One Piece is a series best known for its intricate mysteries, boundless world, and childlike sense of adventure. These whimsical qualities may be taking a backseat for the series’ next arc, however, as One Piece’s World Government begins committing atrocities on a global scale, starting by killing everyone on an entire island.
One Piece is no stranger to war crimes, as evidenced by the vast history of political turmoil found within the story, especially those perpetrated by the World Government itself. As a ruling body obsessed with control and blotting out any hint of insurgency, to the point of rewriting history itself to exclude those who even consider rebellion, it’s no surprise the World Government has been responsible for some of history’s worst atrocities in the past. Events like the genocidal cleansing of Ohara and the enslavement of former sovereigns like Bartholomew Kuma come to mind when thinking of the World Government’s despotic tendencies. Despite this track record, never before has the World Government been shown as bloodthirsty as they are now.
In chapter 1060 of One Piece, the secret king of the world, Im-sama chose to eliminate an island known as Lulucia from the sea in its entirety. From what was gleaned, it seems as though Lulucia was completely vaporized in an effort to stop the Revolutionary Army Commander, Sabo, from relaying information about Im to the rest of the army. To this end, it’s even ordered that anyone in the World Government privy to this event is to act as though Lulucia never even existed. Even the knowledge of whether Sabo managed to survive thanks to his Logia fruit is left up in the air as One Piece has truly never seen destruction and mass casualties like these before.
One Piece's World Government Has Never Been More Brutal
One Piece’s World Government has been hinting at the idea of a “great cleansing” ever since the Reverie over a hundred chapters ago. It seems as though the tide of rebellion sweeping across the Grand Line thanks to Sabo’s efforts as a Revolutionary could not go unanswered by the World Government either. Now that the balance of power has shifted dramatically thanks to the defeat of Kaido and Big Mom, the World Government has a massive opportunity to squash the up-and-coming Yonko while securing their place in the world. Previously, the Yonko and the World Government acted as separate entities which kept each other in check, but now it seems as though the World Government no longer believes it necessary to maintain this fragile system of checks and balances. The destruction of Lulucia is just the beginning.
The World Government killing everyone on Lulucia is just the beginning of a new campaign of destruction set to unfold over the world. One Piece has been building up to one final war for the last 1000 chapters and the World Government unleashing the power to wipe islands off the face of the map is only the tip of the iceberg.