One Piece is known for being one of the longest series in anime and manga history, so the fandom commonly perceives that this story still has a long way to go. However, the series may be closer to its conclusion than people think, especially because of some decisions by its author, Eiichiro Oda.
The Straw Hats are already set on a clear path to reach the One Piece, and the ending of the Egghead arc highlights how the characters were focusing on a similar goal. Several plot points are slowly being addressed, and Luffy and his crew will likely be the only ones to reach Laugh Tale because of the story's themes.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for the series. Any opinion expressed here belongs to the author and not Sportskeeda as a publication.
The ending of One Piece could be closer than people might think
One of the most notorious elements that prove how Eiichiro Oda is aiming to end the story sooner than people realize is how his writing style has shifted to make the secondary characters' motivations smaller and easier to complete in short amounts of time. This fits with his ongoing health issues and several interviews where he has said that he wants to end the series in a few years.
The Egghead arc was also quite important since it features Luffy's first encounter with the Gorosei. Dr. Vegapunk reveals the threat of the world sinking and establishes the different sides of the attempt to reach Laugh Tale. This narrows the story's path since the two main targets are reaching the island and taking down the World Government.
Then there is the current storyline, the Elbaph arc, which is bound to explain what Gear 5 is to Luffy, more revelations of the Void Century, thanks to Robin, and the confirmation of who and what Shanks truly is, thanks to the introduction of his alleged "twin." Some of these doubts and mysteries have been established for quite some time, and this arc could confirm them once and for all.
This doesn't mean the Straw Hats will reach the One Piece in the next few chapters. Instead, it means that the current arc will likely play a similar role to the one of Amazon Lily, which established the path to what eventually became Marineford. This might be the arc of buildup, paving the way for what is going to be the series' final run.
The increasing presence of Imu in the story, coupled with the Gorosei and Figarland Garling's more hands-on approach to dealing with Luffy, suggests that the story could be reaching its conclusion. Moreover, there is much more information on Joy Boy and Nika, which is probably key to unraveling the protagonist's future in the series.
Final thoughts
Many people might find the idea of One Piece ending soon shocking, but it could very well become a reality. However, it would make sense considering Oda's direction with the story and perhaps the best path given his recent health scares.
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