Highlights
- Sun God Nika is a legend from Elbaf, prayed to by many in dire situations for liberation and joy.
- Joy Boy made a promise to Fishmen but could not fulfill it, leading to Luffy taking on his legacy.
- Devil Fruits like Luffy's originated from the belief in Sun God Nika, making Joy Boy the first user.
One Piece chapter 1114 has proven itself to be yet another incredible chapter and one that many consider to be one of the very best in the Egghead Island arc. Of course, there was not much action in the chapter. However, the best aspect of One Piece has hardly ever been action.
One Piece: Oda Reveals The First Pirate In History
Vegapunk reveals the very first pirate in One Piece history.
Fans love the series for its story and incredible attention to detail, along with intricate plot lines that, sometimes, get solved decades down the line. One Piece chapter 1114 was a chapter that focused on these aspects of the series and blew away the fans in more ways than one. Of course, given that Vegapunk's message was centered around the Void Century, there was always going to be mention of characters such as Joy Boy, and of course, the legend of the Sun God Nika as well.
The Legend Of The Sun God Nika
Nika Is A Legendary Figure From The Fables Of Elbaf
The legend of the Sun God Nika was properly explained to the fans in the Wano Country arc. That said, mention of the Sun God was made long ago in One Piece. In the Skypiea arc, the winged races of the Shandians made mention of the Sun God and the Skypieans themselves prayed to this godly entity as well. The Sun God was a myth and legend. However, due to the prayers of the people, Luffy always emerged where the Sun God would have been. There are other cultures in the world of One Piece that worship the sun itself. For instance, in the Whole Cake Island arc, fans saw that the race of Giants prayed to the sun. When Mother Carmel did her miracle in Elbaf which led to her being respected for years to come, she did so by claiming that it was the Sun God who came to quell the disaster.
It was said he would bring laughter to their lips and free them from their suffering!
Clearly, the people of Elbaf always held the Sun God in high regard, and it was believed that this figure was one of the deities. In the Wano Country arc, however, Oda took these things a level beyond. Sun God Nika was revealed to be a legendary figure or, more accurately, a God who people believed in long ago. This God was prayed to, especially by the slaves of the world, or those who were in a dire situation, and needed help desperately. The Sun God brought with him laughter and joy, and freed people from their miseries, putting a smile on their faces and liberating them in the process.
This is why the Sun God was also known as the Warrior of Liberation. When Luffy awakened his Devil Fruit, it was clear for the fans to see that the Gorosei also knew of the existence of the Sun God. This is because they provided exposition to Luffy's powers, and clearly mentioned that this godly entity held the most ridiculous power of all. In the Egghead Island arc, Nika and Joy Boy were used interchangeably to refer to Luffy. However, now, it has been made clear that these two are separate entities.
The History Of Joy Boy
Joy Boy Was An Actual Person Unlike Nika
While Nika was first hinted at in the Skypiea arc, the first mention of Joy Boy in One Piece came during the Fishman Island Arc. This was when Robin found a Poneglyph from Joy Boy in the Sea Forest, where he mentioned that he couldn't fulfill his promise to the Fishmen and the Merfolk of taking them to the surface. Oda later revealed that Joy boy's promise was to take this race to the surface to live together with everyone. However, because of unforeseen circumstances, he could not fulfill his promise.
One Piece: Cross Guild's Role In The Final Saga, Explained
The Cross Guild has a big role to play in One Piece's Final Saga.
That said, Joy Boy mentioned that someone else will come in the future and carry his will as well as fulfill the task that he left unfinished. Many people in the world of One Piece are well aware of who Joy Boy is. For instance, the Roger Pirates found all out about Joy Boy when they reached the Final Island, Laugh Tale. Roger himself wished that he could live in Joy Boy's era. In this final message, Joy Boy also mentioned that he would return in 800 years this time.
He was the first to take to the seas. The first that came be known as a pirate!
At the same time, Oden wanted to open the gates of Wano to herald the coming of Joy Boy, which he knew would happen in around 20 years of time. If that wasn't enough, then fans also need to keep in mind that Kaido was deeply interested in the idea of Joy Boy, and he even wanted to become Joy Boy himself at one point. King and the Lunarians had a deep connection to Joy Boy and that again goes to show that this individual was widely respected in many places on Earth 900 or so years ago.
How Joyboy And Nika Differ From Each Other
Nika And Joy Boy Are the Same Yet Different
For the longest time, fans believed that Joy Boy and Nika were the same individuals. However, it has now been confirmed that they are not. Technically speaking, Joy Boy and Nika can be used interchangeably when it comes to referring to the previous Joy Boy or Luffy. However, there is a big difference between these individuals. When speaking of the Sun God Nika, fans need to keep in mind that this God might or might not have been real. This God originated from the land of Elbaf, where tales of its existence were popular. There are many stories about the Sun God Nika, and that is precisely why the Giants of Elbaf pay tribute to it with festivals such as the Winter Solstice. Essentially, fans do not know if the Sun God Nika was a real God or not. However, that really doesn't matter.
Then, the second thing that the fans need to keep in mind is Vegapunk's message about the creation of Devil Fruits. According to Vegapunk himself, Devil Fruits are birthed because people wish for them. Clearly, someone wanted the Sun God to be real and protect them from the terrors of the world, such as slavery, and potentially even the other horrors caused by the collaboration of the 20 Kings during the Void Century or before. This essentially created a Devil Fruit which held the power of the Sun God Nika. The first individual to eat this Devil Fruit was called Joy boy.
Then, Joy Boy became the first user of the same Devil Fruit that Luffy has, and because of that, Joy Boy was also called Nika because he holds the power of Nika. After the death of Joy Boy, this devil fruit returned into circulation and eventually found its way to Luffy, who became the second Joy Boy and also the Sun God, Nika. Technically, the Sun God Nika precedes even Joy Boy and is a mythical God that either exists or doesn't exist in the One Piece world.
Fans will likely never find out the truth, but it is the belief in the god that essentially gave rise to this Devil Fruit. That is how Devil Fruits work in the first place. Joy Boy simply came after Nika and consumed the power of the Devil Fruit, which was a result of someone wishing for the existence of this godly entity.
One Piece is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by the fans officially and for free on the Shonen Jump and the Manga Plus app. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1115, is set to be May 26, 2024.
One Piece: Oda Reveals Nika's Origin Place
Nika has strong ties to Elbaf, as confirmed by Oda in One Piece.
