Oh cools.
My favourite part and the one thing about Zoro's character that I like the most is his absolute loyalty. The way he slowly went from "I'll make you cut your belly open if you interfere in my dream." to placing that very dream and his life in an exchange for his captain's life and dream over the course of the Pre Timeskip arcs was materful character writing tbh.
- He is the first Strawhat to call Luffy the PK - Baratie Arc.
- He tells that Baroque works agent that he'd only join an organization if he'd be the boss in Alabasta.
- He then slowly starts to care for his crewmates in Skypiea.
- Then he holds Luffy to a higher standard as his captain in the aftermath of Luffy vs Usopp at Enies Lobby. During the same arc, he also leads the strawhats into the fight when Luffy goes off on his own first and he also fights to save Robin, his crewmate. He even awakened Ashura at that moment when Kaku talks smack about the crew and Robin dying there.
- And then he leads the crew in fighting Oars.
- This entire character arc culminates in my most favourite moment in One Piece, bar none - Nothing Happened. Where he readily and willingly gives up everything that he ever holds dear in exchange for his captain's life. He goes through the ultimate test of loyalty and doesn't even want the basic recognition or atleast a simple thank you. Him saying those words was him being very clear that he wanted nobody to know about what he did for the sake of his Captain.
The most impressive part is that Zoro rivals Luffy as in they both have individualistic dreams which are driven by their ambition. Luffy atleast has a reason to become the Pirate King, being the freest man in the World and his experiences with Shanks, Sabo and Ace shaped his dream. Zoro is a character who wants to be the best simply for the reason of being the best - which is what most real life competitors who are the best at what they do are motivated by.
For such a character to make that sacrifice for his captain in one of the best displays of loyalty accross all media, that was instantly and to this date, my favourite One Piece moment tbh.
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