One thing I always found odd about Zoro's asura, is how exclusive it is compared to the other SH's power ups. Whereas Sanji uses DJ all the time, Luffy uses his gears all the time, chopper uses monster point all the time, ect. Zoro has only used asura 3 times in the entire series.
Why is that? Why didn't zoro learn to use asura casually over the timeskip, like the rest of the SHs did their power ups? Why didn't zoro use asura against king when he needed a power up to win?
I've noticed something about asura. In each of the 3 times zoro used it, he was heavily injured and on the verge of breaking his promise to Luffy. His promise to never lose.
Right before he used asura for the first time, Kaku unleashed an onslaught on zoro which resulted in zoro taking a lot of damage from kaku's blows. Had it not been for asura, zoro would have likely lost.
In the 2nd scenario, many might not remember this, but if you re-read the chapter in which zoro used asura against the pacifista, you will notice this. In chapter 510(the one he uses asura in), Oda begins the fight showing zoro severely injured with Luffy questioning if zoro was able to move. Zoro is far more messed up than any other straw hat, and sanji comments that Zoro still hasn't healed from the damage he took from kuma in thriller bark. And that it is extremely painful for zoro to merely fight the pacifista.
Again, in this scenario, zoro had a high chance of losing were it not for asura.
Then Lastly against kaido. Zoro had broken many of his bones from hakai. Luffy had passed out due to ragnaraku. Kaido was going to kill Luffy, if zoro didn't do something. While zoro ultimately did get booted from the rooftop due to his injuries, victory can have different meanings. In that scenario, the rooftop was a team fight and Luffy was the strongest member. By using asura, zoro was able to draw Kaido's attention away from Luffy for enough time for Luffy to recover. Zoro saved Luffy and in doing so, ensured the allies' victory, even if some might say that Zoro ultimately took an L on the rooftop. Also, ZKK could still happen which would mean that ultimately Kaido was the one who lost to zoro.
So I feel like overall the theme fits. Asura is a technique that zoro will only use when he is nearing defeat. As kaku said, it is an illusion zoro creates through sheer will. And from Kaido's reaction to asura, it is heavily hinted that the technique could be tied to CoC, which was said by rayleigh to be the embodiment of the user's spirit.
I believe that Asura is a CoC technique that was created out of Zoro's promise to Luffy and his desire to never lose. That zoro's desire to never lose is so great that his haki basically distorts reality to fulfill this desire.
Why is that? Why didn't zoro learn to use asura casually over the timeskip, like the rest of the SHs did their power ups? Why didn't zoro use asura against king when he needed a power up to win?
I've noticed something about asura. In each of the 3 times zoro used it, he was heavily injured and on the verge of breaking his promise to Luffy. His promise to never lose.
Right before he used asura for the first time, Kaku unleashed an onslaught on zoro which resulted in zoro taking a lot of damage from kaku's blows. Had it not been for asura, zoro would have likely lost.
In the 2nd scenario, many might not remember this, but if you re-read the chapter in which zoro used asura against the pacifista, you will notice this. In chapter 510(the one he uses asura in), Oda begins the fight showing zoro severely injured with Luffy questioning if zoro was able to move. Zoro is far more messed up than any other straw hat, and sanji comments that Zoro still hasn't healed from the damage he took from kuma in thriller bark. And that it is extremely painful for zoro to merely fight the pacifista.
Again, in this scenario, zoro had a high chance of losing were it not for asura.
Then Lastly against kaido. Zoro had broken many of his bones from hakai. Luffy had passed out due to ragnaraku. Kaido was going to kill Luffy, if zoro didn't do something. While zoro ultimately did get booted from the rooftop due to his injuries, victory can have different meanings. In that scenario, the rooftop was a team fight and Luffy was the strongest member. By using asura, zoro was able to draw Kaido's attention away from Luffy for enough time for Luffy to recover. Zoro saved Luffy and in doing so, ensured the allies' victory, even if some might say that Zoro ultimately took an L on the rooftop. Also, ZKK could still happen which would mean that ultimately Kaido was the one who lost to zoro.
So I feel like overall the theme fits. Asura is a technique that zoro will only use when he is nearing defeat. As kaku said, it is an illusion zoro creates through sheer will. And from Kaido's reaction to asura, it is heavily hinted that the technique could be tied to CoC, which was said by rayleigh to be the embodiment of the user's spirit.
I believe that Asura is a CoC technique that was created out of Zoro's promise to Luffy and his desire to never lose. That zoro's desire to never lose is so great that his haki basically distorts reality to fulfill this desire.
