Hello again. Today, we will be doing a second Arc System Works chapter. This time, we will focus onRagna The Bloodedge, the protagonist of the fighting game series BlazBlue and Es, the main heroine of BlazBlue's Spin-Off Visual Novel Series, XBLAZE.
Ragna is such a great protagonist! Starting off as an edgy morally ambiguous anti-hero, the series see him develop as a much more noble hero over time, even to the point of acknowledging and owning up to his past actions. He's ultimately a very well written character you can relate too and root for, even in spite of his gruff attitude.
As for Es, I REALLY love her character arc. Starting off as an emotionless being, she slowly developes emotions through her continued interactions with Touya and his friends, becoming more human in soul and eventually in body as well. I also love her romance, however subtle, with Touya as well. While the Es in BlazBlue is not the same one as in XBLAZE, I still enjoyed being able to play as her in Central Fiction and Cross Tag Battle.
For the record, Es will be a composite character. She will be the XBLAZE Version, but will have her BlazBlue counterparts moveset. In BlazBlue Alternative Dark War, Es' alternate costume is her XBLAZE counterpart in her Lost Memories Dress and there's an unsued costume which has Es in her Code Embryo Dress. So, best of both worlds! Additionally, Es has the benefit of having unique dialogue in her BlazBlue costume similar to characters with alternate versions of themselves like Hero, Robin, Corrin, Byleth, Bowser Jr. and Steve.
So, how will the Grim Reaper and the Azure Maiden fair in the world of Super Smash Bros.?
We'll find out now...
Ragna The Bloodedge
Origin: BlazBlue
Description: A man known as the Grim Reaper, Ragna The Bloodedge has earned an infamous reputation as a SS Rank Class Criminal and wielder of the Azure Grimoire, most powerful Grimoire better well known as BlazBlue. Despite his outward appearance and actions, there is more to Ragna than meets the eye, which becomes more apparent thanks to a chance encounter with a young woman known as Noel Vermillion.
As he continues to fight against the malevolent Yuuki Terumi, Ragna would eventually discover his true reason for fighting thanks to a chance meeting with Celica A. Mercury.
English VA: Patrick Seitz
Japanese VA: Tomokazu Sugita
Statistics
Number of Jumps: 2
Wall Jump: No
Wall Cling: No
Crawl: No
Weight Class: Medium
Intro Animation: Kneels on the ground before he stands up with his back turned. Ragna than turns around and gets into his fighting stance.
Series Logo: The Azure Crest
Home Stage: Cross Field
Assist Trophy: Jin Kisaragi - Once Jin is summoned, he begins to run around and attack the nearest opponent. He shoot out Hishouken (Ice Sword) as a projectile, Musou Senshouzan (Ice Car) to charge foes, Rehhyou against jumping opponents at an arc and Fubuki against jumping opponents above him. He will use Weak, Medium, Heavy and Drive Attacks otherwise.
One thing to note is that every time the opponent is hit by Jin's Drive Attacks, they will be frozen for a brief moment.
Special Attacks
Neutral Special: Hell's Fang: Ragna will charge forward will a darkness covered punch. Pressing the Special Button again while performing this move will have Ragna perform a follow attack thay will send the opponent flying.
Side Special: Gauntlet Hades - Ranga leaps with an overhead punch. Pressing the Special Button again while performing this move will have Ragna perform a follow up Spin Kick. Inputting the original command input makes Ragna travel farther and makes his attack stronger. It also functions as a horizontal recovery move to get back on the stage.
Up Special: Inferno Divider - Ragna perfroms a darkness covered uppercut slash with his sword. Inputting the original command input makes Ragna makes the attack stronger and rise higher. It also functions as a vertical recovery move to get back on the stage. Ragna can perform three different follow ups with this move while it's active:
● Uppercut and Straight Punch: Pressing Up and Special will have Ragna do a follow up Uppercut and pressing Special after that will have Ragna punch the opponent forward.
● Ax Kick: Pressing Down and Special will have Ragna perform and overhead Ax Kick. Really useful to send and opponent plummet to their doom.
Down Special: Blood Scythe/Nightmare Edge: Depending if Ragna's on the ground or in the air, he will do one of two attacks.
