Overflowing hardening just a few chapters before when Zoro used Rengoku Oni Giri on Killer:
It is not plausible that the artistic similarity is unintentional. This wasn't 100s of chapters, hell, this wasn't even dozens of chapters. Zoro received Enma near immediately after defeating Killer.
No he isn't. He could clad his swords in overflowing hardening perfectly before Enma. Since he got Enma, only Enma has been clad in overflowing hardening. Zoro is still adapting to Enma which is why he's not properly overflowing his hardening from all three of his blades yet.
They haven't been hyped at all. We've seen Kawamatsu hurt Kaido with flying slashes via releasing ryuo from his blade. We've never been told that it's possible to imbue the air with haki, and the only other examples we've seen of hakified flying slashes was ryuo.
Yes he is definitely using barrier haki at least otherwise it's impossible to overcome Kaido's scales without tricks and damage him.
But with the focus and effort he required for internal destruction of Yamato's chains I think it would be made more clear if he was using internal destruction.
Haki is Ryuo, Ryuo is Haki. Luffy has had Ryuo since timeskip, so has Sanji, Zoro, and Law... because Ryuo is merely the name of Haki in Wano.
As far as distinctions, what's actually consistent is that Zoro's spiritual abilities are unique to Zoro. He is the only character whose killing intent is noted as if palpable, by several characters of various levels of awareness. He channels demonic auras with no real explanation, in ways we don't see anywhere else. His Enma attacks aren't anything like we've seen from Oden or the Scabbards.
As far as locking him down to what we've learned from Hyo:
1. That "kekkai" thing is best to be ignored. It's shoehorned into this context but maybe you can wait for Oda to bring it around.
2. The flying slash he uses on Monet is different than what we see with the palm strikes. Essentially you can say that he can project Haki but Oda hasn't linked them.
It's very taxing, requires focus and preparation (see when he was using it against Yamato). Even using only Barrier Ryuo, he barely lasted 10 minutes for the first round. Had he been using internal destruction throughout, he would have tired himself much quicker.
Basically, I don't think he's fully mastered the technique yet.
Zoro first used Ryou on Alabasta when he cut Mr 1.
Yes, thatβs a massive retcon from Oda, but it is what it is.
This is a clear example of Zoro (and Kin) using Ryou
Because they are cutting steel, which can only be done using Ryou.
Ryou also doesnβt need Hardening. The Scabbards were cutting Kaido without it, and they were using Ryou.
Was Zoro using Ryou in the examples you used? Honestly, donβt have a clue. Whatβs the relation between βcutting only what you want to cutβ and the general use of CoA being to attack DF users? Is that the same thing? Is every CoA user also using Ryou? Iβd suggest not since it seems that Ryou is a specific use of CoA, but thereβs certainly a degree of overlap. Which isnβt helped by Wano natives being ignorant in general about what Haki and DFβs are.
Take the Birdcage. Zoro wasnβt trying to cut it, but push it, so on the one hand youβd argue that no, he wasnβt using Ryou. Ryou is about cutting what you want to cut, this Mighty Blade idea. Zoro then, you could argue, was just using regular old Hardening to protect his sword from the razor sharp Birdcage.
However
You can then turn that around. What are Ryou users able to do- control what they cut. They can fail to cut a sheet of paper, yet cut through steel. Is that actually what Zoro was doing then? Was he using Ryou so he wasnβt cutting the birdcage, allowing him to push it? Is that why he took the two samuraiβs with him, who can also use Ryou?
And from another perspective, had Oda even came up with the BoaT = CoA = Ryou on Dressrosa? I certainly donβt believe for a second it was planned on Alabasta. Did he literally just come up with it on the spot, a third of the way into Wano, as a part of his βhow can I get Luffy to beat Kaidoβ drive? Cause Iβm almost certain that FS- another example of that- was invented on the spot half way through WCI.
I donβt think anyone can answer with any degree of certainty when Zoro was using Ryou in the past, unless it was specifically a case where he was cutting steel. And now, when heβs cutting Kaidoβs scales.
And we still donβt even know if the Enma aura visual effect is Ryou or soemthing else entirely, since the Scabbards and Oden- who were using Ryou- didnβt have anything like it.
The first example of Zoro using Ryo is Zoro striking the tree leaves in Alabasta and not cutting them.
That is a textbook example of Ryo and it cannot be done without it.
We can see that Luffy is trying to use Armament Haki and what he is trying to learn is not "normal Armament Haki", but that is greater to the normal Armament Haki.
