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| {{Game|COM|REC|KH2|FM2|358|KHC|RCO|BBS|FMB|DDD|DHD|UCX|MOM}} | | {{InfoboxOrg13 |
| {{suite}}
| | |name=Axel |
| {{youmay|the Nobody|[[Lea|his original person]]}}
| | |kana=アクセル (''Akuseru'') |
| {{Character
| | |image=[[Image:Axel.png|124px]] |
| |name=Axel | | |game=Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories; Kingdom Hearts II |
| |katakana=アクセル | | |number=VIII (捌) |
| |romaji=Akuseru
| | |title=Flurry of Dancing Flames |
| |fr=Axel
| | |weapon=[[Wikipedia:Chakram|Chakrams]] |
| |de=Axel
| | |attribute=Flame (炎) |
| |es=Axel
| | |first=''[[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]]'' |
| |image=[[File:Axel_KHMOM.png|350x400px]] | | |original=Unknown |
| |type=Organization XIII | | |voice= [[wikipedia:Quinton Flynn|Quinton Flynn]] (English)<br>[[wikipedia:Keiji Fujiwara|Keiji Fujiwara]] (Japanese) |
| |spec=NobodyBoss
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| |game1=Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
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| |game2=Kingdom Hearts II
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| |game3=Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days | |
| |game4=Kingdom Hearts coded
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| |game5=Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance
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| |game6=Kingdom Hearts Union χ
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| |game7=Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory
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| |orgnum=VIII
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| |orgtitle=The Flurry of Dancing Flames | |
| |orgweapon=Chakrams ''(Eternal Flames)'' | |
| |orgatt={{nihongo|Flame|炎|Honō}} | |
| |orglimit=Explosion | |
| |orgother=[[Lea]]
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| |enva=Quinton Flynn
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| |java=Keiji Fujiwara
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| |javan=<small>(''KHCoM'' through ''KH3D'')</small>
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| |frva=Jean Christophe Parquier | |
| |esva=Víctor Martínez | |
| |deva=Philipp Brammer
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| |COMbattlename=The 13th Struggle
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| |COMbattlefile=The 13th Struggle KHCOM.ogg
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| |KH2battlename=The 13th Struggle
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| |KH2battlefile=The 13th Struggle KHII.ogg
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| |journalSS=A mysterious figure who stands in Sora's path.<br><br>Hard to read, half the time Axel seems to just be messing around... but for all we know, he's done more thinking than everyone else put together.<br><br>He knows a lot more than he let's on.
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| |journalRR=No. 8 in the Organization.<br><br>He is a Nobody whose intentions and secrets are hidden from all.<br><br>Axel has no qualms about exploiting others to suit his needs. He used Sora and Naminé to silence Marluxia and halt his plot against the Organization.<br><br>Axel claims he and Sora have something in common, but that connection is unclear.
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| |journalKH2=Organization XIII's Number VIII. He commands fire and carries a uniquely-shaped weapon.<br><br>He is the former mentor of Roxas. He would give anything to get him back.<br><br>He has proven to be an odd duck of sorts within the Organization, lashing out against treachery, yet stirring troubles with his own betrayals all the while.<br><br>He claims he and Sora share some sort of bond, but Sora can't imagine what that might be.
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| |journal358=No. VIII AXEL<br><br>An assassin who puts his own agenda first, and everything else on the back burner. Wields '''fire'''.<br>Weapon: Chakrams<br><br>'''HD 1.5 ReMIX'''<br>A member of Organization XIII. He prioritizes his own motives over the goals of the Organization. He eventually becomes friends with Roxas after their initial meeting. Like Roxas, he comes to worry for Xion after becoming friends with her as well.
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| |journalDDD=One of Organization XIII's more unique personalities. He was especially close to Roxas, another of their members. Axel expired while fighting to save Sora—or perhaps someone else. | |
| |journalUX='''Album'''<br>'''Roxas & Axel & Xion'''<br>KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days (2008)<br>After a mission, these three friends like to relax over sea-salt ice cream.<br><br>'''Axel A/SP Axel/HD Axel'''<br>KINGDOM HEARTS II (2005)<br>The 8th member of Organization XIII. He commands fire.<br><br>'''Boss'''<br>This Flurry of Dancing Flames absorbs attacks from Power-based Medals. Keep an eye on the count above his head.
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| |s1=Lea
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| }} | | }} |
| {{Q|My show now, Keyblade master! Who am I? Oh, my name's Axel. Got it memorized?|Axel}} | | {{Q|My show now, Keyblade master. Who am I? Oh, the name's Axel. Got it memorized?|Axel}} |
| '''Axel''', the {{nihongo|''Flurry of Dancing Flames''|おどる火の風|Odoru Hi no Kaze}}, is the [[Nobody]] of [[Lea]], and is Rank VIII within the original [[Organization XIII]]. He wields fire and enhances his weapons, twin chakrams, with his pyrokinesis to unleash powerful rapid attacks. He controls the [[Assassin]] Nobodies. | | '''Axel''', the ''Flurry of Dancing Flames'' (おどる火の風 ''Odoru Hi no Kaze'', lit. ''Wind of Dancing Flames''), is Number 8 of [[Organization XIII]], who coincidentally was the eighth to fall. Considered a Trump card by the rest of the Organization, he acted as a double agent in [[Castle Oblivion]], keeping track of [[Marluxia|Marluxia's]] plans, then betrayed the Organization for his friendship with [[Roxas]]. His distinguishing features include his spiky fire red hair, sea green eyes, and his purple reverse-teardrop markings under each eye. |
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| In ''[[Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories]]'', Axel is the trump card for the rest of the organization, acting as a double agent in [[Castle Oblivion]] to keep track of [[Marluxia]]'s plans. In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', Axel betrays the Organization due to his friendship with [[Roxas]], and acts of his own accord to aid [[Sora]], though he had originally desired to turn Sora into a [[Heartless]] and restore Roxas. Axel appears in ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'' as a playable character in [[Mission Mode]].