● Blood Scythe: On the ground, Ragna will leap and perform a downward arcing slash with his sword's scythe form. Inputting the original command input makes Ragna travel farther and makes his attack stronger.
● Nightmare Edge: In the air, Ragna will envelope his sword in darkness and swing it straight downward. Pressing the Special Button at the end will have Ragna perform a follow up attack. Inputting the original command input makes his attack and follow up attack stronger. Be careful not to do this over a pit or Ragna will plummet to his doom.
Distortion Drives: Similar to Terry Bogard, if Ragna is above 100% Damage in Regular Matches or is below 100 HP/30% HP in Stamina Mode, Ragna's fighter portrait will be covered in black like smoke. Inputting the following commands will allow Ragna to activate one of his Distortion Drives.
Distortion Drive 1: Carnage Scissors - Ragna will charge forward with a heavy slash. If it connects, he will follow up with another devastating darkness infused multi-hitting slash. Can KO opponents at a high damage percentage.
Distortion Drive 2: Devoured by Darkness - Ragna's right arm turns into a demonic claw. If he grabs the nearest opponent, they will be swarmed by streams of darkness before being blasted away.
Final Smash: Black Onslaught - Ragna will perfrom a rising slash attack on his opponent, which he can get up to three opponents. If it connects, a cutscene plays where his sword turns into a scythe of red energy and begins to hack and slash at them. He than charges up one more final strike before hitting them,sending them flying in ashes. This will deal heavy damage and knockback or will instant kill and opponent if they're over 100% Damage.
Special Effect: All of Ragna's Specials and some of his attacks ultilize his Drive Ability, Soul Eater. Everytime he hits an opponent with these moves, he lowers his Damage or heals his HP in Stamina Mode by 1% - 3%. His Distortion Drives will heal 25% - 30% of his Damage/HP while landing his Final Smash will heal 50%.
Standard Attacks
Jab: Does a Jab, than a kick, a swing of his sword and ends it with a two hitting Soul Eater attack.
Forward Tilt: Aims his sword downward and lifts it upward.
Up Tilt: Does an uppercut.
Down Tilt: Stabs the ground while Soul Eater is active.
Dash Attack: Gets into a crouching position and swings his sword.
Aerial Attacks
Neutral: Does a Jab.
Forward: Does a kick.
Back: Swings his sword around him.
Up: Does an upward Soul Eater slash.
Down: Performs Belial Edge, a downward diagonal stab attack. Make sure Ragna isn't over a bottomless pit when you perform this move or you'll regret it.
Smash Attacks
Forward Smash: Does his Crush Trigger Attack.
Up Smash: Turns his back and does a rising Soul Eater slash.
Down Smash: Performs a Dead Spike.
Grab and Throws
Pummel: Punches his opponent repeatedly.
Forward Throw: Stabs his opponent with his sword
Back Throw: Slams his opponent into the ground and throws them away.
Up Throw: Jumps up with the opponent and does his air throw.
Down Throw: Slams the opponent down before picking them up again and deliver a powerful straight punch.
Taunts
Up Taunt: Scrathes his head while berating his opponent.
Side Taunt: Holds his hand out like he's going to activate BlazBlue, but is just pysching his opponent out.
Down Taunt: Smirks at his opponent while shaking his head.
Colors
Appearance: Ragna wears a red, long-sleeved jacket with padded shoulders and multiple silver plates fastened on the arms and sides. Attached to the lapels of his jacket are two black straps with silver buckles that wrap under his arms and intersect at the back, they are connected to his shoulder pads by small gold buttons. On the back of his jacket are a set of two red straps with silver tips hanging from it, which reach down to his ankles. Underneath the jacket is a simple, long-sleeved black shirt with a white trim. He also wears a pair of black gloves which have seithr regulators on the back of them, as well as a black hakama, two large black belts with silver belt buckles and a pair of red boots with steel toecaps.
Color 1: Default Colors
Color 2: Dark Blue Jacket, light black hakama, red gloves and blonde hair (Jin Kisaragi)
Color 3: Light Blue Jacket, white shirt, yellow hakama, white gloves, and light blonde hair (Noel Vermillion)
Color 4: Gray Jacket, pink shirt and white hakama (Rachel Alucard)
Color 5: Black Jacket, red shirt, red hakama and gray white hair (Sechs)
Color 6: Red Brown Jacket, beige shirt, beige hakama and brown hair (Sol Badguy)
Costume 2: Ragna doesn't wear his Jacket.
