Roronoa Zoro has been training to face Mihawk for the title of Strongest Swordsman in One Piece, but another might take the title first.
One Piece’s Roronoa Zoro has strived to be the world’s Strongest Swordsman since the very start of the series. Like Monkey D. Luffy’s goal of becoming the Pirate King, it is a lofty ambition. Unlike Luffy, Zoro’s final obstacle in achieving his dream is to clash blades with the title’s current holder, Dracule Mihawk. Ever since their first confrontation in the East Blue, fans have been eagerly awaiting a rematch to finally see how far Zoro has come from his humble days as a Pirate Hunter to The King of Hell.
However, Zoro’s tale took a different turn at the end of the “Sabaody Archipelago” arc. Upon the Straw Hats’ separation, Zoro was transported to Mihawk’s home on Kuraigana Island and decided to place his dream aside, training under the greatest swordsman in order to better serve his captain. It was during this time that Blackbeard revealed himself as the suspected final antagonist of One Piece, with a powerful swordsman at his side: Shiryu of the Rain. Though fans excitedly wait for Zoro to face Mihawk again, it’s possible that this event may never come to pass.
Mihawk Served as Zoro’s Mentor in One Piece
Mihawk served two purposes during his arrival in East Blue — to show the growth Zoro required to contend with the Strongest Swordsman, and the strength of those who sail in the Grand Line and New World. From the moment Zoro stubbornly took the final swing from Yoru, One Piece fans knew Zoro would one day fight toe-to-toe with Mihawk and wrestle the title from the Warlord’s hands. Yet as the story progressed, Zoro found himself lacking the power to attend to his captain, and Mihawk was present with a solution — training.
Zoro trained under Mihawk during the time skip, though it is not confirmed if he spent the entire two years under the latter’s guidance. His situation could have been similar to Luffy, who was left alone for a good portion of the two years to train himself. Regardless, Mihawk was transformed from the endpoint of Zoro’s ambition into a mentor, honing the young swordsman’s Haki and evolving him into a formidable figure.
Narratively, One Piece could take the route of the pupil overthrowing his master. That said, those arcs usually depict one of the parties as evil or corrupt, which neither character here prescribes to. Their relationship may have put this final confrontation at risk of never occurring. Even if that is the case, there is another grand swordsman who could be Zoro’s final opponent.
Shiryu of the Rain Is the Blackbeard Pirates’ Swordsman
As Blackbeard and his crew are being painted the as villains the Straw Hats will have to face at the end of One Piece, Shiryu is stationed perfectly to become Zoro’s last opponent. Shiryu’s true power has not yet been fully explored, but he may be closer to the higher echelon of swordsmen than many give him credit for. Along with his usage of the Clear-Clear Fruit, Shiryu could employ the deceptive means to defeat Mihawk and wrestle the title from his hands, claiming it temporarily before Zoro challenges him. Whilst it would be a devastating blow to see Mihawk defeated by a Blackbeard Pirate, it narratively fits that a villain holds what the hero wants.
Mihawk is considered on par with Shanks in terms of power levels, and the latter recently showed just how powerful he is. Due to this reveal, it is hard to imagine Shiryu besting Mihawk in a one-on-one fair fight. Considering the behaviors of the Blackbeard Pirates, a fair fight would seem pretty unlikely. Even if Shiryu did not obtain the title legitimately, he would have it for Zoro to take back. It would set up a post-conclusion of One Piece‘s rivalry between Mihawk and Zoro, but on a far more respectful and equal level.
