We have been teased with Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki two times during Wano, back in 997 and in 1010.
Oda is probably building up towards a major Conqueror’s Haki burst. Something akin to Luffy’s helplessness in Marineford where he couldn’t reach Ace but saved him thanks to Conqueror’s Haki. Zoro being bandaged up so much could place him in the same helpless state that physically he cannot do anything but through willpower, he can. If Zoro cannot break free out of bandages, Conqueror’s Haki burst could be a major plot element in the near future. However, before we reach that point, Zoro may be in a tight situation with the enemies swarming around him. Orochi would likely try to kill him considering Zoro attacked him in the Flower Capital or King the Wildfire might try to off him while he is bandaged up. He could try to burn Zoro on a cross which would be similar to Little Garden’s wax carousel when Zoro was immobilized and ended up set on fire.
There is also the crucifixion of Zoro’s one and only follower in Wano so far, the late daimyo of Hakumai, the legend Yasuie. Unlike Jesus, Zoro doesn’t forgive the sins and wants revenge for Yasu’s death. The moment of great peril might be resolved through Zoro’s Conqueror’s Haki blast which will unify the samurai behind him and probably drop a good part of enemy forces which will further improve the odds of raid alongside Tama’s effort of turning the Smile users onto their side.
When is the resurrection scheduled? I am guessing during the Hour of the Tiger. That is the period between 3 AM and 5 AM which often represents the time of sunrise in Japan. Bringing the dawn to Wano is a decades-long promise prophesized by Toki and Oden’s last wish. All that symbolism of being crucified, releasing Conqueror’s Haki blast and gaining followers leads towards one thing – the legend of the new Sword God.
The plot was adjusted in such a way that Zoro’s god mode Asura wasnt seen by anyone aside from Law and Kaido. Oddly it also received rather little focus which leads me to believe that a bigger reaction to it is coming. When the random samurai and the Scabbards see the 9 sworded god form, they will probably stand in awe after Zoro kills Kaido and descends in such rather unusual form and will probably start calling him a Sword God. Thanks to Drake and CP0, the legend will travel to the halls of Mary Geoise and Zoro’s name will “reach the heaven”.
Another thing, back in Ebisu Town, the random folk told Zoro he should smile or the misfortune will come to him. Smiling is quite unusual for Zoro in post timkeskip but Oda didn’t say that for no reason back then and now we see Kaido and Luffy having a smiling contest with something being implied through Kaido’s words about the smile. You could say that his good fortune has left him like the folk of Ebisu Town said it would thanks to Hakai and the current situation of being unable to fight.
Isn’t all this a bit unusual for a character who doesn’t pray to a god?
God doesn’t pray to another god because he is a god himself? Is that why Sword God doesnt pray to the Kami?
Something I almost forgot, the two Paths/Realms that Zoro is missing are the Path of Hell and Path of God. How interesting, huh?While I assumed before that Wano will be linked to Path of Hell due to arc itself being Hell themed, it might be the opposite. The path of God appearing due to birth of a Sword God, convenient for Conqueror’s Haki burst which will grant him followers which will end up calling him a Sword God…In that case, the path of Hell might appear in Mary Geoise, which, at first glance, seems like paradise but once you dig beneath the surface, you find the actual Hell, as well as the closure on the Kitetsu curse considering Gandhi’s Shodai Kitetsu being right there…
Am I right or am I right? Time, as always, will tell.
*Theory by blurtr
