Eiichiro Oda's One Piece has been serialized for nearly three decades, with over a thousand chapters released, week after week, with occasional breaks.

It stands as the biggest shōnen series ever published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump and will likely remain unmatched for at least half a century. While newcomers often feel intimidated by its sheer length, the vast number of chapters and episodes is one of the series' greatest strengths, not a weakness.

The latest chapter exemplifies why One Piece's lore needed to be built over such a long period. Chapter #1138, "The Harley," concludes with a mural that may initially seem like an artistic flourish, but its intricate details are deliberately crafted, referencing elements the series has introduced over time. This moment proves that every development throughout the story was intentional, with even the smallest details meticulously placed. It’s yet another testament to Oda’s masterful storytelling, solidifying One Piece as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, manga of all time.

One Piece Shows Why Its Decades-Long Lore Makes the Series Unrivaled

Created by Eiichiro Oda

Before One Piece chapter #1138 unveils its intricately detailed mural at the end, it already proves its significance by confirming that Shamrock is Shanks' twin, a revelation that showcases Oda’s genius at deceiving fans for years. With this twist, the speculation about Shanks being a traitor is finally put to rest. The chapter further cements its importance by depicting Shamrock in action, revealing his sword, Cerberus, and its terrifying power.

Though the introduction of Shamrock’s sword may seem like a minor detail, it effectively debunks long-standing One Piece fan theories about Blackbeard’s connection to Cerberus. Yet, this revelation is just the beginning, as Oda appears to be planting yet another hidden detail, one that foreshadows an inevitable confrontation between Shanks and Shamrock, potentially in the final war. While Shamrock’s sword is revealed to be named Cerberus, it is well known among One Piece fans that Shanks’ sword is called Gryphon. The true significance lies in the symbolic contrast between their names.

Cerberus, from Greek mythology, is the hound that guards the gates of hell, while Gryphon (or Griffin) is a creature often associated with protecting sacred lands or even heaven itself. This stark contrast suggests that Shanks and Shamrock, as complete opposites, are destined for a climactic battle, another testament to Oda’s brilliance in weaving small details into long-term storytelling. However, this is just one example of his mastery. The mural at the end of the chapter stands as One Piece’s most significant lore reveal yet, encapsulating the depth of the series’ narrative.

One Piece's Latest Reveal Is the Culmination of the Series' Two-Decade Narrative

The Mural Hints at How One Piece's World First Fell Into Chaos and How It Will Be Liberated

Though One Piece has been serialized for over two decades, it has never directly revealed how the world’s current state came to be. Instead, the series has only dropped hints, leaving fans speculating for years, if not decades, about why the world is depicted as it is. However, with the latest mural reveal, the series finally provides clarity on the origins of its world.

What makes this revelation truly ingenious is how Oda has meticulously placed hints throughout the story, allowing fans to piece them together, just as the mural in the latest chapter does. The depiction of the First World in the mural, along with the Harley’s text, suggests that One Piece’s world was once far more advanced than it is now. This revelation aligns with the series’ long-standing hints about modernized elements, which have been paradoxically referred to as "ancient" throughout the story.

The mural and Harley’s text also remark on how this advanced civilization met its end, hinting that human greed for power was its downfall. While the theme of human greed is a common trope in fiction, this moment grounds One Piece in a more realistic narrative, revealing that Oda's inspirations are more rooted in reality than fans may have initially believed. With the fall of the First World, humanity rose again, reinforcing a classic theme: as long as humans exist, the struggle between justice and violence will continue.

The Second World, which culminated in the infamous Void Century, is then depicted in the mural, hinting at the rise of the Sun God, who fans already recognize as Joy Boy. The mural reinforces what the series has subtly built for over two decades, showing that evil, represented by the World Government, ultimately triumphed, sinking the world by 200 meters to erase any traces of rebellion. While this chapter confirms much about One Piece’s past, its final display also offers a glimpse into how the story may come to an end.

All Along, One Piece Has Been Building Its Lore for an Epic Finale

One Piece Is Going to End in an Epic All-Out War

After detailing the destruction of the first two worlds, as revealed by Jarul in the earlier chapters, the Harley text shifts focus to the Third World. Both the text and the mural make it clear that this world is heading toward an all-out war against the World Government with Luffy leading the charge as the Sun God. The mural illustrates that, alongside Luffy, various races and people will rise to fight, many of whom he has bonded with and influenced throughout his journey.

This underscores why the series spent over two decades meticulously laying out its details, as it has all been building toward this climactic battle against evil, with Luffy at the forefront of justice, liberating the world and bringing a new dawn. The depth of world-building was essential, as it ensures that the finale carries the emotional weight of One Piece’s decades-long narrative. Oda’s vision for an epic conclusion had already cemented One Piece as one of the greatest manga, but his ability to construct this moment with such a long-term, immersive build-up makes One Piece the greatest manga ever created.

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