Guren Ichinose

"A mere ten years. But... If that means I'll get to see my friends... and have my family smile at me one more time... I... will shoulder this sin."

- Guren's recollection about when he revived his team from the dead and triggered the Apocalypse

Guren Ichinose (一瀬グレン) is the main protagonist of the prequel story Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Catastrophe at Sixteen and it's sequel Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Resurrection at Nineteen light novel series. In addition, he is the tritagonist in the Seraph of the End: Vampire Reign manga series, which takes place eight years later.

With the death of his father, Guren became head of the Ichinose family, when he was still 16, and remains head of the family as an adult. Guren is a Lieutenant Colonel of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and the leader of the Vampire Extermination Unit's Moon Demon Company. He is also the squad leader of the Guren Squad (グレン隊), and has been since his teen years.

Appearance
Guren is a tall, young man with medium length black hair parted in the middle and purple eyes.

Catastrophe
He wore the First Shibuya High Uniform, a black gakuran with a standing collar, with red trim which was also around the cuffs. Instead of the school emblem, Guren wore the Order of the Imperial Moon emblem on the left breast.

When his squad was first formed, he wore the standard JIDA uniform which consists of a long-sleeved black jacket with two rows of gold buttons on the front and red details including the shoulder epaulets. A brown Sam Browne belt passes diagonally over his right shoulder and holds a brown pouch on his left side. Along with that, he wears a pair of white gloves and a red standard belt. He also wears the uniform trousers with knee-high black boots which goes over his trouser legging.

Vampire Reign
He sometimes is shown with his hair slicked back during the midst of skirmishes on the battlefield, but more often is seen with slightly tousled hair, with bangs hanging over his forehead. He wears the standard JIDA uniform, which consists of a long-sleeved, double-breasted black coat with two rows of gold buttons down the front, red details including shoulder epaulettes, gores at the bottom, and stripes on sleeves. Other decorations include gold aiguillettes and white fourrageres worn on the right shoulder, attached to a stylized cherry blossom decoration pendant at the center of his collar, and two bars with unit insignia medal below them on the left. He wears a pair of white gloves, a black on white armband on his left arm, and a similarly striped black and white web belt with a frog for his sword on the left, and a gold waist-plate. In addition, he also wears the uniform trousers with two white belts strapped around his left leg and black shoes.

In the manga illustration, he also wore a black cape or overcoat with a red lining, and in the anime's artwork, he is shown wearing a maroon coat with red ornamented sleeves. Anime and manga versions have in common shoulder epaulettes and a gold unit insignia. While the shoulder epaulettes are primarily red in the anime, they are a mixture between black and beige in the manga. The anime version shows extra red markings and gold details. In contrast to the anime, the manga depicted the cloak to have beige for its insignia, and details spread all around the garment, with no markings visible.

Human
Guren was naive in his childhood days where most of his time was spent with Mahiru Hīragi. His outlook on life was simple while his life was only happy moments. When he was forcefully separated from Mahiru and treated with contempt for being part of a lowly branch family, Guren felt guilty for being too weak in physique and power to not reach out for what he wanted: Mahiru. Motivated by Mahiru to become stronger and wiser, Guren would become a wise leader who values teamwork, cooperation and friends, determined to ensure the survival of the human race from demons and vampires. When Yūichirō Hyakuya tried to join the Moon Demon Company, Guren refused until he made friends.

Guren sometimes pretends to be lazy, but in truth, he really works hard. He keeps many secrets to himself, and has no difficulty lying about them. He also plans to dethrone the Hīragi Family; however, this is shown to be explicitly desired by him upon being possessed by Mahiru-no-Yo. It is made clear when Guren is possessed, and his true desires come to light, that he, along with Shinya Hīragi, wants to change the status quo and hierarchy.

In addition, he actually cares a lot about his subordinates and friends, considering them to be his family, both before and after the apocalypse.

In the past, as shown in the Catastrophe light novels, he was strongly devoted to his lover Mahiru Hiragi, showing the strength of his heart, staying true to his love for Mahiru and desperately keeps trying to save her, even when she was turned into a vampire and then when she was demon, also rejecting his female companions due to his devoted love to her. Even after Mahiru killed all his friends, Guren forgave and tried to save her as she died. Her death was so devastating to Guren that he even asked Ferid to kill him. Although he treats Mahiru-No-Yo coldly, as later on revealed he never let go of the guilt and sadness he felt over his failure and despite having been willing to trigger the Apocalypse to save his friends, he shows regret over what he had done to the world, which ultimately motivated him to become a demon to atone for his mistakes.

Namanari
His kindness is the reason for why he hasn't been completely honest with his squad whenever they're around him, especially hiding from them his second personality, which Kureto knew of all along, and later Shinya became aware of. It was another reason for why Guren's original personality had yet to be fully taken over by his second, demonic personality, and continues to exist. Nevertheless, he has since kept his own emotions in check on a daily basis, carefully maintaining a positive image so not to worry them.

Guren's personality changes drastically when he's overtaken by his demon blade, Mahiru-no-Yo. According to Ferid Bathory, it happens more often than shown, and his demon side is capable of hiding his true nature from his close friends. Guren is described as being a Namanari, a human with two souls in his body, just a single step away from becoming a complete demon. When Mahiru is in control of Guren's body, he becomes utterly ruthless in the pursuit of his goals and cuts down anyone who opposes him, even if it is one of his comrades, like Shihō or Yu. He doesn’t distinguish vampires or humans as friend or foe to him when possessed, but sees them all as only sacrificial pawns for the Seraph of the End experiment.

Kureto considers the demonic personality to be strong and the original human personality to be weak.

History
Guren was born into the Ichinose family, a low branch of the the Order of the Imperial Demons that's ruled by the Hīragi Family whom they despised. He was also the best friend and lover of Mahiru Hīragi, but this was frowned upon by the higher-up members of the Hīragi family because of his family's lower social status. Guren was blamed for becoming too close to her because of their friendship, and the consequences to him were many harsh beatings by adults and teenagers from the Hīragi family during his childhood. The bad treatment towards him and the Ichinose family motivated Guren to train harder and become stronger while growing up, with a stronger sense of determination. It inspired him to volunteer as a subject of a Kiju experiment for the sake of his family, to obtain an advantage over the Hīragi family.

At the age of 16, he was befriended by Shinya Hīragi, Mito Jūjō, and Norito Goshi alongside his retainers, Sayuri Hanayori and Shigure Yukimi. From this moment forward, they would come together and form a successful new squad under Guren's leadership.

Mahiru was stated to have been the primary cause for Guren to actually turn into a Namanari, a part human and part demon, and is also a probable part of why he retains some form of humanity throughout his lifetime. This was shown when he initially became a demon. Because of Mahiru's direct action as a demon herself, which planted seeds of a sinister nature in him for the demon to cultivate, he shows a somewhat plastic sense of morality. It deeply affects his way of thinking and shows an influence on his actions, especially when around those he wishes dead. Guren chose to give up part of his humanity the moment when he made a contract with the powerful demon Noya. By accepting its power, it became Guren's first demon weapon from the Black Demon Series, prior to wielding Mahiru-no-Yo, another of that same ranking. According to Shinoa, Guren finally put an end to his possessed lover, Mahiru, by killing her. It was not entirely unwilling on her part. She stabbed herself using Noya, and integrated with the demon into her heart, intentionally sacrificing herself, thus transforming her into a demon weapon, the same weapon he is seen to use in the sequel, set eight years later.

Guren appeared at the end of after a twelve-year-old Yūichirō Hyakuya escaped from the vampires, using information from a prophecy to collect a survivor of the Hyakuya orphanage. Along the way, he has also found two other survivors, Shihō Kimizuki and Yoichi Saotome. Later, it is revealed that these humans are actually the seraphs he secretly sought and collected after during the Thousand Night's downfall. In the manga, it is shown that Guren would look after Yu occasionally, as a guardian and mental support, keeping a close watch over him before he made friends. Whenever Yūichirō had trouble sleeping because of a nightmare from his past, Guren would go and check up on him, making sure he was feeling alright. At the same time, he's offer Yu advice on how to live from now on, giving him more meaningful reasons to live than just to exact revenge against the vampires for the death of his family. Since then, Guren is shown to have taken Yu under his wing, raising him and training him to be a capable swordsman.

He is rumored to have been responsible for recapturing Shinjuku from the vampires with a single team at some point in history.

Guren has led Yūichirō to join the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, nearly from the moment he has escaped the city of vampires. Meanwhile, Guren seems to be secretly attempting to reform the Japanese Imperial Demon Army, which is governed by the Hīragi family and is having an internal power struggle, as is stated by Mitsuba. Beside Mahiru, he also furthered the development of the Cursed Gear weapons, bringing it to it's current state. Secretively, at some point in his lifetime, Guren seems to have been in cahoots with the seventh progenitor, Ferid Bathory. The two met up in an isolated area, where they would then share valuable information from their respective organizations, which they'd then use for their own benefits.

Prologue
Guren arrived outside the entrance of Sanguinem during the daytime after Yu's escape from the vampires. He says that one of the lab rats from the Hyakuya laboratories, the company responsible for destroying Japan, is there just like the prophecy said. He tells Yu that he will be useful in exterminating vampires. Exactly what prophecy he refers to has yet to be mentioned again in the series.

Second Shibuya High School Arc
Over the next four years, Guren trains Yu to become a soldier of the Japanese Imperial Army. He teaches him how to survive above ground, how to live in the Demon Army's cities, and how to use a sword. Unfortunately, he is less successful at teaching Yu obedience and subordination, which is shown in 2020 in Shibuya, Tokyo. Once Yu is sentenced to high school for his disobedience, Guren assigns Shinoa Hīragi to act as Yu's surveillance officer. When Yu refuses to follow orders to make friends, Shinoa gives him a note with the written orders. This note is the first time anyone in the series addresses Yu as a "virgin." Although Shinoa mocks him for being a virgin most often, Guren may have given her the idea to do so in the first place.

During those four years, he also worked on human experimentation for the development of Black Demon Series bearers. Shinoa finds Guren during alerting him that a vampire escaped onto the school grounds. Guren kills the vampire attacking Yu, giving her an unpleasant surprise when she realizes he used a cursed blade. Again Guren rejects Yu's request to join the Moon Demon Company to exterminate vampires. Yoichi appears, tackling Yu and appearing as his friend. Guren makes good on his promise, finally accepting Yu to the Moon Demon Company along with Yoichi.

Shinoa informs Guren when Yu manages to overcome a myo-o demon's thrall on his own. After that, Yu and Yoichi attend their first class class in the Moon Demon Company barracks. After he introduces them, Yu picks a fight with Guren, and Guren assigns Yu the seat in front of Kimizuki. Naturally, the two boys start another fight, and Guren finishes it.

Later on, Kimizuki arrives in Guren's office and asks him if he can receive a demon weapon since he is stronger than Yu, but Guren turns him down, warning him that he will be devoured by the demon if he has no bonds to pull him free from the demon's clutches. Some time later, Shinoa recommends both Yu and Kimizuki to Guren as candidates for the Black Demon Series weaponry. He plans to rebel against the main family.

Following that, he's seen rebelling by sleeping and snoring during a meeting with the higher-ups. He manages to escape a "stupid" political meeting by appearing rude. Yu attacks him, and he decides to proceed with Yu's training so that the upper brass do not notice him. He kicks Yu in the head before continuing with his day.

Guren ultimately appears in the training classroom. Sayuri informs him that Yoichi may be stable enough to resist demonic temptation. Guren attacks the classroom, filling with Mahiru-no-yo demonic aura that sends most of the class tumbling to the floor, many of whom go unconscious. Sayuri struggles to stand by using two spell tags. Yu and Kimizuki tremble. Shinoa manages to remain standing just fine, and Yoichi is completely unaffected by the attack to the point where he does not even feel it. They are the only ones standing. Since he experimented on the three boys previously for this purpose, he is not surprised when they stay standing. Contrary to his expectations, Shinoa remains standing as well, proving herself as a possible candidate for Black Demon Series Cursed Gear as well, much to Guren's chagrin.

Before he takes the three boys to make contracts with demons, Sayuri informs Guren that Yoichi may not be strong enough to accept the demon, although his heart is very stable. Guren takes him anyway.

Yoichi becomes possessed, and Guren orders Yu and Kimizuki to kill him. In the end, they manage to help Yoichi regain control and turn back to normal from being a man-eating demon, and it is actually Guren's words that make him snap out of it. Shinoa wonders if Guren planned this ending from the start.

Shinjuku Arc
When Guren assigns Mitsuba Sangū as the fifth member of Shinoa's squad, she protests against being assigned to a squad of rookies, especially working under Shinoa. Eventually, she submits. Guren and his team enter the field early on in the battle at Shinjuku. He scouts for the enemy commander, spying Mika and Ferid. Ferid spies him back which Guren finds mildly concerning. Then, he charges in at the 5th Street intersection, killing several vampires with a single strike. He leads the battle, facing off against Mika.

