OVA
Description
Claude, whose real name is Xi-Qi, appears as a primary antagonist in the Darker than Black original video animation series Gaiden. He is a Contractor, an individual who has obtained supernatural powers in exchange for losing ordinary human emotions and being compelled to perform a specific compulsive action known as an obeisance. Claude's origin story is marked by hardship; he grew up as an orphan living in a dumpster and became a Contractor at the age of ten, after which he was abducted by Chinese intelligence and forced to work as a special agent involved in espionage and assassination.
In terms of appearance, Claude is a young man with medium-length blonde hair, a fringe dyed purple that he sweeps to the left, and brown or orange eyes. However, this physical form is itself an illusion, as noted by other characters. His personality deviates significantly from the typical Contractor archetype. While most Contractors are characterized by cold, logical rationality, Claude possesses a high degree of irrationality and a seeming disregard for his own safety. He is nihilistic and intent on causing chaos whenever possible, appearing to take pleasure in deception and conflict. This chaotic nature is the driving force behind his motivations. Unlike many Contractors who pursue self-preservation or specific goals, Claude's primary objective is to awaken the entity known as Izanami. He believes that her awakening will lead to a new world order where Contractors rule over ordinary humans, an outcome he seemingly desires for its own sake rather than for personal gain.
Claude's role in the story is that of a relentless pursuer. He is dispatched by the Syndicate, a shadowy organization, with the mission to capture the Doll named Yin, who is undergoing a mysterious and dangerous evolution into Izanami. He first confronts the protagonist Hei and Yin while they are in hiding by using his ability to create an extremely realistic illusion, making himself appear to be Amber, a former ally of Hei for whom Hei still holds deep feelings. This deception allows him to get close and eventually kidnap Yin, setting the main conflict of the Gaiden story in motion. He is partnered with an unnamed Contractor referred to as The Dog, who possesses a different set of abilities, and together they pursue Hei and Yin across various locations, including Hong Kong.
Key relationships for Claude are largely utilitarian. His partnership with The Dog is professional, though they engage in discussions regarding the nature of Yin's power, and Claude ultimately goes rogue from their shared mission to pursue his own chaotic agenda. His primary dynamic is with his targets, Hei and Yin. He views Yin not as a person but as a tool or a catalyst for the coming new world, and he sees Hei as an obstacle to be manipulated or eliminated. Throughout the Gaiden episodes, Claude demonstrates a complex development. Initially appearing to be a simple agent of the Syndicate, he gradually reveals his true nihilistic and anarchic nature. At one point, he captures Yin and appears to be selling her to the highest bidder, even accepting a bag of money from Chinese agents. However, he subsequently throws the money out a window, revealing that material wealth is meaningless to him and his goal is solely to trigger the final stage of Yin's evolution into Izanami. In a final act of self-destruction and chaos, he betrays the Chinese agents, willingly allowing himself to be shot multiple times in the stomach, only to be ultimately killed by the very entity he sought to awaken, Izanami herself.
Claude's notable ability is a form of powerful mental manipulation. He can control other people's actions and sensory perceptions, creating illusions that are exceptionally realistic. This power allows him to not only disguise his own appearance, such as making himself look like Amber, but also to alter what his targets see and believe about their environment. He claims and demonstrates the ability to control the senses and motor functions of more than one person simultaneously. However, this ability is not absolute; it is possible for a victim to break free from the illusion through extreme physical pain, as shown when Hei stabs himself to regain control of his senses. The cost or obeisance Claude must pay each time he uses his power is to eat the petal of a flower.
In terms of appearance, Claude is a young man with medium-length blonde hair, a fringe dyed purple that he sweeps to the left, and brown or orange eyes. However, this physical form is itself an illusion, as noted by other characters. His personality deviates significantly from the typical Contractor archetype. While most Contractors are characterized by cold, logical rationality, Claude possesses a high degree of irrationality and a seeming disregard for his own safety. He is nihilistic and intent on causing chaos whenever possible, appearing to take pleasure in deception and conflict. This chaotic nature is the driving force behind his motivations. Unlike many Contractors who pursue self-preservation or specific goals, Claude's primary objective is to awaken the entity known as Izanami. He believes that her awakening will lead to a new world order where Contractors rule over ordinary humans, an outcome he seemingly desires for its own sake rather than for personal gain.
Claude's role in the story is that of a relentless pursuer. He is dispatched by the Syndicate, a shadowy organization, with the mission to capture the Doll named Yin, who is undergoing a mysterious and dangerous evolution into Izanami. He first confronts the protagonist Hei and Yin while they are in hiding by using his ability to create an extremely realistic illusion, making himself appear to be Amber, a former ally of Hei for whom Hei still holds deep feelings. This deception allows him to get close and eventually kidnap Yin, setting the main conflict of the Gaiden story in motion. He is partnered with an unnamed Contractor referred to as The Dog, who possesses a different set of abilities, and together they pursue Hei and Yin across various locations, including Hong Kong.
Key relationships for Claude are largely utilitarian. His partnership with The Dog is professional, though they engage in discussions regarding the nature of Yin's power, and Claude ultimately goes rogue from their shared mission to pursue his own chaotic agenda. His primary dynamic is with his targets, Hei and Yin. He views Yin not as a person but as a tool or a catalyst for the coming new world, and he sees Hei as an obstacle to be manipulated or eliminated. Throughout the Gaiden episodes, Claude demonstrates a complex development. Initially appearing to be a simple agent of the Syndicate, he gradually reveals his true nihilistic and anarchic nature. At one point, he captures Yin and appears to be selling her to the highest bidder, even accepting a bag of money from Chinese agents. However, he subsequently throws the money out a window, revealing that material wealth is meaningless to him and his goal is solely to trigger the final stage of Yin's evolution into Izanami. In a final act of self-destruction and chaos, he betrays the Chinese agents, willingly allowing himself to be shot multiple times in the stomach, only to be ultimately killed by the very entity he sought to awaken, Izanami herself.
Claude's notable ability is a form of powerful mental manipulation. He can control other people's actions and sensory perceptions, creating illusions that are exceptionally realistic. This power allows him to not only disguise his own appearance, such as making himself look like Amber, but also to alter what his targets see and believe about their environment. He claims and demonstrates the ability to control the senses and motor functions of more than one person simultaneously. However, this ability is not absolute; it is possible for a victim to break free from the illusion through extreme physical pain, as shown when Hei stabs himself to regain control of his senses. The cost or obeisance Claude must pay each time he uses his power is to eat the petal of a flower.