Gyokuen Ren

Gyokuen Ren (練 玉艶, Ren Gyokuen) was the widow of the two previous Emperors of the Kou Empire and succeeded them as Empress Regnant. After the births of her two sons, she was possessed by her ancestor Arba, who had been sealed by Solomon Jehoahaz Abraham in another world with Ill Ilah and The Organization for one thousand years. Under Arba's influence, she was the leader and progenitor of the organization, Al-Thamen, until she was ultimately killed by Hakuryuu Ren.

Appearance
Gyokuen is a slim, youthful woman of average height. She has pale blue eyes, which turn black and glow red when she reveals her corrupted side. She has short, dark blue hair, with two long braids tied in loops. She has thin eyebrows, a mole on her chin, and usually wears red lipstick. She also wears a small hat decorated with a flower-shaped jewel, and floor-length pink and white robes. She is noted for being a great beauty.

Personality
It is uncertain what was Gyokuen's originally personality was, before Arba possessed her. In Hakuryuu's memories, Gyokuen appeared as a gentle and loving mother, protective of and showing care towards Hakuryuu and Hakuei after they survived the fire that killed their father along with Hakuyuu and Hakuren. However, she started to show her true self: twisted, decietful, cunning, sinister and cold, smiling while crying as she is appointed the Third Emperor, and flirting with her stepson Kouen. According to Hakuryuu, Gyokuen is a woman who cares nothing for her children, and, she is willing to do anything to gain and maintain power - going so far as to kill her own children and husband. When she was revealed to be Arba, it became clear that everything she has done and gained in the past decades in this world was for the resurrection of Ill Ilah and the destruction of the world. Arba also valued Hakuei Ren mainly because she was next vessel, for Arba, after Gyokuen's death.

She seems to take pleasure in cutting down her enemies as she laughed gleefully at Kokuhyou Shuu and  Seiryuu Ri who were fighting alongside Hakuryuu.

History
One of the thought projection of one of Solomon's Three Wise Magi: Arba, was sealed in another world for one thousand years. At some point, she later gained possession of a human female where she would continued to have lived forever by giving birth to a daughter so that she can possess until she gave birth into another vessel; Arba had continued this cycle for centuries. At some point Gyokuen became married to the first Emperor of Kou as he brought peace and concord to three nations and expanded the Kou Empire; later, as Gyokuen gave birth to princes Hakuyuu and Hakuren did Arba, who previously possessed Gyokuen's mother, took possession of Gyokuen's body. Arba later took advantage of Gyokuen's conjugal relationship with the emperor to aid her with her plans.

When Sinbad was born, Gyokuen, Scheherazade, Matal Mogamett and Yunan sensed the strong resonation of Rukh.

With the first emperor of Kou, Hakutoku Ren, Gyokuen had three sons and a daughter: Hakuyuu, Hakuren, Hakuei and Hakuryuu. Her first two sons and husband died in a fire fighting against Al-Thamen, Gykouen's subordinates. After her husband's death, she married his brother, the Second Emperor, Koutoku Ren.

Pirates Arc
Gyokuen is first seen in Hakuryuu's memories, while he is crying after a nightmare, she comforts him by saying he doesnt need to worry because his father is an incredible person who is loved by the people for unifying three countries. When her husband and two of her sons died in the fire started by Al-Thamen, Koutoku Ren is appointed as the Second Emperor of the Kou Empire and with a sad face, Gyokuen informs Hakuei and Hakuryuu that she will marry Koutoku and they will be retain their status as Imperial Prince and Princess.

Once again in Hakuryuu's memory, he asks Gyokuen if she really killed his father and brothers, she smiles and retorts that even if it is true he is powerless to do anything.

World Exploration Arc
Gyokuen is seen beside her deceased second husband, holding his hand when the Imperial Princes and Princesses enter the chamber. She greets and tells them to come closer. Kouen asks if the Emperor has died of an illness, she says yes and tells them to come say farewell to their King. She hugs Kouen and says that she only has him left, asking if he will support her, to the disgust of Kouha, who calls her a hag. She then makes the announcement that due to Kouen's obligation to the army, she will take over as Empress of the Kou Empire. As Kouen's suporters are about to start an insurrection, Hakuryuu steps in and chimes support for his mother in the form of a chant that facilitates her ascent to the throne.