At the Shinjuku 5th Street intersection, Guren and Mika fight head-to-head. Although Guren complements Mika's strength which Mika responds by saying Guren is not very strong. Guren uses a fudo myo-o spell to cause on explosion. Mika dodges easily, but Ferid warns Mika his arrogance will be his downfall and offers his assistance once more. He points out that Guren never planned to fight Mika one-on-one. Shigure set a trap, but Mika manages to escape. With the help of Goshi's illusion, Guren attacks Mika from behind, claiming checkmate; however, Ferid steps between them and blocks the attack. He backhands Guren and sends him flying. Mika lets Guren talk for a few seconds with his team, and Guren decides to take a second potentially lethal pill. However, Mika attacks him before Guren can ingest the medication. When Guren asks if Mika has gotten faster than before, Mika claims he stopped holding back. Guren calls him a naive brat. Mika defeats Guren and stabs him through the chest. When he attempts to kill Mika with Yu's help, Yu freezes, and Mika escapes. Enraged over Guren, Yu arrives. Mika recognizes him and turns around, but Yu pierces Mika through the chest with Asuramaru, calling him a bloodsucker and telling him to die. Then, he recognizes his not-quite-dead best friend and family member. Guren grasps Mika's sword with a spell tag and urges Yu to activate his weapon and kill the vampire, but Yu freezes when he realizes who he just stabbed. Mika releases his sword and escapes. Guren hits Yu and asks him why he did not kill that vampire when he had the chance,

Although Yu desperately wants to reclaim Mika, Guren issues orders to retreat. Ferid plays with Guren, eventually grabbing him by the neck. Ferid swindles his opportunity to kill Guren, and he asks him about Yu, even though Ferid already knows the answers. Guren calls Yu's transformation his "ace in the hole" after subduing the it by commanding Shinoa to embrace Yu. Guren makes a comment about being a decoy, and Ferid notices Shinya, barely escaping a sniping attack. The main forces arrive, chasing away the vampires.

Across the field, Shinoa tells Guren she has questions for him, but he says he will not answer them.

Post-Shinjuku Arc
Shinoa spends five days hunting him down before finding him in a lab underground. She tells him that Yu has not woken up since his transformation. Shinoa asks him what she did to Yu, and she reveals that she gave Yu different supplements than the other members of her squad. Guren refuses to give any direct answers. He states that Shinoa's sister, Mahiru, invented Cursed Gear, and that sacrifices are necessary before scolding her for her idealism. Guren then asks her if she has a crush on Yu, and states that he does not care. He orders Shinoa to leave as well as informing her that the drugs wear off after five days, so Yu should wake up soon.

Guren waits for Yu while Yu heads to meet with the higher ups. Guren asks him if he is wagging his tail for the main family like a good mutt. he realizes Guren does not get along with the upper brass. Guren reminds Yu that he saved Yu, taught Yu how to live here, and taught him how to use a sword. He tells Yu that he is alive because of him. Yu is his and belongs to his faction. So Yu shouldn't go wagging his mutt tail to the Hīragi.

Yu tells him does not care about his stupid politics and says he will never abandon or betray his friends ever again, so Guren should quit worrying. Guren says that he is not Yu's friend but rather his superior, savior, surrogate father, and adding all those things up, practically a god to him. Guren says Yu can call him "papa," but Yu declines.

While Yu attends his meeting, Guren meets with the demon Mahiru within his mind. When Yu exits with an injured Yoichi and Kimizuki, he yells at Guren to teach him the proper way to use his Cursed Gear.

Guren meets with Shinoa and Yu before the actual squad meeting. As he saw them holding hands, he sarcastically asks if their gonna skip off to make out. Yu counters by saying that Guren is late. Yawning, he tells Yu to shut up as he was up all night in stupid army meetings. He tells Yu that he's tired and in a foul mood and asks if he can go home and Yu promptly tells him no. He claims that both Mitsuba and Shinoa can teach them how to use their weapons properly. Shinoa manifests Shikama Doji and explains that manifested demons can use special abilities. Yu asks Guren if he could do that with Asuramaru. Guren tells him that it depends on the type of demon he is. There are some like Shinoa's and then there's the type of demon that directly possesses the user to grant immense physical strength. He says his blade is the latter.

Guren challenges Yu to a fight to see if he's ready for the next step. He tells Yu to draw and activate his sword and he'll only do a normal activation. Yu is excited, stating that's it's been a long time since their last spar. They spar and Yu asks him if he's gonna compliment him on his skills as he says that the gap between them isn't as big as before. Guren says that it's only due to using only standard activation. He says next he'll have his demon possess him. He orders Mahiru to possess him. He tells Yu that if he can take one hit then he'll get his compliment. He then promptly flings Yu from the rooftop. After hearing Guren summon his demon by calling out her name, Shinoa holds her scythe at Guren's neck. She reveals that her weapon specializes in long-range combat and consequently stands no chance against a melee fighter like Guren at that range. Guren calmly says he would let Shinoa kill him. Shinoa asks him if that is his way to atone for killing her sister, unbeknownst to her that Mahiru stabbed herself by Guren previous demon. She asks if she is in his sword since she heard him call her name. Guren says that Mahiru is already gone since she turned into a demon and saved the world by completing Cursed Gear. Shinoa laughs, stating that Mahiru was never one to care about the world because she loved him. She longed to be with him since they could never be together and became obsessed with demons.

After discussing the events of eight year, Shinoa says that if Mahiru hadn't completed the development of Cursed Gear, humanity would have perished. Her sister, who was just a girl in love became something like a Messiah. But then she was killed when she became obsessed with her research and became a demon. She continues saying, the one who killed Mahiru was the person who used to be her lover, him, Guren.

Shinoa asks him if Mahiru is together with him inside his sword, stating that he is being possessed by her. Guren asks her if she and Mahiru ever got along. She explains that she was not close with her sister because Hīragi's are raised without knowing familial love. He tells her to shut up and drop it.

Shinoa then tells him that watching a "certain someone" get so desperate to save someone he has no blood ties to has made her wonder if she should put more value into "friendship" and "camaraderie". From that she asks if making use of Yu was one of Mahiru's orders and asks if her sister or the demon for lack of a better word that is inside his sword is ordering him. She asks what his goal is, though he doesn't say anything. As if warning him, she asks that if his goal is something that does not benefit Yu, that she'd appreciate if he stopped. Guren sighs and asks if she seriously is head over heels for him.

Yu slams open the door, yelling that he's back and tells them that he tried climbing up the building with his sword. He wants Guren to teach him how he did that with his demon. As Yu and Shinoa chat. Guren sheathes his sword and thinks that

The rest of the squad arrives half an hour early, interrupting their meeting.

Guren tells her that Mahiru is dead and isn't coming back. He says that the demon inside his sword is under control so he isn't being possessed by her. But Shinoa doesn't believe him. He orders Mitsuba and Shinoa to advance the training of the three new recruits before heading elsewhere for a nap. Before he leaves, Yu asks if he and Mika were really guinea pigs used by the Hyakuya sect for human experimentation. He asks if Guren rescued him in order to use him. Guren answers that he has no time or resources to rescue those he cannot use. He asks if Yu is mad at him but Yu tells him that whatever his reasons, he would have died if Guren hadn't rescued him; he feels that he owes him. Yu wants to know if he himself is useful to him. He doesn't care about the fight between Guren and Kureto is, all he wants to know is if Guren needs him. If he does, would he want Mika as well and if so, he will be Guren's guinea pig or anything he wants. He'll do whatever he can to help him; all he wants is to get Mika back. Guren says that everyone standing there is family, including him. Family works together to bring family back. He finally leaves to go home and sleep.

Nagoya Arc
Guren is seen meeting with Kureto Hīragi. He walks up toward where Kureto oversees five chained and starving vampires. Kureto claims he is testing to see if he can force vampires into becoming demons, so they can create Cursed Gear more efficiently. He claims that most of the low-level vampires do not turn, and those that do turn become weapons even weaker than the replicas of the stronger weapons. Kureto orders them killed and steps down to speak with Guren. They bicker a little, and Kureto asks Guren how he created so many Cursed Gear users (Yu, Yoichi, and Kimizuki). Guren starts saying that he just got lucky, but Kureto says that every single human capable of bearing a Black Demon has been a human experiment at one point. Even with the experimentation, the chance a candidate is successful is slim. The fact that Guren managed to create three of them, all successful, is extremely impressive. Instead of pressing the issue, Kureto tells him that success is a boon and asks that he share his experiments with them if more are successful. Kureto then asks Guren if he is planning a coup. They reminisce briefly on their high school days. Kureto calls Guren out on what he sees as his weak point: no matter what happens, he claims that Guren cannot betray his friends. He says this weakness is why Guren is unworthy of being a leader and also why he trusts Guren. Guren asks him what hostage Kureto prepared this time, but Kureto says he was too busy. Kureto asks Guren about his vision. Kureto announces his dream of eradicating all vampires in Japan, then crushing all other surviving human organizations, and finally uniting the world under the Japanese Imperial Demon Army.

Kureto then gives him orders to lead a pre-emptive strike with 100 soldiers on the vampires in Nagoya. Guren calls it out on being a suicide mission, but Kureto claims it is a vital mission instead. After Kureto leaves Mahiru manifests and tells him to only obey her, but Guren tells her to go away.

Proceeding with the mission, Guren waits for his troops to arrive at the Ebina rest stop prior to leading the strike on Nagoya. While his squad messes around, Shinya arrives unannounced to give Guren a hand. He also believes this is a suicide mission. He gives a brief speech to his squad, causing Sayuri, Shigure, and Mito to blush. When Goshi and Shinya tease him for giving the speech on a sports car, he manages to hit Goshi and orders Sayuri and Shigure to get him a different stage. When Shinoa's squad arrives late, he scolds them vehemently. Yu takes the blame, and Guren promises to punish him later, even though he knows Yu is covering for Shinoa.

Guren gives a speech to the Moon Demon Company, and Shigure hands out orders for the individual squads.

At the Ebina rest stop, he summons Yu for his punishment. They chat, and Guren tells him he is glad about Yu's attitude change. Yu also chats with the rest of Guren's squad, finally realizing that Sayuri is his teacher. He recognizes Shinya as well. Moving on, Guren orders Goshi to create a mortifying illusion of a naked Yu screaming for his mommy. Hearing his screaming, the rest of Shinoa's squad charges in, and she breaks the illusion.

After scolding her, he challenges her to a match: Guren, Mito, and Shinya against her entire squad. He gives her ten seconds to prepare.

Guren strikes off against Yu, quickly distracting him with an explosion ward and getting past him to strike Mitsuba and Shinoa. He lectures him. This exercise teaches Shinoa's squad a lesson, helps Shinoa's squad gain focus, shows off the strength of the newbies as three wielders of the Black Demon Series, and raises moral of the troops.

Beginning their mission in Nagoya, Guren's squad charges underground, eliminating vampires as they go. He assigns three squads to each of the eight nobles they are targeting. Shinoa and Narumi's squad are the only group to have only two squads, and he leaves Shinya with them to take over command if something happens to Guren. Guren's squad takes on Nineteenth Progenitor Mel Stefano on their own. Although they succeed, Guren and his squad are pretty bruised and battered. His squad claims he nearly died eight times in that fight, and they decide to use at least two squads in their next attack.

A soldier named Kusunoki reaches Guren, collapsing to the ground and giving him information. He says ten soldiers were killed and another twenty are hostage in Nagoya City Hall. This means that six squads were exterminated while hunting their two vampire targets. Even though this is an obvious trap, Guren's squad goes to reinforce Shinoa and Narumi's squad. He adds a new target to their list: Thirteenth Progenitor Crowley Eusford.

When the Moon Demon Company regroups, he asks Narumi for a report on rookies' teamwork, and Narumi tells them they did very well. Sergeant Aiko Aihara reports that she lost 8/15 of her team, and Guren tells her that is not her fault. Guren orders Narumi Squad and Shinoa Squad to accompany him in exterminating Thirteenth Progenitor Crowley Eusford, Seventeenth Progenitor Chess Belle, and Seventeenth Progenitor Horn Skuld and rescuing their comrades. Shinya asks him if he is okay after losing so many people today, and Guren says he will just cry later. He informs the squads they will only attack for ten minutes. He orders Aiko to wait half an hour for other squads and to send them to Nagoya Airport.

Once they reach Nagoya City Hall, Guren looks at the hostages being used through a telescope and knows that they are being used as bait to lure them. Yu insists on bursting in and saving them. Narumi dismisses it as too dangerous and when Yu asks him what they should do, Narumi asks Guren what they should do. Guren suggests that they snipe them from their position and see if they can lure them out but says that if there are too many of them, they are to abandon the hostages and run. Yu shouts that they can't do that.

Shinoa interrupts Yu and asks Guren what their priorities are. In order, he says that their top priority is to maintain their numbers, letting no one die. Their second priority is to free the hostages and lastly, getting the hostages out alive. Narumi states that this is because they are needed for another mission after this. Guren then says that they need to keep the vampires occupied in Aichi Prefecture for as long as they can so they can buy enough time for the main forces in Shibuya to get prepared.

He says that once the hostages are free, they need to draw as much attention to themselves as they can and then begin their next mission which is to survive as long as possible. Shinya says that essentially, the plan to actually make alot of commotion only to run away in the end. Guren says that's right and if it goes well, the squads that are finished with their assassination mission will hear the commotion and find them and then they'll kill the vampires holed up in city hall.