| | Axel wields red and silver weapons called chakrams, and utilizes the element of fire. He also controls the group of [[Nobody|lesser Nobodies]] known as the [[Assassin|Assassins]]. |
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| Axel's human form, Lea, had been friends with [[Saïx]]'s original persona, [[Isa]]. | | Axel's next appearance will be in [[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]. He will be one of the playable characters in the multiplayer format. |
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| ==Development== | | ==Journal Entries== |
| Axel bears a great number of similarities with {{ff|Reno}} from ''{{ff|Final Fantasy VII}}'', even sharing his voice actor with Reno over a variety of languages. {{w|Tetsuya Nomura}} stated that this is done intentionally as an experiment. He wanted to place a familiar character in a new environment and role. He also stated in an interview that the two are "''different people, but subconsciously alike.''"{{fact}}
| | ===''Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories''=== |
| | ''A mysterious figure who stands in Sora's path.'' |
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| Axel was popular among members of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' staff and though he was initially supposed to die at the end of Roxas's prologue, his popularity caused him to be continued into the main game of ''Kingdom Hearts II''.
| | ''Hard to read, half the time Axel seems to just be messing around... but for all we know, he's done more thinking than everyone else put together.'' |
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| In the Japanese version of ''Kingdom Hearts II'', flames consumed Axel's body at his death. The flames were removed for the English version. In ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', despite keeping many changes made to the English version, Axel's death scene uses the flames. In ''[[Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX]]'', the flames are once again removed.
| | *'''''Reverse/Rebirth''''' |
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| ==Story==
| | ''No. 8 in the Organization.'' |
| ===''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' and ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories''===
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| {{Q|Right, that first week you could barely form a sentence. But come on, you're still kind of a zombie.|Axel reminisces with Roxas}}
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| [[File:Meet Roxas 01 KHD.png|thumb|left|Axel stands alongside Roxas at his induction into the Organization.]]
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| After Roxas joins the Organization, Saïx places him under Axel's tutelage. Initially, Axel is unsure how to treat Roxas; he likens the new Organization member's withdrawn and taciturn disposition to that of a zombie. Even more confusing was that Roxas looked like [[Ventus]], whom Axel had met years ago as Lea. Over time, however, the two Nobodies begin to bond, eating [[sea-salt ice cream]] together at the [[Twilight Town]] Train Station after every mission. As his friendship with Roxas develops, Axel begins to demonstrate emotions, despite his being a Nobody.
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| Axel is also present when [[Xion]] joins the Organization, but is sent to Castle Oblivion to deal with the traitorous Marluxia soon after Xion's induction. Having received orders through Saïx, [[Xemnas]]'s second-in-command, it appears that Axel had also planned to eliminate other members who could have harmed their plans to overthrow the Organization.
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| [[File:When Sleeping Memories Awaken 01 KHRECOM.png|thumb|Axel teases Sora and reveals that he was merely playing with the boy.]]
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| While Sora and [[Riku]] wander Castle Oblivion, Axel works for the two parties of the already divided Organization members in the castle. One party, consisting of Marluxia and [[Larxene]], wishes to use Sora's powers to usurp Xemnas and the rest of the Organization by using [[Naminé]] to alter Sora's memories. The other faction, consisting of [[Vexen]], [[Lexaeus]], and [[Zexion]] three of the original six members of Organization XIII realizes Marluxia's ambitions and tries to stop the traitors, using [[Riku]] to destroy Sora. Early on, Axel spends most of his time with Marluxia and Larxene, trying to obtain their trust.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories}}
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| Upon purposely throwing his battle against Sora, Axel admits to using the battle as a test of the [[Keyblade wielder]]'s strength. Axel gives up a {{c|card|com}} created from Sora's memories, which allows Sora to progress further in the castle, After leaving a bewildered Sora, Axel confronts Larxene, professing an interest in preserving Sora's self-consciousness even after he became a [[Heartless]].
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| After Vexen's first battle with Sora, Marluxia orders Axel to dispose of Vexen, both to test Axel's willingness to eliminate another Organization member and to stop Vexen from interfering with Marluxia's plan. Axel finishes off Vexen, who had just engaged Sora in combat and is accepted into Marluxia and Larxene's conspiracy. Taking advantage of Marluxia and Larxene's trust, Axel allows Naminé to escape and contact Sora. Citing his previous order to rid the Organization of traitors, Axel later confronts Marluxia, who now realizes Axel's continued loyalty to the Organization. During their battle, Marluxia attempts to use Naminé as a shield. Axel is undeterred, but before he is able to strike, Sora appears behind him and is angered to learn that Axel would be willing to harm Naminé. A fierce fight ensues between Axel and Sora, and Sora emerges victorious. Conceding defeat, Axel leaves Sora with the words, "It was worth saving you after all," and vanishes.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories}}
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| After his battle with Sora, Axel meets Zexion in the castle basement. Zexion brings up the subject of Riku, and requests data on [[Destiny Islands]] in the form of a card. After Zexion is defeated by Riku, he retreats and meets with Axel. Despite their previous collaboration, Axel says that Zexion had "just found out way too much". Axel persuades the [[Riku Replica]] to absorb Zexion, promising the duplicate that he would gain newfound powers, including the strength needed to defeat the real Riku.{{storylink|Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories}}
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| With the five members of the Organization finished off, Axel proceeds to carry out his orders to find the [[Chamber of Waking]] and retrieve Naminé, but fails to find the chamber and allows Naminé to escape, deeming her unnecessary. When Axel finally returns to [[the World That Never Was]], he feels as if Roxas had replaced him with Xion, with whom Roxas now eats ice cream in Twilight Town in the same way Roxas and Axel had prior to Castle Oblivion. At Roxas's suggestion, the three begin to spend time together as a trio. Sometime later, Saïx confronts Axel. Axel reveals that he regrets not being able to talk with Saïx as he could with Roxas and Xion. Saïx alludes to the friendship he and Axel had shared before becoming Nobodies and reminds him of their plans to find [[Subject X]].
