Name:The First Tsurugi

Type: Sword

Apearance:

Speacial Attributes:The First Tsurugi (translated as "First Sword" in English) is a collection of six swords—designed such that they can be assembled into one—used by Cloud Strife as his primary weapon in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, the film sequel to Final Fantasy VII.

The individual swords that comprise the First Tsurugi are not officially named, though some fans have referred to them according to which swords they resemble from Final Fantasy VII. They consist of one main base blade, one hollow blade that serves as the front edge for the combined sword, two identical—but asymmetrically opposite—serrated blades that form the back, and two identical—also asymmetrically opposite—smaller blades that attach to the sides. In its fully assembled state, the First Tsurugi is reminiscent of Zack's Buster Sword in its shape and size.

The swords of the First Tsurugi in its disassembled state are usually stored on racks inside special compartments on both sides of Cloud's motorcycle, the Fenrir. In addition, Cloud wears a harness on his back that is designed to allow him to carry all six swords at once.

Unlike the Buster Sword, which contains two round slots for holding materia, the First Tsurugi has no similar compartments. However, more in line with the Buster Sword, it is primarily a crushing or hacking weapon, as opposed to a sword designed for slicing (such as a katana), and although its appearance would suggest that it is even more stout and sturdy than the Buster Sword, Cloud does not demonstrate any more difficulty carrying and wielding it with one hand than he does with its six components.

Also of note concerning the completed form of the First Tsurugi is a unique Limit Break that Cloud can perform with it, as seen near the finale of Advent Children. It is called "Choukyuu Bushin Hakazan Version 5" or "Ultimate War God Slash Version 5" (the original version being better known as "Omnislash"), and is significantly different from the Omnislash in the original game. While the original used only one sword for a longer sequence involving 15 slashes, Omnislash Version 5 is a fast succession of six slashes using the six swords that comprise the completed First Tsurugi. It also differs from the original in that Version 5 involves the six swords levitating while Cloud himself briefly flies.

Omnislash

1. The completed First Tsurugi is fully disassembled in an instant, the five swords ejected upwards from the main blade in a circle around the target (which may not be on a parallel plane with the ground), who is in the air above the performer.

2. The performer then flies (as an effect of the limit break, as Cloud does not fly or otherwise change directions in midair under his own power usually) upward, leaves Vigilante directly above the target, and flies toward one of the swords around the circle.

3. Grabbing the sword with his right hand, he flies straight into, and through, the target on the way to the next sword, striking the target with the sword currently being held.

4. Once past, he releases his current sword, takes the next one, and repeats the fly-by process until all five swords have been used and released.

5. This done, he flies up to Vigilante still directly above the target, grabs it, and performs the final strike by flying through the target again straight toward the ground, releasing Vigilante as well. This leaves him on the ground, the five swords landing in succession in a circle around him a moment later, and Vigilante falling from the sky directly on top of him a moment after that.

-----------------

Vigilante:

The main blade has two forms. In its first form, the main blade resembles an exaggerated Zweihänder in shape and appearance. Despite its apparent size and weight, Cloud usually wields it with one hand. It consists of a long hilt wrapped in a red material, a distinctively large handguard which the other swords can lock into, and a long, wide blade that ends at a thin point. The main blade is the only sword among the six that is double-sided, being somewhat similar in shape to Cloud's Ultima Weapon sword from Final Fantasy VII.

In the weapon's second form, the blade splits in half down the middle, revealing a complex inner portion that gives the weapon an appearance reminiscent of Cloud's Apocalypse sword. It is in this second form that the other swords may be assembled onto the main blade. By itself, the main blade serves as Cloud's primary weapon, with which he can be seen using his Blade Beam Limit Break on one occasion.

------------------

Vendetta:

As its description suggests, the hollow blade does not have an inner core as is expected with a sword. Rather, it bears the appearance of a thick sheet of metal folded in a V-shape when looked at from above, with the bottom point of the "V" serving as the cutting edge. With the lower one-third of its length wrapping around a red double-hilt, this blade locks onto the front edge of the base sword, where it snugly covers that entire side of the main blade. Its own edge serves as the striking point for the assembled sword, and it is this addition that grants the First Tsurugi its distinctive similar appearance to the Buster Sword.

Despite its lack of an inner core, it is sturdy enough to deflect and block both bullets and physical attacks. Cloud also detaches the weapon from the completed First Tsurugi for use as an off-hand weapon during his fight with Sephiroth.

------------------

Merciless & Avenger:

These two blades are identical long swords, mirror images of one other, with one side of each completely straight while the other bears a serrated pattern. A long black hilt completes the design for both. In assembling the combined form of First Tsurugi, these two swords are attached to the back side of the base sword with their serrated edges pointed toward the hollow blade.

------------------

Ascalon & Sidewinder:

The two smaller swords are identical, though mirror images of one another, with single-sided blades and gear-like mechanisms between the hilts and blades that allow them to fold up like a switchblade. It is in this folded form that these two small blades are locked onto the sides of the base sword in assembling the combined First Tsurugi, their sharp edges turned forward.In addition, either of the small blades can be quickly ejected from the assembly if needed, providing an off-hand weapon.

Weaknesses:

APPROVED