History Characters / KatanaZero

* BloodKnight: Chuckles with delight when the Dragon escapes his bonds, kills the other two guards, and reclaims his sword - remarking that now they can have some fun.

* OnlySaneMan: As opposed to V, he recognizes that the Dragon's trying to get his partner riled up, and [[spoiler:objects to V blowing Kasim's brains out because the old man hadn't told them how to make Chronos yet.]]

* DeathSeeker: Implied by her defeat- a battle between [=NULLs=] is a battle of wills, and the fact she canonically loses despite apparently seeing our protagonist die hundreds of times implies this.

* AGodAmI: If Zero tells her he doesn't kill because he enjoys it but for Chronos, she declares Zero, herself, and the other NULL to be gods made immortal by the time-altering drug.

* SanitySlippage: By the time she's fought she's run out of Chronos altogether, and is either already undergoing withdrawal (as the protagonist accuses), or close enough to the state that its inevitability is putting immense mental pressure on her. Either way, she will reject all peace overtures and attempt to take what Chronos is left in the protagonist's blood.

* SuperSoldier: She's no Gamma NULL like the protagonist and Fifteen, but went through much of the same they did and came out with similar results, powers, and grudges.

* StillWearingtheOldColors: The only NULL we see who is still wearing the uniform, as opposed to Fifteen and Zero, who have switched to a suit and a kimono -- which is constantly mistaken for a bathrobe -- respectively. Particularly odd as she wants revenge against the government that gave her that uniform.

* ThereCanBeOnlyOne: After the death of Al-Qasim, she and Fifteen are left without a supplier of Chronos. When facing the protagonist in the final level, she rejects any proposal of an alliance - with her saying that there's only enough Chronos left for one of them. She even declares her intent to infuse herself with the protagonist's Chronos-saturated blood after killing him in order to survive.
* VictoryByEndurance: How her battle works. For all their dodges and flips and incredible combat prowess, both her and the protagonist can rewind time and start all over again if they die. The fight ultimately comes down to who first decides to stop doing that and gives up and lets themselves die - a battle of wills, as she puts it.

* CharacterDeath: If the protagonist angers her or reveals he is an assassin, she will be silenced by the therapist.

** She's a ''massive'' otaku, and if the Dragon is nice to her she gushes over his samurai "costume" and their (apparent) mutual love of anime and cosplay, and flirtatiously asks him to come watch anime with her some time. [[spoiler:In their second encounter, provided she wasn't killed for discovering the protagonist is an assassin, she can challenge him to an impromptu ''Yu-Gi-Oh''-style card battle.]]
** She's also sharper than she lets on. If the Dragon claims he's wearing a bathrobe and going to take a shower, [[spoiler:in their second encounter she lets on that she's figured out he's an assassin but becomes his SecretKeeper]].

* {{Antihero}}: The protagonist's only motivation towards killing countless people essentially boils down to being told to do so. Later in the game, [[spoiler: he even admits to enjoying killing. During a therapy session you have the option to say you don't enjoy killing, but the screen glitches out and forces you to say so.]] Not to mention you also have a lot of mean dialogue options, and the interrupting feature can make the protagonist seem like a {{Jerkass}} if used frequently.
* AnimeHair: Of the "samurai blowout" school of hair-styling. The only other character in the game with a worse case than his is [[spoiler:his old war-buddy Fifteen.]]

* AxCrazy: Downplayed, [[EveryoneHasStandards as he has standards,]] but as The Dragon's sanity slips, so does his control over his bloodlust. Best expressed by the scene in which he [[spoiler: may snap and kill a war veteran that accosted him,]] and [[spoiler: The scene where he is [[ButThouMust forced to discuss]] how he enjoys killing]], Not to mention [[spoiler: him braining The Psychiatrist in with a paperweight in the normal ending.]]

