| “ | Tears are a flaw of the weak. Winners always wear a smile. | ” |
—Kurenai Kōgetsu, Chapter 60 | ||
Kurenai Kōgetsu (クレナイ・コウゲツ Kurenai Kōgetsu?) is Homura Kōgetsu's mother. Outside Universe 0, she is the former ruler of Sun Jewel, where she was known as Madame Kurenai (紅婦人 Kurenai Fujin?, lit. "Crimson Lady"), while in Universe 0, she is the leader of the Punishers.
Appearance[]
Kurenai's Appearance
Kurenai is a curvy woman of average height, she has dark blue hair in a courtesan hairstyle, but with her forelocks parted over her right eye. She wears a rather sultry, red kimono with a splotch pattern, a brown belt with gold arrows pointing in opposite directions, a butterfly-styled choker, and a white silk scarf that floats around her in the shape of a heart. To the right of her head, she wears two flowers, one red and one white, with gold ornaments while on her left are three gold beads. Additionally, she has a pair of gauntlets and goes around barefoot.[1]
Personality[]
In Universe 1, despite claiming that she had a soft spot for her own people by protecting them from evil criminals in which she resented, it was all a veneer that she made as Kurenai is at best, described as a rather sadistic woman who loves to hurt her enemies or people she doesn't like. This was shown as she burnt the face of a young attractive man that she doesn't like because he was too inferior for her own tastes and make him as her own personal pet.
She is also a callous woman who uses the people of the labor district as her own slaves in order to enjoy her own personal lavish life and once she sights an interesting object that has caught her attention because it could make more rewards for her, she showed no hesitation to discard the people that had helped her rise to the top. This was shown as when she took an interest in the Edens Zero because it could make a fortune, she showed no hesitation to obliterate the labor district because the people who live there had no use for her anymore.
Despite all of this however, Kurenai used to be a poor woman strangled in casino's debt and also a former slave herself due to the extreme gambling that she had in which she is seemingly had a remorse on. However, as soon as Valkyrie Yuna saved her by liberating her, Kurenai's ambitions started growing and she then betrayed the person who saved her life without a second thought and discards her completely from her own memory.
Kurenai is perfectly fine on abandoning her own biological daughter, Homura, just to pursue her own ambitions and when Homura rejects the fake forgiveness Kurenai had made just to save her own skin when being defeated by Shiki and her own companions, she then dismissed her as a simple-minded person.
In Universe 0, however, she is down-earth and honorable woman who loves her family and home country, and accepts her regrets and remorse for unable to be with her only daughter due to suffering similar harsh situations as her. She was also a victim when she was abused by the man who used her people in Oedo as hostage and forced Kurenai to become his wife.
Synopsis[]
History[]
Kurenai Kōgetsu was born on the planet Oedo. During her youth, Kurenai desperately turned to Drakken Joe for money;[2] when she was unable to return her loan, Drakken put her to work that made use of her beauty until her debt was repaid.[3] Kurenai later gave birth to a daughter, Homura, with an unknown man. After raising her on Oedo for several years, Kurenai abandoned her by the year X482 in the hopes of making money at the casinos on Sun Jewel;[4] at some point before leaving, Kurenai gifted Homura with a stuffed animal, which Homura interpreted as a means for Kurenai to recognize her in case she returned.[5] Unfortunately for Kurenai, she once again amassed an enormous debt, and she was sentenced to work in the Labor District mining 44 million metals from Stones for the planet's ruler, Baron Mordo.[6]
In the year X487, Kurenai was approached by Valkyrie Yuna, whom she learned had been raising Homura in her place. Unaware that Kurenai abandoned her daughter, Valkyrie intended to reunite the family so that Homura would avoid persecution for being raised by a machine.[7] When Kurenai explained her situation, showing the collar that kept count of her debt while also informing Valkyrie that Homura would be in danger if she tried to escape, the latter offered to take her place by letting her self-proclaimed disciple Paul use his Steal Hand Ether Gear to remove the collar so that Kurenai could return home.[6]
Although she appeared to be moved to tears by Valkyrie's kindness, Kurenai did not fulfill her promise; over the next two years, Kurenai became Mordo's wife and then killed him, taking his place as ruler of Sun Jewel. Dubbing herself "Madame Kurenai" and completely losing interest in Homura, she sought to further increase her wealth by provoking a nest of Stones into stampeding through the Labor District so the workers could send their metals to her as they fought in self-defense; this act unwittingly resulted in the death of Valkyrie, who sacrificed herself to slay the entire horde and protect the workers.[8]
