#it's more just a general sword swag/impressive feats/coolness thing

[ultimate-swordsmanship-bracket]

ROUND 1 MATCH 6: Clare vs Anomander Rake

"The Fastest Sword Of All Claymores"... vs the hundreds-of-thousands-of-years-old wielder of a sword that devours souls!

VS

Summaries under the cut:

Clare is a super-strong and super-fast warrior with advanced combat training, known as a Claymore. Out of all the Claymores she is the only one to have chosen to become one. The Claymores spend their lives fighting man-eating monsters and are part-monster themselves. Her superstrength allows her to wield her heavy claymore sword single-handed.

Anomander Rake is the leader of the Tiste Andii, powerful unaging beings known as the Children of Darkness. Rake is 7ft tall and his black sword Dragnipur is 6ft long with a dragon's skull pommel. He is both a master swordsman and master of dark magic. He once visited the island of the Seguleh, warriors who view eye contact as a challenge to a duel (though he was unaware of this): he ended up fighting several duels with the various warriors who challenged him and accidentally rose to the rank of seventh greatest fighter in their society. The only reason he hasn't become a god is that he hates being worshipped and frequently has to discourage people from doing so. His sword emits chains made of smoke when unsheathed, and even when sheathed creates a sense of terror in those who look upon it; the souls of everyone killed by the sword are imprisoned inside it. Rake can also turn into a black dragon.