* CombatClairvoyance: Thanks to the drugs that the protagonist takes, he can visualize his plan of attack before executing it with near-perfection. [[spoiler: You later fight a NULL user who can do the same thing, and will even turn back time ''with you''.]] However, it's later hinted that [[spoiler:the Dragon's precognition is based on his latent psychic abilities as a Gamma NULL -- having been inoculated with Chronos since he was young.]]

* TheComicallySerious: He's a silent, stoic, cold blooded killer. He can also say that his getup is cosplay, get into a conversation about anime, play a Yu-Gi-Oh-esque card game (complete with saying the names of cards aloud), and [[BreadEggsMilkSquick use his sword to cut up drugs and proceed to inhale them,]] all without batting an eye.

* DefiantToTheEnd: Proves to be this when captured [[spoiler: by V. Somewhat deconstructed, in that with the exception of the breaking speech, spitting on or cussing out V leads to his "death" and another restart.]]
* DeathActivatedSuperpower: A variant- His MentalTimeTravel only triggers when he "dies" in a vision, and once he doesn't die on one path, that future becomes reality.

** On a darker note, he also shows numerous PetTheDog moments that call into question his supposedly lax morals. While it is indeed possible to be nice to people, [[spoiler: the psychiatrist proclaims the protagonist is a medically diagnosed psychopath. During one monologue, the protagonist even outright says that killing soldiers in the Cromag War "wasn't so bad", but seems to feel remorse about executing civilians, among numerous other examples.]] While these could be just an example of EvenEvilHasStandards, it's so consistent that it genuinely calls into question [[spoiler: just how psychopathic Zero is supposed to be.]]

* LogicalWeakness: His precognition is an odd variant on a DeathActivatedSuperpower-so if he doesn't die in a vision, his future sight doesn't trigger, so it doesn't protect him if he ''only'' gets knocked out. [[spoiler: This is exploited by V to capture him, by Comedy and Drama to drug him, and is seen again when he's victimised by a suicide bomber in the bunker.]]
* MentalTimeTravel: His confrontations with V, Comedy, Tragedy, and Headhunter indicate that due to the Chronos in his system, if he's killed time will just rewind to before his death.

* MyHeroZero: Towards the end of the game, it's revealed that [[spoiler:during the war his NULL codename was [[YouAreNumberSix Subject Zero]], though he also goes by just Zero]].
* NoNameGiven: Dragon isn't given a name the entire narrative- "the Dragon" is just a codename, and no one says his real name. [[spoiler:The closest he has to a real name is the Subject Zero designation, but that's more of a YouAreNumberSix scenario rather than an actual name.]]

* ProfessionalKiller: He works for a mysterious cabal to assassinate specific targets while leaving no witnesses in exchange for daily doses of Chronos -- a rare and highly addictive drug. [[spoiler:It turns out that the people the protagonist is being sent to assassinate are all connected to the NULL supersoldier program and said drug -- which is actually a flawed supersoldier serum.]]

* SaveScumming: His precognition is a variant on this, planning mission in his head via his powers until he find the one correct path.

* SilentProtagonist: Sort of. Most of the Dragon's dialogue is decided by the player, but the only time he ever talks on his own accord is when [[spoiler:he's up on the rooftop with the little girl, admiring the city's beauty.]]

* ThroughTheEyesOfMadness: His withdrawal from Chronos seriously messes with his mind. [[spoiler: This comes to a head when you fight the SecretBoss, which is heavily implied to be the Dragon going critical on his withdrawal symptoms and hallucinating.]]

* WouldntHurtAChild: [[spoiler:While the Dragon is noted for his inhuman killing efficiency, his greatest blind spot is his inability to put up with hurting innocent civilians - particularly children. In his most vivid memory of the time he served in the Cromag Wars, as well as his final assignment as a contract killer, he's tasked to leave no survivors or witnesses, and in both cases, fail due to child presence. It's implied this was a regular sentiment during wartime, and further records from the NULL lead architect, Leon, imply that despite successfully engineering Gamma NULL to be the most powerful super soldiers known to man, they ultimately lost the war and were deemed a failure. Given the game doesn't spare any opportunity to show the belligerency of a NULL, it can be inferred that they failed to win due to disobedience; in the Dragon's case, most likely not wanting to kill children.]]