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| [[File:The Existence of Sadness 02 KHII.png|thumb|left|Axel tries to stop Roxas from leaving the Organization.]]
| | ''He is a shadow whose intentions and secrets are hidden from all.'' |
| Eventually, Axel discovered that Xion is an imperfect [[replica]] of Roxas and keeps the truth from him, sometimes he would lie to him to keep him from worrying, but couldn't help but feel bad for deceiving him. After discovering her identity, Xion develops a desire to leave the Organization. While on a mission, Axel discovers Xion has sneaked into Castle Oblivion. He encourages her to leave and to stop remembering her former memories, or rather, Sora's memories. Despite Axel's warning, Xion goes further into the castle. Xion eventually escapes the Organization but is attacked and captured by Axel, under Saïx's orders, in Twilight Town weeks later, before Roxas's eyes. Despite Roxas's protests, Axel claims that his use of force had been necessary. No longer on speaking terms with Roxas, Axel becomes torn between his two friends, trying to decide which one to save from Xemnas's plan.
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| [[File:Xion and Axel Face Off 01 KHD.png|thumb|Axel swears that he would always bring Xion back, regardless of how many times she tries to flee.]]
| | ''Axel has no qualms about exploiting others to suit his needs. He used Sora and Naminé to silence Marluxia and halt his plot against the Organization.'' |
| About 2 months later, Axel rescues Xion and Roxas from being manipulated into killing each other at [[Halloween Town]], causing all three of them to become distrustful of the Organization and Saïx. The next day while on a mission in [[Wonderland]], Xion attacks [[Xigbar]] and knocks him unconscious, and Axel makes no attempt to stop her. She removes her hood, shocking Axel, and asks Axel to let her go, which he agrees to, and she retreats through a Corridor of Darkness. Roxas confronted him on why he just let her go and reveals that Xion is a replica and that they can't coexist together. Roxas refuses to believe it and leaves in a fury despite Axel's protests. The next day, Xemnas ordered Axel to bring Xion back alive. Before leaving to find her, Roxas tries to reason with him that Xion can't come back, only to say that it's rather that or him being destroyed. The next day, Roxas, having learned Xion's identity and that Axel had hidden it from him, questions him about his true identity resulting an argument between them. Axel only tells Roxas to trust him, but he refuses and leaves the Organization in anger. Axel, who had enjoyed the time he had spent with his best friend, is distraught but is unable to stop Roxas from deserting.
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| The next day, under orders, Axel tracks Xion down to the Old Mansion in Twilight Town. Having learned Xion's intentions, and fed up with her and Roxas's selfishness, Axel battles Xion and knocks her unconscious. Axel, after managing to bring Xion back to the [[Castle That Never Was]], faints from fatigue, and Xemnas takes the unconscious Xion from him. Later, in his quarters, after learning the aftermath of Roxas and Xion's fight, a depressed Axel discovers a popsicle stick labeled "WINNER", a gift left by Roxas. After Xion's defeat at Roxas's hands, Axel's memories of her eventually disappear.<ref>'''''[[Secret Reports#Day 357: To My Best Friend|Secret Reports]]''''', '''Axel:''' "Roxas left. It's so like him to just leave that WINNER ice cream stick behind. Come tomorrow, I'll probably get the order to hunt him down, but leaving that here makes it feel so permanent. I wish the three of us—three? No. That the two of us could share some ice cream again someday. That's what it is to be friends."</ref>
| | ''Axel claims he and Sora have something in common, but that connection is unclear.'' |
| {{-}}
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| ===''Kingdom Hearts II''=== | | ===''Kingdom Hearts II''=== |
| {{q|I wanted to see Roxas. He...was the only one I liked...he made me feel...like I had a heart. It's kind of...funny. You make me feel...the same....|Axel referring to how Sora reminded him of Roxas}}
| | ''Organization XIII's Number VIII. He commands fire and carries a uniquely-shaped weapon.'' |
| Shortly after Roxas's escape from The World That Never Was, Riku captures Roxas and [[Ansem the Wise]] places him in [[The Other Twilight Town]]. There, Roxas's memory is wiped and replaced with artificial ones, leading Roxas to believe that he is a normal teenager on summer vacation. Axel is ordered to retrieve or destroy Roxas, but only agrees after threats from [[Xaldin]] and Xemnas. He enters the simulated town to confront Roxas; however, his first effort to retrieve Roxas fails when DiZ appears and restarts the Twilight Town program, temporarily removing Axel from the simulation. Roxas is dumbfounded by Axel's appearance, as he lacks any memories of the Organization member.
