Operator story: Degenbrecher
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Degenbrecher the Leithanian Caprinae suffered through an unknown but relentlessly painful youth, plagued by an unusual inability to use Originium Arts but boasting unparalleled physical ability. Eventually finding her way to Kazimierz, she participated in the Kazimierz Major and became the champion of three consecutive Major seasons despite her inability to use Arts, earning the famous title Black Knight.[1] However, this also meant Degenbrecher was quickly regarded as undesirable by the Major's stakeholders who saw her as a threat to Major's status quo; they deigned her unending victories would harm their interests. Just before they were about to "remove her from the picture," Enciodes Silverash, who was coincidentally in Kazimierz at that time in the year 1089, decided to hire Degenbrecher as his bodyguard. With a reasonable price, the Kazimierzian capitalists let the Black Knight go, finally letting her escape from the shady, greed-filled tournament knight business.[2]
Degenbrecher is a master at nearly all martial weapons, with her signature ones being her greatsword and dual-wielded swordbreakers although she also uses a longsword. Even though Degenbrecher lacks any Arts abilities, she is tremendously skilled in melee combat and unanimously considered a born warrior; despite having little to offer outside of raw strength and speed, those alone are so overwhelmingly powerful that they allow Degenbrecher to soundly defeat any obstacle or opponent, notably through powerful blows that can punch through heavy armor, lightning-quick dash attacks, "sword dances" covering her surroundings, and exerting a wave of tremendous pressure that exhausts and disarms her foes. In addition, she seems to possess some capacity to shrug off Arts attacks, which she demonstrated against Gnosis.
Plot
Maria Nearl
While not appearing personally, Degenbrecher is mentioned by Czarny as he and Platinum visit the Champion's Wall in Kawalerielki during the 24th season of the Kazimierz Major. There, he explains her exploits during the past Majors and the circumstances of her leave from Kazimierz.[2]
Near Light
While not appearing personally, Degenbrecher's exploits in the finals of the 19th to 21st Kazimierz Majors are reported in a news article by Kawalerielki Sports:[1]
- In the finals of the 19th Major, Degenbrecher was pitted against the Diamond Knight, known for their state-of-the-art, supposedly impenetrable armor. The Black Knight managed to win by using her twin sword-breaking daggers and going on a relentless offensive.
- In the finals of the 20th Major, Degenbrecher was pitted against the Azure Knight, whose dual-blade fighting style is similar to hers. The Black Knight scored a victory after an intense clash.
- In the finals of the 21st Major, Degenbrecher was pitted against the Silver Knight, who uses a lance. Despite the tactical disadvantage, the Black Knight emerged victorious.
Prelude Suite: Keen-Edge Silver Blade
Break the Ice
Degenbrecher shows up to break up a conflict between General Gulo's forces and Rhodes Island, with her mere presence intimidating Gulo and his men into silence, and she and Sharp are instinctively wary of each other. However, she allows Gulo to take the Doctor, as Enciodes gave his approval for him to meet the Paleroches despite the Doctor being his guest. Before the Doctor leaves, they identify Degenbrecher as the Black Knight, to which she responds by saying she's merely Enciodes' bodyguard. After leaving, she meets with Enciodes to talk about the Doctor, sending him the Doctor's regards and warning him about their acumen, noting that the Doctor seemed completely unfazed by the sudden turn of events.[3]
When Gnosis launches his attack on Enciodes following Monch and Sciurus' exposure and the poisoning of the Great Elder, he calls in Degenbrecher to handle the problem. Gnosis attempts to attack her using his ice Arts, but the Black Knight immediately dispels them before subduing the traitor in an instant. When Rhodes Island intervenes, Degenbrecher expresses surprise that they were able to mount a counterattack so quickly, noting Enciodes' understanding of the Doctor but also proclaiming that he had already won the day's battle.[4]
With the reveal of Gnosis' true allegiance and the attack being staged, the "fight" between Degenbrecher and Gnosis was also revealed to be an act. However, Degenbrecher asked him if he was fighting seriously, before criticizing his declining skills, saying that even if he was only acting, being stronger would have helped him regardless. Later, when Ratatos invites Enciodes into her manor, he initially orders Degenbrecher to stay outside, but once Ratatos ignites the mansion in an attempt to kill herself along with Enciodes, Degenbrecher draws her weapons and effortlessly destroys the armored wall, before locating and rescuing them both.[5]
When the Doctor launches their joint attack along with the Browntail and Paleroche clans, Enciodes sends Degenbrecher as his "Queen" to intercept the Doctor. However, the person she meets isn't the Doctor, but rather Sharp in disguise, who remarks about Degenbrecher's reputation as well as how she isn't using her signature greatsword, to which she responds that she changed to a longsword to avoid scaring the locals. The two elite swordmasters share some words before clashing in a phenomenally fierce fight, neither combatant able to gain a sizable advantage despite their incredible strength tearing their surroundings apart. Noticing the stalemate, Sharp discards his shield and uses his sword with two hands while Degenbrecher draws her swordbreaker.[6]
Degenbrecher manages to turn the tide and injure Sharp's right hand, forcing him to concede the fight, albeit still succeeding in his true mission of stalling Degenbrecher long enough for the Doctor to execute their plan. Impressed, Degenbrecher promises to remember Sharp's name, only for him to tell her she should remember the Doctor's instead.[7]