15 Years Ago, One Piece Took a Major Turn & It Hasn’t Been the Same Since

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Since it began in 1997, *One Piece* has become one of the most enduring manga series of all time. It starts as a fun adventure about a young pirate determined to find a legendary treasure and become the Pirate King. He begins his journey from a small village and quickly assembles a loyal crew before heading into dangerous waters. But as the story unfolds, long-hidden secrets about a forgotten era emerge, connecting to everything – and even the main character himself. Across its 33 major story arcs, divided into 11 larger sagas, creator Eiichiro Oda has built a vast world that reveals a much darker side to the seemingly peaceful World Government.

With each new place he goes, Luffy gets closer to understanding the world’s secrets. While the story has revealed many mysteries since it began, important questions still remain. Now in the final part of the story, the current arc focuses on a pivotal event from the past that shaped the world as we know it. Even though the final saga started over three years ago, the story is still unfolding. Interestingly, a chapter published fifteen years ago had a profound and positive impact on the direction of the entire narrative.

One Piece Entered Its Post-Timeskip 15 Years Ago, And It Changed Everything

Chapter 598 of *One Piece*, titled “Two Years Later,” came out on October 4, 2010. It shows the Straw Hat Pirates reuniting after being separated for two years, ready to continue their adventures. This chapter, part of the Return to Sabaody Archipelago Arc within the Fish-Man Island Saga, offers a lighter tone after the intense and tragic Summit War, where Ace and Whitebeard died. Luffy was devastated by Ace’s death while he was trying to save him, and it took him time to recover.

With support from friends like Jinbei, Boa Hancock, and Silvers Rayleigh, Luffy recovered and dedicated himself to becoming more powerful. He spent two years training with Rayleigh on a remote island, mastering Haki and improving his control over his Devil Fruit powers. He did this so he’d never again have to watch someone he cared about die. At the same time, he sent his crew a mysterious message, asking them to meet up again in two years.

Before the Summit War even started, the Straw Hat crew was scattered. After hearing about the terrible events that unfolded, they each vowed to become stronger to support Luffy. This marked a huge turning point in the story, with everyone undergoing significant changes in appearance and embarking on a new adventure in the New World – the dangerous second half of the Grand Line, filled with even more formidable foes.

One Piece’s Post-Timeskip Era Is a Lot Better Than Fans Realize

Many fans feel the story lost some of its humor after the timeskip. While it’s still funny at times, it’s noticeably less lighthearted than before. The anime’s presentation often amplified the comedic moments, and filler arcs like G-8 added to the enjoyment. However, this change is understandable because the story is becoming more serious and the challenges are greater than ever.

Though the series often appears lighthearted, it delves into serious and disturbing topics like corruption, war, genocide, and slavery. These themes are hinted at earlier in the story, but become much more developed later on. The Native Hunting Competition during the God Valley Incident is a prime example of how intense things become. While the earlier part of the series is funnier, the depth of the story and its background information in the later part is incredible. Many important mysteries, including those surrounding Joy Boy, the red Poneglyphs, the Voice of All Things, Imu’s existence, Oden’s past, the Sun God Nika, and the truth about Princess Lili of Alabasta, were all revealed in the later story arcs, along with events like Vegapunk’s broadcast.

Over the past 15 years, the story has become much bigger and more complex than its creators originally planned. As the Straw Hats have grown stronger, facing increasingly powerful opponents, the battles have become significantly more exciting and dramatic. With the second arc of the Final Saga underway, things are only going to ramp up in intensity, leading towards a massive, climactic war.

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2025-10-06 01:10