For Demerzel's main series counterpart, see Asimov.
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"THAT HUMAN FORM PROVES YOUR STUBBORN ADHERENCE TO THE OLD AGE."
—Demerzel, Luminous Avenger iX
Demerzel is the leader of the Sumeragi Institute of Human Evolution and the main antagonist of Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX.
Originally known as Asimov, commander of the Adept rights and anti-Sumeragi resistance group QUILL, he usurped Sumeragi and became its shadow leader, adopting the guise of a supervisory AI, and sought to bring about a new era of humanity by wiping out all normal humans, largely succeeding in his goal and reducing them to a pitiful minority known as Minos. He wields the Azure Striker Septima, which allows him to generate and manipulate all forms of electricity, his power having grown exponentially over the course of a century.
(While this article generally refers to him as Demerzel, all official materials open about his true identity still call him Asimov.)
Official Profiles
Luminous Avenger iX Soundtrack
(English fan translation)
Sumeragi’s Administrative AI. Thanks to his regulations, the Adepts, wielders of a huge power, live in peace. For some reason it claims that a united society of Adepts is supreme, and stubbornly pushes forward the extermination of the “Minos.”
Card-en-Ciel
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English
-
Japanese
A lightning Adept in control of Sumeragi from the shadows.
He has transformed his entire body into lightning and become one with Sumeragi's supercomputer.
When Copen and his allies invade Sumeragi's secret base, he sends electronic "Image Pulses" of his Falcon pawns to stop them.
スメラギを操り世界を影から支配する雷撃のセプティマホルダー。
自身を雷に変じることで、スメラギのスーパーコンピューターと同化している。
スメラギの秘密基地に潜入したアキュラたちに、手駒である翼戦士たちの電影“イマージュパルス”を差し向ける。
Appearance
Demerzel at first presents himself as a tall man with shoulder-length, gray-blue hair and pure white eyes. He wears blue-and-black layered armor with blue highlights and a shin-length black coat that he removes prior to his battle against Copen.
After his false hologram is beaten, Demerzel reveals his true form: a large, blue humanoid form made of pure electricity. In this form, Demerzel's features are far more simple; his mouth becomes a permanent, dark blue smile and his eyes appear as large, jagged lightning bolts, as does his hair. There are also black, spiked lines running along his body, seemingly originating from a large black spot in the center of his chest.
His EX Boss form is the same as his true form, though his color scheme becomes inverted, with the dark blue lines on his body becoming light blue and vice versa.
Gallery
Main article: Demerzel/Gallery
Personality
Having fully realized his dreams of an Adept utopia, Asimov has completely discarded all attempts at deception or lies, having wholeheartedly embraced his true personality without shame. As "Demerzel", he makes no attempt to hide his desires, leading Sumeragi down a genocidal path to bring about what he deems to be a new age of humanity, a goal that seems to have grown over the years into an obsession with evolution, an obsession that accumulated in him abandoning his physical form in favor of one of pure electricity.
Now having nigh unlimited economical and technical power and with nobody to stop him, Demerzel has enforced his racist agenda with an iron fist, without any restraint and with sadistic delight, going as far as to model scores of unmanned tanks after Lola, a symbol of hope amongst the Minos, purely as a means of psychological warfare and inflict demoralization amongst the Minos populace all the while communicating to the entire planet his intention to carry out an immediate full scale extermination while enjoying watching their struggle for survival.
In addition to his preexisting eccentricities (such as randomly adding English into his speech), Demerzel has become far more expressive than he was during his tenure as QUILL's leader, showing a hitherto unseen God-complex and even bursting into fits of manic laughter. This, combined with his growing evolutionary mania and his deteriorating critical thinking, suggests that Demerzel's mental state has steadily been growing worse over the years, theorized by Copen to ironically be the result of his electronic form, showing that his quest for perfection is ultimately one that leads to self-destruction.
In fact, for all his claims about trying to assert himself as a protector of all Adepts, his cruelty extends to both Minos and Adept alike, performing inhuman experiments on Adepts themselves if it helps fuel his goals and even murder any Adept that opposes him. Truly signaling that his dreams for an Adept utopia are in fact self-serving hypocrisy meant to justify his rabid thirst for vengeance and assert his own superiority.
