Rai-Dei the Blade

Rai-Dei is severe, proud and obsessed with experiencing the boundary between life and death. He regards mortal combat as a path toward knowledge unavailable through ordinary experience.

Vash therefore disappoints him as much as he fascinates him. Rai-Dei recognizes his opponent's extraordinary ability but resents Vash's determination to win without killing, believing that this prevents their battle from reaching the state he seeks.

He approaches swordsmanship with the discipline and language of a warrior tradition, but his pursuit of enlightenment is ultimately inseparable from his willingness to kill.

Rai-Dei practices Jigenzan Ittou and is one of the Gung-Ho Guns' fastest close-range combatants. He can swing his sword with enough force to generate destructive shockwaves capable of traveling through solid obstacles.

His equipment supplements his swordsmanship with technology. His weapon incorporates firearm mechanisms, while the manga version uses powered skates that give him exceptional acceleration and mobility.

Rai-Dei's speed, sword technique and ranged shockwaves allow him to threaten opponents without remaining within conventional striking distance.

Rai-Dei appears as part of the escalating campaign against Vash orchestrated by Legato Bluesummers. His confrontation comes at a point when Vash's enemies increasingly design battles around forcing him to abandon his principles.

In the 1998 anime, Rai-Dei becomes involved in the Fifth Moon incident and demands that Vash fight him with genuine killing intent. Legato's intervention forces Vash's Angel Arm to activate, blasting a crater into the moon.

Rai-Dei survives the immediate incident but is subsequently killed by Wolfwood. In the manga, Wolfwood likewise kills him after the defeated Rai-Dei attempts to attack Vash from behind.

Vash the Stampede is Rai-Dei's principal opponent. Rai-Dei respects his ability but despises his refusal to fight with lethal intent.

Legato Bluesummers directs the campaign in which Rai-Dei confronts Vash. In the 1998 anime, Legato's interference transforms their battle into the Fifth Moon incident.

Nicholas D. Wolfwood kills Rai-Dei after his confrontation with Vash, reinforcing the fundamental difference between Wolfwood's pragmatism and Vash's pacifism.