What is the meaning of strength?
Is it to surpass all who stand before you? To surpass the challenges of life? Or perhaps to defeat the limits of the flesh and the mind. To become truly strong in spirit and character?
What then, does it mean to be strong?
What meaning does strength itself have?
You cannot call yourself just, if all you have is strength. You cannot call yourself successful, if all you have is strength. You cannot call yourself a Hero if all you have to your name is overwhelming power.
What then, does it mean to be a Hero?
A Hero is a symbol which inspires those around itself to follow the same path. A Hero is an example which is upheld as the best and greatest, an incarnation of human potential and triumph over the limitations and dangers of the world around us.
“Even so, what does it mean to be called the Strongest? But to now live as a Hero?”
That was the question he must now answer.
Which challenges could he face now? How could he inspire those who watched him to follow in his footsteps. And more importantly, what kind of life should he lead now that he walks the world once more?
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“It seems I have found plenty of challenges. Now then… will you do me the honors of witnessing your strength. Not as a hero, not as a fighter, but as fellow humans.”
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Profile |
Class |
Other Classes |
Allignment |
‘Boxer’ |
None |
Lawful Neutral |
Height / Weight |
Region |
Source |
1.65m / 80kg |
Japan / Brazil |
Historical Fact |
Likes |
“A simple question to a simple answer. I wish for a challenge, a goal, a battle I must wholeheartedly dedicate myself towards. As a Hero, I can do nothing less, and while as a warrior I must aim for victory. There is no fun in a fight you know you will win.”
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Dislikes |
“Asking heroes from across the world to play by my rules would be arrogant, however, as the human acknowledged as the strongest, I must insist that all cheating be kept outside of the ring.”
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Attribute |
Traits |
Man |
Humanoid, Male, Servant, Weak to Enuma Elish |
Parameters |
STR |
D+ |
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AGI |
D+ |
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END |
C+ |
 |
MA |
E |
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LUK |
A |
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NP |
C |
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Background |
Allow me to tell you a tale.
The tale of a man who traveled from the Land of the Sun to the beautiful shores of the New World. A man who, carrying the knowledge and skills developed by his forefathers, served as the foundation upon which an entirely new way of fighting was built upon. And whose strength was envied and praised throughout fighters of his era.
That is Otávio Maeda.
Known locally as Conde Koma and Count Combat internationally, Maeda, originally named Mitsuyo, allegedly won no less than two thousand bouts, though he’d been accused at the time of faking the numbers, the reputation built by the man was staggering to the point that he would be crowned with a title which very few have ever been able to hold.
The Strongest Man who Ever Lived.
Other accomplishments include being one of the major ambassadors for Japanese immigration to Brazil. As well as being reffered to as the Father of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an enduring school which is today known worldwide for birthing some of the most talented fighters of the modern age.
He fought no wars.
And bore no arms.
One could think of him as a warrior out of time who dedicated himself to the search for inner strength rather than power in a world where a strong body, discipline and determination were no longer what let one stand on top of the mountain.
Maeda eventually would move to Brazil, where he changed his name, married and adopted a single daughter. His name cemented in the history of the sport he loved and the fighting style he helped create, even if his legend is young and simple, and he himself lacks the capabilities and gimmicks that other Servants of his type might have, the title he bore as Strongest in the World was the genuine mark of a master.
But… it isn’t enough.
Because Count Koma is still a man of the modern age. Because his contributions weren’t beyond the scope of what a human should be capable of achieving, summoning one such as him would require circumstances impossible to achieve within the Standard Holy Grail War.
As such, Mitsuyo Maeda shouldn’t be capable of being summoned.
He bore no weapons.
He killed no enemies. Nor has he conquered any arena but that of the sport.
But not all hope was lost.
Circumstances have lead to the perfect storm which manifested the Strongest Man of the Modern Age as the bootleg ‘Boxer’ Class. Part of a scheme for the creation of weaker bootleg equivalent classes to the Standard Seven, these Variant Classes opened the door for various figures who would normally be unavailable as Servants to take center stage as the faction possessing the 7 Standard Classes hunts them down finish an artifact known as The World Grail.
Not one to squander an opportunity Maeda has chosen to manifest during the incident and has made use of the bootleg Saint Graph many times since.
For what purpose?
The answer is simple.
To fight.
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Personality |
“What lofty words for an old man like me. Don’t expect too much from a barehanded warrior against actual legends, brat.”
While it is true that Maeda has earned many acolytes and won countless victories, the man behind the name is much humbler than one would expect. One could call him a warrior who lives for learning, and for teaching. Not someone who finds any thrill in the act of victory, but in the road leading to the destination.
