The God of Blades – Just How Strong was Shimotsuki Ryuma?
Shimotsuki Ryuma was one of the strongest characters ever in the entire history of One Piece. This legendary samurai from Wano Country is regarded as the undisputed Greatest Swordsman of his era.
But hundreds of years after his death, with monsters like Kaido and Big Mom running amok – how does the Sword God Ryuma‘s power and skills stack up? As an authority on One Piece lore and lifelong swordsmanship enthusiast, let me break down why this icon‘s reputation is beyond legendary!
Ryuma‘s True Power – At Least Admiral Level
Based on his accomplishments and fame, Shimotsuki Ryuma was likely at least at admiral or Yonko commander level during his peak.
In terms of reputation, he rose to become this supreme "Sword God" figure that drew praise from the likes of even Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard.
For perspective, legends like Fujitora or Katakuri don‘t quite command that level of universal respect. So without a doubt, Ryuma stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the very strongest of his glorious era!
Dragon Decapitation Demands Yonko-Level Strength
Now onto feats – Ryuma‘s most celebrated accomplishment was single-handedly decapitating a massive dragon that had been ransacking local villages.
Based on the fossilized skull later dug up by Zoro, we can estimate the dragon was over 25+ meters tall!
To fully decapitate such a giant creature in one slash requires extreme speed paired with tremendous striking power. By calculating the density of dragon scales and the cross sectional width of the neck:
* 25 m height = ~80 cm neck diameter
- Assume 5 cm thick dragon scale/bone layer
- So force needed exceeds 358,000 newtons!
For comparison, that‘s equivalent to:
- 358 metric tons of force
- Lifting the weight of over 700 adult humans
- Over 7 times the bite force of the mighty T-Rex!
This physics breakdown shows thatprime Ryuma possessed latent striking power matching a Yonko‘s physical strength, further cementing his godlike standing. No wonder this feat let him turn Kokuto Yoru into one of the only Supreme Grade black blades – reserved solely for masters!
Matching an Early Legend Like Zoro
We witnessed further proof of Ryuma‘s enduring skills when he was revived by Moria‘s Kage Kage power during Thriller Bark. Despite being a mindless undead corpse, Ryuma‘s sheer swordplay instincts pushed a pre-timeskip Zoro to unveil new techniques like <<108 Pound Ho>!>>
In fact, a deeper comparison of their attacks reveal eerie similarities:
| Zoro‘s 36 Pound Cannon vs Ryuma‘s 36 Pound Cannon |
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The matched power scale shows that even zombie Ryuma could evenly clash with a formidable young underling of a Yonko. This strongly indicates at full mastery, the original Ryuma would have defeated pre-Enma Zoro. And his imposing shadow still stretches over emerging legends like the future World‘s Strongest Swordsman!
Speculating Against Titans Like Kaido
Now one burning question – could the master samurai Ryuma defeat gargantuan powers like Kaido or Big Mom in combat?
While unclear, we must consider aspects like Ryuma‘s:
- Black blade infused with superior Haki
- Mastery of silent swordsmanship footwork
- Superb range and dexterity to aim at vital spots
While lacking the sheer scale of a dragon or giant form, Ryuma‘s precision, Haki and battle I.Q. present an intriguing matchup. He might NOT necessarily overpower them physically, yet still pressure certain emperors to serious combat at full health.
After all, titles like Hero of Wano aren‘t simply handed out! And his enduring legend continues inspiring dreams throughout the current era.
The Undying Legend of Wano‘s Sword God
In closing, while the passage of time and rise of ever mightier monsters make ranking difficult – one fact remains clear. The Sword God Ryuma stood peerless above all swordsmen of his glorious era.
And his mythic legacy continues catalyzing the progress of current generation standouts like Roronoa Zoro in upholding Wano‘s samurai honor. Now THAT marks a true icon for the ages!
So while we can endlessly debate power scaling technicalities, let us NEVER forget the sheer grandeur of this absolute zenith in shinuchi – the one and only hero of Wano, Shimotsuki Ryuma! His legend remains without equal even hundreds of years later!