We can see it here that Luffy refers to what Rayleigh used as an advanced version of the normal Haki he has been using this entire time. Basically an invisible armor.
Here's the different translation of the same chapter.
Right here we can see Luffy theorizing that if he learns this application of Haki/Ryou this advanced version of Haki/Ryou, he can bypass Kaido's tough scales.
Then Hyou comes and starts asking about Haki, he states that here in Wano we call what you call Haki, Ryou. He points out that swordsmen use Haki/Ryou to cut what they want to cut and not cut what they do not want to cut, then he states he was known as mighty swordsman back in the day and might know that technique Luffy is referring to.
Here's the better visual of Hyo's words in chapter 939.
We can see here Hyou performs the application of Ryou that Luffy was referring to. Mind you that this is an application of Ryou, a more advanced type of Ryou, and not just Ryou which is Haki (Armament Haki specifically) in Wano.
We can see here, that Hyou refers to Ryou as Haki in this panel. Similar to how Skypieans calling Observation Haki as Mantra in Skypiea. And start teaching Luffy this specific application of Ryou.
In this panel we can see Luffy performing something different than that of what Hyou was teaching him, and that this is not what Rayleigh used on the elephant.
Hyou is surprised that Luffy used what he used, and is filled with tremendous amounts of confidence in Luffy, again that just a minute ago he was ready to die and was out of hope. Now as soon as Luffy used this power, he is confident in that Luffy, (Luffy told him about how Big Mom is equivalent to Kaido and that she is an emperor in chapter 946) with his new power, can stop Big Mom. But unluckily for Luffy, he could not remember how he pulled off that move as of now.
Here Hyou refers to what he has been teaching Luffy as an application of Ryou that is superior to that of normal Armament Haki. But he states in his words that the power that Luffy used is a much more advanced/more powerful than the thing he has been teaching Luffy.
Hyou then explains the different forms of Advanced versions of Armament Haki, he states that what he can teach of Haki, or the application of Haki that he has been teaching Luffy is that which you cover your black armament in a Haki field, he stated that it can be used as both defense and offense and is very effective, it hits the enemy with emitting the Haki from the body outwards. But he states that when you go a level above that, instead of just pushing the Haki out and hitting the person, you can infuse into the enemy and destroy them from within. He states that this is much more powerful than the application that he was teaching Luffy all along.
As you can see here, he tells Luffy that he broke the collars from within by Luffy's haki, he tells Luffy that if he can use that level of Haki, then he basically already knows how to use the application he was teaching him all along since to infuse Haki inside out of an opponent, you need to first know how to infuse yourself with outward Haki. But that Luffy already did it unconsciously.
After Luffy's training we can see Luffy showing off that he has now the ability to destroy things without touching, and emitting Haki outwards, the application of Haki/Ryou Hyou was teaching him.
And in this chapter we can see Luffy destroying the cuffs of Yamato from within, and emitting his Haki inside out. Basically showing us that Luffy is now capable of doing this more advanced version of Armament Haki.
So basically in conclusion there are 3 known levels of Armament Haki/Ryou
Level 1 - Normal Armament Haki/Ryou that Luffy used most of post time skip
This is basically the lowest level of Armament Haki, it used by essentially anyone who knows Armament Haki. It increases your defense and offense more. Swordsmen use this Haki to cut what they need to and not cut what they do not want to, Zoro basically showed us a glimpse of Armament Haki usage pre-TS (Breath Of All Things), but sadly he states he couldn't do it again until time-skip. We see that he could not cut Enel or Aokiji, but if he was able to use Armament Haki again he could at least hit them. So we could say that Zoro did not use any form of Haki pre-timeskip.
Level 2 - Emission of Haki/Ryou also can be referred to as Advanced Ryou/Flowing Haki
This is the application of Ryou that Hyou was trying to teach Luffy, and also what Luffy referred to as Advanced Armament Haki and what Rayleigh first used. This allows the user to emit Haki with no medium, so basically you can hit someone without using your fist. This is stated by Hyou that it increases you defense and offense tremendously. This form of Haki allows you to bypass tough defense that normal Armament Haki can't, like Big Mom's skin or Kaido's tough scales. But as as seen in chapter 993, you need the strength to back this skill or else your cuts/punches will be took weak even if it bypasses the tough defense.