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| [[File:Axel's Decision 01 KHII.png|thumb|left|Furious at being forgotten, Axel prepares to eliminate Roxas.]]
| | ''He has proven to be an odd duck of sorts within the Organization, lashing out against treachery, yet stirring troubles with his own betrayals all the while.'' |
| Axel again tries to recover Roxas without destroying him, while keeping in mind the Organization's order to either eliminate Roxas or be destroyed himself. Roxas, who has since learned from Naminé that the two had been best friends, mentions this to Axel, who calls Roxas's bluff when he is unable to remember Xemnas's name. [[DiZ]] again intervenes, and Roxas escapes to the Old Mansion in Twilight Town. The two meet again in the mansion's computer room basement. Despite Roxas's having regained his memories, Axel, who is hurt emotionally from his previous encounters, fights Roxas, who is now dual-wielding [[Oathkeeper & Oblivion]]. Axel loses the fight and disappears, obliging not to finish his mission.
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| While Sora reawakens with Roxas inside him, Riku asks Axel to protect Naminé. Later, at Sunset Hill, Axel calls it a day before Riku motions for them to leave. Naminé's words, about those who are dear to them despite being Nobodies, strangely move him. As Riku thanks them both, he opens a Corridor of Darkness, allowing the three to make their exit.
| | ''He claims he and Sora share some sort of bond, but Sora can't imagine what that might be.'' |
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| During Sora's travels through the different worlds, Axel appears before [[Kairi]] on a beach in Destiny Islands, intending to kidnap her. Axel's plan is simple: if Sora were to become a Heartless again, then Roxas would be reborn. However, Kairi escapes through a [[Corridor of Darkness]] created by Riku, and lands in Twilight Town where she waits for Sora. Axel, however, follows her to the town and steals her away again. Not long afterward, she is taken captive by Saïx, who is under orders to "give him something to be pitiful about". After the invasion of [[Radiant Garden]] by the Heartless, Sora confronts Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII, who disappears after a brief exchange. Axel appears before Sora right after Xemnas exits and explains the [[Keyblade]]'s ability to release the captive [[heart]]s that compose Heartless. However, Axel refuses to say what Organization XIII would do with those hearts. Sora realizes that Axel is Kairi's captor, which Axel confirms. Though initially unrepentant for his actions, he soon apologizes for kidnapping Kairi, but makes a hasty exit when Saïx appears.
| | ==Story== |
| | ===Meeting [[Roxas]]=== |
| | When [[Roxas]] was first born, [[Xemnas]] found him, in front of the old mansion in [[Twilight Town]]. When prompted to join [[Organization XIII]], he abruptly refused, and was left to wander the large scape of the town. It was then that, in both the KHII manga and in the Final Mix+ version of the game that [[Roxas]] first saw [[Hayner]], [[Pence]], and [[Olette]]--yet despite his knowing that he couldn't feel, he was jealous. |
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| On the way to The World That Never Was, Sora, [[Donald]], [[Goofy]], and [[King Mickey]] are trapped in [[Betwixt and Between]] and attacked by Nobodies, but Axel arrives to help Sora battle the Nobodies. Realizing the [[Dusk]]s' overwhelming numbers, Axel puts his entire being and essence into one, powerful attack, which destroys the Nobodies at the expense of his life.
| | It was then that Axel also convinced Roxas to join the [[Organization XIII]]. |
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| [[File:The Words I Wanted to Say 02 KHII.png|thumb|A fading Axel apologizes to Sora for kidnapping Kairi.]] | | ===[[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]]=== |
| As he fades away, Axel explains his motives: he had wanted to save Sora, Roxas's original self, who stays with him in his last moments. He sincerely apologizes to Sora for involving Kairi in Organization XIII's plans. Axel confesses that he had wanted to see Roxas, the only one who had made him feel like he had a heart. Axel remarks that Sora makes him feel the same way. In his final moments, Axel urges Sora to proceed and rescue Kairi, then opens a passageway to the World That Never Was before disappearing into the darkness.
| | [[Image:Axel-ChOfMem.png|left]] |
| | '' "You didn't think, after all that, I would just give up all so easily, did you?" '' |
| | --Axel, commenting on Sora's behavior after he purposely allowed himself to be defeated. |
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| Afterward, [[Xigbar]], [[Luxord]] and [[Saïx]] discuss Axel's foolish and senseless actions, in turning against the Organization for the sake of his friendship with Roxas. Xemnas reveals that Axel's disappearance had served to stir Roxas from his rest, claiming Axel's disobedience had not been entirely meaningless and pitiful. Xemnas also states that, due to his contact with Sora's heart, Axel's own ability to feel emotions may have been affected.
| | In [[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]] while [[Sora]] and [[Riku]] are wandering around in [[Castle Oblivion]], Axel is working for the two parties of the already divided Organization in the castle. One side is [[Larxene]] and Marluxia, who seek to use [[Sora]]'s powers to usurp Xemnas and the rest of the Organization using [[Naminé]] to alter Sora's memories. On another side is [[Vexen]], [[Lexaeus]], and [[Zexion]], three of the original members of [[Organization XIII]]. Those three realized Marluxia's ambitions and try to counteract by using Riku to destroy Sora. At first, Axel joins the rebel group, though his intentions at this point are unclear. |
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| {{canon
| | Axel fights Sora to test him ; Sora defeats him and Axel gladly gives up a card for Sora to progress further in the castle. In his conversation with Larxene, he professes an interest in the fact that Sora retains his self-consciousness even after becoming a Heartless. |
| |In the written novel of the game, Naminé backs up Xemnas's notion, mentioning that Axel had never truly died, but had rather faded into darkness, where he would wander until he found his heart.
