Future Events Zoro: King of Hell, King of Samurai and deuteragonist of Wano

Den_Den_Mushi · Dec 27, 2021

After a thousand chapters of dancing around Zoro's kingly ambitions, Oda has finally had the character come out and say it - the World's Strongest Swordsman does indeed aspire to be a king. Specifically, in Zoro's case, the king of hell. But Oda's clever wordplay in 1035 has me wondering if Zoro may also be destined to become king of the samurai. Let's take a look at what he said:

地獄 or 侍極?

地獄　is made up of the characters じごく and means 'hell'. However, じごく was also used in the naming of Zoro's new Santoryuu attack in 1035, with the same characters presented with a different kanji meaning 'high ranking samurai'.

侍極 - じごく
侍 - samurai
極 - extreme/highly/highest rank

Kaido's acknowledgement
There are other signs pointing to Zoro becoming the next king of samurai, hailed in a similar manner to Ryuma, the God of the Blade.

Kaido doesn't believe that Wano will ever produce a monster samurai like Oden again. Of course, Oden never quite reached Ryuma's level of reverence and notoriety in Wano, but the fact that Kaido has yet to eat his words suggests that there is still more to do for Zorojurou the ronin in this arc.

All the way back in Zou, Zoro declared that he would have the samurai of Wano following his lead. So far, reactions to Zoro have been mixed, with the samurai respecting his strength and willingness to tame Enma, but treating him with some degree of disbelief and ridicule due to his claims that he met and fought Ryuma. Nevertheless it is safe to say that the samurai of Wano are not currently following in Zoro's footsteps, and it will take surpassing their master Oden for them to do so.

Deuteragonist of Wano
Oda has also dropped numerous hints that Zoro may well be the deuteragonist of Wano. Promotional art for the Wano arc places him alongside Luffy, stating that they will cut down the evil oni. Kaido and King's first meeting parallels Zoro and Luffy's in Orange Town, and both right hand men made near-identical vows to never lose again. However, unlike King, Zoro is still driven by his individual ambition and wishes to stand beside Luffy as a king in his own right. This suggests that Zoro will face Kaido again alongside his captain to earn Kaido's and the samurai's long-overdue respect.

Consecutive volumes of One Piece Magazine have also highlighted a repeat of the dragonslaying legend and the birth of a second Ryuma. And no, Zoro bisecting King's magma dragon doesn't count. I've outlined this in a separate thread here: https://worstgen.alwaysdata.net/forum/threads/baited-by-spoilers-karyuudon-vs-zkk.20063/

The fact also remains that none of the samurai saw Zoro defeat King. They're either unconscious or preoccupied with their own fights, meaning that Zoro will require another opportunity to prove himself and demonstrate his mastery of swordsmanship.

Shimotsuki Clan's will
There is also a growing body of evidence that Zoro is related to the Shimotsuki clan in some way. The Shimotsuki lineage represents the last of the blue bloods of Wano, producing legendary swordsmen and swordsmiths like Ryuma, Kozaburo and Ushimaru. Zoro carries the will of the Shimotsuki clan, wielding Kozaburo's masterwork Enma and a similar sword style to Ushimaru. Zoro becoming king of the samurai would demonstrate that the Shimotsuki clan has risen again, that a new God of the Blade would protect Wano as it moved into a new era.

In summary, Zoro may well have foreshadowed his ascent to becoming samurai royalty. Alongside Luffy, Zoro's journey in Wano has received the greatest hype and spotlight from Oda, both in the manga and in secondary materials. Zoro has bonded the most with the people of Wano as demonstrated by his anger over the situation in Ebisu town, and the fact that he and Luffy immediately attacked the Beast Pirates who wasted valuable food. Zoro becoming the king of samurai would be a fitting conclusion to his Wano character arc and would go a long way to fulfilling his promise to Kuina - to become so famous that his name would reach the heavens.

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ZoroMazino · Dec 27, 2021

ZKK is just a question of time

HA001 OF THE RAIN · Dec 27, 2021

We need to see what the deal is with zoros heritage for sure.
He said its not ushimaru that's his dad. But if he is ringo related I see him becoming daiymio of ringo too. @dontflame had a post on discord that showed a daimiyo irl who had a hell / demon title too.

Redboy776 · Dec 27, 2021

HA001 said:

We need to see what the deal is with zoros heritage for sure.
He said its not ushimaru that's his dad. But if he is ringo related I see him becoming daiymio of ringo too. @dontflame had a post on discord that showed a daimiyo irl who had a hell / demon title too.

Please can you post it?