After Crowley catches Gekkōin, Guren and his squad discuss what to do while Crowley, Horn Skuld, and the Seventeenth Progenitor Chess Belle wait patiently for them. After careful planning, Guren decides that his squad will take his squad to attack Crowley while Shinoa and Narumi Squads free the hostages. He gives them five minutes to rescue as many hostages as they can and act as a proper diversion for the main force in Shinjuku. As soon as the five minutes are up everyone has orders to retreat to the Nagoya Airport immediately.

Guren and Shinya attack Crowley at the same time but he easily negates their attacks at close range. He then swings Guren into Shinya, throwing them into the wall behind them. Crowley, Chess, and Horn then step toward them. Mito notices this and moves to assist them but Goshi holds her back and tells her, she would only get in the way.

Sometime later, Yoichi reports on this situation with Guren's squad to his squad and Yu insists on rescuing him. Shinoa agrees with him but says they only have five minutes. She gives them specific instructions regarding their plan. When Shinya and Guren attempt to flee from Crowlely, Chess, and Horn, Shinoa Squad breaks through the floor below, and Yu attacks Crowley. The vampires easily block and counter the humans' attacks.

Guren orders them to escape, and Shinya agrees. Shinoa orders Yu to leave as well. Guren calls Goshi out of hiding, and Guren's personal squad breaks in through the windows. Goshi creates an illusion, allowing the humans to escape, but they are forced to leave Guren behind.

Crowley orders Chess and Horn to restrain Guren and take him with him.

In Yu's flashback, Guren comes to check up on him. Yu cries in his bed. Guren asks about what dream Yu had, and Yu says its the same one he always has: Ferid Bathory slaughtering his family. Guren asks if this means he wet the bed again, and Yu snaps, stating that he never wet the bed. Guren says he will stay there until Yu falls asleep. He sits by Yu's bed and reads documents on the Seraph of the End project begun by the Hyakuya Sect. He stays there from 2:20 a.m. until 2:50 a.m. Yu says he has never really had a family since he was born because his parents called him demon spawn and tried to kill him. He says he made a new family, which was killed anyway. He says that living is painful and wants to know if it is even worth it.

Guren states that living hurts him, too. He says he failed to save the one he loved most, but, if he sticks around, then a day may come where someone needs him. He instructs Yu to live until he finds a new reason for life and people who need him. He leaves Yu and orders him to sleep. After Yu rushes off and challenges Crowley, Guren, whose wrists have been bound, gets between Yu and Crowley and orders Yu to leave because Crowley is more powerful than any other vampire he’s fought. When Yu asks why he is still not strong enough, Crowley answers that it is because Yu is only livestock and asks if Yu fears cows and pigs revolting someday. He insists vampires will never fear humans. Yu repeatedly yells at him to shut up and die, and they exchange blows. Guren orders Yu to stop. He says that Yu's demon will take over if he uses more power than that. He calls Yu a stupid brat as he told him that he’s already done for and Yu should abandon him and run. Yu yells at him not to not dare give up as Guren was the one who told him to live despite all the pain. Yu tells him to be a good adult and be a good example for him.

Crowley mutters that he is beginning to get bored and even though Yu is a key part of some silly little human plot, he’ll kill him. Yu tells him that he’ll never give up. Guren tells Yu that he has a plan, but Yu needs to leave. Yu does not listens and demands even more power from Asuramaru. Guren tries to stop him, telling him not to let his desires swallow him. Yu's desires overwhelm him, and half of his face darkens and a horn sprouts from his head as he becomes a demon.

Yu challenges Crowley again. Kimizuki appears behind him, telling Kiseki-Ō to begin the count to nine until the devil's coffin opens. After Kiseki-Ō gets to four, Yu invites Kimizuki to kill this bloodsucker together, but Kimizuki notices Yu's horn. Guren warns Kimizuki that Yu has been possessed and he’s lost all control of himself. He tells Kimizuki to grab him and run. Yu tells Guren to shut up now that he has the power to rescue him. Kiseki-Ō finishes the countdown and captures Yu with the devil's coffin.

Guren shouts that his final order to them is to live and escape.

The captured Guren is next seen on his knees, with his wrists in cuffs behind his back. He sits before Krul Tepes and a few of her soldiers. He reflects back on Yu yelling at him to set a good example. Guren plans to make a show of resistance and then talk enough in order to send the vampires to Shinjuku tonight, where Kureto can take care of them.

The angry noble grabs Guren by his hair and raises up his face, reminding him of his place and telling him to tremble in fear. Guren spits in his face. The vampire curses and kicks him. He begins beating Guren, threatening to kill him. Guren wonders when getting beat up became so exhausting. He plans to let the vampire beat him more to make it seem more convincing.

Ferid admits to Crowley that he was the one giving the information to humans, but he says someone even more twisted than he pulled the strings this time and points to Guren Ichinose, who lies beaten on the ground.

Crowley says Guren does not look like it, but Ferid says that Guren is a namanari. A namanari is a human one step short of becoming a full demon. He says there are two beings in Guren's body, and they share their time in control. He says one half is the idealist who wants to save his friends and followers. He says the other half is possessed by the vengeful spirit of Guren's dead lover, a perfectionist who reduced herself to a demon in order to get what she wants.

Guren begins to mention Shinjuku, and his personality switches. Ferid says to watch as the real monster comes out.

Guren tells the angry noble to get his disgusting hands off of him and says he will die if he touches him again. As Mahiru possesses him, he beheads the vampire. Krul mocks his triumphant expression, and Guren draws his sword on Krul.

Guren says he is going to conduct an experiment on the Seraph of the End at Nagoya Airport and demands that Krul assists him. Krul recognizes him as a messenger from Mahiru.

Krul swats Guren away from her and sends him flying. She asks if he is a messenger sent by Mahiru Hīragi. He says Mahiru is dead and he could not save her. Krul asks who he is, but Guren only laughs in response. She says this was not part of the deal and reveals she made a bargain with Mahiru before the world collapsed. She says she cannot help Guren if he is not Mahiru. He taunts her to kill him but says she cannot. He says she has betrayed the vampires too deeply to turn back and now must make certain that the Seraph of the End experiment succeeds today. Annoyed, she kicks him. He laughs and tells her to keep up the act. Krul then shouts that the human spoke and informs the other vampires that the murderous humans are regrouping at Nagoya Airport. She orders the vampires to set out immediately.

Guren appears next at Nagoya Airport, sword in his hand. Yu is delighted, and the surviving Moon Demon Company members are shocked. Guren greets Yu and suddenly swings his sword at him. Mika intercepts it, surprising Yu. Guren tells Mika that he is in the way.

Kureto announces to Guren that it is time to begin.

Guren raises up his sword, and chains wrap around his arm as the curse consumes him. Mika tells Yu to run and says Guren has betrayed them. Yu disagrees. Shinoa also tells them to run since Guren is not acting like himself. Guren mentions drinking the blood of the sacrificial humans, the blood of demons, the blood of progenitors, and the seraph of the end. When he swings his sword, he slaughters both a vampire and a human. The chains release him and return to the van.

While Shiho is enraged at what they did to Mirai, Guren stabs him from behind. He tells him to hold still because they have not yet offered enough blood to control Mirai. Yu races to Guren and swings his sword at him but hesitates. Guren calls Yu a "little wuss" and asks why he stopped. Yu cannot believe what is happening and wants Guren to explain himself. He asks if they were Guren's family. Tears escape Guren's eyes, and he whispers to Yu to please run. Relieved, Yu smiles until Guren swings his sword down and deeply wounds him.

Yu collapses, gasping for air as blood drips out of his mouth. His wounds are too deep. While Mika and Shinoa Squad panic, Guren whispers to himself that he must continue to sleep or else this will scar him for the rest of his life. The curse marks reappear and cover half of his face.

The experiment continues, and the demon Abaddon is successfully manifested. Yu then awakens in his seraph mode. Asuramaru tells him to draw his sword. He says that Yu may be able to contain the seraph by becoming a full demon. Yu's left hand slowly begins reaching for his cursed gear. The angel yells at the humans to stop and not reach further into the forbidden.

Guren, still possessed by Mahiru, tells Yu to do it and break their taboos. He says that only someone so arrogant who desires to be loved by everyone can do it.

After Yu falls, Shinoa tries to ask Guren what is going on, but she sees Shinya point his gun at Guren and realizes that their escape is up to her now.

Guren smiles and Shinya looks on with disbelief, demanding an answer from him. He tells Shinya to not be so angry and says he is fulfilling their dream of changing the army so that anyone can climb the ranks. Shinya asks him about betraying so many of his men before realizing Guren has been possessed, despite Guren not having the typical horns, dark eyes, fangs, or rampant curse marks associated with possession. He tries to call out to Guren, but he grabs Shinya by the neck as curse marks begin appearing on his face.

Post-Nagoya Arc
Three months later, outside at the entrance to Sanguinem, vampires quickly retreat, calling for their kind and the progenitors to escape. This was right before they are cut off-screen by the appearance of Kureto and Guren emerging out onto the battlefield in thin smoke.

Cooperatively, Guren and Kureto can be seen walking and fighting together side by side against the vampires with their demon weapons. While so, both men commanded their respective demons to attack the enemies before them. On the other hand, Mirai once more appears in her Seraph form as she is being accompanied by other JIDA soldiers throughout the war. On his way back to Shinjuku, Guren injects the drug into his forearm while a soldier drives him. The drug suppresses the demon. Guren mentions having a talk with Shinya once he arrives. He meets Kureto in Shinjuku, who tells him of his plans to kill his father. He orders Guren to help him and demands he convinces Shinya to join them. He later visits him. Shinya immediately confronts him about killing his own soldiers. He draws Byakkomaru on Guren, but Guren does nothing to defend himself, which makes Shinya struggle even more. He wants Guren to admit he was possessed by the demon, but Guren insists he was in control. Shinya realizes Guren is telling the truth and falls to the ground claiming he won't be able to forgive him.
 * Anime: Another additional one month later have already gone by and that the battle at the Nagoya airport came to an end by the JIDA's successful victory against the vampires. It was during this time, further more, in which Guren himself appears standing next to Kureto in the underground vampire city, Sanguinem confirms that the JIDA has now taken full control of the place in their reign. It is then right before Kureto is about ready to depart somewhere that he signals to Guren, asking for the both of them to go and the latter does so willingly without any sort of dissent nor hostility. This is in contrast to the manga with its three month time skip and has yet to completely take over the city, Saguinem since the JIDA and vampires are still fighting each other out on the battlefield.

Osaka Arc
At Shinjuku, he meets the rest of his squad and Shinya and they complain about being locked up. Guren tells them to shut up and they must go to Osaka Bay immediately. He is next seen driving with his squad, and getting interrogated by Shinya on why he is taking them to Osaka and him killing the soldiers in Nagoya. When asked if he doesn't trust them, Guren gives a short laugh and asks if he is expected to share everything with everyone because of their friendship. Upon Shinya's confirmation and demand for him to answer, Guren counters by jokingly ask the last time everyone took a dump, which lead to Goshi getting slapped by Mito for trying to answer.

When Mito brings up how they have been like a family for eight years, Guren's expression goes blank as he recalls eight years ago on December 25, where he was willing to bring about the Apocalypse in order to revive his friends and be with them for only ten years. Shinya picks up on his expression which annoys Guren and he demands that Shinya stops trying to read him. Once Shinya stops his questioning, Mahiru manifests in front of Guren and warns him that his friends will die if they find out they were originally dead. Guren tells her to leave, which Mahiru does. Guren is still shown on the road. Upon seeing Mahiru, he swerves the car to run her over, much to Shinya's annoyance. By the end of the chapter, he and his squad arrive at Ferid's mansion. Just as Guren use Mahiru-no-Yo to knock out his friends, with Shinya being the only one to avoid Guren's attack. Mahiru manifest next to Guren, where she comments that Byakkomaru is looking to kill to him, which Guren says it's because she provoked him; as well as becomes annoyed with Mahiru's comments before the fighting starts. He deflects all of Shinya's shots before going in and slash through his body, which turns out to be a decoy. He is then tagged by Shinya with a fuda from behind, but Guren retaliates with an explosion fuda. The two then exchange punches and kicks with each other until Guren kicks Shinya to the ground. He scolds Shinya for fighting in close, though when Shinya tells him that he wanted to punch him for all of the secrets he keeps, Guren admits that he allowed himself to be hit. After Shinya allows him to keep his secrets, Guren knocks him out while ignoring Mahiru's questioning of bringing his squad (to soon realize Guren is nearing his complete transformation into a demon). He finds the Shinoa squad in the mansion's basement, and is immediately greeted by Yu's barrage of questions. Instantly annoyed, Guren whacks Yu on the head, which confirms to everyone that he is not possessed and safe to approach. Before he can tell them about reviving his friends from the dead, Yu tells Guren that Ferid already told them, much to Guren's annoyance. Shiho then asks about his sister, which Guren assures him that Mirai still lives, but does not have the power to stop the experiment done to her. When asked who is behind the experiment, Guren rules out Kureto as he is only able to command, and says that the Hīragi and the whole Demon Army are pawns to someone else.

