| “ | With this arm, I'll seek out all the evil in this world and CRUSH IT!! | „ |
| ~ Zephyr |
"Black Arm" Zephyr, also known as Z or Zephyr, is the leader of the Neo Marines and the titular main antagonist of the non-canon film One Piece Film: Z. He was once a Marine admiral before his resignation.
He is voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka and Masami Suzuki as a child in the Japanese version of the anime, and Jeremy Schwartz and Tia Ballard as a child in the English version of the anime.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
As a child, Zephyr played the role of a hero of his own creation named "Z", as he defeated bullies while protecting a little girl and her doll.
60 years ago, a 14-year-old Zephyr enlisted in the Marines, desiring to become a hero. He eventually participated in his first battle four years later while serving in the G-5 Division. At the age of 28 years old, Zephyr realized that the Marines are not always heroes. Six years later, Zephyr had mastered Busoshoku Haki. For this reason, he received the epithet "Black Arm".
Zephyr became an Admiral at the age of 38 years old, during Gol D. Roger and Edward Newgate's golden age. By this time, he had become very popular with his subordinates. He got married with an unnamed woman and had a son the following year.
Zephyr's happiness was ended prematurely when a pirate murdered his wife and son three years later. Zephyr wanted to resign from the Marines, but he was eventually persuaded to stay as an instructor. He trained many cadets, most of whom would later become high-ranking officers.
Twenty-three years after his family's death, Zephyr's arm was cut off by a pirate with Devil Fruit powers, and his entire division was massacred except for Ain and Binz only. At the age of 70 years old, Zephyr received his mechanical arm from a government scientist and began hunting down pirates with Devil Fruit powers.
But when the pirate who killed his division was invited to join the seven warlords (and thus offered a pardon for all his previous crimes), Zephyr lost all respect for the World Government and resigned to found his own organization known as the Neo Marines to hunt down pirates as he pleased, with Ain and Binz following him as his top ranking officers.
Zephyr read the new that Shuzo was arrested by the Marines. But he doesn't need to worry because none amount of torture can make Shuzo or his men talk.
One Piece Film: Z[]
Using the top-secret information he gained as an admiral, Zephyr planned to steal the highly explosive Dyna Stones. By detonating them inside three volcanoes on three different islands known as the Endpoints, he would cause a chain-reaction of underwater volcano-eruptions which would destroy the New World, the sea where the most notorious pirates sailed, eliminating all of them along with the thousands of civilians who also lived there.
Leading an assault on Firs Island, the first of the Endpoints and also the place where the Dyna Stones were being kept, Zephyr managed to get hold of the stones before getting attacked by admiral and former student Kizaru. Right after his troops had left the island, Zephyr threw one of the Dyna Stones to the admiral, causing an explosion that destroyed the island and sent him flying away. However, Kizaru was left unharmed thanks to his light-based powers.
An injured Zephyr was found the next morning adrift by the Straw Hat Pirates captained by Monkey D. Luffy, who rescued him and tended to his injuries. While initially thankful and friendly to them, Zephyr went on a rampage once he found out they were pirates, defeating Luffy with his mechanical arm that capable of weakening Devil Fruit users, and caused severe damage to their ship. He was then picked up by his subordinates and left the Straw Hat crew to be destroyed by his fleet. Luffy and his friends managed to escape, but barely so.
While in the process of erupting the second volcano on Secon Island, Zephyr re-encountered Luffy, who demanded a rematch. Once again Zephyr stood victorious, but this time he stole Luffy's signature straw hat, saying he would destroy it along with the third volcano to symbolize the end of the pirate era.
Zephyr later arrived to Piriodo, the last of the Endpoints, and found his former student and also former Marine admiral Kuzan, who gave him a bottle of Zephyr's favorite wine as a peace offering before trying to dissuade him from continuing with his plan, warning him it might lead to his death. Zephyr showed no concern about that, willing to accept that fate if it means ending all evil in the world. Unwilling to fight his former mentor, Kuzan decided to leave Zephyr alone.
Later that day, Zephyr is encountered once again by Luffy, who had reached the island with Kuzan's help. Luffy managed to his arm prothesis and, after a fierce fist fight, an exhausted Zephyr eventually collapses but is surprised at Luffy's refusal to finish him off, as he just wanted to take his hat back. Accepting his defeat, and baffled by the young pirate's innocent nature, Zephyr decided to help him and his crew escape the island that was now plagued with marines. Zephyr ordered his troops to leave the island as well while he stood behind fighting the marines led once again by Kizaru, while Kuzan froze the Dyna Stones set all across the island to prevent them from detonating. After a long fight, Zephyr was overwhelmed by Kizaru and his other former students now turned vice-admirals, all of them saddened by the circumstances.
Ain, Binz and Kuzan made a grave for him the following day. Ain and Binz cried at the loss of their master, but Kuzan tried to comfort them by saying that Zephyr died the way he wanted to.
Quotes[]
| “ | The man had called Zephyr is dead. My name is Z. | „ |
| ~ Zephyr to Kizaru. |
| “ | Z: Stand up! Before I eliminate you, look me in the eyes, tell me why you became a criminal. Luffy: 'Cause I be the King of the Pirates that's why. Z: King of the pirates. DON'T MAKE LAUGH, BOY!!!! |
„ |
| ~ Zephyr and Luffy in their first fight. |
| “ | The one who dragged you into this pirate business was Shanks, the redhead?! His sins are also deep. Don't you worry. When my plan, the Grande Imbuto get's completed, he will have the same fate as you. Those convinced fools who call them selves the Four Emperors. Will all die without being able to do anything...Without even knowing of my plan. | „ |
| ~ Zephyr promises that once he has completed his grand plan, he will kill Shanks and the other emperors. |
| “ | Z: I hope you didn't come all the way here to lecture this old fool. I'm sorry, friend. I'm too stubborn. I won't stop. Kuzan: You said you willing to die. Z: If that's what it takes. There is a evil in this world that the marine does not have the courage to destroy. Someone's gotta stand up for justice no matter the cost. Well anyway, I need to get going. But if we meet again, we should have a drink. Now calmly stay out of my way. I don't want to kill you. Kuzan: Me neither. Master Zephyr. |
„ |
| ~ Zephyr to his former student Kuzan aka Aokiji |
| “ | Z: BORSALINO!!!! Kizaru: Master Zephyr...THIS IS FAREWELL. |
„ |
| ~ Zephyr to Kizaru |
| “ | Borsalino, I always told you that you relied too heavily on that Devil Fruit ability of yours. | „ |
| ~ Z acting as an "instructor" to critique KIzaru's dependence on his Glint Glint Fruit powers. |
| “ | Now pay attention boys, 'CAUSE MASTER'S GOT ONE LAST LESSON FOR YA! | „ |
| ~ Zephyr's last words as he fights for the last time against Kizaru and the navy. |
Gallery[]
.jpg "Weekly Shonen Jump No.2 (2013).jpg (216 KB)")
Trivia[]
- Zephyr is the second main antagonist in a One Piece film to have been a member of the Marines, with the first being Gasparde.
- Zephyr's favorite alcohol is Jerez which is the coolest drink after he was given by his former disciple, Aokiji.
- While he does not follow the Admiral naming scheme of being named after an animal, he does follow the color scheme with his color being black.
- His moniker of "Z" is pronounced "Zed" like in the British alphabet, regardless of adaptation, even in the American-based English dub.
External Links[]
- Zephyr on the One Piece Wiki
