Bleach Fantasy Round 4: Byakuya Kuchiki vs. Auron (The Skilled, Noble, & Quiet Swordsman)

VS.

This is quite a matchup we got here. Two badasses wielding a badass blade in the name of badassery - all while staying composed, adrift, and often are notable in the words they say in Bleach & FF X. Without further ado, let us start off Monday right with Bleach's very own Byakuya Kuchiki & Final Fantasy X's very own Auron. This matchup will be judged by none other than MechG2994. The following will be compared: Backstory/Role in Story, Powers/Abilities, & Final Verdict. FF currently leads 2-1 against Bleach. Note: MechG2994's portion will be denoted in Purple (LA Lakers) & mine in Blue (Golden State Warriors). 

Backstory/Role in Story (Byakuya Kuchiki)

Sometime before his tenor as Head of the Kuchiki Clan & 6th Division Captain in the Gotei 13, he was training under the tutelage of his grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki, in hopes to strive for excellence as a bright young man capable of fostering the power and responsibility of leading the Kuchiki after his stead. During his youth 110 years ago, he had yet to adopt the aristocratic and was easily irritated as seen when former Captain of the 2nd Division, Yoruichi Shihoin, came over just to play with him. However, a part of Byakuya that is both memorable and tragic is his marriage to Hisana Kuchiki, Rukia's elder sister. As soon as Hisana fell ill and passed away, she left Byakuya with the task of finding the wherabouts of Rukia. It wouldn't be long before Byakya adopts Rukia and taker her under his care ~ changing Rukia's fate and greatly angering a one hot-headed Renji Abarai. Things became difficult when Rukia's commission in Karakura became a crime (her duration is strictly forbidden as well as adopting a Gigai body) and her own adoptive sister was to be executed. This left Byakuya at a standstill - let Justice befall upon Rukia's actions or to save the life of his dear beloved sister even if it mean going against his own name & pride. Byakuya, much like everyone else in Bleach, changed thanks to his meeting and one-on-one fight with Ichigo Kurosaki.

Byakuya and Renji first appeared in Karakura town to arrest Rukia. It was clear that Byakuya, as a Shinigami, surpassed Ichigo in all aspects as he stole Ichigo's blade & inflicted heavy damage on him. He soon took Rukia to the Gotei 13 to be trialed & executed while keeping Ichigo's team at bay from doing any further damage to Rukia or the Soul Society as a whole. Ichigo's arrival prompted several Shinigami to temporarily defect to save Rukia (the 13th & 8th Division & Renji from the 6th). Byakuya, incredibly angry with Ichigo, fights him one-on-one and tells him eventually (the fight went to Ichigo) of why he left Rukia to be executed. After a heartfelt persuasion from Ichigo, Byakuya abandoned all hopes of trying to do away with her sister. It wouldn't be long before Rukia was in trouble once more because of the Hogyoku that was implanted within her from Urahara's Gigai body. Aizen, prompting to end the Shinigami's life, was stopped when Byakuya took the initial damage from Gin's blade. Byakuya, after Aizen's defection, told Rukia of the truth behind her adoption and of her estranged and deceased elder sister, Hisana. Byakuya, from then on, would become a valuable asset to Team Ichigo - fighting 2 Espada (Zommari & Yammy), defeating Tsukishima, and become a lot stronger in his training with the 0 Division as he embarks on a journey to thwart the Wandenreich's plans. 

Powers/Abilities (Byakuya Kuchiki)

What makes Byakuya such a formidable foe is his Zanpaktou - Senbonzakura. A sword that separates into tiny segments - used as both a offensive and defensive. By swinging his Zanpaktou's hilt, he is able to control the segments floating about and inflict heavy damage on his opponents (EX: Renji, Ichigo, & Zommari). However, it is noted that Byakuya has a better understanding of his Zanpaktou after his stay with the Zero Division. His Bankai pretty much is an expansion of his Shikai's ability - obliterating anyone when his blade is split into thousands upon thousands of segments. However, in this state, a thousand blades crowd above and below Byakuya's vision as he can focus everything simply on offensive while also trying to keep his opponents at bay. He is also proficient in Shunpo & Kido ` a skill that most Captains of the Gotei 13 possess. Pretty much Byakuya's blade can be summed up from my previous and short explanation from the BH post (Hiei vs. Byakuya):

Byakuya's Zanpaktou is considered both fast and elegant, capable of doing considerable damage. Look at Renji. He lost to Byakuya in his Bankai form and survived. Same as Ichigo. Senbonzakura has done considerable damage to all of Byakuya's opponents. Not only that Byakuya is a Kido practitioner and a pretty good one at that as well as a Shunpo Expert. A combination of a deadly Shikai/Bankai ability, Kido Expert, and Shunpo Master - Byakuya mixes the elements of cool and fast. Not only that, he can foresee his opponents next move, always remains calm during a fight, and he isn't hesitant to abide by a set of rules and regulations to ensure the peace and prosperity of the Soul Society. 

