Highlights

• Luffy's Gomu Gomu no Mi evolved with different Gears, showing his creative mastery.
• The true power of the Devil Fruit was revealed to belong to the Mythical Zoan class.
• Joy Boy was the first user of the fruit, preceding Luffy, adding depth to the story of One Piece.

The Gomu Gomu no Mi is an incredibly important Devil Fruit in the One piece world and also the first one that was introduced to fans in the story, right at the beginning, when Luffy ate it. Since then, the Gomu Gomu no Mi has been central to the story of One piece. This is the main source of energy for Luffy, the protagonist of the series, and he has used it incredibly well over the years.

Of course, fans have always known that there was an element of specialness associated with this Devil Fruit, and it wasn't until Wano that this idea was finally confirmed by Oda himself. At the same time, fans also know that multiple Devil Fruit users can have the same power throughout history, and as such, fans have wondered who the individual with this power was before Luffy. Now, Oda has finally given fans the answer to this question.

What is Gomu Gomu no Mi?

The special devil fruit with rubber powers has an intriguing origin

The Gomu Gomu no Mi is a unique Devil Fruit. At the beginning of the series, it was introduced as a Paramecia-type fruit with the power of rubber. Essentially, this fruit gave Luffy the ability to stretch, shrink, and do pretty much anything that rubber can do. Luffy became a rubber human, and this power wasn't all that special at the time. In fact, it greatly limited Luffy in what he could and couldn't do. However, there was always going to be potential associated with this ability, and that's what Luffy eventually mastered over the years. Over a decade after training in the art of utilizing the Devil Fruit's power, Luffy became strong enough to finally set out to see it, and that's where the story begins. Luffy has improved his skills greatly over the years. His creativity and innovation have led to the evolution of this Devil Fruit's powers and the creation of a unique concept called Gears.

Luffy could utilize Gear Second, which increased his physical attributes, especially his speed and ferocity, to incredibly high levels in Enies Lobby. He developed Gear Third to gain the body of a giant by inflating air into his bones. After the timeskip, upon learning the power of Haki, Luffy gained the ability called Gear Fourth, where he inflated his muscles and used the full force of his Haki to achieve maximum elasticity. Clearly, Luffy took this power to the next level with his own creativity and mastered it to a commendable level. With these powers, he could even fight Kaido eventually. However, it certainly wasn't enough.

Possessing a rubber body and fighting however he wants, bringing smiles to people's faces, the Liberation Warrior, also known as the Sun God, Nika!

The true power of the Gomu Gomu no Mi was only revealed to fans after Luffy eventually awakened it. The process of awakening it required him to gain full control over the power and potential of this Devil Fruit and for his body and mind to be one with the powers of the fruit itself. Luffy awakened and gained access to Gear 5 in the Wano Country arc, and it was then revealed that this Devil Fruit was not actually the Gomu Gomu no Mi. It was also clearly mentioned that this fruit is actually a Mythical Zoan class and holds the power of a God, the Sun God Nika.

Essentially, the rubbery body is just one aspect of this power. Luffy's true power lies in his ability to fight with such freedom and creativity. Awakening has only made his body more resilient and allowed him to fight with more freedom than ever before. In the past, Luffy would go from place to place and spread laughter and joy, which is why the user of this Devil Fruit is also known as the Warrior of Liberation and the Sun God, Nika.

How Luffy ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi

Luffy and Gomu Gomu no Mi crossed paths due to fate

Of course, fans would wonder how Luffy came to eat this Devil Fruit. This question is not that difficult to answer. Fans know that Luffy ended up consuming this Devil Fruit as a dessert when he was hanging out with Shanks' crew, the Red-Haired Pirates. However, there is more depth associated with this.

Essentially, it was confirmed in Wano that the Zoan Mythical Devil Fruits have a will of their own. If they don't want to be eaten by the right person, they will try to twist fate in a way that allows them to escape that person's grasp. This is precisely why the Gomu Gomu no Mi has never been attained by the World Government. Every time they tried to obtain this power, it would slip out of their grasp. 12 years ago, the World Government finally had this fruit in their hands, but it was Shanks who saved the day and took it for himself.

Shanks was probably looking for the next Joy Boy as he wanted someone to consume this power. However, he didn't intend for Luffy to eat this Devil Fruit. But that's exactly what ended up happening. Luffy ate this Devil Fruit anyway and this was due to Luffy's own personality, his way of thinking, and the choice of the Devil Fruit itself.

The first user of Gomu Gomu no Mi

Before Luffy, Joy Boy used the Devil Fruit

For many years, fans have wondered who the first user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi was. Many people believed that Luffy was the first Devil Fruit user and Joy Boy was the Sun God himself. This would mean that Joy Boy actually had these powers naturally and after his death, a Devil Fruit was born with his powers and that is what Luffy ended up eating. However, it has now been confirmed that this is not the case.

Just like the legendary Sun God Nika from the fables of Elbaf, he also fought with an elastic and elastic body!

Essentially, the first user that fans of the fruit know about is Joy Boy himself. The legend of the Sun God Nika predates even Joy Boy. The name Nika echoes throughout Elbaf due to the fascinating stories of this magnificent God. It was only because people wished for this God to be real that this Devil Fruit was born. It was then consumed by Joy Boy and he became the first with this power. After Joy Boy's death, the Devil Fruit began to circulate again and eventually, after centuries, it made its way to Luffy.

This means that Luffy is only the second user of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, while Joy Boy was the first. Fans will surely learn more about Joy Boy and his life in the Final Saga, and that is one of the most exciting aspects of the story at this point. Hopefully, Oda will continue to surprise fans with twists and turns and add more depth to his already wonderful story.

One Piece is available to read via Viz Media. The series can be read by fans officially and for free in Shonen Jump and Manga Plus application. The release date for the next chapter of One Piece, One Piece 1115, is set for May 26, 2024.