OVA
Description
Duke Barthélemy Rambert, a French nobleman and knight, stood as France's strongest knight until his first defeat. Descended from ancestors Aaron and Maria Rambert, he is the son of Mitchell and Rachael Rambert, with younger siblings Jan and Julia. Standing 190 cm tall and weighing 75 kg, he possesses light green hair and cyan eyes, carrying himself with aristocratic bearing. He wields the immensely powerful two-handed sword Dernier Ventcour, exceeding the sharpness and strength of legendary blades. His personal interests encompass afternoon tea, the champagne Krug, fox hunting, and horse breeding. Past encounters with golddiggers and catfishers have left him uncomfortable around women.
His fighting career began undefeated, but a loss to Japanese adventurer Eiji Shinjo ignited a fierce desire for revenge. This drove him to enter the first Toshindaibukai tournament, hosted by the secretive Himitsu Kessha organization. There, he faced Eiji again, suffered another defeat, and entered temporary retirement. His personal life intertwined with the tournament when his girlfriend betrayed him, joining Himitsu Kessha as the new Uranus. Seeking vengeance once more, Duke entered the second tournament to confront her. He formed a reluctant alliance with Eiji during the event, but abandoned the conflict upon learning Uranus had been killed by Sho Shinjo, Eiji's brother. Despite his bitterness over her betrayal, he mourned her loss.
Duke entered the third tournament with dual aims: to face Eiji Shinjo once more and to protect himself from the Soshiki, enemies of his family who targeted him as a blood sacrifice for the fallen fighting god Agon Teos. During this event, he encountered Balga, a rival knight descended from Norse invaders turned Norman knights, whose lineage held a centuries-old feud with the Rambert clan dating to the Viking Age. Duke defeated and killed Balga in combat. The Soshiki's defeat and Gaia's demise allowed Duke to fulfill his duty to protect his family's honor. He subsequently retired permanently from fighting, returning to France as a nobleman.
Years later, during the events of the fourth tournament, Duke trained an English apprentice named Lancelot Lakeknight. He also discovered he had a daughter, Puella Marionette, though the circumstances of their relationship remain undefined. His post-retirement life centered on managing his estates and upholding peace.
In combat, Duke employs graceful, wide-reaching maneuvers with Dernier Ventcour, emphasizing space control and exploiting his weapon's punishing reach. His move set includes techniques like Southern Cross (a charging slash followed by a somersault), Death/Cyclone (a low stab transitioning to a downward chop), Helm Crush (a high-damage overhead strike), Big Dipper (a jumping uppercut slash), Coffin (multiple rapid stabs), and Hard Rose (a running slash that crumples opponents). Advanced techniques include the Overdrive move Grand Cross, generating a green energy cross upon impact, and the Desperation Move The End, unleashed when critically injured. During the second tournament, he used Angel's Tears, entering an aerial invulnerability state culminating in a spinning slash. His fighting philosophy prioritizes honorable swordsmanship, explicitly rejecting kicks or other techniques he deems dishonorable.
Duke's character evolved from an arrogant seeker of personal vengeance to a protector of familial legacy and peace. His story concludes with a commitment to stewardship over his lands and mentorship.
His fighting career began undefeated, but a loss to Japanese adventurer Eiji Shinjo ignited a fierce desire for revenge. This drove him to enter the first Toshindaibukai tournament, hosted by the secretive Himitsu Kessha organization. There, he faced Eiji again, suffered another defeat, and entered temporary retirement. His personal life intertwined with the tournament when his girlfriend betrayed him, joining Himitsu Kessha as the new Uranus. Seeking vengeance once more, Duke entered the second tournament to confront her. He formed a reluctant alliance with Eiji during the event, but abandoned the conflict upon learning Uranus had been killed by Sho Shinjo, Eiji's brother. Despite his bitterness over her betrayal, he mourned her loss.
Duke entered the third tournament with dual aims: to face Eiji Shinjo once more and to protect himself from the Soshiki, enemies of his family who targeted him as a blood sacrifice for the fallen fighting god Agon Teos. During this event, he encountered Balga, a rival knight descended from Norse invaders turned Norman knights, whose lineage held a centuries-old feud with the Rambert clan dating to the Viking Age. Duke defeated and killed Balga in combat. The Soshiki's defeat and Gaia's demise allowed Duke to fulfill his duty to protect his family's honor. He subsequently retired permanently from fighting, returning to France as a nobleman.
Years later, during the events of the fourth tournament, Duke trained an English apprentice named Lancelot Lakeknight. He also discovered he had a daughter, Puella Marionette, though the circumstances of their relationship remain undefined. His post-retirement life centered on managing his estates and upholding peace.
In combat, Duke employs graceful, wide-reaching maneuvers with Dernier Ventcour, emphasizing space control and exploiting his weapon's punishing reach. His move set includes techniques like Southern Cross (a charging slash followed by a somersault), Death/Cyclone (a low stab transitioning to a downward chop), Helm Crush (a high-damage overhead strike), Big Dipper (a jumping uppercut slash), Coffin (multiple rapid stabs), and Hard Rose (a running slash that crumples opponents). Advanced techniques include the Overdrive move Grand Cross, generating a green energy cross upon impact, and the Desperation Move The End, unleashed when critically injured. During the second tournament, he used Angel's Tears, entering an aerial invulnerability state culminating in a spinning slash. His fighting philosophy prioritizes honorable swordsmanship, explicitly rejecting kicks or other techniques he deems dishonorable.
Duke's character evolved from an arrogant seeker of personal vengeance to a protector of familial legacy and peace. His story concludes with a commitment to stewardship over his lands and mentorship.