Overview
- The ancient mural featured in One Piece Chapter 1138 uncovers significant lore about former worlds and the Nika fruit.
- Luffy and Loki are revealed to both have access to the Sun God Nika Devil Fruits, indicating a deeper link to historical world catastrophes.
- The mural hints at an epic showdown between Nika bearers and a formidable antagonist, generating speculation about the series’ ultimate villain.
Among the remarkable discoveries within the One Piece Elbaf arc, none have resonated as profoundly as the ancient mural engraved on the Adam Tree. Fans were treated to this mural in Chapter 1138, which many have hailed as a pinnacle moment in the franchise. This iconic chapter showcases the most significant lore revelation in the series to date, yet it introduces an array of new questions to the plot.
A key element of the mural pertains to the previous iterations of worlds in One Piece, which have only been briefly alluded to earlier in the arc. While details about these worlds remain sparse, fans are actively theorizing about their implications, leading to a popular hypothesis connecting the destruction of these worlds to different variations of the Nika fruit. Let’s delve into this theory further.
Nika Fruits and the World’s Destruction
Significance of the Nika Fruits
| Elbaf Mural Debut | One Piece, Chapter 1138, “Harley” |
|---|---|
| Nika Fruit Users | Luffy, Loki |
The Wano arc revealed a transformative truth about Luffy’s Devil Fruit: it is, in fact, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. This revelation reshapes the understanding of Devil Fruits within the One Piece universe. The introduction of the Sun God Nika concept alongside various divine beings adds profound layers to the narrative, emphasizing the significance of these augmentations.
However, Elbaf brings yet another ground-breaking revelation—Luffy is not the sole possessor of a Sun God Nika Devil Fruit. The character Loki is perceived as a significant threat by the Giants of Elbaf, attributed to the extraordinary power of his Devil Fruit tied to the Elbaf Royal Lineage, which is similarly rooted in the essence of the Sun God Nika. With this connection, it is intriguing to note that both Nika fruits correspond to two separate destructions of the world.
The lore revealed in Chapter 1138 indicates that the world has experienced two prior devastations, each signifying the emergence of the name Sun God Nika. Jarul recounts to Luffy that following each cataclysm, Nika’s name has echoed throughout history. This divide among the Elbaf people presents two contrasting views: one viewing Nika as a liberator deity, and another seeing him as a malevolent force. Interestingly, both perspectives could coexist simultaneously.
As both Luffy and Loki command immense powers through their respective Sun God Devil Fruits, this opens pathways for intricate narratives surrounding Inherited Will. Since Devil Fruits can reform after their user’s death, it’s commonly believed that Luffy’s Nika fruit represents the liberating force while Loki’s version embodies the destructive aspect.
While the exact circumstances surrounding the world’s prior destructions remain uncertain, historical accounts of Joyboy illustrate him as a benevolent figure aspiring to lift people up. Ultimately, he faced defeat against Imu and the forces that would evolve into the World Government, categorized as the second world destruction. This aligns well with Luffy’s aspirations, as he inherits not only Joyboy’s ideals but also the Devil Fruit, continuing the legacy. Conversely, it’s likely that the first apocalypse was instigated by a dark iteration of Nika, now linked to Loki.
This duality of Nika sheds light on the contrasting narratives surrounding each world catastrophe. Additionally, the mural depicts a coalition of races uniting in a climactic battle against an ominous foe, prominently featuring Nika alongside a giant suspiciously resembling Loki. Consequently, fans speculate that Loki could harness the potential of his destructive Nika abilities for noble purposes alongside Luffy during their ultimate confrontation.
The Duality of Sun Gods Against the Final Antagonist
Visualizing the Final Showdown
The mural’s details are still shrouded in mystery, yet fans have proposed a variety of theories regarding its significance. The left side of the mural is widely interpreted as a depiction of the Third World, which has yet to emerge. Enthusiasts suggest that it illustrates Nika and the allied races standing against an ultimate adversary, largely agreed to be Imu.
Nevertheless, some fans propose an alternative view, suggesting that the portrayal of the giant figure as Imu might be a cleverly crafted distraction. This theory posits that Oda could surprise readers by revealing Blackbeard as the true final antagonist, aligning perfectly with his thematic relevance and deep connections to Luffy.
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