This article contains spoilers for One Piece's Elbaf Arc.

Summary

  • Skypiea arc in One Piece introduced Noland The Liar, a tragic figure with ties to Usopp.
  • Fans speculate Noland's relevance in Elbaf Arc, potentially connecting him to Usopp's story.
  • Noland's botany skills could explain the Treasure Tree Adam, providing a power-up for Usopp.

While many fans regard Skypiea as one of One Piece’s less beloved arcs, it’s undeniable that many pieces of interesting lore originated during this part of the story. From the first hints of Nika to Enel’s interesting motivation to reach the moon, Skypiea was packed to the brim with information. This includes the backstory of Noland and Kalagara, two interesting figures from the history of One Piece, and arguably the most entertaining part of the arc in general.

Although the figure hasn’t been mentioned recently, many fans have high hopes that these characters, specifically Noland will be relevant by the end of One Piece. With so many strong connections between Usopp and Noland, it seems there could be a strong chance that Noland’s historical travels will come into play. In fact, some fans believe Noland’s relevance in One Piece may start as early as the Elbaf Arc, acting as a major step in not only Usopp’s story but also in identifying the true nature of the series’ mythical trees.

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One Piece's Skypiea Arc Introduces Noland The Liar

A Tragic Figure Who Is Important To One Piece Lore

In One Piece, during the Skypiea Arc, fans were introduced to the character Mont Blanc Noland, an explorer who was branded as a liar in an old children's book. Specifically, the story tells of a figure who claimed that there was a city of gold, yet when he went to show his kingdom, it was gone, leading to Noland being executed. However, towards the end of One Piece's Skypiea, the audience had the opportunity to see his travels, which shows the truth behind the story.

Kalgara, where are you now? Are you alive? I'm just worried about your safety. - Noland

Specifically, Noland was a botanist and explorer who was extremely kind-hearted and cared for people and the environment greatly. During his journeys, Noland did find the Shandian city of gold as well, though the kingdom was blown away by a Knock Up Stream from One Piece's Grand Line, leading to the figure being branded as a liar. However, in reality, he was simply a figure who had unfortunate luck, something that would eventually lead to his death.

Nolands Connection To Usopp Hasn't Been Addressed

Usopp May Inherit The Will Of Noland

Binz uses his Devil Fruit to capture Usopp.
  • Noland's Connection To Usopp Should Be Explored
  • Noland's Notes Could Explain The Ancient Trees Of One Piece

Already, there are many fairly obvious similarities to Noland and Usopp of the Straw Hat Pirates in One Piece. Both characters are considered to be liars, though they have opposite circumstances surrounding them. While Usopp is a liar whose lies eventually become true, Noland’s truth becomes lies. Still, this is enough for many fans to consider the characters to be connected in some way. Additionally, Noland is a botanist, which further connects him to Usopp, who picked up some botany skills during his time skip training.

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Due to this, much like how Luffy has inherited the will of Joy Boy and Roger, many fans believe that Usopp may inherit the will of Noland. Although there is no specific Devil Fruit to connect the two, Usopp may discover some level of botanical discovery left by Noland to further the connection between the figures. Plus, with Noland being so well traveled, often visiting botanical wonders, like the Tontattas of Dressrosa, Elbaf doesn’t seem too far outside of the realm of possibility for Noland to visit due to the Treasure Tree Adam.

Noland Could Explain The Treasure Tree Adam In One Piece

The Ancient Tree Holds Many Secrets

Treasure Tree Adam

As many know, the Treasure Tree Adam is a massive and ancient tree that makes up a bulk of One Piece's Elbaf Island. Although little is known about the exact composition of the tree, it seems to hold a fair amount of secrets, including the Ancient Mural. However, it would make sense that a figure, like Noland, may have studied the tree and could provide answers to some of the mysteries surrounding it. If Noland did leave behind secrets on Elbaf surrounding the Treasure Tree Adam, it would make sense for a character like Usopp to discover them and share this information with the rest of the Straw Hat Crew.

Can you really save my people? - Kalgara to Noland

In the end, while some may find it unlikely, Noland may still have a place in the Final Saga of One Piece. Despite being dead for hundreds of years, Noland could reveal some important information to the Straw Hat Crew. Plus, he could provide a unique power-up for Usopp in One Piece as well, giving a whole new level to the Straw Hat’s botany.

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Release Date
October 20, 1999
Network
Fuji TV
Directors
Hiroaki Miyamoto, Konosuke Uda, Junji Shimizu, Satoshi Itō, Munehisa Sakai, Katsumi Tokoro, Yutaka Nakajima, Yoshihiro Ueda, Kenichi Takeshita, Yoko Ikeda, Ryota Nakamura, Hiroyuki Kakudou, Takahiro Imamura, Toshihiro Maeya, Yûji Endô, Nozomu Shishido, Hidehiko Kadota, Sumio Watanabe, Harume Kosaka, Yasuhiro Tanabe, Yukihiko Nakao, Keisuke Onishi, Junichi Fujise, Hiroyuki Satou
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  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Mayumi Tanaka
    Monkey D. Luffy (voice)
  • Cast Placeholder Image
    Kazuya Nakai
    Roronoa Zoro (voice)

WHERE TO WATCH

Streaming
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Writers
Jin Tanaka, Akiko Inoue, Junki Takegami, Shinzo Fujita, Shouji Yonemura, Yoshiyuki Suga, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hirohiko Uesaka, Michiru Shimada, Isao Murayama, Takuya Masumoto, Yoichi Takahashi, Momoka Toyoda
Franchise(s)
One Piece
Creator(s)
Eiichiro Oda