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| }}
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| [[File:Leaving Him Behind 02 KHIIFM.png|thumb|left|Axel bids his final farewell to Roxas.]]
| | After Vexen nearly reveals the existence of Roxas to Sora, Axel is ordered by Marluxia to dispose of Vexen. Axel does so effortlessly, and is accepted by Marluxia and Larxene into their conspiracy. Using this to his advantage, Axel allows Naminé to escape and contact Sora. Later on, Axel confronts Marluxia, allowing him to figure out the fact that Axel is actually a double agent. Citing his previous order to rid the Organization of traitors, Axel is about to attack Marluxia even at the cost of Naminé's life but is interrupted by Sora, whom he then fights. At the end of the battle, Axel pretends to have fallen, and confuses Sora with the words "I don't deserve this after I helped you..." and vanishes. |
| Axel makes one final appearance before Roxas, immediately after Roxas's mental battle with Sora. The two discuss their fate, reminisce about the good times they had shared with each other. Axel gives a final farewell to his best friend shedding a tear, as his [[body]] and [[soul]] reunite with his heart at Radiant Garden, reviving Lea. | |
| {{-}}
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| ===''[[Kingdom Hearts coded]]''===
| | After his battle with Sora, Axel meets with Zexion, who discusses Riku and requests data on [[Destiny Islands]]. Despite their previous collaboration, Axel later offers [[Riku Replica]] the honor of killing Zexion, promising the duplicate that he would gain new powers and be able to defeat the real Riku. The exact reason for Axel's betrayal is not stated, and seems self-contradictory after he had helped stop Marluxia's betrayal, though it was true that both sides of the Organization members in Castle Oblivion (the members in the basement and the higher levels) had their own ideas for betrayal. Yet the only comment Axel makes is that it would be more interesting to see Sora and Riku's future than to save Zexion. However, this may have something to do with Axel's friendship with Roxas, which is probably and partly also the reason why he effortlessly destroys Vexen earlier as he doesn't want to risk Sora pursuing his Nobody should he learn of him. In Re: Chain of Memories during the scene known as "Tactician's End" Axel states the reason for his betrayal of Zexion saying: "You just found out way too much." What Zexion "found out" is never explained. |
| In the [[Datascape]]'s version of Castle Oblivion, [[Data-Naminé]] reveals to [[Data-Sora]] and King Mickey that Axel is one of the people that, while gone, is still connected to Sora's heart.
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| ===''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''=== | | ===[[Kingdom Hearts II]]=== |
| [[File:A Remembered Promise 01 KH3D.png|thumb|In Lea's dream, Roxas reminds Axel of the promise he made to him and Xion.]] | | Plagued with questions as to why he has a [[Keyblade]] and subconsciously seeking out Sora, Roxas leaves the Organization. Axel, who found companionship in Roxas, is distraught by this decision. |
| Just before waking, Lea has a dream of Axel and Roxas eating sea-salt ice cream in Twilight Town. In the dream, Roxas reminds Axel of the promise he had made to him and Xion, to always bring them back. He asks Axel if he had it memorized before fading away, leaving Axel to chuckle.
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| {{-}}
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| ==Other appearances==
| | Later on, Roxas was captured by Riku and put in [[Ansem the Wise|Ansem the Wise's]] [[Digital Twilight Town]] where his memory is wiped and replaced with an artificial one, leading him to believe he is a normal teenager. Axel is sent to the simulated town to bring Roxas back to the Organization. However, his first effort fails due to [[DiZ|DiZ's]] appearance and the restarting of the Twilight Town program. Roxas is dumbfounded by Axel's appearance and comments, lacking any memories of him and hence awareness of what is going on. Soon, Axel is forced to accept the Organization's order to either eliminate Roxas or be destroyed himself. Axel again tries to recover Roxas without the need to kill him. Roxas uses information on Axel that he had learned from [[Naminé]] (that the two are best friends) in an attempt to save himself, but his bluff is called when he is unable to remember [[Xemnas|their boss's]] name when Axel tests him, and it is only through DiZ's intervention that Roxas escapes. The two meet again, but for the last time. Despite Roxas' recovering of his memories, Axel informs him that its too late and fights Roxas and his dual Keyblades. Axel loses the fight and leaves, choosing not to carry out his mission and becomes branded a traitor for it. While Sora reawakened with Roxas inside him, Axel was entrusted by Riku to protect Naminé. Naminé's words, about those who are dear to them despite being Nobodies, moved Axel. |
| ===''[[Blank Points]]''===
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| Axel, Roxas, and Xion are seen sitting happily together on the Clock Tower with sea-salt ice cream. The trio looks into the sunset, and Roxas and Xion say Sora's name. | |
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| ===''Kingdom Hearts Union χ[Cross]''=== | | ===A second chance with Sora=== |
| Axel appears as an enemy in the August 2018 {{khux|NEW XIII Event}}.
| | '' "The guy you just saw. He's their leader! X-E-M-N-A-S. Got it memorized?" '' |
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| ===''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''===
| | - Axel, telling Sora about the Organization's superior, Xemnas. |
| In ''{{ssb|Super Smash Bros. Ultimate}}'', Axel appears in the 4 o'clock and 5 o'clock Stations in the [[Dive to the Heart]] sections of the {{ssb|Hollow Bastion}} stage, as an obtainable {{ssb|spirit}} in Sora's {{ssb|DLC Spirits (mode)|Spirit Board}}, and is represented by {{ssb|Roy (SSBU)|Roy}} in {{ssb|Spirit#Spirit Battles|Spirit Battle}}.
