Eiichiro Oda has done it again. Just when fans thought the God Valley arc had already pushed One Piece’s lore to its absolute limit, the author has dropped a new bombshell: somewhere in the shadows of history exists a pirate Oda himself ranks as the next strongest in history after Joy Boy and Davy Jones.
For a series that has spent over two decades building myths around monsters like Rocks D. Xebec, Gol D. Roger, Whitebeard, and even the mysterious Imu, this statement doesn’t just shake up power-scaling debates — it rewrites the hierarchy of legends in the One Piece world.
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.
Now, with Oda’s latest comments about a pirate who stands just below Joy Boy and Davy Jones in raw might and importance, the God Valley storyline has gone from “incredible flashback” to “foundation of the entire pirate era.”
Oda Finally Confirms a New Peak of Pirate Power
According to Oda’s comment, this mysterious figure isn’t just another strong character — they are canonically placed on a tier right beneath Joy Boy and Davy Jones, two names that symbolize the absolute pinnacle of myth in the One Piece universe.
Joy Boy represents the forgotten hope of the Void Century, a symbol of liberation whose will Luffy is now inheriting. Davy Jones, meanwhile, is tied to the darkest legends of the sea — the man whose name echoes in the Davy Back Fight, associated with pirates gambling their dreams, crews, and even identities on the ocean’s cruelest game.
To say that anyone comes after those two is to declare them more terrifying than Rocks, more legendary than Roger, and possibly more world-shaking than even Whitebeard. Oda’s wording makes it clear: this isn’t just a hype line — this pirate is a pillar of history the story hasn’t fully explored yet.
Fans are already dubbing this unnamed figure “The Third Legend,” placing them as the final missing piece in the trinity of the sea’s greatest monsters.
Is the New Legend Connected to God Valley?
With the God Valley arc dominating the manga, many readers are convinced this “next strongest pirate” is not a future villain, but a ghost from the past whose influence is only now being revealed.
Some theories suggest that this pirate:
- Predated Rocks and Roger, ruling the seas in the gap between Joy Boy’s downfall and the rise of modern piracy.
- Clashed with the ancestors of the Celestial Dragons, forcing the World Government to erase their name from history.
- May have been the origin of Davy Jones’ darkest myths, turning the sea itself into a graveyard of lost crews, ships, and souls.
Whether they appeared directly at God Valley or exist as a looming absence over the event, Oda’s timing feels intentional. Just as we see the “greatest era” of pirates unfold in flashback, we’re told there was still someone higher — someone even legends like Rocks and Roger would’ve been measured against.
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. The reveal that there’s another pirate, ranked by Oda as the next strongest after Joy Boy and Davy Jones, only deepens that fascination.
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 — and this “Third Legend” is quickly becoming the centerpiece of that obsession.
What This Means for One Piece Power Scaling
For years, the top of the One Piece power chart has looked something like this in fan debates: Joy Boy, Imu, Rocks, Roger, Whitebeard, Garp in his prime, and the modern Yonko.
Oda’s new confirmation forces a major rewrite. If this pirate truly stands just below Joy Boy and Davy Jones, several things follow:
- Rocks, Roger, and Whitebeard might have been chasing a shadow whose era had already ended.
- The World Government may have faced an even greater threat before Rocks, one so terrifying that even his name is scrubbed from history.
- Luffy’s final test might not just be surpassing Roger’s legacy, but stepping into an arena once ruled by this Third Legend.
The Final Saga is no longer just about Luffy vs. the World Government, or Luffy vs. Blackbeard. It’s about Luffy standing at the end of a line of impossible figures — Joy Boy, Davy Jones, and now this unnamed titan of the sea.
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. Adding a pirate that Oda himself ranks right after Joy Boy and Davy Jones only elevates that status.
How This Reveal Shapes the Road to the Ending
The confirmation of the “next strongest pirate in history after Joy Boy and Davy Jones” doesn’t just change how fans view the past — it reshapes expectations for everything still to come.
- Elbaf, the Final War, and the True History now carry an extra layer of mystery: will this pirate’s will, crew, or weapons still exist in some form?
- Blackbeard, Shanks, and the current Yonko may turn out to be inheritors of a legacy deeper than we realized — either as successors or failed imitators of this Third Legend.
- Luffy’s journey is no longer just about surpassing Roger; it’s about fulfilling Joy Boy’s will while walking in the shadow of pirates who terrified even the sea itself.
For now, Oda is keeping the full identity and story of this pirate close to his chest. But one thing is clear: in a saga already overflowing with gods, monsters, and myths, the idea that there’s still someone higher on the ladder than almost everyone we know proves that One Piece isn’t done surprising its readers.
And if this is the level of revelation we’re getting in the God Valley arc… the final pages of One Piece might be even more earth-shattering than anyone imagined.