After the funeral, Judar confronts Hakuryuu about whether he is still being controlled by Gyokuen. Judar says that Hakuryuu has become strong, and that he wishes to show this power to her, as she nears them with a crowd of Al-Thamen's priests behind her. When she arrives, Gyokuen says to Hakuryuu that Judar has been praising him so much and, for that reason, she has been wanting to speak with him for a while now. She moves closer to Hakuryuu, wanting to touch his face, but Hakuryuu slaps her hand away and her personality changes to her true self. She retorts that Hakuryuu has learned to scowl and he has the same eyes as Hakuyuu and Hakuren, maybe like them, she should kill Hakuei too. Enraged, Hakuryuu activates his Djinn Equip without an incantation and fiercly attacks the defenseless Gyokuen, only to get stopped in his tracks by her extremely powerful borg and then blasted away and out of his Djinn equip just as quickly as he had entered and attacked her. Mocking him after defeating him without a weapon, Gyokuen pats his head and says that all he has to do is remain her cute, little Hakuryuu, forever.

Magnostadt Arc
In Magnostadt, the furnace of Black Rukh doesn't need Matal Mogamett as an intermediary anymore. It seemingly becomes independent, and destructively absorbs the magoi of the people around it. Mogamett questioning why it's still absorbing magoi, notices someone at the other end of the tunnel and asks who's there. The tunnel leads back to the Kou Empire, with Gyokuen sitting on the throne. While black miasma comes out of the tunnel, she smiles, and, in tears, says: "We finally meet... "Father"!".

The furnace, now a ball of concentrated Black Ruhk, starts floating up, from the 5th Level Authorization District. The two members of Al-Thamen watching in the sky near Magnostadt, asks why the 200,000 humans underground are still alive, and who supplied Magoi in order for the furnace to become the Medium for their IlI llah's descent. Gyokuen, answers that the great quantity of Magoi that Magnostadt has been hiding and accumulating, became the substitute for the Magoi of the people underground. She explains that the furnace was active for almost 10 years, and being active in Magnostadt it gathered Black Rukh, sucked Magoi and continued to grow. The two priests ask if that was the result of Empress Gyokuen's guidance, but Gyokuen denies, saying that this is something that the people of this world did on their own.

Then, she says that it has been Ithnan's parting gift, although he didn't build the furnace directly, and calls Ithnan a boy. Gyokuen explains that Ithnan betrayed King Solomon, even if he deeply respected and loved him. In the same way, she says, the humans by themselves desire to oppose to the “great flow” of this world. Ithnan disagreed with Gyokuen's style of infiltrating the core of a country and interfering directly, but in the other hand, thanks to him, the humans opened the "Black Spot" by themselves 10 years later. Then, spilling tears of joy, Gyokuen exclaims, followed by the priests: "Aaah, Father!!, we finally meet!!!", and says, "Your hands will be guided by the “medium” and in the instant they will touch the surface… this world will change!! A pure scenery where only a black sun shines… Just like in Alma Torran!!!"

A priest addresses to Gyokuen, saying that they are unable to locate the Magi, and adds that it seems all of the Metal Vessel users of Kou have disappeared. Gyokuen requires if all of them, and murmurs "Hakuryuu...". She answers to let them be, it's more important that this moment they have been waiting for is burned in their memories.

Gyokuen is watching the Dungeon Capturer's efforts, and after she sees Alibaba Saluja being unable to cut the "medium" with Amon's Sword, she says that it's useless; the medium is the crystallization of the incredible quantity of magoi it gained from the lives of several tens of thousand of people, and of the Black Rukh, and it’s even impossible to graze it. She adds that, furthermore, it continuously gives birth to countless Black Djinn, so just six people using Solomon’s Metal Vessels it's useless against it.

The Dungeon Capturers and Aladdin are wondering what is the new being born from the "Medium" when Gyokuen explains that the "Medium" is already adapting itself to their "Father" little by little and it's still nothing more than a naked infant who struggles against Solomon's principles. The priests who are in Magnostadt say that she's exactly right.

Gyokuen keeps watching the efforts of the Dungeon Capturers when the priests who are in the battlefield ask her if she's witnessing the situation through their black Rukh. She nods and asks for Aladdin. A priest confirms that Aladdin is the Magi who appeared from the "Sacred Place" and obtained "Solomon's Wisdom". She says that Solomon was too arrogant, as not only the "proxy" he created is a Magi, but he also let him sleep in the "Sacred Palace", and now he has sent him in this world in order to crush their dearest wish. Gyokuen heads towards Aladdin and greets him, saying that he only knows her from the Rukh's memories he saw through "Solomon's Wisdom" but that she knows him pretty well as she also served under that king.

