General Mugen/Main

"*…His final words prove his weakness. That he would hoist his unfulfilled ambitions on the shoulders of another. Only I am fit to be king. And I shall see the fires of war engulf the world.*" —*General Mugen, mocking King Jigo's last words after killing him*
**General Mugen** is a character in *Octopath Traveler II*.

A prince of Ku and Hikari’s older half-brother, he is a cool-headed and powerful warrior who seeks strength for his nation and believes that might makes right. Also known as the “Scarlet Demon of Ku”, he serves as the main antagonist and final boss of Hikari's story.

## Profile

### Appearance

He is fully clad in red and black samurai armor, with a faceplate that conceals his haggard face.

### Personality

Brutal, merciless, and ambitious, Mugen believes himself worthy of ruling not only the clan Ku, but also the entire world. Though compelled by a voice that drives him to violence, he still chooses to commit violent acts voluntarily. He does not care who or what he must destroy in order to attain his ambitions, as shown by him ordering the systematic genocide of a conquered people because he viewed their potential grudges against him to be "seeds of rebellion" that must be culled.

## Story

### Prior to Story

Eight years prior, Mugen extorted Jin Mei to orchestrate an ambush to have his younger half-brother Hikari Ku and his mother Kura killed for being descendants of a bloodline that can fight the Shadow. But the plan falls apart when Hikari is consumed by his darkness upon seeing his mother killed, with Jin knocking him out. Mugen proceeds to execute Jin for his failure, sparing Clan Mei in hopes they can be useful to him in the future. Five years later, Mugen led a campaign to claim Hinoeuma's southern region. During the final battle, he execute an enemy general that Hikari spared, scolding his brother for showing mercy to an enemy. After the war ends, having a falling out with his tactician Kazan, Mugen plotted to usurp the Ku throne from his father to expand their dominion.

### Story

Mugen executes his plan by using a castle merchant to lure Hikari outside of Ku's captial, having his men set the city on fire while he confronts his father to personally kill him while questioning why he named Hikari his heir. He then fatally wounds Jigo as Hikari arrives too late to prevent it and is forced to retreat. After slaughtering any potential supporters of brother within the capital, Mugen uses propaganda to label Hikari as a traitor who murdered their father while placing a bounty on his head.

Mugen proceeds to conquer the kingdom of Sa, killing the king while instructing his aide Ageha to carry out genocide of the Sa people. He then presented with the head of General Rou by his captain Ritsu Mishuyo, seeing though his fabricated story while leaving that Hikari intercepted the weapons shipment Rou was overseeing. Despite knowing Ritsu lied about Rou being a traitor, Mugen notes the captain has potential and promotes him to general. While Aegha voiced his concern of the army that Hikari is amassing, Mugen assures his aide that Hikari will fail for being an impure Ku clansman while brandishing the Darkblood Blade.

Confronted by Hikari after defeat Ritsu, Mugen clashes blades with his brother while revealing his motives for having Kura killed. Mugen is shocked when Hikari's shadow-self, an embodiment of Clan Ku's cursed blood, emerges during Hikari's brief lapse of composure. He then further livid when Hikari succeeds in besting his shadow-self, something none of Clan Ku's members were able to do. This drives Mugen mad enough to willing allow himself to be consumed by his own shadow-self while invoking the Darkblood Blade's power, turning himself into the Enshrouded King. Hikari manages to end Mugen's misery, revealing his face which was long ravaged by years of bloodlust.