"Shura" has been featured, meaning it was chosen as an article of interest.
"Sky Rider" Shura was one of the four priests of the Upper Yard, who punished criminals with the Ordeal of String during Enel's reign.[2] He rode a giant flying bird named Fuza.[1] He is a major antagonist during the Skypiea Arc.
Shura resembles a stereotypical aviator from the early 1900s: he has a thin, pointed mustache that splits into two parts; on his head there is an aviator hat decorated with wings, and a pair of goggles on the front. His attire is composed of an orange fur-lined jacket, with puffy brown sleeves split into sections by beige strips of fabric; loose matching orange pants held up by a belt, fur-lined gloves and boots, and a purple scarf around his neck. He's dark haired, and on his back there is a pair of downturned wings, a standard feature of all the inhabitants of Birka. He carries his weapon of choice, a joustinglance, powered by a Heat Dial, and is almost always seen riding his pet giant bird, Fuza.
Like all the other priests, Shura is confident in his abilities, and willing to kill every transgressor. Despite his proven cruelty, he has shown some moments of apparent pity and understanding, such as when he was talking to Chopper, even referring to him with his first name. However his overconfidence is what led to his defeat as he greatly underestimated Wyper when Shura thought that Wyper was attempting to use an Impact Dial similar to what Gan Fall used on him before when it was actually a Reject Dial.
Relationships
Priests
He did not have a good friendship with Gedatsu, Ohm, and Satori. Between them, there is a type of competition that consists of who kills the criminal first and they will fight among themselves to know who is the strongest.
Abilities and Powers
Shura is often seeing riding his giant bird Fuza, thus being able to fly and attack enemies from above. The animal has a Flame Dial in his mouth, and so has the ability of breathing fire. Shura is also exceptionally durable, having survived being struck by a Reject Dial at point blank though he was knocked unconscious, while the same attack temporarily killed his superior Enel by stopping his heart.
Shura was the priest in charge of testing intruders with the Ordeal of String, which had a survival rate of 3%. The area where the Ordeal took place was filled up with long, almost invisible strands of String Cloud, which slowly trapped the transgressors, making them unable to move, and helpless against Shura's attacks.[5]
Shura is one of the priests, making him one of the strongest fighters under the command of Enel. He fights with a spear called Heat Javelin, which has a Heat Dial inside it,[6] granting incendiary capabilities to the weapon, which burns whatever it strikes.[7]
Shura has the ability known as Observation Haki, but in the sky islands it is known as "Mantra". With Mantra, he can predict what his enemies are planning before they do it, and can act accordingly.[8]
Shura, Ohm, and Satori chased after Zabo and fought amongst themselves over who would get to kill the man. Wyper interrupted them, but Enel struck down the fugitive. Gedatsu then arrived and informed the other priests about the Straw Hat Pirates who had entered Skypiea illegally.[1]
When Monkey D. Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji entered the Upper Yard, Shura and the other priests waited to see which challenge the Straw Hats would choose.[10] While Satori handled the three Straw Hats, Shura and Fuza flew to the Sacrificial Altar where the Going Merry had been brought. He found only Tony Tony Chopper and was irritated by the small offering. Meanwhile, Chopper blew on the whistle that Gan Fall had left for emergencies.[11] After playing with his victim and destroying parts of the ship, Shura decided to kill Chopper. However, Gan Fall arrived and the two fought a battle in the sky.[12] After an even match, Shura used his ordeal to trap Gan Fall and pierce him with his Heat Javelin.[13] After Gan Fall fell into the river, Chopper dove in after him, which shocked Shura because Chopper was a Devil Fruit user. Shura then remembered that Pierre was one as well and knocked the bird into the river.[14]
When the Shandian army invaded the Upper Yard,[15] Shura, Ohm, and Gedatsu fought against the force.[16] However, once the Shandia began retreating, Enel summoned the priests to his temple.[17]
That night, the three priests bickered while waiting for Enel to arrive. Yama told them to be quiet in Enel's presence, but Shura pointed out that Enel was not there. Enel suddenly appeared, electrified the priests, and flipped onto his throne. He informed them that the intruders were searching for gold on Upper Yard and that the Shandia would attack again tomorrow, so he gave them permission to roam the island as they liked, as the Maxim was near completion for them to depart for the Fairy Vearth.[18]
The next day, Shura trapped the Shandia warriors in his Ordeal of String. Wyper, who was the only warrior not caught, allowed himself to get stabbed by Shura's Heat Javelin so that he could quickly defeat the priest with a Reject Dial. Shura was thereby the first person to be taken down in the survival game.[19] After Shura's defeat, Fuza flew away.[20]
After Luffy defeated Enel, the Shandia gathered the unconscious priests (except Gedatsu) and banished them to Cloud Drifting.[21]
Shura (修羅?) is a Japanese term derived from the Dharmic concept of Asura. Depending on context, it may refer to a specific Buddhist realm of reincarnation, a race of warlike demi-gods (natives of the aforementioned realm), or a generic sense of carnage and warmongering.
Though never stated as a deliberate reference, Shura's combination of headwear and facial hair evokes the design of classic Hanna-Barbera villain Dick Dastardly (particularly in his Flying Machines spin-off).
Shura's favorite food is stir-fried bittersweet sky shellfish.[3]
