Karim Kouri

> "It's like you said. I seek death, death at the hands of a worthy opponent, death while knowing I died a legend. I only joined this little operation so I could take all the credit. That way, even if it fails, I'll have died as the most feared man in history."
>
> ~Karim to **Philip Rosenstock**.

## Appearances

### Appears in

Volumes 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 20, 23, 29, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45

## Summary

**Karim Kouri** is a recurring antagonist who is the archnemesis of Jack.

## History

Karim and his brother **Kasiya Kouri** were born Egyptian in the year 2001, and predate not only **Sciarhiel**'s inception, but humanity's colonization of space entirely, including that of the **Moon** and **Mars**. They were trained as excellent soldiers and supposedly aided in **World War III** in 2025, where Karim clashed against and fought to a standstill with **Fransisco Vaquero**, **Shunsuke Vaquero**'s great, great, great, great grandfather. At some point, Karim, Kasiya, and as implied **the Wicked Prodigy** (Who at the time may have been referred to as 'Mathieu') were taken to '**Project Minotaur**', a secret program that they thought would be SEAL training but was actually supersoldier conditioning. Kasiya appears to have left before he could be fully enhanced, and the Prodigy may have stayed behind fully, or been given a different type of enhancement. This program was meant to create Socqreath Killers, but the subjects did not comply with the government for the most part. At some point, Karim became a terrorist, and began roaming the stars in search of a challenge.

## Personality

Karim is cold, ruthless and efficient, carrying out every one of his small goals with ease, be it sabotaging a plane or poisoning an entire city. He seems to have a love for battle, but cannot find a worthy opponent, and also seems to treat other criminals with some sort of respect, viewing the defeat of Darkstar, the Wicked Prodigy and **Hakim Harper** and his gang as impressive. He appears to be a risktaker, not dodging bullets and supposedly drinking some sort of snake venom.

He is also willing to kill people to get what he wants, and was disappointed enough in Jack's weakness to want to kill him. Karim also states that he does not care for love. After Jack managed to hold his own, Karim seemed to deem him a worthy enough opponent to keep him alive. Karim also seems to have a sense of nostalgia, as he remarks that he 'grew up' with pollution-ridden factories that had long been shut down. This also implies (And is later confirmed) that he is much older than he looks.

In Chapter #130, Karim reveals much more about himself, including but not limited to, the confirmed fact that he is a superhuman, the fact that he is older than Rosenstock, and his own view on racism. He views those who originally were the cause of it as tyrants, and those that followed as fools, while explaining how his view was based on Darwinism, and how it helped him function better as an assassin and terrorist. He also says that he is an 'Angel of Death', hinting a god complex. He also says that he was a masochist when he could feel pain.

Karim has a sense of humor, as shown when he finished Jack's birthday song for seemingly no reason other than the sake of it.

In his battles against Rosenstock and Jack, Karim spells out that he wants to die to a worthy opponent. When Jack manages to rid Karim of his superhuman qualities, Karim becomes far more unhinged, and only dodges attacks that are guaranteed kills. His brutality and masochism are on full display here, especially evident when Karim is shot through the heart and his primary reaction is to laugh.

## Appearance

Karim is a tall, dark-skinned man with moderately long, shaggy and spiky hair, with a thin black beard and moustache on his face, the beard and moustache connecting. He has pure red eyes that almost seem to glow in the dark, and don't reflect light.

His attire usually consists of a long black trenchcoat with a large collar on it that leads down to and connects to the lapels, which have golden buttons on them. He wears a blue undershirt with more golden buttons on it, as well as a black belt with a silver buckle and slim-fitting, black pants and boots. He also has a DNA tattoo on his left hand.

(NOTE: The picture resembles what he will wear in the future, and thus does not fit his current description.)

## Relationships

**Jack:** Karim originally had high expectations of Jack's fighting ability, and now is disappointed in him for not living up to that expectation, and wants to kill him, this sentiment changing once Jack holds his own later. He is Jack's archenemy.

**Andromda:** In her point of view, Karim is one of the many people who tried to hurt Jack, and must pay for it. Karim has only mentioned her during bargaining.

**† Hakim:** Hakim spent the volume fearing Karim, as Karim supposedly respected Hakim. In the end of the arc, Karim kills Hakim after obtaining information from him.

**†** **The Wicked Prodigy:** Karim treats the Prodigy as an old friend, and refers to him as what was supposedly his real name, 'Mathieu'. Regardless, Karim is willing to kill the Prodigy if they cannot cooperate.

**†** **Kostin:** Karim likely just saw him as an annoyance.

**†** **Eridani:** Although Karim stated to not be looking for love, he did accept the attendant's flirtatious nature towards him, although called it out. Despite it seeming like he only played her into his hands to destroy the plane, he did take her nametag, meaning he may have at least wanted something to remember her by.

**†** **Bartender:** Karim supposedly knows this bartender, as he speaks as if he has been to that bar many times.

**Sechsgrad:** Karim views Sechsgrad as a means to an end, and seems to know him from some other time or place.

**Shunsuke Vaquero:** Karim greatly enjoys his battle with Shunsuke, and willingly parts with the information that he previously fought Shunsuke's four-greats grandfather, Fransisco. Despite this, Karim showed no qualms about killing Shunsuke, and showed no mercy to him in their fight.

**†** **Fransisco Vaquero:** Karim sees Francisco as the only true threat to his life he had ever faced, and holds Fransisco and his family in an extremely high regard for that. Karim said that every aspect of the battle left him exhilarated, and given how he described it, it sounds as if he barely survived the encounter.

**Saparbek Sadulaev:** Karim got along with Saparbek well enough, often bantering with him over various things. They seemed to do their best to compliment each other's skillsets.

