#Zoro kig of hell

[thedarkangel74]

For the longest time, I was stumped by this page back in Chapter 1033 in Wano.

I wasn't sure what the lesson Zoro was supposed to learn here. What was Enma teaching him? Don't hold back your power? Dont be afraid to die for your dream? Or was it some generic shonen fight logic that didn't deserve much speculation.

Then, during one of my rereads, I reread chapter 49 and got to this part.

Zoro's words struck me here and I was finally able to pick up what Oda had put down in Chapter 1033.

Enma was trying to teach Zorro that he was already dead. He had forfeited his life when he took on Kuina's dreams. So, to use Enma's power freely, he had to accept that the power could kill him. But since he was already dead, that shouldn't bother him. So in order for him to win, he has to be willing to wield his own mortality. It's all an edgy version of living life to the fullest (The Core Theme of One Piece) but framed in a way that makes sense in Zoro's worldview. Now, Zoro fully accepting the path of swordsmen is a path to hell, it makes sense that to become the strongest, he needs to become...