In the early days of One Piece, Roronoa Zoro openly declared his ambition to become the world's greatest swordsman, surpassing his rival, Dracule Mihawk. This aspiration stemmed from a promise he made to his childhood friend, Kuina. They had agreed that one of them would become the greatest, but Kuina's unexpected death made it imperative for Zoro to fulfill this goal.
However, in chapter 1094 of One Piece, Gorosei Saturn's devilish Awakened form indicates that Zoro may have another objective in mind: becoming the King of Hell. By doing so, he could not only relieve the burden on his captain's shoulders but also ensure that Luffy becomes the King of the Pirates.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers.
One Piece chapter 1094 seems to suggest that a King of Hell may soon appear
Zoro (Image via Toei Animation)
In a recent episode of One Piece, Zoro unveiled his formidable King of Hell style, showcasing a brand-new three-sword technique. Engaging in a fierce battle against King, Zoro emerged victorious, boldly proclaiming his ambition to claim the title of the King of Hell. However, shortly after his triumph, he had a mysterious encounter with what appeared to be the Grim Reaper or a haunting vision of it, leaving him unconscious.
During the fight, it is noteworthy that Zoro grappled with the challenge of harnessing his cursed sword, Enma. The weapon had been draining an extraordinary amount of Haki from his body. Intriguingly, Enma carries significance in Japanese Buddhist mythology as the sword associated with the king of Hell. Therefore, Zoro's declaration may have alluded to his determination to conquer and wield the sword with mastery.
However, recent raw scans of the latest One Piece issue suggest that Zoro's association with the role of the King of Hell might take on a different context.
What do the events in One Piece Chapter 1094 reveal about Zoro's future goal?
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Luffy extensively utilized his Gear 5 transformation in the Egghead arc of One Piece. This occurred first when facing Rob Lucci and subsequently against Kizaru. With Kizaru assuming the role of the ultimate antagonist in this arc, triumph seemed imminent.
Remarkably, in One Piece Chapter 1094's conclusion, it appeared that Luffy had successfully incapacitated Kizaru. However, he paid a steep cost for this victory, as he immediately succumbed to exhaustion and aged rapidly, assuming the appearance of an elderly man.
However, amidst these advancements, the formidable Gorosei Saturn emerged, showcasing his Awakened Devil Fruit manifestation that bore a striking resemblance to the Ushi-oni, an ox demon rooted in Japanese folklore. Regrettably, Luffy found himself incapacitated and ill-prepared to engage in a confrontation with this mighty adversary.
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If no action is taken, both his and Vegapunk's lives will be at risk from this monstrous entity. Zoro could potentially come into play as the King of Hell to intervene. One Piece chapter 1094 contains several mentions of the underworld. A magical circle appeared in Egghead, and Saturn emerged from below it, suggesting his connection to the netherworld. He mentioned that it had been a while since he had been on the surface.
Saturn's appearance turned Egghead into a terrifying wasteland, jeopardizing even the well-being of the Marines. Fans may remember Sabo's chilling account in Chapter 1085, comparing the Holy Land Mary Geoise to a living nightmare when the Gorosei and Imu plotted King Cobra of Arabasta's assassination.
Zoro's reaction to Gorosei Saturn's presence in Egghead was notably missing from One Piece Chapter 1094. It seems intentional and could be a setup for Zoro's return in a future chapter. Currently, Zoro is preoccupied with his fight against Lucci.
These clues hint at the possibility that Zoro's destiny goes beyond just becoming the world's greatest swordsman by defeating Mihawk, his mentor. While Zoro's personal goal is still to achieve this title, which would give him an advantage against the World Government, there is no suggestion that the current greatest swordsman is on the same level as the Gorosei.
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To establish a new world order and dismantle the existing World Government, Zoro may have to assume the mantle of the King of Hell. However, it is also possible that Zoro will not directly confront Saturn. Some fans have speculated that Zoro's future opponent could be Gorosei V. Nasjuro instead.
Another theory suggests that Dracule Mihawk, whose first name alludes to the famous vampire, may have a connection to Imu due to their similar eyes. Therefore, if Zoro's ultimate battle is not against the Gorosei but against Mihawk, emerging victorious would signify his true ascension as the King of Hell.