Match 20907 Judge Gabranth vs. Zelgius (The Black Knight)

[JohnnyChany]

FINAL FANTASY VS. FIRE EMBLEM

 

 

In the privacy of his personal chamber, Vayne Solidor, emperor of the Archadian Empire, sat alone, draped in regal attire. He appeared to be talking to himself until a spectral figure appeared and hovered above him. It was the rogue Occuria, Venat.

"The Kingdom of Daein seeks to challenge us," Vayne began. "A small, fractured nation led by a mad king. Their king hastens his own demise by provoking the might of the Archadian Empire. I see no true threat."

Venat floated beside the emperor like a ghostly advisor.

"Your confidence is well-founded, Vayne. Daein's armies are but a fraction of what Archadia commands. However, the true danger lies not in their military might, but below the surface of this conflict."

Vayne turned his head slightly with curiosity in his eyes. "Below the surface? Explain, Venat."

"Daein’s king is but a pawn in a much greater game. Behind him stands Sephiran, the prime minister of Begnion. He harbors ambitions far beyond territorial conquest. His goal is to awaken Ashera, the goddess sealed within Lehran's Medallion."

Vayne frowned and clasped his hands. "Ashera…? And what is his intent by awakening this goddess?"

Venat's voice was stern and full of foreboding. "Sephiran seeks to reset the world, to unleash divine judgment upon all of mortal kind. If Ashera is released, the world as you know it will be destroyed. Gods will reign once more, and our dream of returning the power to mortals will be no more."

The emperor’s brow furrowed as he processed the gravity of Venat’s words. 

Venat continued. "Sephiran means to plunge the world into chaos, forcing conflict and bloodshed on a massive scale to fuel his plan. If the war between Daein and Archadia spreads, it will provide enough energy to awaken Ashera. Sephiran does not need Daein to win, he only needs the war to escalate."

Vayne was taken aback but remained confident. "Then we will crush them before such a war can even begin. Our army, our airships, we can obliterate Daein before they gather any momentum."

Venat’s form flickered. "You misunderstand, Vayne. Crushing Daein will not stop Sephiran's plan. The war must be ended in such a way that their spirit is broken before they can escalate the conflict. And Daein has a weapon far more dangerous than their army."

Vayne was confused. “How is such a thing possible?"

“His name is Zelgius, He shields himself in the armor and the identity of The Black Knight,” Venat explained. “His power and prowess are beyond anything Archadia has faced before. He is not to be taken lightly. Zelgius has destroyed anything in Daein’s path with overwhelming might. He has the astounding ability to travel great distances in an instant affording him the opportunity to act as Daein’s sword or shield at any time. His armor, blessed by a goddes, is nearly impenetrable. He commands fear and respect, and as long as he stands, Daein will not falter."

"Then we must prioritize his elimination. Without him, the Daein forces will crumble."

"Yes. You must find someone capable of defeating the Black Knight, someone whose victory will crush Daein's spirit entirely.”

Vayne’s mind raced with possibilities before settling on one option. “Judge Gabranth.”

“I have long admired your gift for strategy. I hope this suggestion is a military calculation and not a political one to test Gabranth’s loyalties,” Venat warned.

“Gabranth is a loyal hound to the Empire and his blade is far superior to Bergan or Zargabaath,” Vayne insisted. “He is best suited for this task.”

"Very well. Instruct Dr. Cid to infuse Gabranth’s weapons with nethicite," Venat advised. "Only such power can hope to pierce the Black Knight’s divine armor."

Vayne stood with  determination in his eyes. "It will be donel. Gabranth shall be our champion. I will see to it that the Black Knight falls, and with him, Sephiran’s ambitions.”

Later, in the opulent throne room, Judge Gabranth bowed before the emperor with his twin blades resting by his side.

"Judge Gabranth," Vayne began, pacing before him. "The Kingdom of Daein has made their move. They seek to challenge the might of Archadia, but we will stop them before they succeed. You will confront their champion, the Black Knight, by luring him onto the battlefield. His death will signal the collapse of their will."

Gabranth’s voice was steady, though with a hint of uncertainty. "My lord, you wish me to confront this man in single combat?"

"Yes," Vayne confirmed. "Challenge him to a duel, in front of his men. Strike him down, and you will shatter Daein's resolve."

Gabranth bowed his head in acknowledgment, though his concern for Vayne’s younger brother, Lord Larsa, tugged at him. "And what of my duty to Lord Larsa?"

