#zessen

[gear-project]

So with Anji stealing the Zessen which powered the Japanese Colony's barrier, what does that mean for the colony? Is the barrier fully gone? And has anything significant entailed from that?

GGXtra isn't very specific about what Colony had the barrier, but according to Xrd, the largest Japanese Dimensional Colony is Miyabi.

Around the year 2187, "Former" Pope Ariels issued a decree that the Japanese could leave their colonies for the first time in many years, basically overturning any rules that said the Japanese survivors were quarantined.

Of course, we all know that was a "trap" to try and destroy Humanity.

But even so, it marked the end of the Quarantine, so that Japanese people could finally leave the colony without a sense of worry that they had any disease compared to the rest of the world (though that might not have changed other peoples' opinion of the Japanese people... it still is a step in a better direction).

At any rate, with regards to the Barrier:

1. By the time Ky Kiske went to investigate the Zessen's whereabouts, the Barrier had already been replaced by a substitute. The elderly monk running the temple that held the Zessen was already using an imitation of it.

2. That same monk was the one who permitted Anji to use the Zessen, even though the rest of the world deemed the OutRage Jinki to be stolen.

3. The reason we know that the Barrier was replaced was because Ky still had to use a talisman he obtained from Kliff Undersn in order to enter the currently existing barrier. If the barrier no longer existed, he would not have needed to use the talisman to enter the colony.

So in other words, there's still a Barrier over the Colony now, it's just an imitation of the one the Zessen originally generated.

Since the events of Revelator, there hasn't been any public statement on the current status of the Japanese people, though I'm sure in private chambers there is still the concern about Gear D.N.A. in connection with the Japanese people (i.e. Ki Overflow syndrome), but those who are in the know are slowly working on solving the issue.

Kum Haehyun (and possibly) Faust would be on the case to solve that issue if necessary. Even Chronus appears to be working on atoning for past events, so he might be involved as well.

Lastly, given Nagoriyuki's recent interactions with Baiken and Anji Mito, it appears that there hasn't been any issues having access to the Colony, though instead of Miyabi, their meeting place was the Lap of the Kami.

[gear-project]

Curious about Anji's abilities, does he have the ability to teleport in some way and if so, does it have to do with his fans or anything? His Strive intro animation had me curious about it for a while, which looks pretty awesome.

He does to an extent, but I doubt it's on the same level as Izuna, Bedman, Faust, Ariels, or Raven's abilities to Teleport (or Testament for that matter)... or at least, he hasn't displayed any major uses of it except in one instance:

During the events of Guilty Gear Xtra, Mizuha's powers unexpectedly awakened and she teleported both herself and Tyr outside of the colony and ended up near Axl Low's location (a whole continent away).

During that time, they were ambushed by Geena, a rogue member of the Postwar Administration Bureau who was chasing Tyr for his powers and Mizuha for hers.

Axl Low was able to fend off (and even drop a building) on Geena, but she survived and kept attacking Tyr until he lost control of his powers.

Anji just "happened to be there at the right time" to help Mizuha put Tyr to sleep before he caused any major damage.

It's likely that Anji is able to sense unusual air frequencies (the Zessen is based in Wind elemental magic, obviously, but it can amplify sound as well), which is why he was able to pick up on Mizuha's Electromagnetic signal and help her with her Kotodama (Voice Magic).

He can probably also use the Zessen to fly to a limited extent (or glide on the air currents at least).

[gear-project]

Just curious, I probably wasn't paying attention before since I never played the old games but has Anji's fans always looked that massive? I know Zessen is one of the Sacred Treasures and fairly powerful, so they are obviously no ordinary fans, but wow they look huge in that trailer of his.

The Zessen have always been able to transform in to different sizes, among other things.  They can even manipulate/amplify sound itself.

In fact, many of Anji’s frame attacks had unique Kanji to them.

You can see more of them here.

They also acted as a massive dimensional barrier around the largest Japanese Colony, Miyabi.

Their true form is something akin to a spiritual Wind-based Dragon.

[gear-project]

Yeah I was wondering how you thought that Zessen needed Japanese blood to activate, never saw that in Xtra or the XX games. If I do recall Guilty Gear Judgement says this, but with the translation mistakes in that game I wouldn't put much weight on it. Even though with the new information we get the game makes more sense.

Thank you EVER SO MUCH for jogging my memory!

Yes, in fact Raymond DOES say Anji can use the Zessen “thanks to his Japanese Ancestry” (I just checked the script).

And as far as that particular passage goes in the script, I don’t think it’s mistranslated, because then he’d say something like “you wield the Zessen AND/Because you’re Japanese” which is already obvious and redundant.

Still, GGJ canonicity is disputable, so I think we’ll file this under the peripheral “Gaiden” part of the story.

Jinki OutRage certainly are canon, as is the Magic required to activate them, but the precise nature of said Magic used is up for grabs: Water, Wind, Ki, Fire, Lightning… And perhaps even “Blood” activation!

Perhaps Testament or A.B.A. will shed more light on Blood ritual Magic in the future and how it might relate to the OutRage.

[gear-project]

.  .  .

Ugh, I hate it when I can't find old data, especially if it's been rattling around inside my head for years!

I'm trying to find the "source" of that Japanese Blood > Zessen connection, but it's not in any of my immediate notes from GGXtra, though I could have sworn that was the source.

It wasn't in Ed Chang's old FAQ either.  I may have to go retrieve some data from Japanese website sources just to be sure.

