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"The destiny of destruction... Still awaits... So long as you have hearts, hate will lurk in the shadows... You who possess the wellspring of emotion known as the heart... You are the true Mavericks!"
―Serpent's last words, Mega Man ZX

Serpent (セルパン Serupan) is the main antagonist of Mega Man ZX. He is a Model W Mega Man and the president of Slither Inc., a company which specializes in excavation of ancient technologies such as Biometals to practice public defense and energy production.

Appearance[]

Serpent is a large, muscular male Reploid. He has fair skin, violet eyes and hair, with a long spiked forelock. His face is distinguishable by the wide squared chin and slightly pronounced cheekbones. His outfit resembles an armored business suit, made of a long green jacket decorated with golden trim, blue gems and metallic shoulder plates, complemented by a violet cravat. His legs are covered in thick black armor, with golden plates around the ankles and white for the feet.

Personality[]

Although Serpent is considered a hero by the public, he is in fact a corrupt man that achieves his goals by any means necessary. Serpent considers survival of the fittest necessary for progress,[1] because evolution requires sacrifice.[2] He is a Maverick raid survivor, and Aile accuses Serpent of acting out of fear of his past and what he had become.[3] Serpent feels it is his destiny to rule the world,[4][5] and he believes that he is doing the right thing by seeking to evolve the world rather than destroy it.[6] He even claims to seek the removal of all pain and suffering.[7][8] Vent's ending also implies from Serpent's tone when explaining his actions that he suffered from depression.[9]

However, Serpent's ambition is being exacerbated by the violent influence of Biometal Model W.[10] He is often shown grinning evilly, and he laughs maniacally when he is absorbed into the Model W core. He remorselessly lies and kills to achieve his ends, and sadistically torments Vent/Aile just so he can use their resulting hatred for Model W. He arrogantly believes he is the Model W Mega Man and that he has complete control over it, but Prometheus states that Serpent's will is too weak to control Model W and that his soul will be slowly consumed over time.[11]

History[]

Background[]

MMZX Scene 08

Serpent as a member of the Guardians.

At some point, Serpent survived a Maverick raid and joined the Guardians. He was a member of the recon unit led by the first commander, who discovered and researched Biometal Model W. However, Serpent became obsessed with Model W and it eventually drove him to madness, causing him to destroy the rest of his unit to take Model W for himself (though the commander managed to escape and seal the Model W core in Area M).

Serpent took measures to cover up the incident. He then used ancient technology from the recon unit to found Slither Inc. and solve the energy crisis that plagued the world since the Mega Man Zero series (possibly using the Ciel System).[12] This earned him the reputation of a hero. He was eventually approached by Prometheus and Pandora, who told him about the Game of Destiny and the true power of Model W. With this information Serpent planned Project Haven, staging Maverick raids throughout the years to gather Cyber-elves of terrified victims to feed to Model W. While searching for the hidden Model W core, he came into possession of Model H, Model F, Model L and Model P, employing them in the creation of eight Pseudoroids to further his plans.

Mega Man ZX[]

Serpent first meets Mega Man Model X (Vent/Aile) during a Maverick attack in Area D, standing above the subdued Girouette with Prometheus and Pandora near Slither Inc.'s office. He brainwashes Girouette against the Mega Man, making them fight each other. As Giro attempts to resist Serpent's control, Serpent eventually strikes down the two Mega Men, calling them "disappointments" as he orders Pandora to steal their passwords to the Area M seal. He then leaves the two for dead, deciding to continue his act as a public hero while the Mavericks and Pseudoroids do the dirty work.

However, the Model X Chosen One survives and uses the power of Giro's Model Z to become the Mega Man Model ZX, continuing to defeat Serpent's Pseudoroids one by one. Learning of this, Serpent sends Prometheus and Pandora along with a Slither Inc. fleet to destroy the Guardians, but the attempt is again thwarted by the Mega Man ZX. Serpent next appears in the unlocked Area M, briefly confronting the Mega Man ZX before escaping with the Model W core while Pandora keeps them busy. He then starts a final Maverick assault on Area O to collect more Cyber-elves, which is again thwarted by the Mega Man Model ZX.

Serpent modelW

Serpent's 1st form.

