Leon

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Leon Basque 124
Alias(es)	“Lion” Leon; Hooded One / Mysterious Hooded Man 34 163 164
Species/Race	Human 159
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Strategy Group (leader); Hooded Three 242 164
Occupation/Role	Silver-rank adventurer; dungeon explorer and strategy-guide author 56 304 308
Status	Active 712
First Appearance	Chapter 34 34

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Silver-rank adventurer	56	Earned his reputation through repeated adventures, swordsmanship training, and adventuring study. 56
Approximately Level 60	248	His level is compared with Darl’s Level 57 and estimated at around 60. 248

Background / History

Leon built his reputation through diligent sword training and repeated adventures, becoming an experienced Silver-rank adventurer. His principal flaw was a need for admiration: he falsely claimed to have cleared Sain Underground City in one life, when he had actually practiced privately. The lie’s exposure devastated him and damaged the Strategy Group’s standing. 56

His family life was strained. Leon’s father, Tepi, tolerated the humiliation inflicted on him by Zanka, a childhood acquaintance who served Leon’s older sister, Megan. After Gong Qiying encouraged Leon to seek strength rather than validation, Leon attacked Zanka and returned to Sain Underground City determined to grow stronger. 57

After dying in a battle against Soul Five, Leon apprenticed himself to Sword Saint Gapar. Gapar’s seven days of training refined Leon’s swordsmanship and taught him both humility toward worthy opponents and the necessity of winning by any effective means. Leon later defeated Soul Five’s incarnation alone by combining swordsmanship, cancellation techniques, and Swift Slash. 62 105

Leon subsequently returned home for Megan’s birthday banquet, kicked Tepi off the stage, defeated him with Ringed Blade, broke his sword, and countered Megan’s movement skill with Swift Slash. Tepi and Megan later left home separately, while Leon refused his stepmother’s request to return and manage the family estate. 138 308

Appearance

Leon is a sunny, handsome young man whose outwardly gentle demeanor contrasts sharply with his increasingly aggressive combat persona. 34 137

• Golden hair and golden eyes; his unruly hair can resemble a lion’s mane when he is angry. 57 158
• Originally wore a neat parted hairstyle, later slicking his hair back with a loose blond tuft over his forehead. 137
• Carries himself with conspicuous confidence after settling his family grievances. 137
• Uses a hood while acting as the Mysterious Hooded Man, concealing his identity during invasions. 164 166

Personality

Leon is highly motivated by recognition. His false one-life-clear claim stemmed from his desire for attention and admiration, and its exposure affected him more deeply than it affected the rest of the Strategy Group. 56

He is normally courteous, protective, and encouraging. He comforts Darl without pressing him for words, takes responsibility for teaching Maru to write, and risks himself to save Darl from an iron-ball trap. 148 150 308 He can also be calculatingly compassionate, such as when he considers pretending to be angry at Luluwo so that her guilt will ease. 183

In battle, Leon combines knightly ideals with a ruthless preference for survival and victory. He respects opponents enough to bow before a duel, but will use sleep bolts, Dung Pots, terrain, repeated hit-and-run attacks, and ambushes when they offer an advantage. 105 148 149 When excited, he becomes far more reckless, ignores injuries, and fights with an unnerving enthusiasm. 138 363

Abilities & Skills

Swordsmanship and Ringed Blade

Gapar’s training greatly strengthened Leon’s body and refined his swordsmanship. He can project a dense crescent-shaped sword aura, close large distances rapidly, and maintain oppressive attack chains. 105

• Uses the cancellation power associated with the Ringed Knight’s Straight Sword and Black Knight Shield to deny enemies recovery time. 105
• Defeated Tepi by using Ringed Blade to prevent the swordmaster from counterattacking. 138
• His Hooded One persona is known for a powerful cancellable sword technique. 163

Swift Slash

Leon received the Ash of War: Swift Slash from Sithran after helping defeat Swift Slash’s avatar. He attached it to his Backhand Blades and made it his defining mobility skill. 76 105

• Crosses combat distance almost instantly and leaves sword aura along his path. 105
• Provides mobility, brief invincibility, and suppressive power. 76
• Used to defeat Soul Five’s incarnation, counter Megan’s movement skill, and overwhelm the invader Black Hound. 105 138 158
• Leon considers Swift Slash his “second phase” and reacts strongly to weapons he believes could become a similarly useful “wheelchair.” 155 158

Tactical Combat and Dungeon Analysis

Leon is an experienced field leader who studies monster behavior, identifies traps, adapts to unfamiliar mechanics, and directs teammates during combat. 51 323 325

• Identified that monkeys were luring his party into a trap on Sain’s Middle Level. 51
• Uses a Spread Crossbow with sleeping bolts against humanoid enemies, then attacks while maintaining distance. 148
• Employs improvised tools such as Dung Pots, Fireball scrolls, Cracked Pots, and terrain hazards. 76 304 307
• Publishes exploration methods and first-clear strategies to reduce the information advantage held by invaders. 159 304 308

Carian Grandeur

Leon can charge and unleash the azure blade technique Carian Grandeur. He used it at full charge against Godrick the Grafted. 565

Invasion Warfare

As Hooded One of the Hooded Three, Leon helped establish a feared anti-invader trio alongside Sithran and Roger. Their strength came from coordinated ambushes rather than overwhelming individual power. 163 164