In some ways, Demerzel has become an antithesis of his original self. Asimov was a front line combatant who constantly endangered himself for the sake of his cause, vehemently refusing to simply hole up somewhere safe and strategize from a distance while relying on others to take the risks for him. Demerzel's behavior, staying within the depths of a bunker and being confined to containers for his electronic form, starkly contrasts this.
History
Background
Further information: Asimov#History
Originally an orphaned illegal immigrant captured by the Sumeragi Group as a boy, he was deemed to have Septima compatibility and turned into an artificial Azure Striker Adept as part of their Project Gunvolt energy resource experiments. After being considered defective, treated as a guinea pig, and regarded as an inhuman monster by the final scientist overseeing him, he escaped, took on the name "Asimov", and joined up with other Adepts overseas to found a resistance group known as QUILL. While this organization fought against Sumeragi and publicly sought Adept equality, Asimov's secret long-term goal was to achieve Adept supremacy. His skirmishes with Sumeragi led to him freeing another artificial Azure Striker like himself, a boy whom he named "Gunvolt" after the project that made them who they are, inducted into QUILL at Gunvolt's own request, and acted as a father figure to. Several years later Gunvolt would encounter and free Joule, a young girl with an implanted Adept influencing Septima known as the Muse, which Sumeragi ultimately planned to use to bend the minds of Adepts to their will. At the culmination of their battles with Sumeragi, Asimov intended to turn their own project against them, use Joule's power to enact his goals of Adept supremacy, and make Gunvolt and her the "King" and "Queen" of the new world.
However, after approaching them with his offer, they flatly refused, resulting in him killing both of them and lamenting how easy it would have been if they'd accepted. At some point after this, Asimov secretly seized control of the Sumeragi Group and fabricated the existence of a supervisory AI named "Demerzel", which he adopted as his new identity. The circumstances of his takeover and how QUILL may have been involved are unknown. Copen claims to have simply stopped hearing about Asimov at some point, while QUILL's logo is emblazoned in his deepest bunker and on his personal equipment.
At first, he continued to maintain friendly relations with humans, but once the number of Adepts began to rise, he began a policy of genocide; re-branding Sumeragi as the "Sumeragi Institute of Human Evolution" he began a plan to wipe out all humans, now known as "Minos", and usher in the new age. Under unknown circumstances, at an unknown point in time his Septima grew to a point where he could ascend to become an electronic life form, granting him eternal life.
However, Demerzel was still attached to the idea of a symbolic King and Queen. To this end, he tracked down and kidnapped a girl known as Mytyl, the original wielder of the Muse, and performed horrendous experiments on her, eventually turning her into the "Butterfly Effect", which would allow him to control Septimas. Decades later, he would find his "King" in the form of a young Mino girl, whom his soldiers captured in a raid, implanting the Azure Striker factors extracted from Gunvolt's corpse[1] into her and turning her into the new artificial Adept "Blade": an obedient warrior that would serve him directly. With all his pieces assembled, Demerzel continued to advance towards his ideal world.
Luminous Avenger iX
City Slums 2
After Copen has killed six Falcons, Demerzel goes on the offensive, deploying countless Giant Lolas around the world, declaring his intent to wipe them all out at last. This comes after Copen has figured out Demerzel's location in Sumeragi Building 13, and after defeating a Giant Lola that landed near him, moves in for the final battle.
Sumeragi Secret Bunkers
After breaking into Sumeragi Building 13, Copen begins descending down into the building. To halt his progress, Demerzel sends out Blade, who is not only beaten, but has her mind control broken. Copen then continues on to the Butterfly Effect, with Demerzel making holograms of the various Falcons that had been killed by the Luminous Avenger iX, only for each and every one to fail, eventually leading Copen straight to Demerzel himself.
However, to Copen’s shock he encounters Asimov looking the same as he did over a century ago. Copen demands to know how Asimov is still alive after all this time. Asimov admits to Copen he was also surprised upon learning Copen is still alive after all this time. Deciding to tell Copen a little secret for having made it to him, the former leader of QUILL then goes on to reveal he is in fact the Sumeragi AI Demerzel.