Over time, Kurenai acquired the Satellite Blaze—christened by her as the "Oculus Kurenai"—to inflict punishment on those who threatened the security of Sun Jewel, executing criminals for serious offenses such as robbery, and sentencing others to the labor district for petty crimes so they could spend their lives providing money for her. Kurenai's dominion garnered conflicting opinions for her among the planet's populace: to the citizens of the Rich Sector who directly benefited from her rule, she became a beloved icon whom they credited for turning Sun Jewel into the "safest planet in the Sakura Cosmos";[9] to those she sentenced to the Labor District, however, she was despised and seen for her tyrannical ways, resulting in the birth of a resistance movement known as Valkyrie's Army named after the deceased Sword of Edens led by Paul, dedicated to ending her reign.[10]
Universe 0[]
Kurenai lived a poor life on Oedo. About 10 years ago, following her husband's passing, she left Homura in the care of a nurse, while away on Sun Jewel as a migrant worker. She planned to go back to Oedo with her earnings as soon as possible. However, she caught the eye of a corrupt official who forced her to marry him by holding the people of her home planet hostage with Satellite Blaze. Unfortunately, Kurenai's attempt to escape to see her daughter caused her unwanted husband to wage war, ordering his Sun Jewel's private army to slaughter the people Oedo as a show of anger. After the war ended, Kurenai never acted against him again, in fear of how dangerous he was. She eventually met Valkyrie, who told her about the situation, where they both agreed to wait for Homura together. Kurenai believed that her daughter would come to see her one day, and endured until it all. Before long, she formed a vigilante group, "The Punishers", in order to protect the people of Sun Jewel and when the time comes, she would be a mother that Homura would be proud of.[11]
Sun Jewel arc[]
After Shiki and Homura defeat a group of robbers in Casino Paradise, breaking the satellite jammers, Kurenai uses the Satellite Blaze to lock on the criminals, where she declares that she does not tolerate crime on her planet. She states that they will be "dyed crimson" and vaporizes the criminals.[12] Meanwhile, at the Gold Palace, Kurenai has a meeting with Drakken who compliments her Satellite Blaze and its capabilities, calling it a formidable weapon, which she tells him to call it divine retribution. She simply says that it is merely her job to protect her people when Drakken questions her divinity. Her interest is piqued when Drakken requests that she uses her Satellite Blaze to find the Edens Zero.[13]
After her meeting, her assistant Ward introduces her to a model from the planet Genos, named Cedric, who is applying to be her attendant. Kurenai asks Cedric to undress so that she can see his body, which he complies with pleasure, and requests that he comes closer to her. She is complemented by Cedric for her beauty and her authority to command Sun Jewel and its infinite wealth, saying that he would do anything for her. Cedric affectionately touches her face, offering to keep her warm on lonely nights. She is asked by Ward if she approves of him, only for her to state that she disapproves. She calls Cedric vulgar for touching her face without her consent and believes that he mistook her for a sensualist. She then grabs his face, saying that she does not like him, and gleefully burns his face, turning it deep red. After he collapses, she asks Ward for the next candidate, only to be informed he was the last one. She then orders him to find more, expecting a better selection. Kurenai also asks if he has heard of the Edens Zero, but is surprised that he doesn't. She tells him that Drakken is after it and that it is a ship with an Ether Drive, a very valuable item, and says that she would get a 30% share. However, she doesn't like this amount and plans to outwit him, only wanting 100%.[14]
Kurenai uses her audio surveillance, to track anyone who said "Edens Zero",[15] and orders Nino to make contact and capture the person.[16] She then calls a meeting with the Zaiten Three.[17] Kurenai decides to keep Cedric as a pet for a while, making him wear a mask and leash. When the three arrive she explains about Cedric, but quickly changes the subject. She states how furious she is after hearing that Valkyrie's followers are plotting another uprising. She plans to use the Oculus Kurenai to burn the Labor District to ashes as she has found another source of revenue.[18]
