Unveiling the Truth: Who Really Wielded the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika?

This article contains spoilers from One Piece’s Elbaf Arc.

Summary

Joy Boy was the first user of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, not Luffy.
Nika fruit originated in the First World before Devil Fruits and Joy Boy.
Possible existence of a user of the Nika fruit between Joy Boy and Luffy hinted by Oda.

The narrative of the “One Piece” series, specifically the Elbaf storyline, has begun in earnest, leaving fans eager for the upcoming installments filled with captivating content. Currently, Oda is disclosing a wealth of information about Elbaf and the ancient past of the One Piece world. Among the Elbaf inhabitants, there’s immense reverence for the Sun God Nika, which suggests that the Gomu Gomu no Mi, or the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika, holds a significant, possibly sacred status here.

In the beginning, Oda presented Luffy as the initial user of this Devil Fruit, but as the narrative unfolded and more facts emerged about the nature and workings of these fruits, it was revealed that Luffy wasn’t the first one to consume this fruit. In fact, there have been several users of this particular fruit, and the focus here is on them.

The First User Of The Hito Hito No Mi, Model: Nika

The Original Nika Was Not A Devil Fruit User
Joy Boy Became The First User Of The Devil Fruit

For quite some time, readers were unsure about the origin of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika – whether Joy Boy consumed it first, if there was an original user with the same power, or if Luffy was the first to possess this Devil Fruit. However, with One Piece chapter 1044, some background was provided, revealing that Luffy was not the first one to use the Devil Fruit. Yet, it wasn’t until the Harley was introduced in the Elbaf arc and Nico Robin deciphered its contents that readers finally understood that Luffy was not the original Nika user at all. This became clear when a mural on the bark of the Adam Tree was shown to the audience.

Here’s what the Harley had to say about the World Myth, and the idea of the Nika:

First World

1. Fire swept across the land, prompting humans to give in to their passions by reaching for the off-limits Sun. Desperate slaves pleaded, and a deity of the Sun manifested. The Earth God grew furious, joining forces with the snake of everlasting flames to blanket the world in destruction and shadow. They would never cross paths again.

2. A blaze consumed the land, igniting human greed to grasp the prohibited Sun. Enslaved individuals pleaded for mercy, and a Solar deity appeared. The Earth God erupted with anger, joining forces with the inferno serpent to cover the world in death and nightfall. They would never meet again.

3. A conflagration scorched the land, leading humans to covet the untouchable Sun. Bound slaves implored for help, and a Sun deity emerged. The Earth God raged with fury, teaming up with the infernal flame serpent to envelop the world in demise and darkness. They would never reunite.

4. The land was set ablaze, inspiring humans to covet the unattainable Sun. Enslaved people begged for salvation, and a deity of the Sun appeared. The Earth God fumed with wrath, joining forces with the infernal flame serpent to envelop the world in ruin and gloom. They would never meet again.

5. A blaze swept across the land, compelling humans to crave the inaccessible Sun. Desperate slaves prayed for intervention, and a Solar deity materialized. The Earth God burned with anger, allying with the infernal flame serpent to shroud the world in devastation and nightfall. They would never meet again.

Second World

Life awoke in the emptiness, and the Forest Deity unleashed its demonic forces. The Sun merely fueled the flames of conflict. Both those under the half-moon’s glow and those bathed in the full-moon’s light dreamt profound dreams. Mankind defeated the Sun and ascended to divinity, enraging the Sea Deity. A parting that would never be reversed.

Third World

In turmoil, there lies a pause. The troubled echo recalls the anticipated day, sensing the whisper of the shattered moon. The Sun Deity revels and giggles, guiding the realm towards its finale. The sun shall rise anew, ushering in a fresh dawn. Undoubtedly, this time, they will reunite once more.

According to the account found in Harley, it seems that Nika was born during the First World, much earlier than the Void Century. At this point, Joy Boy had not yet appeared. It is believed that at this time, humanity learned to harness Mother Flame, an eternal energy source, which led to numerous conflicts. A ruler governed the world during this period, and it’s said that slavery was also prevalent for mining the raw materials needed for Mother Flame. Due to their mistreatment, the slaves pleaded to a deity, and Nika, the Sun God, appeared. The specifics of Nika’s origin remain unknown, but as per Harley, Devil Fruits didn’t exist during Nika’s time in the First World; they first appeared in the Second World.

Everywhere he ventures, he brings smiles and happiness; he is our emblem of freedom, famously recognized as the Solar Deity, Nika, by five revered sages.

In a parallel universe, inhabitants of Crescent Land and Lunar Land envisioned a shared dream, which may have been instrumental in the emergence of the Nika Fruit. As followers are aware, Joy Boy eventually consumed this enigmatic fruit, thereby awakening it. This transformation saw him rise as the Champion of Freedom. Later, Joy Boy awoke the power within the Nika Fruit, transforming himself into Nika in the process. It was during this metamorphosis that he engaged in battle with the 20 Monarchs, ultimately suffering defeat.

Joy Boy was slain by Imu and his men, and events the world was destroyed.

The Second Known User Of The Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika

Luffy Is The Second Known User Of The Nika Fruit

In the story we follow, it is clear that Devil Fruits are reborn when their user perishes, ensuring their continued existence. Following Joy Boy’s death, there was an inevitable return of the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. The government has long sought to possess this fruit but have consistently fallen short. Their closest brush with success occurred when Who’s Who and his CP9 were moving the fruit towards the Celestial Dragons’ Five Elders. Yet, unexpectedly, they encountered Shanks who made off with the fruit.

Over time, I established my abode in the vibrant village of Foosha – a place unknowingly transformed by the enigmatic Devil Fruit for Luffy, making him its second wielder. Through trials and tribulations, Luffy has mastered this fruit’s powers to an impressive degree, even unleashing its hidden potential with Gear 5.

Could There Have Been More Users Of The Nika Fruit?

Oda Wanted To Do A Story With A Previous Gomu Gomu no Mi User

There is a possibility that a user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi existed before Luffy, although this might not be widely known among fans. It’s important to recall that the Gorosei have been pursuing the Devil Fruits for a long time and have never succeeded in their quest. They also mentioned that the Devil Fruit hasn’t been awakened for 800 years. However, this doesn’t definitively rule out the existence of another user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. It could be that someone else found the fruit but was unable to activate its powers.

Indeed, as per the screenwriter of Film Red, the initial concept for the movie intended Luffy to journey back in time and encounter the prior wielder of the Gomu Gomu no Mi. Creator Oda additionally proposed incorporating characters like Doflamingo and Crocodile into the plot. Notably, this idea was ultimately abandoned. However, since this concept was discarded, it implies that there is indeed another character who possesses the Gomu Gomu no Mi after Joy Boy, but before Luffy, which adds another layer to the story’s lore.

You can access the popular manga series “One Piece” through Viz Media. Fans have the official and free opportunity to read it on both the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. The upcoming chapter of One Piece, titled “One Piece 1140,” is scheduled for release on February 23rd, 2025.

2025-02-12 02:07