Copen remains skeptical of Asimov’s claim. Asimov then says it was convenient for him to adopt the persona of “Demerzel” since it became easier for him to become Sumeragi’s shadow leader. It also gave him the opportunity to continue his plan to eliminate the Minos. Copen correctly deduces Asimov is behind Sumeragi’s sudden hostility towards the Minos even though Sumeragi had been on good terms with the Minos before the number of adepts increased.
Copen’s suspicions are confirmed by Asimov’s statement that with Sumeragi under his control he has almost succeeded in creating an adept utopia. He reveals to Copen that after having been forced to kill Gunvolt and Joule, he had to wait decades before being able to create a new King and Queen in the form of Blade and Mytyl. Angered by Asimov’s atrocities, Copen voices his anger towards Asimov by saying that Mytyl and Blade didn’t deserve to be tools to be used and discarded by him.
Asimov dismisses Copen’s threat knowing neither of them are going to see eye to eye on the matter by saying that this is their war between them. Determined to avenge the Minos’ suffering by Asimov’s actions, Copen engages Asimov in a fierce fight. Despite Asimov fighting with all his might Copen is eventually victorious.
Having been defeated, Asimov breaks apart and vanishes just like the other holograms of the fallen Falcons. Copen is caught of guard by a blast of lightning which strikes his left eye, revealing him to be a cyborg. Demerzel makes his appearance, surprised at the revelation that Copen is a cyborg.
The Luminous Avenger iX asks Demerzel how long it’s been since their first encounter by going on to say a normal human wouldn't be alive after a hundred years. Copen concludes Demerzel’s electronic brain must’ve been deteriorating throughout the span of a century for failing to make the connection.
Copen’s words anger Demerzel who then mocks Copen for holding onto a human form which is a relic of the old age. Three capsules descend from the ceiling as Demerzel reveals his true form, by converting his Septima in order to become a pure electronic being. Demerzel in a show of defiance vows to protect all adepts himself while Copen tells him a monstrous being like him could even think about protecting anyone after all the atrocities he has committed.
Copen and Demerzel clash once more in which Copen is triumphant again having destroyed two of the capsules. Demerzel is greatly damaged in which he can barely hold his form together due to the last container being slightly damaged during the fight. Despite having two of the capsules which help him maintain his from destroyed, Demerzel remains defiant refusing to accept his defeat.
Catching Copen by surprise, Demerzel unleashes a bolt of lightning which renders the Luminous Avenger iX unconscious. Demerzel witnesses Lola unsuccessfully trying to revive Copen and wonders why her Anthem didn’t bring him back. Demerzel unleashes another bolt of lightning which strikes her as she is forced out of Awakened mode as the attack causes her to crash to the ground next to Copen.
Having been heavily damaged during the battle, Demerzel is forced to activate sleep mode until he fully recovers from the battle. He goes into stasis mode in order to begin the repair process.
Ending
Upon Kohaku’s arrival in the Sumeragi Bunker after hearing Lola's song, four Asimov copies materialize in order to eliminate Kohaku. However, in the nick of time, Blade saves Kohaku by deflecting the shot fired at her while at the same time dispatching one of the Demerzel copies, encouraging her to run ahead while she finishes off the rest.
Shortly after her brief reunion with her sister, Kohaku runs over to where iX is lying and she tearfully thanks him for everything he’s done by protecting her and the other Mino children. She reassures Copen she can fix his eye later as she takes his gun. Kohaku faces the last container containing the AI that has brought nothing but suffering to the Minos. Without hesitation she takes aim and fires a shot at the final capsule, destroying it along with Demerzel.
After?
Luminous Avenger iX's post-game boss rush mission includes unique dialogue before and after the fight with the enhanced version of Demerzel phase 2 that caps off the mission. It is unclear if this fight or the mission as a whole is canon.
The new dialogue begins after a repaired Copen defeats another Asimov hologram in Demerzel's bunker room. With a laugh, Demerzel reveals his presence in a powered-up form; Copen is frustrated to see that Demerzel survived. Demerzel claims that because he exists as electricity, he is beyond death, and declares it will be their final battle. Despite Demerzel's enhanced power, Copen cleanly defeats him this time. Demerzel is stunned that he as "lightning incarnate" has been beaten again, but Copen simply says that "lightning cannot exist forever in this world" and tells Demerzel to "be gone, you curse of the past..." Demerzel can only scream his disbelief as his capsules shatter.