**†** **Atsumichi Kazuyuki:** Karim has a very casual attitude towards Atsumichi, and rarely addresses him directly.

**†** **Arthur Grant:** Karim seems to have formed some kind of working friendship with Arthur, or at least merely enjoys bantering with him. He had joined him on his quest in order to take all the credit and remain the most feared being in the galaxy right to the end, in return for helping Arthur with his goals, missions and tactics. Karim admits that he never thought Arthur was going to win as his final words.

## Story

### Introduction

Karim walks into an unknown airport, as a curiously Socqreath flight attendant cautiously lets him onto the plane, as she seems to fall in love with him quickly. Karim agrees to having a drink with her, but what they were drinking had been poison, which Karim seemed to be immune to. The poison kills everyone on the plane, as when the flight attendant asks Karim why he did this, he answers that he simply 'gets his kick this way', as he throws his explosive briefcase at the side of the plane to destroy part of it. He walks away from the crash site and leaves the island on a boat.

### Python Arc

Hakim is looking at the night sky and thinking about his defeat when Karim appears over him. Karim reveals that he killed Hakim's gang before grabbing him by the neck and putting a gun to his hand, demanding to know who beat him, Hakim answering by saying truthfully that Jack defeated him. Karim then kills him and leaves the colony.

### Meeting Jack

Karim enters the same bar that Jack does, Jack having done so to investigate a former member of Hakim's gang, **Kostin Yefim Fyodorovich**, who argues with two other men about whether or not human criminals should even still try. Karim hears this and kills the men, as he fights the rest of the bar before going after Jack. The two have a gunfight, where Karim reveals that bullets do not faze him, while continuously voicing his disappointment at Jack. Jack holds off as long as he can, but Karim wins the gunfight by shooting the gun out of Jack's hand, and shooting his knee. He nearly kills Jack before Andromeda saves him, buying time for him to escape. Karim turns to look at where he was before briefly giving chase to Andromeda, before letting them go.

### Reunion with the Wicked Prodigy

Karim is playing Chess with a non-existent second player, as the Wicked Prodigy appears right when he wins. Karim remarks on how long it's been since he's last seen the Wicked Prodigy, the latter trying to stab Karim, who grabs his arm with enough force to make him let go of his knife. Karim then says it has been a long time, and refers to the Wicked Prodigy as 'Mathieu'. He says he knows that the Prodigy wants to kill Jack and Andromeda, as the Prodigy teleports out of Karim's grip and fires at him, Karim catching the bullet that breaks through his hand, not feeling any pain, before grabbing the Prodigy by the neck and offering to help, saying that either the Prodigy can help, or Karim will prove who is stronger, seemingly threatening to kill the Prodigy.

### Meeting Sechsgrad

Karim and the Wicked Prodigy come into contact with **Sechsgrad**, one of the Shazarak that is still alive, as they strike a deal to capture Jack and Andromeda. Karim remarks that if they cannot get better through training, he will kill them.

### Vs. Jack

Karim invites the main heroes to an abandoned factory, telling them to bring everything. When they arrive, they split up, Jack ending up fighting Karim. Jack shows how much better he has gotten in a gunfight by disarming Karim in the start of their battle, however, Karim easily dominates Jack in their battle when it changes to martial arts, severely injuring and nearly killing Jack. Karim spares him for the sole reason that he held his own, however he did knock him unconscious.

### Speaking with Jack

Karim enters the room Jack is trapped in shortly after Jack wakes up, and immediately begins to explain to him his superhuman origins. Karim then asks Jack about his opinion on Andromeda, and when Jack hesitantly answers that he loves her, he asks her why. Jack says that they had been through so much together, and Karim asks if the way she looks has something to do with it. Jack answers no defiantly, as Karim then goes on a tangent about Socreath biology and racism, including his version of it. He seems to almost kill Jack by shooting him in the head before the police arrive. Before Jack leaves, Karim tells him to take everything into account, as unlike Karim, Jack is not functionally immortal.

### Jack's Birthday

Karim appears at Jack's birthday party after over half a year of supposedly unbroken peace since the **Human-Socqreath War** as he finishes the second half of Jack's birthday song, supposedly to simultaneously mock Jack and to make a joke regarding the day and the irony of it. Karim quickly explains that he wants to test how strong Jack has gotten, as they begin to fight. However, most of them escape, leaving Karim to fight only against Shunsuke. Though initially disappointed by this, Karim quickly becomes excited by his new opponent's strength and skill and decides to fight him solely in hand to hand. Karim quickly overwhelms Shunsuke, who still manages to hold his own. At some point during the conversation between the others, Karim supposedly retrieved his gun that Shunsuke had at the start of their battle knocked out of his hand, as Karim takes it out of his trenchcoat to aim at Shunsuke's face at the end of their fight, telling him about his fight with Shunsuke's almost ancestor. Karim nearly kills Shunsuke, but the latter is saved by Kasper's drones, which together momentarily restrain Karim long enough for Shunsuke to get to the garage with the others. Karim destroys the drones and runs after them, only to be met by a Strike Craft which he attempts to do battle with, unable to get past its forcefield with bullets or knives. The Strike Craft guns him down and leaves him in a condition similar to that of 'Swiss Cheese'.

### Allying with Saparbek

Karim then allies with **Saparbek Sadulaev**, as the two go to take **Darkstar**'s **Socqreath Virus** from a fortress-like warehouse, where they encounter **Anima**, an artificial intelligence tasked with protecting the stores of the warehouse from intruders at all costs. The two eventually manage to defeat Anima, and learn the location of the virus, as they are then encountered by Jack, Andromeda, Shunsuke and Candice. After a brief fight with them, all of them are encountered by **Darkstar's Scientist**, who reintroduces them all to **Allen Davidson**, who was now a cyborg. Karim laments on Allen's loss of memory before he and Saparbek leave the scene, leaving the heroes to their fates.