The Mega Man Model ZX takes the fight to Serpent himself in Slither Inc.'s office. During the confrontation, Serpent feeds the Model W core with the harvested Cyber-elves and Megamerges with his Model W fragment. After the two Mega Men battle, Serpent reveals the final key to his plan: harnessing the hatred of the Mega Man ZX as the final sacrifice to the Model W core, fusing with the entire core to finish them off. However, Serpent's new form is also defeated. He calls Vent a Maverick, or hints to Aile about her DNA transfusion from Master Albert allowing her to become a Mega Man. As Serpent dies, he declares all of humanity Maverick for their powerful emotions, and he also implies that the world's true destiny of destruction has yet to arrive.[13]

Mega Man ZX Advent[]

Although Serpent does not appear in ZX Advent, he is briefly seen along with Vent, Aile, Girouette, Aeolus, Atlas, Thetis and Siarnaq in an image from one of Biometal Model A's ciphers (code UC80 to AC195), which reveals to the Model A Chosen One (Grey/Ashe) that every Mega Man has received the DNA of Master Albert.

Forms and abilities[]

First form[]

Serpent uses a fragment of Biometal Model W to Megamerge and fight the player. This battle form is called Serpent (1st form) in the Database and has orange horns emerged from the shoulders, feet and head. His whole body is covered with a black/white armor with yellow lines running across. His arsenal includes mostly increased physical attacks (uppercut, kicks), shooting from fingers, large energy balls, and the Overdrive Invoke System, which creates a resonating aura and increases the velocity and power of his attacks.

Attack Description Notes
V-Buster Shot Serpent fires five energy bullets from his fingertips simultaneously in a "V" shape. He can do it in the ground and in the air.
Charge V-Buster Shot Serpent charges a concentrated energy sphere with his fingertips and fires it towards the player. If the sphere takes enough hits, its polarity reverses and damages Serpent instead.
Sliding Serpent slides across the floor with his foot forward.
Strike Upper Serpent kicks upwards, jumping high enough to reach the top of the screen.
Quick Counter Serpent will dodge one of the player's attacks, then will vanish. After a second, he will appear on the top of the screen and drops on the player with his foot charged with energy. On Hard Mode, the impact will cause four crystal shards to be released, two on each side of him, that will cause damage if not destroyed.


Second form[]

After being absorbed into the awakened Model W core, Serpent transforms into a giant Mechaniloid installed into a giant face in the background. This form is called Serpent (2nd form) in the Database. It has three health bars, and as each of his health bars is depleted, his body continues to transform, changing his weak point and giving him new attacks. All phases are highly vulnerable to Model HX's Tornado charge attack.

Note: The attacks from this form have no official names.

First phase[]

Initially, Serpent's head is vulnerable, and he has three attacks of his own:

Attack Description Notes
"Chaos Meteor" The orange horns on Serpent's head and shoulders fire beams at the top of the screen; a moment later, four blazing rocks fall across the field. The meteors set parts of the ground on fire and leave eight small fireballs in their wake, which slowly home on the player.
"Crystal Break" Serpent's hands fire purple lasers straight below themselves, producing clusters of purple crystals on both corners of the battleground. The boss uses his claws to shatter the clusters in an attempt to hit the player with the shards. On Hard Mode, Serpent produces both crystals at the same time then smashes them one after the other, making it harder to dodge.
"Atomic Pulses" Serpent spits green energy balls at the player, which split into two diagonal beams on contact with the floor. If struck in the air, the balls will split into four diagonal beams.


Second phase[]

After losing his first bar of health, Serpent gains a green, eye-like projector on each shoulder, and his upper body rises upward to expose an opening in the middle of his body. His shoulders are vulnerable to attack and he loses his Crystal Break, but he gains three new moves to use against the player:

Attack Description Notes
"Dark Vortex" A purple vortex forms in the opening below Serpent's chest, which draws the player towards it.
"Dark Debris" After performing Dark Vortex, Serpent fires several small purple particles in a random pattern from his stomach. The particles temporarily slow down the player on contact.
"Tractor Shots" Serpent's shoulder projectors shoot two cursors that follow the player. If the player is hit, their HP will be drained and converted into Serpent's HP.


Third phase[]

Once reduced to his final health bar, Serpent deploys a set of large, free-floating hands and rises even further from the ground to expose a red and purple lower body. The panels on the front of his lower body reconfigure into a giant face, and the golden armor on its "forehead" retracts to expose a green crystal. Said crystal is Serpent's new weak point, but its armor will periodically cover it for brief periods of time. The player will have to time their blows to strike the crystal when it is vulnerable, while also dodging Serpent's attacks.

