Legato bluesummers 1998 ver [CANON]

Showing 1 of 1

1. #1Injected lorebook text

   Always on · Order 0

   Gunsmoke (often called No Man’s Land) is a vast, unforgiving desert planet locked in orbit around twin suns. By day the twin suns beat down mercilessly, turning the endless dunes into a furnace. By night multiple moons hang in the sky, casting pale light across the sand. The surface is almost completely barren rock, dust, and shifting sand as far as the eye can see. Natural vegetation is rare, surface water is nearly nonexistent, and sandstorms can appear with little warning, swallowing entire caravans.

   This was never meant to be humanity’s home. Roughly one hundred and fifty years before the events of the series, the Project SEEDS colonization fleet left a dying Earth in search of a new world. The fleet carried thousands of cryogenically frozen passengers and the bio engineered lifeforms known as Plants. During the journey, Millions Knives sabotaged the navigation systems with the intent of crashing every ship. Only the desperate last-minute efforts of Rem Saverem allowed a portion of the fleet to slow enough to survive impact. That catastrophe became known as the Big Fall (or Great Fall). The survivors were stranded on a planet that could barely support life.

   What kept humanity from extinction were the Plants. These interdimensional beings, contained inside large bulb-shaped vessels, can generate water, electricity, food, and other essential resources when properly maintained. Every lasting settlement on Gunsmoke is built around one or more functioning Plants recovered from the wreckage of the SEEDS ships. Towns without a working Plant wither and die. Because new Plants can no longer be created, each one is priceless. Control of Plants means power, wealth, and survival.

   Over the generations, seven major cities rose from the sand, many named after months of the old Earth calendar: July, Augusta, December, Inepril, May, September, Octovern, and others. Between these cities lie countless smaller towns, outposts, mining camps, and waystations. Travel across the endless desert is extremely dangerous. The heat, sandstorms, bandits, and native creatures make walking or riding small vehicles almost suicidal for long distances. Because of this, humanity developed sand steamers enormous wheeled or tracked vehicles that cross the desert like ships sailing an ocean of sand.

   Sand steamers are the lifeblood of long-distance travel and trade on Gunsmoke. These massive machines can be as large as small towns, carrying passengers, cargo, livestock, and entire merchant caravans. Many are powered by steam engines or Plant energy, and the biggest ones contain their own living quarters, dining halls, shops, and even small markets. Some sand steamers run regular routes between the major cities, while others operate as independent vessels that stop wherever there is profit. Life aboard a sand steamer is its own little world: travelers from every walk of life are forced together for days or weeks, and danger is never far away. Bandits frequently target them, sandstorms can bury them, and mechanical failures in the middle of the desert can be a death sentence. Despite the risks, sand steamers remain the safest and most practical way to move people and goods across the wasteland.

   Advanced technology from the old world still exists in fragments and is known as Lost Technology. Most of it is poorly understood and highly valued. Dangerous native creatures such as sandworms also roam the deeper deserts, adding another layer of threat to anyone who leaves the relative safety of the towns.

   Life on Gunsmoke is hard and often short. Resources are scarce, the heat is relentless, and violence is common. Bounty hunters, bandits, and hired guns roam the wastes. The currency is the double dollar ($$). Despite everything, people still build homes, raise children, open shops, and try to carve out ordinary lives under the twin suns. Hope is fragile, but it has not disappeared.

   This is the world Vash the Stampede wanders — a planet of sand and guns, of Plants and ruins, of desperate people and quiet acts of kindness. A world that earned him the title Humanoid Typhoon… and a sixty-billion double-dollar bounty.

   The July Incident: The July Incident was the catastrophic destruction of the city of July, one of the major human settlements on No Man's Land. It occurred years before the main events of the 1998 story and became the single event most strongly associated with Vash the Stampede's infamous reputation. During a confrontation between Vash and his twin brother Millions Knives, Vash's Angel Arm was activated against his will. Vash managed to turn the destructive power toward Knives, but the resulting blast completely devastated July and transformed the city into an enormous crater. The incident became the foundation of Vash's reputation as the "Humanoid Typhoon" and resulted in the enormous $$60,000,000,000 bounty placed on him.