Karim, Saparbek and the Prodigy are met by Sechsgrad, **Bellatrix** and **Proto**, the latter three easily defeating the former three as Sechsgrad proposes an alliance, stopping the Prodigy in his tracks when the Prodigy tries to attack him. Karim asks what they are needed for, as Sechsgrad says they are going to free a criminal from the Kazuyuki family.

### Working for the Netraxians

Karim and the rest, including their new 'Captain', **Atsumichi Kazuyuki**, then once again encounter Jack and his friends, who had recently lost Kasper to a battle with a resurrected Allen. They travel on Atsumichi's ship to Earth, before descending towards Cairo in Africa. Jack and Karim meet where Karim had grown up, and exchange a few words before fighting. Though Jack is able to stagger Karim a few times, he ultimately proves inferior, and Karim knocks him out to take back to Atsumichi. Karim and the others are met by **Lev Lehrer** and the **Nightmare Division**, Atsumichi teleporting the villains away to leave the heroes in the hands of said Division.

Karim later appears to dogfight with Jack in his own ship, eventually crashing both ships inside a battleship implied to either be the flagship of the **Minotaur Strike Force** or near it. They fight for a time in the power core of the battleship, Karim proving to still be superior to Jack, though some of this may have been due to Jack's injuries from the crash. Jack is saved by a mysterious supersoldier, who easily defeats Karim, who escaped through unknown means.

### Phantom's Reign of Terror

Karim reveals himself to be alive when he attacks **Blackshot**, having a relatively even battle with him, though one Karim would have eventually won if Blackshot didn't escape.

He then hears **Phantom** and **Arthur Grant** battling, and appears on the scene after the battle is over, right as Phantom leaves. Karim goes to take a sample from Arthur's body, but Arthur, still alive, attacks him, infecting him with his virus. As Arthur calms down, the two introduce themselves, as Karim decides to work with Arthur so he can remain infamous, and Arthur accepts so he can learn how to spread his virus more effectively.

### Arthur's Zombie Apocalypse

Karim travels to **Odriuq**, the homeworld of the **Olgaih**, to infect them and turn them to zombies, encountering Shunsuke, who is shocked to see him, and briefly battling him. The five just barely manage to escape as Karim looks on, before presumably proceeding to infect the rest of the planet.

Later, he travels to **Lacenope**, the homeworld of the **Larqud**, to plant vials of Arthur's viral biomass in strategic areas that would become meteors upon the planet's soon-to-come explosion. He is encountered by Jack, who briefly battles him as Karim proves his new superiority by easily defeating Jack, destroying his weapons, and nearly killing him, before using a grenade to escape being captured by the rest. He later leaves the planet, in the opposite direction of everyone else, as it explodes.

Karim then travels to **Gnayiliv 5X**, the homeworld of the **Gnayiliv**, to ensure they are unable to research a cure to Arthur's plague. He is met by opposition from Jack and his friends, along with the Gnayiliv themselves, but is eventually able to trick Shunsuke into damaging the part of the Medical Research Center's control panel that stops foreign viruses, and upload one what Arthur created after learning the craft from **Asaka Kazuyuki**'s schoolbooks to shut down most of Gnayiliv 5X's systems, save for its laser towers, which he throws a knife covered in his own blood at to aerosolize the virus. He later returns to Arthur, who was training an army of zombies in one of Kazuyuki's old bases, and remarks that their zombies would be a surprise to the galaxy.

Karim is then seen at **Rinnagua**, aiming to sell a vial of Arthur's viral biomass to the locals, but he is attacked by Jack, his friends, and **Hask'Torba**, someone thought by the protagonists to have been long dead. Though it's a somewhat lengthy battle, Karim ultimately defeats all of them with ease, and heads to New Earth.

### Toppling Sciarhiel

Karim and Arthur appear at Sciarhiel Castle to unleash an army of zombies upon it, aiming to ensure that whatever Demetrius is working on is never publicized, as well as to simply destroy the Human Star Realm's leadership. He battles with **Grimwald de Villepin** and, after a lengthy battle in which Karim, faced down with Grimwald's antimatter pistols, comes the closest to actually dying in a long time, he kills Grimwald, and then is attacked by Dione who he subdues before entering the castle.

After planting bombs around the castle, Karim is approached by **Philip Rosenstock**, who had equipped himself with nine swords and was ravaging the zombie army. They briefly exchange banter before Rosenstock attacks Karim, easily slicing him apart multiple times before Karim, regenerating each time, eventually manages to dodge some attacks and use a bomb to send Rosenstock into a transportation area below, following him. The resulting battle causes a lot of vehicles to be destroyed, and for Rosenstock to be severely burned as most of his swords are snapped apart or shattered, before Rosenstock eventually manages to briefly incapacitate Karim in a spaceship and tell him the Human Star Realm's plan to paralyze the two and then execute them after all the other zombies are gone. Karim reveals that Arthur has already killed **Demetrius Arnold** and destroyed the stasis cannon he was working on, and the schematics for it, before killing Rosenstock with his own sword, and leaving with Arthur as they blow up the castle.

### Final Battle

Karim is seen standing on a tower, looking down at the Farfair, the city the heroes had been having most of their adventures in, before he tosses the namecard of the flight attendant he had once met, Eridani, to the wind, and looks at the sunset.

