Will Luffy Awaken His Devil Fruit In The Next Chapter? What Will His New Form Be?

Ever since Doflamingo showed us the ultimate power-up of awakening in the Dressrosa arc, we’ve been fervently waiting and theorizing when it’ll be Luffy’s turn and what beast of a form he’ll unlock.

Fast forward six years to Wano, and Luffy’s confirmed third consecutive loss against Kaidou, the time for his Devil Fruit to go super saiyan is sooner than we think.

Chapter 1043’s cliffhanger of Luffy’s melting head and hat, plus Joy Boy’s return and Nika’s secret connection, give us a clear indication that Luffy’s Devil Fruit will awaken in the next chapter.

What Will Luffy’s Fifth Form Be?

Luffy’s new form will be based on the theory of the Gomu Gomu No Mi’s evolution into an advanced Paramecia cum Mythical Zoan type Devil Fruit that allows the user to morph into and manipulate oil.

Since rubber is derived from crude oil, and Luffy’s flame attacks rely on its flammability, it’s the best explanation for his new fifth form.

Moreover, the Straw Hat captain’s liquefying head and hat further back this up, thanks to its fluid-like resemblance to oil.

I analyzed Luffy’s powers that supported the oil-based Devil Fruit theory in my previous post. Now, let’s look at three new abilities he will likely gain after his awakening –

1. Vulcanized Rubber

Vulcanized rubber has been on the top of the list of possible post-awakening power-ups for quite a while now.

And for a good reason, since its heat and abrasion-resistant properties provide the perfect complement to Luffy’s fiery Red Hawk attacks.

Moreover, with Nika’s inspiration being the Wisdom King, aka the God of Fire, the hardened rubber will better withstand the insane amount of heat Luffy will produce when he effortlessly unleashes a volley of these potent moves against any enemy.

2. Rubber and Oil World

Paralleling Paramecia users, Doflamingo and Katakuri’s ability to convert their surrounding environment into string and mochi respectively, Luffy’s Rubber, and now, Oil World has been conceptualized.

Although we won’t have a bouncy castle, the rebounding and slipperiness provide Luffy with an edge as the enemy’s foothold will be adversely affected.

Also, if he were to combine his environment-altering powers with vulcanized rubber arms or weapons fortified with Armament Haki, it would be an absolute game-changer.

Imagine artilleries of flaming Red Hawks or Gatling attacks completely wrecking an enemy that’s unable to move or defend themselves fast enough! It would make Luffy way too OP.

Or, he could play an extreme game of ‘The Floor is Lava,’ but instead with fire that rapidly spreads through the oil-altered ground.

3. Mythical Monkey King Powers

Eagled eyes fans are quick to spot the obvious inspiration of Buddhism in One Piece. Besides the Wisdom Kings lending a hand in Nika’s creation, we also have the Monkey King or Sun Wukong’s journey paralleling Luffy’s.

While Sun Wukong fought against the heavens and was imprisoned in a mountain till he gained enlightenment, Luffy thwarted the heavens counterparts, the celestial dragons, and the World Government, eventually paying the price of his recklessness with Ace’s death.

Another titbit that links the two is Vegapunk’s anime-only illustration of the Gomu Gomu no Mi and a rocket/missile combining to form a gorilla strapped with two rockets behind its back.

While the rocket could represent Luffy’s Rocket attack, the gorilla blatantly implies that Luffy’s Devil Fruit will evolve into a Mythical Zoan type based on the Monkey King.

As for his form, it’ll likely be the fusion of Luffy’s Gear 4 Bound-Man and Snakeman, with each version’s weakness nullified to emulate Sun Wukong’s flexibility, speed, strength, and ability to fly.

Luffy could have sequential stages of Devil Fruit evolution – Starting with his advanced Paramecia abilities and then kicking it into high-gear, with his Mythical Zoan form activated by Joy Boy and Nika’s wills.

Or, he could even use all three of them in tandem. Considering he mastered the nerfed version of the Gomu Gomu no Mi, it would be a breeze to control all of his newfound abilities simultaneously.

Will Luffy Master His Awakening?

Luffy’s mastery of his Devil Fruit awakening isn’t a matter of if, but when.

Even though the Straw Hat captain isn’t as experienced as Doflamingo and Katakuri, he’s been under lifelong tutelage to perform basic tasks like walking and grabbing onto items without stretching his body more than necessary.

And that is a feat in itself.

Plus, he’s also had grueling combat and Haki training that he’s persevered through despite its challenges and emerged more powerful than ever.