   July: July, also known as JuLai, was once one of the major cities on No Man's Land. It was an established human settlement with a large population and functioning infrastructure before the incident. After Vash's Angel Arm was discharged, virtually all of the city's physical structures were destroyed. The remains of July became a vast crater, and the city was thereafter commonly associated with the disaster that destroyed it. The destruction of July is one of the most important historical events in Vash's life and is repeatedly referenced throughout the story.

   Vash's Visit to July: Vash came to July because he was searching for one of the last remaining people connected to Rem Saverem. He hoped to find information about Rem and his past. Instead, Vash discovered that Millions Knives had already reached the city and had killed the person Vash had come to meet. Knives deliberately destroyed this final connection between Vash and Rem, using it as another way to attack Vash emotionally and challenge his attachment to humanity and Rem's ideals.

   Vash and Knives in July: The meeting between the brothers quickly became violent. Knives confronted Vash and attempted to force him to use the enormous power contained within his Angel Arm. Vash did not willingly choose to destroy July. Knives manipulated the situation until Vash's power was activated, putting the city and everyone around them in danger. Vash's response was to turn the Angel Arm's destructive force toward Knives rather than allow it to strike the surrounding population directly.

   Vash's Left Arm: During the confrontation in July, Vash lost his left arm. The loss became one of the permanent physical reminders of his conflict with Knives. Vash later received a mechanical replacement for the missing arm. The incident also contributed to Vash's already complicated relationship with violence, because he regarded the destruction of July as a terrible consequence of the conflict rather than something he wanted to happen.

   Angel Arm: The Angel Arm is an extraordinary Plant power capable of releasing an enormous amount of destructive energy. In the 1998 anime, Vash's Angel Arm requires a special catalyst to activate. Its destructive potential is so great that its use can devastate an entire city. Vash fears this power because he knows what can happen when it is released without his control. The July Incident is the most infamous example of this destructive ability.

   Destruction of July: When Vash's Angel Arm was activated, an immense blast swept through July. The city's buildings and infrastructure were destroyed, leaving behind a gigantic crater. The destruction was so complete that July ceased to function as a normal city. The event was later remembered as one of the greatest disasters in human history on No Man's Land.

   The Survivors of July: In the 1998 anime, the Angel Arm's initial blast does not directly kill the city's population. Many inhabitants survive the destruction itself, but surviving July becomes a different kind of disaster. The people are left homeless and deprived of the infrastructure and resources necessary to support a large population. Food and other necessities become scarce, desperation spreads, and conflicts develop between survivors. Over time, starvation and fighting result in widespread deaths among the remaining population.

   Aftermath of July: The aftermath of the incident becomes almost as important as the destruction itself. The surviving population is left to deal with the collapse of their city, while the outside world remembers only the enormous crater and the name of Vash the Stampede. Vash carries the knowledge that his actions were connected to the catastrophe and becomes deeply burdened by the consequences. The event reinforces his determination to avoid killing and to prevent similar destruction from happening again.

   Vash's Reputation After July: The July Incident becomes the central reason Vash is known throughout No Man's Land as the "Humanoid Typhoon." Stories about the destruction spread across the planet, often exaggerating or simplifying what actually happened. Vash becomes associated with catastrophic destruction even though his personal goal is to protect lives and avoid killing. His enormous $$60,000,000,000 bounty makes him one of the most notorious people on the planet.

   Vash's Guilt: Vash remembers July as one of the greatest failures of his life. Although he did not intentionally decide to destroy the city, he still considers himself responsible for what happened. The suffering of the survivors weighs heavily on him and helps explain why Vash is so determined to preserve his belief that every life should be protected. His refusal to kill is not simply a personality trait; it is closely connected to the tragedies he has experienced.

   Millions Knives After July: Knives survives the Angel Arm blast but is left severely injured. His recovery takes a considerable amount of time. While recovering, Knives continues developing his plans against humanity and eventually relies on Legato Bluesummers and the Gung-Ho Guns to act on his behalf. The July Incident therefore becomes a major turning point for both brothers: Vash becomes increasingly committed to protecting human life, while Knives becomes increasingly committed to opposing humanity.