Vayne waved his hand dismissively. "Larsa is safe, surrounded by capable men. Your priority is here, Judge Magister. End this conflict before it can escalate further."

Gabranth nodded. "As you command, my lord."

The battlefield was vast, a sea of clashing steel and shouts of anger as the armies of Archadia and Daein met at the continental border. Gabranth arrived on the carrier airship, Ifrit, of the 8th Imperial Fleet of Archadia. He exited the airship and strode through the chaos, cutting through enemy soldiers with swift, precise strikes.. Daein soldiers fell before him, but even in the heat of battle, Gabranth’s eyes scanned the field, searching for his true target.

In the grand halls of Daein’s capital, the Black Knight, Zelgius, stood before the towering form of his master, Sephiran, the Prime Minister of Begnion.

"Zelgius, the Archadian Empire has sent Judge Gabranth to the battlefield. His appearance is not just a show of force; it presents us with a rare opportunity,” Sephiran informed.

Zelgius stood attentively. "Gabranth... I have heard of him, but I know little of his exploits. What makes him a threat?"

Sephiran gazed out a nearby window. "Gabranth is more than just a soldier. He is a man of unmatched skill, carrying out Archadia's justice with ruthless efficiency. His blades are said to cut through even the toughest of defenses, and he has crushed rebellions across Ivalice without so much as a moment's hesitation. Many who have faced him describe him as a force of nature, driven by unwavering loyalty to the empire."

Zelgius remained silent. He felt a quiet surge of anticipation. Finally, a worthy challenge was on the horizon. The prospect excited him.

"More than his prowess, it is his presence on the battlefield that is of great import," Sephiran continued. "Gabranth is a symbol of Archadia's unrelenting oppression. If he were to fall, the veneer of the Empire’s invincibility would falter. His death would send shockwaves through Ivalice, and embolden those countries underneath the boot of the Empire to rise up again. The resulting chaos is just what we need.”

The Black Knight nodded. "I understand. I will battle him. He will be a worthy test of my strength."

Sephiran placed a hand on Zelgius’s shoulder. "I trust you will do what is necessary.”

Zelgius stepped back and reached into his armor to pull out a small pouch of Warp Powder. The crystalline substance within shimmered faintly. Zellgius used it andvanished in a burst of dark energy.

Back at the battlefield, a ripple of energy swept across the battlefield. Gabranth watched as a fighter materialized from the shadows at the heart of the Daein forces. An imposing figure clad in pitch-black armor, the Black Knight had arrived.

Zelgius, using his Warp Powder, stood at the front lines with his massive sword, Alondite, in hand. He moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior and struck down Archadian soldiers with terrifying ease. His sword slashes were swift, effortless, yet devastating.

Gabranth’s gaze locked onto him. The Judge Magister stepped forward, his voice boomed across the battlefield. "Soldiers of Daein! No more blood need be spilled today. Let this conflict be decided by the strength of two men. Black Knight, face me in honorable combat, and let your army lay witness the fate that awaits those who challenge the Archadian Empire!"

Zelgius turned his head. "I accept your challenge, Judge Magister. A worthy foe is a rare gift on the battlefield."

The two warriors strode walked toward each other and their respective armies parted to give them space. 

Gabranth pointed one of his twin swords at Zelgius. "Will you face me as a man, or will you rely on that Warp Powder trick to move about the field of battle?”

Zelgius chuckled softly beneath his helmet. "The Warp Powder drains my strength. I would not use it again before facing a man of your caliber. My sword, Alondite, will be all I need to strike you down."

"Then let us see if your goddess-blessed armor can stand against the power of my nethicite-infused blades," Gabranth declared.

Zelgius raised Alondite. "I do not fear your wepons. Come, Judge Magister. Let us see which one of us leaves this battle with the ability to stand."

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Judge Gabranth
Read more about Judge Gabranth at Wikipedia
Official Site: Square Enix Links: Wikipedia

Zelgius (The Black Knight)
Read more about Zelgius (The Black Knight) at Wikipedia
Official Site: Nintendo Links: Wikipedia Fire Emblem Wiki Zerochan

[JohnnyChany]

For context on the contenders, I couldn't find any great videos for each character, other than the boss fight video and cutscene video for Gabranth and a 40 minute video about the character of of Zelgius. So instead, I had the following chart created for reference.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
4.50 - Yazmal
5.00 - Boratz

FPA Calculation:
2 Total Votes cast
9.50 Total Combined Score
9.50 / 2 = 4.75 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Judge Gabranth: 1
Zelgius (The Black Knight): 1