Guren later gives background that the Hīragis held absolute power for hundreds of years which Shinoa fills in that the family committed many bad deeds to keep it. He then talks about Kureto and Mahiru doing any means to become head of the Hiragi Family, and questions Shinoa if she truly avoided this competition by asking if the demon born inside her, Shikama Dōji, talks to her. Moving on, he says that after the Hīragi heir is chosen, they fight against a being described as, "the despair that's in front of our eyes."

He later reveals that he is trying to resurrect all of humanity but only those who were killed by the virus eight years ago he tells a group that their is a method using spellcraft tomoes though it's too dense and obtuse to read, he also states that he needs Yu and he is a vital piece to the resurrection which Mika angrily denies the possibility of that. Yu agree's but thinks he is lying to him, Mika states he will kill Guren and he doesn't mind doing so. When Yu tells him that he knocked his squad he says they'd disappear if they heard the conversation and to never say that again. Yu asks about it if it hurt keeping secrets from them Guren says keeping those secrets to himself did not hurt, Yu believes it must've hurt. Guren explains to Yu he plans to use a drug on Yu repeatedly to make the seraph within him go berserk until he can control it warning him about the risks and requesting that Mika doesn't find out, only to find him close to him. Guren squad wakes up after part of the mansion breaks up by a berserk Yu which Shinya shoots him, Shinya demands who is Ky Luc once he heard about the strategy, Guren tells him a fifth progenitor.

Three days later it is revealed in a flashback the strategy to defeat Ky Luc and rescue both Ferid and Krul. Guren represents dolls with Goshi help to light them making three of them two representing Ferid and Krul and Guren holds Ky Luc doll, Narumi berates him by playing with ridiculous dolls and Crowley gives him a spare of Ky Luc doll and tells everyone that he is a fifth progenitor who's stronger than both Crowley and Ferid telling the group that he can even kill meele-type black demons wielders. He tells Yu not to interrupt him and asking Crowley if he can hold him off which he replies he might since the humans cannot take a hit, they will have to dodge as much as possible. He tells Shinya and Yoichi to shoot UV-blocking rings at them to cut them free and suggest freeing Krul first because of her strength and his plan might work if Ky Luc is stupid like most vampires but Crowley tells him he is smart and always amused commenting he is like Ferid and he will be using their trump card, Yu that not even Ky Luc would guess. As they are battling Ky Luc, Guren closes on him and summons Mahiru-no-Yo, which gives Ky an uneasy feeling and he attempts to stab Guren through the heart but Yu blocks it with his body crushing Yu's heart but it regenerates. Guren summarizes the situation to himself that they failed and Yu is at his limit and considers if he should give him a second dose of medicine risking turning Yu permanently monster or face Ky Luc as they are. They eventually succeed in rescuing Ferid..Shinya asks Guren if they won, and Guren says he was a draw: they did not kill Ky and he escaped with the queen.

He is later seen as Mika and Yu approaches him in an underground laboratory for human experiments in his residence, he admits to taking over most of those experiments after the catastrophe. Yu asks him who he took them over from, but Guren does not answer. He later takes the pair to an elaborate glowing barrier and says it is sealing a monster inside saying both the Emperor's Demons and the Hyakuya Sect joined forces to build this barrier and it's barely keeping the monster contained. He explains to both Mika and Yu about their last names and the Hyakuya Sect must have experimented on both Yu and Mika erasing their memories, Mika then gets angry shouting at Guren how long he is pulling their strings and who he is really he denies all that and tells him Saito is behind all of this since he already met him before and a vampire, the second progenitor. Guren reveals whats in the barrier which is the sixth trumpet and tells them it is a seraph and the who is continually summoning the horsemen for the past eight years.

Guren stops Mika and tells him to let Yu go as the drugs are working and would prevent him from going berserk, he explains to Mika that he and Yu were just being used for years telling him about the time Mika met Saito and about the time he is brought to the Hyakuya orphanage and reminds him that Saito is actually a vampire and the second progenitor, when Mika notes his eyes weren't red Guren laughs, Mika wonders just who is Saito which Guren responds he's been around for a very long time and doesn't know what is he plotting. When Ferid and Crowley arrives they tell Mika he was just using Guren. When Shinoa squad arrives and few of his own squad, when Shinoa approaches the barrier Guren warns her not to touch it or it will cut her arm off. When told that Mika is a Mikaela by Ferid, Guren tells him to think and go through his memories since he should know better than anyone.

With Yu engaging the Sixth Trumpet Kimizuki tells Guren to give him one of those drugs he gave Yu but Ferid gives him one, Guren later fights with Kimizuki and he asks Guren if he is going to lecture him on the fact he's now doing the same thing as Guren, Guren says he will if Kimizuki wants him to he also asks why they have to keep doing this over and over again which Guren replies because they are alive and says if Kimizuki dies, then his sister dies with him. Therefore, they must live, as they are living as families even if that require to do unforgivable or forbidden sins, after hearing that he tells Guren that he almost trusts him after saying all that.

After their victory over the Sixth Trumpet, Guren announces that they are going to take the angelic knife that came from the Sixth Trumpet in order to help humanity fight back against "millennia-old monsters."

Shibuya Arc
With their arrival at Shibuya, after the commotion about Yu being a traitor, Guren steps out of the vehicle to calm down the situation. He ties Ferid after he joyfully drives up and greets the guards by saying he's their friendly neighborhood vampire coming to attack them. Guren says that Kureto awaits them, Aoi however doesn't trust him but reluctantly allows him to enter. A guard says that only Guren, Shinya and Shinoa are allows to meet Kureto.

Inside the room where the depths of the headquarters Kureto greets Guren ignoring Shinya and Shinoa, telling him he ordered him to protect Shinjuku but he wasn't there while saying such defiance is punishable by execution Guren tells him to execute him then, since he is capable of doing it as he killed Tenri. Kureto summons Raimeiki and both Guren and Shinya summon their demon as well, Guren manages to defend himself as Kureto instantly incapacitates Shinya. As he has his sword on Guren's neck he asks him why isn't he executing him but he tells him he has a larger issue, revealing that the power he's using isn't from his cursed gear. Mahiru-no-yo sees Shikama Dōji floating behind Kureto and warns him that Kureto is nearly being possessed by an unbelievably powerful monster. Guren asks Kureto for details, he tells him after killing Tenri, the monster that's been possessing him moved to Kureto but Raimeiki is holding him off for the time being but can't hold it forever. He then orders Guren, Shinya and Shinoa to save him if they can however they are to kill him if he goes insane. Guren later visits Shinoa in a hospital bed where she was being monitored, explaining that she fainted and what happened he explains to her that she, Kureto, and Seishiro are all being examined because the demon who possessed Tenri Hiragi is now on the move. He asks Shinoa if her Scythe has anything to do with Kureto's condition, she tells him that the thing possessing Kureto is also trying to possess her and adds that it might've possessed Mahiru in the past when she gave up her life and her relationship with Guren, in order to save her, he notices Mahiru manifest, and tells Shinoa to get some sleep. She inquires if he wanted her to offer some restitution for ruining his relationship with Mahiru, and he replies that the past is past, and the catastrophe still destroyed the world, which does not matter anymore, since it is never coming back, and what is important to focus on their current situation, to which Mahiru complements his speech. After Guren exits the room, it is revealed that the entire room is actually a laboratory of the Demon Army. He later approaches Kureto, and Shinya tells Guren that Kureto is a masochist and both of them tease Kureto briefly. He tells him about Shinoa situation that Shikama Doji is affecting her but she isn't bothered by it at all, and adding that it went after Mahiru before, he elucidates that Mahiru protected Shinoa until she became capable of handling it herself. Kureto questions him if there is a way to prevent it from taking over but Guren answers he will still save him even if there isn't. Guren is approached by a tied Yu and Mika and queries him if this is a lab.

When Yu is confused at the situation Kureto's in, Guren explains to Yu that he is being possessed by an unknown monster, that is also likely possessing the other living Hiragis, including Shinoa. He later hears Shinoa's call for help to save Yu then she tells him about Shikama Doji made contact with Yu. Shinoa is later being carried in a stretcher with her squad by her side and Guren announces that her heart isn't beating much to everyone shock and Yu desperately asks for help.

Unable to do anything as Shinoa is transforming into a vampire Guren listens as Yu explains to Kureto that the monster seemed to know him from some time ago. Guren does not react as Yu is taken away (somewhat willingly as he wants to help Shinoa) on Kureto's orders. but then remarks that Kureto sure recovered fast. With Mahiru-no-Yo levitating behind him he talks to Kureto about how Shikama Doji went after Shinoa despite Kureto being the head of the Hiragi family. Under the impression Yu is his favorite soldier, Guren is then questioned about him, but says he has no information. He does divulge that is was actually Mahiru who found Yu, since prior to her death she worked with Saito who was at the Hyakuya Sect. Guren is queried by both Shinya and Kureto with them wondering why he did not tell him anything. He never told Shinya having his reasons, and has not said anything important for Kureto to know, only hinting if he did tell it would lead to something extremely disadvantageous to everyone here. Guren rebuffs Shinya's attempt at a reconciliation when he suspects it is related to what happened eight years ago, telling him not to pry or close the distance. Guren is fully aware that Shinya would turn to ash if he discovers he has been revived, and only shares that nothing good would happen. Guren receives several more questions from Kureto ranging from vampires, curses to human problems but Guren brushes them off and points out they are all part demon now. All he does know is Mahiru said Saito was "after it", he says he can probably tell Kureto that but does not know Saito's goal. Remaining silent at what his own goal is, Guren does have one question answered for himself: when asked who is possessing him and who or what he is imprisoned by, Guren hears from Mahiru-no-yo that he is possessed by love and imprisoned by friendship while she is embracing Shinya.

He finds Mika following Yu, tapping him with his sword he asks where Mika thinks he is going. Guren laughs off Mika's claim of going to the bathroom knowing vampire's do not have that function anymore. Suspecting correctly that he intends to take Yu, Guren asserts he is not and that he himself is trying to save Yu from the curse he carries. Asking where he would go he points out Mika has no allies, and no plan for the first. Guren denies Mika's accusation that he is a puppet of the first, and states he has spent years trying to get out from under the Hiragi family and it's curse. Guren is sure that Mika has no choice but to trust him, however Guren is suddenly attacked by Mika. Blocking his sword, he states it is pointless, Mika is alone here. Guren instructs Shinya to end the clash. Along with Kureto the three of them are able to leave Mika on the ground disarmed. After Mika's actions, Guren tells him to stop his tantrum, he is alone without Yu, and anybody who is alone is just an easy picking. Guren uses this chance to get him to join them, using Mika's desire to keep Yu safe as leverage to get him to cooperate. Restating they are not the first's puppets as well fails, with Guren unable to provide the proof Mika asks for. He cannot say for sure if he is not somehow betraying everyone since the foe they are up against is practically a god. Turning his attention to a plan for the first with Guren having tons of friends here who he does not intend to leave behind, he asks Shinya and Kureto about their opinions. After some bickering of which Guren has not the time for, he says that Ferid and Crowley are fighting the First Progenitor. As he considers what happens if those two go down, he see's Ferid appear and is simply told to run now. The group is surprised by Shinoa's reveal, who is very interested in what is happening. Daunted by her arrival, Guren can only comment on how bad this is before being beset by multiple levitating scythes.

Guren and Kureto try to defend themselves from the scythes that are attacking them continuously. When asked by Shinya what to do after Shinoa ceases her attack and smashes her way out the building window he remains silent. Mahiru-no-Yo manifests and tells Guren the time has come as of now Saito and Krul will arrive. Just as Mahiru-no-Yo tells him it's time to betray everyone as they planned which Guren complies to.

Shinya later notices that Guren is missing and suggests to find him which Ferid agrees on with a happy look. Elsewhere Guren is being urged by Mahiru-no-Yo to betray everyone more, while he listens to her silently. With it time for their betrayal Guren is encouraged to let himself change to become the other Guren as he close his eyes.

Mahiru-no-Yo tempts Guren into transforming into a full demon even if he declines she would encouragement, and so even he fails he feels that everything would be much easier. Mahiru wonders what he is going on about, scolding him in a silly matter as failing is easier than succeeding to which Guren agree's. She questions him if it is he can escape his responsibilities calling him a weakling which Guren doesn't mind, embracing him and asking if he is afraid responding by he is. Mahiru asking since when, Guren responding by ever since he met Mahiru, a flashback is shown between them since he was five years old along with Mahiru mentioning since he ever met her and when Mahiru was taken away right before his eyes and learning how weak he was and powerless to protect the ones he loved he then told himself he would strengthens his resolve to have the strength he need to protect the ones he cares about.

As Mahiru listens to Guren silently, he keeps on going that to this very day he is still powerless mentioning how his father was executed right in front of him and Mahiru had no one to help her ever since which she has no choice but to become a demon. As well as Shinya and the others are nothing more than walking corpses according to him and they will die a second time eventually. Besides what's more worse is he had to trigger the catastrophe to bring them back to life, sacrificing every human being in the whole world. Mahiru, not blaming Guren since the catastrophe would happen either way as it being planned, she also mentions even if he didn't do it someone else would have. Guren picks on the word someone since it was him, angered by his actions he blames himself more shouting aloud.