Backstory/Role in Story (Auron) 

Not a lot is emphasized on Auron’s childhood and teenage years. In his adult years, he was a devoted warrior monk in Bevelle and was well-respected by the high clergy of Yevon. However, when Auron was arranged to marry a high priest’s daughter, in which he refused, he immediately fell out of favor by the clergy and the promotion among Yevon’s elite was handed down to one of his friends. Although Auron’s career turned upside-down ever since that incident, he was eventually called in by Summoner Braska as his guardian for the pilgrimage to Zanarkand to defeat Sin. Braska’s high noble character helped Auron turn back to the right way of respectability because he had so much admiration to Braska and pledged undying loyalty to him. When Braska recruited Jecht, Auron reverted back as he thought Jecht was not fit to be a guardian, but Braska proceeded to add Jecht because to Braska, it would be a unique way to defeat Sin with a bunch of misfits and polar opposites. Eventually, Auron would grow even closer to Jecht. With Braska and Jecht’s sacrifice to defeat Sin with the Final Summon, Auron was tasked with two things: to bring Braska’s daughter, Yuna, to Besaid and to be the caretaker of Jecht’s son, Tidus in Jecht’s Dream Zanarkand. Auron eventually went back to Bevelle to fulfill Braska’s request, but he was mortally wounded by Lady Yunalesca and died a slow death, but before he “died”, he passed on Braska’s request to Kimahri to take Yuna to Besaid and take care her.

Though Auron’s physical body died before the start of Final Fantasy X, his soul did not get sent off into the Farplane because he barely fulfilled Braska’s task and still has yet to fulfill Jecht’s request so he remained in Spira as an unsent soul. After the Calm (a peaceful period of Spira) since Sin’s defeat by Braska using Jecht as the Final Aeon to defeat it, Jecht becomes the new Sin, beginning a new cycle for Spira and Auron, now with a new body constructed by soul pyreflies, rode off with Sin to Dream Zanarkand to meet Tidus. With Sin destroying the Dream Zanarkand, Auron rescues Tidus and brings him out of the Dream to the real world of Spira. Auron re-appears again in Luca where Tidus was journeying along with his newfound party were tagging along Yuna’s pilgrimage. Auron eventually reunited with them during a fiend outbreak during a Blitzball tournament in Luca , but he hid his unsent state. After defeating Lady Yunalesca in Zanarkand, Auron eventually reveals his true, undead state to Tidus. After battling Sin, Seymour, Jecht, and finally Yu Yevon, Auron’s unsent state is eventually revealed to everyone as pyreflies started flowing away from him. Though his state demoralized Yuna the most, Auron tells her to continue on now that his spirit can finally have eternal rest since he fulfilled every promise, joining Braska and Jecht into the Farplane and taking Tidus with him now that the Fayth can stop dreaming Tidus with Sin was defeated.

Powers/Abilities (Auron)

Without a doubt, Auron is one of the strongest characters in the main party of Final Fantasy X and he is a badass in his own right; the shades, the mini scar on his right eye leaving it shut, and the way he carries his katana on the back of his shoulders. Most of his abilities emphasize on weakening the enemy’s normal stats and with his Sentinel ability, he can (at any random time) defend a party member whom the enemy intends its attack on. Possessing high strength, defense, and HP stats, Auron can take on stronger enemies, but he also has low speed and accuracy leaving him against faster and more versatile enemies. His katana has the Piercing ability where it can weaken more defensive-minded foes and his Overdrive special attack is Bushido and it takes on four different skills: Dragon Fang, where he jumps into the air, unleashing an explosion with his blade that inflicts damage on all enemies, Shooting Star, swiftly attacking one opponent with a heavy blow, Banishing Blade, using his alcohol on his blade, lighting it up and unleashing a powerful blow, and the Tornado, devastating twister spawning from his blade and throwing his alcohol bottle to set it ablaze. Even though he is the quietest of the group, he serves as the main party’s mentor, that particular source of veteran leadership, not to mention, he’s already dead (Fist of the North Star reference).

Verdict (By MechG2994)

And the winner is...

MechG2994 here once again to give you the verdict for round 4. There is no doubt that both characters are calm, collected, and sometimes both can be a pain in the @$$ to the hotheads in their respective universes. But all in all, the verdict was conflicting, but after further review of both, there’s no doubt in my mind that Byakuya is the victor of this fight. I really find a lot of similarities between both Auron and Byakuya, aforementioned, they’re calm in battle, both are loyal to what they firmly believe in, and both are caretakers: Auron to Tidus and Yuna and Byakuya to Rukia. Now it is true that Auron possesses what Byakuya doesn’t have: using veteran leadership towards his young party to fight on as evident in the battle with Lady Yunalesca in Zanarkand, but since this is one on one, Auron is in a lot of trouble. In terms of powers and abilities, Byakuya absolutely destroys Auron in that category for a couple reasons: Byakuya is more accurate and precise when attacking with his Zanpakto, he’s a crafty tactician, and he’s fast and agile. Like I said in Auron’s powers and abilities section, he has strength and defense, but he lacks speed and accuracy. As people would say “speed kills” and Auron would have a tough time keeping up with Byakuya, he’s going to be even deader (a satire towards Auron’s dead state). Not to mention, the thing that caught my eye about Byakuya the most is that he gets injured in one battle after another, but even if he’s injured, he still has the will to fight on, that is the mark of a true warrior! He’s on that Kobe Bryant s***, playing through the pain and injuries, win or lose and that is why Byakuya Kuchiki is the victor in my opinion (sorry FFX fans if you have to see two of your prominent characters get their @$$es handed on a silver platter for two straight BF posts, look on the bright side though, there’s still one more prominent FFX character left on my board).

So who do you think won? Byakuya Kuchiki from Bleach or Auron from Final Fantasy X? Comment below and let us know. Look forward to Bleach Fantasy posts every Monday & Friday (unless specified) around 9am-11:59pm. As always, you all stay classy now. FF currently is tied 2-2 against Bleach.