Level 3 - Emitting Haki/Ryou inside an opponent/object, and destroy them inside out. The highest level of Armament Haki/Ryou, (more advanced version of Ryou/Haki) or some of you might called it "Internal Destruction Haki"
So this Haki is the application of Ryou that Luffy used to break the collars and Hyo's and also Yamato's cuffs. Rayleigh also used this pre-TS to remove Camie's collar. This is taking the emitted Haki from stage two and emitting it inside an opponent/object and destroying them inside out. It is stated to be much more powerful than stage by Hyou, and gave someone as old as Hyo enough confidence in Luffy stopping a Yonko equivalent to Kaido that he himself knows the strength of. (In order to know this level of Haki, you need to learn level 2 Armament Haki first).
For Zoro's cases
All of these above are demonstration of Haki. Zoro talking about how hard a black blade is. Zoro sensing falling objects are a glimpse of what Haki is but he couldn't grasp it until post-timeskip. Zoro didn't cut Monet because he wasn't using Haki. Zoro cuts through Pica's FBH because Zoro's haki is superior to his. Zoro tamed Enma because of his better haki control, etc. Zoro definitely have normal Armament Haki/Ryou before he got Enma. Enma basically improves Zoro's haki even more.
We can see that Luffy is trying to use Armament Haki and what he is trying to learn is not "normal Armament Haki", but that is greater to the normal Armament Haki.
We can see it here that Luffy refers to what Rayleigh used as an advanced version of the normal Haki he has been using this entire time. Basically an invisible armor.
Here's the different translation of the same chapter.
Right here we can see Luffy theorizing that if he learns this application of Haki/Ryou this advanced version of Haki/Ryou, he can bypass Kaido's tough scales.
Then Hyou comes and starts asking about Haki, he states that here in Wano we call what you call Haki, Ryou. He points out that swordsmen use Haki/Ryou to cut what they want to cut and not cut what they do not want to cut, then he states he was known as mighty swordsman back in the day and might know that technique Luffy is referring to.
Here's the better visual of Hyo's words in chapter 939.
We can see here Hyou performs the application of Ryou that Luffy was referring to. Mind you that this is an application of Ryou, a more advanced type of Ryou, and not just Ryou which is Haki (Armament Haki specifically) in Wano.
We can see here, that Hyou refers to Ryou as Haki in this panel. Similar to how Skypieans calling Observation Haki as Mantra in Skypiea. And start teaching Luffy this specific application of Ryou.
In this panel we can see Luffy performing something different than that of what Hyou was teaching him, and that this is not what Rayleigh used on the elephant.
Hyou is surprised that Luffy used what he used, and is filled with tremendous amounts of confidence in Luffy, again that just a minute ago he was ready to die and was out of hope. Now as soon as Luffy used this power, he is confident in that Luffy, (Luffy told him about how Big Mom is equivalent to Kaido and that she is an emperor in chapter 946) with his new power, can stop Big Mom. But unluckily for Luffy, he could not remember how he pulled off that move as of now.
Here Hyou refers to what he has been teaching Luffy as an application of Ryou that is superior to that of normal Armament Haki. But he states in his words that the power that Luffy used is a much more advanced/more powerful than the thing he has been teaching Luffy.
Hyou then explains the different forms of Advanced versions of Armament Haki, he states that what he can teach of Haki, or the application of Haki that he has been teaching Luffy is that which you cover your black armament in a Haki field, he stated that it can be used as both defense and offense and is very effective, it hits the enemy with emitting the Haki from the body outwards. But he states that when you go a level above that, instead of just pushing the Haki out and hitting the person, you can infuse into the enemy and destroy them from within. He states that this is much more powerful than the application that he was teaching Luffy all along.
As you can see here, he tells Luffy that he broke the collars from within by Luffy's haki, he tells Luffy that if he can use that level of Haki, then he basically already knows how to use the application he was teaching him all along since to infuse Haki inside out of an opponent, you need to first know how to infuse yourself with outward Haki. But that Luffy already did it unconsciously.
After Luffy's training we can see Luffy showing off that he has now the ability to destroy things without touching, and emitting Haki outwards, the application of Haki/Ryou Hyou was teaching him.
And in this chapter we can see Luffy destroying the cuffs of Yamato from within, and emitting his Haki inside out. Basically showing us that Luffy is now capable of doing this more advanced version of Armament Haki.
So basically in conclusion there are 3 known levels of Armament Haki/Ryou
Level 1 - Normal Armament Haki/Ryou that Luffy used most of post time skip
This is basically the lowest level of Armament Haki, it used by essentially anyone who knows Armament Haki. It increases your defense and offense more. Swordsmen use this Haki to cut what they need to and not cut what they do not want to, Zoro basically showed us a glimpse of Armament Haki usage pre-TS (Breath Of All Things), but sadly he states he couldn't do it again until time-skip. We see that he could not cut Enel or Aokiji, but if he was able to use Armament Haki again he could at least hit them. So we could say that Zoro did not use any form of Haki pre-timeskip.