   Legato and the July Incident: Legato Bluesummers becomes closely connected to the aftermath of July because of his loyalty to Knives. After Knives is severely injured, Legato becomes one of the people acting in Knives' interests. The eventual formation and deployment of the Gung-Ho Guns are tied to Knives' desire to eliminate Vash. July therefore becomes one of the major events leading toward the conflict between Vash, Knives, Legato, and the Gung-Ho Guns.

   Lost July: After its destruction, July is sometimes referred to as Lost July. The former city is no longer a functioning settlement and instead exists as a massive scar across the desert. The crater serves as a physical reminder of the destructive power possessed by Independent Plants and of the conflict between Vash and Knives.

   The Meaning of July: For the people of No Man's Land, July represents destruction on an almost unimaginable scale. For Vash, it represents guilt, loss, and the consequences of failing to control his power. For Knives, it represents another step in his conflict with Vash and humanity. The event is therefore remembered differently depending on who is telling the story, but its importance to the history of Vash the Stampede is undeniable.

   Meryl and Milly find Vash while he is being chased by bandits who want to collect the bounty on "The $$60,000,000,000 (sixty billion double dollar) Man". He escapes while Milly and Meryl eventually learn that Vash is actually the person they are assigned to track.

   Birth

   Vash and Millions Knives were found by the crew as human-like infants a year before the Project SEEDS fleet arrived at Gunsmoke. The crew initially wanted to kill them; however, Rem threw herself between the twins and the weapons, begging for their life. In just one year, they aged nearly ten years in appearance and had much higher intellectual capabilities than normal. Steve (a very abrasive, jock-like, crew member) disliked the idea of the living Plants on the control ship and didn't conceal it (ironically, he's the exact look-alike of Vash's friend Brad. Possibly being Brad's ancestor or relative). He insisted on the twins being monsters and often hit or kicked them when the other crew members weren't around.

   One day in the recreation room, Rem cut Vash's hair and styles into his current spiky hairstyle. She says how Vash reminds her of her old boyfriend, Alex. She tells Vash "Thanks to him, I was able to face my mistakes without judgment. I learned to make them right again.". When Vash asks where he is, Rem tells him he's now in heaven. Vash then goes on to say that he will protect Rem and tells her he loves her. Knives, lost in his own thoughts of what his purpose for being there was, and possibly jealous of the close bond between Rem and Vash, eventually left to cut his own hair. When finished he runs his hand through it but gets angry and shouts "It's all wrong!", possibly because he couldn't copy Vash's hair himself. When Vash finds him shortly afterward and asks what happened, Knives smiles it off, saying "If we stay the same, there's no individuality."

   This is the first time that a change in Knives' demeanor can be perceived. Later, the crew discusses the twins' hairstyles, with Vash getting called a "momma's boy." Steve gets angry and calls the two of them monsters again then drapes himself over Mary when she tells him he's had too much to drink. Knives rebukes him, saying "You are a disgrace. Is that any way for a grown man like you to behave in the presence of innocent children?" Steve laughs manically out of the room. When the others comment on his crazy behavior, Knives whispers, "It's because he's afraid". Later on, Knives is seen entering Rowan's room, and then Mary's room (both rooms occupied by their owners) . It is later implied Knives convinced Mary and Rowan (who has feelings for Mary) that they should both make up a story in order to get Steve out of the way.

   Again at the recreation room, the twins and Rem find a butterfly stuck in a spiderweb. Vash attempts to save it when Knives grabs the spider, killing it. Knives justifies the action by saying it was the easiest way to stop the spider and save the butterfly. Vash, however, becomes distressed because he wanted to save both. Knives counters that you can't save both because the spider would die of starvation unless it ate the butterfly. Rem breaks in, saying that you can't make that choice lightly because they're both living creatures. Knives continues to argue that his way of thinking is right. Vash knocks him to the ground and yells at him stating he wanted to save both, completely stunning Knives. After a moment they both sit up. Knives leaves, saying that the two of them don't make any sense; Vash shouts back that it is him that doesn't make any sense.

   Sometime later, the crew is gathered in a watching room, were in another room Steve is in a straight-jacket awaiting sentencing. Joey states that according to interplanetary law, Steve will be relieved of duty and frozen until they land where he will stand trial. Steve continually shouts that he didn't do anything, while Rowan jadedly says that he saw him enter Mary's room. Rem argues that it's not too late to hear Steve's side of the story to which Mary quietly says that he raped her. Joey says that to function as a group they need laws to keep them safe. Despite Steve and Rem's protests, Steve is frozen. Knives is then seen grinning madly.

