Arde

* Bathala (current)
* Bathala (initial)
* Dragon
* Fused with Ether
* Drawn

**Bathalang Arde, Lord of Balaak,** is one of the five deities of Encantadia.

His primary goal, together with Bathalumang Ether, is to not only become the supreme deity of Encantadia but also to be recognized as such by Emre and Haliya, implying rebellion against the Highest God.

Arde has the breath that can give or take life. According to Emre, his only weakness is Ether.

Arde was defeated by Emre after his powers were stripped by the latter.

## Appearance

Arde was transformed into a dragon by Emre, as a punishment for conspiracy with Ether to kill Emre, and sent to guard over Balaak.

His bathala form has a large dragon head with fiery neck as his "eyes". However, his appearance has suddenly changed into more sinister look.

His staff is similar to the royal staff passed down by the monarchs of Hathoria.

## Personality

Arde is an envious and vindictive deity. Jealous of the supremacy of Emre, he plotted to kill him but failed. Even after being sent to Balaak, he remains unrepentant and still plots to disrupt the world. He thrives in intrigue and chaos.

Arde can be deceptive even to his allies. Unlike Ether, who willingly grants her blessings to her minions with minimal cost (e.g. Hagorn), Arde would ask for much — but would only grant minimum reward (e.g. Adhara).

Hagorn mentioned that Arde brings the souls of dead Hathors to his realm.

According to Emre, Arde's weakness is actually trusting his love, Ether. Arde will do everything for Ether, in which she uses him to make her will prevail.

## History

Arde was one of the three creator-gods of Encantadia. When most of their creation worshiped Emre, he became jealous and plotted with the other god, Ether, to kill Emre. Emre discovered their plans and cursed them. Arde was turned into a dragon and sent to guard the underworld, Balaak.

Adhara, a Sang'gre of Lireo, died. Arde expressed that he was pleased by her actions in Encantadia, for troubling the worshipers of Emre. Adhara asked whether Arde can restore her life. Arde that while it cannot be done at that time, he can lay a "curse" upon her: to be restored to life at Minea's death. Adhara became glad and said that she would wait for Minea's death.

When Pirena fought against her mother, Minea, Adhara became excited and thought that Minea would finally die. She was disappointed when it did not come to pass, but Arde assured her that Minea would still die.

When Minea finally died, he sends Adhara back to Encantadia. But Adhara returns to him when she learned that she is only a spirit without a body. Arde explains that this is because her body had decayed. Adhara wanted to know how she could regain her body. Arde instructs her to find good and strong Encantados, to take their lives and bring their souls to Balaak. Adhara agrees, so Arde gives her a ring to aid her in such task.

Adhara later tells Arde that Amihan had seen her in Encantadia. Arde says the air hides nothing from Amihan. Adhara, growing weary of her task, wanted proof that she would be able to recover her body. Arde sends her a black smoke, which Adhara catches through her ring. It enhanced her life force, but she still has to get more souls.

Ether, fearing that Lira will succeed in setting foot to Devas, used her powers to summon Arde from Balaak in order to prevent Lira from entering Devas.

Hagorn, seeking revenge against Lireo for destroying his forces, went to Balaak to seek Arde's help by reviving all his dead Hathors; the Bathaluman decided to impose a challenge on him by battling Mancao, the guardian to the key of Balaak; if Hagorn succeeds, he will have the key to release the souls of all killed Hathors that will serve as his army against Lireo.

Arde assisted Ether in battling Emre by distracting the latter with his attacks. Emre, assuming giant size, was able to evade Arde's attacks and cast him back to Balaak as punishment. The battle of Emre and Arde caused a huge disturbance in the heavens - intense thunder and lightning plaguing the skies - which was noticed by all of Encantadia. Mayca noted this was the first time she saw such phenomenon.

After many years, Arde and Ether succeeded in overthrowing Emre due to the help of Keros, a banished bathala. He guarded the gates of Devas as well as he transforms into a human-sized form. Arde appeared and resurrects Lira and Mira and made them as a hostage for Hagorn and Ether to lure the Sang'gres and Ybrahim. After Lira and Mira are rescued, however, Arde inflicted the sickness upon the two.

As Arde returned to Devas to continue to patrol, however unknown to him, Emre and Cassiopea successfully infiltrates inside the premises in Devas and she hypnotized the Hadezars to attack Ether, thinking that it was Arde who ordered to attack her, until the deception is discovered as well as he extinguishes Keros to death for helping Emre and Cassiopea. During the final battle in Devas, Arde killed Cassiopea, much to Emre's wrath. However, in turn, Emre uses the De-jar to overpower Arde and the Hadezars to death, in which results to Emre restoring his powers back. It is unknown who ruled the Balaak after Arde's death.

## Abilities

### Powers

Arde has the power to restore the body of a spirit. In Adhara's case, he required her to take numerous souls of strong and good Encantados, but it is unknown if this is necessary for the reconstruction of her body or if he just wanted to make use of her. Arde has also the power to revive the dead within Encantadia by sharing his breath of life. Due to this power, Emre assigned Arde to become the Lord of Balaak.

Arde deprived Adhara of her former powers when he revived her. However, Adhara is now shielded from the power of clairvoyants, and this extends to those who are near her.

Arde also gave a partial mask that would protect others from Lilasari's petrification curse.

Arde could assume his humanoid form, just like Ether.

Arde could create his own creatures such as the giant scorpions to fend off Cassiopea from getting De-jar.

Arde can fuse himself with Ether, transforming into their monster form, composed of Arde's dragon head and body (lacking his wings) and Ether's snake head and tail.

Arde would presumably gained the powers of Keros after he defeating him.

Arde is knowledgeable with dark magic and can inflict curses and sickness to anyone he wishes until that person dies due to his power over the life force of any Encantado.

### Weaponry

Arde wields his staff similar to the Hathor staff. He is proficient with the sword.

## Trivia

* Adhara refers to Arde as bathaluman (literally goddess) in Episode 67. This is incorrect if Arde is male, but may have been made to distinguish him from the Bathala, Emre.
* Episode 115 confirmed that Arde and Ether had a relationship after the former called the latter, *"mahal ko"* (lit. meaning "my love") when he was summoned to stop Lira. Arde loved Ether that he is willing to be cursed by Emre again just to fulfill the wishes of Ether.
* The long-necked dragon head of Arde that initially appeared in Episode 201 is looked similar to the headdress worn by Anubis in the movie *Stargate*. However in Episode 206, his head has suddenly changed into more sinister and fixed look, which is slightly similar to Emperor Zurg from Disney's *Toy Story* franchise.
* The fused monster form of Arde and Ether is slightly similar to Zorc Necrophades from *Yu-Gi-Oh!* series.
* Arde is the second bathala to die in the series. He was killed upon receiving heavy damage from the De-jar and his powers taken away by Emre.

## Version differences

* Arde was portrayed by Simon Ibarra in 2005-2006 series.
* In the original series, Arde is the guardian of the gates of Devas. In this version, he is amoral due to being a subordinate of Emre but helped Hagorn in claiming the Fire Gem from Pirena. It was implied that Arde was last seen flying with Rehav Arman of Sapiro at the end of the third book of the original series.
* In the proposed Second Saga, Arde is supposed to be the new villain deity after the death of his beloved Ether in the hands of Amihan.
* In the original series, Arde was cursed by Emre for falling in love with Ether.

## References

1. ↑ Episode 67
2. ↑ Episode 131
3. ↑ Episode 208
4. ↑ Episode 148
5. ↑ Episode 213
6. ↑ Episode 131
7. ↑ Episode 145
8. ↑ Episode 209 post episode teaser