Gaius van Baelsar Gaius van Baelsar , also known as The Black Wolf , is one of the prime antagonists of " Final Fantasy XIV " , first appearing on the final quest of the main storyline . His rank within the Garlean Empire ' s army is Imperial Legatus , and he is one of the generals leading the invasion into Eorzea . In " Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn " , Gaius serves as the main antagonist of the very first story segment , " A Realm Reborn " , but does not feature in any further story arc to date . Profile . Appearance . Gaius is a Hyur who wears an intimidating suit of black armor over a long red coat and a horned helmet bearing a skull - like visage and gasmask - like breathers and a ceruleum cannon attached to the back of his left hand . His main weapon is a gunblade named Heirsbane ( No . IX in Japan ) , said to have spilled the blood of nine aspirants to the crown . Personality . Gaius bears a " might makes right " philosophy , believing it the duty of the strong to shepherd the weak and the ignorant from their weakness or heresy by strength of arms , but despite this Gaius is not without virtues . He is loyal to his majesty the Emperor Solus Zos Galvus and to his trusted lieutenants in the XIVth legion , placing faith in their capabilities and outrage when they are slighted or defeated ; this is particularly noteworthy concerning Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina , as a Roegadyn typically does not rise to such rank and esteem in the Garlean military , but Gaius is clear in his trust and confidence in Rhitahtyn ' s abilities . Despite his loyalty to his Emperor , Gaius was willing to betray his orders by using the adventurer to dispose of Nael Van Darnus when he felt Project Meteor was going too far , as he would rather conquer Eorzea than destroy it . Abilities . Being a Garlean Legatus , Gaius is one of the Empire ' s most accomplished warriors . He is a skilled swordsman and marksman wielding his gunblade ' s dual purpose with brutal efficiency along with his arm cannon , and can fend off multiple skilled opponents simultaneously without allowing them to land a single blow ( or himself landing a single blow ) , namely four members of the Scions ( Y ' shtola , Papalymo , Yda and Thancred ) . After empowering himself Gaius ' s abilities are boosted giving him blinding speed allowing him to vanish and appear in the blink of an eye , launch cross - shaped arcs of energy from his sword and use magitek to conjure blue fire to incinerate enemies and encircle his blade . Gaius is a skilled pilot of machina , personally piloting the ancient Allagan magitek armor known as Ultima Weapon . He also has access to at least one ship of the Imperial Dreadnaught designation , which is not given a name and is not encountered beyond its one appearance in the 1 . 0 story . Story . Early Life . As one of the generals of the Imperial Army , Gaius served in many campaigns under his Majesty Solus zos Galvus , and through his exemplary leadership , cunning and combat ability , earned his place as the Emperor ' s favorite Legatus and the title The Black Wolf . He displayed his loyalty by personally seeing to the slaughter of nine usurpers , a deed which earned his blade the moniker Heirsbane . Due to his years of dedicated service Gaius was charged by the Emperor to dominate the subcontinent of Eorzea and bring it under Garlemald ' s banner . Through subterfuge Gaius turned the populace of Ala Mhigo against their king and struck when the defenses of the city state began to crumble at the prospect of civil war , allowing him to capture the city with minimal bloodshed . Gaius earned renown among Eorzea due to his abilities as a commander and his sensibilities as governing administrator by ruling the conquered stronghold as an Imperial Viceroy . Gaius ' s conquest drew to a screeching halt after the attack on Silver Tear Falls when the XIVth Airship Fleet came into a conflict with the dragonkin and their leader , the great wyrm Midgardsormr . The conflict took its toll wiping out the fleet and its flagship the " Agrius " and by killing the great dragon ; the Empire had broken the magical seal preventing the primal s from being summoned . Unwilling to risk further casualties by angering the Beastribes and their Gods , Gaius and his legion retreated to Ala Mhigo . Losing the confidence of his liege , the Emperor was swayed by the plans of another Legatus , Nael van Darnus , who sought to destroy Eorzea and the primals with it by casting the ancient Allagan spell Meteor to wipe out the primals , alliance and the land itself . Although Gaius was appalled by the plan he pledged to aid in Project Meteor . Gaius ' s friend Midas nan Garlond began to unravel and become enraptured with the project . Seeing how it was affecting his son , Gaius took it upon himself to raise the young Cid . In a moment of lucidity , Midas told his friend that Cid would never be satisfied with a life of making weapons for the Emperor . Not long afterward Mid was killed in the incident at Bozja Citadel and Cid deserted his post and defected to Eorzea . " Final Fantasy XIV " . Legacy Storyline . When the Ala Mhigan Resistance tries to sneak into Ala Mhigo by stealing an airship on Silvertear Falls , Gaius intercepts the group and kills them . He shoots the adventurer ' s Path Companion with his gauntlet mounted gun and attempts to kill the adventurer , but Yda , Papalymo , Y ' shtola , and Thancred stop him . Accepting their silent challenge , Gaius forces them on the defensive before ending the fight by signaling an Imperial Dreadnaught to open fire , injuring the adventurer and the four Circle of Knowing members . Seventh Umbral Era . Via an echo of a Gridanian soldier who eavesdropped a conversation between Gaius and Nael Van Darnus , Gaius saw Nael ' s plans to cast Meteor upon Eorzea as a senseless act of genocide . When he later attempts to kill the adventurer , Gaius is stopped by Cid and takes his leave after hitting the traitor ' s arm with a blast of his arm weapon when provoked . Once the companies discover the construction of Castrum Novum , the adventurer finds Gaius during his / her investigation on a wrecked Garlean airship in Mor Dhona . The Legatus congratulates the adventurer ' s skill in defeating his troops and allows the adventurer to leave with some Garlean schematics related to the lunar