Rider (Fate/Crossover - Master Den)

**Rider** (ライダー, *Raidā*) is the servant of ??? in the ??? Holy Grail War.

## Profile

### Identity

Rider's true identity is **Den**, a creature of madness and rage, the man who would be done was an alternate persona of Kaos, a weak and frail boy. given a body of his own through mad science, Den wandered the ruined Earth of his era, defining himself by his depthless hatred, before focusing on the floating city of Zalem and making its destruction his obsession. to this end he made himself ever stronger, both physically and by drawing together Barjack, an army of desert bandits turned revolutionaries. but, for all his fervor, Den gravely underestimated his foe, and when Zalem destroyed his army as an annoyance, Den began his final charge, tearing through every force put in his way, even rebuking the power Kaos had over him as his other self. in the end, Den's giant sword broke against Zalem's tether to Earth, and mortally wounded, Den chose a proud death as himself over survival as a part of Kaos.

### Appearance

Den's appearance varied during the series. In combat, Lord Den was like that of a specter, his presence brought dread to all. In his form as leader of the Barjack he was a giant metallic samurai with either a bipedal body or a centaur body. The bipedal body had shoulder armour (sode), panels protecting the thighs (kusazuri), gauntlets (kote), greaves (suneate), and sandals (kōgake). The centaur body removed the shoulder armour, as it gave Den a larger shield on one forearm, and had a form of barding. The tail was composed of chains. Den wielded his yari with one arm, but also carried Zanshato on his back. The bipedal body was a dark grey in Barjack Rhapsody, while Den's eyes were red. In Gunnm: Martian Memory the centaur body is black and Den's eyes are red. An illustration by Yukito Kishiro for the 2003 Ultra Jump calendar depicts Den as being a grey-green with red eyes.

When he was detached from Kaos, Den's first body was a man-sized unit which had a face, but no skull, and overall had a more civilian appearance. His EPR transmitter was exposed. The next body that Den had was still man-sized, but had a samurai-like appearance. At one point in this body he was shown wearing a cloak over it.

### Personality

A brutal monster, Den has devoted himself to his own bottomless rage, channeling it against the most powerful force he can find, be it a single enemy, organization, or the world itself. For all of this, however, Rider is not without honor or compassion, answering every challenge made of him, offering chances to join his rebellious crusade, and famously, during his final battle, casting aside his last surviving soldier so that they could live and tell the story.

## Abilities

Den wielded a giant katana named Zanshato and a giant yari named Tesshaso and was equipped with a shield on his left arm when in his centaur form. His massive size was not a handicap in fighting a much faster and smaller opponent such as Alita, as he was a master of controlling his chi and even his kizashi or super chi, enabling him to predict her moves even after she had blinded him during their fight.

Den was equipped with a giant yari named Tesshaso which he used in his centaur form, but not in his bipedal body. He typically wielded it one-handed, as his other arm was equipped with a shield. During his battle with Alita, Den wielded Tesshaso and was able to fight her on equal terms through his mastery of chi and despite being temporarily blinded. He would have defeated her had not Lou Collins intervened by using the mobile unit to rush in and carry Alita away before he struck.

As part of the final Barjack campaign to destroy Tiphares and the Scrapyard, Den launched an attack to draw the Factory Army's attention while the Heng was brought within range. He equipped Tesshaso while carrying Zanshato on his back. After the Heng's destruction he disbanded the Barjack and ordered the survivors to initiate guerilla warfare against the Scrapyard to attack the Factory from within. He then charged the Scrapyard wielding Tesshaso, which was lost after the defending Factory mecha shot off his shield arm and damaged its shaft.

### Skills

#### Class Skills

* Riding (A Rank): Can ride anything skillfully. Much like Red Hare, Rider manifests as a centaur. All vehicles and all creatures but those of Phantasmal Beast and Divine Beast-rank can be used as mounts. However, his state as a rider and horse as one upon manifestation as a Rider means that he has no need to ride any more, and thus just raises his Agility to A Rank.

* Magic Resistance (B Rank): grants protection against magical effects. no force on earth could stop Rider, not even his true self, ultimately.

#### Personal Skills

* Battle Continuation (A Rank): allows for the continuation of combat after sustaining mortal wounds. It will also reduce mortality rate from injury. This Skill represents the ability to survive and/or the mentality of one who doesn't know when to give up, consisting of one's strength of vitality in predicaments. Rider only allowed himself to die from his wounds after finally striking a blow against his life-long enemy.

* Charisma (A Rank): Composite Skill consisting of a person's charm as well as the natural talent to command or unify an army or country. Increases the ability of allies during group battles. Rider's army remained loyal even in death, that the basest rumor of his survival could bring them together again.

* Tactics (B Rank): tactical knowledge used not for one-on-one combat situations, but for battles where many are mobilized. Bonus modifiers are provided during use of one's own Anti-Army Noble Phantasm or when dealing against an enemy Anti-Army Noble Phantasm. Rider commanded an army of bandit-soldiers on a campaign of five years against a foe superior in every way.

### Noble Phantasm

#### **Furor Ergo Sum; "Ride to Rage and Ruin"**

The culmination of Rider's legend, how he rode alone against all odds, enemies and defenses to the very doorstep of his oppressors. Invoking this noble Phantasm is to allow Rider to assume his true stature, increasing his raw power and magic resistance accordingly. However, this comes with equally unmatched madness and mana consumption, a gamble of death-or-glory for himself and master alike. Rider will always have this Noble Phantasm, no matter his class.

#### **Bring Sky to Earth; "Rolling Thunder Heng"**

The embodiment of Rider's army at their peak, Heng is a massive train pulling an even more massive 80cm cannon. Limited by available rail lines, Heng is slow to move and set-up, but once fired, this summoned artillery will surely annihilate whatever offends Rider's eye along with everything else in that general area. Heng's rank is due to how it was only fired once in anger, and against a superior foe

## References

https://battleangel.fandom.com/wiki/Den

https://forums.spacebattles.com/threads/summon-a-servant-mark-vi-the-dark-six-f-sn-crossover-servants.370875/post-93304950