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| ==Design==
| | During Sora's exploits to the different worlds, Axel appears before [[Kairi]], intending to kidnap her to draw Sora out. Axel's plan is simple; if Sora were to become a Heartless again, then Roxas would be reborn. However, Kairi escapes through a [[Corridor of Darkness]] created by Riku, landing in [[Twilight Town]] and staying there for some time in wait of Sora. However, Axel comes to fetch her once more, but not long afterwards she escapes and is taken captive by [[Saïx]] instead under orders to give Axel something to actually worry about. |
| Axel is tall and slender in appearance. Like other Organization members, he wears basic black gloves and boots. His black coat, however, is one of the more distinctive ones in the group, as its sleeves close up tightly around his arms. Axel himself is also easily distinguishable from other characters in terms of facial features, made easier by the fact that he rarely wears the hood of his coat up. Axel has a widow's peak, rather small eyebrows, and thick, shoulder-length, bright red hair styled into slicked-back spikes. Xigbar teases him about it, calling him "Flamesilocks". His eyes are a bright emerald color and he has a purple reverse-teardrop-shaped marking under each eye, which is similar to {{ff|Reno}}'s facial markings. According to Saïx, the marking was to prevent Axel from crying, which Lea claims he does not need anymore.<ref>'''''Kingdom Hearts III'', Saïx''': "Always told you they'd stop you from crying. The upside-down tears." / '''Lea''': "Yeah. Don't need 'em."''</ref>
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| ==Personality==
| | After the invasion of the [[Radiant Garden]] by the Heartless, Sora confronts Xemnas, the leader of Organization XIII. Xemnas decides to take his leave, and Axel is there to greet Sora. Axel hints that the Keyblade causes the hearts that composed the Heartless to flee, but refuses to say what Organization XIII would do with those hearts. Axel also apologizes for losing Kairi, but flees for his life (and body, for the Organization threatens to turn him into a [[Dusk]] if he fails to bring back Roxas--which he did) when Saïx arrives at the scene. |
| At the beginning of ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'', Axel has a mysterious, stoic, and calm, as well as cold, unforgiving, and merciless demeanor on par with that of Marluxia. In ''Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories'', he interrupts Vexen's cries for mercy with a cocky "goodbye" before incinerating him without any hesitation and seems to be amused by the deaths of his comrades as shown in the scene where he is making bets with Zexion. When Marluxia uses Naminé as a human shield against him, Axel confidently implies that he doesn't care if Naminé is in his way to get to Marluxia.
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| He seems quite distant at times during his time in Castle Oblivion, ignoring Vexen's insults and almost completely unfazed by Larxene's behavior towards him. Although Axel seems to hold Larxene and Zexion in good company to an extent by making friendly conversation with Larxene while Marluxia is not around and making bets with Zexion as to which member will be defeated next, this was shown to be nothing more than an act to earn their trust. Eventually, Axel betrays Larxene by letting Naminé escape, although he seems disappointed yet satisfied with her elimination. Later on, he encourages Riku Replica to annihilate Zexion to ensure that his actions in Castle Oblivion go unnoticed by the rest of the Organization and to help Saïx keep his rank in the Organization. In ''[[Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix]]'', he appears indifferent to angering Xaldin, showing his disdain for the other Nobody. | | ===Death=== |
| | {{q|He...was the only one I liked...he made me feel...like I had a heart. It's funny. You make me feel...the same....|Axel, referring to how Sora reminded him of Roxas}} |
| | On the way to [[The World That Never Was]], Sora, Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey are trapped in [[Betwixt and Between]] by Nobodies, but Axel arrives to help. Sora and Axel battle the Nobodies, but seeing no other choice, Axel decides to put every bit of his energy into one massive attack to destroy the Nobodies and save Sora, who stays with him until the moment he dies. His body smoldering and beginning to fade, Axel opens the passageway to The World That Never Was. As he dies, he sincerely apologizes to Sora for getting Kairi involved. Sora asks him what he was trying to do, and Axel expresses that he wanted to see Roxas, who made him feel like he had a heart, and that Sora makes him feel the same way, and uses his final words to urge Sora on to rescue Kairi, fading into darkness afterwards. After that, [[Xigbar]] and [[Luxord]] were curious about Axel doing something as foolish as that, but Xemnas revealed that Axel's death served to stir Roxas from his rest. Xemnas also stated that due to contact with Sora, Axel could be reborn full with a heart. Whether or not this is true remains unclear. |
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| Axel's cold personality changes drastically, due to his friendship with [[Roxas]], stating that the latter made him feel "like he had a heart". In ''[[Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days]]'', he has a very laidback, "go with the flow" outlook on many things, including missions and battles. He is also shown to be quite sarcastic. This is shown once he has returned from Castle Oblivion when Saïx asks him why he did not report, he simply responds with "Oh, good to see you, too. You're welcome, thanks for the kind words."
| | In [[Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix+]], Axel would make one final appearance in Roxas' flashback where he gives a final farewell to Roxas. It is also possible (like the rest of the Organization with the exception of Xemnas and Roxas) that there is a Heartless version of Axel. Whether this will be touched upon in a later game is yet to be seen. |
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| Axel revealed to have a very kind, heartful side, which he only displayed to his closest friends, Roxas and Xion, acting like an older brother towards them and being their main source of advice and wisdom. In some cases, he got them out of trouble, including helping out Xion and Roxas when Xion cannot summon her Keyblade and preventing them from destroying one another when they are tricked by the Organization into fighting each other. In ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', when Axel bids his final farewell to Roxas, it can be seen upon closer inspection that the teardrop at the end of the scene belongs to Axel, which displays his emotional capacities. | | ==Fighting Style== |
| | {{main|Axel (Chain of Memories Enemy)}} |
| | {{main|Axel (Kingdom Hearts II Enemy)}} |
| | As the Flurry of Dancing Flames, Axel uses two uniquely shaped weapons called chakrams, and specializes in Fire Magic. He can summon pillars of flame at will, and strike with rapid combos using his chakrams. He can also surround his chakrams in flame and throw them like boomeranges, spinning and looping to hit opponents multiple times. In his one on one battle with Roxas in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Axel also summons a circle of fire to surround them, and leaps into the flames to hide, emerging to strike with rapid attacks, then leaping back to keep his opponents off their guard. |
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| Originally, when Axel displays emotion, he finds it unusual given that Nobodies cannot feel anything, and often refuses to acknowledge them, even mocking his ability to feel towards his death. He notes this in ''Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories'' when he begins laughing, but catches himself and stops. However, it has been hinted by Xemnas, and Axel himself, that by being close in contact with Sora's heart, Axel began to feel emotions of his own.