• Used a hood and secret password-protected summoning marks to operate anonymously. 163
• Exploited enemy monsters during invasions, including provoking a Lion Ape into attacking an invaded party. 166
• Purchased a Taunter’s Tongue to attract invaders after his Backhand Blades were damaged in PvP. 159

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Ringed Knight’s Straight Sword — used with cancellation techniques and Ringed Blade. 105 166
• Black Knight Shield — paired with the Ringed Knight’s Straight Sword to access cancellation power. 105
• Backhand Blades — carries multiple pairs; one pair bears Ash of War: Swift Slash. 105 331
• Carian Straight Sword — used during his duel with Fingri. 331
• Flaming Straight Sword — a recognizable weapon associated with Leon. 495
• Spread Crossbow and sleeping bolts — his preferred safe option against humanoid enemies. 148
• Dung Pots — used as an improvised combat tool. 124 307
• Taunter’s Tongue — bought to attract invading Soul Suckers. 159
• Godrick’s Crown — forged from Godrick’s Remembrance at Enia’s recommendation. 570
• Godrick’s Great Rune — activated atop the Divine Tower. 567

Relationships

• Maru — Strategy Group teammate. Leon protects her in combat, comforts her after Warrior Jar Kal’s death, and teaches her to write. 156 157 308
• Dru — Strategy Group support mage. Dru heals Leon, maintains barriers, and provides magical support during exploration. 51 323
• Tel — Strategy Group teammate whose concern for Leon is evident from their earliest recorded dungeon expeditions. 51
• Gapar — Sword Saint and Leon’s teacher. Gapar trained him for seven days and seven nights; Leon has called him “Teacher” ever since. 105 138
• Darl — fellow explorer and combat partner. Leon supports Darl emotionally, fights alongside him, and sacrifices himself to save him during the Invisible Bridge event. 148 150
• Sithran — Hooded Three ally who gave Leon Ash of War: Swift Slash. 76 164
• Roger — Hooded Three ally specializing in invisibility, thrusting-sword attacks, and magic. 163 164
• Gong Qiying — item-shop owner and mentor-like influence. Gong Qiying’s “Beating Theory” redirected Leon toward strength, and later led Leon to share anti-invader techniques publicly. 56 159
• Tepi — Leon’s father and a regional swordmaster. Leon defeated him publicly, but later became eager for a possible rematch after Tepi disappeared from home. 138 308
• Megan — Leon’s older sister. Her attendant Zanka tormented Leon on her behalf; Leon later countered her movement Battle Skill with Swift Slash. 57 138
• Luluwo — rival Strategy Group captain and former invasion instigator. Leon ultimately treated their conflict as settled after the Hooded Three repeatedly defeated her side. 166 183
• Fingri — Gold-ranked adventurer, rival, and eventual ally. Leon defeated him in a duel, then later protected him from guards and demanded an explanation. 331 441

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Strategy Group Exploration

Leon leads the Strategy Group through Sain Underground City’s early dangers, including the Middle Level, the Twin-Blade White Ape’s arena, and the first encounters with Soul Five. His analysis and orders keep the group coordinated, though Soul Five ultimately kills him in their initial confrontation. 51 62

Soul Five and Gapar’s Training

Following the scandal over his false clear claim, Leon seeks strength in Sain. Gapar’s training transforms his fighting style, allowing him to defeat Soul Five’s incarnation through Ringed Blade, Swift Slash, and relentless pressure. 56 105

Family Reckoning

Leon returns home alone to confront Tepi and Megan. He defeats both at Megan’s birthday banquet, resolving a long-standing resentment and returning to Sain with a dramatically more unrestrained attitude. 106 138

Invasions and the Hooded Three

After Soul Suckers damage his weapon and repeatedly invade his party, Leon shifts from personal revenge to organized resistance. With Sithran and Roger, he becomes Hooded One of the Hooded Three, a notorious anti-invader team. 159 163 164

Strategy-Guide Expansion

Leon’s guides help popularize routes and strategies across Sain, including the Road of Sacrifices and High Lord Wolnir’s first-clear rewards. His Cracked Pot method increases the number of adventurers able to defeat Wolnir. 304 308

Limgrave and Nokron Exploration

Leon leads the Strategy Group into Limgrave, activates Godrick’s Great Rune, acquires Godrick’s Crown, and discovers access to the Roundtable Hold. Later, he investigates Starfall Crater and is pulled into Nokron, Eternal City, where the group encounters Mimic Tears, Two Fingers envoys, and the Baleful Shadow. 567 570 705 706 708 712

Notable Quotes

“If someone pisses you off, you beat them up. You think so too, don't you?” 567

“Beautiful! Sain!” 712

Trivia

• Leon’s simulated Kindred version has a Bond Value of 45 and the talent Brawling Frenzy, which greatly improves allies’ unarmed combat while driving them into a frenzy. 124
• His Kindred portrait depicts him standing on an old man resembling Tepi while grabbing a woman resembling Megan, with shattered Dung Pots and a Flaming Straight Sword at his feet. 124
• Leon informally calls especially useful substitute weapons “wheelchairs”; his “Wheelchair Radar” reacted to the Death Knight’s paired axes and the Demi-Human Swordsman’s Linked-Star Sword. 155 156