* AlasPoorVillain: In the normal ending, Zero [[spoiler:finds him in his office, breaking down in paranoia. He screams about how he can't find his daughter. Zero then proceeds to beat him to death with his daughter's own paperweight until he's a bloody pulp. There's no satisfaction, and despite all he's done, it's hard not to feel sorry for him.]]
* BattleInTheCenterOfTheMind: [[spoiler:It's implied that his Akira-esque boss form might just be a hallucination playing out in Dragon's head -- which was confirmed by the developer on Twitter.]]

* BullyingADragon: Granted, [[spoiler: his family has possibly been taken hostage]], but you'd think the guy would be nicer to the unstoppable, psychotic, unstable, drug-addicted killing machine sitting a few feet away from him.

** Provided the therapist be sufficiently enraged, the assassination dossier for Fa Yuan is simply full of "KILL" repeated over and over -- though this is likely the protagonist's Chronos withdrawal acting up, since it's a normal dossier in the game's regular route.
* PsychoPsychologist: The "Ulterior motive'' version: he provides therapy and Chronos [[spoiler: as a means of manipulating The Dragon to cover-up the NULL project.]]

* TheShrink: Of the Harmful variety. It's subtle at first, but it becomes clear that he is not interested in [[spoiler: Zero]]'s mental well-being at all. It seems he only cares about [[spoiler: eliminating everything and ''everyone'' that might reveal the NULL project to the public, working through Zero]]. It's unclear if he even ''is'' an actual licensed psychotherapist.

* TrueFinalBoss: If the player meets all the prerequisites [[spoiler:of performing every mission against his directive, as well as continually angering him in every therapy session, Talking to Electrohead, Killing the police when he tells you not to, and refusing to take the Chronos injection after the Electrohead fight, you fight him after completing the Bunker level.]]
* UnreliableExpositor: Given how he [[spoiler:is dosing you with addictive drugs to get you to kill people]], it's more than probably his diagnoses are a bit suspect.
* VillainousBreakdown: By the end of the game, he's considerably more hostile, and when the Dragon shows up at his office [[spoiler:to demand answers, he finds the Psychiatrist desperately packing a briefcase, hurling papers across his desk, and smashing his phone with the decorative paperweight his daughter sent him. It's implied that his ties to the Chronos project are about to be exposed, and he's lashing out in a paranoid frenzy.]]

* DamselInDistress: At the end of the game it's revealed she was kidnapped [[spoiler:by Comedy and Tragedy, who plan on [[StuffedIntoTheFridge fridging]] her... if she even existed outside the protagonist's head in the first place]].
* DeadpanSnarker: While she acts as a CheerfulChild most times, if the Dragon tries to play along with her she often responds with biting sarcasm -- like asking him if he's aware that Behemoth and Leviathan are just toys if he says they're scary and look really strong.

* {{Hallucinations}}: [[spoiler:Much like Comedy and Tragedy, her actual presence in reality is disputable. She doesn't interact with anyone except the protagonist throughout the course of the game, the protagonist's landlord points out that the person she claims to be her father was a junkie with no children to speak of, and after a point she stops appearing in the protagonist's nightmare flashbacks - specifically around the time when he's becoming close to her. Despite this, much like the two aforementioned masked men, she has some tangible impact on reality, such as in one scene where she makes the protagonist food while he's asleep. Comedy makes a remark about the protagonist having a conscience in regards to the kid, though it's unknown whether this is meant to be a figurative or literal interpretation.]]

* TheAtoner: He is the only person connected to the [[spoiler:Chronos conspiracy]] who seems to feel any regret over his actions; should Zero give him the chance, his last words are to apologize for all the pain he's caused through Zero [[spoiler:and the other NULL Soldiers.]]

