Mihawk and Shanks

[SSJ2]

Despite arguably being 2 of the top 5 strongest characters in the series, we still know next to nothing about either of them. What do you think their motives are and how do you think they will be used in the upcoming ending of the story? Zoro is meant to become stronger than Mihawk and beat him in battle, but I don't see in what context this would happen anymore. Shanks is another odd one. I can't imagine how he is going to fit into the story at this point. What do you think?

 

[sei'taer]

There's no way Luffy meeting Shanks and Zoro vs Mihawk aren't going to happen.

Tons of shit always happens in the world while the Strawhats are up to their nonsense. Who knows what the fallout of revoking the Warlord status will have on the world. Mihawk is essentially just another pirate now.

 

[Warmmedown]

I think Shanks will probably meet Luffy. Some people think Shanks will die before they meet, but I'm pretty sure their crews will meet, since Yassopp is there too and it's hard to see Shanks dying but his crew surviving, unless it's a war, in which case the SHs are likely to be involved at this point. Then again, Shanks did seem to go to WB's ship alone, so there is a chance he could get caught by BB's crew or something while he's going to see someone. I don't think Shanks will become a rival for Luffy. I do wonder why Shanks hasn't tried got the One Piece and if he knows what it is. I wonder if characters who know how to get the One Piece are waiting for someone appropriate to come to get it, because letting it go in the wrong hands could be a problem or maybe getting it will start some kind of war, which they aren't ready for until someone with certain qualities comes along. Maybe it's some government secrets and some of the powerful old-time pirates all already know what it is and Roger's call for the world to find One Piece was just a way to get as much attention on the exposed secret as possible (if Luffy reveals it now, there are way more people who will be paying attention than before the Golden Age of Pirates started). I wonder how much Buggy knows. I don't know if he ever talked about it much.

Idk about Mihawk fighting Zoro any more. Instead, I could see Mihawk losing to Shiryu (Blackbeard crew swordsman) or someone else and Zoro then defeating that person, making him known as the "strongest". As for his motives, I think he wants to see if Zoro can surpass him one day, ever since they met near the Baratie Restaurant.

 

[ahill]

Yeah I'm also of the opinion of Mihawk being killed by Shiryuu and Zoro battling him instead. I think that Zoro vs Mihawk lost a lot of its edge after Mihawk trained Zoro. Mihawk seems also the wanderer type. He doesn't seem to be aiming so big things. Recently when the warlord title was revoked, he stated he hadn't felt this thrill in a long time, so he seems to live in boredom most the time, without fighting big fights and running risks.

I can't see Luffy battling Shanks though Shanks is also after the OP. They will very likely meet into the future but if anything I see Shanks helping Luffy with his goal. Shanks doesn't seem so hung on it like other villains.

 

[Warmmedown]

Is Shanks after the One Piece? Did he ever say he was?

 

[SSJ2]

Nah that's never been stated.

Shanks seems to have ties to the World Government seeing as he can casually meet with the Gorosei. I wouldn't be surprised if he "works" with them in order to keep the balance of the world. He did show up to end the Summit War after all. I guess if that were true, he could end up opposing Luffy at some point, but I find it unlikely. He's probably protecting the One Piece.

 

[ahill]

didn't he state that when casually chatting with buggy before the crew was formed?

 

[Warmmedown]

Which crew?

 

[ahill]

Shanks' and Buggy's.

 

[SSJ2]

All he said was that if he and Buggy were to ever go to Raftel, they'd do it with their own crew in the future. Nothing was said about the One Piece.

 

[Warmmedown]

I wonder if it was called One Piece yet at that point. Was it ever known as "One Piece" before Roger's execution?

 

[SSJ2]

Nah, that's the first time the term was used. The treasure was only a hypothetical until Roger actually reached the island.

 

[Warmmedown]

So when Shanks and Buggy talked about Raftel, couldn't they have been talking about the treasure there? But they didn't call it One Piece because there was no name for it, so they just said Raftel?

 

[SSJ2]

There's no indication of such. While it's possible they know of the rumour of the treasure, they don't indicate that is why they want to go. And even if it was, that has no bearing on Shanks wanting to claim the One Piece as ahill has implied.

 

[Warmmedown]

Yeh that context doesnt sound like they want to find something there.

 

[ahill]

why'd they want to go there if not for the treasure?

 

[Warmmedown]

Because it's the end of the Grand Line and the rest of their crew was going. Buggy got ill, so Shanks and Buggy stayed behind together and didn't get to go to Raftel. If One Piece is something that was already on/below/above Raftel then they wouldn't know about it at that point in time (they wouldn't know until their crewmates returned). If One Piece is something Roger planted there then they either already have seen it so wouldn't care or if it's something Roger places on Raftel without telling Shanks/Buggy about it, again they wouldn't be aware until their crewmates return.

 

[ahill]

"the story says that a vast treasure awaits on the final island. the treasure is true. we must go there."

so you think roger shared that only with rayleigh and oden but not with the other members of the crew? unlikely.

 

[SSJ2]

That's not the point. Even if they knew about the treasure that doesn't have to influence their motives for wanting to go. It's the final island in the grand line that is only rumoured to exist (and that only their captain has been to), and is also rumoured to hold vast amounts of treasure. Shanks might be interested in knowing what the treasure is, but he has not once stated that he wanted to claim the One Piece and become the Pirate King.

 

[Warmmedown]

Oh yeh I forgot about that panel (the sitting with WB one). Yeh I actuakky don;t see why the treasure can't be the reason Shanks/Buggy wanted to go there in that case.

Nobody's saying the treasure has to be the reason they wanted to go. Just that it could have been the reason. Which would then bring up the questions of whether they later chamged their mind after learning something more or if Shanks is unable to get to Raftel.