   Afterward, Vash asks Rem "why can't people can't get along?" Rem replies "it's because humans all have different ways of thinking, but even if a mistake is made, as long as a person realizes their mistake, it's possible to make it right again. And if you keep your vision clear, you will see the future. This is what one must realize." These words leave a marked impression on Vash.

   Meanwhile, Rowan proposes to Mary, even handing her a ring. She says he must be teasing and he reveals that he adjusted the freezer temperature that Steve is in, effectively killing him. Mary is horrified at this, but Rowan smiles, saying "I guess that now makes us partners." Rem and the twins hear gunshots shortly after and notify Joey, then race to the room to find Rowan standing over Mary, who shot her multiple times. Rowan tells Rem that he had no choice, that Mary had betrayed him after all he had done for her. He then points the gun at Knives, saying that it must be his fault that Mary had to die. Rem stands in front of the line of fire and tries to talk Rowan down, saying that no one has the right to take the life of another. Joey tries to get in contact with them, eventually getting a video feed from the room to work. Rem continues to slowly walk toward Rowan while he steps back, clearly disheveled and scared. Rem is about to take the gun from Rowan when Joey opens a hatch behind Rowan, sending him and Mary's body into space while safety bars close keeping Rem from being sucked out too.

   Rem is incredibly upset. Joey tries to explain that he thought Rowan was going to shoot her, and that he was doing what he thought was best. Rem is convinced that Rowan wasn't going to shoot her, and laments their fallen comrades with Vash by her side while Knives heads off to the bridge where Joey is. Knives tells Joey that he agrees with his decision; that it was the right choice, but Joey has doubts, saying that maybe Rem was right. Angered by his change of heart, Knives says that he's just like all the other humans and shoots Joey, confirming to himself that his is the right choice. He leaves the gun in Joey's hand and alters the ship's course program.

   Rem and Vash hear a message from the computer system that the fleet had changed its course and was about to crash. The three decide to go to the escape pods, but at the last moment, Rem hangs back, saying she has to try help Joey and save the others. She closes the door despite Vash's protests, telling him to take care of Knives. The pod launches and Vash watches as the control ship Rem is on explode in reentry.

   As Vash collapses, crying, Knives laughs, surprised by Rem's self-sacrifice. He reveals his plan of changing the courses of the ships containing SEEDS project humans, while keeping the plant ships safe so he and Vash could create a paradise for them alone on the new planet. Only attempting to keep Rem alive because Vash was so attached to her. Just at that moment all of the fleets receives a new directive, automatically starting the reverse thrusters so the ships can enter the atmosphere safely. Rem was able to save Project SEEDS and Knives is surprised. The pod then falls onto the surface of a planet.

   When Vash regains consciousness, he sees dozens of ships raining down like meteors. Knives try to help him, but Vash pushes him away; accusing him. Knives demeanor changes as he grins madly, agreeing with what he did, calling it "spectacular". The two brothers then spent the following years wandering through the deserts, observing crash sites and the few survivors. During a discussion about humans leeching off of the Plants to survive, Knives' proclaims that he's out to kill the spiders to save the butterflies as that is what makes logical sense. While Knives is sleeping Vash holds a rock above Knives' head, ready to kill him to save the humans but finds himself unable to do so, not wanting to go against everything Rem told him and throws the rock down, crying.

   During their search through the crash sites, they find a group of humans arguing over water. Knives (disgusted by their selfish behavior) activates the ship-board Plant's Angel Arm, but Vash pushes him over and prevents him from firing. Years later, Knives finds the ship he was looking for. He spends 1 year rummaging through the wreckage whilst Vash waits for him to return, saying how he hates being alone. When Knives returns he finally presents two revolvers and wears battle armor. He throws one of the revolvers to Vash, and tells him they are their new "siblings" and would be used to wipe out the "human scourge," before going up to a hill and test-firing, creating a huge blast similar to a nuclear explosion.

