One Piece: How The First Sun God Nika Came From The Moon, Explained

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

Summary

Sun God Nika emerged from slaves’ prayers in the first world.
Nika’s origin is connected to the moon based on lore and murals.
Slavery and Nika’s appearance refute the notion of post-World Government origin.

The Elbaf storyline in “One Piece” stands out as one of the series’ most remarkable arcs, even though it has only been developed across thirteen chapters thus far. This segment promises to leave an indelible mark on fans for years to come due to its exhilarating sense of adventure and rich lore revelations. The strong connection between the Sun God Nika and the land of Elbaf adds a unique layer that heightens anticipation.

In the Egghead storyline, it was hinted to fans that the ancient stories about the Sun God Nika originate from the Land of Giants. More details about Nika have recently been unveiled by Oda, and while numerous theories exist, our idea is rooted in the Adam Tree mural found in Elbaf. It’s possible that Oda has finally disclosed the origin of the Sun God Nika.

The First World And The Emergence Of Nika

Nika Emerged In The First World From The Slaves’ Prayers
The World Was Eventually Destroyed

I stood by, witnessing the fiery embrace between the land and the forbidden celestial body, the Sun. Humans, overcome by their passions, dared to touch it. In despair, the enslaved pleaded, and lo and behold, the Sun God made His presence known. The Earth God, infuriated, joined forces with the infernal serpent of flames, casting a pall of death and darkness upon the world. A parting was inevitable.

In the realm of One Piece, there once stood an ancient deity named Nika, revered as the Sun God. It was widely thought that this divine being, the original Sun God Nika, was merely a myth or legend, with some doubting if he truly ever lived. However, recent discoveries such as the mural painted by the Giants during the Void Century and the text unveiled in the Harley, read out loud by Nico Robin in One Piece Chapter 1138, have solidified the belief that the Sun God Nika did indeed exist. Here’s the full content of the Harley, as translated by Nico Robin in One Piece chapter 1138:

First World

Fires swept across the land, causing humans to give in to their impulses and reach out to the forbidden Sun. Enslaved people pleaded, and the Sun Deity manifested. The Earth God grew furious, joining forces with the snake of eternal flames, casting a pall of death and darkness over the world. They would not cross paths again.

Second World

Life arose in the emptiness, and the Forest Deity unleashed its spectral minions. The Sun merely fanned the flames of conflict. Those under the crescent moon dreamed, as did those beneath the full moon. Humans killed the Sun and ascended to divinity, enraging the Sea God. Their destinies would never intertwine again.

Third World

Amidst disorder lies stillness. The disturbed echo recalls the prophesied day, and catches whispers from the shattered moon. The Sun Deity prances and chuckles, guiding the world towards its demise. Yet, the sun shall rise anew, ushering in a fresh dawn. Indeed, it seems this time their reunion is imminent.

The Interpretation Of The Harley

According to the Harley narrative, we can infer that a world existed prior to the Void Century, one where slavery was indeed present. Many fans had believed that slavery emerged after the formation of the World Government, but this belief is directly contrasted by the Harley’s account. Instead, it reveals that the desires of slaves were instrumental in the creation of the Sun God Nika.

As Harley suggests, it’s believed that anciently, the world was ablaze with potential power sources, symbolically referred to as flames. This is similar to Vegapunk’s dream of crafting an eternal flame. In the past, humans covetously reached for the sun, gaining power, wealth, and more. However, maintaining this everlasting energy required labor, leading to the emergence of slavery. Those in power flourished while the enslaved toiled in silence. It was during these hardships that the Sun God Nika manifested.

Why Nika Might Be From The Moon

Sun God Nika Didn’t Exist Before The Slaves Wished For Him

It’s worth mentioning that the slaves didn’t witness anyone becoming the Sun God. Instead, the Sun God Nika emerged from somewhere. In One Piece chapter 1138, if you examine the mural carefully, it becomes apparent that the individual who incurred the wrath of the Earth God and the Serpent of Infernal Flames was on a flying vessel, much like Ark Maxim. However, there’s some debate about where exactly Ark Maxim was supposed to go. Some believe it was Fairy Vearth (the Moon), while others might interpret it differently.

In a way that might initially sound unbelievable to some, the Fairy Vearth is known as the home of certain races within the One Piece universe. Legend has it that the Full Moon People or the Aerial Races originate from the Moon itself. These include the Skypeians, Birkans, Shandorians, and of course, the Lunarians. All these once dwelled on the moon in ancient times. As resources depleted on the moon, they descended to Earth, which they referred to as the Blue Star. They established themselves in various locations, with Skypieans inhabiting Skypiea, Birkans settling in Birka, Lunarians residing atop the Red Line where Marijoa currently stands, and finally, Shadians establishing their home in Shandora, Jaya. Since all these races originated from the sky, it’s not hard to imagine that Nika might have also come from the sky. This hypothesis gains credence if the enslaved were indeed the moon people or half-moon people (the D), who populated the world during the First World.

In Elbaf, a mural depicts a celestial vessel coming down from the moon, standing before the king, and encountering both the Earth Deity and the Serpent. This confrontation ultimately brought about the ruin of their world.

Currently, the mural alone may not be conclusive evidence that the Sun God Nika originated from the moon, but there are additional pieces of evidence to consider as well.

Enthusiasts familiar with One Piece will recognize the Goroawase, a form of Japanese punning that Oda is particularly fond of using.

1. For the character Nika, the Goroawase gives No (2) and Ka (9), totaling 29 (Nika). Similarly, for the Moon, it’s 2(Tsu) and 9(Ki), or Tsuki (29). This suggests a link between Nika and the moon.

2. In the world of One Piece, Minks and their Sulong form are associated with the moon. The transformation is triggered by looking at the moon.

3. When in Sulong form, Minks have white hair, red eyes, wear white clothes, and undergo a complete white transformation. Interestingly, Nika is described as an all-white warrior of liberation.

4. Therefore, it seems that the connection between the moon and Sun God Nika is strong. It’s possible that just like the Winged races, Nika might have originated from the moon, specifically from the city of Birka.

Readers can access One Piece through Viz Media. Officially and without charge, fans can read the series on the Shonen Jump and Manga Plus apps. The upcoming chapter of One Piece, One Piece Chapter 1139, is scheduled for release on February 9, 2025.

2025-02-03 00:34