One Piece recently revealed in the anime that Luffy’s Devil Fruit is actually the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Sun God Nika. So, who is this Sun God that Luffy now has the powers of? Contrary to some opinions that it’s a random decision to make, Sun God Nika has been in the background for years.
Warning that this article contains spoilers for One Piece, at least through the end of the Wano arc. The manga is the fastest way to catch up and is available to read online at Viz and MangaPlus.
Who is Nika?
Nika is considered the Sun God in the world of One Piece, and based on a real-life counterpart in Jamaican folklore. He’s a god that is usually associated with freedom and liberation, bringing joy wherever he goes. It’s said he was able to contort his body like rubber, fighting in any ridiculous way that he pleases while making others laugh. It’s definitely a fitting power for Luffy to take on, always willing to go for a joke in the middle of battle.
Human-Human Fruit, Model: Sun God Nika
While it masquerades as the Gum-Gum Fruit for centuries, the real name is the Human-Human Fruit, Model: Sun God Nika. Recently in the story, Devil Fruits are explained as made out of people’s hopes and dreams. Sort of like Devils in Chainsaw Man, stronger Devil Fruits are made from stronger wills. Luffy’s power makes sense to him and works with his imagination. Even more with the reputation he’s made as a liberator throughout his time as a pirate. In less than three years on the Grand Line, Luffy frees multiple countries from tyrants World Government, and otherwise.
The Five Elders did their best to keep it hidden from the world. Even to the point of disguising it as the Gum-Gum Fruit to make sure nobody knew. Despite that, the Fruit was stolen by Shanks and the Red-Hair Pirates not long before the story begins.
Joyboy
Thought to be the first user of the Human-Human Fruit Model: Sun God Nika, Joyboy lived during the Void Century. The only known information so far is that he was a part of some resistance against the World Government. Otherwise, there are slight hints in the Poneglyphs about how he was planning to bring Fishman Island to the surface. Zunesha confirms Luffy is the reincarnation of sorts for Joy Boy. Especially during the battle of Onigashima when Luffy goes into Gear Fifth, becoming a ridiculous sight.
Jaya and Sun God Nika
Nika has surprisingly been present since the Skypiea arc of One Piece. This was when he first made his debut, as part of the legends surrounding the Shandian people and their history. They were dancing around the fire in flashbacks to Noland’s adventures. It’s not obvious then, but it’s even in the same cartoony silhouette as Duffy when first entering Gear Five. The Skypiea arc doesn’t give much information on what the Poneglyph includes. Robin does ask who the mysterious Joyboy is when reading it, though.
The Sun God Nika certainly lives on through the Devil Fruit to maintain the spirit of freedom and liberation. Whether it be through Joyboy in the past, some unknown Gum-Gum Fruit users since him, and all the way to Luffy in the present. The Sun God Nika is going to bring freedom to all seas, no matter how long it takes.