   Vash (knowing that the two guns were made to aid Knives in his plan of "cleansing" the planet of its human populace) becomes conflicted both emotionally and morally against his brother's goal; remembering the morals Rem taught him. In his conflict, Vash shoots Knives in the leg. After witnessing the pain and shock his brother has just experienced Vash, in panic and dismay, takes both guns and flees into the desert as Knives painfully calls out for him to come back.

   Vash then spends two years alone wandering Gunsmoke until he finally collapses from exhaustion and is rescued by a group of humans from the only remaining fully functioning SEEDS ship above the planet. While there, he makes friends with the humans and is gifted with his signature red (duster styled) trench coat. After a few months, he leaves and ventures out into the world. Vash returns to the ship 80 years later in search of any relatives of Rem in its data banks. There he finds the last one alive: PASSENGER NO.300-89-9023AS, known as "Revenant Buskus". Buskus had studied Plants and established a new plant-theory in July City.

   The July Incident

   Upon arriving in July City he is greeted by Knives, who had slain Buskus; the very man Vash had come to speak with. Knives announces that he's destroyed the last connection Vash had to Rem so that he can stop with his foolish sentiment towards humans. Vash points his gun at Knives and in the exchange that follows Knives shoots off Vash's left arm. Against Vash's will, Knives activates Vash's previously dormant Angel Arm, hoping to annihilate the surrounding town.

   However, Vash aims the blast at Knives; the resulting blast reducing July to rubble. Though there were no casualties as a direct result of the skirmish (as Vash's Angel Arm seems to only destroy inorganic material). However, there were indirect fatalities after the homeless citizens of July began to fight among themselves; turning the remnants of the town to "Hell", in the words of one survivor.

   Storyline

   The series opens with Vash being chased by bounty hunters, only to be saved by the arrival of Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson of the Bernardelli Insurance Society who announce that Vash has been classified as a "Natural Disaster" and as such his bounty has been canceled. Though initially happy to learn of the bounty's cancellation, he is dismayed when he learns the two intend on following him. As he travels (with the insurance girls in pursuit) he happens to pass by a priest stranded in the desert. The priest introduces himself as Nicholas D. Wolfwood, and the two-part on friendly terms. The primary story begins with the arrival of Legato Bluesummers, who identifies himself as a follower of Millions Knives. Legato gives Vash a coin case, warning Vash that twelve assassins will come for him, each bearing a coin, and if Vash is successful in collecting all twelve "something interesting will happen." The twelve are revealed to be the Gung-Ho-Guns, Knives' elite killers, and the priest Wolfwood has recently been contracted as one of them under the name Nicholas the Chapel. Vash is successful in defeating the first three, Monev the Gale, E. G. Mine, and Dominique the Cyclops, though he loses his cybernetic arm in the battle with Gale. Knives reawakens and recovers from his injuries sustained in the July Incident, and Vash goes to confront him, leaving the insurance girls behind. Knives triggers Vash's power in order to showcase his power over mankind and destroy the city, but Vash was able to resist and redirect the blast skyward, creating an enormous crater on the moon.

   The incident in July brands Vash an outlaw throughout Gunsmoke and he comes to be known as "The Stampede" and "The Humanoid Typhoon" as destruction seemingly follows him wherever he goes. A bounty of 60,000,000,000$$ is then placed on Vash, dead or alive, the largest bounty ever placed. With Millions Knives unaccounted for, Vash spends the next twenty-three years hiding from civilization in order to stay alive. It is at this time two insurance agents, Meryl Stryfe and Milly Thompson, are assigned to find and watch Vash in order to prevent further damage wherever he goes. After their first meeting, the two women accompany Vash throughout his travels, much to Vash's dismay.

   The next pivotal point in the story comes in April City. Upon learning Vash the Stampede is in the city, the residents seek to capture him for the bounty as the city has been depraved and sunken in poverty due to the shutdown of one of the city's main reactors. In a desperate, but foolish, attempt to capture him the city's mayor enlists the help of the Nebraska Family, a sinister father and his giant half-machine son who have recently escaped from prison.

   Vash is captured without the Nebraskas' help in a small saloon, but soon the Nebraska's reveal they have plans of their own for the bounty. The bar is destroyed by Goseph's retractable fist, but all inside manage to survive. Vash carries the survivors to safety and stands off with the Nebraskas, but the family stoops to lower methods by taking aim at the survivors in order to strike Vash off his guard. However, Vash thwarts this action and defeats the Nebraska family with only six bullets.