While Ward prepares the Oculus Kurenai, Nino tries to persuade her not to as there are tens of thousands of people there. However, Kurenau retorts that they are not making her money and that they worship Valkyrie, wanting to make them pay for rebelling against her. When Nino tries to remind her that Valkrie saved her from the Labor District, she then claims that she merely allowed Valkyrie to be useful and that she rose to greatness by her own power, having done nothing to earn the spite of the laborers. She then remembers Valkyrie requested that she return to her daughter, making her laugh. Suddenly, she watches as Shiki crashes into the room, demanding that he takes her back to Homura. When she hears this, she asks if Homura's angry or crying that she was abandoned, only to be told that Homura will decide what they do to her. She then tells him that she has no interest in her daughter. An angered Shiki makes the floor collapse and declares that he will bring her to Homura after he beats her up, she then mockingly calls him frightening and prepares to fight.[19]
Kurenai orders Ward to get her Kurenai Dragoon, not caring if it isn't finished and just that it can move. She then orders the Zaiten Three to squelch the uprising in the Labor District and scares Nino into doing so after he declines. When she is asked what she's going to do to the Labor District by Shiki, she answers that she will kill everyone who defies her and is even more pleased to hear that Homura is there, going to erase her own daughter with them. Her Kurenai Dragoon rises from the ground behind her and she tells the boy what it is before she boards into it and punches Shiki out the window. She smashes the bridge he was on, gloating how powerful it is and that it is truly the planet's mightiest Knight Gear. Shiki tries to punch it but she mocks him for thinking he could scratch the latest model of Knight Gear.[20]
She is ecstatic as she crushes Shiki with her Knight Gear's fist. She tells him that his Ether Gear doesn't work is because of the Ether coating. Though she is surprised that he used his powers to make the ground heavier, sending them to the Labor District, much to her disgust. She is taken off guard when Shiki slams her Kurenai Dragoon down, finding that he damaged the boosters. She gets it to turn over, as Shiki says that he's gonna make sure to take her to Homura. She questions what he's expecting, a touching reunion or her daughter taking out her rage on her. When she hears that he's doing it for Valkyrie, Kurenai finds it stupid and throws punches at him. She goes on about how kids are ruining the world with their ideals and delusions and that they should face reality. However, Shiki counters that the adults that do aren't making things better and punches her Knight Gear. Kurenai is surprised that he managed to damage it and realizes that he deactivated his Ether Gear just before he hit.[21]
Lendard arc[]
Sometime before X495, Kurenai's body is abducted by Ziggy's forces and brought to Lendard. This is to teach Shiki's group a lesson, where any mother would have done in his plan to collect the Ether from mothers in order to find Mother and destroy her.
Edens Zero Reunion arc[]
Powers and Abilities[]
Piloting: Kurenai has shown to be a proficient pilot of her Kurenai Dragoon in combat.[20]
Equipment[]
Satellite Blaze (サテライトブレイズ Sateraito Bureizu): Satellite Blaze, also known as Oculus Kurenai (紅の目 Kurenai no Me),[22] is a satellite that is capable of tracking anyone or anything's location on Sun Jewel.[23] It is also installed with an overheat beam of light that can completely vaporize its target, leaving no trace beyond a crimson stain on the ground,[24] as well as to transport people to other areas on the planet.[25][26] However, it has no effect on anyone who uses a jamming device.[27] It was eventually stolen by Drakken Joe.[28]
Kurenai blocking Shiki's punch with her gauntlet
Kurenai's Gauntlet (紅の籠手 Kurenai no Kote): Kurenai possesses a mechanical hand brace that generates searing heat, severely burning any surface her hand touches.[29] The gauntlet also reinforces the wearer's strength, allowing them to withstand special abilities such as Satan Gravity.[30]
Kurenai Dragoon (紅鉄騎 Kurenai Tekki): The Kurenai Dragoon is the latest and strongest model of Knight Gear that boasts extreme power, mobility, and durability against any attack.[31] It is later destroyed by Shiki.[32]
Battles and Events[]
| Battles |
Manga Appearances[]
| 49. Captain Connor | Absent |
| 50. Madame Kurenai | Debut |
| 51. Stones | Mentioned |
| 52. Kurenai's Gauntlet | Appears |
| 53. Wibble Wobble Ruby Bobble | Mentioned |
| 54. The Truth Is in the Cube | Mentioned |
| 55. Black Rock | Mentioned |
| 56. Reset | Appears |
| 57. My Mother, the Machine | Appears |
| 58. A Silent Reunion | Flashback |
| 59. I Know You Can Keep Pressing On | Appears |
| 60. Until the Day it Turns to Strength | Appears |
| 61. Enter Arsenal | Appears |
| 62. The Legend of Me | Appears |
| 63. Taking Up the Torch | Appears |
| 64. Leaper | Appears |
| 65. The Swordswoman Incapacitated | Mentioned |
| 66. Gravity's Gonna Crush You | Appears |
| 67. Someone to Love | Appears |
| 68. Valkyrie | Mentioned |