He is but a common man.
A man with no grand destiny or past before him. Having no famous ancestor or inhuman mutation. A human that if alive wouldn’t have an ounce of the power he possesses now as a Servant. Yet, being known as the Strongest means he must uphold that mantle with seriousness and dignity.
And as a Hero, that means accepting all challenges.
“The Creator of Bajiquan, Masters of Pankration, Mentors of Heroes and brave warriors whose names dwarf my own. That is the new mountain I must climb. As the lowest of the low, I must now prove myself in this new arena where legends and myths do battle. And I will do so as a simple man.”
Though he is humble, this old man still holds himself with pride.
He is still the strongest.
The man known as the Count of Combat.
What he seeks then isn’t to reaffirm his place above others, but to reaffirm to himself that his strength, even now, isn’t limited by the new body his spirit inhabits but his own ability to learn, improve and pioneer, becoming stronger with each engagement, learning from every defeat, undaunted by the challenge he now faces when fighting against humans whose strength far in excess surpass his own.
In truth… he couldn’t be happier.
“The Strongest? Maybe at some point, another time and place. But this isn’t then. The man who remained undefeated over two thousand times cannot hold a candle to these legends in the flesh.”
It is exciting.
A challenge he cannot easily beat.
There is nothing he can do but do his best against them. Even as he fails again and again, his heart remains firm. That in this new arena, against these new opponents his legend has now reached its greatest height.
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Class Skills |
Presence Concealment E- |
A leftover of ‘Boxer’s original Assassin Class vessel. Something that doesn’t match the abilities or demeanor of a professional fight, rather, one could say that it reverses what might consider the norm for the class in that his presence is such that any and all who see him will immediately recognize him as a fighter. However, due to his nature as a Variant Class and being such a young Servant by default, other Heroic Spirits might mistake him for a human so long as he doesn't express his intention to challenge them.
Which isn’t often.
Hence the minus.
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Personal Skills |
Jiu-Jitsu A |
A style of ground fighting developed by Maeda in Brazil. Being one of its creators and premier practitioners, this Skill’s rank is the highest possible, incorporating techniques meant to wrestle down or throw enemies off or into the ground, it increases Maeda’s strength by Skillfully decreasing the enemy’s ability to fight back, so long as they are on Maeda’s grip, physical parameters fall by a full rank.
This fighting style is considerably static, sacrificing speed for endurance.
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Judo A |
A second set of techniques which Maeda possesses. Different of the Jiu Jitsu which he pioneered, Judo focuses on grappling and throwing techniques, which were passed down to him by one of the four greatest practitioners at the time, it is said that Maeda would throw both inexperienced and experienced students as a show of respect, though the practice would often frighten away beginners, Maeda was part of the second generation of the Kodokan Judo Institute.
As a Servant, this set of techniques isn’t meant to weaken the opponent but to maximize Maeda’s own raw strength and leverage it as if it was greater than his own. Foregoing defense in order to focus on all out attack, one’s strength is increased at the cost of endurance.
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Sumo E |
A fighting style in which Maeda trained as a teenager. Lacking the proper build for it, he nonetheless understands and applies the basics as a form of ‘added gimmick’, one final fighting style which he can fall back on in case his most favored techniques aren’t effective against an enemy. As a Servant, the three fighting styles which Maeda learnt all amplify different aspects of his physical abilities while reducing others. Sumo being one which increases his Speed at the cost of both power and endurance, the only source of Maeda’s striking techniques.
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Noble Phantasm |
Conde Koma: Formal Challenge of the Strongest Man |
Anti Unit / Rank C |
Fortitude.
To put it simply, the ability to win a fight is split into three areas. Striking harder, striking faster, and endurance. Whether you can control the flow of a match depends on these three qualifications. Many have been the heroes who excelled in one of these three areas, or perhaps all. From fleet footed Achliles, to the mighty Heracles, to other great heroes of the past who exemplify endurance. Having the skill and ability to fight these heroes would simply be beyond a young Heroic Spirit like Maeda.
Which is where this Noble Phantasm comes in.
To call it a curse would be an exaggeration.
Rather, one could see it as a contract upheld by two parties who agree to a just fight. One on one. Similar to the Spear owned by Achilles, this Noble Phantasm creates an even playing field between the two fighters. A bounded field which marks the ‘arena’ where their fight will be taking place.
An open invitation challenge.
It is, however, a far more insidious plot which preys on those who lack knowledge of who the user is and traps them in a one on one match which equalizes not only their parameters, but also all other circumstances such as magical energy available and even the ranking of their own skills. Conde Koma in actuality is a set of circumstances which maximizes and creates a scenario where Maeda will always possess a chance of winning no matter how outmatched.