Costume 3: Ragna wears red swim shorts, an open red swimming jacket and a pair of sandals.
Victory Poses
Victory Theme: BlazBlue Calamity Trigger/Continuum Shift Victory Theme.
Victory Pose 1: Turns his back to the screen while throwing his arm down, letting out a trails of black red feathers like a demonic wing.
Ragna: "See what you're dealing with now?"
Team Battle Victory: "We win. Guess being part of a team's not all bad."
Victory Pose 2: Plants his sword in the ground while looking on straight ahead.
Ragna: "You better stay down... Or you won't get up again."
Ragna Vs. Es: "Quit messing with me Es! I know it's you!"
Victory Pose 3: Rotates his shoulder and than places his hand on his sword while smirking at his opponent.
Ragna: "Hah. Is that the best you've got?"
Ragna Vs. Es (Gate Guardian): "So? Am I worthy enough now, Es?"
Es
Origin: XBLAZE
Description: A mysterious young girl who saved the life of Touya Kagari from an infected being known as a Drive Union. Ever since than, Es has been ordered by the Mitsurugi Agency to protect him from future attacks.
As she guards Touya, continuous interaction with both him and his friends along with experiencing new things such as trying pudding, Es slowly developes emotions. Joy, sorrow, and even love, these newfound experiences help Es become more than who she was, becoming more human in body and soul.
Despite her fragile appearance, she is without a doubt a skilled and strong fighter as underestimating her will be anyone's own undoing.
English VA: Eden Riegel
Japanese VA: Mayuka Nomura
Statistics
Number of Jumps: 2
Wall Jump: No
Wall Cling: No
Crawl: No
Weight Class: Light
Intro Animation: Es lands on the stage and summons Murakumo to her hand as she gets into her fighting stance. If Es is wearing her BlazBlue Costume, she will insted teleport onto the stage in a flash of blue light and land on the stage.
Series Logo: The Embryo Crest
Home Stage: Phantom Field
Assist Trophy: Touya Kagari - When Touya is summoned, he'll use his Drive to create a red copy of Es' sword and begin to run around to attack the nearest opponent. He uses basic attacks and altered versions of Es' basic moveset and special attacks. He'll even use his own variants of Smash Attacks, making him surprisingly dangerous.
Special Attacks
Neutral Special: Type: Shooter "Breunor"/Air Type: Shooter "Breunor" - Es will fire off a crest like projectile at her opponent. Pressing the special again will fire another crest. Inputting the original command input makes the first crest travel a short distance, yet makes the attack stronger, and inputting the command again will fire a faster crest that goes into the first one, making it travel farther and make the attack stronger.
Es can also perform this move in the air, except it will arc downward at two different angles instead. It has the same benefits if you input the original command input, but the second crest will will not go into the first crest like the ground version.
Side Special: Type: Assaulter "Erec" - Es will perform a somersault leap toward the opponent. If she connects with the opponent, Es will perform a rising kick from on top of the opponent's head. If it misses, Es will be stunned for a brief moment. Inputting the original command input makes Es travel farther and makes her attack stronger. It also functions as a horizontal recovery move to get back on the stage.
Up Special: Type: Slasher "Griflet" - Es performs a crouching over the shoulder swing followed by a massive upward slash. It can cover range in front and behind her. Inputting the original command input makes Es rise higher and makes her attack stronger along with adding a special follow up attack; A downward spike crest hitting the opponent from above, sending them downward. It also functions as as a vertical recovery move to get back on the stage.
Down Special: Type: Slasher "Gawain" - Es leaps and performs a hectacon shaped slash with her Crest Arts. Inputting the original command input makes the attack stronger and travel farther.
Distortion Drive/Exceed Accel: Similar to Terry Bogard, if Es is above 100% Damage in Regular Matches or is below 100 HP/30% HP in Stamina Mode, Es' fighter portrait will be covered in a glowing blue light. Inputting the following commands will allow Es to activate her Distortion Drive or her Exceed Accel.
Distortion Drive: Type: Shooter "Palamedes" - Es will fire off a large crest across the screen, damaging anyone in it's path.