* BoomHeadshot: If the Dragon takes too long to kill him V -- presumably the one who the stash of Chronos belonged to -- kills him via a bullet to the head.

* DreamingOfThingsToCome: He mentions that ever since he took Chronos time keeps warping and repeating, and that he's already spoken to the protagonist numerous times -- mistaking him for a drug-induced hallucination at first.
* ForbiddenFruit: Talking to him. [[spoiler: It reveals some key details about the game's plot, natch.]]
* InnocentBystander: For a given value of 'innocent,' anyways; [[spoiler:he offers some exposition on Chronos, but he has no idea what he's gotten himself into by stealing that Chronos shipment. It gets him killed.]]
* JustJokingJustification: When he realizes the Dragon doesn't know what he's talking about, Electroface goes from panicking to smugly gloating that his {{groupie}}s are going to brutally murder the Dragon... and then right back to panicking if told that they're all dead or that he's going to die, saying his threats were just a joke.

* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Fifteen]] wastes little time in [[spoiler:quite literally disarming V before abducting him.]]

* AttentionWhore: Wants attention from one person-The Dragon. [[spoiler: Exploiting this is the one thing that gets under his skin and lets The Dragon escape from his bindings.]]

** His SnuffFilm could be seen this way, too, showcasing one of his most conspicuous character traits - namely, his love of inflicting horrible tortures on helpless victims.

* {{Irony}}: His behavior stems from his desire for attention and approval from The Dragon, which is why he pursues Zero. [[spoiler: Zero isn't actually the Dragon, meaning that a lot of the killing sprees he was so enamored with may not have even been Zero's handiwork. He does get the attention he wanted from Fifteen, though.. in the form of being tortured to death, just like V did to at least two others.]]

* {{Jerkass}}: If he didn't have a KickTheDog moment every five minutes he'd probably die.

* INeverToldYouMyName : This is V's reaction to Zero calling him by name.

* StupidEvil: V is very, very capable when it comes to violence. Unfortunately for whoever hired him, this is the ''only'' thing he's capable at. Both times he has someone hostage who could tell him about Chronos, he kills them before they can talk - the first time on a whim to make sure Zero doesn't extract him safely, the second time [[spoiler:in a fit of rage induced by Zero's BreakingSpeech.]]

* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler: After being the only person to survive multiple encounters with the Dragon and threatening him even when cornered, Fifteen shows up and removes his arms in a matter of seconds, hijacking the plot from him]].

* AmbiguousSituation: He and Zero were partners in the Cromag War. [[LaserGuidedAmnesia Zero doesn't recognize him]].]] Exactly what this means for their future dealings is unclear, especially if he really was the one who told Zero where to find Alvensleben.

* DeathSeeker: Implied by her defeat- a battle between NULLs is a battle of wills, and the fact she canonically loses despite apparently seeing our protagonist die hundreds of times implies this.

* WomanInWhite: She wears a white kimono, in contrast to the Dragon's black-and-gold robe.

* Irony: His behavior stems from his desire for attention and approval from The Dragon, which is why he pursues Zero. [[spoiler: Zero isn't actually the Dragon, meaning that a lot of the killing sprees he was so enamored with may not have even been Zero's handiwork. He does get the attention he wanted from Fifteen, though.. in the form of being tortured to death, just like V did to at least two others.]]

* AffablyEvil: He doesn't act on his own motives and it's implied that his family is taken in hostage if he fails to follow the order.
* AlasPoorVillain: In the normal ending, Zero [[spoiler: finds him in his office, breaking down in paranoia. He screams about how he can't find his daughter. Zero then proceeds to beat him to death with his daughter's own paperweight until he's a bloody pulp. There's no satisfaction, and despite all he's done, it's hard not to feel sorry for him.]]

* PetTheDog: If Dragon manages to get through the prison level without taking a single life, he'll state that he and Dragon's employers are genuinely elated by his "exemplary" work. It's basically the only moment where the Psychiatrist actually compliments him.