The conditions needed to activate it are thus.
- This must be a one on one fight
- The Challenger cannot use weapons
- The fight must take place inside a closed location
Once these conditions have been met, a new set of rules within Bounded Field will be established and result in penalties to the offending party in the form of a debilitating curse.
- No weapons may be used
- The fight must be 1 on 1
- Do not leave the boundary of the ‘ring’
Reducing all parameters to a rank under Maeda’s. Violations also can pile up, reducing parameters further and weakening the opponent to the point Maeda can effortlessly defeat them. However there are other consequences and mechanics to be observed, such as the existence of ‘time outs’ which are called after a period of ten minutes between each ‘round’.
A ‘referee’ may also be appointed by both parties taking part in the battle.
This judge must be deemed impartial by both and is given the right to end the match in favor of either part and be knowledgeable of the rules of the bout. Though this aspect of the Noble Phantasm isn’t used often, as there are very few beings outside of another Servant who can accurately watch a match between Heroic Spirits and is capable of making an accurate call.
The winner is decided either by knock out, referee interruption, or disqualification.
In summary, this Noble Phantasm creates the perfect storm of circumstances where a lowly Heroic Spirit of the Modern Age can combat heroes of myth on equal ground and stand a chance to win on his own merits. Though it isn’t something that the likes of a Caster or Assassin would agree to, there are many heroes, however, who wouldn’t think twice of accepting it.
Either out of pride or arrogance.
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Bond 10 |
“So this is what the Peak looks like.”
Ah.
How long had it been since he’d felt like this? Not as a Master. Not as a Teacher. But as a mere student meandering along the path, learning from his failures, falling only to rise again with each defeat. How many times had he manifested since this vessel became available to him? How many times had he challenged the great masters and heroes of history…
Only to fall short.
Again and again.
His body was crushed. His pride was humbled.
Of course, what did he expect? How could a man from the modern era stand up against heroes who faced and stalled entire armies? How could he break through the blessings and treasures of the gods with his meager strength? The simple strength of a man who was barely his mentor’s disciple yet was hailed as the Strongest.
So he’d defended that title.
Again and again.
Yet he failed.
Again and again.
He still remembered his first summoning. Well, maybe remember was the wrong term for it. His records, meager as they might be, retained the information of the incident which lead to his current incarnation as a Heroic Spirit. Barely above a Phantom, he nonetheless challenged heroes much greater than himself.
He died.
Only to try again.
He face down Mighty Heracles. And failed.
He faced down the Warriors of Ulster. And failed.
He faced the great legends of his homeland, and the strange spirits of the land which welcomed him with open arms. And the fights were as difficult as those which came before. Because despite his fame, despite his record and the title he carried, Otávio understood reality.
“I am weak, Master. A man of mundane strength. Mundane Skill. I have neither the Mystery nor the Weight to my legend which might grant you victory. Not against the enemies you now face. But regardless of that… you have allowed me to try.”
So try he would.
Continue, he would.
As many times as it took.
As many losses as it took.
“Thank you for the bottom of my heart, Master. Now, please, stand aside. It would appear our challengers are here.”
He knew not the name of the enemy Master. A young woman bound to a wheelchair, the material it was made off far beyond anything he’d ever seen in his life. Her smile was light, but determined. The smile of someone who was confident, yet aware of danger. The most deadly kind of smile. Her servant was different, he had seen fit to announce himself upon entrance.
The man had a presence to him.
That of a Master. From the way he walked to how he breathed to how naturally he stood, his wild mane of hair contrasting his own shaved one.
“An old man?”
He bowed in respect.
Though this might have been a battle to the death, that was the courtesy afforded to a fellow warrior.
“Otávio Maeda, the Strongest Man in the World.”
His declaration earned him a quirked brow, but his eyes, shining with recognition, and then mirth. The knowledge bequeathed to them by the World Grail filling in the blanks for the man who struggled to retain his composure before crossing his arms, his stance relaxed and unbothered.
“I am the Golden Horned King, Kinkaku.”
Ah, one of the Monkey Sage’s adversaries.
He offered a handshake.
“Let this be a fair battle.”
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It was a losing battle.
Even though the conditions to activate his Noble Phantasm were fulfilled. Even though he was fighting in close quarters against an Archer, though how a Palm Tree Fan was supposed to classify you as one he didn’t know, he was still the one on the back foot. The one whose strikes rung hollow. The one being pushed back even as he desperately attempted to put up a fight.
Was it surprising?
No. He had long since abandoned the idea of being the strongest.
