Bleach Fantasy Round 13: Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Kain Highwind (Calm after the Storm, Violent after the Calm)

VS.

There's a saying I'd like to start with - Calm after the Storm, Violent after the Calm. What does this mean? Well it's related to these two warriors ~ one is seen as a calm man with ambitions and the other is literally a storm ~ violent and prone to acting out of anger or boredom. One is armored up and the other isn't. One is in love with someone and the other is in love with being the Storm behind everything and anything. Pretty much what I'm trying to say is ~ One is unlike the other. This makes the fight unpredictable, yet my curiosity stems from the idea of who'll win in the end ~ The Calm or The Storm? This Friday's BF matchup is Bleach's very own Kenpachi "The Storm" Zaraki and Final Fantasy IV/The IV After Years' Kain "The Calm" Highwind. The following will be compared: Backstory/Role in Story, Powers/Abilities, and Verdict (By Stillmattic). FF currently lead 7-5 (As of May 19th, 2014) against Bleach. As said before, my portions will be noted in Blue and MechG2994's in Purple. The titles are noted in Yellow. 

Backstory/Role in Story (Kenpachi Zaraki)

Prior to becoming the 11th Captain of the Gotei 13 or heck, even before meeting his future Lieutenant, Kenpachi was born in the lawless district in the North Valley of Rukongai - Zaraki. As a child, he took it upon himself to take the Zanpaktou of a already dead Shinigami and implanted his soul upon it to make it officially his. His renowned swordsmanship improved overtime as he garnered the attention of then 11th Division Captain & current "Kenpachi," Yachiru Unohana. This was the first fight Zaraki felt anxious and fearful of his life, but later came to admire and respect her. Sometime later, he met a little girl and named her after his admirer and the district she was born in - Yachiru Kusajishi. He, alongside Yachiru, also met Ikkaku & Yumichika, now forming the current 11th Division. Zaraki Kenpachi took it upon himself to kill the current "Kenpachi" and became the new 11th Division Captain. During his time as a Captain, he was trained in the art of Kendo by then Captain-Commander, Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto. 

At the very beginning of the Rescue Arc, Kenpachi Zaraki was one of Ichigo's opponents (the first two being against Ikkaku & Renji). The two fought valiantly and it came out to be a draw, but Kenpachi, admiring Ichigo's strength and tenacity, gave him the victor. Sometime after recovering, Kenpachi aids Ichigo's team in saving Rukia and challenged Kaname & Komamura, putting both his life & rank at state in aiding Ichigo's cause to rescue Rukia. It wouldn't be long before the Soul Society has to face its new enemy - Aizen Sousuke & his army of Arrancars. Kenpachi, alongside Byakuya, was forced to take-back Captain Hitsugaya's squadron as to prevent further assistance in Ichigo's rescuing of Orihime. However, deep down, Kenpachi could care less about orders as he, Byakuya, Unohana, & Kurotsuchi enter Hueco Mundo and fight against the Espada. Here, Kenpachi fought valiantly against Nnoitra. Kenpachi almost lost his life, but he remembers the Old Man (Yamamoto) teaching him Kendo. Utilizing what he taught from the Old Man, Kenpachi subdues Nnoitra. After Aizen's defeat, the Soul Society has to deal with its new enemy - the Wandenreich, led by Yhwach. Kenpachi easily defeats 3 Stern Ritters, but lost terribly to Yhwach as he holds him by the neck, almost lifeless. It wasn't until later where Captain Kyoraku, now 1st Division Captain after Yamamoto's death, tells the Central 46 that Yachiru Unohana will train Zaraki Kenpachi in the art of fighting. The two Kenpachi(s) fight with Zaraki ending up winning against his former admirer, but is saddened by her loss as it is the most entertaining fight he's ever had. He hears a voice coming from his Zanpaktou, now being able to communicate with it as he could never had in the past. It is recently revealed that he learned of his Zanpaktou's name - Nozarashi after having fought against Gremmy "The Visionary Thoumeaux and nearly saving Yachiru's life (although her whereabouts are unknown). However, before Kenpachi had anytime time to relax after Gremmy dug his own grave, the TGPZ Sisters (Thunderbolt, Glutton, Power, & Zombie) arrived, did considerable damage to both KEnpachi & his squadron, and is left on the floor - weakened by the combined efforts of the enemy attacks. Ichigo shows up in aiding the weakened Kenpachi. 

