In One Piece chapter 1114, Nika and JoyBoy are revealed to be separate entities. Nika is depicted as a mythical figure, revered by slaves and important to the Elbafian and Buccaneer races, while JoyBoy is identified as a historical figure, the first pirate of the Grand Line.
Although JoyBoy possesses devil fruit powers originating from Nika, a deeper connection between them can be drawn from their Christian beliefs, presenting an intriguing religious theory within the series.
The theory holds that just as God incarnated in Jesus after his enlightenment, God could similarly incarnate in Nika through the Human-Human devil fruit.
Mythological connection
This would place JoyBoy as Nika's apostle, similar to how Jesus' apostles spread his teachings. In this scenario, Nika becomes a parallel to Jesus and JoyBoy his first disciple, forming a remarkable bond reminiscent of Christian stories.
Nika, known as the Sun God, was revered among slaves for his prophesied role in their liberation. His powers, partially revealed by Kuma, include an elastic body capable of flexible combat, similar to those of Monkey D. Luffy, the main character of the series. The true nature of Luffy's devil fruit, the Human-Human devil fruit, Model: Nika, implies that this devil fruit originated from the Sun God, Nika himself.
Chapter 1114 reveals through Dr. Vegapunk that JoyBoy was the first person to inherit this devil fruit, living in the mysterious Void Century. This makes JoyBoy an important character, arousing curiosity about his purpose and actions during that era. This chapter suggests that the connection between Nika and JoyBoy can be better understood by comparing Jesus and his apostles in Christianity.
Jesus, the central figure of Christianity, is said to have been imbued with the spirit of God, earning him the name 'The Great Apostle'. Before his crucifixion, Jesus appointed twelve apostles to spread His teachings globally. Similarly, in One Piece, Nika, as the Sun God, represents a liberator aiming to free the enslaved, paralleling the role of Jesus in Christian stories teacher.
JoyBoy, the first person to receive Nika's teachings through a devil fruit, spread the ideals of freedom and liberation during the Void Century. His activities led the ruling government to label him a 'pirate', thereby stigmatizing the term and beginning a long-term crackdown on pirates, whom they feared might spread the word. inspiration for similar liberation movements.
After JoyBoy's death, the Nika fruit remained in circulation for 800 years, eventually falling into the hands of the Who's Who of the Beast Pirates. Shanks later bought this fruit without knowing its true identity due to the World Government hiding it, so he called it the Gum-Gum fruit.
In the end, Luffy accidentally ate that fruit, then awakened its power into Gear 5, thus becoming a new beacon of liberation like JoyBoy and spreading the legacy of the Sun God Nika.
This interpretation of Nika and JoyBoy's relationship through a Christian lens brings a layer of depth to their characters and the overarching story, enriching One Piece's thematic depth.