Later, Jack arrives at the same tower, Karim engaging them as they shoot each other. They fight for a bit, before Karim realizes that the bullet shot at him took his superhuman powers and the disease Arthur had infected him with away, rendering him a normal human. He is elated at this, and suddenly starts fighting Jack much more aggressively, yet cautiously. He forces Jack to retreat to a nearby building, where they fight for a bit more before Jack manages to escape to the ground floor. He and Karim see Arthur's flames beginning to consume the city, Karim taking advantage of Jack's shock to attack him. The fight becomes a chase as Jack tries to run away and fight from a distance, but Karim is able to close that distance multiple times before he sends Jack into an alleyway with both legs broken, and out of ammunition. Karim scolds Jack for becoming obsessed with beating him and fires, but the bullet bounces off of Jack's jacket due to the same Huscil that had been weaved into it to deflect Python's laser, and Karim is shot in the heart. He sits beside Jack, congratulating and thanking him, before dying peacefully with a smile on his face.

## Powers and Abilities

**Superhuman Physical Characteristics:** Karim has inhuman strength, speed and durability, able to blitz the Wicked Prodigy, easily break a table and lift people up off the ground with one hand, and survive direct hits from bullets, and being in an explosion, with very little damage. Karim also does not seem to feel pain, fear or fatigue, and may have a healing factor. He also appears to have immunity to diseases. He also seems to have been granted slow aging and semi-immortality via this, as he is in actuality older than **King Rosenstock**. Karim also appears to possibly be able to in some way detect a Socqreath's Psychic Weapons, though this is at the moment unconfirmed.

**Zombie Physiology:** After being infected by Arthur, Karim has become a truly immortal zombie, able to shape his body how he wishes and, given his willpower, control the disease as Arthur can, though not quite as well as Arthur.

**Expert Marksman:** Karim is exceptional with a gun, able to contend with Jack, even defeating him. Jack previously defeated Hakim, who himself was exceptional with a gun.

**Sabotage Intuition:** Karim appears to be very good at his very likely 'hobby' of bioterrorism, as he is able to trick people into drinking poison, and poison an entire water supply. He also carries a James Bond-esk explosive briefcase, and seems to wear clothing that is both bulletproof and explosionproof.

**Expert Martial Artist:** He appears to know aggressive and at times fluid forms of martial arts, as he can physically contend with an entire bar at once. However, his enhanced physiology makes this hard to determine at this point in time. He also is able to easily outplay the Wicked Prodigy, Shunsuke and Jack in this regard. His skill is especially evident when his powers are taken away, yet he still outclasses a currently superhuman Jack in this regard.

**Expert Knifesman:** Karim seems to know how to use multiple kinds of knives, ranging from close range and utility to throwing knives. One of his knives is likely made of **Huscil**, as he used it to get through Kasper's hard light barrier.

**Expert Swordsman:** Karim seems decently skilled with his Khopesh.

## Equipment

**Guns:** Karim wields a standard Colt M1911 pistol, which is painted black and dark grey. This is the primary weapon that he uses in fights. He also carries a black and gold Helwan pistol.

**Fighting Suit:** Karim wears a suit that seems to stave off explosions and bullets for a time.

**Bombs and Chemical Weapons:** Karim seems to have many explosives and poisons at his disposal.

**Nametag:** Although probably not combat applicable, Karim does have the nametag of the flight attendant he met.

**Knives:** Karim carries multiple kinds of knives, the ones shown being a switchblade that can cut through light constructs and a throwing knife.

**Khopesh:** Karim has a Khopesh he seldom uses.

**Fighter Craft:** Karim used to have a spacecraft called **Bat IV**, big enough to comfortably fit a small crew and outfitted with various weapons. It was destroyed in a dogfight with Jack.

## Affect

Although Karim appears to only be a recurring villain of the week, he has currently left a large impact, wounding Jack both in body and in pride in a way that Jack compared to the Wicked Prodigy and killing or striking previous opponents Jack had. Karim also has an immense target on his back, being the most wanted criminal in the galaxy, and he preforms a feat that is almost unmatched - poisoning an entire city! Karim also seems largely unaffected by the many events that occurred in the time he has been in the story, and he is also a recurring nemesis for Jack and possibly Shunsuke as well.

## Quotes

(To the unnamed flight attendant (His first quote), Chapter #97) "Should a flight attendant really be asking that? Stop that, I'm not looking for love. And your outfit is ridiculous. Are you gonna' let me on or not?"

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "I'm planning on bringing back souvenirs."

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "First Class? I'm not even close to there."

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "You love and fear me...why choose me? Because I'm biologically the most attractive person you've met? Then again, your species is addicted to sex... I'll let you know where that addiction will get you."

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "Not doing your job?"

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "I am, because this is the best you get. Thanks for the gift."

(To the unnamed flight attendant, Chapter #97) "I'm Karim Kouri. This is how I get my kick."

(To Hakim, Chapter #107) "Can you tell me who it was that managed to defeat you?"

(To Hakim, Chapter #107) "I killed them. Now, answer my question."

(To an unnamed bartender, Chapter #108) "The usual."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #108) "So...you said that humans should step off the stage?"

(To Kostin, Chapter #108) "Let me make this clear. I am not backing down just because aliens joined the picture."

(To Jack, Chapter #108) "So, you'd run away from action? Are you Jackson Holland?"

(To Jack, Chapter #108) "I thought you were the one who beat Allen, and the Prodigy, and Hakim. You're honestly disappointing."

(To Jack, Chapter #108) "This is depressing. I very much wanted a fellow human to put up a good fight."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #108) "Hmm?"

(To no one in particular, Chapter #108) "Heh..."

(To the Wicked Prodigy, Chapter #120) "Well, well...I haven't seen you in a while."

(To the Wicked Prodigy, Chapter #120) "It's been a long time...Mathieu. As I take it, you want to kill Andromeda and Jack."