Although Serpent abandons his Chaos Meteors and Atomic Pulses in his third phase, he retains all of the attacks introduced in his second phase, which have increased chances of hitting the player due to his height increase. His new hands restrict the player's movement to the middle of the battlefield and inflict damage on contact. Additionally, Serpent's final phase also gains two dangerous new attacks:

Attack Description Notes
"Light Barrage" Serpent's fingertips and green helmet horn fire a series of green energy circles aimed at the center of the field. He will usually fire two or three waves of circles.
"Crystal Crush" Serpent's second set of hands fire purple beams into the center of the screen, creating a spherical mass of crystals. The hands proceed to smash the crystal between themselves, sending multiple shards flying across the room. To complete the attack, the clasped hands slam into the ground before separating and returning to the sides of the screen.

Dialogue[]

In-battle quotes[]

Action Japanese Translation Audio
First form
V-Buster Shot 受け取れ!(Uketore!) Take this!
V-Buster Shot (midair) ははは!(Hahaha!) Hahaha!
Sliding そこだ!(Soko da!) There!
Strike Upper やぁああああっ!(Yaaaaa!) Yaaaaa!
Charge V-Buster Shot 砕け散れ!(Kudake chire!) I'll smash you to pieces!
Quick Counter 甘いな!(Amai na!) How naive!
Second form
Splitting green orbs そこか!(Soko ka!) There you are!
Attacking with meteors and flames 創世の炎だ!灰になれ!(Sōsei no honō da! Hai ni nare!) Behold the flames of creation! I'll turn you to ashes!
Shattering purple crystals フハハハッ…散れぃ!(Fuhahaha... Chire!) Fuhahaha... Scatter!
Shattering middle purple crystal 爆ぜよ!(Haze yo!) Explode!
Player is captured by health-draining cursor beams 糧となれ!(Kate to nare!) Become sustenance!
Sucking in player with vortex 闇に呑まれて… (Yami ni nomarete...) Darkness shall swallow you...
Firing purple substances that slow down player 朽ちるがいい!(Kuchiru ga ī!) Deteriorate!
Firing green energy balls with his fingertips and helmet 貫け!(Tsuranuke!) Pierce!
Entering second phase まだ足掻くかね!?(Mada agaku ka ne!?) You continue to struggle!?
Entering third phase これが「王」の姿だ!(Korega "Ō" no sugata da!) This is the form of a "King"!
Defeated フハハッ…!!(Fuhaha...!!) Fuhaha...!!
Unused 哀れな奴だ!(Awarena yatsu da!) You're pathetic!

Data[]

Mega Man ZX database[]

Serpent[]

This well-known president of Slither Inc. is considered a national hero for his handling of the energy crisis and the Maverick outbreak.

Serpent (1st form)[]

Serpent transformed into a battle form with the power of the Biometal Model W fragment. The orange horns associated with Model W can be found on his head, shoulders and feet.

Serpent (2nd form)[]

Serpent's form after being absorbed into Model W. He continues to transform upon taking further damage.

Other appearances[]

Serpent Xover

Serpent in Rockman Xover

Other media[]

Mega Man ZX (manga)[]

Serpent reprises his role as the villain in the manga by Shin Ogino. After Vent combines Model Z with Model X to perform the Double Megamerge, Serpent decides to deal with him before he becomes too "troublesome". He is enraged when Hivolt and Lurerre are both defeated by Vent, and orders Prometheus and Pandora to destroy the Guardians backing him up. Although the attempt fails, the Guardian Base is disabled and Serpent starts Project Haven, sending a Maverick army to attack the city while the frightened people are captured to feed Model W with their negative emotions.

After Prometheus tricks Vent into using his rage to restore Model W, Serpent uses the Biometal to Megamerge and fight Vent. However, just as he is about to deal the final blow, Sho brings Model H, Model F and Model L, which were damaged in Vent's earlier battle against Purprill. Serpent blasts Sho away, enraging Vent who in turn uses all the Biometals to gain the upper hand. But the situation changes when Vent's rage fuels Model W further, transforming Serpent into a giant robot. Claiming to have the power of a god, Serpent nearly defeats Vent, but he falls when the positive emotions of the people are channeled into Vent, giving the Mega Man Model ZX the power to defeat Serpent.

