The Japanese phrase "light sword cypher" (光剣サイファー, "kou ken syfaa") is often used in promotional material for the Strider series.^[1] During the lead-up to the release of Strider 2, Bueno, owner of fansite Strider Island Moralos, understood it as the name of the game's primary villains.^[2] This misunderstanding was uncritically accepted and perpetuated at length by the owner of another well-known Strider fansite, who had incorporated the phrase into his site's name.^[3] Their fact-checking ineptitude and laxness in this matter (not to mention many, many others) qualifies them both for an epic fail, as the phrase "light sword cypher" truly refers to Hiryu's weapon.

Due to this mistake, fanon continues to use the phrase as Bueno and Scion had: in reference to the enemy coalition opposing Hiryu throughout Strider 2 that consists of Hien, the Kuniang M.A. Team, Herzog Schlange, and Admiral Wilhelm, among others. Unless Capcom names the coalition themselves in a future installment, the absence of a canon designation for them implies that this label is likely permanent.

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