Exceed Accel: Type: Braver "Lancelot" - Es will do a backflip kick into the closet opponent. Should it hit, Es will leap up and perform a series of slashes before charging toward the ground and stab it, sending out five crest spikes from the ground, which can also hit nearby opponents as well.
Final Smash: Type: Exterminator "Artorius" - Es will perform and underhead swing, being able to hit up to three opponents. If it connects, Es will leap up and perform two slashes before charging down at an diagonal angle. The opponents freeze in place before shattering into glass. This will deal heavy damage and knockback or will instant kill an opponent if they're over 100% Damage.
Cosmetically, if Es does her Final Smash in her XBLAZE outfits, her eyes (both in her Code Embryo Dress and her left eye in her Lost Memories Dress) will turn blue and turn back to it's normal amber color afterward. In her Gate Guardian Outfit, Murakumo will turn into it's regular form from it's scabbard and when the Final Smash ends, the scabbard returns over Murakumo.
Standard Attacks
Jab: Does a simple downward jab, an overhead kick, a downward slash, a a vertical rising slash and than a standing sword swing.
Forward Tilt: Swings Murakumo in a low hitting slash,
Up Tilt: Swings Murakumo upward with one hand.
Down Tilt: Thrusts Murakumo from a crouching position.
Dash Attack: Thrusts the hilt of her sword into her opponent.
Aerial Attacks
Neutral: Does a jab.
Forward: Does a two hit slash attack.
Back: Swings Murakumo from the from to behind her.
Up: Does an circular slash around her with Crest Arts.
Down: Es strikes below herself three times with Type: Assaulter "Tristan".
Smash Attacks
Forward Smash: Does an arcing slash with Crest Arts.
Up Smash: Performs Type: Slasher "Mordred".
Down Smash: Does her Crush Trigger attack.
Grab and Throws
Pummel: Repeatedly punches the opponent.
Forward Throw: Slashs the opponent with a delayed Crest Arts slash hitting them.
Back Throw: Gets behind the opponent and forms a construct that forms four spikes thay hit the opponent.
Up Throw: Makes a spike from underneath the opponent with Crest Arts.
Down Throw: Jumps up with her opponent and throws them down before stomping on them.
Taunts
Up Taunt: Glances at her opponent with a look of curiosity and acknowledgement.
Side Taunt: Places Murakumo in it's sheath breify and than unsheathes it. If she's in her BlazBlue Costume, she will instead unsheath Murakumo before placing it's sheath back on.
Down Taunt: Takes a deep breath and steadies herself.
Colors
Appearance: Es wears a buttoned up shirt with a buttoned up collar, and two button square barrel cuffs, accompanied by a red tie. She wears an indigo layered underskirt, and over it, is a long white and blue skirt that buttons up, and has a blue ribbon-belt. With see through leggings that are a solid black at the toe, blue boots are worn over them. They shape into a v-line at the top, accompanied by a blue ribbon, and the soles are steel; there is a bow-tie at the end of her long braided hair. Over her outfit, she wears a light blue coat with a ribbon, and a sleeve band at the end of the sleeves. She also wears a navy blue hair ribbon in her braided hair.
Color 1: Default Colors
Color 2: Black Coat and the dark blue parts of her dress turn gray. Additionally, her hair ribbon turns black. (Touya Kagari)
Color 3: Green Coat and the dark blue parts of her dress turn yellow. Additionally, her hair ribbon has a flower Image (Hinata Himezuru)
Color 4: Purple Coat with bird patterns and the dark blue parts of her dress turn Lavender. Additionally, her hair ribbon has a Skull Image (Mei Amanohokosaka)
Color 5: Pink Coat and the dark blue parts of her dress turn pink. Additionally, her hair ribbon has a Seithr Regulator Image.
Color 6: White Coat and the dark blue parts of her dress turn black. Additionally, her hair ribbon has a Memory Stone Image and her hair turns white with black tips (Nobody)
Costume 2: Overall Dress - Es wears a white elegant blouse, a black overall skirt with modified navy ribbon, black tights, and black mary jane shoes with navy ribbons. She also which wears her hair in a side braid.
