so given that Zoro can basically channel others’ will now, and given Sanji’s newfound perception haki-based ability to counter blows that he couldn’t otherwise perceive based on sensing intent to harm his loved ones, and given the Wano Death Pact, I am now imagining a thing where Zoro channels Sanji’s will in order to defeat him/Stealth Black
after all, the only way to fight an invisible person is to sense their intent….
Zoro just parrying Stealth Black’s hits perfectly, hit after hit, despite Stealth Black’s complete invisibility, because Zoro is channeling the will of Sanji—the real Sanji—the one who can negate an Admiral’s laser because it threatens his loved ones… and Zoro is one of Sanji’s loved ones.
and!! before that though— like—
Stealth Black has Zoro like on the ropes, he’s bleeding from everywhere because Stealth Black is drawing it out—making a point? using him to bait the rest of the crew? toying with him?
(trying to get him to keep his promise?)
the point is that Zoro’s at the point where he’s staggering from blood loss/broken bones/cut tendons/etc. he’s tried tearing up the room with his Phoenix attacks and Stealth Black just evades or tanks them. he’s tried Asura and that just gives Stealth Black more weak points to hit. he’s tried hearing the world’s voice but that takes too much sustained concentration….
but that gives him an idea.
hey, shitty cook, he thinks. give me a hand for ten seconds.
he smiles. smoke begins to drift upwards from the bottoms of his unsteady feet. the blood pooling on the floor begins to sizzle. when he speaks, it’s with inflections not his own.
“that should be enough time,” he says.