Tenri Hīragi

Tenri Hīragi (柊 天理,) was the General of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army and the former leader of the Hīragi family. He is the strongest character to ever appear in the series, however he was never shown fighting. His strength is purely from tales of which describe him beating the previous vampire Queen and he also took out most of the nobles.

Appearance
Tenri has a large build and grayish-purple hair similar to Shinoa and Mahiru.

In the Catastrophe light novel, he does not yet wear an eye patch or anything that looks mechanical. He is not described as using a cane.

By the time of Vampire Reign, he wears the JIDA uniform which consists of a long-sleeved black coat with red details, two rows of gold buttons and a green Sam Browne belt passing diagonally over his right shoulder. Over this is a maroon military overcoat with shoulder epaulettes which have a gold bullion fringe along with an aiguillette on his left shoulder. He also wears a pair of white gloves and the uniform trousers with black shoes.

The right side of his face is has curse marks, and covered over by a black patch, which goes over his eye, the right side of his head, and connects to his neck. His right shoulder and neck appears to be mechanical.

Personality
Tenri is best described as a proud and harsh individual. Like the rest of the Hīragi family (with the exception of Shinoa and Mahiru), he looks down on lower houses and makes certain they know their place. He does not hesitate to use violence or cruelly and taunts Guren about forcing his father, Sakae Ichinose, to dance naked in front of them prior to having Sakae beheaded.

Idealistically, he strongly believes in the concept of survival of the fittest. Due to the weight of this savage principle he abides by, he would see that the strong lived and the weak died. He does not especially value his children's lives either and even gives Guren permission to kill Seishiro Hiragi because Seishiro was fooled by Guren.

Furthermore, Tenri is not at all happy with Guren's defiant attitude.

History
Tenri was born as the heir to the Hīragi family. He once had a lover, but she was deemed unworthy of the Hīragi family name. His parents had her killed.

He had people use his sperm to impregnate demon-possessed women, and only Mahiru and Shinoa survived that experiment.

Book 6
Awhile after Sakae Ichinose's execution is broadcast on television to teach the Ichinose's their place, Tenri Hiragi summons Guren Ichinose in order to approve of him as head of the Ichinose Clan. He insults Guren and his deceased father, stomps on Guren's head until it bleeds, and mocks Sakae as a weak fool. He says he forced Sakae to dance naked in front of them prior to his death.

Second Shibuya High Arc
He first appears in chapter 5 at the Japanese Imperial Demon Army Headquarters in Shibuya. There is an expansive political meeting taking place, but Guren is sleeping and snoring. Tenri tells him that he should know his place. Guren sarcastically apologizes to him and says he was bored and Tenri tells him to not get full of himself. Shortly afterwards, Guren leaves the meeting.

Osaka Arc
Tenri shows up near the end of chapter 56, when Kureto launches his attack on the JIDA Headquarters in Shibuya. He holds himself with a few soldiers in the Audience Chamber until Kureto confronts him. Tenri then initiates the fight by launching enchanted chains from his body as Kureto charges. The fight continues in the next chapter, where Tenri acknowledges Kureto's strengths and mocks him for his care for others, like Aoi Sangu, as he claims that the head of the Hīragi Clan has no need for friends.

Tenri then distracts Kureto by sending his chains at Aoi, and disarms him by slicing off the lower half of Kureto's arm. Tenri continues to mock the wounded Kureto, and even questions him if his abilities will ever surpass Mahiru's. His son then gives a smirk as he tells Tenri he talks a lot, before a blast from Abaddon hits the building floor the two are on in less than a second. Tenri's lower body is incinerated before he is impaled through the throat by Kureto and pinned to another building.

In his final moments, Tenri tells Kureto about the god that has cursed and had been controlling the Hīragi Family, and his son will inherit it. He tells Kureto to trust no one, and to always carry himself, as he has shown to be better than Mahiru and himself. Tenri continues to commend Kureto for being able to retain his humanity when he couldn't by revealing that he killed his forty siblings to claim the throne. Then with his dying breath, Tenri confirms Kureto as the heir to the Hīragi Family.

