Eiichiro Oda has created mysteries upon mysteries in One Piece, and fans are having trouble keeping track of how many are yet to be solved. Still, the most glaring one of them all is obviously Gol D. Roger’s treasure, the titular One Piece.
While countless fan theories exist to explain what it could be, one thing is for sure: it won’t be an abstract concept because Eiichiro Oda himself does not like such endings. One fan theory, in particular, explores a few aspects of the treasure and the buildup surrounding it, and it will make you suspect if this was Oda’s plan after all.
Reaching Laugh Tale in One Piece Might Need a Tremendous Sacrifice
Laugh Tale is the final island that Luffy has to reach, and it contains the treasure that everyone salivates for, the One Piece. However, a fan theory suggests that reaching the island could need a sacrifice that not everyone is prepared to make. Let’s look at some of the hints that have been scattered all over the manga for decades.
When the Roger crew reached Laugh Tale, Buggy and Shanks were left behind because Buggy fell ill. But why did Eiichiro Oda need to leave the two and specifically mention that Buggy was sick? Calling it a random coincidence would be foolish because Oda rarely does anything without reason. Buggy, the only Devil Fruit user, falling sick near Laugh Tale could be an indication that the island affects Devil Fruit users.
Shanks on the other hand, also did not reach the island, but he has already declared that now it’s time to go after the treasure. One peculiar thing about the Red Hair Pirates is that not a single person among the crew is a Devil Fruit user. Why is it that Shanks left out powerful Devil Fruit users just to opt for Haki users? Does he already know that Laugh Tale or the One Piece itself has an adverse effect on Devil Fruit users, and thus cutting them off entirely would be his best bet?
Eiichiro Oda Might Fulfill Luffy’s Dream of Achieving Ultimate Freedom
The theory claims that something on the Laugh Tale island prevents Devil Fruit users from reaching it. But the protagonist of One Piece, Luffy, is a Devil Fruit user himself. Moreover, his crew also contains Chopper, Robin, and Brook, all of whom have Devil Fruit abilities. So how will they reach the island?
Another theory states that in order for a Devil Fruit user to reach the island, they might be given a choice to forego their Devil Fruit. The story of One Piece has an underlying theme of greed. Pirates and Marines alike are always on the search for Devil Fruits and would never dream of giving it up.
Luffy, on the other hand, has never been greedy (except when it comes to food). He received the Nika fruit by a complete coincidence and he is nonchalant enough to give it up if it came between him and his goal.
Thus, if a Devil Fruit sacrifice is indeed necessary to reach the One Piece, Luffy would easily make the sacrifice that others would hesitate to make. Luffy wants to become the Pirate King; in other words, he wants to be the freest person ever because he does not have nefarious tendencies to rule the world. Currently, Luffy is bound by his Devil Fruit as it bars him from swimming. If he makes the sacrifice, he will be able to swim again, thus becoming free.
One Piece is available to read on Viz Media, and the anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.
