Bleach Fantasy II Round 15: Coyote Starrk vs. Cloud Strife

Welcome back to another installment of Bleach Fantasy II where MechG & I once again collaborate on pitting the world of Bleach & the various installments of the Final Fantasy franchise. On Wednesday, FF snatched another victory against Bleach (FF still leads 10-4 against Bleach), but many things can happen. Like MechG said, Bleach Fantasy II posts will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays. My daily schedule of Affinity, Watch-list, WBCR, & Throwback posts will be the same as always (if delayed, posts will be on weekends). Without further ado, let's get started on Bleach Fantasy II Round 15 ~ Coyote Starrk vs. Cloud Strife. Take into account that Storyline and Powers/Abilities are the deciding factors. MechG & I will switch-off ever 3 rounds in giving the verdict. Let's jam!

Storyline (Starrk)

Before Coyote Starrk was introduced as the 1st Espada under Aizen's army, he was alone out in Hueco Mundo ~ bringing death to just about any Hollow that comes near him. Starrk tried to coexist with the other hollows, but it only caused them to lose their souls and die. That is why Starrk's aspect of Death is Loneliness ~ he simply can't be around people without them dying. Starrk wanted to become weak ~ believing he can be closer to hollows if he were on the same level as him. This way, Starrk wouldn't be able to bring death to hollows without a fight and he can coexist with them. In his attempts to escape Loneliness, Starrk split his soul into two ~ Lilynette Gingerbuck. Despite not being remotely similar to another, they suspected that their original appearances correlates to nothing ~ just accepting that one is split entity of another without any comparisons other than just having each other's company. Starrk's willingness to become weak stems from his fear of being alone and resorting to splitting his soul into two just managed to give him some company and a person whom he can talk to (despite it being a part of him). If he, however, couldn't become weak ~ he wanted someone just as strong as him (On why, I don't know. This may stem from the idea that he wants someone to be strong so their on par with Starrk's existence). It wouldn't be long before Starrk and his other-half, Lilynette, roamed Hueco Mundo together in attempts to ease their Loneliness and make friends or find someone strong enough to tolerate them. Upon this, they discover Aizen's presence and he was neither fearful or weak when confronting them. Aizen, calm and collected, approached them warmly and with a helping hand ~ wanting to ease Starrk (and Lilynette's) Loneliness. Aizen was impressed of the mountain of hollows that died before Starrk, but insisted that he (and Lilynette) join his ranks. Finally, Starrk (and Lilynette) have a place to call home with other Espada who can tolerate them. It's a dream come true...

Starrk is first seen upon the birth of a new Arrancar (meant specifically to thwart Captain Yamamoto's Zanpaktou), Wonderwiss. However, Starrk was really introduced when Aizen assembled the Espada in forewarning them of the invading Ryoka (Ichigo, Uryu, & Chad). Upon entering to take his seat, Starrk told everyone to shut up because he's tried and lazy (which is his personality). After hearing of the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, was killed by Rukia Kuchiki, we get a glimpse of both Starrk and his split soul persona ~ Lilynette Gingerbuck. Despite being female, she's playful and often likes teasing Starrk, but questions whether Starrk will do anything about Aaroniero's death. Starrk's comment, short and sweet, in response to Aaroniero's death ~ I don't know. Starrk doesn't appear until way later in the Hueco Mundo Arc where he is forced to retrieve Orihime on Aizen's orders. And finally the Fake Karakura Town is where Starrk plays a pivotal role as he, alongside Baraggan & Harribel, are the only Espada left (excluding Ulquiorra's fight in Las Noches & Grimmjow, Nel, & Gantenbainne's whereabouts). Coyote Starrk reveals he's the 1st Espada to-then Captain of the 8th Division (now current 1st Division Captain), Shunsui Kyoraku. After a series of witnessing Kyoraku's attacks, and trying to outplay him in his game, he releases his Resurrecion (with Lilynette pretty much as his release) & Wonderweiss intervenes, leaving Kyoraku flustered with Ukitake's heart punctured. Seeing this as an opportunity to free all the Espada who are in trouble with fighting the Shinigami, Starrk takes his shot at Kyoraku and shoots him point back from behind. While Kyoraku was "disposed of," the Visored show up as back-up for Ichigo in hopes to turn the tide of the battle in the favor. Rose & Love, former 3rd & 7th division Captains turned Visored challenged Starrk, but the battle abruptly came to an end when Kyoraku was revealed to actually be alive and managed to cut down Starrk using one of Kyoraku's Zanpaktou abilities ~ The Colorful Demon (Irooni). Starrk (with Lilynette) fell victim to Kyoraku's blade as he dies ~ knowing that he wasn't alone for the first time.

Storyline (Cloud)

Born in Nibelheim, Cloud’s father died when he was still young, leaving his mother to raise him until he grew up. He was Tifa’s next door neighbor, but the two were complete polar opposites; Cloud was more antisocial, putting all exclusivity onto himself because to him there was a pecking order with him and the other children and in Cloud’s view, he was on top of everyone else while Tifa went out and made friends, hence why they were not really close. Regardless, Cloud actually fell in love with her, but still hated the friends she made. One day, Tifa was making her way to Mt. Nibel, believing she could see her dead mother again, but when the bridge collapse, Cloud attempted to spring into action to save her from harm’s way, though he was unsuccessful to play hero, leading Tifa’s father to forbid Cloud from seeing her after she sustained injuries. As a teenager, Cloud wanted to join the ranks of SOLDIER for two reasons: 1. To be like Sephiroth (who was still a war hero at that time) 2. To win Tifa’s heart. The two met at the local water tower one last time with Cloud making a promise to save Tifa whenever she’s in trouble. However, in Crisis Core, he only turned out to be a lowly infantryman for Shinra and in his return to Nibelheim, he would hide from her to avoid embarrassment. While in Modeoheim, he meets 1st class SOLDIER, Zack Fair and the two became like brothers from another mother because they had common interests. Cloud eventually sees his world turned upside down when he sees Sephiroth burn down Nibelheim, being taken away by Hojo and being injected with Mako, and seeing Zack get shot to death by an ambush as they made their way to Midgar.

In FF7, after a sequence of unfortunate events, Cloud becomes manifested with a different personality, taking up Zack’s memories/persona and shutting out his own. While in Midgar, Tifa eventually recognizes him and takes him in along with AVALANCHE lead by Barret. After a successful raid in the Sector 1 reactor, Cloud’s reclamation of his memories were put to the test early on as Tifa told him about the promise he made to her. That convinces Cloud not to leave AVALANCHE and wander off. In another mission to attack the Sector 5 reactor, Cloud falls down into the Sector 5 church, meeting Aeris and like what she asked Zack, she asked Cloud to be her bodyguard in exchange for one date, in which Cloud reluctantly agrees to do. The two discover Tifa entering a dating service to infiltrate Don Corneo’s mansion in order to question him about Shinra’s plans. In order for Cloud to fit in, Aeris cross dresses him as a girl. After interrogating Corneo, the three would be too late as Shinra weakens the pillars holding the Sector 7 plate and Shinra kills three AVALANCHE members and in the process, kidnapping Aeris. Cloud, Tifa, and Barret embark on infiltrating Shinra HQ to rescue Aeris. They meet Red XIII inside Hojo’s lab see remains of Jenova, and rescue Aeris, but they were imprisoned by Hojo. While sleeping in the prison area, Sephiroth stealthily sneaks in and kills every Shinra soldier including president Shinra himself, freeing Cloud and his party. Cloud battles the new president, Rufus on top of the HQ and manages to escape Midgar with the rest of the party. While in Kalm, Cloud was recalling the Nibelheim Incident, but he was putting himself in Zack’s shoes, convincing Tifa even more that his memory’s screwed up. For the majority, Cloud and company have been tracing Sephy’s whereabouts, hiding from Shinra, and meeting Tseng and the Turks along the way. While venturing in the Temple of the Ancients to retrieve the Black Materia, Cloud, due to the Jenova cells injected in him during Hojo’s experiment came under the control of Sephiroth in an attempt to kill Aeris. He finds Aeris underground in the Forgotten Capital, but Cloud doesn’t kill her, but Sephiroth does as he impales Aeris from behind after she activated Holy to prevent the Meteor attack on the Planet. After Aeris’ death, two pivotal moments came when Cloud makes his way to North Crater: when Hojo tells him about his Jenova Reunion Theory and how he was a test subject and when he fell into the Lifestream. Falling into the Lifestream the 1st time caused Cloud to overdose from Mako poisoning, leaving him paralyzed. The 2nd time Cloud fell, Tifa fell with him and enters his subconscious mind to restore memories of his true self. Tifa is successful and Cloud’s true memories are brought back. Cloud and the party managed to bring Shinra down during the Raid on Midgar and stopped Hojo to give Sephiroth a boost of energy through the Sister Ray Mako Cannon and they make their way down to the Planet’s core. They defeat Sephiroth and his true forms physically and Cloud delivered the final blow against him mentally while Holy pushes the Meteor back, saving the Planet from total destruction. I won’t emphasize Cloud’s role in Advent Children too much, but let’s just say Cloud undergoes depression while trying to prevent the Geostigma plague. He battles Sephiroth and his child manifestations: Loz, Kadaj, and Yazoo once more and defeats him again. While seeing visions of Zack and Aeris in the Sector 7 church, he finds that he is not alone anymore and the ending of AC pretty much asks what’s next for Cloud? Cloud plays a small role in Dirge of Cerberus helping Vincent and the World Regenesis Organization in the battle against Omega.

Powers/Abilities (Starrk)

Coyote Starrk, being the 1st Espada under Aizen's tutelage, possesses immense spiritual power and thus is forbidden in releasing his Zanpaktou within Las Noches because he could potentially do more harm than good in doing so. Despite his laidback and lazy demeanor, Starrk is a master swordsman as he was able to counter Kyoraku's twin blades, an expert in Sonido (being able to teleport within a few seconds in retrieving Orihime while avoiding both Ichigo & Kenpachi). Like any other Arrancar, he can fire Cero, but unlike everybody else, he can fire a Cero without using a "fighting pose" on any part of his body. He is also keen in battle ~ quickly observing the mannerisms, actions, strengths/weaknesses, and abilities of his opponent. His true power, however, lies in releasing his Resurreccion ~ Los Lobos (Wolf Pack in Japanese alongside Lilynette as his release). In his resurreccion, Starrk's strength and precision in firing Cero is intensified. Starrks signature weapon (with Lilynette talking humorously) is twin pistols that can fire multiple Ceros ~ being able to fire 1,000 at once. When using Cero Metralleta (Infinite Ammunition Hollow Flash), he can fire a barrage of Cero that appear fused together as a single blast, but the fearsome power of this attack lies in his ability to change the direction of where the Cero go. Another thing that makes Starrk a formidable foe is his enhanced Hierro (Steel Skin), being able to withstand Love's Shikai and come out unscathed. Aside from his twin pistols, Starrk can summon spiritual energy swords (much like Kuwabara in YYH) from his bandoleers which he used to combat Kyoraku's Zanpaktou, but a fearsome and eerie ability of Starrk's is summoning wolves that acts as bombs when come in contact with anything or anyone. One wolf was able to destroy a good portion of Fake Karakura Town and look at what more it could do when inflicting damage on a living being ~ Astronomical I tell ya. In other words ~ Don't mess with the Wolf or you'll get the fangs (Pun intended, lol).

Powers/Abilities (Cloud)

The iconic FF male protagonist out of all the FF male protagonists (arguable), no denying that Cloud is one of the GOAT (greatest of all time). Cloud wields the timeless massive Buster Sword as his weapon, first it was used by Angeal, then Angeal passed the sword down to Zack, and finally Zack passed the sword down to Cloud. In terms of abilities, Cloud has excellent balanced stats in Strength and Magic, but his Speed stat is weak. As the main protagonist, Cloud’s Limit Breaks deal the most damage to an opponent. His Limit Break order is as follows: 1) Braver, jumping downward slash and Cross Slash, performing three slashes, 2) Blade Beam, strikes down on the ground, unleashing a wave of energy and Climhazzard, stabbing an enemy and slashing upwards in the air 3) Meteorain, unleashing six meteors on and Finishing Touch, unleashing a tornado, 4) Omnislash, slicing the opponent 14 times and dealing the 15th blow absorbing a great wave of energy and dealing one big slash downward (defeated Sephiroth with this limit). In Advent Children, Cloud wields the Fusion Swords, six separate swords that he can use separately and can assemble into one (when the Fusion Swords combine, they resemble the likeness of that of the Buster Sword that Cloud wielded in FF7). When Cloud performs the Limit Break, Omnislash Version 5 with the Fusion Swords, they disassemble and surround the target, Cloud takes one of the swords and slices the opponent with, and repeats the process four times. In the finish to the limit, Cloud flies above, takes that main blade and strikes the target, causing a shockwave.

Verdict (By MechG)
And the winner is...

Consider this verdict a rehash over the last time Starrk was matched up against Squall in the first Bleach Fantasy post. The only minor difference is that Cloud has much more detail in both the storyline and powers/abilities aspects of his character. I will admit this, both characters have sh*tty upbringings, they bring death to their respective supporting characters, and they have the luxury of bad@$$ery with a lone wolf attitude. But thinking in an empty plate vs. full plate, I gotta go with the empty plate here because Starrk’s upbringing alone spells a lot of loneliness, not being adapted to companionship. Whereas Cloud, he already made a friend beforehand in Zack and only went lone wolf due to his ailing condition from Mako poisoning and witnessing Zack being shot in front of his own eyes. Once Tifa helps Cloud restore his memories and his own personality back, he starts to get some closeness from other FF7 characters.  From the start, Starrk was forever alone until he found Aizen or Aizen found him and took him under his wing. In terms of powers/abilities, Cloud may have the more bad@$$ abilities because of the trademark Buster Sword, but Starrk is basically the most powerful of all Espadas and not to mention as I said in the Ichigo verdict, Cloud excels in strength, but when it comes to speed and agility, he is most vulnerable. In addition Starrk possesses a great balance of both specializing in short range and long range weapons. The 1st Espada takes the cake here.

So who do you think won this matchup? Coyote Starrk from Bleach or Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII? Comment below and let us know. Reiterating again, Bleach Fantasy Round II posts will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays w/MechG & I interchanging every 3rd matchups on giving the verdict. Bleach Fantasy Round II standings (10-5):

1) Yoruichi Shihoin vs. Prishe ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
2) Uryu Ishida vs. Hope Estheim ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
3) As Nodt vs. Vincent Valentine ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
4) Kenpachi Zaraki vs. Jecht ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
5) Shunsui Kyoraku vs. Auron ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
6) Sui-Feng vs. Tifa Lockhart ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic) 
7) Mayuri Kurotsuchi vs. Barthandelus ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
8) Sajin Komamura vs. Sin ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)

9) Toshiro Hitsugaya vs. Kuja ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
10) Tia Harribel vs. Tidus ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
11) Bambietta Basterbine vs. Rinoa Heartilly ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
12) Riruka Dokugamine vs. Ultimecia ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
13) Baraggan Louisenbairn vs. Exdeath ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
14) Ginjo Kugo vs. Caius Ballad ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by MechG)
15) Coyote Starrk vs. Cloud Strife ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)