Shou Kusakabe

Shou is quiet, composed and emotionally distant. He issues orders with little visible hesitation and expects obedience from the Knights under his command, rarely displaying the impulsiveness normally associated with his age.

His upbringing has left him deeply attached to the Evangelist's worldview. Personal relationships have little apparent meaning to him when he first confronts Company 8, and he treats even extraordinary violence as a necessary part of his assigned mission.

Shou's detachment is not absolute. His encounters with Shinra Kusakabe expose emotional responses that the White-Clad's conditioning has suppressed rather than completely erased.

Shou is a Third Generation pyrokinetic and possesses the Adolla Burst. Through the Evangelist's Grace, his Ignition Ability Severed Universe manipulates the thermal expansion of the universe, effectively slowing the passage of time for everything except himself.

To observers, Shou appears to move instantaneously while opponents are nearly frozen. The technique allows him to evade attacks, reposition himself and strike before an enemy can react.

Shou is also an expert swordsman. His speed, precision and composure make his blade extremely dangerous even without Severed Universe. The combination places him among the White-Clad's strongest frontline fighters.

His power has limitations. Manipulating universal expansion cools the universe, while his own body heats up; prolonged use therefore creates thermal consequences that prevent the technique from being maintained indefinitely.

Shou is introduced as the commander overseeing the Knights of the Ashen Flame and takes a direct interest in Shinra because of the latter's Adolla Burst. His presence transforms the conflict with the White-Clad from a series of isolated conspiracies into something personally connected to Shinra.

During the Netherworld confrontation, Shinra finally reaches Shou and fights him directly. Shou's Severed Universe initially places him far beyond Shinra's normal speed, forcing Shinra to depend on an Adolla Link and the Evangelist's Grace to keep pace.

Their Adolla Link allows Shou to experience Shinra's memories and recognize their bond as brothers. This begins to undermine the conditioning that kept Shou loyal to the Evangelist, prompting Haumea to intervene and suppress him.

Shou later investigates his own past, learns more about Mari Kusakabe and increasingly acts independently of the White-Clad. He ultimately sides with Shinra during the final struggle surrounding the Cataclysm.

Shinra Kusakabe is Shou's older brother. Their relationship is initially almost nonexistent from Shou's perspective, but the memories transmitted through their Adolla Link awaken his suppressed connection to Shinra and become central to his eventual rejection of the White-Clad's control.

Mari Kusakabe is Shou and Shinra Kusakabe's mother. The circumstances surrounding Shou's birth and the Kusakabe house fire connect Mari directly to the Adolla phenomena that shaped both sons.

Arrow serves as Shou's guardian and is exceptionally loyal to him. Her devotion is directed toward Shou personally rather than merely his rank within the White-Clad.

Haumea is another Pillar who can interfere directly with Shou through her electrical abilities and uses that power to enforce the Evangelist's will.

The Evangelist is the religious figure Shou is raised to obey and the source of the Grace that enables Severed Universe to function at its highest level.

Joker confronts Shou during the battle surrounding Vulcan's workshop and temporarily blocks his pursuit of Company 8.