* StupidEvil: V is very, very capable when it comes to violence. Unfortunately for whoever hired him, this is the *only* thing he's capable at. Both times he has someone hostage who could tell him about Chronos, he kills them before they can talk - the first time on a whim to make sure Zero doesn't extract him safely, the second time [[spoiler:in a fit of rage induced by Zero's BreakingSpeech.]]

[[caption-width-right:202:Let's see how suitable you are.]]

The lead scientist behind the NULL Project.

* WalkingSpoiler: For his heavy involvement in the NULL supersoldier program, as well as for the circumstances in which he's finally found.

* TheAtoner: Apologizes to Dragon for all the pain he's caused him, and regrets everything he's done during the war.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: Jumps down the balcony upon being confronted, going out on his own terms rather than the player's. If the Dragon has a throwable item, however, he doesn't get a chance to jump.

* DrivenToSuicide: Once again, both for feeling regret for his contribution to [[spoiler:the NULL project]], and to refuse Dragon the satisfaction of killing him.

A nameless assassin that is working for a secret group to assassinate key figures in New Mecca. The protagonist. The begins referring to him as a serial killer, nicknamed "the Dragon," after working a few jobs.

A nameless assassin that is working for a secret group to assassinate key figures in New Mecca. The protagonist. He is given the title of "The Dragon" after working a few jobs.

* KilledOffscreen: [[spoiler:The last we see of him, he had his arms chopped off by Fifteen and was apparently taken away by him. SNOW states that he's dead in a mid-credits scene, and he's also shown tied to a chair in Fifteen's hideout.]]

* HeKnowsTooMuch: Given [[OneManArmy who they sent after him,]] someone clearly wanted this poor bastard dead. [[spoiler:Unfortunately for them, Fifteen was faster. Unfortunately for Fa Yuan, Fifteen didn't need him alive.]]
* ShowTrial: [[spoiler:Fifteen]] can claim that his imminent trial is one of these. Whether he's right or not is never determined.

!! Antagonists

[[folder:V]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/v_steam_card.png]]

A Russian thug hired by an unnamed employer in order to find out how to make Chronos. Makes for the most prominent antagonist in the first half of the game.

!! Antagonists

[[folder:V]]
[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/v_steam_card.png]]

A Russian thug hired by an unnamed employer in order to find out how to make Chronos. Makes for the most prominent antagonist in the first half of the game.

A mysterious Blonde NULL, out for vengeance against everyone responsible for the NULL Project. He wields similar powers to Zero, but with greater finesse; [[spoiler:he's also his old war-buddy.]]

* AnimeHair: A very noticeable case of it; it's long, blonde, goes nearly past his waist, and is braided into a snaketail. [[spoiler:It's one of the traits he shares with his former comrade in arms, Zero.]]

* AmbiguousSituation: [[spoiler:He and Zero were partners in the Cromag War. [[LaserGuidedAmnesia Zero doesn't recognize him]].]] Exactly what this means for their future dealings is unclear, [[spoiler:especially if he really was the one who told Zero where to find Alvensleben.]]

* ImAMonster: He expresses the opinion that the NULL -- himself included -- are monsters, and that everyone responsible for their creation should die.

* KickTheSonOfaBitch: Tortures V to death for information, and to sustain his lust for vengeance.
* RedBaron: [[spoiler: The Media refers to his killings, and later Zero's, as being the work of a serial killer known as 'The Dragon.' It isn't clear whether the Media came up with this or not, but he appears to like it, since he claims it for his own in his first in-person appearance.]]

* SuperSoldier: Like the main character, Fifteen is a gamma NULL, and they even fought together in the Cromag War.

* YouAreNumberSix: Much like [[spoiler:Zero,]] he has a numerical NULL designation - in his case, Fifteen.

* AnimeHair: A very noticeable case of it; it's long, blonde, goes nearly past his waist, and is braided into a snaketail.