One Piece: Unveiling the Legendary First Nika Adventure

Highlights

In the Wano Country arc, fans are introduced to a legendary figure named Nika, who is known as the Sun God and has a connection to the Sun Pirates and their captain, Jinbe.

Nika, a legendary figure who liberated slaves and brought happiness, was highly revered even long after his time. In the Wano Country arc, it is revealed that Luffy possesses the power of Nika through his awakened Devil Fruit abilities. The World Government had been vying for this power for centuries, but Luffy eventually gains mastery over it and frees Wano from Kaido's control. There is a belief that the original Nika is actually Joy Boy, a historic figure who had fought against the World Government.

One Piece is currently in its Final Saga and has recently started uncovering long-standing mysteries that have intrigued fans for years. One enigmatic figure that fans have been curious about is Joy Boy, who remains a legendary presence from the past. In the Wano Country arc, a new name, Nika, was introduced, which holds great significance in the story. Nika's importance is evident in the arc's climax and will continue to play a significant role going forward. Fans have already witnessed Luffy adopting the identity of Nika on multiple occasions. However, it is worth noting that there was a Nika who existed long before Luffy, and the story has already revealed some intriguing details about this individual.

The Nika Myths

The first mention of Nika in One Piece occurred during the Onigashima War, specifically when Who's Who discussed Nika while fighting against Jinbe. Who's Who brought up Nika because Jinbe was once the captain of the Sun Pirates. Conversely, Nika is revered as the Sun God, making the connection apparent. According to Who's Who, he had been imprisoned in the Holy Land of Marijoa and heard about the mythical figure of Nika.

As per the myth, Nika was a legendary figure who existed in the past and liberated slaves across the world. Those in need prayed to Nika, who ultimately freed them from their suffering, bringing them laughter and joy. Nika was a champion of the oppressed, and even centuries after his time, people continued to pray to him, indicating his immense influence. Remarkably, it is said that the guard who jokingly advised Who's Who to pray to the Sun God subsequently disappeared. Intrigued, Who's Who began praying to the Sun God, despite his initial disbelief, and miraculously managed to escape from prison. Since that day, Who's Who has been captivated by the Sun God and the associated history.

Luffy As Nika

In the Egghead Island arc, fans gained substantial insights into Nika through Luffy's transformation against Lucci. Vegapunk astutely observed that Luffy's Gear 5 form bore an uncanny resemblance to the fabled warrior known as the Sun God Nika from historical accounts. According to Vegapunk, Nika's distinctive fighting style exudes liberation, mirth, and emancipation wherever he goes, solidifying his status as the legendary warrior chronicled throughout history.

Luffy's identity as Nika became widely known among fans during the Wano Country Arc. Despite his relentless efforts, Luffy faced defeat at the hands of Kaido not once, but three times during the Onigashima battle. Just as Luffy engaged in the decisive clash with Kaido, CP0 interrupted the fight and Luffy was struck by the mighty Yonko, causing his heart to cease beating. In a twist of fate, Luffy's apparent demise coincided with his complete mastery over his Devil Fruit powers, triggering its awakening. Transformed into Nika, the Sun God, Luffy unveiled the hidden truth behind his Devil Fruit's actual name: the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. This revelation uncovered the World Government's secret agenda of concealing Nika's existence and their desperate attempts to prevent this deity's resurrection.

The World Government had been relentless in their pursuit of this power for centuries, but they failed every time. However, 12 years ago, Shanks outsmarted them and stole the Devil Fruit, which eventually came into the possession of Luffy.

Over time, Luffy became proficient in utilizing its powers, and his inventive thinking led to its Awakening during the Wano arc. Luffy created techniques like Gear Second and Gear Third, and after the timeskip, he unlocked the extraordinary ability of Gear Fourth. Ultimately, Luffy completely mastered his Devil Fruit, leading to its Awakening and the resurgence of Nika. As Nika, Luffy brought laughter and happiness to Wano, ultimately liberating the country from Kaido's control.

The First Nika

Luffy's transformation into Nika has captivated fans, who are eager to uncover the true identity of the original Nika. Fans have already deduced that the names Nika and Joyboy are interchangeable, based on Kaido's belief that Joyboy would be his conqueror and Zunesha's recognition of Joyboy when Luffy assumed his Nika form after awakening his Devil Fruit powers. This strongly suggests that Joyboy and Nika are one and the same, with Joyboy being the esteemed figure who challenged the World Government.

However, lingering questions persist. Many fans are curious whether Nika was a real individual or if the previous Joyboy consumed the same Devil Fruit that Luffy possesses. Considering that the World Government has relentlessly pursued this particular Devil Fruit for centuries, coupled with the fact that the previous Nika was referred to as Joyboy, it is highly probable that Nika, too, possessed Devil Fruit abilities.

While there is a possibility that a deity named Nika existed in the past and that Joy Boy was a title bestowed upon him, there is currently insufficient evidence to support this claim. It is more plausible to consider that the Devil Fruit of Nika came into existence after the original Joy Boy's death, with his soul residing within the fruit. Rather than attributing godly status to Joy Boy, it is more logical to believe that he, like Luffy, was a Devil Fruit user. Joy Boy's reputation as a liberator further supports this notion. However, it is still a valid possibility that Nika was a real individual, and fans should remain open to Oda potentially confirming this in the future.

The previous Nika was likely a giant or possessed a much larger physique than Luffy, as evidenced by the giant Straw Hat found in Marijoa. This Joy Boy valiantly fought against the World Government on behalf of the Ancient Kingdom and presumably held a position of great influence within it. Tragically, the 20 Kingdoms banded together and annihilated both him and his kingdom. However, before his demise, Nika left behind his treasure on the Final Island, which was later named Laugh Tale by Roger.

There is still much that remains undisclosed about Nika. As the story unfolds, fans will uncover more details about his past and the origins of his legendary status. The anticipation among fans to learn more about this enigmatic figure from the past in the Final Saga of One Piece is palpable. Stream One Piece on Crunchyroll to follow the captivating journey.