Let's see what Oda did in this arc.
Didnt allow Zoro to beat Kaku, didnt allow Zoro to beat Lucci, didnt allow Zoro to beat Seraphim.
What does that achieve narratively? It brings the hype down. You can see it yourself how each week, Zoro's power level is dropping despite him not appearing in chapters whatsoever.
What happens after Oda brings the hype down to an all-time low?
We literally saw the same formula used in Wano. The unthinkable happens and Zoro's hype skyrockets.
And unlike Luffy, he doesnt need countless hits to beat anyone. One serious high end move ends everyone.
Saturn and Kizaru remained on the island for a reason, despite everyone else evacuating - in order to get beaten.
The super buster call is done with Giant Pirates crashing the party.
Anti-Zolo Pirates have self-sabotaged long enough, it is time to reward them for their hard work.
Didnt allow Zoro to beat Kaku, didnt allow Zoro to beat Lucci, didnt allow Zoro to beat Seraphim.
What does that achieve narratively? It brings the hype down. You can see it yourself how each week, Zoro's power level is dropping despite him not appearing in chapters whatsoever.
What happens after Oda brings the hype down to an all-time low?
We literally saw the same formula used in Wano. The unthinkable happens and Zoro's hype skyrockets.
And unlike Luffy, he doesnt need countless hits to beat anyone. One serious high end move ends everyone.
Saturn and Kizaru remained on the island for a reason, despite everyone else evacuating - in order to get beaten.
The super buster call is done with Giant Pirates crashing the party.
Anti-Zolo Pirates have self-sabotaged long enough, it is time to reward them for their hard work.
"The unthinkable happens".
What, Zoro defeating a B villain created ad-hoc for him to give him something to fight while someone else deals with the plot relevant enemies? Such an afterthought that he barely has a sword and his fighting style is so confused that it never actually showed an hybrid form as a Zoan?