A One Piece fan theory suggests Zoro might have to sacrifice a powerful ability to create the strongest sword and eventually defeat Mihawk.
Zoro is an excellent swordsman in One Piece and can even pierce through trains and buildings with a single slash. But he is yet to become the best swordsman in the world, a feat he has been craving since childhood.
Of course, Zoro’s mission will be completed once he has defeated Mihawk, who is currently the best expert at fighting with swords. Despite having trained for years, Zoro might not be near Mihawk’s level, and if they ever come face to face, the battle would be a legendary one. But one theory states that Zoro could use a cheatcode before facing Mihawk.
Zoro Might Need a Devastating New Ability Before the One Piece Finale
Zoro’s three-sword style in One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation
No, this is not Demon Slayer; it is indeed One Piece that is the center of discussion here, and a fan theory states that it is possible to achieve a black-bladed sword in One Piece. But unlike Demon Slayer, Zoro would have to make a major decision to turn his sword black, and the effects of it might be irreversible.
Eiichiro Oda has explained via One Piece that imbuing a sword with Armament Haki can cause it to turn black, but that is only for a limited time. Mihawk’s sword, on the other hand, remains black at all times, and so far, there has been no explanation for it. According to a fan theory, it is possible to turn a sword permanently black in One Piece. But it comes with a heavy price.
In order to turn a sword black, the user has to sacrifice their Conquerer’s Haki. It will be gone forever, and the user will not be able to cultivate it again. However, the sword will become one of the strongest blades to exist. The theory also suggests that once Conquerer’s Haki is sacrificed for the sword, it might be able to pierce through Armament Haki and absorb it completely in battles.
Zoro’s Sandai Kitetsu | Credits: Toei Animation
The theory also explains that Armament Haki is the only type of protection one can use against swordsmen in One Piece. So, if Zoro can turn his blade black, everyone would become defenseless to his swordsmanship skills. But is Zoro ready to give up his Conquerer’s Haki for this?
Zoro Needs to Create a Black Blade if He Even Dreams of Defeating Mihawk
Dracule Mihawk and his sword Yoru in One Piece | Credits: Toei Animation
Mihawk carries Yoru, one of the strongest swords in One Piece. While both its length and power are surprising, the most intriguing thing about it is the permanently black blade, which no other swordsman in One Piece seems to possess. While it is possible to turn a sword black with Armament Haki, it is a finite resource that cannot be used all the time. So how is Mihawk’s sword black even when he is not in a battle?
The answer lies in Mihawk’s character. Dracule Mihawk was inspired by Dracula, so what if his sword also exhibits tendencies inspired by the famous fictional character? This is where the Armament sucking theory of black swords originates. Mihawk’s sword might be black because it is drenched in the Armament Haki that it has absorbed from its opponents over the years.
Thus, in order to defeat him, Zoro might have to reach the same level. Zoro has mastered all three types of Haki, but Conquerer’s Haki is admittedly the rarest and most powerful among them all. Whether Zoro will sacrifice it to empower his katana is questionable. Since he has pride in his abilities, he might not want to use any shortcuts and still defeat Mihawk with pure strength and swordsmanship.
