Sword Story – Bleach Zanpakuto

A Zanpakutō (斬魄刀; literally, soul-cutter sword) is the main weapon of the Shinigami, the Arrancar and theVisored. The Shinigami art of wielding a Zanpakutō is called Zanjutsu (斬術; literally, swordsmanship).

 

The Zanpakutō of low-ranking Shinigami are called Asauchi and don’t have names, but the Zanpakutō of Shinigami of rank have names. In its sealed state, a Zanpakutō has the form of a Japanese sword.^[1] Such weapons are unique swords generated from their owners souls. Its shape differs depending on its owner.^[2]

Zanpakutō are the trademark weapons of the Shinigami. Capable of cutting spiritual bodies, they are amongst the few weapons which can be used to combat Hollows. Each Shinigami carries a Zanpakutō, and each Zanpakutō is unique: as the swords are both reflections of a Shinigami’s soul and power, and sentient beings unto themselves. The Zanpakutō’s name is also the name of the living spirit that empowers the sword and lends its strength to the Shinigami who wields it. These beings can vary greatly in appearance and have their own distinct personalities which match their owner’s.

A Zanpakutō’s shape and abilities are based on their Shinigami’s soul. Once a Shinigami learns his/her sword’s name, they are able to communicate with one another and grow stronger together. Zanpakutō are born with their Shinigami and they die along with their Shinigami. Shinigami use them in battle as a reflection of their heart. When released, they can display a vibrant power. They are one with the Shinigami, and they share a Shinigami’s conviction.^[3]

Inside each Zanpakuto is an incarnation that manifests itself upon the Zanpakuto’s transformation. The first step is to acquaint oneself with this incarnation.^[4]

 

• Because they are part of their owner’s soul, a Zanpakutō cannot be replaced, though it will slowly regenerate if it is broken.^[6]

 

• In order to to fix a broken Zanpakutō, the owner needs to take Reishi and Reiatsu and merge them into his/her Zanpakutō. However, this only applies if it was the Shikai which was damaged, if a Zanpakutō breaks in its Bankai state then it will never go returned to its former state.^[7]

 

• The size of the Zanpakutō reflects the amount of the swordsman’s spiritual power.^[8] Exceptions to this rule are beings of immense power who are required to actively control the size of their Zanpakutō.^[9]

 

• If a Shinigami pierces the chest of a Human with their Zanpakutō and channels their Reiryoku through it into the Human’s body, it will transform that Human into a Shinigami temporarily. The act does not have a high chance of viability even when the Human in question has a high level of spiritual energy, and if the method does fail the Human will die.^[10]

 

• Every Zanpakutō has its own name.^[11]

 

• A Zanpakutō can determine whether or not its wielder is worthy of its power.^[12][13]

 

• Zanpakutō have a true form.^[14] This true form resides inside their Shinigami. A Zanpakutō has a mind, and a body that controls their powers. Shinigami are able to grow more powerful by communicating with them.^[15]

 

• Zanpakutō possess their own reiatsu, which can be sensed as any reiatsu can and is identical to that of their wielder though with subtle differences.^[16]

 

• Though rare, it is not impossible for more than one soul to be attuned to the same spirit. In such cases, ancient law of the Soul Society will not allow two beings to wield the same Zanpakutō, in which case, they must duel for ownership of the spirit, with the winner gaining it and the loser being sentenced to death.^[17]

 

• No matter what form (or size) a Zanpakutō takes, it is always virtually effortless for its owner to wield because it is a part of its owner’s soul.^[18] Shinigami captains all consciously keep their Zanpakutō in a manageable size, otherwise they would be holding Zanpakutō the size of skyscrapers. Therefore, one cannot judge one’s opponent’s strength solely by the size of their Zanpakutō.^[19]

 

• No Zanpakutō in existence has a Shikai and a Bankai that use unrelated abilities

A wielder knows their Zanpakutō spirit very closely and vice versa. The connection is very deep, though in the beginning the connection is one sided with the wielder being unable to fully hear the spirit communicating with them.^[21] It is not uncommon for the introduction of the two (Shinigami and Zanpakutō spirit) to take place in theinner world while the prospective Shinigami sleeps.

A Zanpakutō is generated by its wielder upon the solidification of their Reiryoku into the sword’s form.^[22]

It is not enough to simply know the name of one’s Zanpakutō. If a wielder were to lend its power to its Zanpakutō then the weapon would become stronger. To fully use a Zanpakutō’s power, a wielder must get to know its Zanpakutō’s spirit.^[23]

Metal Gear Rising Story Cut Scene TGS 2012

(From Game Informer)

What originally started off as Metal Gear Solid: Rising, a stealth game focused on the events of Raiden between MGS 2 and MGS 4 has turned into the action-packed Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance set after the events of MGS 4.

Producer Yuji Korekado worked on Rising until it was scrapped due to a lack of focus, and then rebuilt the title from scratch when Platinum Games joined the Metal Gear pursuit.

“The script really didn’t match the game design that Platinum Games wanted to go with,” Korekado said. “And it was very binding because it was between Metal Gear Solid 2 and Metal Gear Solid 4, and we moved it past 4 for the next script. It really gave them a lot more freedom.”

With a new focus in mind, Metal Gear Studio and Platinum Games chose to build the story and gameplay around the theme of action.

“We really designed this game around action, and that’s how we moved forward,” Korekado said. “That’s really the first element that we built on. We wanted to redefine Metal Gear, really add to the saga. There’s a new character, it’s a new genre, it’s action-based. It’s more an expansion of what Metal Gear would be. We would like to change your definition of what a Metal Gear game is. Not just stealth, but redefining it based on what this game is all about.”

Not only did Korekado want to change the perception of what can be considered Metal Gear, but also the appeal of the lead character Raiden.

“People who didn’t like Raiden, we think they can enjoy the development, the growth of Raiden in this new game. We hope that fans can enjoy the growth of Raiden as a character, as a human—cyborg—and enjoy the game entirely.”

 

 

Cyborg Ninja Samurai Raiden ~~~

 

Swords Story – Andúril ( Lord of the Rings)

“The sword of Elendil was forged anew by Elvish smiths, and on its blade was traced a device of seven stars set between the crescent Moon and the rayed Sun, and about them was written many runes; for Aragorn, son ofArathorn was going to war upon the marches of Mordor. Very bright was that sword when it was made whole again; the light of the sun shone redly in it, and the light of the moon shone cold, and its edge was hard and keen. And Aragorn gave it a new name and called it Andúril, Flame of the West.“

—The Fellowship of the Ring, The Ring Goes South

In TA 3019 the sword Narsil was reforged in Rivendell as Andúril also known as Sword that was Broken and Sword Reforged for Aragorn, the Heir of Isildur, and rightful King of Gondor.

Aragorn carried the sword during his journey south as part of the Fellowship of the Ring, and it featured prominently at several points in the story, where it was sometimes referred to as the Sword that was Broken or The Sword Reforged. Aragorn uses it as evidence of his heritage when he, Legolas, and Gimli first meet Éomer. He reluctantly sets it aside before meeting Théoden; telling Háma, that death will come to any man except himself who draws it from its scabbard. The Elves of Lothlórien made a scabbard specifically for this sword. It was overlaid with a tracery of flowers and leaves and elven runes spelling out the name of the sword and its lineage. There was an enchantment upon the scabbard so that the blade that was drawn from it would not be stained or broken, even in defeat.

It is likely that Aragorn could have killed the Nazgul with Anduril, even though he was a man, due to the sword’s use in cutting the ring of Sauron’s finger.