Gal Farion

Gal Farion led the Sword God Style in the Holy Land of Swords and bore the highest title — Sword God. The Sword God Style is built on the principle of the fastest and heaviest possible strike; its supreme technique is the “Light Strike” (“Flash Blade”), and its chief rule is “whoever attacks first wins.” The ranks of the style are: Swordsman, Sword King, Sword Emperor, Sword God.

Among his students were Nina Farion (his daughter), Gino Britz, and Eris Greyrat. Ghislaine Dedoldia, a former Sword King of the style, also came out of these walls.

Gal Farion is a born sword-genius, the strongest from birth, and therefore sometimes blind to the feelings of those for whom things do not come at once. A sharp, mocking master, he prizes above all a pupil's «desire» and pure drive for strength. Eris won him over precisely with her clear resolve and her indifference to the title.

In his philosophy, a pure sword that cuts only for its own sake is the sharpest; a sword that cuts for others is stronger but dependent, and a single doubt, once born, dulls it forever. By the end of his life, having lost his confidence, he came to embody the very thing he had warned against.

Gal raised Eris to the rank of Sword King, granting her the full transmission of the style and one of the seven swords. Later his student Gino Britz surpassed him, and Gal ceded to him the title of Sword God, becoming a “former Sword God.” Broken by this defeat, he lost his former confidence; it was then that, at Geese's instigation, he agreed to what he would not have done before — he ordered Rudeus's arm cut off (the “Mad Dog” arc).

In the final war Gal took the Hitogami's side (through Geese). In the Valley of Earth Dragons he faced Eris in single combat. Not daring to trust in the Sword God Style's technique, he applied the Water God Style's secret art “Flowing,” redirected her strike, and nearly took off her head — but the blade was stopped by Ruijerd, who had stepped in behind Eris. In that instant Eris cleaved Gal in two. As he died, he passed his sword to her along with words about freedom and a pure blade. His body Eris committed to the flames.