Backstory/Role in Story (Kain Highwind)

Born in Baron, Kain’s details about his mother were unknown but his father, Ricard was the Commander of the Dragoons. Sometimes, as Kain recounts in The After Years, he and his father didn’t see eye-to-eye too much due to the fact that Ricard was a strict man, a man emphasizing on high discipline and Kain didn’t like that. That father-son relationship didn’t see better days because when Kain was still young, Ricard died from unknown circumstances and there were rumors and assumptions that he was assassinated. With no one to look over him, The King of Baron took Kain under his wing and raised him along with his rival, Cecil. Though they weren’t exactly rivals yet, the tension build when the king kept favoring Cecil, treating him like his own son. The two would get into fights, but most of their fights are broken up by a girl named, Rosa. Rosa would eventually be the love interests for both because Kain grew to have feelings for her, but Rosa has more mutual feelings for Cecil, putting a love triangle in an already heated rivalry. The king wanted Kain to be like Cecil and be a dark knight, but Kain turns that down to go by his father’s wishes and become a full-fledged Dragoon. From there, he took care of his father’s dragon, who grew weak ever since Ricard died and it was still awaiting his return. The bond between Kain and his father’s dragon put a halt to the Dragoons disbanding and Kain eventually became the next Dragoon Commander.

After being replaced by Golbez to become the leader of the Red Wings (Baron’s military spearhead), Cecil was ordered to deliver a ring to the village of Mist and defeat the Mist Dragon that vanguards the passageway to the village. Kain was ordered to accompany his rival, but he disapproved of Cecil’s dismissal as the Red Wings leader. After defeating the Mist Dragon, they deliver the ring to the village, but it activates a trap to burn down the village. Kain and Cecil find a girl and her dead mother (happened to be the Summoner of the Mist Dragon) and the girl refused Cecil and Kain’s refuge, summoning Titan, who creates an earthquake to separate Mist from other locations near it. After that fateful event, Kain just went missing, but resurfaced again to be Golbez’ 2^nd in command and is subjugated under his control. During an attack on Fabul for their crystal, Kain backstabs Cecil and was ready to kill him, but Rosa intervenes, prompting Golbez to kidnap her. Simultaneously, Kain takes Fabul’s crystal with him and escapes with Golbez, allowing Cecil to live to fight another day. Kain was tasked to guard the imprisoned Rosa on the Tower of Zot and Kain starts showing his protective feelings towards her promising that none of Golbez’ minions lay a hand on her. He requests Golbez for another shot at defeating Cecil, but Golbez denies his request and sends his archfiends instead to deal with Cecil. After Golbez steals the airship fleet, he begins to ponder about getting the last crystal and Kain insists that they put a ransom on Cecil to get the crystal in exchange for Rosa’s life. Cecil agrees to do so and Kain takes him to the Tower. Cecil commits to his end of the bargain, but Golbez changes his mind about willing to let Rosa go. One of Cecil’s party members, Tellah attacks Golbez using Meteor, weakening Golbez and freeing Kain from his control. Kain rejoins Cecil’s side in an attempt to rescue Rosa, which they did and Kain confesses his secret love for Rosa and apologizes as a sign of closure. Back in Baron, with the four Earth Crystals in Golbez’ possession being worrisome to the party, Kain reveals there are four more called “dark crystals” in the Underworld and they are key to “open the way of the moon.” The party insists to defend them from Golbez and Kain hands Cecil the Key of Magma to gain access to the Underworld. They fail that task and Kain is under Golbez’ control again to take the last dark crystal. They use the crystals and activate the Tower of Babil, then summoned the Giant of Babil towards Earth to potentially wipe out all sentient life. Venturing into the Red Moon encountering the Lunarian, Fusoya, Cecil, Kain, and the rest of the party go back to Earth and defeat the Giant. Once again being freed from Golbez’ control, it was revealed that he and Golbez were controlled by the evil Lunarian, Zemus. Back on the moon, Fusoya and Golbez battled Zemus, defeating him and Cecil, Kain, and the rest battled Zemus’ manifestation, Zeromus, defeating it and returning to Earth. Cecil and Rosa get married, but Kain refuses to attend as a sign of atonement. In The After Years, Kain ventured into Mt. Ordeals to face his dark counterpart and help out a boy named Ceodore (revealed to be Cecil and Rosa’s son) in his aspirations to attain knighthood. Kain defeats his dark counterpart and becomes a Holy Dragoon and eventually reunites with his old friends to help free Cecil from the control of the Mysterious Girl.