Mahiru, to calm him down she embraces him once more and saying both of them at fault, she tries to ease his mind that he is trying to take responsibility for it. As Guren starts his transformation into a demon, chains sprout behind his back, Mahiru eases his worries that he will succeed. Guren starts to struggle and Mahiru tries to calm him down as much as possible even telling him that she will take half the demon into her, assuring Guren that she won't let him go berserk. Eventually Shinya and his squad find Guren, upon finding him they rush to him which Mahiru-no-yo notices them, Shinya is shocked that he is able to see Mahiru-no-yo since he is holding half of the demon. Angered he asks what is she doing to Guren to which Mahiru answers that's a secret. He then threatens her to get away from Guren or he will kill her to which she laughs as he can't he starts shooting Byakkomaru though she stops him with chains, as the others are shocked to see Mahiru-no-yo as well, she stops this nonsense by forcing Guren to close his eyes which he does.

Inside his mind he see's an unconscious Mahiru who is stabbed by his sword and suddenly she screams in pain and Noya erupts out of her body. Telling Guren he kept him bound for such a long time wondering how long. He then laughs and Guren says his name, which Guren accepts Noya once more, taking the sword and tempts Guren to take the true final step and complete his transformation as a full demon.

Natural Abilities
Adept with prior knowledge of the experiment since he was a teenager, Guren has proven himself to be an intelligent scientist, capable of developing Cursed Gear during adulthood. Due to this, he has even managed to create a method that comes with a very high rate of success for the development of humans who can bear Black Demon Series weaponry. Guren is also an exceptional strategist and leader, with him being typically the leader of any team he is in. He is known for having backup plans, such as giving Yu the drug to activate his Seraph genes in case they were cornered. He is very analytical and able to quickly deduce how to counter the current predicament, such as ordering the group to retreat. He is also courageous and loyal to his friends, even to the point of ordering Shinya to abandon him and take command for the group in his stead, so they can escape, while carrying on with their mission. Back when he was still a teenager, even Kureto acknowledges the great intellectual, political-like nature of Guren's capabilities, to the point that having known each other at the span of about eight years, Guren was his right-hand man in carrying out his missions. Guren is also adept with his knowledge of the five-man battle formation called Moon Demon Company, which is mainly used as a tactic for defense within his squad. He is highly proficient in deceiving others, as shown by how no one, not even Shinya, with only Kureto and Ferid being the only individuals aware, knew of his demonic personality until he revealed it himself.

Guren is an outstandingly proficient combatant, specializing in many forms of combat, particularly swordsmanship. Born with outstanding talent among the Ichinose Family, Guren's combat skills marks him as among the finest fighters in the army and he can easily hold his own and triumph in a fight even against those with superior physical power, or other highly skilled fighters with great might. This was shown when Guren is able to kill several common vampires with a single strike and can fight Mikaela evenly, who has the blood of a third progenitor and wields a first-class vampire sword. Indeed, with assistance from his squad, Guren almost came close to defeating Mikaela had Ferid not came to his rescue. Later on, Guren calmly overwhelms Mikaela even after he fully became a Vampire, with the power of his Cursed Gear aiding him. During his teen days, Guren once managed to evenly duel Kureto while apparently holding back as Kureto himself said, with Kureto having to use the full power of his Cursed Gear to overpower him, at which he still put up a brief fight and was able to slice off Kureto's arm. Another instant is when he bypasses Yūichirō's defense in the mock battle to get to his squad members, defeating both Shinoa and Mitsuba first despite it being her five-men squad against a three-men squad (excluding Goshi, Sayuri and Shigure).
 * Anime: While slashing each and every one of them with his sword, Guren can easily repel away the decoys set up by Mitsuba's demon weapon ability at a quick succession. Unlike in the manga, where a sword fight between Guren, Yūichirō, and Shihō never occurs, it actually happens in the anime. Guren was able to easily fend off both of them at once simultaneously and then low-kicking Shihō away while handling Yūichirō on his own with little effort even though he calmly praised him for his improvements.

He is also highly proficient in martial arts, often implementing hand-to-hand attacks effectively while engaged in swordplay to easily batter aside enemies. He fairly quickly defeated Shinya in hand-to-hand and even could dominate Mikaela as a true Vampire wielding his sword while greatly empowered physically by Mahiru-no-Yo for a while using only his bare hands.

Guren also specializes in other combat assets such as the use of magic and spell tags, known for having particular abilities in it even among the Ichinose Family and he is proficient in using it strategically in combat. Guren also holds great knowledge in spell casting, as shown by how he was able to see through one of Goshi's illusionary techniques and anticipated Mito's Vajrayaksa Curse before easily countering it.

Since he isn't an ordinary human anymore, Guren was able to fully recover one of his cut-off arms, and survive powerful vampire attacks from the seventh progenitor, Ferid Bathory, both when they met when he was sixteen, and later, on the battlefield as an adult which surprised him.
 * Anime: The possessed Guren is able to move at a remarkably, insane speed even though his monstrous movement was shortly anticipated and then apprehended by the third progenitor, Krul Tepes, pinning him down on the ground in defeat. The physical prowess bestowed by the demon weapon, Mahiru-no-Yo in this state proves so great that Guren could casually overwhelm Mikaela in terms of physical power, despite the large boost he acquired for becoming a true and complete vampire, as well as wielding a first-class vampire sword (though at the time he had not fortified himself by having it drink his blood). In addition to overwhelming Mikaela in their exchange, he also could lift Mikaela by one of his feet, and then throw him to Yu, causing both of them to tumble down into the ground. It was while Guren is also fighting him hand-to-hand in close combat to his own advantage for a very short period of time.

Magic and Spells

 * Fudo Myo-o Spell: Guren is capable of skillfully using enchantments on spell tags and talismans since late teens. It is shown even at the age of 16, he can implement a talisman on the sword to augment the weapon's cursed power and ability. As a result, from synchronizing the talisman with the blade itself, this created an explosion to unnaturally occur on the enemy's body for physical damage. While so, he can also successfully implant one of these spell tags on the targets' head whenever they're caught off-guarded or if the chance presents itself. In such cases, for example, this type is an ancient one that causes an explosion to occur right after a few seconds has merely gone by before detonating. Guren uses one in particular like it to strategically serve as a distraction in his battles against Yūichirō and Mikaela. Further more, the Ichinose family and particularly Guren himself had special incantations such as a talisman placed on the scabbard of his katana. When he activates the incantations through a talisman for the blade, it begins to make the sword glowed brightly crimson, red in color.
 * Anime: Unlike in the manga, where Guren was able to use a spell tag on Mikaela to create an explosion upon range, it also causes the ruined building to start sinking into the ground below with a gust of whirlwind blowing by its surrounding vicinity. Additionally, Guren can be seen explosively bombarding the thirteenth progenitor, Crowley Eusford with multiple spell tags the moment it came into contact with him yet the latter remains undamaged from the attack.

Equipment

 * Kujakumaru: This blade goes by the name of Kujakumaru and is already wielded by Guren Ichinose at the age of fifteen. It was a Guren wielding Kujakumaru LN.jpg heirloom that had been passed down from generations in the Ichinose Clan. Kujakumaru was a sword that had been sealed with the curses of those who had been beheaded by it. The sword was able to prevent the enemy from absorbing the impact of an explosion created by a talisman he put in place on his blade, which was supposed to resist any of the Hīragi Family's curses. Once the seal had been lifted, the enemy will soon become cursed by this weapon, turning their body red. As a result, the curse will eventually destroy the enemy's body, causing it to have their flesh be torn apart and atomize. Mahiru cuts the sword in half during their first battle.


 * River's Edge: An enchanted blade owned by the Ichinose Clan. After Mahiru destroys Kujakumaru, Guren begins using this sword in its place. When Kureto captures and interrogates him, he takes this sword and returns it to the Ichinose Clan and gives Guren Hoarfrost instead.


 * Hoarfrost: An enchanted katana that Kureto gives to Guren after he swears loyalty to him. It vibrates and emits a high pitched ring when Guren drew it from its sheath and was then filled with the desire for slaughter and bloodshed. According to one of the many tales about the blade, it cut down a thousand demons in a row without getting a single nick.

Cursed Gear
Additionally, Guren can utilize the power of the demon weapon for other miscellaneous purpose such as filling areas like the classroom with its immense demonic auras. Within the power's vicinity and range, victims pass out unconscious on the floor if they don't have the strength or willpower enough to overcome it. However, if the targets have high psychic resistance, used wards, or are a potential candidate for the Black Demon Series, they're not any bit fazed by Mahiru-no-yo's demonic aura. Merely drawing the katana from its sheath alone seeps blackish gases made from within in and out of the blade.
 * Noya (ノ夜): A demon who formed a contract with Guren, given to him by Mahiru and becomes his demon weapon in the form of a black katana. Guren can call Noya fly back to his hand whenever they're separated. With the recent revelation, Noya is a possession-type demon of the Black Demon Series as it mainly concentrated on enhancing Guren's physical abilities similar to Mahiru-no-yo as Noya can increase Guren's strength by using his desires as sustenance. Noya eventually transformed into Mahiru-no-Yo due to Mahiru merging with the demon.
 * Mahiru-no-Yo (真昼ノ夜): A possession-type demon of the Black Demon series that Guren wields in the manga. The weapon is still a black katana, like Noya, but now has a glowing, crimson red, streak that is outlined down in the middle portion of it.Glen's Demon Possession.png Mahiru-no-yo can significantly increase Guren's physical abilities, and calling out her name would increase his power even more so. If Guren wishes to, he can invoke the demon's real name to have her possess him. This would cause Mahiru's apparition to appear and enshroud the blade and the arm wielding it with streaks of overwhelming flames. Guren would would be able to launch these flames at his opponent with one slash, and is strong enough to engulf an explosion in the midst of its vicinity.
 * Not only does it strengthen his own abilities and power physically, Mahiru-no-Yo can also be used to devour an enemy's attack. If Guren was on the defensive side, he would then call on the demon blade's name to assist him in battle when he was knock far back and being sent flying to the ceiling. He will then used the demon's power and ability to cushion his physical impact for safe landing. This was only while the appearance of demonic auras became visible from behind Guren, materializing onto him little by little in sparks.
 * Although in the anime opening of Owari no Seraph: Nagoya Kessen-hen, where he had a standoff against Mika, the crimson-like, black demonic auras were summoned onto the demon weapon wielded by Guren, shining the blade with bright redness before quickly turning dark. The crimson-like, black demonic aura encompasses Guren with various streaks and sparks all around him in vast quantity.
 * Once Guren is possessed by Mahiru-no-yo, the blade would seem to have a mind of its own. The blade unsheathed itself from the scabbard and then proceeded to move around on air swiftly, beheading the noble vampire. In the manga, it was right after that did Mahiru appear as a ghostly apparition with mass-like demonic aura, hovering over Guren while his katana is equipped under her. Whereas in the anime, however, it is portrayed differently with Mahiru's facial appearance seen and later handing down the weapon back to Guren's possession.
 * Anime: Guren would go on and further use the power of his demon weapon, Mahiru-no-Yo to summon forth a red whirlwind cloaked with thin layer of crimson-like demonic aura. More so, the demonic aura can be seen concentrating all around its inner layer and then being destructively launched at targets through him up front within his range. This red whirlwind was able to demolish the concrete wall of a building, pushing back the likes of Yūichirō, Shinoa, and Mitsuba and leaving them at a standstill temporarily.
 * In contrast to the manga, when Guren spoke of drinking the blood of human sacrifices, demons, and the progenitors, his katana drastically underwent a sudden change of color scheme. Through doing so, the katana itself went from being almost black in color to purely red of throughout the blade's length as is shown on the cover for manga volume 8. Furthermore, the transformation of his demon sword's color scheme is almost identical to that of a first-class vampire weapon, as those used by the progenitors, when they allow it to drink their blood, giving the blade a deeper shade to red as well. Something similar occurred when Guren used a talisman to turn the color of a non-cursed gear's blade crimson, from the light novel series. In the anime, however, he managed to change a cursed gear weapon's color scheme from that of the Black Demon Series, into fully red without placing any sort of talisman on it.

Trivia

 * The writer, Takaya Kagami, thinks of Guren as "The Unparalleled Ichinose!" while writing him.
 * Guren 「紅蓮」 means "crimson lotus."
 * Ichinose 「一瀬」 means "one rapid."
 * He is one of the first characters designed, along with Mikaela and Yūichirō.
 * The volume covers have humans on odd-numbered volumes and vampires on even-numbered volumes. Guren is the only member of the Japanese army to appear on an even-numbered cover so far, which was actually a big hint that he had been working with the vampires all this time.
 * In chapter 14, Kureto promises to give Guren a reward for his efforts in Shinjuku. Takaya Kagami's Q&A revealed that it actually turned out to be chocolate ice cream.
 * In the popularity poll, Guren earned 4th place at 3,307 points.
 * There was already a demon inside Guren's heart before he even made a contract with Noya.
 * According to the Manga 8.5 Fanbook:
 * Interests and Likes: [Interests] Yūichirō/Mahiru [Likes] Games/Jazz
 * Favorite food: Curry
 * What he looks for in the opposite sex: Mahiru Hīragi
 * Comments about him:
 * Shinya: "Guren is a pretty shy person. Although he really likes us, he’s not very straightforward about it." 
 * Kureto: "That guy works well. He appears to be doing something under cover, but I’m planning to capture him as a hostage for now."
 * According to the TV Anime 108 Fanbook:
 * Guren's favorite color is blueish-gray, which is the color of Mahiru's hair.
 * He loves cola.
 * If he were to become a demon, he believes his demon form would appear at about five years old, the age when he first met Mahiru Hīragi and felt like he could do anything until the Hīragi retainers tore them apart and crushed his hopes and dreams.
 * He resurrected his dead friends by using the Seraph of the End experiment using their severed heads and bodies.