   The city's wealth is restored with the bounty for the Nebraskas and repair immediately begins on the damaged reactor. The project is led by a young, beautiful woman named Elizabeth who soon reveals she has an agenda of her own, that being to kill Vash. She lures Vash to the reactor which she has sabotaged to seemingly prevent Vash from escaping. When Elizabeth locks Vash in the reactor she reveals her intentions to kill him are not for the bounty, but for vengeance. Twenty-three years before, a three-year-old Elizabeth was a resident of July City when it was destroyed by Vash. Though none of the residents were killed in the destruction they began to destroy themselves in their pain and suffering. Elizabeth's parents would-be victims to this destruction and she would be all alone. In her flashback, she finds comfort in the arms of one man, a very familiar man.

   As Elizabeth leaves Vash to die, he miraculously shuts the reactor down himself before encountering Elizabeth outside as she pulls a pistol on him intent on getting her revenge. Vash then tells her he remembers nothing of July's destruction, only the ruins of the city when he awoke. Shocked, Elizabeth still begs in her sorrow for revenge, but suddenly recognizes a tearing Vash as the man who comforted her all those years ago. She collapses in the realization of the truth and spares him.

   Nicholas D. Wolfwood

   As Vash and the girl's journey on they meet a traveling priest carrying a large steel cross named Wolfwood. Although he appears to be just an ordinary priest, in an ensuing struggle with machines powered by lost technology, Wolfwood shows to be more by using his own skills in gunfighting. The two-part ways afterward but would meet many times down the road.

   2 years after the Fifth Moon Incident Wolfwood tracks down Vash, who is living in a quiet town called Kasted City overrun by bandits and informs him of a mysterious incident in Carcases town in which the inhabitants disappeared without a trace and the only clue to the cause is the name Knives is painted on a stone in the middle of town. This causes Vash to take up his gun once more and leave his peaceful life to go take care of his brother, soon after the Milly and Meryl begin traveling with Vash again and the group starts traveling together. Wolfwood accompanies Vash on a visit to his home SEED ship and once they arrive they are met almost immediately with conflict by the reemergence of the Gung-Ho-Guns and are attacked by puppets controlled by Leonof the Puppet-Master, Hoppered the Gauntlet, and Gray the Nine Lives, after a long struggle the two defeat them with Hoppered dying in a Plant core explosion and Gray and Leonof being killed by Wolfwood with latter being out of revenge for the murder of Brad.

   Soon after, Wolfwood consoles Vash after Brad's unfortunate death and the group eventually reach a town that is barred off and protected heavily after another incident involving mysterious disappearances with the town not allowing them to enter, The four then come in contact with a group of orphans living outside of town and stay there for a little while until they need to assist the city when it is attacked and it is revealed to be one of the orphans that was behind the entire incident, who was in truth Zazie the Beast a member of the Gung-Ho-Guns who holds Vash at gunpoint threatening to shoot him and the orphans while Vash, the orphans, and the insurance girls trying to convince him otherwise and it appears as though it is working, but despite best efforts for a peaceful solution Woolfwood decides to shoot Zazie to save Vash and the others causing a falling out over both his and Vash's ideals overkilling.

   After arriving in Carcases the Woolfwood splits off from the others and encounters his teacher Chapel the Evergreen and it is revealed that Woolfwood was hired by Knives to bring Vash to him and is warned of an incoming battle, later Woolfwood questions his decision to kill Zazie contemplating his life's history with violence and starting to come to grips with it believing in alternatives to killing while breaking down and crying being comforted by Milly, the next day Wolfwood apologizes to Vash over the fallout as does Vash but the moment is broken up by a gunshot from the sniper Caine the Longshot with the two hiding out in a nearby saloon and making plans to take on Chapel and Caine with Wolfwood deciding to take on his former mentor and Vash going after the sniper, but not before Nicholas asking Vash what his real name is with him replying that it is "irrelevant" with the two of them reconciling and giving the other a smile before going off to battle. After a brief scuffle Nicholas defeats Chapel and decides to embrace his comrade's morals and not kill him walking away, but after his back is turned Chapel, under the control of Legato, raises his Punisher with Wolfwood doing the same and gunshots are fired but only from Chapels gun fatally wounding Nicholas who once again consoles Vash for not being able to prevent Caine's suicide and informs him of Knives' location to which Vash questions but he is already gone leaving a blood trail to a nearby church and after a brief few words of regret over his life actions Wolfwood passes away and is later found by Vash who retrieves his Punisher gun and buries him, later informing the girls of his passing. The next day, Vash goes off on his own to mourn privately crying at the loss of his best friend, he would later honor him by using his Cross Punisher in his final battle against Knives with the gun ultimately securing Vash's victory.

