OVA
Description
Dôko de la Balance is the Gold Saint of the Libra Temple in the 18th-century Holy War setting of The Lost Canvas. As one of the few survivors of a previous conflict, he is a warrior of Chinese origin who trained at the Five Old Peaks of Mount Lu. Despite being over two hundred years old by the time of the main story, he possesses a young and powerful physique due to a special technique granted by Athena that slows his aging to a crawl, leaving his physical age equivalent to that of a teenager or young adult. He is the master of Tenma, the Pegasus Saint and the story's protagonist, and is a close friend and peer of Shion, the future Pope of the Sanctuary.
Dôko's personality is marked by a distinct contrast between his youthful appearance and his immense wisdom and maturity. Having already experienced the horrors of a Holy War against Hades, he carries the weight of that trauma and experience, giving him a level-headed and extremely patient demeanor. He is not the passive observer seen in other continuities; in The Lost Canvas, Dôko is far more active, taking to the battlefield personally and engaging powerful enemies directly. He is a natural strategist, often thinking several steps ahead of his opponents and valuing tactical thinking as much as raw strength. His relationship with Shion is one of the most significant in the story, characterized by intense camaraderie and deep trust, even when they disagree on critical matters.
Motivated by his duty to protect Athena and humanity from the clutches of Hades, Dôko is driven to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating. His primary role in the story is that of a frontline combatant and a mentor. He guides and trains the younger generation of Saints, particularly his disciple Tenma, while also serving as a powerful and reliable asset in the Sanctuary's desperate war effort. The Libra Gold Cloth he wears is unique among the twelve, as it is equipped with a dozen weapons, including swords, spears, and shields, each possessing immense destructive power. However, in keeping with Athena's disdain for weapons, their use requires the goddess's express permission.
Throughout The Lost Canvas, Dôko experiences significant development that bridges his younger self with the wise master he is destined to become. The brutal conflict strips away any remaining naivety, forging him into a decisive and formidable warrior. Every battle fought and every sacrifice witnessed in this Holy War directly explains the calm, reserved, and observant nature of his older incarnation. His development solidifies his post-war mission to guard the seal on the Specters, a duty he would faithfully carry out for centuries to come.
As a Gold Saint who has awakened the Seventh Sense, Dôko's power is nearly peerless. His physical attacks are delivered at the speed of light, with each punch carrying the theoretical force to destroy a planet, though he exercises complete control over this power. He is known for his ferocious fighting style, which earned him the epithet "Fierce Tiger". When permitted to use the Libra Cloth's weapons, his offensive capability escalates to a level where he is considered a threat to all but the gods themselves. His other notable abilities include powerful psychokinesis, capable of dispelling complex seals, and the technique known as Ten Thousand Swords Pierce the Heart, which unleashes countless arrows of energy. His most defining ability is the "False Death Method," which slows his biological functions to a crawl, allowing him to survive for 243 years without aging as he stands guard over the imprisoned Specters.
Dôko's personality is marked by a distinct contrast between his youthful appearance and his immense wisdom and maturity. Having already experienced the horrors of a Holy War against Hades, he carries the weight of that trauma and experience, giving him a level-headed and extremely patient demeanor. He is not the passive observer seen in other continuities; in The Lost Canvas, Dôko is far more active, taking to the battlefield personally and engaging powerful enemies directly. He is a natural strategist, often thinking several steps ahead of his opponents and valuing tactical thinking as much as raw strength. His relationship with Shion is one of the most significant in the story, characterized by intense camaraderie and deep trust, even when they disagree on critical matters.
Motivated by his duty to protect Athena and humanity from the clutches of Hades, Dôko is driven to prevent the mistakes of the past from repeating. His primary role in the story is that of a frontline combatant and a mentor. He guides and trains the younger generation of Saints, particularly his disciple Tenma, while also serving as a powerful and reliable asset in the Sanctuary's desperate war effort. The Libra Gold Cloth he wears is unique among the twelve, as it is equipped with a dozen weapons, including swords, spears, and shields, each possessing immense destructive power. However, in keeping with Athena's disdain for weapons, their use requires the goddess's express permission.
Throughout The Lost Canvas, Dôko experiences significant development that bridges his younger self with the wise master he is destined to become. The brutal conflict strips away any remaining naivety, forging him into a decisive and formidable warrior. Every battle fought and every sacrifice witnessed in this Holy War directly explains the calm, reserved, and observant nature of his older incarnation. His development solidifies his post-war mission to guard the seal on the Specters, a duty he would faithfully carry out for centuries to come.
As a Gold Saint who has awakened the Seventh Sense, Dôko's power is nearly peerless. His physical attacks are delivered at the speed of light, with each punch carrying the theoretical force to destroy a planet, though he exercises complete control over this power. He is known for his ferocious fighting style, which earned him the epithet "Fierce Tiger". When permitted to use the Libra Cloth's weapons, his offensive capability escalates to a level where he is considered a threat to all but the gods themselves. His other notable abilities include powerful psychokinesis, capable of dispelling complex seals, and the technique known as Ten Thousand Swords Pierce the Heart, which unleashes countless arrows of energy. His most defining ability is the "False Death Method," which slows his biological functions to a crawl, allowing him to survive for 243 years without aging as he stands guard over the imprisoned Specters.