Sol Badguy

Sol Badguy is a character from the Guilty Gear series who is the main protagonist of the series other than Ky Kiske, Sol's rival. He is an aloof and brash bounty hunter of immense skill on a quest to find and eliminate all Gears and their creator, That Man. For a short time, Sol was also a member of the Sacred Order of Holy Knights, and fought in the Crusades. This past version of him is known as Order-Sol.

Background
According to Guilty Gear Begin, Sol was born as Frederick Bulsara (フレデリック＝バルサラ, Furederikku Barusara) and majored in Magic Particle Physics. In his college years, he met Aria Hale, with whom he got romantically involved, and That Man, who became his best friend. Upon graduation, he intended to start working on the Saint Oratorio project but was called to join the core team of the Gear Project that was founded by Vince McDonell. In 2015, they managed to stabilize Gear cells infused with magic, and That Man handed over their research to the state on four conditions, although he was worried about Aria's illness. Frederick learned about her condition in September 2016, and begged her to cryosleep until a cure was found; Aria refused as she'd rather spend her last moments with Frederick. That Man convinced Aria to cryosleep the only way he could: he forcibly converted Frederick into the Flame of Corruption, so that he would live indefinitely. Frederick woke up some time afterwards with amnesia, only to find that later experiments with Gear cells went awry.

Frederick escaped the facility and created his headband to control his nature as a Gear. As he was reported dead in 2016 but somehow had survived, Eripmavs D Yraid (implied to be Slayer) tracked him down to satiate his thirst for knowledge. Frederick's "passion [that] shone like the sun" illuminated Yraid's path and he thus bestowed upon Frederick the name "Sol". Post-2065, after the government restarted the Gear Project, Frederick made it his personal mission to destroy all Gears so that they couldn't be used for war. He was designated as "Badguy" by the authorities after he destroyed several Gear manufacturing facilities. He would later combine these names to create his new identity.

In 2073, Sol caught news of Justice's completion and created the Outrage—the supreme 'Anti-Gear' weapon—in response. As its power was far too cumbersome to control, he separated it into eight components, the "Sacred Treasures", which ended up in the custody of the United Nations. Justice's declaration of war in 2074 started the Crusades, and the Sacred Order of Holy Knights was formed to combat the Gear menace. Sol took neither side, but as a bounty hunter, he continued to destroy Gears on his own. In 2099, Sol saved a 6-year-old Kliff Undersn from a Gear attack. That same Kliff would become the Order's commander. When he heard rumors of Sol in 2172, he recruited Sol. Kliff told him about Ky Kiske, and Sol was unwillingly impressed after seeing him in the battlefield. One day, Ky challenged Sol to a duel. Sol was scared, thinking Ky had figured he was Gear and had come to kill him, and was ready to fight with everything he had, but Ky fought Sol as if he were human and lost. Sol took it as an insult, thinking Ky hadn't taken their fight seriously, which led to a growing tension between the two. Given Sol's unpleasant personality (and penchant for always doing things his own way), many knights bore Sol "little more than ill will", and was nicknamed the "God of War".In 2173, Sol challenged Justice on his own, but he was defeated and spared by her. Sol realized he needed to steal the Fireseal after all. Ky caught Sol during the act, but Sol defeated him once again and got away with the Fireseal. Kliff later caught up with Sol; instead of punishing his desertion, Kliff allowed Sol to have the Fireseal and let him go, telling Sol that he was "family". In 2175, Sol faced Justice for the second time after Ky pushed her to retreat. During the fight, Justice learned that Sol was a Gear and attempted to control him, but he was unaffected. Unleashing his flames, Justice lost power. Ky, who was on her trail, ordered his men to seal Justice—thus bringing the war to an end. Sol then slipped away and went back to his ways as a bounty hunter.

Guilty Gear
Five years later, the walls of Justice's dimensional prison unexpectedly began to erode. During a particular bounty run, one of his marks begs to be spared, telling Sol about the Second Holy Order Selection Tournament before Sol ends his life.

Canonically, Sol is the winner of the Tournament, and it is here that Justice is told by Sol that because he is a prototype Gear, he cannot be controlled by Justice due to being made before her. Justice herself then discovers that Sol is, in fact, Frederick. Justice, in her dying words, comments that she wishes that "the three of us" could talk one last time, and Sol swears to kill That Man.