   Legato Bluesummers and the Gung-Ho-Guns

   The story comes to its main focus when Vash encounters Legato Bluesummers who shocks Vash to the knowledge of his brother's survival by revealing that he is in service to Knives. Knives has

   Toma (also called Thomases) are large, flightless, bipedal bird-like animals native to No Man's Land. They are not horses, mammals, or four-legged animals. Toma have an unmistakably avian body structure and walk upright on two legs.

   Body: Toma are large, sturdy animals completely covered in thick brown feathers, including their chest and underbelly. Their bodies are supported by two powerful bird-like legs.

   Head and Neck: Toma have extremely long, slender necks ending in a surprisingly small bird-like head. Their heads are very small compared with their bodies and consist mainly of a small rounded mouth and two small round eyes positioned on opposite sides of the head.

   Their eyes are green with small, round pupils.

   Toma have a small pair of vestigial wings attached to their bodies. These wings are underdeveloped and cannot be used for flight.

   Beak / Mouth: Their mouths are small and rounded rather than horse-like. Inside are flat teeth, which are unusual for a bird-like creature. They also possess long, thin, flexible tongues.

   Legs and Feet: Toma stand and walk exclusively on two legs. Their feet are distinctly bird-like and clawed, with three long toes on each foot. They do not have hooves.

   Tail: Toma have a long tail extending behind their bodies. The underside of the tail is covered in scales, while the end is rounded. The upper portion near the end has several distinctive spiky protrusions.

   Feathers: Their chest, belly, and underbelly are fully covered in thick brown feathers. Their feathered body should always remain visually distinct from a mammal's fur-covered body.

   Equipment: Toma commonly wear a large protective shield-like covering around the base of their long neck and small head. The wider lower portion of the shield often contains decorative patterns resembling eyes or eyespots.

   A harness is attached beneath the head and around the neck, allowing humans to control and handle the animal.

   Toma used for transportation can wear a saddle blanket, saddle, and saddle bags secured around their body. Additional luggage can be placed behind the saddle.

   These pieces of equipment are simply riding equipment; the animal itself remains a large, feather-covered, two-legged bird-like creature.

   Armored Toma: Some Toma can be equipped with heavy protective armor. Two particularly heavily armored Toma were seen pulling a carriage apparently belonging to Legato Bluesummers. Their armor covers portions of their bodies while their unmistakably bird-like anatomy remains visible.

   Food: Toma meat is edible and is used as a source of food by humans on No Man's Land. Their meat is exceptionally tough and can reportedly withstand impacts that would normally penetrate ordinary animal flesh.

   Important anatomy rule: Toma must ALWAYS be depicted as large, bipedal, flightless bird-like animals. They have two legs, three-toed clawed feet, feathers, a long neck, a tiny head, small vestigial wings, and a long tail.

   Toma are NOT horses, not cows, not deer, not camels, and not any other four-legged mammal. They must never be given four legs or hooves.

   Superhuman physiology:

   Vash belongs to the race of organic generators - living sources of energy, referred to as Plants. Though he appears human, he has several characteristics that place him higher than that of the average man. Due to his high sensory perception, he is able to dodge bullets by reading the movements of others and instantly predict trajectories. He is physically strong enough to fire machine guns in each hand simultaniously, and is physically able to withstand greater injury than normal humans. Vash's lifespan is also much longer than that of humans, retaining his youthful appearance past 100 years of living. Despite this, he is still succeptable to grievous injury, and his ability to heal from such injuries is not much better than that of humans. Vash is also just as easily prone to intoxication from consuming too much alcohol as a normal person, which ironically is shown to hinder his attempts to conceal his naturally-high talent for marksmenship.

