After 20 years, One Piece prepares for the death of a Yonko

Yonko were officially introduced incl One piece chapter 432 by Monkey D. Garp, Luffy's grandfather, October 30, 2006 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump #48. After their introduction, the Yonks, who were said to be the cream of the crop when it came to the pirate world, ruled the New World as absolute kings with an authority so great that even the world government wouldn't dare directly oppose them.

Over the years, Yonko have been an integral part of the company's overarching story One pieceespecially in the second half, chronicling the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and the Straw Pirates in the New World. While the Yonks are at the center of everything that happens in the story, their time is running out and the entire order is about to be destroyed at the same time. One piece is found in the last part of the story.

The Emperors Race For The One Piece officially kills the Yonko system

The final saga of One piece officially began in Chapter 1058, which marked the beginning of the Egghead arc on August 29, 2022 in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump #39. Here, the final race for One Piece has officially begun, and a whole new adventure is on the horizon for Luffy and the straw pirates. At the end of the Wano arc, the Worst Generation trio of Luffy, Law, and Kid went their separate ways, each aiming for One Piece. Meanwhile, in other parts of the New World, powerful pirates were gathering the power needed to target One Piece.

In One Piece Chapter 1121, which was officially released on July 22, 2024, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #34, Eiichiro Oda revealed the most important players in the search for One Piece. Naturally, this included the Four Emperors, as well as characters like Nero Ima, Garling, Figarland, Shamrock, and members of the Blackbeard Pirates like Kuzan, and even some marines. All of these characters will be important in the race for One Piece, and eventually whoever finds One Piece will gain enough power to rule the entire world.

“The fate of this world will be decided by whoever finds it. It all depends on the person who claims One Piece!” —Dr. Vegapunk explains the meaning of the next king, One Piece Chapter #1121

However, the flip side is that whoever finds the One Piece will officially kill the Yonko system. This is because all Yonko exist for one reason and that is to find one piece. Each Yonko has their own territory and their own understanding of different parts of the seas, as there is no undisputed king. Once the Pirate King is elected, the Yonko will serve absolutely no purpose and have an even bigger target for them to turn to. This one undisputed king of the seas will then be the one to find One Piece.

Why can't there be a Yonko after one piece is found

The Yonko system is relatively recent in the world One piece. Over the years, Eiichiro Oda has given us a look at the different timelines that have existed in the world of One Piece. For example, in One Piece Chapter 1154, which was officially released on July 14, 2025, in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33, Eiichiro Oda officially introduced us to Rocks D. Xebec. There were no four emperors during this time period. The rocks were said to be the strongest in the seas, and even though characters like Roger appeared in the next 10 years or so, the Emperors never came into being.

38 years ago, after the events of God Valley, some of the most powerful pirates were shown to go their separate ways. In One Piece Chapter 1167, which was published in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #1 on December 1, 2025, Eiichiro Oda highlighted the next generation of pirates who made a great name for themselves in the New World and gained great power. They were characters like Roger, Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido, Shiki, Wang Zhi and many others from that era. The four emperors are nowhere to be found. They only appeared after Roger died and the entire world of One Piece was thrown into chaos.

“Pirates who have made their own way after God Valley have continued to rise to prominence and will grow in power over the next decade or two until they reach their prime and become the faces of an era.” — Narrator confirms the beginning of a new era, One Piece Chapter #1167

In other words, the establishment of the Four Emperors coincides with the beginning of the Great Pirate Era. With the claim of One Piece, this era will officially end as a new Pirate King will be elected, meaning the quest for One Piece will officially die. The four emperors simply cannot exist as such, because there will no longer be equal status among them.

One Piece's New Era will have Monkey D. Luffy at the very top

Image via Toei Animation

As for the identity of the person who finds the One Piece, we all know that it will be none other than Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of the series. Luffy embarked on his journey to obtain the One Piece at the very beginning of the story, 29 years ago. He has made great progress since then, and right now holds three of the four Road Poneglyphs. With one more Road Poneglyph, Luffy will be able to officially set sail for the Final Island, Laugh Tale.

In his latest Jump Festa report, which was officially released on December 21, 2025, Eiichiro Oda mentioned that after the events of Elbaf, the Straw Pirates will set foot on an island only visited by the Pirate King, meaning that Luffy will make great progress towards obtaining One Piece. Either way, the straw pirates find the One Piece and make Luffy the Pirate King. As Luffy claims this supreme position, the era of the Four Emperors will officially end and the one undisputed King of the Seas will be announced.

“We're heading to 'that island' that only the Pirate King could ever get to!!? The flame-marked man also appears. Characters who never had the chance to meet finally meet. The two meet and the two meet.” — One Piece Author Eiichiro Oda at Jump Festa 2026

Of course, there is still much to discover One piecesuch as the many massive battles against the Holy Knights and the World Government led by Nero Imus. At the same time, the Marines are also in the equation, as well as other powerful crews like the Cross Guild, Blackbeard Pirates, and Red Hair Pirates. Every powerful organization has a huge stake in the power game going on in the world of One Piece right now, but the one who will stand at the top of it all will be none other than the Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy.

All the latest manga chapters of Eiichiro Oda's One Piece are available to read through Manga Plus and Viz Media.