While ZKK didn't happen and it ended up being Luffy, not Zoro, who was compared to Ryuma, I think there's still scope for Zoro to be the hero of wano during the final war.
See, with characters being as strong as they are, it simply doesn't make sense for the final war to happen in just one location. How're 10+ top tiers supposed to fight without the surroundings being absolutely destroyed? No, rather I think the final war will happen throughout the One Piece world. And I think Zoro's role is going to be at wano.
I think during the final war, the WG will invade wano, and like ryuma did in the past, Zoro will defend wano's borders, and in doing so, become the next sword god.
Yeah, well, Luffy just earned the Wano hero title and Sword God comparison, dude. Ain't no way Oda is gonna hand those titles to Zoro now or in EoS.
Yeah and Zoro will grow wings and fly. He'll also shoot lasers out of his opened left eye.
This is indeed more likely than Zoro claiming Luffy's titles.
I think Oda needs to first focus on salvaging whatever is left of Zoros dream and the concept of swordsmanship as a whole. Ryuma parallels are nothing more than empty-fanservice hype, it's not what Zoro needs right now; evident by the fact that Zoro fans aren't satisfied with his handling in Wano, even though he got his fair share of hype moments. Luffy has already been compared to the sword god, as his accomplishments in Wano match his legend. Ryuma lead the samurais in many battles to protect Wano from outside threats as well as slay a dragon; Luffy lead the samurais of Wano to eradicate an outside threat in Kaido who is a tyrannical invader that's also a dragon. Nothing Zoro does will compare to that, the citizens of Wano have already drawn their comparison.
This guy gets it.
Zoro doesn't need to be Wano's hero. I mean it would've been cool if Zoro did something heroic for Wano in front of Wano folks due to his possible connection with the country, but it's not a necessity. At this point, it's kinda obvious that all those parallels with Ryuma will lead to something other than Zoro being Wano's hero.
Your last part would still be true if not for the fact that Oda revealed it is really Luffy who parallels Ryuma all along. I think Lolda simply decided to abandon the Zoro-Wano connection, as simple as that.
That aside, I agree that Zoro doesn't need to be the hero of Wano or anybody.
Nami is a heroine to the PH children, Usopp a hero to Tontatta, Cook a hero to two nations, and Luffy to a whole world.
But Zoro? He doesn't need any of that because he is not and never will be a hero.
He is a silent guardian. A watchful protector.
A dark knight.
The victory lap when the WG invades Wano gonna hit
Zoro who didn't beat Kaido or Big Mom, only has limited use of ACoC, and is not even using one black blade is gonna make an Admiral, CP0, and Buster Call turn their tail and run away?
Damn, dude, I never would have pegged you for a bigger Zoro wanker than I am.
