The manga One Piece is renowned for its many hidden layers and foreshadowing moments. The story created by Eiichiro Oda began serialization in 1997 in Weekly Shonen Jump and has now entered its Final Saga. Over nearly 28 years of weekly chapters, with more than 1100 chapters published, the narrative has established its concluding elements, linking them to the greatest mysteries in the world and the Sun God Nika.
The story starts with a young pirate named Monkey D. Luffy, who hopes to find the legendary treasure and become the Pirate King. As he embarks on his journey and gathers his crew, Luffy is soon faced with the dangers of the treacherous seas.
While Luffy and his crew explore the vast ocean, the manga gradually reveals how these events unfold globally, particularly concerning the Void Century. Notably, Luffy’s Gear 5 is not just a powerful transformation but also highlights various themes and narratives.
Since the East Blue Saga, Luffy has become a significant figure in every person’s life and embodies this role completely with his character. However, Oda’s introduction of Nika during the Wano Country Saga through Luffy’s transformation is not a mere coincidence.
One Piece Chapter 59 Foreshadows Nika
The One Piece manga often features cover stories that follow the adventures of minor characters. The first cover story is “Buggy’s Crew Adventure Chronicles,” focusing on Buggy and his crew after being defeated by Luffy, Zoro, and Nami. This cover story started in Chapter 35 and continues until Chapter 75.
In Chapter 58, released in September 1998, Mohji and Cabaji are in a battle while Richie, Mohji’s pet, is revealed to be the captain of his own pirate crew.
One Piece Chapter 59 was released in October 1998, continuing Richie’s battle against a monstrous creature. In reality, Richie defeats Moji and Cabaji while dressed in a royal outfit and is shown facing a creature that resembles the monster depicted in Chapter 1138. There is a visual connection between both scenes, highlighting the narrative continuity.
In many cultures, the character of the pet is often used as a symbol of loyalty, strength, and companionship. In this context, Oda cleverly uses Richie as a metaphor for his own significance. When this chapter was released, the world was unaware of the Void Century, Poneglyphs, Joyboy, or Nika. However, the cover image clearly indicates that Oda had laid the groundwork for these elements from the very beginning.
Who is the Sun God Nika in One Piece?
Many details about Nika remain unknown, and we only see glimpses of him. He is a legendary warrior known as the Sun God, revered as a divine figure from ancient times. Nika fought for freedom and liberation while dancing and laughing. In Chapter 1069, Vegapunk mentions that Nika’s existence is only recorded in ancient texts. After the World Government was established, all records of Nika were completely erased from contemporary documents along with any remnants of the Void Century.
However, the legend of the Sun God has been transmitted through many generations, often associated with the rebellious figures. Conversely, the revolutionaries have been wiped out, with only Kuma remaining as the sole survivor. Nevertheless, Kuma only carries a fraction of the Buccaneers’ legacy, as he is an ordinary human.
On the other hand, the warriors have survived through all of the epochs established in a special nation called Elbaf. One Piece Chapter 1136 reveals that Nika existed long before Joyboy. This warrior is a central figure from the ancient times.
The ancient texts refer to Nika as Harley, wherein the legend of Nika has been passed down alongside the remnants of the Void Century. Because the texts are written in ancient language, there are various interpretations regarding the Freedom Warrior. Some believe Nika is a leader, while others refer to him as the liberator.
Furthermore, Luffy and Joyboy both share significant similarities with Nika, likely due to the inherent nature of humanity. Nika appears only when the world is on the brink of significant changes. The world was shattered during the time of Nika and Joyboy. The third time Nika appears is in the current timeline as the great war is about to begin.