transmitter — the machine that can control Dalamud — and return it to Cid , as that is the only hope Eorzea has to survive Meteor . Gaius explains this is no mercy act , and affirms that Garlemand will annihilate the primals and dominate Eorzea with or without Meteor , but he fears that Dalamud is more than what even the Empire believes it to be , and Nael Van Darnus has his own agenda with it . After Nael ' s defeat , Gaius appears during the pilgrimage to awaken The Twelve . He congratulates the adventurer over the victory against the White Raven , and tells the current position of the VIIth legion , as he still hopes Dalamud can be stopped so the Empire may lay claim to Eorzea — not just its remains . As the Battle of Carteneau commences , Gaius watches the events unfold from his airship before being forced to fall back when Bahamut devastates the land . " Final Fantasy XIV : A Realm Reborn " . Having survived the Seventh Umbral Era , Gaius begins to act on his own to conquer Eorzea for himself due to the political strife over the condition of Solus Zos Galvus , coming to Eorzea with personally - obtained reinforcements from the XIVth Legion , including his three Tribuni . Revealing himself after the party defeats Garuda , the Black Wolf meets face to face with Cid and chides his former protege for forsaking his home and family . Denouncing the wounded primal , Gaius slays her Ixal followers . In her rage Garuda unleashes her fury on the Amal ' jaa and Kobold prisoners forcing them to summon Ifrit and Titan so that she may devour their aether to gain even greater strength . Gaius reveals his trump card for dealing with the primal threat and with it the means to subjugate the subcontinent : The Ultima Weapon , an ancient Allagan war machine unearthed by the power of Lahabrea . The machina subdues and absorbs the three primals as Gaius marvels at the weapon ' s power . Issuing an ultimatum to those who have seen Ultima ' s might , he urges the Eorzean Alliance to surrender while Cid and Alphinaud can only look upon it in horror . After the success of Livia Sas Junius ' s attack on the Waking Sands , the remaining Scions mount a rescue mission . As the party escapes the fortress Gaius reveals the extent of the Empire ' s power : The Ultima Weapon and the Scions narrowly escape its grasp only by the skill of Cid ' s piloting . Expecting a counterattack from the defiant Eorzean Alliance , Gaius sends his protege Rhitahtyn Sas Arvina to defend the Imperial outpost of Cape Westwind , a vital communication sight between the Garlean castrums . Not to be caught unprepared , he tells Nero to finish his maintenance on Ultima Weapon while he retires to his quarters with Livia . With Operation Archon closing in on Castrum Merdianum , Gaius learns of Rhitahtyn ' s death and becomes enraged and accuses the soldiers of deserting their commanding officer due to his heritage . With the enemy closing in , Gaius dispatches Livia to lead the defense of the Castrum . With Cid ' s help the adventurers confront Gaius in the Praetorium . Once again coming face to face with Cid , Gaius reveals he still cares for the man he raised and offers him a place as his side . Admiring the adventurer ' s strength , he offers him regency , the right to rule the conquered Eorzea in exchange for the adventurer joining him in its subjugation . Unsurprised to be spurned , Gaius unleashes a Magitek Colossus as he retreats to the heart of the fortress . As the adventurers penetrate the defenses Gaius challenges them as the last line of defense on their quest to destroy Ultima Weapon . Questioning their faith in The Twelve , he denounces the Gods calling them no better then the Beastmen and their primals , just Eikons that bleed the world dry of the aether that sustains it . Revealing the ideal of the strength of mankind , Gaius declares it is the duty of the strong to shepherd the weak ; Eorzea is his by right and challenges them to stop him . Impressed by their power , Gaius enters the Ultima Weapon , piloting the machine in the ensuing battle . The Warriors of Light aided by the Mothercrystal herself overcome the Ultima Weapon and strip the primals from it . Baffled , Lahabrea reveals himself and offers to aid Gaius by activating the Heart of Sabik , the core of Ultima ' s true power . The warmachine unleashes a spell whose devastation rivals that of Meteor — Ultima . In the wake of the spell ' s destruction , Gaius confronts the party a final time as he curses Lahabrea , intending to finish him off next . In a final clash Lahabrea tries to unleash Ultima on the party while Gaius can only watch and curse the Ascian , but the weapon is destroyed before the spell is completed . Gaius is ejected from the cockpit as the machina is destroyed . He uses his last strength to implore the adventurer to hear him out regarding the need for a strong ruler to guide the Eorzean people instead of the dangerous reliance of primals and The Twelve . Gaius accepts his fate as the Praetorium self - destructs from the damage caused by Ultima . As the flames consume him Gaius muses to Cid that his conquest ends here in ashes and smoke . Gameplay . Boss . Gaius is fought at the end of the game both on foot and piloting Ultima Weapon . Due to the fight with Lahabrea commonly being considered a story formality due to the ease with which he is defeated , Ultima Weapon effectively acts as the main scenario ' s final boss . Voice . Gaius is voiced by in the Japanese version , and Richard Epcar in the English version . He shares both English and Japanese voice actors with and of the ' series , Epcar has voiced Ansem since ' . Musical themes . The " Bite of the Black Wolf , " an instrumental version of " Rise of the White Raven , " is the theme of the first stage of the final battle . This theme is reused in the " Final Fantasy XIV : Heavensward " expansion as the boss battle theme of another Legatus during one of the 3 . 0 story quests , but is not heard again when that Legatus is fought as a proper boss in a dungeon . Other appearances . " Final Fantasy Trading Card Game " . Gaius appears with a fire - elemental card with his official render . " Triple Triad " . Gaius appears on a card in the version available via " Final Fantasy Portal App " . Etymology . " Van " is based on German word " von " which means " from , " and is used to show someone is of noble descent .