So, to say that he will give it his all is an understatement, considering the sheer level of commitment and willpower he has.

However, his awakening won’t solely depend on him. I think it’ll be the collaborative efforts of the three wills trapped inside of him – Joy Boy, Nika, and himself.

We’ve already seen that Devil Fruits can be sentient, as in the case of Holed’em and his lion head, Kamijiro. Even though they share a body, they still have dissimilar personalities that frequently clash, often resulting in mutual harm.

This is incredibly worrying, considering the marked difference in wills of Joy Boy and Luffy. While the former focuses on the liberation of Fish-Man Island, the latter’s only goal is to become the Pirate King.

And while Nika’s will remains unknown, the idea of either one taking over Luffy’s body does pop up the threat of our beloved Straw Hat captain disappearing altogether.

Is Luffy’s Devil Fruit The Gomu Gomu No Mi?

Chapter 1042 drops definitive proof that Luffy’s Devil Fruit isn’t restricted to rubber manipulation alone, as he’s seen defying the material’s rebounding nature by altering the trajectory of his punches at will.

Although he and the rest of us were led to believe that the Gomu Gomu No Mi’s powers were confined to its official name and description, there’s glaring evidence to the contrary.

For starters, Shanks’ daring mission to steal it from the World Government hints that it’s probably of great importance to the mysterious overlord, Im.

Considering they sacked and imprisoned the former CP9 agent, Who’s Who, for his failure to guard the Devil Fruit, it’s highly likely kept under lock and key for its immense power.

Additionally, chapter 1037’s conversation between the Five Elders could have been about the Gomu Gomu No Mi, maybe dropping a clue that it’s a one of kind Devil Fruit they’ve painstakingly tried to conceal from the ‘animals’ of history.

While they could be referring to the Sea Kings, the Minks Tribe, or Zunesha, it could also be a derogatory term for the descendants of the D. clan, who are sworn enemies for their possible connection to the Ancient Kingdom.

There’s also a chance that Luffy’s Devil Fruit is infused with the will of Sun God Nika, following the popular theory of the retention and transfer of spirits or wills from previous users to new ones via the Devil Fruits they’ve consumed.

A striking example that backs this up is Sabo expertly using Ace’s Mera Mera no Mi from the get-go despite never seeing the former in battle, and his explicit statement of Ace never forgiving Burgess after Sabo toasted the Devil Fruit hunter.

Will Luffy Defeat Kaidou?

Luffy will lay the smackdown on Kaidou with his newly acquired Devil Fruit powers. Besides having the battle of strength shift in his favor, he also has fate on his side with Oden’s prophecy of a sea-splitting clash that’ll free Wano.

Moreover, here’s an interesting line from Binks’ Sake that paints a promising picture for the country – 

Now comes a storm through the far-off sky

Now the waves are dancing, beat upon the drums

But if you just hold on, the morning sun will rise.

So far, Wano’s been shrouded in darkness and misery with Kaidou’s brutal rule. But the last two lines are rays of hope and assurance that the Yonko’s rein will be put to an end.

While the second line is synchronous with the Drums of Liberation Zunesha hears as Joy Boy finally comes back, the third line implies the Sun God Nika, bringing the dawn the country’s been desperately waiting for.

Additionally, the strain of carrying Onigashima will wear Kaidou down, as keeping the island afloat and going toe to toe with a seriously upgraded Luffy will prove challenging.

However, one-shooting him isn’t going to happen, especially when he finds out that Luffy is Joy Boy.

Ever since he disappointedly threw Luffy into the ocean in chapter 1014 and outright confirmed that death defines a man in chapter 994, it’s clear that Kaidou’s been yearning to be killed at the hands of a worthy warrior.

So when Luffy returns as Joy Boy, he’ll be pumped to give it his all and die a beautiful death so that he may be remembered for all time.

About One Piece

One Piece is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Eiichiro Oda. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since July 22, 1997.

The man who had acquired everything in this world, the Pirate King, is Gol D. Roger. The final words he said at the execution tower were “My treasures? If you want it, I’ll let you have it. Look for it; I left all of it at that place.” These words sent many to the seas, chasing their dreams, headed toward the Grand Line, in search of One Piece. Thus began a new age!

Seeking to be the greatest pirate in the world, young Monkey D. Luffy also heads toward the Grand Line in search of One Piece. His diverse crew is joining him along the way, consisting of a swordsman, marksman, navigator, cook, doctor, archaeologist, and cyborg-shipwright, this will be one memorable adventure.