Level 2 - Emission of Haki/Ryou also can be referred to as Advanced Ryou/Flowing Haki
This is the application of Ryou that Hyou was trying to teach Luffy, and also what Luffy referred to as Advanced Armament Haki and what Rayleigh first used. This allows the user to emit Haki with no medium, so basically you can hit someone without using your fist. This is stated by Hyou that it increases you defense and offense tremendously. This form of Haki allows you to bypass tough defense that normal Armament Haki can't, like Big Mom's skin or Kaido's tough scales. But as as seen in chapter 993, you need the strength to back this skill or else your cuts/punches will be took weak even if it bypasses the tough defense.
Level 3 - Emitting Haki/Ryou inside an opponent/object, and destroy them inside out. The highest level of Armament Haki/Ryou, (more advanced version of Ryou/Haki) or some of you might called it "Internal Destruction Haki"
So this Haki is the application of Ryou that Luffy used to break the collars and Hyo's and also Yamato's cuffs. Rayleigh also used this pre-TS to remove Camie's collar. This is taking the emitted Haki from stage two and emitting it inside an opponent/object and destroying them inside out. It is stated to be much more powerful than stage by Hyou, and gave someone as old as Hyo enough confidence in Luffy stopping a Yonko equivalent to Kaido that he himself knows the strength of. (In order to know this level of Haki, you need to learn level 2 Armament Haki first).
For Zoro's cases
All of these above are demonstration of Haki. Zoro talking about how hard a black blade is. Zoro sensing falling objects are a glimpse of what Haki is but he couldn't grasp it until post-timeskip. Zoro didn't cut Monet because he wasn't using Haki. Zoro cuts through Pica's FBH because Zoro's haki is superior to his. Zoro tamed Enma because of his better haki control, etc. Zoro definitely have normal Armament Haki/Ryou before he got Enma. Enma basically improves Zoro's haki even more.
Overflowing hardening just a few chapters before when Zoro used Rengoku Oni Giri on Killer:
It is not plausible that the artistic similarity is unintentional. This wasn't 100s of chapters, hell, this wasn't even dozens of chapters. Zoro received Enma near immediately after defeating Killer.
No he isn't. He could clad his swords in overflowing hardening perfectly before Enma. Since he got Enma, only Enma has been clad in overflowing hardening. Zoro is still adapting to Enma which is why he's not properly overflowing his hardening from all three of his blades yet.
They haven't been hyped at all. We've seen Kawamatsu hurt Kaido with flying slashes via releasing ryuo from his blade. We've never been told that it's possible to imbue the air with haki, and the only other examples we've seen of hakified flying slashes was ryuo.
Small trails of haki do not mean ryuo is being used, ryuo wasn't shown like that for all the scabbards. Some times Oda will have a swordsman harden their hands, sometimes not, sometimes the sword itself will be black sometimes not. Drawing anything conclusive from imagery is dubious, especially in times before CoA and ryuo flow were differentiated. Even in your examples you are cherry picking, Zoro didn't have haki streaks coming from when he slashed Monet.
So when he and Killer were fighting he needed ryuo to beat a non ryuo user? Doesn't sit right with me.
Zoro's Onigiri failed to cut Kaido so didn't have ryuo.
Rationalizing him struggling with Enma fucking up his other swords makes Zoro look like a retard who can't control his sword enough to not get in the way of his other swords and would be better using a random cutlass than the distraction of Enma. All signs point to Enma helping him not harming his overall performance.
We'll have to wait and see, G3 can rattle anyone's skull if they think incorrectly they can tank it in a human body without proper defense. I think we will see something more flashy in the future with regards to internal destruction, even Rayleigh's barrier demonstration was more flashy than what we have seen so far.
Rationalizing him struggling with Enma fucking up his other swords makes Zoro look like a retard who can't control his sword enough to not get in the way of his other swords and would be better using a random cutlass than the distraction of Enma. All signs point to Enma helping him not harming his overall performance.
Not to damage Kaido from the inside cause he can't succeed at cutting his scales..
Internal Destruction is a cope out, it makes you ignore Kaido's scales and lets you damage him even if you can't get past them in the first place
Zoro's dream is to be the best swordsman, he has to be able to cut EVERYTHING, internal destruction is NOT something fits for his character personality and fighting style.
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