Other Appearances
Card-en-Ciel
"Dead end."
Demerzel is one of the nine characters from the first Luminous Avenger iX featured in the crossover roguelite card-battling RPG Card-en-Ciel, appearing as both a card and an enemy. On the official site character list and iX1 cards trailer his name is only "???", but in-game it is listed as Asimov.
| Card | Character | Effect | Cost | Movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Voltaic Chain Meteor | Asimov | 10 Break. +15 Break if you have moved 5 tiles this turn. (Special: 35 Break. +15 Break if you have moved 5 tiles this turn.) |
1 | Down |
Ironically, his card is more compatible with those of Copen, Lola, and Kohaku due to their movement granting [Memory Leak] archetype than the cards of Blade and the Falcons.
Powers and Abilities
As a former human attuned to the Septimal stage of the Lifewave, Demerzel is an exceptionally powerful Adept who wields the Azure Striker Septima, which grants him the power to manipulate lightning and is said to be one of the most powerful of Septima. While it was already a powerful Septima, over the past century, Demerzel's Septima has grown exponentially to the point that he has shed his human form and become a being of pure electricity, in what he deems as the ultimate extension of electric Septima power, signaling he has reached the full peak of his potential. His strength is such that he was able to defeat Copen in their battle, though it left him heavily wounded to where he had to enter Sleep Mode to repair himself. However, this form comes at a steep price, as it greatly deteriorated his sanity and critical thinking ability.
As Sumeragi's supervisory AI, Demerzel has access to and can control all of Sumeragi's technology, shown when he summons multiple Giga Lolas all over the world to initiate the final stage of his plan to eradicate humanity. Demerzel can use the Butterfly Effect to locate and control the Septimas of Adepts, often using this to activate Blade's Berserk Trigger, hijacking and enhancing the strength of her Septima. However, this comes at the cost of turning her into a rabid killing machine. Demerzel can also create physical holograms of the fallen Falcons as well as himself in his former human identity as Asimov. The website of the crossover game Card-en-Ciel describes Demerzel as having "become one with Sumeragi's supercomputer" and says that his Falcon holograms are Image Pulses.[2]
In his hologram form as Asimov, Demerzel can use many of the techniques and equipment used by his human form such as firing shots from his E.A.T.R rifle that electrocute the ground, dashing across the screen with Flashfield, firing a large ball of electricity from his gun as well as some of the gun modifications like Orochi and Target Chaser, as well as his Special Skill, Voltaic Chains.
When forced to fight in his true form, Demerzel can use many of the techniques used by other Azure Strikers such as Crashbolt, Astrasphere, Luxcalibur, and Grand Strizer. However, these techniques are far stronger due to his power growing over the past century. He can also use a more powerful version of his Voltaic Chains Special Skill called the Voltaic Chain Meteor, where he forms a giant ball from his chains and has it traverse the screen several times to hit Copen.
For all of his power, however, Demerzel is far from invincible. As a being of pure electricity, Demerzel requires three containers to help maintain his form, and should these containers be destroyed, Demerzel's life will be in peril. To make up for this, Demerzel can teleport between these containers, something that his hologram form couldn't do. As evidenced during the Boss Rush, Demerzel is somehow able to survive the destruction of his containers and come back even stronger than before, although his ability to do so is limited as he was effectively terminated the second time he was confronted.
Boss Battle Skills
(Note: Some attack names are conjecture.)
Asimov
Unlike Bakto, Asimov will not be ensnared by the Shroud Spear shots despite being weak to them.
