Editing Soul Eater

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|strike=D+ / C<ref name="D">While in Dark Mode.</ref>

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|name=Soul Eater

|katakana=ソウルイーター

|romaji=Souru Ītā

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The '''Soul Eater''' is a weapon used by [[Riku]], introduced in ''{{c|Kingdom Hearts|game}}''. It is a sword that grows more powerful when used with darkness, and is the developing form of [[Way to the Dawn]].<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania]]''''', '''Interviewer''': "We found out that Riku's Keyblade's name is 'Way to the Dawn' when examining his item slots after he joined your party. Is that Keyblade a transfigured version of Soul Eater?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "I designed it with that image. Since Riku has always been using Soul Eater, he still calls it that even after it changed form. Keyblades aren't something that you can obtain suddenly out of nowhere, so in Riku's case, his Soul Eater was used as an intermediary for that Keyblade." [https://web.archive.org/web/20120331081957/http://www.kh2.co.uk/website/interviews/kh2u Translation via Maiki].</ref> The Soul Eater is also wielded by [[Riku Replica]], [[Data-Riku]], [[Dark Riku]], and Dark Riku's [[Replica Xehanort]] counterpart, all of whom are copies of Riku.

Some time after arriving at [[Hollow Bastion]] and being taken in by [[Maleficent]], Riku learns to summon the Soul Eater, which he uses as his primary weapon. Later, while he is in [[Traverse Town]], he uses it to take out a pair of [[Soldier]]s that are about to attack [[Sora]]. He continues to use Soul Eater in his battles until he is possessed by [[Ansem, Seeker of Darkness|Ansem]]; at that point, he uses the [[Keyblade of heart]] instead. During Sora's final battle against Ansem and [[World of Chaos]], Ansem uses a giant, double-bladed, pole-arm version of the Soul Eater.

===''Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories''===

Riku continues to use the Soul Eater as he makes his way up from the lowest basement of [[Castle Oblivion]]. Along the way, he battles [[Vexen]], who uses data from the battle to create the [[Riku Replica]]; this clone uses his own Soul Eater in his battles against both Riku and Sora, who is ascending the upper floors of the castle.

In order to avoid the notice of [[Organization XIII]], Riku keeps a low profile. Even when he is spotted by Organization members, he avoids drawing his Soul Eater, instead electing to stay on the defensive and running when possible. However, on Day 149, he draws Soul Eater in a duel against [[Xion]] at [[Beast's Castle]], and defeats her easily. He does not use it again, to the point of using [[Roxas]]'s own [[Oblivion]] Keyblade during his final battle against the Nobody at [[The World That Never Was]].

In the form of [[Riku-Ansem]], Riku once more uses Soul Eater as his main weapon; he fends off [[Dusk]]s in front of the [[Old Mansion]] on the Sixth Day, and both duels Sora and subdues [[Li Shang]] in [[the Land of Dragons]]. His fighting style and use of Soul Eater start to clue Sora in on the identity of the mysterious hooded figure.

By the time Riku arrives at The World That Never Was, Soul Eater has transformed into the [[Way to the Dawn]]. Even after this, Riku continues to refer to his weapon as Soul Eater.

After Sora and Riku begin their journey through the [[Sleeping Worlds]], they fight [[Ursula]] on the ocean. During this battle, Riku wields the Soul Eater, but he begins wielding Way to the Dawn after the battle is over.

 

As the past version of the Riku Replica, [[Dark Riku]] wields his version of the Soul Eater in battle, as does his [[Replica Xehanort]] counterpart.

The Soul Eater is a falchion-esque sword, with a red, purple and blue blade shaped like a demonic wing. Its handle bears the [[Gazing Eye]], and the handle itself consists of dark braids. It has a striking resemblance to Way to the Dawn, as well as [[Void Gear]]. The weapon can be summoned at will, appearing in Riku's hand in an amorphous cloud of darkness. In [[Halloween Town]], the Soul Eater gains an aged appearance; the scales on the wing are more apparent, the ivory clips on the handle bear red splatter spots that resemble rust, and the eye of darkness becomes cracked.

The weapon's name is derived from an ability attributed to the {{ff|Dark Knight}} class in the ''Final Fantasy'' series, in which Soul Eater drains the HP of the user to initiate an extra-powerful attack. The attack and the Dark Knight class are associated with darkness, and the Soul Eater ability is sometimes called ''Darkside'', ''Dark Wave'' or even ''Darkness'', making it a fitting name for Riku's weapon.

The Soul Eater appears in the opening video of ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'', alongside the [[Kingdom Key]]; together, the two weapons shatter the [[Dive to the Heart]], and fall along with [[Ventus]].

 

The Soul Eater appears as a 5★ Sword. It can be acquired from the Relic Draw during the ''Kingdom Hearts'' collaboration event. The Soul Eater bestows the Burst Soul Break '''Darkhand Helm Split''' when equipped to Riku.

File:Dual Soul Eater KH.png|The dual-bladed Soul Eater polearm.

File:Soul Eater HT KHRECOM.png|The Soul Eater in Halloween Town in ''Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories''.

==Notes and references==

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