(To the Wicked Prodigy, Chapter #120) "Come on, old friend. Aren't you the least bit tempted to help me out so that we beat a common enemy? Or...do I need to prove to you which one of us two is stronger?"

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #123) "You fought Jack and Andromeda, didn't you?"

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #123) "I think you know the terms, you seem like a smart guy."

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #123) "There had better be training involved. Otherwise they die."

(To the heroes, Chapter #125) "Hello to all of you. I understand that you are hunting after me, so I'll make it easy for you. Go here, and you'll find me. Bring every weapon you can, and don't hold back."

(To Jack, Chapter #129) "Hello, Jack."

(To Jack, Chapter #129) "Really? Then come on, show me exactly how much you've grown since we last met."

(To Jack, Chapter #129) "Funny...you actually managed to put up a fight."

(To Jack, Chapter #129) "You put yourself in danger because you wanted revenge, and here you are now. But...you did manage to get this far."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Awake, are we?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "I was engineered that way. I am...a superhuman, and I am older than Rosenstock."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Long ago, there was an old program. Project Minotaur. I and my brother were among the first to be enlisted. We were already trained soldiers, and we expected this to be SEAL training. I was excited. You see, was much earlier diagnosed as a masochist. Back when I could feel pain, it only made me stronger."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "But what we went through was, to my exhilaration...much more rough and dangerous. Until I was enhanced by the Superhuman Drug they had at the time. I dropped out after that, because the training was over, and stole some of the drug to give to my brother. Of course, it wasn't enough to do any more than slow his aging, but for me, it made my body stop aging, constantly heal, and be unable to feel pain or fatigue. My life became extremely boring after that. No one could challenge me, to the point where I wanted a Socqreath to fight. Because I thought that would be interesting."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Kasiya. We weren't too close, but when I heard you killed him, I decided that you were my target. But I could never have a fulfilling revenge if you have the fighting skills of garbage. That's why, so far, I've let you live, that, and dumb luck on your part."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Andromeda. What is your honest opinion of her?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Why do you love her?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Are you saying you aren't a fan of the way she looks?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "She is a Socqreath, Jack. Socqreath are perfectly engineered by nature to be physically attractive."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Do you love her despite it?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Cygnus would only be considered evil because he serial kills other Socqreath. Everything else he does is considered completely acceptable by their species. Think about how Andromeda still holds animosity towards humans. She keeps saying she'll change, even to herself, but does she?"

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Do you want to know my opinion on racism? What we view as racism is nothing more than an excuse. When the first 'whites' who came to Africa saw people of my race. Do you think they seriously believed that we weren't human beings solely because of skin color? I don't, I think that those who were tyrants, in power, wanted, not needed, wanted people to work for them, and saw the golden opportunity to use skin color as an excuse to say 'you are slaves'."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "All this animosity, all these ideas of being superior or inferior based on how much Melanin you have, it's all born from a simple excuse that flew wildly out of control. I am glad that such an excuse is on its last breaths these days, because those who believe it aren't even 'evil', if a universal evil exists. They are simply...idiots, idiots who actually believe that an excuse as stupid as 'darker skin equals completely different species' is any more credible than the statements that the Earth is flat or, a personal gripe of mine, that evolution doesn't exist."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "Do you want my view, Jack? My idea of racism is based on evolution, Darwinism. And on that scale, it is you who would be 'inferior', but don't get me wrong, I mean that solely on the level of physicality. I'm not dumb enough to see you as not a human being. My kind evolved to be able to work in the sun harder, to fight in the sun longer. You take in Vitamin D, that's it. And yet, you'd consider those minor, right? I do, but I still consider them when going after a target."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "After all, I need to know everything about my opponent, don't I? Socqreath? Physically weak, with powerful, invisible weapons. Qhaikra? Physically strong but usually a bit dimwitted, and too reliant on their armor. Now you can see, all living things are included in my view of racism. From the tiny ant to the mighty dragon. No matter how tiny a difference is, knowing it can make a kill as efficient as possible. And as I am an Angel of Death...I need my kills to be perfect. I'm sure you already have experience with that."

(To Jack, Chapter #130) "As for Andromeda...always remember that she isn't even human. Take everything into account, if you want to live. You don't have the cheats that I do."

(To Jack, Chapter #188) "Happy birthday, dear Jackson...happy birthday to you."

(To Jack, Chapter #189) "It should be pretty obvious what I want. I want to test your skills, since they clearly must have improved since we last fought."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #189) "Interesting..."

(To Shunsuke, Chapter #189) "You're a tough one aren't you? Like I am."

(To Shunsuke, Chapter #189) "Oh, you hate me now, do you? Or have you always hated me? That seems pretty likely, Vaquero. And I distinctly remember that fight with your great, great, great, great grandfather."

(To Shunsuke, Chapter #190) "I know every thought that just passed through your head. Fransisco Vaquero was by far the most fun I ever had in any battle! I felt my heart pound, I smelled my own sweat, I tasted my own blood, heard my own breath, I saw each bit of muzzle flashing from that revolver! That battle was one I had survived not through some superhuman drug I had not had yet, but through my sheer force of will! It was...exhilarating!"

(To no one in particular, Chapter #190) "Hmm..."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #190) "How about that..."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #194) "Naeam. Are you Saparbek Sadulaev?"

(To Saparbek, Chapter #194) "Tell me what it is, and it may interest me."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #194) "Sounds fun. But where is it, exactly?"

(To Saparbek, Chapter #194) "Then I guess we need to hijack something."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #196) "Who put you in charge?"

(To no one in particular, Chapter #196) "Whatever."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #196) "We going in or not?"

(To Saparbek, Chapter #196) "Let's turn it on."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #196) "Looks like it works."