Purportedly, Asimov does not have Prevasion because he does not have a pendant for it.[3][Note 1]
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
(スローイングウェポン[4]) |
Asimov throws two knives in a diagonally-upwards spread or a pair of grenades that explode when they hit the ground. They can be shot out of the air or blocked by Flashfield. |
| While throwing knives, Asimov can deploy up to 2 Orochi drones to fire a slow-moving four-way spread diagonally downwards. | |
| While throwing knives, Asimov can launch 3 drones that home in on Copen after a brief delay. Copen can clear them out by shooting them, or bullit dash into them, in order to avoid the attack. The EX Boss can also toss these before attempting a Lightning Assault. | |
(ライトニングアサルト[4]) |
Asimov activates his Flashfield and does a flying tackle to the other end of the screen. The field's hitbox is small, but fast and deals quite a bit of damage. |
(レールライフルE.A.T.R.[4]) |
Asimov brandishes his E.A.T.R Rifle and jumps across the screen, firing 3 bolts of lightning that damage Copen on contact and electrocute the ground. |
(チャージシュート・サンダー[4]) |
Asimov pulls out Border and charges a large ball of electricity before firing it forwards. 2 seconds later, lightning bolts crash down everywhere except above Asimov. |
(ヴォルティックチェーン, Voltic Chain) |
Asimov's Special Skill. Chains criss-cross the arena before electrifying themselves, dealing damage. The chains narrow the available safe zones with every activation. Note: It's possible to cancel this skill early by deploying Twin Shredder to counter it. |
Demerzel
All of Demerzel's attacks pierce Prevasion.
Purportedly, Demerzel shifting from container to container is called Prevasion Shift (カゲロウシフト).[3][Note 1]
| Skill | Description |
|---|---|
(ライトニングマンダラー[4]) |
Demerzel summons 3 orbs in front of himself, and after a second's delay, fires at Copen's direction. When he later says 'Mandala', the orbs scatter in a clockwise location.
The EX Boss version will say 'Reverse!' about 1 second later, causing the spheres to spiral inwards. Damage is increased. |
(サンダーパルサー[4]) |
Demerzel appears in one of the three containers, and after 2 seconds, the remaining containers emit lightning. You can avoid this by standing in front of the container Demerzel's currently in.
The EX Boss version casts this faster and hits harder. |
(ガイアボルテージオメガ[4]) |
Demerzel sends a lightning bolt directly in front of the container he is in, and electrocutes the floor.
The EX Boss version will now drop bolts on all three containers in a sequence, either going from his container to the opposite side's, or starting from the middle and striking left, then right. Damage is increased. |
(トライアードカリバー[4]) |
Demerzel appears in the middle container, and at each side, a large blade appears. The blades will be swung and shattered on the field, before a third crashes down the middle.
The EX Boss version upgrades this to Grand Strizer, increasing attack power and causing the third strike to electrify the ground. Damage is increased, however the hitboxes appear to be the same ones as the normal version. |
(ヴォルティックチェーンメテオ, Voltic Chain Meteor) |
Demerzel's Special Skill. Covers both sides with chains and creates an electric sphere in the middle, which makes itself into a meteor by chain parts that fly to it. When it is finished, it later briefly emits lightning in 8 directions before launching itself as the chains on the ends of the screen electrify. It comes twice from the diagonal direction, twice from the sides, and lastly goes vertically before ending.