Costume 3: Gate Guardian - Es wears a modified version of her outfit from Code: Embryo, with it having a dark blue color scheme, blue diamond shaped accessories with key hole markings on the arm portions and back of her dress, an open small backless portion, black tights, blue heels and a new silver hair ornament on the tip of her braid. Both of her eyes are an Azure Blue color.
Victory Poses
Victory Theme: The Recollection Grimoire from XBLAZE: Lost Memories.
Victory Pose 1: Points her sword at her downed opponent.
Es: "Please stay down."
Es (Gate Guardian): "I am afraid you are not worthy..."
Es Vs. Ragna: "How do you know me?"
Team Battle: "We did it... Mission Accomplished everyone."
Victory Pose 2: Murakumo fades from her hand as she takes a calm breath with a small smile. If she's wearing her Gate Guardian Costume, Es will hold out her hand a create her BlazBlue Crest instead. If she beats Ragna, she will create his Crest.
Es: "Mission Complete."
Es (Gate Guardian): "Everything is as the Azure wills it."
Es (Gate Guardian) Vs. Ragna: "Ragna the Bloodedge. I shall guide you to the gates. That is the will of the Azure."
Team Battle (Gate Guardian): "If this is one of the possibilities, then I will fulfill my role."
Victory Pose 3: Es sits down and happily enjoys a cup of pudding. She will do the same in her Gate Guardian Costume, but with a more neutral expression.
Es: "Pudding is always delicious."
Es (Gate Guardian): "Time to enjoy the fruits of my labor."
Trailer
Wario, Fox, Falco, Wolf, Captain Falcon, Samus, Snake and Cloud are looking at a crudely drawn Wanted Poster for a criminal named Ragna The Bloodedge, with his bounty worth Platinum Dollars. As they all think about where to find this bounty, a man wearing a red jacket passes by with Wario noticing the white hair.
Wario: "HEY!"
The others turn to see the man in question. They see him holding a Smash Bros. Invitation, much to their surprise.
Wario: "You're gonna make me... uh... US lots of money!"
The man in question grunts in annoyance as he turns around as he throws the Invitation away.
?: "Heh... and here I thought I won't have to deal with Bounty Hunters or greedy punks in Smash."
RAGNA THE BLOODEDGE'S WHEEL OF FATE IS TURNING!
Fox: "You better put your hands up Grim Reaper!"
Ragna smirks as he places his hand over his sword Aramasa.
Ragna: "I've fought in a place like this before... if I can handle a Cross Tag Battle... than I can easily handle Smash!"
The cutscene cuts to gameplay as Ragna lands on the Cross Field stage with Wario, Wolf, Captain Falcon and Snake surrounding him.
Ragna: "Five against one huh? Guess I'll have to beat you all up!"
Ragna proceeds to fighting Captain Falcon and Wolf utilizing a mix of normal attacks and Special Moves. When Wario attempts to use a Wario Waft, Ragna dpuses a Dodge Roll and throws him with his Sword Stab throw, sending him flying.
Ragan: "Not looking to smell like crap today tubby!"
The stage switchs to Mute City SNES as Ragna strikes Captain Falcon with Belial Edge before Captain Falcon strikes back with a Falcon Punch. Snake than holds him in a neck hold.
Snake: "Not so tough huh?"
Ragna: "You're really ticking me off!"
Ragna than uses Carnage Scissors on Captain Falcon, sending him flying. The stage than cuts to Gamer where after Ragna evades 5-Volt's gaze, uses Devoured by Darkness on Wolf.
Ragna: "Do the Fly Away Trick! Good boy!"
Ragna says sarcastically as he sends Wolf flying. It goes over to Shadow Moses as Ragna battles Snake and obtains the Smash Ball. He than activates Black Onslaught on the Legendary Mercenary.
Ragna: "I'll show you the power of the Azure! I'll show you fear! There's no hell, only the void! This is the power of the Azure!"
It cuts back to the cutscene on the Cross Field as Ragna turns to face Fox, Falco, Samus and Cloud. Snake, still flying attempts to take out Ragna with a grenade, but as the grenade is about to hit Ragna, a blue Crest like projectile hits the grenade, carrying it back toward Snake as the Mercenary stares on in wide eyed horror.
Snake: GASP
Snake than gets blown up mid-air by the grenade and Crest, creating a nuke like explosion.