She makes a sign with her hand a priest gives her her own Wand with reverence. She comments that this brings back memories, and calls Solomon "her king". Some memories from Alma Torran are showed and she is revealed to be one of his Three Wise Magi. Gyokuen says that this world is already a failure and says to Aladdin: "Let's put and end to this as fellow Magi from Alma Torran!".

After this sentence, Gyokuen adds that Al-Thamen will crush King Solomon's arrogant will, and that this is the reason why they changed into beings formed only by thoughts and came into this world; the Rukh will disappear, the world will die out and be dyed in black since they will sink the world into darkness. Just after her speech, the Medium moves, much for Aladdin's horror. A lightning clashes against the doll's back and Gyokuen begins to laugh, saying that he finally appeared, the "miracle" born into this world and the existence that Al-Thamen hates the most after the Great King. Full Baal Djinn Equipped, Sinbad appears smiling, and Gyokuen calls him "The First Class Singularity". Behind Sinbad, the Seven Seas Alliance appears and Gyokuen, still smiling, says that how dare Sinbad gather all those Djinn, their masters and their Household in a single place.

Morgiana attacks the doll with Amol Selseila, and Gyokuen comments that it's useless because it is impossible to destroy the Medium's Defensive Wall after it has absorbed so much Magoi from the Rukh and enlarged to this extent. Then, but some slots begin to appear in the Medium's Defensive Wall due to the Seven Seas Alliance's and their Household attacks, and for first time Gyokuen is surprised. She has a bit worried expression when all the Metal Vessel Users gathered summon their Extreme Magic at once, making an octagram shape with the Medium at the center.

The Dungeon Capturers manage to make the Medium fall to pieces, but then it regenerates itself. She says that, obviously, it is not that simple and laughs loud, saying that they needed 72 people in order to defeat it in Alma Torran and they are only 13; she chuckles and mocks them.

After the Medium vanishes, Gyokuen says that Matal Mogamett is a really useless man, and ponders aloud that a weak "core" is useless, and the next time they need to complete a Black Spot of the best quality and raise it by themselves. A priest near her agrees, but says her to rejoice since Reim's Magi is dead and her Rukh went to "that" place. Gyokuen smiles again and says that that's a good news.

Gyokuen happily says that they have to celebrate tonight, because Scheherazade is dead and the foundations of Reim are shaking. She adds that even though this time the Medium was not useful, the "world's aperture" won't close for a few years once it's opened, and that if they are able to complete another "Black Spot" they will be able to invite their "Father" into this world immediately.

Kou Empire Arc
When Hakuryuu and Judal enter the throne room and challenge her, Gyokuen congratulates them on making it this far despite Hakuryuu being under the effects of the Admonition of Phenex, saying that that is proof of her son's desire to kill her. She then gestures to the Al Thamen magicians around her as they prepare their attacks and asks what Hakuryuu and Judal will do about the difference in firepower. However, she is caught off guard when the magicians attack her instead, as Judal and Hakuryuu explain that the two clones they captured earlier spread Belial's memory rewriting magic to most of Al Thamen's magicians. Gyokuen kills the magicians with Sheba's borg magic, explaining that it's the magic of a little girl she was fond of in the past. She ffortlessly blocks Judal's spell and throws it back at him. When Judal tries to support Hakuryuu in using his Extreme Magic, Gyokuen comments that they are just like a magi and king, before taking the black rukh from Judal and the Al Thamen magicians and and claiming that he is a thousand years too early to steal "that person's" favor from her. She casts Medoun Al-Samm and throws Hakuryuu and Judal to the ground, destroying the throne room in the process. Gyokuen taunts Judal and Hakuryuu, asking the what's wrong and claiming that she raised them with so much love since they were small.

When Judal activates the Isolation Barrier and seals away her magic she is caught off guard. While caught up in her surprise that they have the isolation barrier in this world Hakuryuu gets up close and punches her repeatedly in the face. Judal urges Hakuryuu to finish her off with his sword, only to realize that she already took it. Gyokuen claims that a battle without magic is fine and asks Judal to fetch a sword for Hakuryuu. She explains that in the previous world the strongest magician was the king but the strongest swordsman was her. After completely overpowering Hakuryuu she pins him to the ground and asks if he dreamed of killing her. Hakuryuu vows to kill her but is interrupted by Gyokuen kissing him on the mouth. Hakuryuu trembles on the ground and she says that he hates her that much. With a leer on her face she says that she is so happy but this is goodbye, but before she can kill Hakuryuu she is pushed back by the two generals.

