Shredder
Backstory:
Born in rural Japan, Oroku Saki was originally a good friend to Hamato Yoshi. Growing up, the two were considered equals in the arts of Ninjutsu. However, their friendship was strained as both had romantic feelings for a women named Tang Shen. Eventually, Tang Shen would fall in love with Hamato Yoshi and two were a happy couple and soon had a daughter named Miwa.
Unfortunately, their happiness was cut short when Oroku Saki's anger got the best of him and burned down their house, killing Tang Shen in the process. It was believed that their daughter, Miwa was also killed, but it was later revealed that he kidnapped their daughter and trained her to be a ninja assassin.
Fast forward to the present and Oroku Saki; now known as The Shredder is the boss of a crime syndicate in Japan called The Foot Clan. After noticing a throwing star baring the insignia of his old rival, Hamato Yoshi, The Shredder traveled to New York City, making the Big Apple his new headquarters. From then, The Shredder would become the first major villain, as well as the most proficient one the turtles have faced.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Expert in Martial Arts,
Expert in any kind of melee weapon,
Very good at improvising,
Extrasensory perception (Could sense the presence of Hamato Yoshi aboard the Technodrome)
Weaknesses: Nothing notable due to being dangerously genre savvy (he learns from his mistakes, improvises new strategies, etc).
Ra's al Ghul
Backstory:
Ra's Al Ghul was born to a nomadic tribe hundreds of years ago in Arabia. Always being interested in science, he left his tribe and worked for many years as a physician, marrying the daughter of the man he apprenticed under. When the prince of the city fell sick, the king asked Ra's for his aid in curing him. Using his knowledge of science and mysticism Ra's invented the first Lazarus Pit, using it to cure the prince. However, when the prince came out of the pit he was overtaken in a vengeful rage, killing Ra's wife. The King was unable to believe his son would kill someone and sentenced Ra's for the crime. Ra's would escape, rejoin his old tribe and proceed to lay waste to the city, beginning his reign as the Demon's Head.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Master of Martial Arts,
Weapon Mastery,
Genius Intelligence,
Stealth Mastery,
Vast Ressources,
Longevity (With the Lazarus Pit),
Resurrection (With the Lazarus Pit),
Magic
Weaknesses: None noticable
Song: Shredding Immortality
Hidden amidst the picturesque Alpine Mountains along the Franco-Italian border, a covert base rested at an elevation of nearly 2000 meters above sea level. Within this hidden enclave was a contingent of the League of Assassins, a lethal force known only to a select few, led by none other than the illustrious Ra's al Ghul. Sitting in a seat of command, the mastermind pondered his plans for global domination and gazed upon the precious Lazarus Pit, a symbol of his quest for immortality and power.
The tranquility of Ra's al Ghul's lair was abruptly shattered by the sounds of clamor and the clash of swords resounding throughout the compound. With a sense of urgency, the League of Assassins' leader rose from his seat, determined to assess the situation. As he moved through the facility, he stumbled upon a scene of chaos unfolding before him. A contingent of ninjas, distinguishable by their foot emblem, were engaged in battle against his own assassins. When Ra's found himself encircled by a dozen skilled ninjas, each bearing down on him simultaneously, he responded with swift and formidable Taekwondo and Muay Thai strikes, employing fast strikes with brutal strength to defeat each one in seconds.
After successfully dispatching the last ninja, Ra's al Ghun questioned the defeated warrior firmly.
"Who leads you, insignificant being?"
Before the ninja could answer, a shuriken was hurled into his skull, instantly ending his life. Ra's al Ghul, already sensing the presence of the assailant, swiftly tossed the lifeless ninja towards the attacker while simultaneously leaping backwards. In response, the ninja's remains were mercilessly sliced in half by the lethal strike of the Shredder. The Shredder, with an air of authority, addressed Ra's al Ghul directly.
"Ra's al Ghul, I hereby lay claim to your treasured Lazarus Pit, as it will be instrumental in my pursuit against the turtles. Willingly relinquish it, and your demise shall be swift and painless."
The menacing figure extended the blades of his gauntlets, the emerald glow of the pit reflecting off his spiked armor, adding an aura of intimidation to his ultimatum. Ra's al Ghul swiftly shed his cumbersome robes, assuming a fighting stance, his reply resolute.
"The Lazarus Pit is a privilege of Earth, destined for those who demonstrate worthiness, not an object to be fought over. If you wish to lay claim to it, you shall have to wrest it from my cold, lifeless hands. And death has yet earned me permanently."
The Shredder lunged forward with powerful blade-assisted punches, but Ra's al Ghul adeptly sidestepped each attack, effortlessly evading the strikes. He blocked a kick and then seized an incoming punch, using a Judo flip to toss the Shredder onto the ground. However, with incredible athleticism and speed, Shredder twisted his body in mid-air, landing on his feet before his back struck the ground, and swiftly retaliated with a knee to Ra's al Ghul's face, causing him to recoil from the brutal impact.
