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Discover who the mysterious Joy Boy is in One Piece, as well as his history, abilities, and connection to Luffy.
In the expansive world of One Piece, there have been numerous mysteries, that are intriguing for fans. Most of these are connected to one figure—Joy Boy. As an enigmatic character, he was present and contributed to a lot of the lore that shapes the current adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates. So, who is Joy Boy in One Piece?
Joy Boy was the first pirate in history, who played an important role in Fish-Man Island’s past and the Void Century. Let us take a closer look at this.
Who Is Joy Boy in One Piece?
Existing over 900 years ago, Joy Boy was an iconic figure who traveled the seas during the Void Century and gained several accomplishments. However, the World Government wiped out any knowledge of this period, which also made him a person known only through Poneglyphs and myths.
Joy Boy was believed to be a compassionate individual who cared about his allies such as Emet and Zunesha. He had foresight into the future and predicted his return centuries later.
Joy Boy’s influence in One Piece transcends time, as he symbolizes freedom and happiness, similar to what Luffy depicts in the current timeline. The history of his life led to the journey of our main cast in the series.
Joy Boy’s History in One Piece
Despite the World Government’s best efforts to erase all traces of Joy Boy, he left behind clues that still remain. In the Ryugu Poneglyph on Fish-Man Island, Joy Boy’s apology to Poseidon and the people of the island was recorded. He had pledged to raise Fish-Man Island and the Ship Noah to the surface but couldn’t uphold it for unknown reasons.
Through this Poneglyph, he expressed his regrets but also ensured that someone else would fulfill them in the future. Additionally, during his travels in the Void Century, he was recognized as a “Pirate.”
The treasures of his conquest were known as the One Piece, left in Laugh Tale with his life’s story. When Roger and his pirates found the island later, they were amused by his message. It revealed the truth of the world and Joy Boy’s prophesized return, which they had arrived too early for.
Finally, the legendary pirate’s journey was brought to an end by the coalition of Twenty Kingdoms, who founded the World Government and erased the Void Century.
Is Luffy Joy Boy?
Right before Luffy awakened Gear Five in One Piece, Zunesha mentioned that Joy Boy had returned. Fans then found that Luffy’s awakened Devil Fruit was the same as what Joy Boy had centuries ago.
Due to this, the return of the Devil Fruit could be symbolized as Joy Boy’s return. Since Luffy embodies Joy Boy’s vision of freedom and independence, he could also be called his second coming in some senses.
However, based on the current evidence in One Piece, Luffy is not the Joy Boy from the Void Century. Despite their many similarities, Luffy is still his own person and not a reincarnation or rebirth of the legendary figure. Despite this, he still appears to be the character destined to fulfill Joy Boy’s promise and complete his journey.
At the same time, Oda is known for his dramatic reveals and sudden twists. With the Final Saga going on in full swing, we may get introduced to the real Joy Boy himself in some shape or form, which would signify his official “return.”
Joy Boy’s Abilities
As we have already seen, most of the details regarding Joy Boy were hidden by the World Government. Through the course of the series, we have been introduced to a few of the extraordinary abilities he possessed:
1) Devil Fruit
Joy Boy was the original wielder of Luffy’s Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika. This gave him the powers of the Sun God Nika, enabling him to transform himself and his surroundings into rubber.
2) Haki
Joy Boy had Supreme King Haki, and his application of it is believed to be the strongest in One Piece. The power was so potent that he stored it inside Emet for centuries. This was later used to protect Luffy and his friends during the Egghead Arc.
3) Voice of All Things
The Voice of All Things is a rare ability that allows one to speak to entities that don’t know human languages. This could be telepathic and send direct messages to the target while seeming unclear to others. Joy Boy had used this ability to converse with his robotic friend, Emet.
4) Ancient Weapons
It has been indicated that Joy Boy could use Poseidon—one of the three ancient weapons. This would let him communicate with and command the powerful Sea Kings. He had also tried preserving the other weapons for future generations, which could denote his capability of using Pluton and Uranus as well.
Joy Boy’s Legacy in One Piece
In spite of not knowing much about Joy Boy personally, his role in One Piece is the most influential among any character. He indirectly had a hand in the current Pirate Era and was the first person to fight back against the World Government.
Through his actions, he inspired Luffy and his crew to set out on their adventures to find his treasures and knowledge. Characters such as Roger and Kaido also expressed that they lamented not being able to meet Joy Boy in One Piece.
Hence, with his ties to the Ancient Kingdom, Celestial Dragons, Void Century, Poneglyphs, and One Piece itself, Joy Boy’s legacy was being carried through by every character in the series, whether they were aware of it or not.
Conclusion
To conclude, Joy Boy stands for hope, resistance, and freedom in One Piece. His name has become a symbol of these ideals while guiding the protagonists of the series. The mystery of the man himself is one of the most intriguing topics in the fandom and is sure to break the internet upon its revelation.
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