The generals and Hakuryuu overpower her three-on-one and manage to break her sword. However, when one of the generals accuses her of lacking faith, she goes berserk, and says that they are the ones who lack true faith. Grabbing Hakuryuu's spear, she overpowers the three and rants about how everyone is so blind and deaf that they cannot see "god" or hear his voice as Judal retreats. Gyokuen heavily wounds the generals and laughs at their condition before nearly being overpowered by Hakuryuu, who manages to break his spear that she is wielding before she stabs him with its blade. However, Hakuryuu manages to bite a chunk of her neck off before finally succumbing to his wounds. In the end, Gyokuen slowly gets to her feet, clutching her neck and making for the edge of the Isolation Barrier.

Gyokuen heads to the outside of the Isolation Barrier, knowing that it will be her victory once she leaves it. She has defeated Hakuryuu and the generals, but in her current state she cannot even knock down a simple soldier. Once she reaches the outside she will be able to use magic to heal her wounds and regroup with the Al Thamen magicians who managed to resist Hakuryuu's mind controlling magic. Reflecting inwardly, Gyokuen is very surprised that there were magicians capable of recreating a spell as powerful as the isolation barrier, and praises Hakuryuu and Judal for being able to find such magicians. She nears the edge of the barrier, thinking that while this was a little different from what she wants this is fine too, and that soon "that person" will be revived. A few feet from the edge, she is suddenly tripped by Judal, who curses her for raising him for twenty years. As he kicks her, Judal says that if it weren't for her he would me more... and then loses his train of thought. He says that it doesn't matter and leaves the killing blow to Hakuryuu, who has managed to recover. As Hakuryuu gets closer Gyokuen pleads with him to stop, telling him that she's his mother. At the last moment she gives a start, asking Hakuryuu where she is and what happened. Hakuryuu says to his mother that at this point he doesn't care and tells her to die, beheading her with his sword. In her last moments, Gyokuen's head grins and explodes in an attempt to kill Hakuryuu and Judal, scattering her rukh and killing her.

It appeared later that Arba didn't die with Gyokuen, since her spiritual body, the doll, still existed. She possessed then Gyokuen's daughter, Hakuei, as her descendants are the fittest receptacles for Arba's spirit.

Abilities
Nothing is known about the actual Gyokuen's abilities, since she was possessed by Arba way before the story begins.

As a Magi, Gyokuen (Arba) has near limitless Rukh/Magoi. She is proficient in using Black Rukh and also able to steal Black Rukh from other users. She is capable of attacking on the level of an Extreme Magic multiple times in a row. Gyokuen was the one who mediated regarding the dungeons and metal vessels in the Kou Empire. In other words, she thought that no matter how many metal vessels she allowed the humans to obtain, they could never be considered a threat to her.

Physical Abilities
Claiming to be the strongest swordsman in Alma Torran, Arba is very skilled in swordmanship as she was also the one who trained Solomon sword-fighting when they lived in Alma Torran. Thus, Gyokuen was easily able to fight and subdue Hakuryuu in a one-on-one sword fight and hold her own against Hakuryuu and the two generals Kokuhyou Shuu and Seiryuu Ri.

Wand
Gyokuen has a tall wand with a curved, jeweled head. This is actually Sheba's Divine Staff that Arba stole after killing her.

Magic

 * Borg: This is said to be the proof of a Magician. It is a defensive ability. It blocks out attacks with evil intentions. It also blocks out all physical attacks and magical attacks to some degree. Its strength, however, depends on the person. Gyokuen's Borg uses Black Rukh. Without a wand, it is strong enough to push back a Full Djinn Equipped Hakuryuu Ren.


 * Borg Al-Samm (Eight Headed Defensive Wall): This is a Magic created from Borg. It enables Gyokuen to manipulate and expand it offensively, creating dragon heads from her Borg in Black Rukh. She adapted this technique from Sheba.


 * Strength Magic:
 * Medoun Al-Samm (Funeral Destruction): This magic attacks the opponent in the direction of her hands destroying everything in its path to inflict a huge amount of damage to the opponent. This magic was so strong, that it heavily damaged both Judar and Hakuryuu Ren, leaving them extremely injured on the ground.

Trivia

 * Her name means Shining Jewel or Jewel of Many Colors.
 * "Gyokuen" is the Japanese pronunciation; in Chinese, her name would be Yùyàn.
 * Her youthful appearance is artificial.
 * Shinobu Ohtaka claims that the veiled men of the Organization are the ones who most likely dress her and style her hair.