(To Anima, Chapter #197) "You're just a computer screen. What are you gonna' do? Give us Epilepsy?"

(To Saparbek, Chapter #198) "Let's shoot it dead."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #198) "Alrighty."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #198) "Shouldn't be long, now."

(To Jack, Chapter #199) "So you did come. I thought you would. After all, you probably see me as your archnemesis of sorts."

(To Jack, Chapter #199) "...You've become a superhuman?"

(To Allen, Chapter #201) "Hello, Allen. As I take it, you worked with my brother, Kasiya."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #201) "Bummer, I wanted to berate him for letting my foolish brother die."

(To Saparbek, Chapter #210) "Don't flatter yourself. You're nowhere near the level I and Mathieu are at. First you need the experience."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #210) "Great, are we being raided at this hour?"

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #210) "Long time no see."

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #210) "Or what?"

(To Bellatrix, Chapter #210) "Is that supposed to scare us?"

(To Sechsgrad, Chapter #210) "What's our first mission anyway?"

(To Jack, Chapter #230) "Hello again, Jack. How have things been since the warehouse?"

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "I'm not sure how much geography you know of our homeworld. But right now we're in Cairo, Egypt."

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "For me, it was my home. This was the house I grew up in, centuries ago."

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "I don't much remember them. While I don't think I ever particularly cared for them, it still hurts on some level for me to not remember what they fully looked like."

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "No, I told you because you asked. I don't expect sympathy from you, nor do I want it. I like my reputation, it makes me feel respected, it makes me feel important."

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "I understand that you recently lost one of your closest friends. The little blonde one, right? With all the money?"

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "I know how it feels to be a lab rat."

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "How do you currently feel?"

(To Jack, Chapter #235) "And sad. I know you probably don't have much time to properly grieve, now that you're fighting against the Netraxians. I can only imagine how Candice feels, considering how close she and Kasper were."

(To Jack, Chapter #236) "Finally."

(To Jack, Chapter #236) "Hmm, you've improved a lot, I see..."

(To Jack, Chapter #236) "You done with your little verbal observation? Because you don't have long to follow up."

(To Jack, Chapter #236) "Ah...progress."

(To Jack, Chapter #236) "You're definitely improving. I look forwards to seeing what comes of you in the future, if you don't die before then."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #239) "Who could that be?"

(To Jack, Chapter #268) "Don't you want to take the opportunity to test your piloting skills?"

(To Jack, Chapter #268) "Too bad."

(To Jack, Chapter #268) "Looks like it."

(To Jack, Chapter #268) "Looks like we'll have company soon. I wonder if you've grown at all, being on that Hellhole Serena is from."

(To Jack, Chapter #269) "Did ya really think that would work?"

(To no one in particular, Chapter #270) "Well...this is new. Looks like they continued the project, after all this time."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #270) "This'll be interesting."

(To Blackshot, Chapter #342) "You are, too."

(To Blackshot, Chapter #342) "Well, I didn't expect that from you."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #394) "Wonder what that was all about..."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #394) "Hmm, what exactly were you supposed to be?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #394) "Hmm? You still alive down there?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #394) "Well, well...maybe you could be the challenge I've been looking for."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #394) "Winner takes all."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "Well...you're certainly proving yourself."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #395) "How about that."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #395) "Well...if only that was painful."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "Oh, you can talk?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "I can subjugate any disease that enters my body. Now, who are you, and how did ya get here?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "Well, ain't all of that interesting. So I'm guessing you're gonna try and start a zombie apocalypse or something?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "Well...I want in. I can't let you surpass me in the wanted posters, now can I?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #395) "Mental link, huh? Interesting...this is gonna take some research to make useful. But I can say that right now you're doin' it wrong. Let a real bioterrorist teach ya how."

(To Jack, Chapter #448) "Long time no see, Jack."

(To Jack, Chapter #448) "You don't get it. I already have."

(To Jack, Chapter #450) "You're always gonna be out of your league, huh? Perhaps I misjudged you. You were never gonna be a worthy opponent."

(To Andromeda, Chapter #450) "You're too late."

(To Jack, Chapter #458) "You sure are quick. Healed up already?"

(To no one in particular, Chapter #458) "Seems these guys don't like fighting."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #463) "So this is it...I wonder where the control panel for this thing is."

(To Shunsuke, Chapter #464) "Slow. Sloppy. Sad."

(To Jack and his friends, Chapter #465) "Ah...the virus has now been aerosolized. I'd say that if any of ya wanna live, you'd better get out of here. It's already too late for this world."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #465) "...Mission accomplished. Kazuyuki's schoolbooks sure came in handy."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #468) "Wait til they see that our zombies aren't shambling morons."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #468) "Cool. Glad to see this base of Kazuyuki's get some renovation. Guy was obnoxious, but definitely smart."

(To various people, Chapter #474) "I'm glad to make acquaintance with all of you. This vial contains a tonic that can and will make you all...immortal. More than that, it will grant you regeneration, telepathy, regeneration and shapeshifting. I've taken some myself, and I can say that it's a done deal."

(To Jack, Chapter #474) "Hello, Jack. It feels like we've been meeting a lot lately. How was your discharge?"

(To Hask'Torba, Chapter #475) "Oh, I would love to feel pain again. To be in a *real* fight!"

(To Hask'Torba, Chapter #476) "...Please, I'm centuries older than you."

(To no one in particular, Chapter #476) "That was interesting."

(To Jack and his friends, Chapter #478) "It'd be better if you just stay out of my way, kid. None of you are the challenge I'm looking for, not anymore, maybe not ever."