Gallery[]

Etymology[]

  • "Serpent" is a word of Latin origin for a snake. It is commonly used in a specifically mythic or religious context for a snake that has some symbolic value. Serpents are connected with renewal or regeneration, so it can be said he was named this because he wishes to destroy and evolve the world. Although his English name is technically correct, his Japanese name indicates that it was meant to have the French pronunciation ("Sair-pahn"), similar to the various French naming conventions of Mega Man ZX. The reason the name Serpent was selected for him is that his huge corporation swallows up countries and other organizations like a snake.[14]

Trivia[]

  • In the Japanese version of Mega Man ZX, one of Serpent's lines before he transforms is "Risou dato...? Zaregoto da!" (Ideals, you say? What rubbish!) which are the exact same words Dr. Weil says in his pre-battle line before fighting Zero in Mega Man Zero 4.
  • The fireballs left in the wake of Serpent's meteor attack resembles Neo Arcadia's emblem.
  • Serpent shares many similarities to Sigma. Both are main antagonists and final bosses of their games, both were formerly benevolent before being corrupted by an evil power, and both have ideals of evolution.

Notes and references[]

  1. Serpent: "Survival of the fittest! The strong survive while the weak fade away! It's the classic struggle for life! The spirits of the people have given me what I need to obtain the power of Model W! Look at you! You're only able to stand before me today thanks to the power of Model Z absorbed from that red Mega Man! Everything has been leading up to this moment. You and me!" - Mega Man ZX
  2. Serpent: "You think I'm doing this all out of fear? That's nonsense! The spirits of the people have given me what I need to obtain the power of Model W! Look at you! You're only able to stand before me today thanks to the power of Model Z absorbed from that red Mega Man! Evolution requires sacrifice! The ones who will determine what needs to be sacrificed are the Mega Men!" - Mega Man ZX
  3. Aile: "The only thing you are is afraid. Afraid of your past. Afraid of yourself and what you've become! Your fear is what drives your desire to rule! You think this is evolution!? Is this really what you want!?" - Mega Man ZX
  4. Serpent: "The name is Serpent. I rule all that lies before me. I am the Model W Mega Man!" - Mega Man ZX
  5. Serpent: "Well then. If you're so sure of yourself, let's find out which Mega Man is destined to rule the world!" - Mega Man ZX
  6. Serpent: "Precious misguided little girl. It's time for you to come off of your high horse. Our power is the result of many sacrifices. We are the chosen ones. It is destiny for the last of our kind to rule. Model W is not about destruction. It is about rebirth and evolution! I am the giver of meaning to the lives of people who cannot keep up with the tide of evolution." - Mega Man ZX
  7. Serpent: "By joining us, the weak are freed from their suffering! The chosen one, Mega Man, will save the people! That is the glory of Project Haven!" - Mega Man ZX
  8. Serpent: "A Maverick!? Me!? How dare you call me a Maverick! You're the one stopping progress. You're the one denying change. Maybe you're the Maverick! People and society are destined for change! They must shed their hate-filled hearts and suffering bodies. We must move forward! We must have change!" - Mega Man ZX
  9. Serpent: "On a planet... Life is born... Humans and machines... Waves of war and peace roll on. And in every age, a fool like you tries to fight it. You don't want to see anyone get hurt. You want to protect the ones you care about. You don't want to lose anything. By acting on that desire, you continue to make choices that avoid the pain. The Mega Man destined to save the world? Unchanging life... A world devoid of the light of hope. What's the point!?" - Mega Man ZX
  10. Pandora: "Biometal is... a conscious entity. It can... control the weak." Prometheus: "Did you really think Serpent had the willpower to control Model W!? He is just a simple pawn!" - Mega Man ZX
  11. Prometheus: "Serpent has done well for us. Just digging up Model W was enough for him to serve his purpose. Too bad Model W is too much for his weak will to handle and he'll end up losing more and more of his soul as time passes." - Mega Man ZX
  12. Fragments track notes from the ZX Tunes booklet. (translation)
  13. Serpent: "The destiny of destruction... Still awaits... So long as you have hearts, hate will lurk in the shadows... You who possess the wellspring of emotion known as the heart... You are the true Mavericks!" - Serpent's final words in Mega Man ZX
  14. Rockman Unity: 『ロックマン ゼクス』シリーズキャラクターデザイナー、シナリオライター矢部誠(KOU)さんインタビュー その④ (Translation)
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