| | ==Card== |
| | see:''[[Enemy Cards#Axel|Axel (Enemy Card)]]'' |
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| Out of the whole Organization, Axel is probably the most difficult to read. According to Lexaeus, no one ever knows what he is thinking or whose side he is really on. While he seems to just be joking around, he may have done more thinking than everyone else combined, as stated in Jiminy's Journal. Similarly, in both ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'' and ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', Axel tends to avoid eye contact when lying.
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| In ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', it is shown that Axel does not like to talk about his past. Whenever Roxas or Xion asks him about it, he gives a brief or vague answer and then tries to change the subject. It is implied that he had some sort of experience with women in his earlier life, as seen when he gives Roxas a piece of friendly advice to "not push the wrong buttons" with women. He also believes that women are complicated, claiming that real women are a "double dose of complex" (since he thinks that real people are more complex compared to Nobodies), and Nobody women are a "single dose".
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| Axel's catchphrase is "Got it memorized?" (originally localized as "Commit it to memory" in ''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories'') whenever he refers to an important name, but mostly when he is introducing himself, even when he is Lea. On a side note, Axel is the first character in the series to curse, since he uses the word "hell" after letting Naminé go, asking Sora to "give [him] one hell of a show", but in the remake, it is changed to "Try and make it enjoyable". | | ==Trivia== |
| | [[Image:RenoFFVII.JPG|thumb|right|140px|Reno from ''Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core''.]] |
| | *It has been noted that Axel bears many similarities to [[finalfantasy:Reno|Reno]] from [[finalfantasy:Final Fantasy VII|Final Fantasy VII]]. Their similarities include facial markings, wild red hair, green eyes, similar personalities, and they also share voice actors as noted above. [[wikipedia:Tetsuya Nomura|Tetsuya Nomura]] commented on the connection between Axel and Reno, stating that he wanted to experiment by placing a familiar character in a new environment and role. |
| | *Axel is often considered a popular member of the Organization and from the series by fans, mainly due to his role in the games, abilities and sacrificial death. In fact, he was also a popular member of the Kingdom Hearts staff and, according to the "Kingdom Hearts Character Report Volume 2", he was initially supposed to die at the end of Roxas' Prologue, but his popularity caused him to be continued into the main game of ''Kingdom Hearts II''. |
| | *In ''Chain of Memories'', Axel's catchphrase is "Commit it to memory", but in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', it was changed to "Got it memorized?", which is a more liable English translation of his original Japanese phrase, "Kioku shita ka?", which is also a past tense question. ''Re: Chain of Memories'' corrected the translation to the past tense version. |
| | *In the English language versions, Axel's death scene was edited to remove the flames that were consuming his body. |
| | *In the manga based on ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Axel's search for Roxas in Twilight Town is expanded, and it is revealed that lesser Nobodies were stealing pictures of Roxas because they could not tell pictures apart from the real Roxas. |
| | * Quinton Flynn's characterization of Axel between ''Re:Chain of Memories'' and ''Kingdom Hearts II'' are noticeably different. Whereas in the latter, Axel is portrayed as rather lax, in the former, he is more serious and eloquent, akin to Marluxia. It is unknown for the change in characterizations, though the different scripts of the two games may be the reason. Also, it could be interpreted that he became more lax due to his friendship with Roxas (and thus later, to Sora), which may not have developed yet beyond their working relationship. ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'' lends credibility to this theory as the game, where Roxas' friendship with Axel develops, occurs after Sora's story in ''Chain of Memories''. |
| | * In both Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II, Axel is shown to display emotions, which is unusual given that Nobodies can't feel anything. Even he himself notes this in Re:Chain of Memories when he begins laughing and stops, saying "''Wait a minute. I'm actually enjoying this! You guys really are something else!''". Whether he, Roxas, and Naminé all seem have something unusual in common regarding the heart is unknown, but one can indeed speculate that he may have had a heart, just as Roxas said in Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix. |
| | *There was a bit of controversy about ''Chain of Memories'' about Axel who was the only character in the series who said a swear. After letting Namine go after feeling the enjoyment come over him, he said the line (which he's saying to Sora and the Riku Replica), "So you guys are making me feel this? Well keep it going because it's about time you gave me one Hell of a show!". In Japan, "Hell" isn't necessarily considered an curse as it is in the United States. Nevertheless, in ''Re:Chain of Memories'', the scene is changed to Axel saying, "Hey I'm actually enjoying this! You guys really are something else!". |
| | *Axel is the first (and so far only) Organization XIII member to act as a (temporary) party member. |
| | *It is notable that (in the English version) Axel's voice in the Game Boy version of Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II sound noticeably different. If one listens to the sound effects, Axel has a deep and bold type of voice, whereas in Kingdom Hearts II he has a relaxed and easy going voice. |
| | *Axel and Xemnas are the only two members of Organization XIII to appear (physically) in more than one main series game, though Xemnas only appears in Kingdom Hearts: Final Mix as a secret boss. |
| | * In Re CoM, Axel is the only Organization member who's deck is made up of only attack cards. |
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| ==Abilities== | | ==Videos== |
| As the Flurry of Dancing Flames, Axel uses two uniquely shaped weapons called chakrams, and specializes in Fire manipulation. He can summon pillars of flame at will and strike with rapid combos using his chakrams. He can also surround his chakrams in flame and throw them like boomerangs, spinning and looping them to hit opponents multiple times. In his one on one battle with Roxas in ''Kingdom Hearts II'', Axel also summons a circle of fire to surround them and leaps into the flames to hide, emerging to strike with rapid attacks, and then leaping back to keep his opponents off their guard. Axel is a powerful member of the Organization, arguably even stronger, or at least a better fighter, than Saïx. This is seen when Saïx is defeated by Roxas, but Axel was able to defeat Xion at the Old Mansion, who at the time absorbed much of Roxas's power. However, Axel clearly put more effort into his battle, as he passed out after the fight, while Saïx remained conscious, though exhausted.