(To Hask'Torba, Chapter #479) "I'm rather far from being human by now, Qhaikra."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #484) "Yeah, yeah. Seems so. It feels a little surreal, to be invading this place, you know?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #484) "Huh. So Daddy Rosenstock never loved you?"

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #492) "Works with me."

(To Grimwald, Chapter #492) "Hey."

(To Grimwald, Chapter #493) "So you're Grimwald, the galaxy's greatest gunslinger. Well, it's certainly interesting to meet you."

(To Grimwald, Chapter #493) "Don't you wanna have fun with your last battle?"

(To Grimwald, Chapter #494) "Got anymore tricks up your sleeves?"

(To Grimwald, Chapter #495) "It was fun...but now it's over. Enjoy Heaven, or Hell, or Oblivion, whichever it is. I wouldn't know."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #499) "Well, if it isn't the glorious King Philip Rosenstock. So famous for overturning his corrupt father's rule and laws, and for defending humankind against the Netraxians."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #499) "How'd ya know?"

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #500) "This must be where you put all your broken toys."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #500) "It's like you said. I seek death, death at the hands of a worthy opponent, death while knowing I died a legend. I only joined this little operation so I could take all the credit. That way, even if it fails, I'll have died as the most feared man in history."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #500) "Nah. Just an immortal who's already seen it all."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #501) "You're running out of swords."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #502) "Being a coward now, are we?"

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #502) "Come out, come out, wherever you are..."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #502) "You seem to be in a pretty rough shape. Want me to help ya get a workout?"

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #503) "...So...How are you gonna do this? You can't kill me with any of your swords, and any attempt you make to do so will free me from this."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #503) "Sounds like a plan...or it would, if the stasis cannon wasn't destroyed."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #503) "Yep, Arthur destroyed it while killing Demetrius. That's what he told me while I was planting that last bomb, anyway."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #503) "Yeah, well, Arthur destroyed his computer before he could."

(To Rosenstock, Chapter #503) ".........Long...live...*the King*."

(To Arthur Grant, Chapter #504) "Would you like to do the honors?"

(To Jack, Chapter #528) "So you've come to take me on yet again. Kid, we both know you've got no chance."

(To Jack, Chapter #528) "Oh, no...the party's only just begun."

(To himself, Chapter #529) "...Wait...finally...I haven't felt this...for so long...*Pain*."

(To Jack, Chapter #529) "Maybe...at long last...I can finally get what I've always wanted. A *real* fight!"

(To Jack, Chapter #529) "I suppose you aren't used to fighting people like me. This is your wake-up call that I was only slow on purpose."

(To Jack, Chapter #531) "Got anything else?"

(To Jack, Chapter #533) "Come out, come out, wherever you are."

(To Jack, Chapter #535) "You know, kid. I'm sure you heard this before, but...I think you've become obsessed with me. I'm the big bad, criminal, most wanted in the galaxy, and you wanted to be the one to take me down. You wanted the glory, you wanted to prove yourself, but in the end, all you proved is just how much of a moron you are. I enjoyed this battle, but the fact that we barely fought hand-to-hand shows that you finally understand that you can't outskill a guy who's been alive for two hundred years longer than you have. I'm grateful for what you've given back to me, but you're clearly not the worthy opponent I've been searching for, and you never were."

(To Jack, Chapter #535) "I'd say this is goodbye. Pray to whoever you worship that you end up in the Good Place, whatever form it takes."

(To himself, Chapter #537) "Ahahahahahaha...I suppose that's what I get for letting my guard down. Old habits die hard, I guess."

(To Jack, Chapter #537) "...This is all I ever wanted...to die to a worthy opponent, as the most dangerous man in the galaxy. And with your wit, it looks like I may've gotten that. So thank you...Jack...and just so you know...Arthur was probably fucked from the start..."

## References

### Number of Chapter References

Total: 106

Volume 9: 5

Volume 10: 4

Volume 11: 6

Volume 12: 1

Volume 16: 4

Volume 17: 8

Volume 18: 1

Volume 20: 6

Volume 23: 5

Volume 29: 2

Volume 33: 3

Volume 36: 3

Volume 37: 4

Volume 38: 12

Volume 39: 12

Volume 40: 8

Volume 41: 3

Volume 42: 10

Volume 43: 3

Volume 44: 1

Volume 45: 6

### Volume 9

Chapter #97 "A New Enemy"

Chapter #98 "Resting"

Chapter #99 "New Crime in Town"

Chapter #107 "Showdown!"

Chapter #108 "Running"

### Volume 10

Chapter #109 "The Aftermath of Chaos"

Chapter #110 "Fear of Loss"

Chapter #115 "Regroup"

Chapter #120 "A Dark Reunion"

### Volume 11

Chapter #121 "The Briefness of Peace"

Chapter #123 "New Alliances"

Chapter #124 "Mysteries Unfolding"

Chapter #125 "The Invitation"

Chapter #129 "Rematch in Flame"

Chapter #130 "Captured"

### Volume 16

Chapter #188 "Birthday Boy"

Chapter #189 "Drafted"

Chapter #190 "Legends Told"

Chapter #192 "To War"

### Volume 17

Chapter #194 "Regeneration"

Chapter #195 "Relearning"

Chapter #196 "Rediscovery"

Chapter #197 "Reclaiming"

Chapter #198 "Response"

Chapter #199 "Rematch"

Chapter #200 "Reveal"

Chapter #201 "Rebuilt"

### Volume 20

Chapter #230 "Captain Kazuyuki"

Chapter #231 "Old Foes"

Chapter #232 "The Homeworld of Humanity"

Chapter #235 "Home"

Chapter #236 "Desecration"

Chapter #239 "Cavalry"

### Volume 23

Chapter #268 "Dogfight with Dragons"

