So here’s the wildest One Piece theory you’ll hear today: Rocks D. Xebec might’ve been the Joyboy before Luffy ever was. Yes, you are reading that right. The guy who nearly destroyed the world at God Valley could’ve been the original owner of the Nika Fruit, long before it found its way into the hands of Luffy, according to a wholesome theory by Ohara on YouTube.
For ages, fans have been totally obsessed with figuring out who Rocks D. Xebec really was: a tyrant, a visionary, or maybe even a man chosen by fate itself. But what if the real deal is that this ‘madman’ wasn’t actually evil? What if, just like Luffy, he was simply too free for the world to deal with? Let’s break it down.
The God Valley Incident in One Piece: When Joyboy’s Power Changed Hands
When you think about it, in One Piece, Xebec literally possessed everything that Joyboy represents, including rebellion, charisma, and the capability to turn the world upside down. He was all about revolting against the Celestial Dragons and doing things his own way in the world, all about freedom.
Doesn’t that totally resemble something the real Joyboy would do, except for the aspect regarding the murder? Even Sengoku said Xebec was unlike anyone before him, a man whose ideals intimidated even the toughest pirates of his day to sail behind him. Shiki, Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom all sailed under his flag! That’s no luck, that’s destiny talking.
And considering the Nika Fruit’s ability in One Piece to grant the user limitless freedom, it fits too perfectly with Xebec’s dream of ruling a world without control. Maybe he wasn’t chasing domination; maybe he wanted liberation, and the world just couldn’t handle it.
So, the God Valley Incident wasn’t just the day Rocks went down; it could’ve been the day the Gomu Gomu no Mi (you know, the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika) vanished from history. It’s totally possible that Xebec got killed or beaten before he could really show off what the fruit could do, which is why the World Government decided to keep everything about him and the fruit private.
Fast forward a few decades, and who ends up with it? Shanks, the man who finds it in a Government ship and later passes it to Luffy by accident. But what if that wasn’t luck either? What if Shanks knew exactly what he was doing: ensuring the inheritance of the first Joyboy (Xebec)’s will to the next (Luffy)?
The Parallel Between Xebec and Luffy in One Piece: The Joyboys Compared
So, in One Piece, the ‘D’ in Xebec’s name links him right to Luffy, Roger, and Teach, all those guys who are all about shaking things up in the world. If Xebec really had Nika’s power before, it totally makes sense why the World Government erased his name from history. They just couldn’t let another Joyboy come back.
And that’s why Luffy’s awakening scared them so much; it wasn’t so much about a stretchy body going into cartoon mode. It was about the re-emergence of something ancient, something they’d hoped to bury and be done with.
Then, if Xebec was the original Joyboy, then Luffy isn’t simply running after his dream; he’s actually keeping the spirit of rebellion alive. The surprise? Luffy has something that Xebec didn’t have: real friends, balance, and a heart that fights for others and not just for freedom.
Maybe that’s why Gomu Gomu no Mi had to wait for years for the ideal Joyboy. Because before the world could laugh again, it had to learn from the man who tried too soon to break its chains.
So, what do you think about this One Piece theory? Could Rocks D. Xebec have been the original Joyboy before Luffy ever awakened his powers? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
One Piece is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
