Mars, also known as the God of War and the guardian of his namesake planet, is the central antagonist of the first season of Saint Seiya Omega. Originally a human named Ludwig, he was a wealthy and important figure whose life was shattered when his wife Misha was killed in a terrorist attack. Overwhelmed by grief and a burning hatred for injustice, Ludwig began hunting and killing criminals, but this did not quell his inner turmoil. One night, lamenting his inability to eradicate evil, he saw the planet Mars in the sky and underwent a transformation, becoming the divine entity known as Mars.

Mars is driven by a conviction that the world as it is cannot be saved from corruption and injustice. His ultimate goal is to destroy the existing world and create a new, purified one using the planet Mars as its foundation. To achieve this, he seeks to capture Athena and use her power as a support for his new order. His personality is cold, ruthless, and uncompromising. He views any display of gentleness or hesitation as weakness, as seen when he rebukes his son Eden for showing kindness to the girl Aria. Despite his terrifying power, Mars is not without remnants of his human past; he is capable of explaining his tragic history and the hatred that fuels him.

In the story, Mars was originally sealed away by Pegasus Seiya years before the main events. His resurrection is imminent, and he launches a full-scale assault on Earth. He leads an army of Martians (Marshiyan) and his elite Four Heavenly Kings. Mars successfully captures Athena and imprisons her on his planet, using her as a key component in his plan to terraform Mars. He also becomes the de facto ruler of the Sanctuary after disabling many former Saints with his dark powers. Throughout the first half of the series, he is the primary threat that the new generation of Saints, led by Koga, must face.

Key relationships shape his character. He is the father of Eden and Sonia. Eden initially believes in his father’s vision but eventually rebels after seeing the destruction and death Mars causes, especially after Mars kills Aria, a young girl Eden loved. Sonia serves him loyally as a commander but is also consumed by her father’s harsh expectations. Mars himself shows a degree of paternal pride, but his single-minded mission overshadows any personal attachments. He also has a deep connection to Seiya, who was imprisoned on Mars for years after a clash during the first war. Seiya’s enduring will, even trapped on the planet, becomes a thorn in Mars’s side.

Mars undergoes notable development as the conflict escalates. Early on, he appears as a calculating and nearly invincible deity, but his composure cracks as the Saints grow stronger. When Koga lands a blow on him during the battle at the Ruins of Erebus, Mars flies into a rage and violently kills Aria to claim her scepter. Later, during the final confrontation, his face is revealed to be partially consumed by flames—a permanent scar from when he absorbed a great portion of Abzu’s darkness during the initial meteor shower. His hatred and darkness intensify as his son turns against him and his daughter falls. In the end, his power wanes, and he is ultimately defeated when Koga, empowered by the light cosmos and the spirits of the Saints, overcomes him.

Notable abilities include his immense dark cosmos, which allows him to overwhelm even Gold Saints. He wears the Galaxy Mail, a divine armor, and wields the powerful technique Rubellu Sidus Gungnir, a spear-like attack that can devastate large areas. He can also control the dark elements, manipulate cosmic energy, and channel the power of the planet Mars. His dark aura corrupts the environment and can absorb enemies, as seen when he imprisoned the Sagittarius Gold Saint Seiya. Despite his overwhelming strength, his weakness lies in his vulnerability to the light cosmos, which directly counters his darkness.