Book 1
I could be with the person I love. I could have the things I wanted. I could live happy. It all seemed so easy. It really did.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 13
 * When I was young, I was sure all of my dreams would come true.


 * She was sitting so close I could hear her breathe. I liked the sound. I liked her voice. I liked listening to her heart beating next to mine. I liked everything about her.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 13


 * I belonged to a lowly branch clan. But from my place, down in the dirt, Mahiru shone like the sun.— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 15


 * "…Power. I’ll never get the things I want in life…unless I have power."— Six-year-old Guren's point of view, Prologue, Page 15


 * "Haha. Actually, I said it because you two are underestimating the Hiragi Clan. I’m gonna repeat this one more time. Don’t get reckless. Not even for a second. We have to be on our guard at all times. Apart from us three, no one at this school is loyal to the Imperial Moon. They’re all enemies. Every single one."— Guren to Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 1, Page 22


 * They’ll try to isolate me, bully me, and make me obedient. It’s the same kind of dirty tricks they’ve been pulling for the last two hundred years.— Guren thinking about the Hiragi Clan, Chapter 2, Page 30


 * It doesn’t really matter how bad my grades are, they want me here. I’m just gonna have to put up with being bullied by the other students for the next three years.— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 3, Page 42


 * "We were talking about which girls in the class were pretty. By the way, Shinya thinks you’re pretty hot. He was talking about asking you over to his place tonight…"— Guren to Mito Jujo, Chapter 3, Page 47


 * "Ever since I was little, I’ve always liked to come in first. If we joined forces, first prize would go to you guys, wouldn’t it?"— Guren to Makoto Kijima (Saito), Chapter 3, Page 65


 * "I decided before today that any opponent who sees my full strength needs to die. I’m giving you five seconds. Go back to your masters and tell them the Ichinoses won’t play ball. I’ll count: Five…Four…Three…"— To Makoto Kijima (Saito), Chapter 3, Page 66


 * "You’ve grown up. You’ve become strong and beautiful."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4, Page 76


 * "I almost forgot. Congratulations on your engagement. Shinya told me all about it." (Mahiru stiffly thanks him and leaves) "What the hell did I say that for?"— Guren to Mahiru when she leaves then himself, Chapter 4, Page 77


 * "…I’m actually the pathetic mutt that everyone says I am? Well, I am. So why don’t you get it through your head that you’ve overestimated me."— To Shinya, Chapter 5, Page 78


 * "Mr. Saito? You told me your name was Kijima."— Guren to Saito, Chapter 5, Page 91


 * "There it is. 'The end of the world.' The Thousand Nights is just another fly-by-night cult, isn’t it? Let me guess: Only true believers, who join your religion, will be saved. Am I right? Our clan pulls the same kind of tricks. So do the Hiragis. Everyone as the same gimmick. Did you think that was all it would take to trick me into joining you?"— To Saito, Chapter 5, Page 93


 * Laugh now… but one day, I’ll kill every last one of you Hiragi scum.— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 6, Page 126


 * "…Dammit. You’re the last witness I ever wanted."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 7, Page 138


 * "I know better than to trust someone who can’t keep his trap shut."— To Shinya, Chapter 7, Page 138


 * "For my part, I’m not interested in being a puppet for the Thousand Nights. I’ve already had enough of bowing my head. My answer is right here! I’ll destroy anyone who tries to control me!"— Guren to Saito, Chapter 7, Page 141


 * "Kujakumaru…release!"— Guren summoning Kujakumaru, Chapter 7, Page 141


 * "Look at what’s happening to you, Saito. Do you know why you’re glowing red? The curse is feeding on you. The curse changes you, and then it devours you. Once it has finished consuming you, you’ll be trapped for all eternity inside the sword."— Guren to Saito, Chapter 7, Page 143


 * "Mahiru. The traitor was Mahiru, wasn’t it?"— Guren asking Saito if it was Mahiru who betrayed the Hiragi Family, Chapter 7, Page 147


 * "So you’re saying you’ve perfected cursed gear?"— Guren to Mahiru about Cursed Gear, Chapter 7, Page 155


 * "I think you’ve gone mad. Tell me, how many people did you sacrifice to create that blade? How many lives were lost to your experiments?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 157


 * "Hmph. I don’t know why you’re acting so friendly all of a sudden, but I don’t think I like it."— Guren to Norito, Chapter 7, Page 163


 * "You’re right, I’ve got no reason to thank you. What I was gonna say is, just stay away from me. I don’t need any friends."— Guren to Mito and Norito, Epilogue, Page 172

Book 2

 * "I’m patient. I was born that way. Unlike a certain brat I know who takes every chance he gets to show off."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 1, Page 197


 * "Tell her I don’t like being manipulated. By anyone. Tell her that she’s a fool, and if she really thinks she loves me she should stop playing games and tell me what she’s planning."— A message to Mahiru, Chapter 2, Page 219


 * "...betraying the Thousand Nights…the end of the world…our destinations are the same… This is all starting to sound like some grand romance novel. What are you planning, Mahiru…"—Guren's thoughts, Chapter 2, Page 220


 * "…Another test, huh? I wonder if I’ll be able to hide my full strength this time, too."— Guren Chapter 3, Page 223


 * "…Maybe I should make a run for it."— Guren, Chapter 3, Page 230


 * "You know, you’re really starting to be a pain in my fucking ass."— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 3, Page 233


 * "…Ngh. You son of a bitch. Why did you even spout all that stuff about wanting to see who was stronger?"— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 3, Page 234


 * "I don’t care about you enough to bother laughing at you."— Guren to Mito, Chapter 4, Page 246


 * "So I’m actually strong. So what? What difference does strength make when you’re born an Ichinose? You’re from the great and mighty Goshi Clan. And that redhead back there is an esteemed Jujo. But what am I? As far as the Hiragis are concerned, I’m just an Ichinose mongrel. No amount of strength can change that."— Guren to Norito, Chapter 4, Page 247


 * "I know you’re ready to sacrifice others. Aren’t you? Mahiru…"— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 4, Page 249


 * "What you should really be angry about is how weak we are. They can torture us and we don’t even have the right to get angry about it. They almost killed my father. It’s not the Hiragis who are the problem. It’s our own lack of power."— Guren, Chapter 5, Page 251


 * "You don’t have to protect me. I don’t need to hide my strength anymore."— Guren to Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 5, Page 260


 * "Please keep your voice down, Master Seishiro. I’m on a secret mission right now, from Lord Tenri…"— Guren Seishiro, Chapter 6, Page 263


 * "Of course, the Hiragi army is a pack of fools. It’s possible the area’s been poisoned and they all just marched in to their deaths without noticing. If that’s the case, then there may not be enemies on the ground after all."— Guren, Chapter 6, Page 282


 * "Are you stupid? Do you think the enemy is going to ask to shake your hand before they attack you on the battlefield?"— Guren, Chapter 6, Page 284


 * "And what do you propose we should do? With so little information, any in-depth strategy will just trip us up. We can spend all the time we like talking about what we think might happen and how everything should play out. But we can’t get wrapped up in some foolish plan based on wishful thinking. What we need to do is kill any enemy that shows up. And if we can’t kill them, we need to at least try to make it back out alive."— Guren to the squad, Chapter 7, Page 290


 * "As squad leader I only have one order for you. Drill this into your heads. I don’t want you to think of anything else. Nothing else is important, do you understand? The order is…don’t die. No matter what else happens, do not die. Ready…" (A helicopter is shot down) "The mission has begun."— Guren to the squad, Chapter 7, Page 291


 * "I won’t be your puppet, Mahiru. I’m not interested in dancing on anyone’s palm…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 306


 * "Tell me, which one of you is the real Mahiru?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 308


 * "Now I see. So this is power…"— Guren, Chapter 7, Page 310


 * "Mahiru… You’ve got to stop this research into cursed gear. It’s no good. This is the kind of power that will make fools of us. It will control us."— Mahiru to Guren, Chapter 7, Page 313


 * "We’ll think of another way. There’s got to be something else, another path…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 313


 * "This time, I’ll protect you. Come with me, Mahiru."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 314


 * "Hmph. Haven’t you ever heard of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'? If you keep rushing forward at this pace you’re going to destroy yourself."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 315


 * "I can save you now. Throw away the sword and come with me."— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 7, Page 315

I am you, the thing answered. "Who are you?" You are me. "Who are—" ''Enough! I am a demon. A thing of ambition and revenge. A demon, just like you.'' "…" ''I am already a part of you. Listen to my voice. Every time your heart beats, we grow more entwined.'' "…" ''Listen to me, listen to my voice. You’ve entered a new world, just like Mahiru. Welcome, Guren. Welcome to the abyss. I’ve been waiting for a human just like you, someone strong and full of desire.'' "…" ''Wake up, now. But don’t forget, you are no longer human. You are not human. Desire and hatred. Love and sorrow. Overwhelming ambition. Together, we can crush this vile world!'' So screamed the demon’s voice…my own voice.— Guren and his demon, Chapter 7, Pages 325-236
 * "Who are you?" I asked.


 * "The war began for me when I was just a little kid."— Guren, Epilogue, Page 337

Book 3

 * "If we start conducting human experiments, where will it stop? New magic, new research, new powers. Power, power, power…. And then what? What happens after we turn our own comrades into human guinea pigs? Will we be swallowed whole by our own lust for power, or will the Hiragis crush us beneath their boots? Either way, it’s a disaster in the end."— To Mitsuki Iori, Chapter 1


 * "I want you to avoid human experimentation as much as possible… If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do it with our reason intact."— To Mitsuki Iori and the other Order of the Imperial Moon Aichi scientists, giving them permission to study the demon’s infection, Chapter 1


 * "Hmph… So an angel is going to alight at Christmas, trumpet in hand, to kick sand in the world’s face? You gotta be kidding me. This is modern-day Japan we’re talking about."— About Mahiru’s prophecy, Chapter 1


 * "At your level, do you think you’d even have the chance to kill yourself? Don’t underestimate the Hiragis. If the two of you knew what was going on, I would never let you leave this compound again. I’d find two other guards to serve me. Do you understand? If you want to stay by my side, then keep those ears covered."— To Sayuri and Shigure, Chapter 1


 * "…I don’t like being surprised like that."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "Maybe I just don’t like your face."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "What can I say? I’m just a loser, born and bred. I’ve always got to watch out for who’s going to kick me next."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 2


 * "Jokes are supposed to be funny. I guess you’re so used to being kissed up to that it’s rotted your brain."— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 2

He had a feeling, though, that Shinya might have noticed he had lost on purpose.— Playing shogi for the first time, Chapter 3
 * During his own match, Guren had racked his brain to learn how to lose as quickly as possible without letting Norito catch on that he was doing it on purpose. Apparently, Guren had succeeded. Norito had practically been through the roof when he’d won. Mito had felt compelled to console Guren.


 * Shogi is nice and easy', Guren thought. The only opponent you had to worry about was the one right there in front of your face.— Chapter 3

For now, however, they tolerated humanity. To the vampires, people were no more than braying cattle. It didn’t matter to them whether there were a few more or less in the world.— Chapter 3
 * Vampires were just too powerful for humans to take on. If the vampires ever got it into their heads to wipe out mankind, they could do so in a heartbeat.


 * "I guess I can trust you a little after all…"— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 3


 * He couldn’t stop his face from blanching with hate when he saw how they’d tortured Mahiru’s little sister.— Chapter 4


 * "It could just be a telemarketer."— To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Is this…the real Mahiru?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4

The words slipped out of Guren’s mouth. It was a capricious, irresponsible thing for him to say. What good would waiting have done her? He still didn’t have enough power to influence what the Hiragis did. He wasn’t powerful enough to save her. He was just spouting nonsense. He sounded like a foolish weakling. It didn’t seem to matter to Mahiru, though. She began sobbing over the line, and her voice was shaky.— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "Why…couldn’t you have waited for me?" he said.


 * "No, I am going to save you."— Guren to Mahiru when she begs him to kill her, Chapter 4


 * But the room smelled lived-in. It smelled like Mahiru. An unobtrusive scent of perfume wafted in the air. Guren didn’t mind it.— Guren in Mahiru’s room, Chapter 4


 * "You’re not Mahiru."— Guren to the demon personality controlling Mahiru, Chapter 4

She was shaking. Shaking uncontrollably.— Guren embracing Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * But Guren didn’t care anymore. He grabbed her by the arm and, pulling her inside, held her to his chest.

