Many One Piece Fans Feel That The One Piece Was Irrelevant Prior To Roger's Death In One Piece
As the God Valley flashback continues to dominate the One Piece manga, a growing portion of the fandom is revisiting a fundamental question about the series’ central treasure: Did the One Piece even matter before Gol D. Roger’s death? Many fans are arguing that, within the story’s own history, the legendary treasure was essentially irrelevant until Roger turned it into a global obsession with his final words at the execution platform.
According to this view, the concept of “One Piece” as a mythic, singular treasure only truly took shape after Roger publicly declared its existence and invited the world to chase it. Before that moment, pirates were more focused on territory, status, and survival than on any unified dream of reaching a final island. In other words, fans feel that Roger didn’t just find the treasure — he created the age in which it mattered.
The God Valley Arc Has Taken Over the Fandom
The God Valley Incident has become one of the most captivating storylines in One Piece history, and many fans aren’t ready for it to end. Eiichiro Oda’s exploration of this long-mysterious event has brought together legendary figures like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Monkey D. Garp, and even the enigmatic Imu — creating a flashback that feels more like a grand historical epic than a side story. The arc dives deep into the power struggles that shaped the modern world of One Piece, revealing long-hidden secrets about the Celestial Dragons and the early days of piracy. For many, it’s a rare glimpse into the “true history” of the world, something fans have been waiting for since the manga’s earliest chapters.
Within this historical context, fans are noticing something important: even among the strongest pirates of the era, the treasure that would later be called the One Piece doesn’t seem to be the focal point. The Rocks Pirates, Roger, and other legends appear more concerned with power, ideology, or toppling the Celestial Dragons than with racing toward a final, all-defining prize. This has strengthened the argument that the One Piece only became symbolically and culturally important after Roger framed it as such with his dying words.
Fans Don’t Want to Return to the Straw Hats Yet
Surprisingly, many readers say they don’t want to go back to the Straw Hat Pirates just yet. Social media platforms are full of fans expressing that this arc feels like the most thrilling part of One Piece in years — with its dark tone, intense storytelling, and lore-heavy revelations. While Luffy and his crew are the heart of the series, the God Valley storyline offers something entirely different: a look at the legends and events that shaped everything we know. One fan summed it up best on X (formerly Twitter): “If we return to the Straw Hats now, it’ll feel like waking up from a dream.” The sentiment highlights a unique moment in the fandom, where the past has become more captivating than the present adventure.
In these discussions, many fans are pointing out that even the pirates of old didn’t seem to be living in a “race for the One Piece” the way the modern era is. Instead, the treasure looks more like a secret known to a tiny circle — a final destination for Roger’s journey, but not yet the shared dream of the entire world. For these fans, the emotional and narrative weight of the One Piece itself is retroactive: it matters because Roger died announcing it, because his legend turned it into a symbol of ultimate freedom and ambition.
Was Roger’s Execution The Moment The One Piece Was Truly Born?
This debate has led to a deeper interpretation of Roger’s execution scene. Many fans now see that moment not just as the start of the Great Pirate Era, but as the point where the One Piece went from a private reality to a public myth. Before his death, the final island and the treasure it held were essentially unknown concepts to most of the world. After his death, the words “One Piece” became a global trigger — one that reshaped history, inspired generations, and even defined Luffy’s own journey.
From this perspective, the treasure’s “irrelevance” prior to Roger’s execution isn’t a flaw in the story, but an intentional choice. It reinforces the idea that what truly transformed the world wasn’t just the existence of the treasure, but one man’s decision to give that treasure to the world in the form of a dream. Fans who support this view argue that the real power of the One Piece lies not just in what it is, but in how Roger framed it for everyone else.
A Testament to Oda’s Storytelling and Legacy
The enthusiasm surrounding the God Valley flashback underscores Eiichiro Oda’s enduring genius as a storyteller. After more than two decades, he continues to surprise fans by revealing layers of history that connect generations of pirates, marines, and rulers. The arc’s pacing, emotion, and scope have reminded readers of One Piece’s golden era — a blend of mystery, world-building, and drama that few series can match. Even as some fans fear that returning to the Straw Hats will slow the story’s momentum, others believe this balance between past and present is what makes One Piece timeless.
Whether the flashback ends soon or continues, the God Valley saga has already cemented itself as one of the most powerful and defining chapters in the series’ history. And as it unfolds, it’s prompting fans to look at the One Piece itself in a new light — not just as a legendary treasure at the end of the world, but as something that may have only become truly important the moment Gol D. Roger chose to share it with everyone and die with a smile.
