Arakune

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Arakune (アラクネ) is a monster that roamed the sewers of the 13th Hierarchical City of Kagutsuchi. It was created when Lotte Carmine fell into the Boundary, and is chased around the world by Litchi Faye-Ling.

Arakune is one of the original twelve playable characters that debuted in BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger. It was revealed for BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War on February 4th, 2021.

Appearance
Arakune is a monster made of liquid seithr. Its most distinct feature is a simple, white mask with a crude face where its head would be. Inside its body are poisonous insects and multiple, bone-like appendages which it can use to move about or attack its victims with. Because of its liquid nature, it can add extra body parts, such as eyes or mouths around its body and reshape itself into a limitless number of forms; some of these forms it has taken include a flower, a moth and a giant sphere.

Personality
"Both its philosophy and its values differ greatly from that of humans, obscuring the meaning behind its actions. However, it is clear that through all of its actions, it seeks to gather knowledge."

Devoid of any emotion besides the instinct to kill, feed, and find the Azure. Arakune is an insane monster who barely retains traces of Roy's mind and memories. It is, for the most part, incapable of normal speech, only being able to spout broken gibberish which concerns his lust for the Azure or the recollection of broken memories. Incapable of remorse or any rational thinking beyond the need for the Azure and to feed, Arakune has haunted the Kaka by eating their kittens.

Arakune's hunt for the Azure is what drives its existence, but there is some sentience. It has been known to willingly follow the orders of Relius Clover, which includes reconnaissance and giving information to Hazama. It should be noted that it only did so after having been captured and experimented upon by Relius. It recognizes people from Roy's tenure at Sector Seven and harbors tatters of his emotions, such as Roy's envy towards Kokonoe.

There are moments of lucidity where Arakune is capable of proper speech and recollection of his memories, but this is rare.

Powers & Techniques
Being a creature composed of liquid seithr, Arakune can change its shape and body with ease. It is near impossible to predict with its tricky movements and numerous abilities. In gameplay, its Drive is called , which allows Arakune to attack its opponent until they are cursed. Once cursed, Arakune is able to attack its opponent with a myriad of bugs of numerous shapes and sizes, overwhelming an opponent into submission. As well as this, Arakune has the ability to turn invisible, teleport from one side of the stage to the other, and even create decoys of itself.

Arakune has some strength, but this mainly stems from its unpredictability. In the face of characters like Kagura Mutsuki or Ragna the Bloodedge, it is unable to keep up. Its entire existence is held together by Kokonoe, who Observes it to stop it from dissolving into the atmosphere. Otherwise, it can keep up on an even level with Taokaka and Litchi Faye-Ling, and it's overwhelming nature in combat and unpredictability even bested Noel Vermillion at one point.

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger Official Site Profile
''A researcher of magic with a body containing countless insects. Currently living in the sewers beneath Kagutsuchi. In order to maintain its existence it requires a large amount of vitality, which it obtains through attacking humans and Kaka. One day, it senses a disproportionally large energy source and begins to move. ''

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Official Site Profile
''It was originally a researcher of Sector Seven, who opened a forbidden door in his zealous search for the truth. It transformed him into an amorphous creature that housed countless insects within its body. It wanders while searching for a "strong life force" that will sustain its existence. ''

BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Official Site Profile
''A researcher of Sector Seven. For the sake of surpassing Kokonoe, he touched the Boundary; as a result, he lost his memories and was transformed into an amorphous creature that sought only the Azure. After that, the creature was captured by Relius Clover and modified into a puppet. ''

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Official Site Profile
''A researcher of magic with a body containing countless insects. Currently living in the sewers beneath Kagutsuchi. In order to maintain its existence, it requires a large amount of vitality, which it obtains through attacking humans and Kaka. Claiming itself as the "Azure Grimoire," he (?) senses the Azure and moves.  Both its philosophy and its values differ greatly from that of humans, obscuring the meaning behind its actions. However, it is clear that through all of its actions, it seeks to gather knowledge. ''
 * Story
 * Personality

BlazBlue: Central Fiction Library Entry
''A scientist who once worked at Sector Seven.
 * Arakune

''In his attempt to surpass his mentor Kokonoe, he profusely chased the ‘truths' of the world, but came too close to the Boundary. As a result, he lost his human form and memories, turning into a creature obsessed with seeking the ‘Azure.' His body is linked directly to the Boundary, and is comprised of a near-infinite amount of bugs. ‘Arakune' is how he is commonly known - especially on wanted posters.

''Its sense of values is no longer close to what it was while human. Its words often sound like gibberish, but what is understood is its purpose to seek even greater knowledge. Furthermore, maintaining its physical state is extremely difficult, which is why it consumes humans and members of the Kaka Clan to survive.

''There have been recorded responses to the names Litchi and Kokonoe, but clearly its memory is shattered.

''That became even more evident when prolonged exposure to Litchi cornered it into a state of complete mental agitation. That is, until Relius Clover rescued the creature and took it under his control. Now, Arakune continues to seek the Azure, confined by the strings attached to Relius's hands.

BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Official Site Profile
''A liquid living being housing countless bugs within its body. Its ideals and values are vastly different from those of humans. Its goal is to gain knowledge and summarize it. Once, it worked under Kokonoe as an assistant in Sector Seven, as the brilliant scientist “Lotte Carmine”, but after being trapped in the Boundary, his form was warped into this shape.''

BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War Official Site Profile
A transformed, grotesque being that utilizes swarms of insects. Formerly an ordinary person in an ordinary body, a grave mistake in his research lead to the birth of this new form. Appearing as if he posesses great intelligence, there are sometimes occurrences where he is seen reading books.

Appearances in other Media

 * The mobile game Mabinogi Duel stars Arakune as a playable card.

Trivia

 * In the BlazBlue 10th Anniversary Character Poll, Arakune placed 33rd out of the 84 candidates. It scored one place above Iron Tager and one place below Jubei. It had 622 votes.
 * Arakune's birthday is April Fools Day.
 * It is possible that this is the day Arakune first appeared.
 * All of Arakune's moveset is named after mathematical calculations.
 * Arakune and Roy were never the same person, although many, particularly Litchi, believed this was the case. While Roy's soul rested in the Boundary after being tempted into it by Yuuki Terumi, Arakune came into existence to anchor Roy's soul to the real world so it would not be swallowed into the Azure. This relationship caused Arakune to occasionally have moments where it would act like Roy, but due to the nature of its appearance, it was assumed that Roy had transformed into the creature and his mind was permanently corrupted by the Boundary.
 * Arakune's mask was made by Roy when he was losing his sanity before descending into the Boundary. He believed that the mask could help others understand him as his speech became garbled and inconsistent.
 * Arakune is illustrated in the following Grimoire for BlazBlue Alternative: Dark War:
 * インビジブル (Invisible).