Century.
These four shaped the world as we know it. And now, Oda has quietly introduced their successors.
The Five Successors: A Theory That Connects Everything
1. Luffy — The Heir of Joy Boy
This one is obvious, but let’s not skip the details. Luffy doesn’t just carry Joy Boy’s Devil Fruit — he embodies the same spirit of liberation that defined the original Sun God. When Zunesha heard the Drums of Liberation in Chapter 1043, it wasn’t just recognizing a power. It was recognizing a soul.
But here’s what most fans miss: Luffy’s connection goes beyond the Nika fruit. His “I want to be King of the Pirates” dream mirrors Joy Boy’s role as the first pirate. His ability to unite enemies into allies — from Caesar to Law to Kid — echoes the coalition Joy Boy built against 20 kingdoms. The successor isn’t just inheriting power. They’re inheriting a role in history.
2. Blackbeard — The Reincarnation of Davy D. Jones
Marshall D. Teach is the most obvious D. carrier with a connection to the deep sea and forbidden power. Think about it: Davy Jones was cursed to sail the ocean floor. Blackbeard is the only character in One Piece who wields two Devil Fruits — something that should be impossible, something that breaks the rules of the world itself.
His ship is called the Saber of Xebec. His crew operates from a pirate island called Hachinosu — Fullalead, the island of the pirates. Rocks D. Xebec, who once challenged the World Government, operated from the same location. The lineage is intentional. Blackbeard isn’t just a villain — he’s the successor to the man who was once King of the World before Imu took everything from him.
3. Shanks — The Guardian of the Old Order
Shanks has always been the most mysterious Emperor. He stopped Kaido from reaching Marineford. He ended the war. He can walk into the Five Elders’ chamber like he owns the place. Why?
The theory: Shanks is connected to the Figarland family — one of the original Celestial Dragon bloodlines from the 20 Kings. His successor role isn’t about continuing a fight. It’s about choosing which side of history he stands on. Will he protect the world Imu built, or will he help tear it down? That’s the tension Oda has been building for over two decades.
4. Mihawk — The Last Knight of the Ancient Kingdom
Hawk-Eyes Mihawk sits alone on Kuraigana Island, waiting for a swordsman to surpass Zoro. But why is the World’s Strongest Swordsman so isolated? Why does he have connections to the Revolutionary Army through Crocodile and Buggy’s Cross Guild?
The theory positions Mihawk as a successor to the Ancient Kingdom’s warrior class — the fighters who stood beside Joy Boy but whose names were erased from history. His black blade, Yoru, is one of the 12 Supreme Grade swords. Weapons like that don’t just appear. They’re inherited.
5. Loki — The Giant Who Carries Nidhoggr’s Will
The newest addition to this theory. Loki, the prince of Elbaf, has been imprisoned for years after killing his own father. The giants fear him. But what if Loki’s crime wasn’t madness — what if it was necessity?
Nidhoggr, the ancient dragon, was connected to the giants of Elbaf. If Loki carries the will of that ancient creature — or even a connection to its power — his imprisonment takes on a completely different meaning. The World Government didn’t just want to punish a prince. They wanted to contain a successor.
Why This Theory Changes the Final War
If every Void Century legend has a successor, then the Final War isn’t just Luffy vs. Imu. It’s a replay of the original Void Century conflict — but this time, the successors get to choose their own endings.
Joy Boy failed 800 years ago. His alliance crumbled. The Ancient Kingdom fell. But Luffy isn’t Joy Boy. He’s something new — a successor who has something the original never had: a crew that spans every race, every nation, and every corner of the world.
The giants of Elbaf. The fish-men of Fishman Island. The samurai of Wano. The sky people of Birka. The minks of Zou. Luffy’s alliance is the coalition Joy Boy wished he could have built.
The Three Strongest Mythical Zoans Are the Key
Oda recently revealed the three strongest Mythical Zoan fruits in the Elbaf climax after 17 years of buildup. This isn’t just power-scaling fan service. Each of these fruits connects to a Void Century figure:
- Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika (Luffy) — Joy Boy’s fruit, the Sun God
- Imu’s unknown Mythical Zoan — The power that conquered the world 800 years ago
- The third fruit — Still unrevealed, but likely connected to either Davy Jones or Nidhoggr
When the third fruit is revealed, it will likely confirm the final successor in this theory. And that’s when the Final War truly begins.
What Happens Next?
Chapter 1184 just dropped on May 31, 2026, and we’re deep in the Elbaf climax. Brook’s past with the Esperia Kingdom is unfolding, Imu’s face has been revealed, and the Great War is approaching faster than anyone expected.
But the real story isn’t the battles. It’s the inheritance. Every character in the Final Saga is carrying the weight of an 800-year-old war on their shoulders. The question isn’t who’s the strongest — it’s who will break the cycle that Joy Boy couldn’t.
Who do you think is the most important Void Century successor? Is there a character we’re all sleeping on? Drop your theories in the comments — let’s break this down together.
Read more: One Piece Chapter 1179: Imu Descends on Elbaf After 8 Years | Frieren Just Beat One Piece in Manga Sales | BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 4
