Wait a sec. Comparing EoS Zoro to Beckmann is a downgrade, sure. I am also confident Zoro will be greater than Rayleigh, but you are being a bit disrespectful to Rayleigh here. Rayleigh has a dark king title that has nothing to do with being part of the PK crew, he gets compared to legends like Whitebeard.
What is Oda's job? To make his MC_2 another Benn or another Rayleigh? Do you really think that is what Oda wants to do with Zoro?
Do you think any combatant of the long-gone era will be above MC_2 who represents the peak of combat prowess?
Being the VC of the PK is a big achievement. In fact, I am not sure which title is more famous in verse, first mate of the PK or the WSS. Nami said she read about Rayleigh in so many books. Sanji said, "Its true. Everyone heard that name at least once".
Luffy also rarely leads the crew by example. But he is pretty good at one thing, and thats fighting. He said to Arlong, "I cant navigate, I cant cook, I cant lie, but I can kick your ass". Similar to Zoro, fighting is the only thing Luffy is good at. As the VC, Zoro's role is similar, overwhelming combat prowess to protect the crew. There is a reason why Luffy - Zoro are pretty similar characters, they even say the same things.
- "Pirates eat meat and have big parties. But heroes take meat and give it to poor people. I wanna eat all meat"
- "Heroes are people who share their booze with other people. I wanna drink all my booze"
Zoro has his individual goal sure, but we have already seen at Thriller Bak, why he needed to surpass his limits to protect the crew. Thats what the captains or vice captains do in One Piece. They dont assist in navigating, they dont assign tasks for other crews, or plan the daily activities. They are mainly fighters. You are also underestimating the VC of the PK, Rayleigh at his old age and rusty condition stopped an admiral on his track, thats not a joke.
What is Zoro's greatest achievement as VC of the Strawhats? What specifically did he do that a VC should do?
Luffy is the best at being a captain, that's his job and he does it very well. Zoro isnt doing anything nor is he ever appointed as VC...
What did Luffy say before he said: "I cant navigate"?
Yes, they are indeed very similar characters, sometimes identical and neither of them is supposed to be a VC. Strawhats have a 2nd captain who never acts upon it, unless the first captain steps out of line and is about to ruin the image of what the captain is supposed to be.
He doesnt compete with Luffy at being a captain because Luffy is simply a better captain. A discipline in which Zoro competes in is the discipline in which he is the very best, in the entire world. Zoro's act on TB is what confirms why Luffy is the greatest captain out there.
Mihawk told us what Luffy is best at, his greatest ability. Combat prowess wasnt it.
As great as Rayleigh is, Zoro is greater. His feats are already the greatest in the whole world and we arent even close to the end...
Come on now, Zoro displayed CoC too, why are you downplaying CoC for no reason?
Same reason why I downplayed FS and aCoA, because it is not impressive. It literally achieves the same stuff what a weapon achieves.
Since when did Zoro become so pathetic that he faints from hunger, the same dude who took hakai and thunder bagua and didnt faint? What is this argument?
Since always? As I said, in his introduction arc, he fainted from hunger. Just like in Wano, it is nothing new.
Bruh, Pica could give Luffy more trouble than people believe, but Luffy would have found a way to beat Pica. And yes, I do buy the hype of the words. Zoro said =>
Just like he found a way to beat Cracker? AKA he didnt. Sat there for hours, eating biscuits thanks to Nami and letting Cracker do the job of making himself into a projectile... Pica is Cracker, just far worse for Luffy's combat style. Luffy's combat style simply isnt effective.
I dont trust words, I trust actions. Luffy said plenty of things that were lies.
Zoro's words are true in a way, if Luffy never goes into G4, never runs out of haki, Pica cannot take him down.
However, neither can Luffy take down Pica.