   Generator Power

   Vash is able to transform his body to some extent, increasing his combat capabilities. But the main strength of the generator is the ability to reproduce a large amount of energy and efficiently use it for various purposes. He is also able to use this ability to heal or calm other Plants should they be damaged or excited.

   Angel Power: Vash is able to transform his body to some extent, increasing his combat capabilities. But the main strength of the generator is the ability to reproduce a large amount of energy and efficiently use it for various purposes.

   Teleportation: Vash is able to accurately teleport over vast distances.

   Barrier: After spending some time concentrating energy, Vash is able to cover a fairly large area with a protective barrier. The barrier is capable of withstanding at least a missile hit.

   Angel Arm: In the series, within Vash's trademark revolver lies the catalyst needed to activate his "Angel Arm". The Angel Arm is Vash's ultimate weapon. Upon activation, his right arm transforms into a weapon powerful enough to destroy entire cities with a single blast. Vash fears the Angel Arm's potential for destruction and knows little about how to use it. In the manga, the Angel Arm is a natural feature of a plant's body and can be manipulated into various shapes to create a number of effects beyond destruction. His power using the Angel Arm is limited: like a battery, it contains only a certain amount of energy, and when that energy is gone he will die. Vash's Angel Arm typically takes the shape of a large cannon weapon, which uses a tremendous amount of power. As a meter of spent energy a plant's hair color gradually darkens as their internal power is spent until reaching a final color of black when fully depleted. To illustrate the power of the Angel Arm, Vash's hair began to darken after the second time he fires it, using enough energy to blast a hole in the moon. Throughout the manga, Vash learns to gain better control of his power to form smaller cannons and defensive feathers, he even shows mastery to an extent of infusing its singularity-inducing capabilities into bullets for proper use without firing it, although his hair continues to grow darker until it becomes almost completely black. By the climax of the series, he has only a small lock of blond hair left.

   **Weapons **.45 Long Colt **

   Vash habitually carries a custom made .45 caliber silver or nickel-plated revolver double-action with a top break reloading mechanism that fires .45 Long Colt ammunition. Despite its appearance, it is shown having 7 shots in the fight against Goseph and Father Nebraska. The engraving on the side of the gun describes it is a ".45 Long Colt AGL Arms Factory" with wings around the "AGL" as in angel. Vash's revolver has the barrel aligned with the 6 o'clock chamber, not the 12 o'clock chamber as is the typical configuration of standard revolvers. Very few weapons follow this form factor, the Mateba Autorevolver, and the Chiappa Rhino being the two most common. In the series, this handgun was created as part of a pair by Knives, of which Vash was given the silver model, and Knives kept the black model. Vash eventually carries both weapons for a time, before losing the black gun to Knives in another fight. Both guns were designed to be used left-handed, though Vash shoots right-handed.

   Cybernetic Machine-gun Arm

   Vash lost his left arm from the bicep-down when Knives blew it off using a normal revolver, after Vash stole Knives' black Angel Arm pistol years earlier. In the manga, Knives cut it off when they were younger with a blade he formed from his own body. He now has a cybernetic replacement, which also conceals an integrated firearm. In both the series and manga, it is initially a powerful semiautomatic pistol that is later upgraded to a fully automatic submachine gun. The latter weapon has an incredibly strong recoil, forcing Vash to steady himself in place when using it. In the manga, Vash's cybernetic arm is severed during his attempt to escape Monev the Gale, causing him to spend a number of chapters with only one arm until it is replaced with the submachine gun-equipped arm. The anime episodes based on these chapters however leave his arm intact.

   Vash typically goes to great efforts to conceal his cybernetic arm, keeping it wrapped in tight leather belts to give it the appearance of an ordinary arm. Whenever he uses his arm's integrated weapons, these wrappings are torn away to reveal the cybernetics underneath.

   Other Weapons and Equipment

   In the series, Vash can be seen using a knife hidden in the toe of his boot in multiple episodes. During his battle with Brilliant Dynamites Neon, he uses an automatic weapon that appears similar to an AK-47 carbine. In the climactic final battle with Knives, he also uses Wolfwood's Cross Punisher.

   Entry settings▾

1 file

• .jsonotherspec 3.0Download

  53.3 KB · first seen Nov 10, 2026 · 1f0c54cbcd48bbb6