One Piece's Elbaf mural reveals a hidden war between ancient races

Time of India

07-06-2025

The Elbaf Island mural shows a secret war from the Void Century—and it includes nearly every major race in One Piece.
If you're not familiar with One Piece, it's a massive global anime phenomenon filled with pirates, fun and powers, and the mysteries of life.
One of its largest lingering mysteries is the 'Void Century'— a lost 100 years of history that the world government has wiped from existence.
With the recent Elbaf arc, a giant mural has finally surfaced to show what actually occurred!
The mural, painted on the mythical Adam Tree in Elbaf (the land of giants), depicts a titanic clash between all the races of the world. Every race, every country together, shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting side-by-side in this united front against this one formidable and horrifying foe.
Fans are convinced that this piece of artwork provides an insight into the wonderful war that took place during the incredibly obscure Void Century.
Here's a complete rundown of all the races we know so far represented in the Elbaf mural, who they are, and why they're important.
1. Humans: The heart of the world
Most Common Race | Best-Known Character: Monkey D. Luffy
Humans, the real majority The humans of the One Piece world are divided among various kingdoms and islands.
Often at a physical disadvantage to other races, humans still manage to take the reins and direct significant historical events. Similar to Luffy, the anime's protagonist.
Most touchingly on the mural, humans are depicted sailing together with other races, including Wano warriors alongside and even what appears to be people from the Kingdom of Arabasta!
2. Giants: Elbaf's mighty warriors
Massive in Size and Strength | Best-Known Characters: Dorry & Brogy
Giants are towering warriors who mainly inhabit the island of Elbaf.
Famed for their raw power and military prowess, they are able to determine the fate of entire wars. Notice how in the mural, a giant is clearly leading the charge in the middle, perhaps representing Elbaf's central role in this ancient battle.
Their return to the narrative has sparked excitement toward uncovering the giants' true past.
3. Ancient giants: The lost titans
Larger Than Even Giants | Best-Known Character: Oars
Fabled Ancient Giants were an even more powerful version of today's giants.
They are so big in fact they dwarf even the biggest monsters. One mural scene depicts an Ancient Giant preparing to hurl a spear towards alarmed foes, demonstrating how crucial their might was in this long lost conflict.
Elbaf's prince Loki is said to bear their bloodline.
4. Mink tribe: Animal warriors of Zou
Animal-Human Hybrids | Best-Known Characters: Inuarashi & Nekomamushi
Along the way, they encounter Minks, humanoid animals who live on the back of the giant, centuries-old elephant, Zunesha.
Along with the transformations you can perform under the full moon, which take the form of 'Sulong forms,' these periods are incredibly powerful and just look amazing. The mural depicts both standard Minks and a Sulong Mink storming the enemy.
They battled alongside Wano's samurai and were once members of Pirate King Gold Roger's crew.
5. Dwarves: Tiny but tough fighters
Small in Size, Big in Strength | Best-Known Character: Leo
That's not to mention the Tontatta Dwarves, tiny folk of Dressrosa.
Even at that massive size, they're able to be the fastest land animal and have the strength of being a megafauna. In the mural, they're pictured to the left of the mermaid princess, storming ahead with their spears drawn.
As such, they're now members of the Straw Hat Grand Fleet.
6. Mermaids: Guardians of the sea kings
Ocean Dwellers | Best-Known Character: Princess Shirahoshi
As you may know, mermaids inhabit the ocean, famed for their mesmerizing beauty and inexplicable magic.
Only a single mermaid swims through the mural. Her upturned tail suggests she's a princess, able to summon Sea Kings to do her bidding. There's a good chance that power would win any war before it starts.
The current princess, Shirahoshi, is this generation's Sea King summoner.
7. Lunarians: Winged flame-wielders
Sky Warriors with Fire Powers | Best-Known Character: King
Now on the brink of extinction, lunarians are a beautiful race with dark wings and the ability to conjure flames.
Once a scourge and terrible, now they dwell in lore. A Lunarian depicted in the mural is clearly shown attacking from above, implying superiority in the skies.
The only survivor so far today from the All Star liquidation is the last of the All Stars, King, former right-hand man to Kaido.
8. Birkans: Sky people from the moon
One of Three Sky Races | Best-Known Character: Enel
Birkans are a winged race from the moon that now inhabit Skypiea. Though physically weaker than Lunarians, they were responsible for crafting expansive, beautiful civilizations spanning continents.
In the mural, a Birkan hovers over a herd of runaway humans, perhaps in pursuit of the mythical vessel Noah.
After the climax of Skypiea, Enel, the 'god' of Shandia, departed from Earth completely and returned to the Moon.
9. Longarm tribe: Double-jointed warriors
Extra Arm Joint for Better Combat | Best-Known Character: Scratchmen Apoo
The Longarm Tribe longarms have two joints in their arms, granting them greater flexibility and distance in combat. In the mural, they're depicted alongside their cousins, the Longleg Tribe, rushing side-by-side into war.
Apoo, one of the Supernovas, is easily the most recognizable Longarm in the narrative.
10. Longleg tribe: Powerful kickers
Long Legs with Amazing Reach | Most Famous Member: Charlotte Smoothie
The Longllegs have exceedingly long legs, which they use for vicious kicks. Their idyllic presence in the mural, side by side with Dragonborn and other human-like races, underscores their importance in the ancient war.
Smoothie, the governor of the Totto Land territory in service of her mother, is yet another heavyweight fighter in the Big Mom Pirates, and their strongest named member.
Why this Mural is so important
This mural may be the greatest National Treasure-level clue so far about the lost history of the One Piece world. It uncovers the mystery that when all of the world's races used to be on equal footings, they fought together against a common foe—the possible ancestor of the World Government.
It foreshadows how Luffy's current adventure will parallel that old fight, as he's bringing together diverse peoples, nations, and pirate alliances for a shared purpose.
Is Luffy repeating history?
From giants to mermaids, Lunarians to dwarves, just about every race depicted in the mural has some link to Luffy's crew or allies at this point. As our heroes dive deeper into the Elbaf arc, this ancient war may just serve as the blueprint for the final war yet to come.
For longtime fans and, hopefully, new viewers, Elbaf's massive mural could hold the answer to finally discovering what the Void Century is all about and what Luffy needs to do to remake the world in his image.
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