The immortal villain, despite his momentary stunned state, swiftly recovered and dodged backward, evading the Shredder's deadly slashes that effortlessly sliced through the surrounding stone wall. The two combatants engaged in a fierce exchange of blows, with Ra's al Ghun managing to hold his own. However, the numerous blades and spikes adorning the Shredder's iconic armor meant that Ra's endured a multitude of superficial cuts and stab wounds from the matching attacks.
Ra's al Ghul swiftly ducked under the incoming roundhouse kick, swiftly blocking the subsequent attack. Sensing an opening, the immortal villain exploited the form's weakness by delivering a powerful kick to the Shredder's standing leg at the knee, causing the imposing figure to crumple to his knees. With a firm kick to the helmeted head, Ra's slammed the Shredder into the granite wall, creating a noticeable crack. Despite the temporary disorientation, Oroku Saki grit his teeth, his determination and annoyance still evident.
Shredderjumped forward to deliver a powerful kick to the Shredder's face, but when his leg was caught mid-air, he was unexpectedly thrown off balance and slammed onto the ground face-first. Undeterred, Oroku Saki swiftly executed a front flip, landing on his feet before catching Ra's subsequent kick and retaliating with a crushing headbutt to the immortal's face, knocking him back. Even when he was forcefully flipped to the ground again, with remarkable resilience, the Shredder rolled, quickly stabbing at Ra's al Ghul's knee, inflicting serious harm.
Despite the excruciating pain inflicted by the stab, Ra's al Ghul refused to submit to the injury. He swiftly counterattacked by kicking the Shredder, propelling him backward across the stone floor. Rolling onto his feet, Shredder managed to roll onto his feet and lunged forward, aiming a high-velocity kick. Although hindered by his injured knee, Ra's al Ghul still succeeded in dodging out of the way as the blades stabbed into the ground, and then breaking them off by kicking the arm that held them.
Undeterred by the setback, Shredder swiftly attacked with his other arm, exploiting the assassin's compromised position to deal a crushing blow. However, Ra's al Ghul skillfully redirected the incoming punch so that it struck the granite wall instead, causing the blades to harmlessly embed themselves. Seizing the opportunity, Ra's al Ghul executed a powerful hit to the Shredder's elbow, not only damaging the joint but also snapping off the blades from the arm. The impact was debilitating, especially as his head was forcefully punched into the wall.
In a swift sequence, Shredder launched two elbow strikes and a mighty punch to Ra's al Ghul's midsection, driving him back. The fight grew more intense as Shredder followed up with a jab to the immortal's Adam's apple, leaving him gasping for breath. Suddenly, Ra's al Ghul felt the sting of a blade as it plunged through him, causing him to cough up blood. The Shredder mocked his weakness,
"You prove a worthy opponent, yet the outcome was inevitable."
Ra's al Ghul was brutally kicked off the sword, plummeting several floors before crashing violently onto the ground, near the Lazarus Pit. Barely conscious and writhing in agony, Ra's weakly pulled himself towards the revitalizing emerald pool, eagerly submerging himself within its familiar warmth as he sought to mend his injuries.
The Shredder landed gracefully near the Lazarus Pit, observing the glimmering pool intently. Seconds passed before Ra's al Ghul emerged, resurrected and revived, his once fatal wound completely healed. He stood tall and bellowed ferociously, drawing his saber as he proclaimed,
"Know this, you ignorant fool! I am Ra's al Ghul, an entity that has traversed time since the Edo period of Japan! My years of existence far surpass any lineage you claim, and my accumulated knowledge and fighting skill surpass the sum total of your entire bloodline!"
With an air of confidence, the Shredder revealed his own Japanese sword, wielding it with unwavering determination, poised to strike the immortal. He declared proudly,
"Even if your existence transcends two times that of my clan's history, my lineage has never encountered the trials I have endured. I am the pinnacle of the Foot Clan."
The Shredder unleashed a smoke bomb, enveloping the underground chamber in a cloud of obscurity, leaving only the Lazarus Pit's emerald glow visible. Disregarding the loss of sight, Ra's al Ghul channeled his heightened senses, relying on his intuition to detect the location of his adversary within the smoky environment.
Despite the shrouding darkness, Ra's al Ghul demonstrated exceptional skill, evading a sword strike and counterattacking with a swift swing that sliced through empty air. Anticipating his foe's next attack, he quickly swiveled around, raising his saber to block the incoming strike, only to find the Shredder slipping away into the smoke before he could retaliate. Unfazed, Ra's al Ghul turned his attention upward, anticipating a downward strike from the Shredder, and was ready to block the assault when his adversary vanished into the smoky veil yet again.