Guilty Gear X
In 2181, less than a year later, Sol hears news of a still-functioning Gear with a bounty and sets out to investigate, taking part in the tournament to ensue.

He has three endings in X Plus, all of which involve a fight against Dizzy. He spares her life in all of them, either losing against her, or judging that she isn't a threat to the world. His third ending shows a conversation between Raven and That Man, who realizes that Dizzy is yet another reason to be killed by Sol.

Guilty Gear XX
A few weeks later, Sol is chasing down I-No. His first ending, after he defeats I-No, leads to a direct confrontation with That Man. He casually deflects all of Sol's attacks, and warns of a conflict that will make the Crusades seem like a dim memory. In Sol's second ending, Slayer informs him that the Post-War Administration Bureau has started to move. In his third ending, Sol frees Dizzy of Necro's possession (caused by I-No knocking her off the Mayship). After he leaves, Dizzy wakes up and rejoins the Jellyfish Pirates.

Guilty Gear XX Λ Core Plus follows directly after in that he is hunting I-No down, as well as investigating the Post-War Administration Bureau. Depending on the player's choices and actions, Sol may battle with Ky, and upon further investigation, encounter Crow and defeat his copy of Justice, before encountering I-No again and being pulled into the past and being forced to battle his past self, Order-Sol.

After their battle, I-No slyly kills Order-Sol. Depending on the players choices and/or if they did not use a continue at all, Sol will either be destroyed by the resultant time paradox as That Man laments Sol's falling for I-No's trickery and implores him to live (Path 2), or he will resist it and obliterate I-No, before returning to the present and battling Ky—for the second time if the first option was chosen at the P.W.A.B. branch. Their score settled, the defeated Ky says he will no longer pursue Sol, but makes Sol promise that they'll meet again before they go their separate ways (Path 1).

Guilty Gear 2: Overture
In 2185, at the Village of Witches, Sol and Sin are attacked by the Vizuel and Izuna helps them out. After the battle, Izuna informs them that the Vizuel are destroying Gears, with their focus on Illyria. At the capital they meet Valentine, and Sol is shocked by her resemblance to Aria. The trio finds Ky sealed in the castle, and Raven briefly checks in on Sol. After another confrontation with Valentine (who mentions a "key"), Sol and Izuna go get Dr. Paradigm from Ganymede. He frees Ky and Sin storms out. Ky then shows Dizzy's sealed state to them. They realize that the "key" is Justice's cells, which Sin also carries.

Sol and Izuna find and fight a brainwashed Sin at Bel Canto Valley. After Sin comes to his senses, they follow after Valentine, but the Vizuel stand in their way. Ky leads his men into battle against them so that Sol's group can reach her, and Sol punches Sin to stay with Ky. They find the gate to the Backyard closed, but it is opened by That Man, whom Sol almost immediately attacks with his Dragon Install. That Man—unharmed—enchants Sol, Izuna and Paradigm so that they can temporarily withstand the Backyard's pressure.

The three enter and catch up to Valentine. The Cube's "key" is already in motion, so Sol stops the process while Izuna, Paradigm and the late-arriving Sin battle Valentine. Sol stays behind to fight Valentine's final form while the others escape and the gate closes. Sol manages to kill her, with the last thing she says being "Frederick". He is unable to return, and That Man reappears. He warns Sol it isn't the end of the "merciless apocalypse" and urges him to live on. Sol asks if Valentine was really Aria, but That Man says they already killed her. Weakened, Sol vows to kill That Man, who will wait for him, before he is reunited with the others.

Guilty Gear Vastedge XT
To prepare for the second coming of Valentine's forces, Sol decides to collect the Sacred Treasures to build a new weapon. Sol discovers that the Flashing Fang is held under tight security inside the UN's Harden Fort. Sol and Sin fight their way into the facility, where they run into Baldias and learn that the governments of the world are actually under the control of the Conclave. Sol is able to defeat Baldias and take the Fang.

Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN-
Three months later, Sol and Sin are still in the process of chasing down the other Treasures when they receive a message from Ky. He tells Sol that Ramlethal Valentine has declared war on all humanity, and Sol agrees to hunt her down for a W$1 million bounty in return. They meet up in Neo Newyork and, aboard the Royal Fleet One, they fly over to Ramlethal's location, Japan. Ramlethal is defeated but she was a distraction: the Cradle is retrieved from Babylon, and she moves in to kill Sol by self-destructing.

