The Mystifying Comeback of Joyboy in One Piece: Unraveling the Enigma

Highlights

One Piece fans praised Episode 1071 and overlooked an important detail about Luffy's transformation after being struck by Kaido.

The transformation is tied to Joyboy, a fabled character from centuries past who battled against the World Government and left behind the One Piece.

Luffy and Joyboy share a connection through their Devil Fruits, and Luffy's recent transformation symbolizes his mission to liberate the world from the grip of the World Government. Nonetheless, excessive use of Gear 5 may come with negative consequences for Luffy.

The release of Episode 1071 of One Piece left fans overjoyed. Released on August 6th, 2023, this highly anticipated episode received positive feedback from the audience. Amidst all the excitement surrounding Gear 5, some fans missed a significant detail regarding Luffy following his encounter with Kaido. This event triggered a transformation that caught the attention of Zunesha, as it detected a change in Luffy's heartbeat and declared the return of Joyboy.

Zunesha relayed this information to a confused Momonosuke. As a member of the Worst Generation, Luffy unlocked a new form, which altered the color of his hair, eyebrows, shirt, and shorts to white. His eyebrows took on a swirled shape, and a white cloud enveloped his back. Not only is this form incredibly powerful, but it is also associated with Joyboy.

Who Was Joyboy

Joyboy, a legendary figure of ancient times, was first mentioned by Nico Robin when she discovered the Poneglyph in Fish-Man Island. As he existed centuries before the current timeline, it is likely that Joyboy played a significant role in the war against the World Government. Realizing his impending demise during the battle against the group of 20 nations, Joyboy may have decided to leave the One Piece hidden on Laugh Tale. In addition to the message on the Fish-Man Island Poneglyph, Joyboy left further information regarding his eventual return. When the Roger Pirates stumbled upon Joyboy's treasure, they chose not to disturb it knowing that the time wasn't right.

Given his significance, it comes as no surprise that the World Government sought to eradicate Joyboy's name from history, eager to conceal the truth. However, they were unable to erase his name from the indestructible Poneglyphs. Despite Joyboy having passed away long ago, the mention of his return by Zunesha raises intriguing questions.

Connected By Devil Fruit

Luffy and Joyboy share a connection through the Hito Hito no MI, Model: Nika. According to the Gorosei, Zoan-type Devil Fruits possess their own consciousness, which allowed the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, to evade the World Government's control. This also explains why there are only a limited number of Awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruits in the world of One Piece. Prior to Luffy, the only known users of Awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruits were the jailers from Impel Down.

Although they were able to unleash the true potential of their Devil Fruits, the ability to revert back to their original human forms eluded them. The overwhelming will of the Devil Fruit took over, causing their mental capacities to diminish. This could be the reason why Kaido does not possess an Awakened Devil Fruit. If he had utilized the Awakening ability excessively, he too might have fallen prey to the feral nature of his Devil Fruit. However, Luffy's Devil Fruit is unlike any other in the world of One Piece; it embodies the will of Nika.

What This Means For The Story

Luffy's formidable will had concealed the true essence of the Devil Fruit, eluding discovery for an extended period. Overpowering his tenacity, it would have been an insurmountable challenge for the Devil Fruit's own volition. However, Kaido's incapacitation of Luffy presented the opportune moment for the Devil Fruit to seize control—an eventuality that duly unfolded. Seizing her chance as the Yonko reveled in his triumph, Nika usurped Luffy's physical vessel, indicated by the alteration in his heartbeat. The resonating sound caught the attention of Zunesha, reminiscent of the reverberation of the Drums of Liberation. This occurrence heralded the realization of the prophecy set forth by the inaugural Joyboy over eight centuries past.

Ever since Luffy gained the remarkable abilities of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, he has become an even more formidable adversary for the World Government. When Luffy activates Gear 5, his power reaches new heights, making him an unrivaled force in combat. It will be fascinating to witness how Luffy's Gear 5 allows him to confront and conquer Kaido, especially considering that all his previous techniques have proven futile against the Strongest Creature in the World. While Kaido remains unimpressed by Luffy's latest transformation due to their past encounters, he still needs to remain cautious of the threat posed by the Supernova.

In addition to its fighting capabilities, Gear 5 holds great significance for the series as a whole. When Luffy activates this transformation, he channels the spirit of Nika, the renowned Warrior of Liberation. This suggests that Luffy is destined to liberate the world from the clutches of the villainous World Government. Having already clashed with them on numerous occasions, Luffy's newfound power from his awakened Devil Fruit poses an even greater threat to the organization.

However, Gear 5 is not without its drawbacks. If Luffy is not cautious, it could come at a heavy price. As mentioned earlier, the Devil Fruit possesses its own will, and excessive use of this form can overwhelm Luffy to the point where he loses his sense of self and becomes someone else entirely. While this may not be as severe as the challenges faced in Impel Down, it would be unfavorable for the series if the protagonist were to lose his identity. Nonetheless, it will be intriguing to witness Luffy's future progress from this point onward.

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One Piece Manga - Anime One Piece is an incredible adventure-filled series that has captivated its fans for over two decades. It follows the journey of Monkey D. Luffy and his pirate crew, the Straw Hat Pirates, as they search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece, in order to become the King of the Pirates. With its compelling storyline, diverse and lovable characters, epic battles, and themes of friendship and determination, One Piece has created a vast and immersive world that keeps fans eagerly anticipating each new chapter or episode. It is a timeless masterpiece that continues to redefine the boundaries of the shonen genre, making it a must-watch or read for any anime or manga enthusiast.