Before the dramatic arrival of Saint Jaygarcia Saturn on Egghead, stirring up the recent One Piece chapters, the island was already buzzing with two intense battles: Monkey D. Luffy squaring off against Admiral Borsalino “Kizaru,” and Roronoa Zoro taking on Rob Lucci.
Fans were thrilled by the fast-paced action and intrigued by a significant revelation in the midst of the chaos. Zoro’s challenge to Luffy sparked a debate-ending response from Lucci, who acknowledged that even defeating Zoro would mark a remarkable achievement, given his position as the Straw Hats’ second-in-command under the new Yonko.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, used Lucci’s words to solidify Zoro’s importance as Luffy’s right-hand man, affirming his role as the crew’s second strongest member. Now that Luffy has ascended to the status of a Yonko, Zoro must stand by him like Rayleigh did for Gol D. Roger, offering unwavering support and strength.
Zoro’s Role as Luffy’s Right-Hand Man in One Piece
Lucci’s remark carries weight due to his intimate knowledge of the Straw Hat Pirates, underlining the crew’s remarkable journey. It signifies a shift in roles for Luffy and Zoro, from the mere captain and first mate to Yonko and his right-hand man.
Fans of One Piece were deeply moved by this recognition of Zoro’s significance, reflecting on the duo’s journey since their initial encounter in Shell Town.
As the second strongest member of the crew after Luffy, Zoro, known as the “Pirate Hunter,” has always been portrayed as the unofficial but undeniable first mate. Unlike Sanji or Jinbe, no other crewmate shares the same distinction as Zoro.
While Zoro and Sanji are often regarded as the crew’s “wings,” both crucial to Luffy’s success, Eiichiro Oda consistently sets Zoro apart, elevating him to a higher status within the crew.
Sanji has led the crew in instances when both Luffy and Zoro were absent, but Zoro has frequently stepped up to take charge in battles or influence decisions even when Sanji was present. This reflects Zoro’s established role as Luffy’s right-hand man since the early stages of the story.
In many cases, the right-hand men in pirate crews are weaker than their captains, as seen with characters like Marco and Whitebeard, King and Kaido, and Katakuri to Big Mom. However, Zoro stands out as he is comparable in power to Luffy to some extent, much like Benn Beckman is to Shanks and Rayleigh is to Roger.
Both Luffy and Zoro possess the rare Conqueror’s Haki, a testament to their exceptional strength and abilities. They are among the few who have mastered this power to its advanced stage, highlighting their prowess.
Additionally, they are the only members of the Straw Hat crew to be recognized as part of the Eleven Supernovas of the Worst Generation, a group consisting of the most formidable rookie pirates in the world.
Unlike the other members of the Straw Hat crew, Luffy and Zoro aspire to extraordinary levels of power: Luffy aims to become the Pirate King and Zoro strives to become the World’s Strongest Swordsman.
These aspirations set them apart, with Luffy destined to surpass Shanks and Roger, and Zoro determined to exceed Mihawk and Rayleigh. Such narrative benchmarks are unique to these two characters within the crew.
Eiichiro Oda, the creator of One Piece, even crafted a scenario where Luffy and Zoro challenged each other to determine their strength. Their clash lasted for two whole chapters, and the outcome deliberately remained unresolved. While Luffy is undoubtedly superior to Zoro, their intention was to establish a sense of comparability between them.
Among the Straw Hats, only Zoro has demonstrated the ability to confront and overcome adversaries that pose a significant threat to his captain, such as Hody Jones, Fujitora, and Kaido.
He has repeatedly stepped in to replace Luffy in battles or shield him when he’s incapacitated, as seen in Thriller Bark against Kuma and in Wano against Kaido and Big Mom.
In contrast, Sanji has struggled against the crew’s main enemies. In Dressrosa, he suffered a one-sided defeat at the hands of Doflamingo, and he was notably absent from the battle against the Emperors in Wano. Even when Sanji and Zoro face opponents of similar strength, Zoro’s performances are consistently superior.
For example, Sanji was overpowered by Vergo, who wasn’t even using his full strength, while Zoro easily defeated a Haki-enhanced opponent like Pica. Overall, it’s evident that while Sanji is a formidable fighter, he can’t be compared to Zoro in terms of combat prowess.
Zoro’s techniques like Ashura, Advanced Conqueror’s Haki, and King of Hell Style overshadow Sanji’s Diable Jambe and Ifrit Jambe. His combat abilities stem from his ambitious goals and unwavering determination, setting him apart as the strongest fighter among the Straw Hats.
Lucci’s Statement About Zoro In Chapter 1093
It’s evident from various statements within the manga, as well as supplementary sources like databooks and the SBS, that Zoro holds a unique position as the second strongest member and vice-captain of the Straw Hat Pirates.
In the manga, numerous characters have acknowledged Zoro’s exceptional combat prowess and leadership qualities. Baroque Works agents mistook him for the captain, while members of the Franky Family and Ohm recognized him as the leader of the crew.
Urouge and Chinjao expressed surprise at Zoro’s subordinate role to Luffy, and Bartolomeo identified him as Luffy’s right-hand man. Even Lucci referred to Zoro as Luffy’s number two.
Supplementary sources further support Zoro’s status. The One Piece Databook Red ranked Zoro and Luffy equally in power, emphasizing their close strength levels. The One Piece Databook Yellow highlighted Zoro’s combat abilities as comparable to Luffy’s.
Additionally, the Vivre Card Databook explicitly states Zoro as the crew’s second strongest member and vice-captain.
Furthermore, in a recent One Piece chapter cover, Oda grouped characters who are the second strongest within their respective groups, including Zoro as the second strongest of the Straw Hat Pirates. This reaffirms Zoro’s significant role within the crew.
Moreover, Oda’s involvement in the live-action adaptation of One Piece further solidifies Zoro’s status. The inclusion of a scene highlighting Zoro as the crew’s first mate in the live-action series indicates Oda’s endorsement and active participation in the adaptation process.
As an executive producer of the show, Oda’s approval is necessary for any content included in the adaptation.
