The Drums of Liberation beat every time Luffy goes into Gear Fifth, but what are they? It’s not just Luffy’s heartbeat, as the sound of Joyboy’s arrival has done some peculiar things in the manga. While they’re still a mysterious concept, the Drums of Liberation in One Piece is a new edge Luffy has over opponents.
What are the Drums of Liberation?
While simply referred to as Luffy’s heartbeat when they first start, the Drums of Liberation are the sounds of Joyboy. Zunesha is the first to call them that, as he hears Luffy’s heart begin to beat once more after it stops in his battle with Kaido. He says the sound hasn’t been heard in almost eight hundred years, and it brings him great joy to hear them once more. Now, the Drums of Liberation beat in Luffy’s heart when he enters Gear Fifth, bringing joy and laughter to all those he fights for.
When the Drums beat it spreads joy to everyone around, even Luffy’s opponents, while allowing him to control the world around him. Everything bends and stretches like rubber, just like Luffy, and he’s able to march to his own beat in battles as he manipulates his enemies. From using Kaido as a jump rope to knocking Rob Lucci around, the Drums accompany every battle.
Gear Fifth
Luffy’s Gear Fifth transformation is the peak power of his Mythical Zoan Fruit. The Human-Human Fruit, Model: Sun God Nika, allows Luffy to become the God himself. Nika is held by all as a breaker of chains and a bringer of freedom. Pretty fitting for Luffy, considering he’s brought freedom to nearly every island he’s gone through during his time in the Grand Line. Most importantly though, his Awakening in Gear Fifth allows him the freedom to fight however he pleases.
Luffy previously was only able to inflate his limbs by blowing up his bones, requiring him to bite into himself every time. Even for Gear Fourth, he would have to inflate himself like a balloon, but not anymore. With Gear Fifth Luffy can shrink, stretch, and grow however from the Gum-Gum Giant to Gum-Gum Bajrang Gun. It makes Luffy into a wild cartoon character, in a world that’s already cartoonishly goofy, which is an achievement.
Joyboy
The legendary liberator who fought alongside Zunesha eight hundred years ago, Joyboy was the first user of the Devil Fruit. Zunesha himself says that Luffy reminds him a lot of Joyboy, calling that name when he’s in Gear Fifth form. While not confirmed, Joyboy could very well be the Sun God Nika himself. If not, he definitely had the same spirit as the Devil Fruit he and Luffy share. From the massive Straw Hat atop Marijoa, it seems they have their fashion in common as well.
It’s still unclear as to what exactly happened to Joyboy. We know he was defeated at the end of the Void Century, which was the reason the Poneglyphs were made. As far as how he was defeated, or where, that remains a mystery. The Poneglyphs imply that he knew he wasn’t going to survive, as he left an apology for the Fishmen. Things have become more mysterious with the recent Egghead Island Incident though.
The Egghead Island Incident
This is still an in-process thing in the manga, so some questions are unanswered. Based on the end of the most recent chapter, 1092, the Drums of Liberation can activate Void Century technology. It’s not entirely confirmed how, but when Luffy goes into Gear Fifth to fight Kizaru, one of the ancient mechs from the Void Century wakes up. Franky is probably freaking out somewhere in absolute joy, but that’s where the manga leaves it for the week.
So, until the Egghead Island Incident is truly over, there’s no telling how the Drums of Liberation activate the mech. Vegapunk does note that there was a brief point two hundred years ago when it was activated, but nobody knows why. So, until the Drums of Liberation get a little more detail, that’s all we know for certain. More theories are out there though, so listen closely for the Drums of Liberation!
