9 Reasons Why Shiryu Killing Mihawk (SKM) > Zoro vs Mihawk
- Subverts Expectations,
Zoro vs Mihawk is the most predictable outcome in the series. Having Shiryu kill Mihawk flips the entire table. Suddenly Zoro’s final duel isn’t a master-student grudge match—it’s vengeance, and that’s far more dramatic.
- Real Stakes Introduced,
Mihawk dying proves even "untouchable" characters can die. It adds tension to One Piece’s invincibility bubble and shows that legacy means nothing if you get outplayed.
- Makes Shiryu Actually Relevant,
Shiryu has been Blackbeard’s glorified background thug for years. Killing Mihawk instantly propels him into the spotlight and cements him as a legitimate final swordsman boss.
- Zoro’s Character Arc Becomes Personal,
Zoro’s goal shifts from “I want to be stronger than Mihawk” to “I must avenge my master and surpass the one who killed him.” Higher stakes, deeper emotions.
- Avoids a Boring Respect Duel,
Let’s be honest: Mihawk and Zoro would shake hands mid-fight, smile, and talk about honor for 30 chapters. Shiryu would stab someone mid-sentence. The drama writes itself.
- Fits the Blackbeard Parallelism,
Luffy’s final fight is against Blackbeard, the chaotic mirror of his ideals. Zoro vs Shiryu mirrors that perfectly—two right-hands, both dark reflections of their captains.
- Mihawk Dies With Hype,
Better to have Mihawk die in a jaw-dropping assassination than slowly fade into the background while baking sourdough bread with Crocodile.
- Thematic Parallel to Kuina,
Just like Kuina’s death pushed Zoro to become stronger, Mihawk’s death reignites that same drive. The past repeats, and this time, Zoro chooses to embrace revenge.
- Makes Zoro vs Shiryu 100x More Emotional,
Zoro vs Mihawk would be a respectful competition. Zoro vs Shiryu would be personal, brutal, and unforgiving. That’s not just a fight—that’s storytelling.