Strongest Under Heaven[Rio, Shura]

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What did it mean to be the strongest? Was it beating any that challenged you? Was it having the courage to challenge those who might be better? Was it simply being the best in one singular field? All fair questions for most Shinigami, but to Shura there was a single answer to the most pressing of questions when it came to the best division in the Gotei United, it meant having no equals. It meant that no matter who the opponent, they simply could not win regardless of what they tried to do. That was what being the strongest meant.

And for a Kurata that was raised being the thing that shouldn't have ever been, being raised to such a height would prove that Shura would the only being that mattered. But make no mistake, it wasn't for some fatherly figure that hated her very existence, or rather it was but it was to ensure they realized their mistake in ever doubting her.

However in order to achieve such a height, it meant beating everyone in the Gotei United, to ensure none among them could rival her, and then she could set the rest of her sight on everyone outside of it. To that end, she already knew where her next challenger was and thankfully they weren't in the market for denying a challenge at the present.

Each footstep brought her closer to the training grounds, her Zanpakuto and its sheath resting against her shoulder rather than in her obi. "Riiioooo" She called out slowly and repeatedly as she walked, each step deliberately quiet so that her words weren't drowned out by them. She was sure the new Fukutaicho would hear her long before she was there, but that was part of the fun. If the Fukutaicho didn't know her already, well... that truly would be a crying shame for them wouldn't it?

"Riiiioooooo, Better draw that Zanpakuto of yours...." She said when she was a mere 15 meters from the door that led out to the training grounds, and when she finally reached the entry way she flung the door open as she spoke "Because a new challenger has appeared!"

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

TAGS; - here NOTES; - here WORDS; - here MUSE; - Strongest Under Heaven

There weren't many that knew how to really dig at Shura and get an emotional, let alone visceral reaction from her in such an exceedingly short time frame. Fewer still were there individuals daring enough to say such things. But Rio.... God damn was she breathing down a dangerous path. Un...worthy? The once glowing air of confidence vanished almost in an instant. Shura's face immediately changing to a stoic glare directly at Rio. But she did not attack, though Rio likely knew exactly what her face meant. That one word alone cut deeper than any possible attack could ever manage.

Ever slower than her steps leading her to the entrance that now slowly brought her forward and away from the barracks. "Few are there, that would dare mutter such a word towards my presence." She said as she passed by Rio, intentionally trying to shoulder check her as she walked past. "Fewer still have the guts to say it directly to me." As she walked her anger grew and grew... and grew. Until it began to boil over and her Reiatsu began to slowly seep out of her and her Zanpakuto as it was slowly drawn from its sheath, which was swiftly cast aside.


"If 'worthy' is what you seek... Then I shall skip the pleasantries entirely. And those unwilling to participate should clear away." As she spoke, her Zanpakuto was slowly lowered to drag against the ground, until Shura was standing at the center of the arena. Slowly her Zanpakuto began to rise and the next words from her mouth had scarcely ever been uttered before in any context, her head turning only enough that a single eye could be seen over her shoulder, aimed directly at Rio. To release one's Shikai, even in training, was rare. For one as strong as these two, it was even more rare...


But for Shura to skip Shikai entirely? "Unworthy?" Her entire body, no the entire arena was engulfed in her Reiatsu, a swirling mass of dark Reiatsu that was soon dispersed and left Shura with two large battle axes, jagged teeth lining the edges of each blade with a single chain connecting both of them together that hung loose behind her. The handles themselves covered in sharp spikes that jutted out the blades of her axes radiating not only overwhelming power, but destruction.

"There is only a single cretin in existence with the gall to call ME UNWORTHY!" Her grip on the handles of each tightened, hopefully Rio had moved away from the entrance, because Shura had no more words to speak... Only an intense rage that gleamed in her eyes as she tossed one of the blades at Rio, though this in truth was naught but a feint, intended to sidetrack Rio's attention. As soon as she went to dodge or block the attack, Shura vanished from her spot, reappearing behind Rio already mid-swing with her other blade which was infused with Reiatsu right towards Rio's waist.