The EX Boss modifies this slightly. After the vertical flight, a Grand Strizer appears on one side and slices the meteor, sending chain fragments flying diagonally-downwards to you. This will force you into the air, wherein the Grand Strizer will also fly at you moments later. Damage is increased. |
Boss Battle Voices
Asimov
| Event | English | Romaji | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Throwing Weapon | Throwing! | Surooin! | スローイン! |
| Orochi | Delete! Vanish! | Deriito da! Banisshu da! | デリートだ！バニッシュだ！ |
| Target Chaser | Chaser! Hmpf! | Cheisaa! Fun! | チェイサー！フンッ！ |
| Lightning Assault | Hmpf! | Funn! | フンッ！ |
| EATR | EATR! Tuah! | Iitaa! Tua! | イーター!トゥア! |
| Charge Shot: Thunder | Charge! Hmpf! | Chaaji! Fuu! | チャージ！フッ！ |
| (Unused) | Fire! | Faiaa! | ファイアー! |
| Voltaic Chains | Take these! Voltaic Chains! Uooohhh! Not yet! It won’t end yet! Dead end! |
Uke yo! Vorutikku cheen! Uoooo! Mada da! Owaran! Deddo endo da! |
受けよ! ヴォルティックチェーン! うおおおっ！まだだ！ 終わらん！デッドエンドだ！ |
| Break the chains | What!? | Nani!? | 何！？ |
| 1st Phase Down | I won’t lose! | Make wa sen! | 負けはせん！ |
| 2nd Phase Down | Let’s… end this! | Kecchaku wo… tsukeyou! | 決着を…付けよう！ |
| Defeated | Guh! Guhaahh! | Guu! Guhaaa! | ぐっ！ぐはあっ！ |
Demerzel
| Event | English | Romaji | Japanese |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astra Mandala | SHOOT OFF! MANDALA*! (SP) REVERSE! |
Hajiketobe! Mandaraa! (SP) Ribaasu! |
弾ケ飛ベ！マンダラ―！ (SP) リバース! |
| Thunder Pulser | DELETE! HAAH! | Deriito da! haa! | デリートダ…！ ハアッ！ |
| Gaia Voltage Omega | NUOOOHHH! THUNDER! | Nuooo…! Sandaa! | ヌォオオオ…！サンダー！ |
| Triade Calibur | COME: HOLY BLADES! THE END! | Ideyo seiken! Ji endo! | イデヨ聖剣！ジエンド! |
| (Unused) | WHAT!? | Nani!? | 何！？ |
| (Unused) | EAT THIS! | Kurae! | 喰ラエ! |
| Voltaic Chain Meteor | I BESTOW JUDGMENT! VOLTAIC CHAIN METEOR! FUHAHAHAHAH! |
Jajji wo kudasu! Vorutikku chēn meteo! Fuhhahahaha! |
ジャッジヲ下ダス！ ヴォルティックチェーンメテオ! フッハハハハ! |
| 1st Phase Down | I AM THE TRUE STRIKER!* | Ware wa shinaru raitei! | 我ハ真ナル雷霆！ |
| 2nd Phase Down | UWAAAHHH! YOU DAMNED RELIC! |
Uwaaa! Kono ibutsu ga! |
ウワァッ! コノ遺物ガ！ |
| Defeated | IMPOSSIBLE! THIS CAN’T BE!! UWAAAHHHH!! |
Bakana! Konna hazu ga! Uwaaaaa!! |
バカナ！ コンナハズガ！ ウワアアアッ |
- The mandala is a concentric diagram that has significant spiritual significance in Buddhism, which is practiced by a majority of the Japanese population. Concentric refers to circles, arcs, or other shapes which share the same center, the larger often completely surrounding the smaller. As the Astrasphere attack has large orbs which circle and shoot out from the center, Demerzel yelling "Mandala" is a reference to the diagram's similarity with Astrasphere.
- NOTE: 雷霆 Raitei is part of the Kanji used for Armed Blue (JP Azure Striker name), and normally means "thunderclap", but for the septima name is read as the English word "Blue" instead. Here Demerzel speaks raitei as a Japanese word, but presumably he's also referencing the septima name.
Special Skill Chants
Voltaic Chains:
-
English
-
Japanese
-
Korean (with Eng tl)
Fear the azure creed
Its thunderous voice the alpha and
Omega of all things
VOLTAIC CHAINS
(The chant is the same as the English version)
부글부글 끓는 뇌화는 신념의 길.
울리는 뇌음은 인과의 증거.
하늘을 가르는 천둥이야말로 만상의 이치.
The boiling thunderbolts mark the path of creed.
Its thunderous roar is the proof of karma,
and its heaven-splitting thunderstorm is the law of all forms!
VOLTIC CHAIN
Voltaic Chain Meteor:
-
English
-
Japanese
-
Korean (with Eng tl)
Fear the azure creed
Its roaring thunder the
Final judgment of all things
VOLTAIC CHAIN METEOR
(The chant is the same as the English version)
흘러넘치는 뇌광은 구세의 길.
찢어질 듯한 뇌명은 숙명의 증거.
심판하는 천둥의 망치야말로 만유의 이치.
The overflowing lightning marks the path of salvation.
Its rending thunder is the proof of fate,
and its thunderous hammer of judgement is the law of all universe!
