One Piece Chapter 1044 Confirms the First God Fruit: Luffy’s Nika Explained
In One Piece Chapter 1044, released March 28, 2022 in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #17, Eiichiro Oda officially introduced the first “God Fruit” to arrive in the series: the Mythical Zoan-type Hito Hito no Mi, Model Nika. This Devil Fruit was eaten by Monkey D. Luffy, letting him transform into the Warrior of Liberation—Sun God Nika himself. While the Nika model was the series’ first named God Fruit, the Final Saga has since expanded the concept, especially during the ongoing Elbaf arc, where additional “God” entries have been teased and revealed. New information from the arc’s climax now points to an even more disruptive Hito Hito no Mi variant: Model Zaza.
Release and platform tracker: chapter windows and where to read
| Event | Date | Weekly Shonen Jump issue |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 1044 official release (first God Fruit: Hito Hito no Mi, Model Nika) | March 28, 2022 | #17 |
| Chapter 1182 official release (major reveal setup for Hito Hito no Mi, Model Zaza) | May 10, 2026 | #24 |
| Chapter 1183 official release (continued appearance of Rain God Zaza) | May 25, 2026 | (not specified) |
| Chapter 1146 official release (tease of Elbaf leading into the Great War) | April 21, 2026 | #21 |
| Chapter 571 official release (first appearance of the Daibutsu Hito Hito no Mi model) | January 5, 2010 | #8 |
Although Luffy’s Nika fruit was the first God Fruit introduced, the Final Saga’s Elbaf arc has already pulled back the curtain on other terrifying Devil Fruit entries. Nerona Imu’s Akuma no Mi has been used to set things in motion, and Loki’s Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Nidhoggr has also surfaced as part of the arc’s larger threat web. Now, the Elbaf climax has been framed as the launch point for the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza reveal—presented as potentially even more powerful than Nika, and, crucially, as something that can negate other Devil Fruit abilities.
One Piece Chapter 1182 lines up Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza
On May 10, 2026, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #24, One Piece Chapter 1182 officially set up the big reveal of Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza. The story connection is traced back to Saint Killingham of the Holy Knights. After Nerona Imu used the Akuma no Mi to deliver an omen, Saint Killingham then prepared the arrival of Zaza using his own abilities.
Immediately after receiving the omen from Nerona Imu, Saint Killingham used his power to manifest his greatest fear. In the process, he also confirmed that another divine presence exists in the world of One Piece—one that even the Celestial Dragon fears. Killingham specifically called out three entities that the Celestial Dragons fear:
- The Sun God Nika, introduced in One Piece Chapter #1018 and fully revealed in One Piece Chapter #1044.
- The people of the D., whom the Celestial Dragons label as demons.
- Rain God Zaza.
“We were born in a place so high, it’s above all the rain clouds. Water coming down from the sky? It’s a mysterious terror! After the people of D and Nika, it was the most common boogeyman they warned us about…that in the lower world, there’s a monster called the Rain God that dumps water on top of your head!” — Saint Killingham, explaining Rain God Zaza lore in One Piece Chapter #1182
With Sun God Nika receiving formal attention first in Chapter #1018 and then a full unveiling in Chapter #1044, and with the D. people already positioned as a central thread in the overarching plot, it follows that Rain God Zaza would demand major focus moving forward. Saint Killingham’s preparation went beyond mere setup: he created an MMA version of Rain God Zaza using the Mythical Zoan Ryu Ryu no Mi, Model: Kirin. The MMA copy is described as not being the original Rain God Zaza itself, but the abilities it carries are presented as intensely lethal.
The MMA rendition of Rain God Zaza appears as a gigantic humanoid woman, with a massive ring of water formed behind her. Her whole body is made of water, and she can unleash enormous rainfall—enough to flood entire villages within seconds. The form also demonstrates strong water control, including the ability to drown nearly anyone, including powerful fighters such as the Warriors of Elbaf. This was shown in One Piece Chapter 1182, officially released May 10, 2026, and then reinforced again in the following Chapter 1183, released May 25, 2026.
Now that Rain God Zaza is officially stepping onto the battlefield as a true “godly” force within the One Piece world, the narrative implication is that it’s only a matter of time before the real entity is encountered through a Hito Hito no Mi variant.
“Appearing to the rhythm of the prayers for rain…Rain God Zaza!” — Saint Killingham, explaining how Zaza arrives in the world, One Piece Chapter #1182
Why Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza surpasses the Nika model
All Mythical Hito Hito no Mi variants are described as extremely powerful, beginning with the Daibutsu model. That version was first revealed in One Piece Chapter 571, during the Marineford arc, on January 5, 2010, in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #8. The Daibutsu form made Sengoku one of the strongest characters in the series. After that came the Onyudo model in the Wano Country arc, which is still treated as the weakest Hito Hito no Mi model shown so far.
Then the Nika model arrived, framed as the most important of the bunch. Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Nika gives the user immense abilities that let Luffy leverage near-limitless imagination—turning what he imagines into reality. Because of that flexibility, it’s been positioned as one of the most overpowered Devil Fruit powers in the One Piece world. By comparison, Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Zaza would allow transformation into the Rain God itself, and it’s suggested that the user’s control over rainwater and the ability to produce massive floods could raise the ceiling even further.
“Go Zaza, sink them all! Only seven brats? I’m guessing that’ll have to do for now.” — Killingham, warning about Zaza’s danger in One Piece Chapter #1183
In practical terms, the Rain God Zaza fruit is portrayed as having the ability to cancel Devil Fruit techniques instantly. Even Sun God Nika, despite its massive power, would be at a severe disadvantage if caught inside Zaza’s torrential flooding. With that in mind, Rain God Zaza is suggested to have the potential to be the strongest Devil Fruit in the One Piece universe—matching up only against Blackbeard’s Yami Yami no Mi, a Devil Fruit it’s said to resemble specifically in how it cancels other powers.
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Zaza’s official introduction is coming after Elbaf
So far, readers have only seen the MMA version of Rain God Zaza, but the story expectation is that Eiichiro Oda will eventually unveil the genuine Zaza variant as well. Since Zaza is one of the Celestial Dragons’ biggest fears—linked to their century-spanning conflict against the Ancient Kingdom—it’s set up as a presence that will eventually enter the plot more directly.
“A vast war will ensue and drag the entire world into it! And which side the Giants pledge their allegiance to will have a profound effect on the outcome of the war!” — Gunko, teasing the Great War after Elbaf in One Piece Chapter #1146
One Piece Chapter 1146, officially released April 21, 2026 in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #21, teased Elbaf as the lead-in to The Great War, meaning the larger war is now positioned right at the edge of beginning. Additionally, Oda stated in his Jump Festa 2026 message that after the events of Elbaf, the Straw Hat Pirates will sail toward an island that only the Pirate King has stepped onto. That framing implies that major players—Yonko-level forces included, including Luffy—will all be aiming for the final location. This kind of high-stakes convergence is presented as the ideal backdrop for Rain God Zaza’s descent, potentially positioning it against the World Government and Nerona Imu as one of the most dangerous adversaries the series has seen.
All new One Piece manga chapters by Eiichiro Oda are available to read via Manga Plus and Viz Media.