But her shaking wouldn’t stop. He couldn’t banish the shadows lurking inside of her.— Guren embracing Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "We’re together right now! I’m here, with you, right now!" He pulled her closer, attempting to calm her down.


 * "For now… I don’t want you leaving my side. No more talk of things being too late. I’ll find a way. I’ll save you…"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "Dammit… Just be quiet. Isn’t it obvious how I feel? Look at what I’m doing. You know I shouldn’t have come here. You know I shouldn’t be touching you. So why do you think I’m doing it?!"— Guren to Mahiru when she asks if he still loves her, Chapter 4


 * He took Mahiru in his arms, that day, and made love to her.— Chapter 4

"That’s right." "Don’t fucking lie to me. How am I supposed to believe what you say, when you look like you’re about to burst into tears while you’re saying it?"— Guren to Mahiru, Chapter 4
 * "You wanted to kill off your remaining weakness? Is Mahiru really gone? Are you just the demon now?"


 * "Don’t ‘maybe’ me! Come out of this alive and you can figure out how you feel later. Love won’t mean shit if you die!"— Guren to Mito, Chapter 4


 * "Ha… Haha… Ahahaha… Okay, Mahiru, I get it. I give up. I’ll become a hare, too. A demon. But I won’t be like you. I won’t give up everything. I won’t stop being human."— Guren to himself, Chapter 4


 * "I slept with Mahiru."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "If I die, I want you to take care of Mahiru."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 4

"I’m not like Mahiru. This is my humanity…I’m doing this to save my friends…" Guren gripped the sword. The moment his fingers touched the pommel, his world turned black. Dark. Obsidian. Soaked pitch black— That was the moment when it began. Guren Ichinose: catastrophe at sixteen.— Guren to himself, Chapter 4
 * "I’m going to save Mito. I’m going to save Norito. I’m going to save Sayuri. And I’m going to save Shigure.

Book 4
"I’m giving up my humanity so that nothing else will be lost!"— To himself, Prologue
 * From deep in his soul, Guren screamed.

It was faint, like the sound of a gear grinding one notch forward. Closer to destruction. Closer to the end. Closer to apocalypse. Like the trumpet of an angel sitting in cold judgment upon man’s greed.— Prologue
 * In that brief moment, Guren could have sworn he heard a sound.


 * Another piece of Guren’s sanity was shorn off.— Chapter 1


 * "If the outcome is the same either way, then I choose to move forward."— To Noya, Chapter 1


 * "Keep your filthy hands off my woman…"— To a Thousand Nights grunt about Shigure, Chapter 2


 * "Dammit… I can’t believe this body is even turned on by blood…"— To himself, Chapter 2

He was lying. If he really thought that, he wouldn’t have come protect her. Shigure hated herself for being so weak she needed protecting. She hated it so much she could cry.— To Shigure, Chapter 2
 * "Ha. Don’t get so full of yourself, Shigure. You’re just a sacrificial pawn…"


 * "I’ll kill you!"— Guren screaming to Mahiru, Chapter 2


 * "Rrrraaaaaaa…. Hahahahaha… Blood… Give me blood… I’ll kill them all! I’ll kill everyone who gets in my way!!"— Chapter 2


 * "Blood… Bring me more blood…"— Chapter 2


 * "I’ll kill you, too! I’ll… Ngh… Run, you idiot! I… Ah… Ahahahahahah…. …rrrgg…."— To Norito, Chapter 2

Because any time anybody got close, his desires took over. If Mito didn’t leave him alone, he would probably ravish her, mutilate her, and kill her. And of course, the instant he was done, he would forget about her. All he was interested in now was blood, and destruction, and proving his own might.— About Mito, Chapter 2
 * Please, just stay away, Guren thought. No one ever coming near him again was all he wanted.


 * "You disgust me… I hate you. I can’t stand the sight of you. Stay away from me. I don’t ever want to see your ugly mug again…"— To Mito, Chapter 2

The words had come out of Guren’s own mouth. Mito’s eyes opened wide in shock, and the demon continued: "I don’t regret it, though. I’ve always liked you. I did this to myself so… "Ahhh! Mito, don’t listen! It’s the demon speaking! I can’t hold out any longer. I’m begging you, please, just go aw— "No, no. I’m sorry, Mito. Forget what I just said. It’s me, Guren. Come and save me. You know, I was just thinking that I wanted a woman. Why don’t you take your clothes off and get on your knees? It’s your fault that I gave up my humanity, so it’s only right for you to take responsibility and service me." All of those words had issued from Guren’s mouth. But they weren’t his thoughts. Or were they? Was that what he was really thinking deep down? He couldn’t tell anymore; it was all getting mixed up. He couldn’t tell where he ended and where the demon began.— To Mito, Chapter 2
 * "That’s right," the demon spoke. "I gave up my humanity in order to save you."

It spent much more time asleep now. Guren wasn’t sure if this was because he was reclaiming some of his humanity, or if it was just a sign that he and the demon were becoming one.—Chapter 4
 * The demon was sleeping at the moment.

''Kill. Them. All.'' It seemed to be the demon’s main impulse. To destroy anything and everything he came across in this world. As time went by, however, little by little the demon and Guren seemed to merge. His desires grew more complex and nuanced. He began to want to use the demon’s power to fulfill subtler goals, instead of just base primordial urges. And then, all of a sudden, the demon had gone to sleep. It was a deep slumber. Guren was back in control of himself. But… "…this must just be part of the process of turning into a demon."— Chapter 4
 * All Guren had been able to think about during that time was how much he wanted to kill everyone.


 * "I’m getting tired of this, Mahiru."— Chapter 4


 * "What’s the point of trying to deny the truth with your little fuda? Those desires inside you, those are the real you. You can’t deny that!"— To Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "So? My life should have ended today. So what if I get betrayed in the future? What other lives do I have to lose?"— To Noya, Chapter 4

His voice was so tiny that it even surprised himself.— To his team, Chapter 4
 * "Ahh, dammit," he muttered. "You guys saved me, all right…"


 * "Actually, I was talking about when she called you a limp-dicked virgin."— To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "…I trusted you."— Guren hisses to Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Happy? Just as you wanted, I’m finally one of Kureto Hiragi’s lackeys, body, mind, and soul."— To Mito, Chapter 4


 * "I told you I would protect you. But I can’t. I’m too weak. It’s my fault. But…at least, we can die together."— To Mahiru, Epilogue

Book 5

 * "That’s not true! This isn’t your fault! Goddammit, Kureto! Quit fucking around! You don’t need to do this. You know I’ll act! Let my father go right now!"— To Sakae and whomever is listening in, Chapter 4


 * "We won’t let them execute my father… We’re going to do everything we can in these next two days to eliminate Mahiru."— To Shigure and Sayuri, Chapter 4


 * "I started regretting things a long time ago."—' To Kureto, Chapter 4


 * "Even as I am… I have friends who believe in me. I won’t betray their trust."— To Noya, Chapter 5

… … … Guren reached out his hand. "I want you to be my friend."— To Noya, Chapter 5
 * "If you’re not one of my friends, then become one. That’s an order."

Book 6

 * "What do we have to live for? …We’ll never be more than slaves. No matter how hard we try, nothing ever seems to go our way."— To Sakae Ichinose before his execution, Chapter 1


 * "Dad! …I’m proud that I was born your son."— To Sakae Ichinose immediately before the execution, Chapter 1


 * "I can do this, Dad… Don’t worry. I can do this. I can be the son you hoped I would be. Just keep watching over me."— To his father’s decapitated corpse, Chapter 1

Guren stood there, insignificant beneath the moonlight. Unable to suppress his need for vengeance. He stood there, covetous, beneath the stars. A demon of the moon, eyes fixated on the sky.—Chapter 2
 * A beautiful moon shone down on the garden his father had built.
 * "Then, I’ll tell you the truth. What your father said is true. We’re dirt. Accept it. It can’t be helped… But that’s only temporary. So no more complaints. Shut your mouth and follow me, got it? You do that, and I’ll lead you to that better future you’ve been waiting for."— To Makoto Narumi, Chapter 2


 * "I’ve finally caught up to you…"— To Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "You’re included in the list of people I want to protect."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4


 * "You’re very pretty. It would be easy for me to say yes to you now, and to be with you. But what would happen after that? If we had sex, we wouldn’t be able to be friends anymore… But we’d never be allowed to date or get married. So if I said yes to you now… it would only mean losing one of my best friends. I don’t want that."— Rejecting Mito Jujo, Chapter 4


 * "Sometimes, I think you get off on listening in on people."— To Shinya, Chapter 4


 * "I’d like to have some cake for Christmas, this year…"— To his squad two days before Christmas while trying to prevent the Apocalypse, Chapter 4


 * "Listen up, everyone. I’m going to try contacting Mahiru now, to ask her for help. Chances are, the Imperial Demons will be tapping the call. So even if we manage to stop the world from being destroyed, we’ll probably be accused of treason for what I’m about to do and be put to death when this is all over."— To his squad, Chapter 4


 * "I thought that’s what you would all say. If we make it safely to Christmas, let’s spend it together, playing video games and eating cake. Chocolate, marron glacé, and strawberry shortcake."— To his squad, Chapter 4


 * "More or less. I want to betray the Hiragis, and I need your help."— To Mahiru, Chapter 4

Quotes: Vampire Reign

 * "There he is. Just like the prophecy said. One of the lab rats from Hyakuya Laboratories, the company that destroyed Japan. Boy. You are going to be of use to me in exterminating vampires."— Guren to twleve-year-old Yu after escaping Sanguinem, Chapter 1, "The World of Blood Legacy"


 * "You're the stupid one. What kind of moronic problems are you causing for people this time?"— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Sorry for the trouble my kid caused. Dismissed."— Guren to the city guards Yu attacked, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Nah. He's not actually my kid. But... I did come across him being held prisoner by vampires, so I decided to nab him. Now, he's such a pain in the ass that I wish I hadn't."— Guren to the city guards about Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Geez, you're loud. Sorry. I don't understand dumb-kid-speak."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Hah! Hell no. You're still a weak little brat. Anybody who's so dumb that all they can do is think about their own personal grudge all day isn't going to be able to protect anyone... I told you, being strong isn't just about being good with a weapon."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Something you want to protect. Friends. Comrades. Family. Pick any or all of the above... but just find them. If you don't, you'll be a weakling forever."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "What? Now, you're gonna cry and look pitiful just because you didn't get your way? You are such a child."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Quit looking to me for free handouts. I'm not your papa."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "You protected that girl. Given the choice, you picked saving someone over revenge."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Yes, you did. Unlike me, you're still nice. No matter how much you try, you won't be able to live only for revenge."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "If it's not just for revenge, I guess I can give you a sword. Find some friends, and use this to keep 'em safe."— Guren to thirteen-year-old Yu, Bonus Chapter, "Yu and Guren"


 * "Sorry, Kid. The army doesn't have use for virgins who are too scared to work in a team, make friends, or date. If you want in, then make a friend at that school and introduce them to me. I'm not holding my breath. YOU FAIL!"— A note from Guren to Yu, Chapter 2, "Humanity After the Fall"


 * "Quit screeching. Nobody wants to hear it, Vampire."— Guren to the escaped vampire, Chapter 2, "Humanity After the Fall"


 * "Nope. I hate brats who don't know what 'teamwork' means."— Guren rejecting Yūichirō from joining the Moon Demon Company, Chapter 2, "Humanity After the Fall"


 * "Okay, listen up. The reason that I, your homeroom teacher, decided to grace you all with my presence today is because we have two transfer students... Anyway, here they are. Yūichirō Hyakuya and Yoichi Saotome. They're the idiot and the crybaby, respectively. As of today, they're joining your class."— Guren to the Moon Demon Company classroom, Chapter 4, "The Worst Pair"


 * "Leave 'em. We won't get anything done in class with them conscious. Right then. The Cursed Gear aptitude test is coming up in a week. It's been a while, but I guess I'd better teach you guys something, eh?"— Guren to the Moon Demon Company classroom after pulverizing Yūichirō and Kimizuki, Chapter 4, "The Worst Pair"


 * "That doesn't matter. Strength alone is not enough. Make friends. Find companions. Don't try to handle everything by yourself. Because if you do... when the demon sinks its claws into you... it will swallow you whole, and you won't be able to come back. Anger and impatience are a demon's favorite snacks. As you are now... you'd be devoured by your own desires and turn into a demon yourself."— Guren to Kimizuki, Chapter 4, "The Worst Pair"


 * "I guess it's time I started making some preparations to steal the throne of this little kingdom out from under the main family."--Guren to Shinoa, Chapter 4, "The Worst Pair"
 * "Oh, I most humbly beg your pardon, General Tenri Hīragi. It's just that I was bored out of my mind."— Guren to Tenri Hīragi, Chapter 5, "Vampire Mikaela"


 * "Ugh! Dealing with idiots can be so exhausting. Still... Things are about to get a little more interesting."— Guren to Tenri Hīragi, Chapter 5, "Vampire Mikaela"


 * "If you're not strong enough, you die. That's the way the world works now. We aren't holding hands and playing house here."— Guren to Sayuri, Chapter 6, "Black Asuramaru"