Techniques in use:

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

TAGS; - here NOTES; - here WORDS; - here MUSE; - Strongest Under Heaven

Had she expected Rio to be struck? Truth be told... yes. Such was the confidence of Shura that Rio would be unable to dodge her attack. What Shura did not expect however was the swift and almost immediate counterattack. A straight punch right to her gut, one that contained enough force behind it to push Shura back at least ten or so meters. A good showing of strength to be sure.

However such distance was easily displaced with a rapid Shunpo forward, her arms already mid-swing "Shi no Kiba" Shura pulled both axes downwards in an X formation, her intent to hit Rio with her attack at near point-blank range. If worth was what Rio demanded, Shura would ensure she knew who would stand at the top and who was the strongest of the two. Not only in raw strength, but in force of will as well!

Techniques in use:

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

TAGS; - here NOTES; - here WORDS; - here MUSE; - Strongest Under Heaven

It seemed, this time at least, that the woman was prepared for an attack... Good, that meant she was at least paying attention. The next trick she employed were mirror images, attempts at confusing and confounding the visual senses. Rio's speed was impressive, on a level that most dared only dream of attaining. However Shura welcomed it, tossing one of the axes into the air and grasping the chain before beginning to spin it as the many images came crashing towards her. She suspected only one of them were physical, thus only one could truly make contact. Which one it was she truthfully didn't care about, what she cared about is which one actually made contact!

A smarter person might've tried to dodge such an attack, or at the very least block it. However Shura wasn't that type of person, at least not in this scenario. Dodging risked running into into the attack, blocking risked not even being aimed in the right direction... She knew at the very least that her right side was covered by the spinning blades of her Zanpakuto, so unless Rio wished to run directly into them there was little chance she would continue coming from that direction.

Now... letting someone as experienced and powerful as Rio make direct contact might otherwise seem like a terrible idea, indeed as the fists made their connection she could feel not just the impact but at the very least a rib or two snap eliciting a pained grunt from the Kurata. However, Shura let go of the chain that held her axe as she was sent backwards, the momentum carrying it into an arc behind Rio, though it may simply appear to be as if Shura lost her grip on it. Shura allowed both it and herself to gain distance from each other to about five meters before she gripped the chain once more and gave it a sharp tug.

Depending on how much Rio was paying attention, the whirling blades were poised to strike her in the back. Whether they sliced right through or mere got lodged there should they strike would be another matter entirely, however Shura wasn't... necessarily trying to slice off an arm. If there was one thing Shura was conscious of however, it was that winning a battle of speed wasn't something she was prepared for nor was she prepared to let it stop her.

Techniques in use:

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!

TAGS; - here NOTES; - here WORDS; - here MUSE; - Strongest Under Heaven

She couldn't say she was ultimately surprised at Rio's reaction, both in speed and execution, to her own bit of trickery, however a contest of strength wasn't something she was going to allow. While Rio managed to pull Shura towards her, it was only a few meters. However that wasn't what caught her attention truly, it was the sudden vanish that followed almost immediately after the attempt had failed. Shura had but only a brief moment to react, and truth be told she had a feeling it needed to be as instantaneous as possible.

So rather than wait for Rio to reappear, Shura began her own Shunpo almost immediately in response and boy howdy was it a good thing she did, for Rio had reappeared mid-attack almost at the same time as she started her own Shunpo, allowing her to eek out of range just before it would've connected. The Shihoin's were known for their speed, some of if not the fastest Shinigami in Soul Society... But that wouldn't change Shura's desire to challenge that speed and see just how fast Rio truly was. She didn't move far however she moved behind the Shihoin, bringing the one axe she still had in her hand down towards her "Karitorisha"

Techniques in use:

made by RR of DD, steal and i will sentence you to the true death!