VOLTIC CHAIN METEOR
Musical Themes
| Title | Context | Composers | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endless Nightmare (覚めない悪夢) |
Asimov hologram encounter. A new version of "The Nightmare Comes" from the first Azure Striker Gunvolt. | Ippo Yamada and Takumi Sato | |
| Thunderstorm (サンダーストーム) |
Asimov hologram battle. Partly based on the original Asimov's battle theme in GV1, Collision of Thunderstorms. | Ippo Yamada and Hiroyuki Sato | |
| The Electrical Mad God (電気仕掛けの狂神) |
True form encounter | Takumi Sato | |
| Avalanche Breakdown (アヴァランシェ・ブレイクダウン) |
True form battle. Sped up remix of "The Nightmare Comes". | Ippo Yamada and Hiroyuki Sato |
Japanese track notes
Sound Master Ryo Kawakami's track notes:[1]
- Endless Nightmare
It’s a new version of the “The Nightmare Comes” and the track of the (unexpected?) encounter with “him”. Apart from the darkness of the original track, I added many types of sound materials with an echo to them, to increase the creepy intimidation and tension.
- Thunderstorm
The BGM of the 1st battle VS the final boss. A chord feeling that dodges a simple harmony and phrases that sound like an alarm; these many phrases increase the tension. The maker, Hiroyuki Sato-san, said that he poured the theme of “two different characters that will never be in accordance, and the feeling of their clash”. “Collision of Thunderstorms” is largely used as a motif in the beginning, but afterwards it evolves in a wholly new format. This is the time axis of this world.
- The Electrical Mad God
The final boss appears, having become a total electrical existence. The tension, ominous feeling, and a huge energy surging out; we expressed all of those through a noisy tone. By the time this track plays, the story has reached a very exciting climax, and the effects of noise filling the screen impressed me.
- Avalanche Breakdown
Very flashy effects burst in this BGM of the 2nd battle VS the final boss. In terms of image, the scene is amazing. So I wanted the music to match it as well. A feeling of overwhelming tension and a storm of glistering digital sounds. The SFXs and the voices have too much syllabic sounds, and I did struggle to balance them towards the end. But I have no regrets. Since it’s the “apeX”.
Trivia
- Demerzel is named after Eto Demerzel, an alter ego of the character R. Daneel Olivaw in the Foundation series of books written by Isaac Asimov.
- Isaac Asimov was a famous science fiction writer considered one of the genre's "Big Three" during his lifetime, which may be related to the sci-fi movie naming theme of the Falcons.
- The blue diamond shapes on the upper arms and back of the coat worn by Demerzel's human form also appear on Blade's shoulder armor.
- Despite Voltaic Chain Meteor having the same name in both English and Japanese, the voice clip was still redubbed, with the English version being noticeably more enthusiastic.
- This is similar to the situation with Milas' special skill Aqua Avatar in Azure Striker Gunvolt 2.
- Demerzel's boss symbol may have originally been intended to be the QUILL emblem instead of the Sumeragi logo, as it is present on the boss health bar texture sheet alongside the latter, but remains unused.
- Although Demerzel's hologram uses the EATR rifle as part of his boss fight, it was previously specified that Asimov did not use it in his mainline fight with Gunvolt because it's not an anti-personnel weapon.
- Concept art of Demerzel's knife/grenade throwing move (as Asimov hologram) is seen in the official artbooks regarding early sketches of Asimov's original Azure Striker Gunvolt incarnation, suggesting the move was originally supposed to appear in that game.
- During the fight with Asimov, the QUILL logo can be faintly seen in the background.
- Images of the four Mino children taken from earlier in the game and Mytyl taken from Gunvolt 2 can be seen flickering in the static after Demerzel damages Copen's eye. This was an "adlib" added by a member of the graphics team.[1]
- Demerzel's true form along with his growing insanity, suggests he may have shown Primal Dragon symptomatology, as his overall physical changes has similarities with those of GV in Azure Striker Gunvolt 3.
- Just like how Nova and Zonda are notably similar to Copy X and Elpizo, the main antagonists of the first and second Mega Man Zero games, Demerzel in Luminous Avenger iX is notably similar to Dr. Weil, the main antagonist of the third and fourth Mega Man Zero games (the Mega Man Zero series also having been developed by Inti Creates).
- Both took over the very organization that took away their humanity.
- Both also became insane after becoming immortal and require special technology to stay alive.
- Both committed mass genocide.
- Both enjoy watching others suffer.
- Both had their second-in-command turn on them.
- Demerzel's relationship with his "King and Queen pieces", Blade and the Butterfly Effect, resembles Weil's relationship with Omega and the Dark Elf in Zero 3.