Salah WG · Dec 27, 2021

Excellent read as always

Tbh Zoro becoming "King of Hell" was foreshadowed since Volume 1 when Zoro said "Even Heavens will know my Name"
I have always interpreted those Words as Zoro's Final Opponent representing Heaven, meaning He should represent Hell

This Idea was Half-Proven the first time we saw Asura, it was pretty clear that Zoro's Massive Willpower is represented as a Demon.
However this Demon is Shattered, He isn't complete yet, Zoro still needs to grow Stronger & this is why Mihawk told him;
"Know your Will, Know The World, Surpass Me Roronoa Zoro" !!!

He didn't say "Train your Swordsmanship" because whether people like it or not, Santoryu is Strongest Fighting Style in One Piece, Zoro's Techniques never changed since Chapter 1, what he always Lacked was Mastering his Demonic Will, Improving his Haki, acquiring better Swords & training his Physical Stats. Hence why Mihawk told him to know his "Will" & "The World", meaning he needs Haki & Experience.

After that, Oda gave us a clue of how will Zoro reach that Level of Demon Champion to fight Heaven Champion (Mihawk)
It's by Conquering Three Realms of The World & Three Alpha Creatures which are Land, Sea & Air + Shark, Tiger & Dragon.
It's like Oda is indirectly telling us that Luffy & Zoro can't face Heaven yet, until they prove themselves Strongest in The World below.

Unlike all other Straw Hats, Zoro is represented by Three Animals & not just one, and they are Shark, Tiger & Dragon.
Conveniently, Zoro did indeed Fight Great White Shark Villain (Hody) & Tiger Villain (Fujitora) & Dragon Villain (Kaidou)
And then He Defeated Sea Representative (Hyouzou), Land Representative (Pica) & finally Sky Representative (Alber/King)

After these Six Confrontations, Zoro finally said "Fine, i will become King of Hell"
So now that he had a Taste from Three Realms & Three Animal Kings, Zoro must prove himself to the World & Conquer them at once.
Conveniently Oda did indeed create a Character who embodies all these Elements:

The One known as Strongest in Land, Sea & Air
The One who is a Fish + King of Animals + Dragon
The One who represent Oni King
It's obviously Kaidou !!!

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However, Zoro's Journey to becoming "King of Hell" is coincidentally leading him to become "King of Samurai" too as you pointed out.
Not only his Village & Dojo were shown to have been founded by Wano Samurai, but his Swords are also from there, & Conveniently the Sword which represents Hell (Enma) is a Sword that wants to fulfill not only Wano's but also Kozuki Family's Will by slaying Kaidou.

Not to mention The Great Sword which he Inherited from his Childhood Friend Kuina whom Oda confirmed to be from Shimotsku Family. Add to it his encounter with Shusui, his resemblance to Ushimaru, his Shadow being put in a Legendary Samurai Body (Jigoro).

Zoro's entire Story is about becoming King of Hell & King of Samurai
That's because Oda simply wants to Draw one thing, which is: Samurai vs Knight

Champion of Hell & Samurai vs Champion of Heaven & Knights (Check Ryuma's One Shot & Oda's Message to be convinced)
The One-Eyed Swordsman vs Clairvoyant Swordsman
Slayer of Dragons vs Heavenly Dragon (Dracule means Dragon)
Non-Believer Anti-Trion Demon vs Prideful Crusade Knight
Roronoa Zoro vs Dracule Mihawk

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Let me also show you another Hint on how Zoro is on a Journey to becoming Anti-Mihawk:

1. Both were Introduced cutting a Huge Galleon which woke them up from their Sleep (Krieg's Ship & Post-TS Galleon)
2. Both used Small Knife to overpower their Adversary (Zoro & Magistrate)
3. Both Overpowered someone confident in his Swordsmanship & called them "Frog in a Small Pond" (Zoro & Hyouzou)
4. Both sent a Huge Flying Slash towards a Yonko which didn't connect (WB & Kaidou)
5. Both gave a Permanant Huge Scar to their Far Weaker Opponent (Zoro & Hody)
6. Both cut a Huge Mountain which shocked all Witnesses

I'm confident that all other Mihawk Scenes from Pre-TS will happen to Zoro Post-TS under Reversed Circumstances:

1. Mihawk tested Luffy ---> Zoro will most probably Test Adult Momo
2. Mihawk went to meet Shanks to give him News about Luffy ---> Shanks will meet Zoro to give him News about Luffy
3. Mihawk met Vista ---> Zoro will meet Yasopp
4. Mihawk was Interrupted by Crocodile ---> Zoro will be Interrupted by Doflamingo
5. Mihawk destroyed Fleet of 50 Ships which tried to Escape ---> Zoro will destroy a Large Fleet of Ships during an Escape of his
6. Mihawk trained Zoro ---> Zoro will Defeat Mihawk
7. Mihawk chased Krieg from another Sea ---> Zoro will chase a Certain Villain across Two Seas
... etc

Shanks_SZN · Dec 27, 2021

Den_Den_Mushi said: