Bleach Fantasy II Round 19: Kisuke Urahara vs. Seymour Guado

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 once again snatched another victory against Bleach (FF still leads 12-6 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 19 ~ Kisuke Urahara vs. Seymour Guado. 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 (Kisuke)

Kisuke Urahara grew up in the Shihoin household alongside his childhood friends Yoruichi Shihoin and Tessai Tsukabishi. Around the time Yoruichi joined the Gotei 13 as the 2nd Division Captain/Commander of the Stealth Force, Kisuke soon followed and became 3rd seat under Yoruichi's division. Kisuke, being a member of the 2nd Division's Stealth Force, was the head of the Stealth Force's Detention Unit. 110 years ago, the former 12th Division Captain was promoted to the Royal Guard and Kisuke was then made the new Captain (recommended also by Yoruichi); starting the Shinigami Research & Development Institute alongside then subordinates: Hiyori Sarugaki (Lieutenant) and Mayuri Kurotsuchi (found in the Maggot's Nest ~ prison). During this time frame, Aizen began his hollowification experiments and various Shinigami, notably Captains Shinji Hirako, Love Aikawa, Kensei Muguruma, & Rojuro "Rose" Otoribashi, Vice- Captains Lisa Yadomaru, Mashiro Kuna, & Hiyori Sarugaki, and Kido Corps Lieutenant Hachigen Ushoda were affected and were on the brink of persecutiob. Kisuke, alongside Tessai uncovered Aizen's plan and tried in vain to stop him, but Aizen gracefully escaped. With his friends hollowified, Kisuke & Tessai did everything in their power to figure out a way to reverse the hollowification process ~ The Hogyoku is a key figure in dissolving the boundary between Hollows & Shinigami. As a result, Kisuke, Tessai, & Yoruichi were forced into hiding since Central 46 implemented in killing the Visored experimented by Aizen, but putting the blame on Kisuke. Sometime later, Kisuke became acquainted with Isshin Shiba, 10th Division Captain, and helped him save Masaki from hollowification. He then lived out his life in the Human World ~ starting a shop alongside Tessai and helping Isshin in his new life.

When Rukia's powers were nearly taken by Ichigo, Kisuke offered her a Gigai. However, that Gigai contained the renowned Hogyoku ~ the power to diverge Hollows & Shinigami. Kisuke became Ichigo's teacher (as well as Chad & Orihime's) in his steps to becoming a Shinigami and mercilessly taught him everything he knew. With Rukia's life in danger due to her long stay in Karakura Town & giving her powers to a stranger, Kisuke aided Team Ichigo and opened up the Senkaimon so as to save her. Kisuke gave Rukia the Gigai with the Hogyoku so as to cover all traces of its existences and in hopes to protect it from Aizen, who then figured a way to create his very own. Sometime later, Kisuke aids Ichigo in the newly made Arrancar under Aizen's tutelage. He learns of their abilities, strengths, and weaknesses so as to figure a way to prevent any more casualties of Humans & Shinigami + for research. Much like w/saving Rukia, Kisuke opened up the Gargants so that Team Ichigo can save Orihime and thwart Aizen's plan. Upon Aizen's ascension into power, Kisuke came to the aid once more to stop him once and for all alongside Ichigo, Yoruichi, & Isshin. Though Ichigo was the one who put up a good fight against Aizen, Kisuke was the one responsible for sealing Aizen rather than killing him. When Ichigo lost his powers, Kisuke aided Karin (who wants to lend a helping hand to Ichigo) and, alongside various Shinigami, manifested a sword that gave Ichigo back his powers when Rukia impaled him (much like how Ichigo impaled himself with Rukia's blade). Later during the Wandenreich invasion, Kisuke enters Hueco Mundo and begins researching and analyzing ways to prevent Bankai from being stolen.  He figured a way to aid the Captains and now is aiding Ichigo in helping out the Royal Palace from being overrun by Yhwach. 

Storyline (Seymour)

Born to the Maester of Yevon, Jyscal Guado and an unknown human mother, Seymour’s birth was originally a means to establish an even stronger relationship between the Guado and the humans. However his existence made the tension between them even more intense and he became a source of pure hatred for both. As a result of this, Jyscal asked his retainer’s wife to take Seymour and his human wife out of Guadosalam and bring them to the Baaj Island to live in exile. In childhood, Seymour went to Zanarkand with his mother so that her mother could become part of the fayth and Seymour could use her Aeon incarnate, Anima as means to defeat Sin and bring the Calm so he can win the hearts of Spira. However, Seymour was overcome with grief after losing her mother once she became one with the fayth, refusing to accept company of people and spent the rest of his life in isolation. By the time Seymour grew up, his exile was revoked and he was brought back to Guadosalam and killed his father to become leader of the Guado and become the next Maester of Yevon and he vowed to become Sin to release Spira from the suffering of existence.

Seymour first encountered Yuna and her guardians by secretly enacting a fiend attack in Luca, interrupting the blitzball tournament and used it as means to win respect by summoning Anima to vanquish them. During the conclusion of Operation Mi’ihen, Seymour protects Yuna from the Sinspawn Gui before killing it with the aid of her help and Auron’s help. Seymour then gives Yuna a little lecture that to be a summoner is to be a beacon of strength to the people of Spira. Seymour grew intrigued by Yuna’s potential and offers her to let him be her beacon. While Yuna and her guardians stayed in Guadosalam, Seymour shows a sphere of Zanarkand before its ruins and Lady Yunalesca. After, Seymour asks Yuna if he could marry him as justification that Spira needs something to celebrate in the midst of the cycle of Sin. Departing to the Macalania Temple, he notices Auron’s unsent state and said that the Guado like scent of the Farplane. As Yuna entered the Farplane to perform the sending of Jyscal, she finds out that Jyscal’s murderer was Seymour himself and Yuna accepted Seymour’s marriage proposal. As soon as Seymour and Yuna ended their Cloister of Trials in the Macalania Temple, Yuna’s guardians confronted him and killed him and defeated his Aeon, Anima. Although Seymour dies, his strong ties to Spira and Yuna’s refusal to perform the sending made Seymour an unsent. During the wedding in Bevelle, when Yuna’s guardians crashed the ceremony, Seymour labeled them as traitors to Yevon and put them on trial to the rest of the Maesters. Yuna successfully convinces the Maesters that Seymour was the one who murdered his father. Seymour then starts revealing his true intentions, killing Maester Kinoc and explaining that is goal was to use Yuna and become the next Sin to kill everyone to save Spira. Seymour transforms into Seymour Natus after absorbing nearby pyreflies of dead souls and eventually was defeated. As Yuna and her guardians ventured on in the pilgrimage, Seymour encounters again in Mt. Gagazet and overhearing about Tidus’ father, Jecht being the current incarnation, Seymour extends his offer to Tidus by freeing his father and transforms into Seymour Flux, but he’s eventually defeated and vanishes again. During the final battle against Sin, Seymour reappears again inside the beast in hopes to control it from the inside and eventually he is defeated once and for all in his Seymour Omnis form and Yuna finally sends his soul off to the Farplane.

Powers/Abilities (Kisuke)

Having found the Research & Development Institute, Kisuke is a key figure in the creation of various items such as the Hogyoku, Gigai Technology, Soul-Object Integration, Reiatsu Concealing Cloak, Tenshintai (Divine Transfer Body), Anti-Hierro Armor, Communicators, Healing Hot Springs, & the Shin'eiyaku (Shadow-Raiding Drugs). Being a former member of the 2nd Division, Kisuke is an expert  in swordsmanship, Hakuda (hand-to-hand), Shunpo, Kido, and, much like any Captain, possesses great Spiritual Pressure. Being a genius, Kisuke is always 1-2 steps ahead of his enemies as he was able to deduce Yammy's movements, figure a way to have the Shinigami retain their Bankai(s) from being stolen by the Wandenreich's amulets, and sealing Aizen before he could do anymore damage. He possesses enhanced strength, agility, durability, and, before, was a master assassin. Kisuke's true power lies in his Zanpaktou - Benihime (Crimson Princess). The Shikai abilities allow Benihime to perform Crimson-colored energy techniques such as: firing Crimson Blasts, forming a Crimson Shield, create a Crimson net that explodes upon coming in contact with something, and flinging his sword to fire Crimson attacks. His Bankai hasn't been revealed yet, but it is said to be too dangerous for training OR for helping others. 

Powers/Abilities (Seymour)

Seymour is a unique FF character because he is a temporary playable party member as well as serving as one of the main antagonists in the game. As a temporary playable character , he knows a handful of low level white magic and black magic spells and his weapon, the Seymour Staff, has the piercing ability to deal heavy damage against defensive-minded foes. His Overdrive attack, Requiem, deals some heavy non-elemental damage. As one of the main antagonist, he is fought in four forms: his mortal form, as Seymour Natus, Seymour Flux, and Seymour Omnis. As he goes from one form to another, his white/black magic spells increase in every for. His attributes/abilities add on from the previous form to the next such as having the ability to eject Yuna’s Aeons from the battlefield when summoned, and he becomes more immune to certain physical and magic attacks as well as casting deadly status ailments like Zombie in which a character is affected that using healing spells will kill him/her. In his mortal form, his Aeon, Anima fights alongside him and Anima’s most effective attack is Pain, causing instant death to a party member regardless if HP is at full strength or near depletion. 

Verdict (By MechG) 

And the winner is...

Despite Seymour’s role as one of the primary villains in in the FFX story arc, Kisuke defines a character as a man shrouded in mystery, but you just never know what he’ll bring to the table. He can sit back provide team Ichigo with enemy intel or become involved in a battle and use his genius intellect to his advantage. Not to mention when it comes to gaining their respective titles, Kisuke worked his way up in the ranks to become a respectable member of the Gotei 13 whereas Seymour killed his own father to gain the respective position as the Maester of Yevon. Gee, I wonder which person worked harder the most to get to where he is at in terms of status and/or title? Don’t get me wrong, the buildup of Seymour’s status as one of the main villains of FFX was solid. You thought he would become a main party member once being inserted as a guest character, but once his role as an antagonist became clear, he just played more like a stalker role to the main party in FFX and that’s when his plate became full from there on out. He didn’t have too many cunning or deceptive methods to show for in order to toy around with Tidus, Yuna, and the rest of the party during their quest to defeat Sin once and for all. Seymour may have four forms and a whole plethora of destructive powers/abilities as well as being a cheap @$$ boss in one of his forms, but sometimes the pen is mightier than the sword and Kisuke’s intellect in terms of strategy and tactics is just above head and shoulders and that intellect equals that of Bleach’s most notorious villain, Aizen. The guy even helped seal Aizen up to bring him back prisoner and end his reign of terror on the Soul Society for the time being. Kisuke Urahara takes the cake here. 

So who do you think won this matchup? Kisuke Urahara from Bleach or Seymour Guado from Final Fantasy X? 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 (12-7):

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)
16) Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck vs. Kefka Palazzo ~ Bleach (Verdict by Stillmattic)
17) Shinji Hirako vs. Emperor Mateus ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
18) Orihime Inoue vs. Yuna ~ Final Fantasy (Verdict by Stillmattic)
19) Kisuke Urahara vs. Seymour Guado ~ Bleach (Verdict by MechG)

WBCR & Throwback are posted below.