 * "Well, damn. I guess Yoichi wasn't quite strong enough after all. Still... A two-out-of-three success rate with the Black Demon Series is pretty good."— Guren to Yūichirō and co., Chapter 6, "Black Asuramaru"


 * Okay, you two have your Cursed Gear now, so here's your first official Moon Demon Company mission. Yūichirō. Kimizuki. Look at the ceiling. There's a man-eating demon up there. You two go kill it."— Guren to Yu and Kimizuki, ordering them to kill Yoichi, Chapter 6, "Black Asuramaru"


 * "YOICHI! Are you going to hide underneath that bed and watch your family die again?! Get out of here and protect them!"— Guren to a possessed Yoichi, Chapter 7, "New Family"


 * "You have talent. But you feel guilty because you couldn't save your sister. That's sapping your desire to live. But today... you've found enough reason. Your reason to live now... is to protect the ones who saved you today. Your friends. Revenge? Don't let something so petty consume you. That goes for you too, Moron. Forget your old family. Because you have a new family now. Put your life on the line for the ones you see before you. The past is gone. There is only the future."— Guren to Yoichi, Yu, and Kimizuki, Chapter 7, "New Family"


 * "Sheesh. Raising kids is exhausting."— Guren to himself, Chapter 7, "New Family"


 * "Oops. I missed their commander. Ah well. Once we control this point, we'll have have won anyway. Hey, Vampires! Was all that human blood you drank today tasty? Sure hope so... because that was your last supper. Here we go. Give me more power, Demon Blade: 'Mahiru-no-Yo.'"— Guren's pre-battle speech, Chapter 11, "Queen's Contract"


 * "Oh ho! You're a strong one!"— Guren to Mikaela Hyakuya, Chapter 12, "A Very Safe Supplement"


 * "Over here. Checkmate, Vampire."— Guren to Mikaela Hyakuya after trapping him, Chapter 12, "A Very Safe Supplement"


 * "Thanks for your patience. Mind if I ask you to wait just a bit longer, though? It's time for us to take our medicine, see. Do you mind giving us, oh... another 20 seconds or so?"— Guren to Mikaela Hyakuya after reevaluating Mika and Ferid's strength, Chapter 12, "A Very Safe Supplement"


 * "So then, if I told you we're using him in our experiments, would you be angry? Humans are weak. Fragile. Now that the world has ended, what do we have to do to survive? What do we have to do to kill vampires? To eradicate the horsemen? Your sister, Mahiru Hīragi, invented Cursed Gear. How many people were sacrificed in that long process? Without it... do you honestly think humanity would be able to survive? Understand? So quit spewing idealistic crap at me, Little Girl. Or, what... Are you falling in love with Yūichirō?"— Guren to Shinoa about Yūichirō, Chapter 14, "Everyone's a Sinner"


 * "Yūichirō. You remember, right? Who the one who saved you was. Me. Don't forget who was there for you when you came crawling out of the vampire capital. Me. I went out of my way to teach you how to live here. Even how to use a sword. If you feel like you owe me at all, then pay me back today. You live because of me. You are mine. You belong... to my faction. So don't go wagging your mutt tail to the Hīragi."— Guren to Yu, Chapter 16, "Human World"


 * "You're wrong about one thing, though. I'm not your friend. [I am] your superior. The guy you owe your life to. Your surrogate father. Put all those together, and I'm practically a god to you. You can even call me 'papa' if you want."— Guren to Yu, Chapter 16, "Human World"


 * "Sheesh. Did you have to go on a stupid rant about the obvious, you idiot? I already told you... Everyone standing here right now is family. That includes me. Family... works together to bring back family."— Guren to Yu and their squad about Mika, Chapter 18, "Possessed by Mahiru"


 * "So now is the part where you show off your special hostage? Who is it this time? Are you going to torture Shigure, Sayuri, or any of my other aides in front of me?"— Guren to Kureto, Chapter 23, "Ambition in the Demon Army"


 * "Shaddap. I'm not that dumb. I'm scared of who I could lose on this mission. But... we have to answer the call. If we fail, humanity dies. And so, Shinya. Goshi. Mito. Sayuri. Shigure. I want to complete this mission with as few casualties as possible. For that, I ask for your help."— Guren to his squad and Shinya, Chapter 24, "The Moon Demon's Orders"


 * "SHUT YOUR MOUTH, CHILD! This mission is not a game!! If you can't follow even basic regulations, we don't need you! Go home!"— Guren to Shinoa in front of the Moon Demon Company when her squad arrives late, Chapter 24, "The Moon Demon's Orders"


 * "Listen up, everyone. During this mission, I will have zero tolerance for anyone who doesn't follow regulations. Nor will I tolerate anyone treating this like a game or messing around. I repeat, this is not a game. This is the most difficult, dangerous mission we have ever undertaken. Some of us are going to die. We are all family here. And on this mission, we are going to lose a lot of family members. But despite that danger, this is a mission worth risking our lives for! Listen up!! I don't want us just coming home alive... We will come home victorious!! DO YOU HEAR ME?!"— Guren to the Moon Demon Company, Chapter 24, "The Moon Demon's Orders"


 * "It's your punishment. Shinoa. This is your squad. I'm doing you a favor and teaching you that even a little mistake could kill them.... You don't get it. You've never had anyone important to you before. You don't know what it's like to fear losing someone. But now things are different. Even a tiny mistake is enough to kill. Your little pranks could cost your family their lives."— Guren to Shinoa, Chapter 25, "Narumi & The 20-Year-Old Yu"


 * "You have three Black Demon wielders on our team. What the hell was that? You showed very little teamwork. The vampire nobles we'll be facing are stronger than us three. How do you expect to fight them? Or do you plan on standing there, cracking snarky jokes while you die?"— Guren to Shinoa's squad, Chapter 26, "Thirst Logic"


 * "We're going to reinforce Shinoa Squad and Narumi Squad. Once we do that, I'm adding a new target to our list. He's currently located in the Nagoya City Hall. We are going to kill... Thirteenth Progenitor Crowley Eusford."— Guren to his squad, Chapter 28, "Livestock Revolt"


 * "Anyone with a heart cries when a friend dies. But we can't afford to do that right now. We have a mission to complete."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 29, "Who's Pulling the Strings?"


 * "You idiots!! Why the hell did you come?! Follow your orders, dammit!! Get out of here now!!"— Guren to Shinoa Squad, Chapter 33, "Demon's Lullaby"


 * "I'm already done for... Save your strength for getting Shinya and the others out of here."— Guren to Norito Goshi, Guren Squad, and Shinoa Squad, Chapter 33, "Demon's Lullaby"


 * Don't give up—Don't let the fear win. There's still a chance to pull out of this. Vampires don't kill off their livestock all willy-nilly. Make a little show of resistance... Then talk. Just give them a little dribble of info to lead them to Shinjuku tonight... and Kureto should handle the rest.— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 38, "The Namanari Awakens"


 * "Ugh.. Dammit, that hurt. When did getting beat up get so exhausting? Still, I should probably let him hit me a bit more to make what I tell him seem more convincing."— Guren's thoughts, Chapter 38, "The Namanari Awakens"


 * "Get your disgusting hands off of me, Bloodsucker. Touch me again and die."— Demonic Guren, Chapter 38, "The Namanari Awakens"


 * "At Nagoya Airport, I am going to conduct an experiment on the Seraph of the End. You will assist me, Vampire."— Demonic Guren to Krul Tepes, Chapter 38, "The Namanari Awakens"


 * "Mahiru is dead. I couldn't save her."— Guren to Krul, Chapter 39, "The Beginning of the Plan"


 * "Then, kill me. Go on. You can't, can you? You've betrayed your own kind too deeply to turn back now. You, too... have to make sure the Seraph of the End experiment succeeds.... Today."— Guren to Krul, Chapter 39, "The Beginning of the Plan"


 * "Ung...! Ha... ha ha... Ha ha ha! Yes, that's it! Keep up the act... Krul Tepes!!"— Guren to Krul, Chapter 39, "The Beginning of the Plan"


 * "Hello, Yu."— Guren right before betraying Yu, Chapter 40, "Trumpet of the Apocalypse"


 * "Drink the blood of the sacrificial humans... The blood of the demons... The blood of the progenitors... Drink the seraph of the end."— Guren during the experiment in Nagoya, Chapter 40, "Trumpet of the Apocalypse"


 * "Hold still, Child. We have not yet offered enough blood to control the seraph."— Guren after stabbing Shiho Kimizuki, Chapter 40, "Trumpet of the Apocalypse"


 * "What? Why stop? Kill me, you little wuss."— Guren to Yu when Yu hesitates to kill him, Chapter 40, "Trumpet of the Apocalypse"


 * "No, not yet. Guren. Sleep. Do not wake up yet. If you wake up into this, you will be scarred for the rest of your life... Ha... Ha ha... Yes... Everyone is a sacrifice..."— Guren to himself after seriously wounding Yu, Chapter 40, "Trumpet of the Apocalypse"


 * "Do it, Yu. Break their taboos. Only someone so arrogant who desires to be loved by everyone... Only you can do it."— Possessed Guren encouraging Yu to fall from an angel and become a demon, Chapter 41, "Arrogant Love"


 * "I killed them. That is the truth."— Guren to Shinya about killing his own soldiers, Chapter 47, "Prayer's Price"


 * "A new drug was developed. I am in control."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 47, "Prayer's Price"


 * "Mahiru is dead. Dead and gone."— Guren to Shinya, Chapter 47, "Prayer's Price"


 * Humans sin. Any human, if it's to save those important to them, will gladly stain their hands with sin. The cost of bringing a person back from the dead is the lives of every human on the planet. Even then, the ones revived will only live another ten years. "A mere ten years. But... If that means I'll get to see my friends... and have my family smile at me one more time... I... will shoulder this sin."— Guren's recollection about when he revived his team from the dead and triggered the Apocalypse, Chapter 54, "Sinner's Christmas"


 * "Can't you tell by looking? It's a haunted house."— To Shinya about Ferid's mansion, Chapter 55, "Coffins of Obsession"


 * "If I don't win, I can't save him. So I'll win. Simple as that."— To Mahiru, Chapter 56, "Loose-Lipped Vampire"


 * "Good question. That is one I wondered about for years. I thought if only I could figure out who was pulling the strings... and then go beat them, that would somehow solve everything. I thought that we suffered because the Hiragi Family existed. I thought they were the ones who were holding us back. If I got stronger... If I got smarter... Then I thought I'd be able to reach out and make what I wanted mine..."— To Shinoa Squad, Chapter 56, "Loose-Lipped Vampire"


 * "The Hiragis aren't the ones behind all this. They, even the whole Demon Army... They're just another set of pawns being used on someone else's board game."— To Shinoa Squad, Chapter 56, "Loose-Lipped Vampire"


 * "In the end, Kureto was the same as Mahiru... Born with Hiragi blood, they struggle. Fight. They try as hard as they can to walk a path as close as they can to get what they believe is right."— Guren to Shinoa, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"


 * "What, you think you got completely away from it? Seriously? It was through an insane experiment that you were born—created—already fused together with a demon. It was implanted in you at birth. Tell me. What does it say to you. What does Shikama Dōji whisper in your ear?"— Guren to Shinoa, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"


 * "To be a Hiragi means having been chosen, by something... and then struggling against that very thing. Kureto is fighting the battle against his right now... The utter hopelessness staring you in the face."— Guren to Shinoa, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"


 * "I'm trying to resurrect all of humanity. Everyone I killed... I want to bring them all back."— Guren's answer to Shinoa Squad, Chapter 58, "A Reason to Survive"


 * "No. It was a draw, pretty much. Not only did we not kill him, he absconded with the queen. But we did rescue the perv."— To Shinya about their battle against Ky Luc, Chapter 61, "Who's More Bored?"


 * "Me? I'm not much of anyone. And that's why I couldn't do anything before. But this time, it's different. This time, I will stand at the forefront of the whole world."— To Mika, Chapter 63, "Proof of Being Human"


 * "If you die, your sister dies with you... So we live. Yu's right. All of us are living for our families. Even if that's considered an unforgivable sin... Even if seeking out this miserable life means doing the forbidden... What the hell do we care, anyway?"— To Kimizuki, Chapter 66, "Shuttered Shinoa"


 * “Just so you know, you aren’t taking Yu anywhere.”— Guren knows full well Mika is following Yu to take him away, Chapter 77, "Rescue for the Devil", Page 7


 * “I’m not a puppet of the first. Hell, I’ve spent years trying to get out from under the Hiragi family and its curse.”— Reasoning to Mika why he should be trusted, Chapter 77, "Rescue for the Devil", Page 8


 * “Without Yu, you are alone. And anybody who’s alone is easy pickings. You can do nothing on your own.”— Having to demonstrate to Mika how it's better they work together, Chapter 77, "Rescue for the Devil", Page 13


 * “So how about you finally give in and join us? If you want to keep Yu safe, cooperate. We aren’t the first’s puppets.”— Encouraging Mika to join them after he, Shinya and Kureto quell Mika's attack, Chapter 77, "Rescue for the Devil", Page 14