Ra's al Ghul matched the Shredder's agile ninja tactics, his own skills allowing him to block and evade the flurry of attacks. The dance continued at an extraordinary pace, their movements faster than the eye could perceive, even in the obscured surroundings. Sensing an opening, Ra's al Ghul paused to analyze the Shredder's fighting style, anticipating his next move. With a swift lunge, he unexpectedly plunged his saber into Shredder's chest.
Ra's al Ghul taunted his fallen adversary with a smug tone, declaring,
"Now we're even."
As the Shredder writhed in pain on the ground, he attempted to reach for a vial of mutagen, but Ra's al Ghul stomped on his arm, seizing the vial to prevent him from using it. Ra's al Ghul sneered at the Shredder's attempt to use mutagen, his voice dripping with disdain.
"How pitiful, relying on external drug to enhance yourself. You're even weaker than I assumed."
With a decisive stomp, he shattered the vial, its contents gushing out and staining the ground with a vibrant green hue. The Shredder delivered a cryptic warning as he chuckled,
"Beware the secret of the ooze..."
Before Ra's al Ghul could fathom the warning, he felt a burning sensation coursing through his foot, indicating that the mutagenic substance had already begun its transformation. His desperate attempt to scrape off the mutagen did nothing to hinder the process. Horror overtook him as his body began to morph, scales covering his skin, a tail sprouting from his back, and his eyes acquiring a slit-like quality. He became a rattlesnake.
Ra's al Ghul's astonishment and irritation was expressed through his hissed words,
"What isssss thissss?!"
As he observed the rising Shredder through his infrared vision, his acute sense of smell detecting Oroku Saki's presence more vividly. Guided by his instinctual martial skills fused with an innate understanding of snake-style kung-fu, he attacked with the speed and unpredictability of a serpent, striking from unforeseen angles with a graceful fluidity. A serpentine chuckle escaped his lips, tinged with insanity, as he marveled at the newfound power coursing through his transformed body,
"The power, the ssssspeeed... How could I have never ssssseen the potential of mixing nature and man together into one?"
The Lazarus Pit's dark influence, which normally remained in check within him, intensified in response to the mutagenic transformation, further exacerbating his already present madness.
The snake-like Ra's al Ghul coiled his tail around Shredder, applying immense pressure and causing him to cry out in pain. Just as the immortal creature was about to sink his fangs into him and deliver a venomous bite, Shredder forcefully kicked the serpentine mouth shut, and followed with a powerful head-butt, creating enough distance between them. With cold calculation, Shredder mused aloud,
"Mutation is wasted on those who allow it to consume them."
Shredder swiftly hurled a handful of firecrackers into Ra's al Ghul's face, the loud bangs and bright flashes of the poppers assaulting his enhanced snake senses. Momentarily disoriented, Ra's al Ghul was vulnerable, and Shredder seized the opportunity. With brutal efficiency, he drove his forearm blades deep into the serpentine body, slicing his way upward, tearing flesh as he moved.
Ra's al Ghul let out a piercing scream as he clutched at the horrific wound, but Shredder was relentless. Utilizing his free hand, he mercilessly gripped the pit vioer's neck, tearing out his throat. Without pause, the ruthless Shredder then secured the serpent's head between his blades, the metal cutting through flesh and bone. With a vicious force, he forcefully pried the snake's head apart, putting an end to the once-mighty assassin with bloody mutilation.
Strength: Okay, so if we just look at pure numbers, Ra's al Ghul initially edges out a bit, as he's able to restrain Nightwing, who can hold back the 9.5 ton per inch bite force of an orca, while Shredder has at best dealt with Leatherhead's 5 ton brute strength. However, Shredder is used to strength disadvantages, and scaling to Leonardo, who pushed a 240 granite pillar over, this makes him 25.26X stronger than Ra's.
Speed: Shredder is also much faster, scaling to Leonardo's Mach 280 lightning feats to Ra's scaling to Cassandra's explosion feats at Mach 16, making Shredder 17.5X faster.
Skill: If Batman is known for training in every martial art, Ra's al Ghul has mastered it legitimately, having trained in martial arts for 600 years. Shredder's got nothing on him, even with his mastery of ninjutsu.
Experience: Again, 600 years means that nothing can really surprise him except when his plans fail. Shredder isn't even 60.
Powers: If Shredder can become Super Shredder, that gives him a signifigant strength, durability and lightning boost that will let him steamroll anything Ra's has got. And even if the assassin does get mutated, Shredder has no problem handling those.
The winner is the Shredder.
Next time:
"It's a perfect day for some mayham."
"If there's dirty deeds to do, I'll do 'em dirt cheap."
A/N: Shoutout to Dimension-Dino on DeviantArt on his Death Battle Arena entry on Shredder for the climatic finish. If you can guess why I symbolically chose a rattlesnake for Ra's, you get a cookie.