Following Luffy, Rowen climbed up the high wall overlooking the Marine base courtyard. He looked down at the man tied to the execution post. Though his head was bowed, an almost palpable, beast-like aura radiated from him.
For Rowen, who possessed the Beast Strength (Blue) Trait, this aura felt even more intense.
Truly worthy of being called a 'Demon in human form' even right at the start of his journey.
Rowen mentally acknowledged Zoro's presence, then thought inwardly.
"Check Traits."
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Zoro Traits: Three-Sword Style (Deep Purple), Demonic Physique (Deep Purple), Asura Aura (Special), Conqueror's Haki (Unawakened) (Pale Gold).
Three-Sword Style (Deep Purple): A unique sword style utilizing one sword in each hand, with a third held in the mouth for the killing blow. Possesses biting strength greater than an adult hyena.
Demonic Physique (Deep Purple): The physique of a demon clad in human skin. No matter how extreme the training, no matter how damaged the muscles and bones become, they can fully recover and grow even stronger.
Asura Aura (Special): A unique, demon-god-like power. When imbued into techniques, allows them to unleash strength far exceeding conventional limits.
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Just as I thought. Zoro does have Conqueror's Haki.
Rowen nodded, looking at Zoro's Conqueror's Haki (Unawakened) (Pale Gold) Trait.
As one of the Straw Hat crew's main three combatants in the original story—arguably second only to Luffy—Zoro was meant to parallel the Pirate King's Right Hand, the 'Dark King' Silvers Rayleigh.
And Zoro's lineage wasn't simple either. Otherwise, how could he possess a power like Asura Aura (Special), capable of manifesting illusions of three heads and six arms to wield nine swords?
For someone like Zoro, possessing Conqueror's Haki wasn't surprising at all.
The Asura Aura (Special) Trait was classified as 'Special' because it primarily enhanced the user's own techniques, allowing them to hit harder. Its effectiveness ultimately depended on the user's base strength.
However, reading the description for Three-Sword Style (Deep Purple)—specifically the note about having biting strength greater than an adult hyena—Rowen almost couldn't keep a straight face.
But it was true. Zoro's finishing blows invariably came from the sword held in his mouth—his Wado Ichimonji, one of the 21 Great Grade Swords.
Judging by Zoro's performance in his ultimate attacks, his bite strength was truly astonishing—far beyond what any mere hyena could manage.
Currently, Zoro hadn't even mastered the ability to cut steel ('Ken-go') yet; he was still primarily a swordsman relying on brute force.
Thus, his Three-Sword Style was currently only at the Deep Purple level—similar to Luffy's Gomu-Gomu Fruit before developing powerful techniques like Gear Second and Third.
For Rowen, the most crucial Trait Zoro possessed was undoubtedly the Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) Trait.
A powerful physique allowing complete recovery and strengthening of muscles and bones, no matter how extreme the training or severe the damage?
Rowen's eyes gleamed.
No wonder!
No wonder Zoro could endure such extreme training regimens without permanent injury!
According to official data, Zoro slept only three hours a day, spending every other waking moment engaged in brutal training.
Any normal person undertaking such a regimen would likely suffer catastrophic muscle and bone failure, leading to death.
Yet Zoro not only survived but thrived, his physique developing to monstrous levels.
It was all thanks to this Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) Trait.
Furthermore, during the raid on Onigashima, Zoro managed to block—albeit momentarily—a combined attack from two Emperors, Kaido and Big Mom!
That was a joint attack infused with the Conqueror's Haki of two peak Emperors! While he only held it off for an instant, the fact remained that he survived, merely suffering shattered bones and torn muscles throughout his body.
Anyone else present at that time would likely have been obliterated without a trace.
And afterwards, following treatment, Zoro's body actually became stronger, allowing him to defeat King the Wildfire, the lead All-Star of the Beasts Pirates!
While Law's Op-Op Fruit abilities certainly played a role in his recovery,
this Demonic Physique (Deep Purple) Trait was undeniably a key factor.
Even with every bone and muscle fiber shattered, he could recover and grow stronger. This Trait absolutely had the potential to become Gold-tier!
It was just that Zoro, having only recently set out to sea, hadn't yet developed his physique to its later, formidable state. That's why, for now, it was ranked Deep Purple, similar to Luffy's Superhuman Physique.
Crucially, this Demonic Physique Trait didn't conflict with Luffy's Superhuman Physique Trait at all.
In fact, they were perfectly complementary!
Luffy's Superhuman Physique allowed him to consume and absorb nutrients from vast amounts of food that would overwhelm ordinary people, strengthening his body.
Zoro's Demonic Physique allowed for limitless extreme training, strengthening muscles and bones through cycles of damage and repair.
With the massive nutritional support provided by the Superhuman Physique, the recovery process enabled by the Demonic Physique could potentially be accelerated even further!
And those abundant nutrients could fuel even more intense, high-load training facilitated by the Demonic Physique!
Combining these two Traits would effectively merge the greatest physical advantages of both Luffy and Zoro into one body.
In terms of sheer potential, wouldn't that rival even the monstrous physique of Kaido?
No! In terms of potential alone, it might even be comparable to the ultimate natural-born monster, whose physical stats were arguably top-tier from birth—the Emperor, Big Mom!
While Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin, might have ranked lower among the Emperors in terms of overall combat performance (due to her complacency, obsession with tea parties and having children, and abysmal battle IQ),
her base physical stats were undeniably among the most terrifying in the world.
As a child, relying solely on her innate monstrous physique, she could severely injure adult Giants. Her natural durability even surpassed that of Kaido after eating the Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon—a top-tier Mythical Zoan!
While the Superhuman Physique and Demonic Physique Traits individually couldn't compare to Linlin's innate monstrousness,
if combined? Their potential for limitless growth might actually allow one to eventually rival that natural-born freak of nature.
Combining these two Traits—it was practically a passport to becoming a true monster!
Rowen's eyes shone with intense desire.
This Trait... I absolutely must obtain it.
Of course, the method was simple: get Luffy to recruit Zoro onto the crew. That would naturally allow Rowen to start equipping Zoro's Traits.
"Hey. You two."
Just then, Zoro, who had been the object of Rowen and Luffy's scrutiny, slowly lifted his bowed head, revealing a pair of eyes as fierce as a wild beast's.
"You're annoying." Zoro stated coldly.
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