Chapter #269 "Shootout through the Stars"

Chapter #270 "Clash in the Core"

Chapter #271 "The Minotaur"

Chapter #274 "Galactic Machinations"

### Volume 29

Chapter #342 "The Return of The Immortal"

Chapter #346 "Unease"

### Volume 33

Chapter #393 "Telekinesis"

Chapter #394 "Changes Continue"

Chapter #395 "The Dead Walk Again"

### Volume 36

Chapter #430 "History's Ruthless Pursuit"

Chapter #431 "First Hundred Patients"

Chapter #432 "Escape from the Dead"

### Volume 37

Chapter #436 "The Common Infection"

Chapter #438 "Acquiring a Sample"

Chapter #439 "Return to the Castle"

Chapter #444 "Situation Briefing"

### Volume 38

Chapter #445 "Arrival"

Chapter #446 "Snowstorm"

Chapter #447 "High Speed Tussle"

Chapter #448 "Kickdown"

Chapter #449 "Beatdown"

Chapter #450 "Contact"

Chapter #451 "Immediate Medical Attention"

Chapter #452 "Detection?"

Chapter #453 "Recovered but Not"

Chapter #454 "Red Alert"

Chapter #455 "The Icy Cataclysm"

Chapter #456 "The Next Target"

### Volume 39

Chapter #457 "Gnayiliv 5X"

Chapter #458 "Reencounter"

Chapter #459 "Breaking In"

Chapter #460 "Inside the Tower"

Chapter #461 "The Chase Continues"

Chapter #462 "Nearing the Core"

Chapter #463 "Desperate Times"

Chapter #464 "Desperate Measures"

Chapter #465 "Different Kind of Virus"

Chapter #466 "Alerting the King"

Chapter #467 "Alerting the Council"

Chapter #468 "Army of the Undead"

### Volume 40

Chapter #473 "End of Contract"

Chapter #474 "Darkness Falls"

Chapter #475 "Desert Duel"

Chapter #476 "Shattered Dreams"

Chapter #477 "Damage Compounded"

Chapter #478 "Wrath Unleashed"

Chapter #479 "Spikes and Scales"

Chapter #480 "Hope Fading"

### Volume 41

Chapter #484 "Onslaught Continues"

Chapter #491 "The Greatest Gunslinger"

Chapter #492 "Infiltration"

### Volume 42

Chapter #493 "Cowboy Meets Soldier"

Chapter #494 "Monster in Man's Flesh"

Chapter #495 "See You, Space Cowboy"

Chapter #496 "Brawler's Fury"

Chapter #499 "No Obstacles Left"

Chapter #500 "Kings of Combat"

Chapter #501 "Situation Intensifies"

Chapter #502 "Carnage"

Chapter #503 "Doomed Gambit"

Chapter #504 "The End of Sciarhiel"

### Volume 43

Chapter #508 "Encroaching Unity"

Chapter #510 "Return to the Hotel"

Chapter #511 "Reminiscence"

### Volume 45

Chapter #529 - "Evening the Odds"

Chapter #531 - "Bullet Chase"

Chapter #533 - "The Hunt is On"

Chapter #535 - "Final Duel"

Chapter #537 - "Last Breaths"

Chapter #539 - "The Aftermath of Chaos II"

## Trivia

1. Karim was greatly inspired by **Vincent Volaju** from the influential Anime series, *Cowboy Bebop*.

* They are both bioterrorists, and are the most wanted criminals in their respective universes.

* They look similar, although Karim has a different trenchcoat, skin color and eye color, and is taller by two inches.

* They both use M1911 pistols and come from the future (Which is the present in-series).
* Their nemeses are both simple people with martial arts and a gun, who is also one of the main protagonists of the series (Jack and **Spike Spiegel**).
* They are introduced causing terrorist events that involve both explosive and biological terrorism.
* They humiliate and badly injure their nemeses in their first fight with them.
* Unlike other villains in the series, they work with other villains in the series. (The Wicked Prodigy and Sechsgrad, and **Lee Sampson**).

2. Karim's actions reference real life events such as 9/11 (With his introduction) and the Mad Gasser (With his poisoning of an entire city). This is intentional as it better highlights that Karim is indeed a terrorist, although the events are not one for one comparisons.

3. Karim's name is Egyptian, and pronounced Care-EEm, KOO-rEE. Funny enough, it translates to 'Korean Cream' in English.

4. Karim actually reflects Jack in a few ways.

* Their guns are far outdated, being bullet guns in a time where there are lasers and high velocity rounds.
* They both largely use martial arts and rely on their endurance in fights.
* They initially can be seen as unimpressive compared to other characters they align with (The Wicked Prodigy and Andromeda).

5. Karim's eye color was originally going to be pitch black like **Asaka Kazuyuki**'s, but was changed to red as a way of referencing the **Blackwells** from *Phantom Gun*, a series made by this series' creator's best friend.

6. Karim and Kasiya are Egyptian, and the oldest known characters in the series disregarding **Kafziel**.

7. Karim refers to the Wicked Prodigy as 'Mathieu', suggesting that he knew the Prodigy since before he went completely insane.

8. Karim shares a love of battle similar to **Madara Uchiha** from the famous *Naruto* series. This is intentional.

* Karim shares other similarities with Madara, such as being feared as a legendary monster of sorts, having long, black spiky hair and red eyes, usually favoring martial arts, having an old rival revered the same way he is feared and being both ancient and immortal. All of these similarities barring the love for battle, however, are completely unintentional.

9. It is possible Karim also shares a love of war with **The Major** from the famous *Hellsing* series. However, this is unconfirmed.

* However, there are unintentional similarities of both being ancient, immortal, masochistic terrorists who love battle and served in a World War.