Zenon Griffey

"I’m Zenon Griffey, the next person who will fill the 12th seat of the Rounds. Taking your life will become my achievement for the Rounds."

- Zenon

Zenon Griffey (ゼノン・グリフィ) was an Swordsmanship Instructor at the Midgar Royal Spellsword Academy, who was once a renowned swordsman in the Midgar Kingdom whose reputation held a lot of influence, even in the Midgar's Knight Order. In fact, he's the best swordsmanship class teacher in the school and Alexia Midgar's fiancée. In truth, however, he was a member of the Cult of Diablos who aimed to become a Knight of Rounds by kidnapping the princess and using her in the cult's experiments. He was killed by Shadow.

Appearance
Zenon appeared to be a blonde man in his late twenties with a soldier's physique. He was described as handsome by female students and was constantly admired by several of them.

Befitting his rank, he carries a sword on his side.

After taking the red pills, his Magic rips around as a roaring squall. All of Zenon’s injuries heal in a split second. His muscles tighten, his pupils turn bloodshot, and his capillaries bulge out. The weight of the power is so overwhelming that it seems it would crush anything in its way.

After shallowing multiple red pills in the Manga, his eyes turn black and with some remaining white remains in his eyeballs, also blood vessels also become visible.

In the Anime, when Zenon mutated, his hair volume risen straight up with his eyes and pupils turned black and red. His skin tone would slightly darken with vessels visible on his body and a scar-shaped marks appear under his eyes. Flowing with power from his mutation, his body mass increased into a monster like figure to the point his shirt was ripped apart.

Personality
"I’ll show you the power of the Rounds next generations."

- Zenon to Shadow

While Zenon viewed as a friendly man that making him popular among students, this was all a façade as the real Zenon was a self-entitled individual with a large ego. He was nothing more but a delusional fool, who constantly boasts about his accomplishments and believes he deserves fame and glory. He looks down on others like Alexia, taking the opportunity to mock her belittling skills and insults her for her lackluster performance, also mockingly apologizing for comparing her to her sister, Iris Midgar.

However, his ego would be his undoing as he severely underestimates his opponents when Shadow beats him down numerous times and mocks his so-called superior swordsmanship. After being bested by Shadow, his ego completely shatters until Zenon becomes enraged and starts shouting constantly at his opponent, further highlighting his bratty nature. When he was defeated, he shows a pitiful side to him by begging for mercy, despite his actions of disgusting others.

Past
Growing up amidst the favor of being called a wonder child, having taken the championship of several tournaments, until finally climbing to the position of Swordsmanship Instructor. In Midgar Kingdom, no swordsman doesn’t know the name of Zenon Griffey. Unbeknownst to all, Zenon was secretly affiliated with the Cult of Diablos and he wants to evaluate his position to become the Knight of Rounds.

When the cult's leadership recognize his strength, they consider making Zenon a candidate to fill the vacant position on the 12th seat but noted Zenon lacks achievements and sought an opportunity. Eventually, Zenon found a chance when Princess Alexia arranged for him in marriage. Zenon then realized that he could take her royal blood and offered it to the Cult of Diablos for their experiment.

Kidnapping of the Princess
He has first introduced to training students at the Academy after Alexia starts "dating" Cid, a lower-class aristocrat, Zenon confronts her about her phase and tells her that she will grow out of it and see Zenon as a good choice but she rebuffs him. As the days went on, Zenon simply smiled at Alexia's attempt to get a rise out of him, much to her annoyance.

Sometime later, he secretly kidnaps her and frames Cid for the crime. He and several followers arrest Cid and beat him in his interrogation but the young man does not give up anything, despite his injuries. Zenon meets with Iris Midgar and states he feels responsible for Alexia's kidnapping and gives a report about Cid's interrogation for five days, Iris then decides to release him but keeps following him.

As Shadow Garden assaults all the cult's hideouts in Midgar, Zenon retreats to the laboratory but finds Alexia has managed to break free. He confronts her and the two fight, with Zenon physically and verbally beating up Alexia. Before he could take her away, they are surprised when Shadow suddenly appears to intervene with Zenon. Shadow easily bests Zenon's attacks and the former could only mock his opponent's underwhelming strength, infuriating him.

Zenon is reduced to using a red pills to make himself more powerful and become a "Third Awakening". Despite his mutation increasing his strength, Zenon is still no match for Shadow who uses his own belittling words against him as Shadow overwhelms Zenon. Shadow stated that there is no road to almightiness if you use borrowed power until he activates his magic power, which surprises Zenon how powerful it is. After finish hearing Shadow conclusion story about a man that withstand a nuclear bomb is to become nuclear himself, Zenon thinks he is crazy and tries slashing him, but his swords breaks as it hits Shadow and then tells him to witness his almightiness as he uses his almighty power. Realizing he lost, Zenon could only cry and beg for mercy before Shadow kills him with his Atom attack.

Legacy
After his death, a bunch of students dropped out of the Royal Bushin elective after his scandal become known and soured his reputation. However, Zenon's death reveals the existence of the Cult of Diablos and Shadow Garden which become public and triggered the cult to make Shadow Garden become the world's enemy.

Powers & Abilities
Zenon was mightier than the average Dark Knight because his magic that surrounded him qualitatively became sharper and denser, which his strength makes him possibly above the "Second Children" of the Cult of Diablos. Even the Cult's "Knight Rounds" acknowledged his power which is powerful enough to become a Rounds member and wants to make Zenon a prime candidate for occupy the 12th vacant seat position in the Knights of Rounds.

Swordsmanship
Zenon is a master swordsman his skills allow him to create his style of swordsmanship and become an instructor at Midgar Academy. In a sword fight against Alexia, he can easily beat her in both technique and strength but cannot overcome Alexia imitating Iris' swordsmanship.

Equipment

 * Sword
 * Red Pills (he uses the pills to make himself more powerful and become a Third Awakening)

Alexia Midgar
His former arranged betrothed and student. From the very beginning, he was okay with the arrangement while Alexia despised him because, despite his esteemed rank and seemingly perfect persona, she could not find a flaw in him and her forced future on him. As a result, she started her relationship with Cid as a way to annoy Zenon, but he easily saw through it but let it go on and told her to get used to their engagement.

However, he had her kidnapped and revealed he was exploiting her royal blood for an experiment. When revealing his true nature, he proceeded to belittle her and stated her power will fulfill her ambitions. Zenon even sarcastically apologized for comparing her to her sister but did not hesitate to brutalize the girl and almost recapture her though she was rescued by Shadow and witnessed Zenon's death at the latter's hand.

Iris Midgar
Sister of his former fiancé, Iris trusted and respected Zenon enough to entrust him of leading the investigation regarding the disappearance of her sister. However, Iris was unaware of his true nature and upon learning that he was the mastermind of Alexia's abduction, she was shocked and would later apologize to Cid for suspecting him.

Cid Kagenō / Shadow
Cid was one of Zenon's students for a short while. Zenon saw Cid as the perfect patsy to take the blame for his crime in kidnapping Alexia.

When Zenon encountered Cid as Shadow, Zenon completely underestimated the leader of Shadow Garden as he thinks too highly of his own abilities, resulting in him being on the receiving end of an extensive and hilarious one-sided fight as he's completely shocked when Shadow can easily parry his attacks blow by blow without budging from one spot.

Zenon then lose all composure and gave in to his rage by consuming the red pills to become the "Third Awakening" because being beaten, belittled, and humiliated by Shadow. Despite being in his Awakening form, Zenon is still pushed back by Shadow's hand-to-hand techniques, even getting kicked in the head. Zenon met his end with Shadow's "I Am Atomic" attack.