Devil Fruit That Nearly Killed Zoro Can be Too Broken If It Falls in the Right Hand

One of the key aspects that makes One Piece stand out is its unique power system of Devil Fruit. Along with Haki, the abilities of the users wielding these fruits are unparalleled albeit their weakness to water.

From Suke Suke no Mi (Invisibility Fruit) to Gasu Gasu no Mi (Gas Gas Fruit) Eiichiro Oda gave some of the iconic abilities to his villains. But that is not the end of it, especially with an overpowered ability that almost killed Zoro.

Roronoa Zoro in a still from the anime | Credit: Toei Animation

While it may not be as badass as Blackbeard or Luffy’s fruit, the Rust-Rust Fruit is formidable nonetheless. With Shu almost killing the moss-haired Strawhat in the fight, the fruit is a complete nightmare for most swordsmen.

And while the swordsman escaped death, it raises questions regarding his strength against the Marine Captain. In his prime form, he may or may not be able to defeat the captain. This is especially true with the fruit’s potency and lethality.

This Devil Fruit ability is a swordsman’s nightmare

Devil Fruit’s abilities are no joke, especially in the One Piece universe. Be it Akainu’s magma fruit or Blackbeard’s Tremor fruit, the users pack a punch. Rather, they can send off the enemies flying with their formidable skills and powers.

Not only that but most abilities defy normalcy with their potent nature. Kozuki Toki’s fruit is one such example that allowed her to time travel. And while sounds fun for the most part, it can be a living nightmare. But nothing comes close to a nightmare as the Rust-Rust Fruit.

Sabi Sabi No Mi in a still from the anime | Credit: Toei Animation

As one of the most wasted fruits, its abilities are pretty much self-explanatory. The fruit allows the wielder to rust any metal which makes it formidable against swords. It is also one of the most underrated abilities in the One Piece series.

Moreover, it was first seen during the Enies Lobby Arc where Shu battles Zoro. The Marine captain is seen corroding the moss-haired swordman’s hand after he was incapacitated by Usopp.

Eventually, Shu manages to rust his sword Yubashiri in the process. And while this may seem nonserious, the fruit is capable of rotting the flesh. With its ability to corrode metal and rot flesh, the Rust Rust Fruit is beyond fatal.

But there’s a question that plagues most fans regarding the fruit’s potency. This is especially true with Zoro’s feats and growth in the series. With his mastery of Haki and power-up, he might likely defeat the captain.

Can Zoro beat Shu?

Roronoa Zoro is one of the strongest swordsmen in the series after Dracule Mihawk. Call it sheer luck or pure strength, he has managed to escape death throughout the series. His journey is nothing short of perilous considering his strenuous battles and arduous training.

Interestingly, his mastery of Haki along with his swordsmanship make him a daunting opponent for his foes. From Thriller Bark to Wano Arc, he has improved and gotten much stronger. With Elbaf Arc, he is presumed to be nearly undefeatable because of his possible power-up.

Roronoa Zoro using his sword Enma in the anime | Credit: Toei Animation

When it comes to his battle with Shu, his victory is uncertain. This is especially true with the Rust Rust Fruit’s ability to render swords useless. And while Haki can deflect it for the most part, it may prove ineffective if the wielder is fluent in Haki.

So far, there hasn’t been any evidence regarding Shu’s mastery of Haki. Neither did Oda grant the fruit abilities to any other character. But one thing is certain. The Rust-Rust Fruit would be a real threat to the swordsmen nonetheless.

One Piece is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.