Is Vegapunk dead in One Piece? Explore why fans thought this fan-favorite character was dead and his fate in the series.
Dr. Vegapunk, the greatest scientific mind in One Piece, had been a highly anticipated figure for a long time. With his appearance in the Egghead Arc, he lived up to expectations, revealing major truths about the world and supposedly sacrificing his life for it. However, chapter 1134 has restarted conversations regarding his fate. So, is Vegapunk dead in One Piece?
The original Vegapunk is dead in One Piece, but a perfect recreation of his body still exists, waiting to be extracted. This has caused heavy debates regarding the character’s role and legacy. Let us take a closer look at this.
Who Is Vegapunk in One Piece?
Vegapunk is introduced as the most brilliant scientist in One Piece, credited with groundbreaking advancements in technology and weaponry. He lived on Egghead, a futuristic island featuring artificial climate control, holograms, jetpacks, and other advanced devices.
Vegapunk holds the Brain-Brain Fruit, a Devil Fruit that keeps extending his brain to store endless knowledge. To make himself more efficient, he also split different parts of his personality into six Satellites, showing off his capability with research and inventions.
Despite creating the infamous Pacifista Project in One Piece, Vegapunk is caring and upholds strong morality and ethics in science. He strongly opposed Kuma surrendering his free will, but his hands were tied by the World Government’s pressure.
Vegapunk also realized the World Government’s tyranny and misuse of the Ancient Weapons. Combining this with his own fascination, he was researching the Void Century and the truth regarding the world. This led to the chaos in the Egghead Arc.
Why Did Fans Think Vegapunk Died in One Piece?
Soon after Vegapunk had met Luffy and started sharing his knowledge with the Straw Hats, the World Government decided he had outlived his use and attacked his island using the Marine forces. With formidable figures such as Saturn and Kizaru stepping up on the battlefield themselves, the Straw Hats were having difficulty fighting the enemies and protecting the scientist.
While the tides seemed to momentarily turn when Vegapunk revealed that Bonney could control the Pacifistas, this was short-lived since Saturn brutally stabbed him. This significantly injured him, and Luffy ordered Sanji to carry him away. Unfortunately, during their escape, Kizaru dealt a finishing blow to Vegapunk with his Pika Pika no Mi.
This seemed to mark the end of the legendary figure, as Vegapunk’s “death” triggered his message to the whole world regarding the Void Century and the dangers of the Ancient Weapons. Having given his life for the cause, fans were satisfied with the short yet impactful stay of Vegapunk. However, the Elbaph Arc has suggested that the scientist is not truly dead.
Vegapunk’s Controversial Return in the Elbaph Arc
As we mentioned earlier, chapter 1134 of the Elbaph Arc saw Vegapunk’s Satellite Lilith popping up in front of Jaguar and the Straw Hats with a mysterious object. When questioned, she responded that the object contained a perfect clone of Vegapunk who had visited Elbaph 20 years prior.
This version of Vegapunk is hinted to differ from the Satellites, replicating the real man’s personality, ideas, and brainpower exactly. While Lilith currently lacks the facilities to extract him from the structure, she plans to build a lab for this purpose.
Hence, Vegapunk, or at least an identical replica of him, is back, seemingly with the same facets. Vegapunk himself would agree that his character’s main trait is his innovations and knowledge in his brain. Hence, this clone, who has those same features, will make it feel as if he was never dead in the first place.
This has garnered mixed reactions from the One Piece fanbase. Some fans admire Vegapunk’s foresight and technological innovations, enjoying his return to the series. Others feel annoyed that Vegapunk’s shocking death, which revealed major One Piece secrets, has been undone.
Shonen anime has the habit of faking out deaths, bringing back characters after their seeming end. Not even a few chapters after Vegapunk’s death, he is back, with many feeling it has nullified the emotional impact of his loss.
Vegapunk’s Role in the Final Saga
Despite the controversy of Vegapunk’s return, we know that Oda doesn’t bring back characters without a purpose. Vegapunk has a lot of knowledge, most of which he refrained from sharing in his message to the world to remain objective.
However, the return of his clone raises the possibility of revealing these secrets and gaining insight into the Void Century. This could also uncover ways to combat the Ancient Weapons. Additionally, Vegapunk is among the few who can read Poneglyphs, which initially made him an enemy of the Gorosei.
Pairing this with his ties to Ohara and the presence of both Robin and Jaguar, new information about the last Road Poneglyph is highly likely. Vegapunk could also ally with the Straw Hats, as both are targeted by the World Government. This alliance would help Luffy in his quest to become the Pirate King and uncover the mysteries of One Piece.
Conclusion
Vegapunk’s original body may be dead, but he is still alive through another form made from his innovation. As we dive deeper into the Final Saga, fans will be looking forward to seeing whether this clone is different from the actual man and its significance in the events of the series.
Looking For More?
Thank you for reading the article. We provide the latest news and create guides for Baldur’s Gate 3, Starfield, ARK Survival Ascended, and more. Also, watch Deltia play games on Twitch or visit his YouTube channel!