He survives thanks to Ky releasing Elphelt Valentine, who renders her sister powerless. Sol is about to kill Ramlethal, but Ky suggests that they take her into custody instead. Sol is distrustful of Elphelt, and admonishes Sin for his attempts at befriending the Valentines but Sin rejects Sol's lonely worldview. En route to Zepp per Leo Whitefang's suggestion, Ky privately asks Sol if he only cares about his revenge, and not the world, and adds that he, Dizzy and Sin will wait for Sol to "come home". The duo meets with President Gabriel and Zato-1, who reveals the Conclave wants to resurrect Justice.

After a failed ambush on the Cradle even with Paradigm and That Man's assistance, and Elphelt saving Sol's life once again, a changed Ramlethal finally talks: they will use St. Elmo's Fire and Illyria Castle to awaken Justice. Sol is tasked with removing Chronus from inside of Justice while the recently-unsealed Dizzy overloads the systems and Ky, Leo and Sin guard the control room. Although they are successful in stopping the Conclave, an apparently-emotionless Elphelt reveals that she accomplished her true mission—activating Justice—and attacks. Sol forces Elphelt's true emotions to surface right before she and Justice are recalled by her "Mother". Tired of losing people, Sol swears to save her.

Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR-
During the following week they are unable to find any leads on Elphelt's location, when Raven asks for their help in finding Jack-O' Valentine. Their encounter serves as Sol's confirmation that Aria was Justice all along. Sol later asks Axl to find clues in the past, but says he can't do it; on the way back to the capital, Sol is almost killed by a massive Gear.

Upon his return, Sol and Ky reflect on their past rivalry, as Ky no longer pursues the truth behind Gears (and Sol's past) as he once did; instead, Ky insists again that Sol has a future, acknowledging Sol as a friend. Later on, they have a meeting with That Man and Jack-O'. Sol, Ky, Paradigm and Leo learn about the Absolute World, That Man's reasons for Sol and Aria's conversions, and that Ariels is the Universal Will; Sol is frustrated but agrees to work with them to stop Ariels. Once they locate Ariels thanks to Zappa, Sol's group leaves Illyria's defense to Dizzy and their allies.

During the journey, Sin brings up if Dizzy may somehow be related to Sol, who is embarrassed and avoids the topic. Upon arrival, Ky, Sin and Sol ambush Ariels while Jack-O' positions herself to fuse with Justice, replacing Elphelt. Sol defeats Ariels by hitting her with the Saint Oratorio that partially fuses Jack-O' and Justice, and Ramlethal is reunited with Elphelt. However, the fusion is incomplete and Daryl orders his fleet to fire at Justice/Jack-O' and Sol, who remains to power up a second Saint Oratorio to finish the fusion. He is successful thanks to Axl's time compression. Ariels saves Sol and Jack-O', entrusting her daughters' safety to Sol, before passing out. In the aftermath, Sol and Sin meet face to face with That Man (with Sol revealing his name, Asuka); he entrusts Aria's care to Sol and proposes that they settle their score, and Sol vows that he will win.

In Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2 's After Story A, Sol shows up at Ky and Dizzy's state, looking for a fight with Ky. Taking a walk, Sol asks if their score is truly settled. Ky says it is, so Sol calls Dizzy a "monster" so as to anger Ky enough to fight "seriously". Ky fights dirty and wins easily, ending with Sol lying down on the ground. When Sol wakes up, he admits to wanting to learn how humans can face monsters, as he is preparing for his final showdown with That Man—who, as they speak, surrenders himself to the U.S. government.

Guilty Gear Strive
Three weeks later, Sol and Jack-O'—from inside whom Aria's consciousness has yet to manifest—are working together as bounty hunters, when Ky summons Sol back to the castle. Upon obtaining from Ky the permit he requested, Ky tells Sol about the U.S. request that he be at the G4 Summit and tries to hire him to catch I-No, but Sol decides to go on vacation with Jack-O' to Iseo first, despite Ariels' warnings. Their journey is cut short when I-No lets herself be captured by Illyrian soldiers, and they have a highway encounter with Happy Chaos involving Nagoriyuki, Chipp Zanuff and Anji Mito. Sol and Jack-O' immediately return to the castle, and Sol and Ky interrogate I-No.

