Zash Caine

Zash is cruel, selfish and openly abusive toward people under his power. He has little loyalty beyond whatever advances his own position, and his methods include coercion, imprisonment, mind manipulation and murder. His behavior toward women is particularly predatory; he imprisons women in his private dungeon and treats them as resources for sustaining his Black Magic.

He is also extremely ambitious. Although he serves Animus as Minister of State, Zash dislikes being treated as a subordinate and continually looks for opportunities to increase his own power. His confidence is reinforced by considerable physical ability, allowing him to fight accomplished Fairy Tail mages without relying exclusively on Evil Eye.

Zash's principal magic is Evil Eye, a form of Black Magic that warps the minds of people caught by its influence. Affected targets develop red eyes and become violently compelled to attack whatever Zash directs them toward. The technique can turn allies against one another and can affect exceptionally powerful targets.

Using the magic places a physical burden on Zash. He compensates for that strain by imprisoning women he considers to have "pure blood" and extracting their blood for his own use.

Zash is also an accomplished close-range fighter. He can block Gray Fullbuster's punch with one hand and exchange blows with Natsu Dragneel. His Magic Gun fires magical projectiles powerful enough to injure Celestial Spirits, while his Quartum Ring activates and commands the artificial Fourth Generation Dragon Slayers of the Quartum Army.

Zash was formerly Fiore's Secretary of State. After attempting to overthrow Fiore's royal family with Black Magic, he escapes the kingdom and flees to Stella. He kills the men who helped him escape as a demonstration of loyalty to Animus and is eventually appointed Stella's Minister of State.

In Dragon Cry, Zash accompanies Sonya into Fiore to steal the staff. When Riana and White Tiger confront them, he uses Evil Eye to turn the soldiers against one another and escapes with Dragon Cry. Team Natsu subsequently travels to Stella to recover it.

Zash's allegiance to Animus ultimately collapses when he sees an opportunity to claim Dragon Cry's power himself. He steals the staff, uses Evil Eye to drive Animus into a rampage and activates the Quartum Army against Fairy Tail. At the top of Stella's temple, Zash attempts to draw Dragon Cry's enormous power into himself, but the energy exceeds what his body can withstand and destroys him.

Animus accepts Zash into Stella and eventually appoints him Minister of State. Their relationship is built on usefulness rather than trust: Animus repeatedly punishes Zash for failure, while Zash resents his subordinate position. Zash eventually betrays the king by stealing Dragon Cry and using Evil Eye on him.

Sonya accompanies Zash during the theft of Dragon Cry but strongly disapproves of his methods. Zash treats her primarily as a useful tool, bringing him into conflict with Animus, who explicitly warns him against putting her in danger.

Riana confronts Zash when he infiltrates the facility where Dragon Cry is protected. He uses Evil Eye to force Riana and her White Tiger soldiers to attack one another before taking surviving women prisoner.

Lucy Heartfilia encounters Zash while infiltrating Stella. He behaves aggressively and sexually toward her before Gray Fullbuster intervenes. After Lucy is captured, Zash intends to use her blood in the same manner as his other prisoners.

Natsu Dragneel repeatedly interferes with Zash's plans and fights him during the struggle over Dragon Cry. Gray Fullbuster likewise clashes with him during Fairy Tail's infiltration.

Red Knife serves as Zash's personal subordinate and assists him during the later stages of the Dragon Cry conflict.

Toma E. Fiore knows Zash as a former official of his kingdom and regards him as a dangerous traitor following his attempted coup. Hisui E. Fiore belongs to the royal family Zash once plotted to overthrow.