Rather, he’d never embraced it to begin with.
And against such a skilled opponent there was nothing he could do but struggle.
Grab.
Duck.
Strike.
Guard.
This man was stronger than him.
Faster than him.
The only area where they were rivals was in Skill. And even then it was the only equalizer he had against a truly monstrous opponent. There was nothing he could do but struggle. Nothing he could do but to desperately put up whatever resistance he could as he was slowly pushed towards the edge of the ‘ring’.
‘Never once have I fought from a position of strength.’
He simply fought.
And he won.
He won so many fights he was called ‘The Strongest’.
More vile than any curse, that title seemed to mock him even now. As if to say he could not grow beyond this point. That humans couldn’t be stronger than what he was. Mitsuyo Maeda… no, the man who would go on to become the Strongest couldn’t think of a greater insult.
He wasn’t the Peak.
He was nowhere near close to it.
‘Then fight, and win.’
He smiled. Even now his young Master was desperately rooting for him, even if he probably knew their chances were low. He could sense the turmoil inside his heart, could hear the words unspoken, could see the look of fear and worry for him, a long dead man who had been foolish enough to accept this battle.
Then he would do his best to answer those expectations.
He blocked and incoming strike, hands closing tightly around the Demon King’s arm as the older man pivoted, back against the man’s chest, he leveraged Kinkaku’s massive bulk over his shoulder, allowing the momentum to carry him forward and gravity to do the rest of the job.
Their arena, an abandoned gymnasium, shook with the impact.
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Boxer coughed flood.
He could feel his ribs breaking as the Demon King lashed out with a wild strike, his supernatural strength greater than his own. The force was enough to throw him backwards, feet digging deep grooves into the floor as his vision blurred with pain, his mind numbed by the adrenaline.
He took a wheezing breath.
Even as a Heroic Spirit, he was still week. Far too weak.
‘Are you okay?’
He tried to send his Master some measure of reassurance. The young man was wracked with guilt and worry. How could he not? Despite not knowing each other for long, Maeda could only hope the young man wouldn’t suffer the consequences of this defeat. He was fine with losing.
But he couldn’t afford to, in this instance.
“You’re done, old geezer. Just hand over the kid and we’ll be outta here.”
In this Variant Grail War, Masters were marked by special Command Seals. They couldn’t be spent, rather one should think of them as ‘keys’ meant to unlock the Greater Grail. With so many Servants running around, one needed only to collect enough Command Seals to make a wish. Maeda’s death was wholly unnecessary.
“I must respectfully decline.”
He stumbled back to his feet.
He was fine with losing. He’d long since accepted there were greater, stronger heroes out there.
But he still couldn’t lose.
“Your funeral.” The Demon King shrugged.
As Servants, the man was just on another scale entirely. It would be impossible for a mundane man like Maeda to fight him, no matter how prepared he came or how many tactics he employed. His chances of victory were almost zero in most scenarios. It would take a miracle to overturn this stark difference in power.
But his chances weren’t zero.
They never were zero.
And so long as that was the case… therein lay the potential… for a miracle.
Kinkaku moved with inhuman speed, muscles straining with inhuman strength as he closed the gap between them, the world coming into focus as time slowed to a crawl, and the mere man watched death approach. Another defeat for the tally. Another lesson learnt. That was what his dearest wish.
To keep learning.
To keep improving.
So long as Otávio Maeda remained weak… his potential was limitless.
And right here, right now, the conditions for his victory were fulfilled. The scales between himself and his opponent evening as newfound strength revitalized his body, power he’d never possessed, speed he could never hope to achieve, magical energy his young master could not provide. The moment his Noble Phantasm was enacted, it was only a matter of time until an opening presented itself.
A one on one fight.
A fitting arena.
And a wish not for power, but to serve as an example.
Under these circumstances…
He was the Strongest in the World.
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His search continues.
Across space and time.
Countless battles to come. Countless defeats.
The man who was once declared the strongest in the world lacks not for ambition or inner strength. Rather, the will to achieve victory is the one area in which he surpasses all those who stood before him in life. And it will be the one hope he holds in the battles to come in this new lease in life.
‘Thank you.’
He bowed before the prone form of his opponent.
He wouldn’t strike the man’s Master, nor would he deal any finishing blows. The battle itself was the reward he sought. Even if it was foolish, he could never bring himself to win like this. Weakening others so he could stand above them as the Strongest was a shameful power.
But it was one he would wield for the sake of others.
“Shall we head out, Master? The other Servants will soon notice us.”
He tried to hide his excitement.
He couldn’t wait for the next battle.
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Originally Posted by DelRey
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