Nika Fruit's Inherited Will Explained

Key things

• Devil Fruits provide a variety of abilities ranging from combat abilities to world-changing power.
• Nika Fruit users bond through inherited will as warriors fighting against oppression.
• Nika, Joyboy and Luffy share a common goal of freedom and joy, linked to the powerful Hito Hito no mi, Model: Nika Devil Fruit.

Devil Fruits are a major part of the energy system One piece and are basically fruits that give the user unnatural abilities once eaten. The abilities provided by Devil Fruits are incredibly varied as they can range from powerful enough to hold back entire armies to those that can barely be used in a combat situation. However, few come close to the strength or stupidity of Luffy Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika.

This devil fruit has always been known as Gomu Gomu no Mi One Piece's Wano arc where it was revealed to be one of the most powerful mythic zoans in existence. As Egghead reveals the concept of inherited will shared through the Devil Fruits, it is possible to see and speculate how Nika fruit users are all connected, so let's go through the concept and see why each fruit user was the most important figure in their era.

What is an inherited will?

A concept that defines a generation

Inherited will is basically a term that explains the passing on of one's dreams, ambitions and will to future generations. Those people who believe in this concept do not fear death and welcome their mortality, knowing that their dreams and wills will live on in future generations and will inevitably come true. For this reason, inherited will is not a concept that is bound by blood, because anyone can assume someone else's dream.

Human dreams have no end!

The reason it's so powerful for Nika fruit users is because of what they represent. The bond between Nika, Joyboy, and Luffy is created through the common goal they all have – to see everyone live free of enslavement. Whether this specific will is imparted by the Nika fruit itself is unclear, but it is known to be what binds the 3 together, and may be why the fruit specifically sought out Joyboy and Luffy, as Nika's will is likely what kept the fruit out of the hands of the world government.

Nika, God of the Sun

Liberation fighter

As told to Jinbe in his fight against Who-is-Who, Nika was an ancient being who traveled the world to spread freedom and laughter to all subjugated people, earning him the nickname 'Liberation Warrior'. Nik's existence is linked to the folklore of Elbaf and the Buccaneer race, where he is worshiped as the Sun God to whom all imprisoned people around the world pray for freedom. According to Dr. Vegapunk, Niko's existence is preserved in many hidden and ancient texts, but most knowledge of him has been erased from the annals of history.

They called him 'Sun God Nika'. It was said to bring laughter to their lips and release them from their misery. Who knows if he really existed…?

Vegapunk's theory is that Devil Fruits are the result of people's wish and desire to become something more than what they are. Because of this, he believed that over the years people had longed to be great liberators with strange powers like Nika, creating Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika in the process. This fruit is highly sought after by the world government, but they have always managed to escape their grasp. Whether Nika was a real person or not, a legend from thousands of years ago gave birth to one of the most powerful Devil Fruits in existence.

Joyboy, the first pirate

Ancient enemy of world government

It is currently unclear if Nika was even real, so all the legends of the Liberation Warrior freeing everyone from their oppressors could very possibly have been Joyboy during the Void Century. As the first ever pirate in history, Joyboy is also the only other known user of the Nika fruit along with Luffy, and he and his allies are known to have waged a war against the entity that later became the World Government but failed in their efforts to stop them.

Remember Emet only when the time is right.

Joyboy is behind the One Piece treasure and, at least from what is known about him, was a hero in his day. This is why many believe that Nika's will was stored inside the Hito Hito no Mi that Joyboy ate all those centuries ago since the fruit itself sought him out due to his ideals matching Nika's. Even if Nika wasn't real, Joyboy was the first known user of the Devil Fruit and promised to return in 800 years to set things right in the world.

Luffy, Straw Hat

The one who becomes the pirate king

Inherited Will is a tricky concept to understand in relation to Devil Fruits. This is because not everyone who shares the same dreams and beliefs will receive the same devil fruit as those before them. For example, Roger had the exact same dream and ideals as Luffy, but the Nika Fruit skipped his generation and went to Luffy instead. This is something that remains a mystery.

I don't want to rule anything. Being a pirate king means being freer than anyone else.

Currently, Luffy is the user of the Nika Fruit, the awakening of which gave him the same visage as the legendary Warrior of Liberation in his Gear 5 state. This essentially makes him Nika and is indistinguishable from Joyboy in this form, as seen when Zunesha and Emet talked about the similarity between them. It is likely that with this form, Luffy will eventually find the One Piece treasure and overthrow the oppressive regime of the World Government and the Sky Dragons, freeing everyone from slavery and spreading joy wherever he goes.

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