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In the Egghead Arc of One Piece, Bartholomew Kuma takes center stage, despite his physical absence from the island. As he, or rather his body (a complicated situation), approaches Egghead, his daughter, Jewelry Bonney, and the Straw Hat crew find themselves embroiled in a life-and-death struggle against formidable adversaries representing the World Government’s elite. The conflict escalates, particularly when one of the Five Elders officially enters the fray. However, for many fans, the most significant revelation in the latest chapter isn’t Jaygarcia Saturn’s extraordinary powers, but rather something related to the beloved user of the Paw-Paw Fruit.
One Piece enthusiasts eagerly await creator Eiichiro Oda’s revelations regarding long-debated storylines. Now that the enduring manga is in its Final Saga, each new chapter seems laden with major revelations, and chapter 1095 is no exception. This latest installment delves deeper into Kuma’s backstory and its connection to the legend of the Sun God, Nika.
Saturn imparts to a battered Bonney that her father hails from an ancient lineage known as the Buccaneers. The question arises: who are they, and how might they be linked to Luffy? Below is our current understanding of this enigmatic race.
The Buccaneers, according to Saturn’s account, were a race that has now become extinct, with Kuma being one of its survivors. Those with Buccaneer heritage are said to be descended from individuals who committed a grave transgression against the World Government. Buccaneers are believed to carry the blood of Giants in their veins. In a poignant flashback, a young Kuma and his father are forcibly enslaved by the Celestial Dragons due to this very lineage.
Shortly after Kuma’s birth, agents of the World Government descend upon the once-contented family. We witness both father and son enduring backbreaking toil for the Celestial Dragons, with one observer noting Kuma’s exceptional strength even at a tender age. While those with Buccaneer lineage are highly valued for their strength, the Celestial Dragons treat them with particular cruelty, likely due to the perceived transgressions of their ancestors against the world.
Paradoxically, or perhaps as a response to this brutality, the Buccaneers have passed down hopeful tales of Nika, the Warrior of Liberation, through the generations. In a poignant flashback, a young Kuma listens to his father’s uplifting narrative of Nika and how the benevolent Sun God will lead those in suffering to the open sea, where they can finally find freedom.
As of now, little else is known about the Buccaneers. However, it is reasonable to assume that they have transmitted the legend of Nika from family to family for centuries. With both Nika/Luffy and Kuma’s daughter, Bonney (assuming theories of her being a clone are untrue), present on Egghead, and with Kuma seemingly hastening towards the island, a momentous event appears imminent. Luffy remains unaware of the truth behind his Devil Fruit, but with two Buccaneers in close proximity, the revelation is likely to come to light in an upcoming chapter.