| 69. Rebecca's Nightmare | Absent |
| 70. Belial Gore | Absent |
| 71. The Steel Sorceress | Absent |
| 72. The Element 4 | Absent |
| 73. Don't Shed a Tear | Absent |
| 74. Weisz vs. Laguna | Absent |
| 75. A Wind Blows Through the Sakura Cosmos | Absent |
| 76. Rebecca vs. Sylph | Absent |
| 77. The Winds that Bind | Absent |
| 78. No.29 | Absent |
| 79. That Which Obstructs and That Which Steals | Absent |
| 80. 60-Day Commemorative Coin | Absent |
| 81. Intercession | Absent |
| 82. Scolding | Mentioned |
| 83. The Shot Heard Round the Underworld | Absent |
| 84. A World Without Shiki | Absent |
| 85. Our Future | Absent |
| 86. EZ-Attack!! | Absent |
| 87. 4 on 4 | Absent |
| 88. Eye of God | Absent |
| 89. Hermit vs. Fie | Absent |
| 90. Sister vs. Daichi | Absent |
| 91. Homura vs. Sylph | Absent |
| 92. The Sword of Edens | Absent |
| 93. The Execution Site | Absent |
| 94. Shiki vs. Drakken | Absent |
| 95. Kris Rutherford | Absent |
| 96. A Young Man's Memories | Absent |
| 97. The Time Is Now | Absent |
| 98. Advent of the Demon King | Absent |
| 99. The Pendant | Absent |
| 221. Back in the Sky Where Cherry Blossoms Dance | Absent |
| 222. A Happy World | Absent |
| 223. Memories and Abilities | Absent |
| 224. The Planet Guilst (Universe Zero) | Absent |
| 225. Moscoy Heaven | Absent |
| 226. Sea God | Absent |
| 227. Power and Strength | Absent |
| 228. Gunner | Absent |
| 229. Sniper | Absent |
| 230. The Shape of Ether | Absent |
| 231. What Makes a Hero | Absent |
| 232. Sun Jewel (Universe Zero) | Appears |
| 233. Sword Flash | Appears |
| 234. Crimson Tears | Appears |
| 235. Over Nu Etherion | Absent |
| 236. 1 + 4 + 6 | Absent |
| 237. The Lost Planet | Absent |
| 238. Encounter on the Sands | Absent |
| 239. It's HIM!! | Absent |
| 240. The Doctor's Deviant Disposition | Absent |
| 241. Flight of the Valkyrie | Absent |
| 242. Müller's Trap | Absent |
| 243. Where Did That Cat Come From? | Absent |
| 244. Iron Rain | Absent |
| 245. Like the Deep Blue Sea | Absent |
| 246. Reina and Hamrio | Absent |
| 247. To the Field of Battle | Absent |
Trivia[]
- Hiro Mashima based Kurenai's name on the Japanese word for "crimson" for the same reason he named Homura, whose name means "flame", which gives the impression of fire and the color red.[33]
References[]
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Page 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 60, Page 19
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 82, Page 17
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 58, Page 5
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 57, Pages 5 - 6
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 58, Pages 2 - 7
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 57, Pages 16 - 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 58, Pages 8 - 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Pages 18 - 19
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 59, Page 7
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 234, Pages 10 - 17
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Pages 14 - 17
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Pages 19 - 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 52, Pages 10 - 17
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 52, Page 18
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 54, Page 10
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 55, Page 10
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 56, Pages 19 - 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 58, Pages 14 - 20
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 61, Pages 5 - 13
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 63, Pages 4 - 12
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 60, Page 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 52, Page 16
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Pages 16 - 21
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 51, Pages 5 - 6
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 55, Page 7
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 50, Page 17
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 56, Page 20
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 52, Pages 13 - 14
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 60, Page 12
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 61, Pages 8 - 13
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Chapter 66
- ↑ Edens Zero Manga: Volume 7 Afterword
[]
| Leader | Kurenai Kōgetsu ‡ • Mordo † |
| Zaiten Three | Garrot • Nino ‡ • Baku |
| Other | Ward • Punishers • Cedric |
| Valkyrie's Army | Van • Eagle • Flappy • Paul • Valkyrie Yuna † • Yak |
| Leader | Drakken Joe |
| Element 4 | Daichi • Fie • Kleene Rutherford • Laguna Husert (Universe 1-2) • Poseidon Nero (Universe 0) |
| Members | Maria Slime • Diego Reyes • Seth Anderson • Spider • Jinn |
| Affiliates | Sibir's Gang ‡ • Illega ‡ • Madame Kurenai ‡ • Amira ‡ (Universe 1-2) |