I know it seems very far fetched given that Zoro's whole life aim has been to beat Mihawk and that Mihawk promised to remain at the top till Zoro challenged him, I think that Mihawk might be killed before he gets to fight Zoro. I would guess that it could perhaps be the Gorosei weilding the sword, but it could be somebody else as well.
Reasons:
1. The biggest reason I think this might happen is that Mihawk actually taught Zoro. I think their relationship has evolved to that of a teacher and student. Also Mihawk doesn't have any strong political leanings (now that the Shichibukai have been dissolved) that would put him directly in the way of the strawhats. I think that if a fight were to happen between the two, it will be too friendly or well-intentioned. Given the way the story is heading, Oda must keep increasing the stakes and the tempo of all the future events, which I'm sure he will do. A friendly duel just doesn't fit in the scheme.
2. Zoro's actual aim is to be the strongest swordsman and not to beat Mihawk. If anyone beats Mihawk, he/she would become the strongest swordsman by default and thus Zoro's ultimate target. The Gorosei with the sword makes the perfect sense in this case too. Mihawk is known to be the strongest swordsman but what if he isn't. What if the Gorosei is the strongest swordsman but its just that nobody knows about them (much like everybody thinks that celestial dragons are the rulers but the actual rulers are the Gorosei and Imu).
3. When I talk about increasing the tempo of the series, it would be much more emotional and epic to see Zoro avenging the death of his teacher by killing this person than a friendly duel with Mihawk kimself.
P.S. Mihawk is one of the strongest and collest characters. I'm just waiting to see him in a no-hold-bar fight irrespective of who he fights.
edit :
The main thing I want to highlight is that Gorosei part is not important. It could be someone else too. My main point is that Zoro defeating the strongest swordsman HAS TO BE among the top 5 most hyped moments in the series. Somehow a friendly duel between a teacher and student doesn't seem to justify those kind of emotions, especially when we already know that Zoro will win in the end. Him avenging Mihawk on the other hand could be huge.
Reasons:
1. The biggest reason I think this might happen is that Mihawk actually taught Zoro. I think their relationship has evolved to that of a teacher and student. Also Mihawk doesn't have any strong political leanings (now that the Shichibukai have been dissolved) that would put him directly in the way of the strawhats. I think that if a fight were to happen between the two, it will be too friendly or well-intentioned. Given the way the story is heading, Oda must keep increasing the stakes and the tempo of all the future events, which I'm sure he will do. A friendly duel just doesn't fit in the scheme.
2. Zoro's actual aim is to be the strongest swordsman and not to beat Mihawk. If anyone beats Mihawk, he/she would become the strongest swordsman by default and thus Zoro's ultimate target. The Gorosei with the sword makes the perfect sense in this case too. Mihawk is known to be the strongest swordsman but what if he isn't. What if the Gorosei is the strongest swordsman but its just that nobody knows about them (much like everybody thinks that celestial dragons are the rulers but the actual rulers are the Gorosei and Imu).
3. When I talk about increasing the tempo of the series, it would be much more emotional and epic to see Zoro avenging the death of his teacher by killing this person than a friendly duel with Mihawk kimself.
P.S. Mihawk is one of the strongest and collest characters. I'm just waiting to see him in a no-hold-bar fight irrespective of who he fights.
edit :
The main thing I want to highlight is that Gorosei part is not important. It could be someone else too. My main point is that Zoro defeating the strongest swordsman HAS TO BE among the top 5 most hyped moments in the series. Somehow a friendly duel between a teacher and student doesn't seem to justify those kind of emotions, especially when we already know that Zoro will win in the end. Him avenging Mihawk on the other hand could be huge.
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