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| In ''Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days'', Axel has a Limit Break called [[Explosion (Limit Break)|Explosion]], which causes Axel to throw his fire-engulfed chakrams at enemies. During the Final Limit, his two chakrams are combined into one enormous chakram.
| | {|width="100%" border="solid" style="text-align:center" |
| ===''Kingdom Hearts II''===
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| Axel assists Sora when fighting the Nobodies at [[Betwixt and Between]]. He fights with attacks that are also used in the battles against him.
| | |width="50%"|<big>'''Axel ([[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories|Chain of Memories]])'''</big> |
| {{frm-abi-o|kh2|o=*}}
| | |width="50%"|<big>'''Axel ([[Kingdom Hearts II]])'''</big> |
| {{frm-abi|n=*|{{nihongo|'''Continuous Attack'''|連続攻撃|<br>Renzoku Kōgeki}}|Axel twists his body while swinging his weapon many times.}}
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| {{frm-abi|n=*|{{nihongo|'''Firetooth'''|ファイアカッター|<br>Faia Kattā|lit. "Fire Cutter"}}|Axel moves behind the enemy and throws a flaming weapon.}}
| | |<youtube width="320" height="240">ek44v9eAxQE</youtube> |
| {{frm-abi|n=*|{{nihongo|'''Assault'''|突撃|<br>Totsugeki}}|After disappearing, Axel charges forward while covered in flames.}}
| | |<youtube width="320" height="240">UK4OsB8r5Ww</youtube> |
| {{frm-abi|n=*|{{nihongo|'''Wild Dance'''|乱舞|<br>Ranbu}}|Axel swings his weapon covered in flames, and repeatedly attacks with flaming pillars.}}
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| {{frm-abi|n=*|{{nihongo|'''Fall Attack'''|落下攻撃|<br>Rakka Kōgeki}}|Axel warps into the air above, and spreads a blaze upon landing.}}
| | |width="50%"|<big>'''Axel ([[Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories|Re:Chain of Memories]])'''</big> |
| {{frm-c}}
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| | |<youtube width="320" height="240">BRYza9ffU7Q</youtube> |
| | |} |
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| ===Weapon===
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| Axel utilizes two {{w|Chakram}}s, named "[[Eternal Flames]]". Each Chakram is circular and red, with silver spikes and circles around the edges, and two black handles shaped like crosses in the middle. Each chakram has eight spikes, possibly referencing Axel's rank in the Organization. Axel is very adept in the use of his weapon; he can throw them, use them as shields, or use them as melee weapons. He performs some unique attacks, including juggling them against an opponent or throwing one across the entire battlefield continuously.
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| He also uses them in conjunction with his fire abilities, setting the tips, or even the whole thing, on fire before throwing them. From a scene in ''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories'', it is shown that he can set his Chakrams on fire from afar, acting as a remote detonator.
| | {{nobody}} |
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| The [[Bond of Flame]] Keyblade, obtained from Axel, is similar in appearance to his Chakrams. Axel's Chakrams are among the few Organization XIII weapons that do not bear the Nobody symbol (the others being Xemnas's Ethereal Blades, and Roxas's and Xion's Keyblades), but the spikes on the wheel do bear some similarities to the Nobody insignia.
| | {{Party}} |
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| In real life, chakrams are actually small razor-edged throwing disks used by warriors in ancient India. Axel's Chakrams bear more of a resemblance to Chinese wind-and-fire wheels, wheel-shaped weapons that are used strictly as melee weapons.
| | {{Nobody Boss}} |
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| <center><gallery>
| | [[Category: Chain of Memories characters]] |
| File:Eternal Flames KHII.png|Axel's signature Chakrams, the Eternal Flames.
| | [[Category: Kingdom Hearts II characters]] |
| </gallery></center>
| | [[Category: Organization XIII]] |
| | | [[Category: Castle Oblivion]] |
| ==Notes and references==
| | [[Category: World That Never Was]] |
| {{reflist}}
| | [[Category: Travelers]] |
| | | [[Category: Characters]] |
| {{Chakram}}
| | [[Category: 358/2 Days]] |
| {{NobodyDirectory}}
| | [[Category: Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]] |
| {{Party}}
| | [[Category: Kingdom Hearts II]] |
| {{358}}
| | [[Category:Original characters]] |
| {{COM}}
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| {{KH2}}
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| {{Coded}}
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| {{DDD}}
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| {{MOM}}
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| [[Category:Allies]] | |
| [[Category:Antagonists]] | |