Natural Abilities
As the former head of the Hīragi family, it is assumed that Tenri had more skill and power in both fighting and magic. Chapter 57 revealed that Tenri was possessed by Shikama Dōji, the former First Progenitor of the Vampires, which implies that every head of the family would be possessed by this demon; however, whether or not this demon increase the strength or magical abilities of his hosts is currently unknown.

Weapons
Tenri can release chains from his body like Saitō, except Tenri's would have the ends turn into snake heads. Also like Saitō, the chains keep Tenri's body together, which means he can detach and reattach parts of his body; such as when he launches his head away from his body to avoid getting his head cut off by Kureto.

Trivia

 * Tenri 「天理」 means "Heaven's Rule."
 * Hīragi 「柊」 means "Holly."
 * Half of his body is afflicted with the Apocalypse Virus. He receives treatment for it on a daily basis.
 * According to the 8.5 fanbook:
 * Interests/Likes: The prosperity of the Hīragi family/Desire to communicate with people of his generation (basically all dead)
 * Favorite Food: Vegetable tempura
 * He wanted to make Shinoa incredibly strong since she was born with much power, like her other siblings.

Book 6

 * "Don’t you know your place yet? Kneel. And bow your head lower. Low enough to quash that pathetic sense of pride you seem to have."—To Guren Ichinose, Chapter 3
 * "Don’t lie to me. You can barely hide the fury in your eyes… Your father was stronger. Even when we made him dance naked for us, right where you’re standing now, he kept a smile on his face."—To Guren, Chapter 3
 * "It was Seishiro’s fault for trusting gutter-trash like you. The Hiragi Clan has no place for weaklings. If he bothers you again, feel free to kill him."—To Guren, Chapter 3
 * "With one of my ‘jests,’ I could kill every single person in your little order."—To Guren, Chapter 3
 * "Branch family scum like yourself exist for one purpose and one purpose only—to be discriminated against… I have no interest in trudging up the old trysts of our ancestors, but this system has worked quite well for us so far. Treating you in this way validates our followers’ superior status and strengthens unity in the order… That is the only reason you are still permitted to live. If not for that, your clan would have been dismantled long ago. It’s time you fully embraced your fate," Tenri Hiragi said, standing up.—To Guren, Chapter 3
 * "Fine, so be it. I will accept you as the new leader of the Ichinose Clan," Tenri said. "May you continue to live in abject servitude."—To Guren, Chapter 3

Quotes: Vampire Reign

 * "Remember your place, Ichinose."--Tenri Hīragi to Guren Ichinose, Chapter 5, "Vampire Mikaela"
 * "Hah! I see you still have that pet Sangu woman of yours. Fallen in love, have you?"--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "Listen, my son. A king needs no comrades. You are Hiragi. You are to shoulder the fate of the Hiragi. This is your destiny... No, you be silent. Those born to the Hiragi name have no need to mingle with others."--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "But a weak king is no king either. See? Your weakness will kill you."--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto before attacking Aoi Sangu, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "Eight years, and you haven't changed. You are as you were in high school. In the end, you still throw yourself in front of a worthless underling, refusing to make the correct choice. How old will you have to grow? At what age will your effort catch up to the height Mahiru's genius took her? You disappoint me, Kureto. It is time you died. Ah well. I can make more children to--"--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto after Kureto loses his arm and leg while protecting Aoi Sangu, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "Amazing. You broke both my body and the curse supporting it. Am I truly dying? My wounds aren't regenerating..."--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "An old, cursed god. One who cursed the Hiragi Family... and, as of today, you. I pass the scepter to you..."--Tenri Hīragi about Shikama Dōji to Kureto, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "That's it. Trust no one, my son. Not your friends. Not your family... But have confidence. Great confidence... Kureto. In the end, you are greater than Mahiru. You managed to reach me while still maintaining your human heart. That should be impossible. Yet here you are, far greater than even I."--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"
 * "I killed forty of them. All of my brothers and sisters. Yet... The new generation still comes to replace the old. Aah... I've babbled on too long. My time has come. The moment... that I die... you... will be... the new... master... of the... Hiragi... Family..."--Tenri Hīragi to Kureto, his final words, Chapter 57, "Defining a King"