Snake: "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Fox: "SNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE!"
Ragna is surprised as he recognized that attack and sees a petite figure with a long, thin sword. The figure is than revealed to be a small girl wearing a flowing blue jacket. Ragna is confused slightly...
Ragna: "Wait... Es...? That is... Es, right?"
Es: "I don't believe we met, however I won't abide sneak attacks."
ES FIGHTS AGAINST THE AZURE FATE!?
Es than leaps to attack the remaining four fighters as it transitions to gameplay on the Phantom Field stage.
Ragna: "Wait a minute, what do you mean we haven't met!? I saw you before!"
Es: "I would remember meeting a unique individual like yourself. Although your powers remind me of Touya somewhat."
Fox: "Don't interfere with us miss!"
Es proceeds to use her own set of normals and Specials as Ragna continues to argue with her.
Ragna: "You're even using the same moves and attacks! What the heck!?"
Es: "I managed to master and create a fighting technique thanks to special training."
Es defeats Fox before it switches to the Corneria Stage as Flaco starts shooting Es.
Es: "Time to initiate my special techniques."
Es fires off Type: Braver "Lancelot" at Falco dealing immese damage, but as he tries to return to the stage, Es leaps off and uses Type: Assaulter "Tristan" to send Falco to his doom while using Type: Slasher "Griflet" to get back to the stage.
Next, Es finds herself in Midgar fighting Cloud as the two clash.
Ragna: "Come on! Gate Guardian! Door to the Azure! Amaterasu! Being bought out by Rachel with pudding! Don't you remember!?"
Es: "I know of the Azure, but I am no Gate Guardian nor am I bought out by my favorite food."
Es barely avoids Cloud's Limit Break and than uses Type: Braver "Lancelot" against him, sending him flying. It than cuts to the Frigate Orpheon.
Es: "To face the legendary Bounty Hunter in Smash is a great honor indeed."
Es and Samus proceed to battle each other. After a few minutes, Es obtains the Smash Ball and than manages to hit her with Type: Exterminator "Artorius".
Es: "Limiters released. Type: Exterminator "Artorius"! Hyaaah!"
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate X BlazBlue X XBLAZE
It cuts back to the Cross Field in a cutscene as Samus is sent flying, Es turns to Ragna who's still not buying what Es is saying.
Ragna: "Look, unless there's another one of you, I don't buy what... your...?"
Ragna and Es see a silhouette of what appears to be another Es, with blue eyes and a larger sword.
Es (Gate Guardian): "We meet again Ragna The Bloodedge. And... another me...? Is there an alternate possibility at work here.
Es: "Another me? From another world?"
Ragna: "Tch! I hope you can hold your own against her! Let's see if you have what it takes!"
Es: "Very well. I hope that I will live up to your expectations."
Es (Gate Guardian): "Preparing to engage with Ragna and the other version of myself. Target sighted."
Ragna and Es than charge toward the other Es as their movesets are in slow motion as the screen turns blue.
Ragna and Es along with her BlazBlue Counterpart are then added to the Smash Mural.
Palutena's Guidance (Ragna)
Pit: "I'd normally complain about there being another sword fighter, but this guy looks really grumpy."
Viridi: "Considering all that this guy's been through, "grumpy" is a massive stretch."
"This guys is called Ragna The Bloodedge. The Grim Reaper who owns the all powerful Azure Grimoire and is known for the highest bounty thanks to his SS Rank Criminal status."
Pit: "A villain swordsman!? Well, it's different."
Palutena: "It's also a stretch to call him evil. While he's committed crimes, there is more to him than meets the eye."
"After all, his foster mother was murdered by the evil Yuuki Terumi with his brother and sister being kidnapped. Years later, his brother is now his arch-rival, taking every chance to try and kill Ragna."
Pit: "Yikes! And I thought Samus had it rough! Didn't it get better for him?"
Viridi: "Well, thanks to interacting with Noel, Rachel, Taokaka, Jubei, Celica and Kagura, he does turn his life around and find a better reason for fighting. Again, he's not that bad of a guy. Just don't try telling Hakumen or Tsubaki that, cause they will not listen."
Pit: "Ah, well noted. So, how do I fight a guy known as the Grim Reaper?"