It might be mentioned in other sources, though more obscure.

GG Codex says Daisuke never explained what all it could do yet.

[gear-project]

Was there a specific reason why Tyr was sealed in the Japanese colony?

I would assume it has to do with the Power he has to absorb Magic and convert any physical matter in to other matter, and even disassemble matter itself.

That’s a very dangerous power, actually… and a deadly weapon if gained in the wrong hands.

As for why he was sealed in the Colony itself… it may have to do with how the Zessen functions as a barrier.

The Japanese were less simply “living there” as much as being Quarantined under a Dimensional Barrier to be kept separate from the rest of Humanity for a hundred years.

The reason behind the quarantine is currently unknown.  Despite this, they are still called ‘National Treasures’, as they are survivors of the Crusades.

Since the Zessen was stolen by Anji Mito, the barrier disappeared and caused some problems with the Japanese… after that someone seems to have “replaced” the Barrier.  I assume the Kum family had something to do with restoring Order in the Colony.

[gear-project]

This is a question about Sol's ethnicity. While he is a born and raised American, since he designed Zessen so that it can only be activated and wielded by those of Japanese blood, could this possibly mean that he is part-Japanese as well? Or was that a fail-safe feature created to prevent letting just anyone use it should it be stolen?

You bring up an interesting question, though it has little to do with Frederick’s ethnic origins.

The Zessen, while still considered a part of the OutRage as a whole, was built around the concept of forming Dimensional Barriers and is able to manipulate Wind and Sound.

Anji Mito has been seen using it to enhance Mizuha’s Kotodama (or spirit “voice”, a voice generating Ki energy).

The Japanese have a strong connection with Ki based on their bloodlines alone… but the reason Zessen is ‘activated’ via that bloodline is currently a mystery.

Sol has not explicitly stated the reason he allowed the Zessen to fall in to the hands of the Japanese… and it might very well be that the “bloodline restriction” was added later by someone else (possibly the Conclave).

But one thing is certain… the Japanese appear to have a strong connection to the Backyard, because of their Ki-based bloodlines… it was for that reason that “That Man” targeted Japan and used Justice to destroy it, in order to sever the connection.

The Zessen itself was later used to form a “barrier” around the Japanese Colony to prevent contact from the outside world…

Considering the “threat” that the Japanese pose as a potential “conduit” of the Universal Will… that might be a possible reason the Zessen was so specially designed to function in this way, as an Anti-Backyard device.

So you could say that the Zessen was “programmed” to activate and form a barrier in the presence of Japanese bloodlines as a failsafe to prevent contact with the Backyard.  A failsafe that Frederick might have designed with consideration to the events that occurred during the Dawn of Revival and the destruction of Japan.  Of course, that’s speculation.

No one actually considered the idea of using the Zessen as a weapon except Anji Mito!  Fans are rather unorthodox weapons, as you may know.  Of course, while Anji Mito is accused of “stealing” the OutRage… in reality it was entrusted to him by the elder of the shrine who had kept the Zessen when it was “lost” during the Crusades.

Currently it’s unclear if the Colony still has any sort of barrier around it in place of the Zessen… but likely that is the case, since Johnny makes a remark in GGXrd to the effect that those who enter the Colony cannot technically leave without some means or token.

Dr. Faust warns Johnny to keep May away from the Colony at all costs due to “something” that may be happening there in the near future.

As for Anji Mito’s whereabouts… only time will tell what he’s been up to the past 6 years since he began his journey with Baiken to observe “That Man’s” activities.

Chances are good Sol will be looking for Anji to recover the Zessen from him in the future, since he’s already obtained the Flashing Fang from the Conclave (and still possesses the Firesealed Sword).

[gear-project]

Is Sol's default weapon (the one he uses when he's not activated Dragon Install) in Guilty Gear 2: Overture, still the Fuuenken? If it is still the Fuuenken, why did Sol bother to modify it, and if it isn't, why would Sol ditch his own weapon he has grown accustomed to over the years? Also, while we are on the subject of weapons, is Order-Sol's sword literally just a slab of concrete/made of stone? How did it not just crumble or break the second he smacked a Gear with it, if this is the case?

Not much info is given in regards to the Fireseal's status in Overture...but, I can say that any Jinki Fragment of the OutRage is more than likely capable of transforming or upgrading itself for its user as necessary.

It's reasonable to assume this because the very nature of OutRage is that they are originally Metaphysical objects called out by something like a chord contract.

For example, the Zessen fans cannot be activated unless the blood of a Japanese user summons them, and as you probably know by now, the Zessen themselves take on all manner of shapes and forms depending on which attacks Anji uses...since they can change in size, shape, and appearance.

Chances are the Fireseal itself changes shape for Sol depending on his needs...so what you see in Overture is probably a stripped down version (a sheet blade with a chainsaw subfunction).

To answer your question about Order-Sol's weapons of choice...he's been known to wield 3 different kinds of weapons. A blade with what appears to have some kind of cog-wheel for a hilt, a standard single-handed axe, and his simplistic sheet-metal blade (probably something he cobbled together on the spur of the moment). Most likely it isn't concrete because of the fact that Gears are a lot tougher than most concrete, since they can make mountains of rubble rather easily.

Sol Badguy has also been known to dual-wield his weapons. Sometimes an axe in one hand and the Fireseal in the other, sometimes an upgraded Fireseal and a giant blade in his other hand...considering his unrefined fighting style, he probably uses what's available and durable at any given time.