In the vast world of One Piece, there are countless legendary swords, each carrying its own mythical stories and accompanied by prominent characters, among which the legendary sword from Wano stands out: Enma.
The Legendary Origins of Oden’s and Zoro’s Swords
In One Piece, there are very few legendary swords that have such significant lore as Enma. Forged several centuries ago by the legendary blacksmith Shimotsuki Kouzaburou, Enma is one of the two Great Grade Weapons created, and Kouzaburou regarded it as his finest work. The other sword is Ame no Habakiri.
Due to its unique properties and inherent strength, no one could wield these two swords casually, as they are incredibly difficult to control. However, everything changed when Kozuki Oden came of age, making him the only one strong enough and possessing the Haki to wield them correctly. From then on, Enma and Ame no Habakiri became Oden’s main weapons, accompanying him on his adventures alongside Whitebeard and Roger.
When he returned to Wano after many years, Oden found the country had been conquered by Kaido. The legendary strength of his swords and their remarkable qualities allowed Oden to fight against Kaido, creating the only scar that remains on the body of the “strongest creature in the world” to this day. Enma and Ame no Habakiri have proven to be the only swords capable of leaving a mark on the strongest being in the world. After Oden was captured and executed, both swords were passed on to his son, Kozuki Toki.
Toki eventually entrusted the two swords to her children, with Enma given to Hiyori and Ame no Habakiri returned to Momonosuke. For about 20 years after Oden’s death, neither sword was used until the Wano arc, where Enma was finally handed over to Roronoa Zoro. When Zoro returned Shusui to Wano, he was given a sword that was almost legendary to replace it.
The Nature of Enma and the Future Implications in the Final Battle
As one of the 21 Great Grade swords, the quality of Enma ranks among the finest swords in the One Piece world. Shimotsuki Kouzaburou is a legendary blacksmith who regarded Enma as his greatest creation, which is quite significant considering he also forged Wado Ichimonji (one of Zoro’s three swords). Just for this reason, Enma exceeds 99% of the swords in One Piece.
Moreover, Enma possesses a unique ability that has not been seen in any other sword. This inherent trait allows it to draw out the Haki of its wielder, making even ordinary attacks incredibly dangerous and potent compared to regular swords. This can be seen when Zoro cuts through a significant portion of Wano’s landscape, which, despite being unintentional, serves as a warning when wielding this sword, indicating its challenging control.
Enma can autonomously draw Haki from its wielder without needing permission, which is quite dangerous because excessive drawing can lead to death. This ensures that only the strongest Haki users can effectively wield it. Furthermore, as a Great Grade sword, Enma is significantly more potent than an ordinary sword, increasing its lethality and difficulty of control.
As for the future, Enma is predicted to transform into a Black Blade – a phenomenon that occurs when a sword continuously absorbs Haki, causing it to turn a dark color and become much stronger. A Black Blade can harness the full potential of Haki without needing to continuously absorb it. Given how Oden and Zoro utilize it, Enma is likely to follow this path. Moreover, the rank of the sword can also increase with frequent use, so it’s not far-fetched to expect Enma to reach its highest rank before One Piece concludes.
