Shanks’ real power was revealed in One Piece 1079, and he may be a greater impediment to Zoro’s lifelong aim than Mihawk ever was.
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Since the beginning of the Final Saga, One Piece has dealt one hard blow after another, and Chapter 1079 showed the catastrophic loss of the Child Pirates – a crew with a captain worth 3 billion berries. It’s also the first time creator Eiichiro Oda has shown Yonko Shanks’ real power, and it’s horrifying. Shanks has always been one of the most powerful characters in One Piece, but no one knows the full scope of his strength.
However, Chapter 1079 provides a significant clue when all Shanks needs to destroy Kid and Killer is Roger’s Divine Departure skill. The Child Pirates’ captain and vice-captain are defeated in a single blow, forcing the remaining pirates to relinquish their Road Poneglyphs. Yet, all of this has a startling relation to Zoro and his ambition to become the greatest swordsman in the world. Here’s why Mihawk is no longer the only big impediment to Zoro’s dream.
Mihawk's Relationship to Zoro's Aspiration of Being the Best Swordsman
Oda is well renowned for introducing innovative aspects into the structure of One Piece. Many patterns support the expansive worldbuilding, one of which is how he portrays the Straw Hat pirates. Each crew member has a tragic past that has left them emotionally drained for years, if not decades, as well as their own goals to pursue. Most importantly, every Straw Hat has dedicated their lives to assisting Luffy in becoming King of the Pirates while also pursuing their own ambitions. Zoro’s ambition has always been to become the world’s greatest swordsman, which is why he set sail alongside Luffy.
Considering Mihawk’s illustrious reputation, Zoro understands that beating the former Warlord is the only way to attain his ambition. Their first combat, though, left the Straw Hat severely damaged and bruised. Humiliated by his humiliating setback, he promises Luffy that he will never lose again. Mihawk is intrigued by Zoro’s perseverance, and he requests a rematch as long as he grows stronger. Mihawk isn’t strictly wicked, but he is extremely strange, given that he taught Zoro swordsmanship during One Piece’s two-year time gap. Despite his best efforts, Zoro is still leagues behind his competitor and must improve further before realising his ultimate goal.
Shanks, according to One Piece 1079, is Zoro's greatest challenge.
Together with Mihawk and Zoro, One Piece has introduced other formidable swordsmen over the years. While Oden and Roger were only seen in flashbacks, fans now know of Red-Haired Shanks’ devastating abilities. Not only is his Observation Haki greater than everyone else in the series, but he also uses Roger’s Divine Departure technique, which sets him different from the other swordsmen. He dealt with the Child Pirates with ease and obtained replicas of their three Road Poneglyphs. Meanwhile, despite not having all of his abilities exposed, Mihawk is regarded as the world’s best swordsman.
As the Red-Hair Pirates confronted everyone on the battleground during the Marineford War, Mihawk surrendered. He justified himself by claiming that he had only pledged to battle the Whitebeard Pirates and not Shanks’ group. As One Piece has implied, Mihawk may not want to clash with his putative friend, but it’s also plausible that Mihawk knows he can’t win against Shanks.There has never been a time when a Warlord has been more powerful than a Yonko. Even from their bounties, it is simple to guess which is the stronger of the two. Mihawk’s bounty is 3.59 billion berries, while Shanks’ bounty is almost 4 billion berries. As a result, Shanks is most likely Zoro’s main impediment to becoming the world’s finest swordsman.