Palutena: "Ragna is a well rounded fighter who easily close the gap with a decent range of special attacks. However, his Drive Ability Spul Eater is dangerous as he will recover his health when he lands successful attacks."
Pit: "Ah man! That's cheating!"
Palutena: "As long as you don't get beaten up too much, he shouldn't be able to heal himself too well. Just keep the pressure on and remember to dodge when he goes on the offense."
Pit: "All right than! Let's get this Gorilla Ring of Fate going than!"
Viridi: "Seriously Pit! It's 'The Wheel of Fate is Turning.' Can't you get this Fighting Game Match intros right!?"
Palutena's Guidance (Es)
Pit: "Never thought I see a cute girl weild a sword taller than she is."
Palutena: "Definitely an unsual contrast. This little lady's name is Es, a skilled Soldier of the Mitsurugi Agency's Sleipnir Unit."
Viridi: "Pit... do me a favor and crush her... please..."
Pit: "Um... why do you look scary Viridi?"
Palutena: "Well, Es is sort of unique. She's actually an artificial life form created by Souichiro Unomaru to house Code Embryo, a power that can bend mankind to his will. However, Es didn't have that compacity and was instead made a soldier."
Pit: "No way! Es isn't a normal human!? She's like Mewtwo?
Palutena: "That's a good comparison actually. Compared to Unomaru treating her as nothing more than a tool, Es' interactions with Touya Kagari and his friends allowed her to develop as a person, feeling many emotions. She even sacrificed herself to protect the world from the Embryo."
"Later on, a friend from Ragna's timeline was able to send Es back to her world, where she was able to save her friends from terrible fate."
Viridi: "It is an abomination that humans try to play God all the time, making artificial life and trying to reshape the world is appalling at best. Furthermore, Embryo Stroage thinks being like the humans is a GOOD thing, if only she knew!"
Pit: "Come on Viridi, can't you make up your mind in regards to who you like and don't like? Besides, we shouldn't condeem artificial life to begin with."
Palutena: "Despite how you feel about her, Es is still a formidable warrior, able to ultilize crest like constructs for close and longe range attacks."
"Remember to dodge out of her close range attacks and use your Guardian Orbitars to reflect her projectiles."
"Do well and I may even reward you with some pudding. I'll even treat Es to some as well."
Pit: "Oh, thanks Lady Palutena. Wait, you're also rewarding Es even if she loses as well? Your kind heart knows no bounds!"
Palutena's Guidance (Es: Gate Guardian)
Pit: "Lady Palutena? What happened to Es!? She's all robotic like!"
Palutena: "This must be the BlazBlue Timeline Version of Es!"
Pit: "BlazBlue Timeline? What's going on!?"
Viridi: "Well, simply put, the BlazBlue Universe is split into three different timelines while similar have different events occurring that never occur in the other. For instance, the Wadatsumi Incident occurred in XBLAZE, but never happened in BlazBlue. Jury's still out if it happened in Bloodedge Experience or not."
"Essentially put, what happened in XBLAZE will not occur in BlazBlue or Bloodedge Experience. It could mean the Dark War will never happen in XBLAZE even."
Palutena: "The Es you see before you hails from the BlazBlue timeline. When Es from XBLAZE touched the Master Unit in her timeline, the Azure created a copy of her in the BlazBlue timeline to serve as a Gate Guardian to the Realm of the Gods."
"This Es has the same abilities as the one from XBLAZE. Curiously, while this Es has a Drive, the Es from XBLAZE somehow gained her counterparts Drive Ability as well. Most likely thanks to Gatcha Mobile Game shenanigans."
Pit: "This multiple timeline thing is hurting my brain. So, how is this Es any different from the original one?"
Palutena: "This Es acts more roboticly, but retains some elements the original Es had. She remembers her loved ones and still enjoys pudding. Additionally, Ragna has had some encounters with this incarnation of Es before."
Pit: "Alright than. All and all, I should fight her like I normally would right?"
Viridi: "That's correct. Both of these Es' are virtually identical after all, so it makes no difference whether you're fighting XBLAZE Es or BlazBlue Es."
"Just wish they could've clarified more about the BlazBlue Es a tad more than being cryptic about it."
Hope you enjoyed the Grim Reaper and the Azrue Maiden's journey into Smash!
See you next time!
