ATEMS (ＡＴＥＭＳ) is a foreign armed Adept organization led by ZedΩ which conducts Septima research and armed interventions. The executives within the group are known as the ATEMS Knights (ＡＴＥＭＳナイツ), who serve as ZedΩ's personal defense force, and have also been referred to as his harem (this term doesn't come up in the game itself, however).
They are the main antagonist group in Azure Striker Gunvolt 3, appearing after the four Berserk Adepts have been subdued and recruited into the Dragon Saviors. They enter Japan seeking the Binding Brands for the purpose of acquiring Moebius.
All its prominent members are the protagonists of the Epilogue ATEMS story expansion, and the drama CD Spectrum Theater.
ATEMS is a foreign armed organization of Adepts who follow the will of their leader, ZedΩ. They involve themselves in matters from researching promising Septimal powers all the way to intervening in armed conflicts.
The upper echelon are the ATEMS Knights, ZedΩ's personal defense force, or "harem" as they are known to some. They are all powerful Adepts who have sworn allegiance to ZedΩ.
Though ATEMS has no relationship with the Sumeragi Group, ATEMS's research arm holds some resentment towards Sumeragi's.
A private armed org established by ZedΩ. Excluding him, all executives are women.
It’s composed of several Adept Units, and their main activities include peacekeeping in and out of their nation, intel collection, and Septima research.
They direct eyes of suspicion at the Septima research of Sumeragi due to how they sacrificed many Adepts.
Successor to a mighty authority, he is the young leader of ATEMS. He possesses the Golden Trillion Septima, the highest flame type ability which also has the power of the sun, and in turn nuclear fusion, making it a source of infinite energy similar to Gunvolt's Azure Striker Septima.
To further his research into Septimas, he gathers technology and information produced by countries around the globe. Upon the unusual happenings at Sumeragi, he begins a plan to invade their host country.
The chief officer of the ATEMS Knights, often acts as strategic commander for ATEMS's Knights' operations, she is also ZedΩ's personal secretary after gaining the position partially by force to curry favor with him. She possesses the Septima Trick Bullet, which lets her summon bullets with many different special properties such as homing in on targets or creating tornadoes upon impact.
One of the ATEMS Knights, she has a strong inflection when she speaks and calls ZedΩ "Mr. Zeddy". She possesses the Septima Sandstorm which is capable of controlling sand, equal parts offense and defense.
One of the ATEMS Knights, she oversees ATEMS's construction projects. Serpentine has a dark and devious personality and will do anything to achieve her aims. She doesn't get along with Sistina. Serpentine possesses the Phantom Mist Septima, which creates illusions from fog, among other abilities such as reading memories.
One of the ATEMS Knights, she has a fondness for beautiful ephemera and speaks with a pompous tone. Prado refers to ZedΩ as "the exalted Sir ZedΩ" and calls Kirin "little kitten". She believes ZedΩ is the most beautiful thing in existence. Her Septima is Hot & Cold, a dual-element ability that manipulates ice and fire.
A young girl who is seen at ZedΩ's side. While Layla herself doesn't get too many lines or screentime, she has an integral role in the plot as the wielder of the Septima Djinn, a song-based empowering ability that can summon an avatar named Luxia, similar to The Muse, Lumen to further ZedΩ and ATEMS's goals. Although she and ZedΩ are generally on the same wavelength, Layla does not speak much for herself, making her difficult to communicate with. She also seems to be the cornerstone for whatever goal ZedΩ has his sights on...
Gallery[]
Transparent background logo
Level up icon
Logo concepts
Soldier concept art
Ending cutscene
Trivia[]
The name ATEMS comes from the Egyptian god Atum, also spelled Atem. This stemmed from the character conception of ZedΩ, which went "What can stand in comparison to the Azure Striker?" → "What is the top-class flame Septima?" → "The sun; like GV, ZedΩ can provide enough energy to power his home country by himself." → "Let's name his team after the sun god Atem."[1]
Atum's name is believed to be derived from the verb tm which means 'to complete' or 'to finish', and he is a solar deity connected to the setting sun and finishing of the world, fitting ZedΩ's name and original ability description.
According to concept art notes, the main theme of the ATEMS Knights is the four elemental spirits known as sylphs (wind), gnomes (earth), undines (water), and salamanders (fire)--Sistina, Grazie, Serpentine, and Prado, respectively. For them, the Arcana motif of GV3 characters in general is considered a thin layer.[2]
The "harem" aspect of ATEMS was conceived after it was decided that the first half of GV3's eight bosses would be all male and the second half would be all female.[3]
It is possible that the concept of the ATEMS Knights being a harem was inherited from an early concept for Copen in Gunvolt 2, in which he would have had a harem of Muses supporting him. Perhaps not coincidentally, the three Muses in the concept have pink/red, yellow, and blue hair, which align with Sistina, Grazie, and Serpentine respectively.
The ATEMS logo resembles part of ZedΩ's outfit and hair.
The theme that plays during mission loading screens in Gunvolt 3 is named ATEMS.
All named members of ATEMS have at least one feather as part of their outfits. The Knights have one each, Zed has two as earrings, and Layla has three on her chest ring.
Since the Knights will have a feather appear to teleport them away after they are defeated, their feathers may contain some of ZedΩ's abilities.
ZedΩ (male) leading the all-female ATEMS Knights is the inverse of Kirin (female) leading the all-male sealed Primal Dragons in the Dragon Saviors.
ATEMS is the first major antagonist group in the series to become protagonists in a segment in the story.
ATEMS is the only major antagonist group in the series to have all of its prominent members and the group itself survive the events of the game in which it appears.
ATEMS is the only major antagonist group in the series known to have normal female soldiers among its ranks.
The profile card partially visible under ATEMS' characters on loading screens has "TOP SECRET" written on it instead of "WARNING".