Powers/Abilities (Kenpachi Zaraki)

Prior to becoming a full-fledged Captain, he was renowned in swordsmanship - testing out his blade to any who oppose him. Even as a kid, Yachiru Unohana, the former 11th Division Captain & 1st Kenpachi, said that she was too much for Zaraki. As a Captain, Zaraki Kenpachi learned Kendo from Captain Yamamoto - amplifying his spirit energy a lot more than when he just used one arm in swinging his sword. Kenpachi's Zanpaktou is always in its Shikai state - amplifying his Spirit energy to the point where he has become a feared and renowned Captain. He was able to take-on both Kaname Tosen & Sajin Komamura in their Bankai states and this was way before he used Kendo on Nnoitra or found out that his Zanpaktou finally communicated with him. In fighting Yachiru Unohana to the death, he unlocked his true power and resolve. One of Kenpachi's strongest attributes is his ability to endure blow by blow by his opponents - having enhanced endurance, durability, and strength in combat. Much like a brick wall, it'll take a lot before it can truly be toppled. His Reiatsu truly is unruly when it comes to combat - exerting everything when his eyepatch is off (which conceals his Spirit Energy). As a Captain, he is one of the strongest in representing the Gotei 13. As said before, Kenpachi learned of his Zanpaktou's real name ~ Nozarashi. Although its abilities are unknown, it was able to cut down the Meteorite that Gremmy imagined and anything and everything that stood in its path. It's a huge-@$$ blade that can pretty much cut through any object. 

Powers/Abilities (Kain Highwind)

Oh dear, where to start off with Kain’s powers/abilities? Well ladies and gentleman, Kain is one of those special FF characters whose skillset does not revolve around magic/elemental attacks. Part of that is that throughout the whole game, Kain doesn’t learn any magic naturally, so that means all of his abilities rely on the physical department. He has decent physical stats to say the lease, emphasizing on HP, strength, speed, and stamina and his speed and stamina are key reasons why Kain is such an agile, physical fighter. It’s not until The After Years where he learns some magic as he becomes a Holy Dragoon, but those magic skills are not emphasized on elemental-attacks, mainly because Kain’s magic spells as a Holy Dragoon emphasize on White Magic, which focuses on padding up a person’s stats or weakening an opponent from its normal stats. Kain’s primary weapon is a spear, particularly his ultimate weapon, Abel’s Lance deals great damage (duh all ultimate weapons do), has decent accuracy, and can cast tornado at any given time to all foes (bosses included). Aside from spears, Kain can wield a handful of axes, some swords, and can equip all armor, shields, helmets, and gloves. His special ability is Jump, typical from air to ground attack dealing critical damage to an opponent; when he performs that, opponents are unable to perform attacks when he is on the air. If one completes Kain’s Lunar Trials, he gains the ability of Double Jump, basically dealing twice as much damage and having faster execution.

Verdict (By Stillmattic)

And the winner is...

After evaluating these two beasts, It boils down to whose stronger and can kick the other person's @$$. In the end, it was bound to be in Kenpachi's favor because, if you look at his backstory ~ he was a violent violent violent kid. He craved fights and was on par with the very 1st Kenpachi herself. He took the Zanpaktou of a deceased Shinigami, made it his own, and has been renowned for his fearlessness in combat as well as his destructive and immoral persona as a merciless and bloodthirsty Captain. With Kain, I found that he had more depth as a character and, as I said before, sometimes an empty plate is  far more interesting than a full plate. I found Kain's abilities to be interesting considering he is agile, has a badass spear, and can wield a variety of other weapons ~ but it doesn't change the fact Kenpachi would mop the floor with him. I personally believe that Kenpachi'z Nozarashi can cut through Kain's spear or his utility of weapons. Remember, Kenpachi manages to fight just about anyone and comes out alive - Ichigo Kurosaki, Kaname Tosen, Nnoitra Gilga, and Gremmy Thoumeaux were all opponents that gave him a beating, but it didn't change the fact that he managed to stand his own AND come out on top. He managed to figure out Tosen's Bankai patterns, endure Nnoitra in his Resurreccion, handle Ichigo in his resolved state, & outlast Gremmy's imagination. So in a fight between whose stronger AND can kick the other person's @$$ ~ Kenpachi takes the cake. 

So who do you think would win a fight? Kenpachi Zaraki from Bleach or Kain Highwind from FF IV/IV: The After Years? Comment below and let us know. As always, look forward to Bleach Fantasy posts every Monday & Friday all throughout May posted between 8am-11:59pm. The next BF Round (14) will also be chosen and decided by yours truly. Until then, stay classy Bleach fans! FF CURRENTLY leads 7-6 against Bleach (As of May 23rd, 2014). Throwback is posted below