TV-Series
Description
Rihito Sakai, alias Licht Bach, anchors the narrative as its central figure. Orphaned early and adopted by the Sakai family, he forged a profound bond with adoptive brother Tokikaze Sakai—a connection that drove Rihito to enroll in the 13th Special Military Forces School, aiming to dissuade Tokikaze from military life. During training, he advocated for a "Non-Killing Army" to protect classmates who enlisted for financial stability rather than combat. Principal Schmelman Bach subjected him to experimental genetic surgery for the Aerial Ace Project, granting superhuman abilities but infusing Schmelman’s bloodlust. This transformation altered his appearance from black-haired youth to white-haired with crimson eyes, earning him the title "Ace of Flashing Strikes."
His military service in the Abandonment War cemented a traumatic legacy. Commanding the Ace squad, he used his powers to prevent comrades from killing, absorbing the psychological toll of taking lives himself. A kill counter called the Count manifested on his ōdachi sword Baroque, recording 5,700 kills normally but surging to 57,000+ during Schmelman-induced berserk states. A pivotal confrontation saw him kill Tokikaze during a conflict over the Ballots—artifacts key to creating the floating utopia Alcia. This act, compounded by witnessing classmates’ resource-related suicides for war orphans, led him to wear a mask for 300 years to conceal his inability to feign happiness.
The Count system reflected dual identities: a negative Count (-999 initially, decreasing with romantic rejections) on his left hand symbolized his flirtatious, comedic facade, while the Ace Count on Baroque represented trauma and combat duty. His abilities included relativistic speed, space-reaching energy projection, and physical prowess scaling with his Count—from town-level destruction at lower counts to city-level+ devastation at 20,000,000. Supplemental powers encompassed shockwave generation, electricity manipulation, and gravity resistance, though high Count states triggered uncontrollable rage and pain desensitization.
Personality balanced surface levity with buried guilt. Overt womanizing—including groping and peeping—served as a coping mechanism to deflect inner torment. Yet he demonstrated unwavering compassion: protecting children, rejecting unnecessary violence, and mentoring allies like Hina Farrow. Their bond evolved from distrust to deep reliance; he confided emotional vulnerabilities in her, eventually marrying Hina and fathering a daughter, Rina. Key relationships included a brotherly dynamic with post-war escape companion Nana Bassler and alliances with figures like Jail Murdoch against Schmelman’s forces.
His character arc culminated in gradual reconciliation. Removing his mask signified accepting Hina’s support and confronting trauma. As a leader, he transitioned from solitary wandering to Supreme General of the military, advocating justice without abandoning non-killing ideals. The epilogue revealed his hard-earned peace: a settled family life embodying redemption from centuries of guilt.
His military service in the Abandonment War cemented a traumatic legacy. Commanding the Ace squad, he used his powers to prevent comrades from killing, absorbing the psychological toll of taking lives himself. A kill counter called the Count manifested on his ōdachi sword Baroque, recording 5,700 kills normally but surging to 57,000+ during Schmelman-induced berserk states. A pivotal confrontation saw him kill Tokikaze during a conflict over the Ballots—artifacts key to creating the floating utopia Alcia. This act, compounded by witnessing classmates’ resource-related suicides for war orphans, led him to wear a mask for 300 years to conceal his inability to feign happiness.
The Count system reflected dual identities: a negative Count (-999 initially, decreasing with romantic rejections) on his left hand symbolized his flirtatious, comedic facade, while the Ace Count on Baroque represented trauma and combat duty. His abilities included relativistic speed, space-reaching energy projection, and physical prowess scaling with his Count—from town-level destruction at lower counts to city-level+ devastation at 20,000,000. Supplemental powers encompassed shockwave generation, electricity manipulation, and gravity resistance, though high Count states triggered uncontrollable rage and pain desensitization.
Personality balanced surface levity with buried guilt. Overt womanizing—including groping and peeping—served as a coping mechanism to deflect inner torment. Yet he demonstrated unwavering compassion: protecting children, rejecting unnecessary violence, and mentoring allies like Hina Farrow. Their bond evolved from distrust to deep reliance; he confided emotional vulnerabilities in her, eventually marrying Hina and fathering a daughter, Rina. Key relationships included a brotherly dynamic with post-war escape companion Nana Bassler and alliances with figures like Jail Murdoch against Schmelman’s forces.
His character arc culminated in gradual reconciliation. Removing his mask signified accepting Hina’s support and confronting trauma. As a leader, he transitioned from solitary wandering to Supreme General of the military, advocating justice without abandoning non-killing ideals. The epilogue revealed his hard-earned peace: a settled family life embodying redemption from centuries of guilt.