Though it proves fruitless, Jack-O' tells Sol and Ky about I-No's origins and being incomplete. Thinking she may be after Asuka's Tome of Origin, Sol decides to take up the G4 offer and travels to the White House. After a short exchange with Asuka via screen, the summit starts, but before Chaos brainwashes the entire security staff and takes everyone hostage. Sol rescues Vernon—the only one with access to Asuka's room—, however, and they contact Gabriel, who connects them to the Pentagon and Illyria War Room. Sol and Vernon then try to escape, but Chaos activates the White House's Tír na nÓg aircraft mode. Alerted by Asuka that Chaos is The Original, Sol and Vernon avoid the guards and Nagoriyuki, who is onboard as well.

Before the White House is shot down for crossing international borders, thanks to Giovanna, Potemkin, Asuka, Leo and even Nagoriyuki, Sol and Vernon reach Asuka's room—an escape pod—to evacuate, and Asuka tricks Chaos into being ejected inside it. The crisis seemingly averted, Asuka says he will use Tír na nÓg to travel to the moon to keep the Tome safe, but will settle his score with Sol beforehand. He then gives Sol a choice: to let him correct his mistake (planting the Flame of Corruption in him), or kill him. Sol lets him remove the seed, restoring his humanity. Yet, unbeknownst to them, a disguised Chaos is still onboard. He gets a hold of the Tome, fused to Asuka, and restores I-No to godhood at his own expense.

Despite being human, Sol attacks I-No with the Outrage, but is knocked unconscious, and she proceeds to grant humanity the powers she has, likely destroying the current world. Ky leaves to stop her, followed by Jack-O', who takes one last look at Sol. After waking up, Sol asks Vernon to bring his zeal stash, and then stops Jack-O' from sacrificing herself to save the world; Sol tells Jack-O' it doesn't matter if Aria doesn't return, but that he won't let Jack-O' go, even if it means the end of the world. Instead, Sol has Ky and Axl distract I-No in order to hit with a zeal pod-powered Outrage. Thanks to Nagoriyuki, Sol hits I-No in her weak point, seemingly killing her. Although the Outrage takes its toll on his body, Sol survives. After a state funeral is arranged for "Sol Badguy" the hero, he goes back to being Frederick, and moves in with Jack-O' to Iseo. Having opened a junk garage, he starts working on a rocket—presumably to travel to the moon, where Asuka now resides.

Guilty Gear X-3
Sol Badguy is one of the main protagonists of the game

Guilty Gear Warriors
Sol Badguy is one of the playable characters

Guilty Gear Dust Strikers 2
Sol appears as the main protagonist.

Guilty Gear X BlazBlue: Shattered Dimensions
Sol is one of the main protagonists of the game.

Guilty Gear vs BlazBlue: Multiversal Cross Assault
Sol is one of the main protagonists of the game.

Super Project Cross Tag Battle
Sol appears as a playable character.

Project X Zone 3: Sacred Destinies
Sol appears as a Pair Unit teaming up with Ragna the Bloodedge.

His story in this game is an alternative re-telling of his search for Elphelt and the meeting with Raven and Jack-O'.

He first appears in Chapter 13: Fearsome Warriors where he thought Elphelt and her kidnappers were at the Fujisakura Altar (Super Robot Wars OG: Endless Frontier), Sol immediately finds a bounty on Ragna's capture on the way and adds that mission to his schedule, inside, he recognizes Ragna from the wanted poster, for the latter's surprise, the discussion quickly becomes a battle between the bounty hunter and the SS-Class rebel, but during their match, they got ambushed by a group of Aragami, forcing them to join forces to destroy them.

When the heroes arrives, Jack-O' Valentine arrives and recognizes Sol Badguy as Frederick Bulsara; surprised about that, Sol demands Jack-O' to reveal her face, but the playful Valentine refuses to do so, leaving Sol no choice but to fight her, unfortunately, Jack-O' still refuses to do so, not only after her defeat but also everytime Sol encountered her.

Finally, when Sol demands one last time to see Jack-O's face, she promises Sol to reveal her face only if he apprehend and fights her in their world once he is done with Ouma. When the Valentine returned to her world, Sol reluctantly accepts that promise and focused on help Ragna stopping Terumi from fulfilling his revival.

With Ouma destroyed for good and our heroes returning to their respective timelines and dimensions, Sol promises Ragna that they will have their rematch someday and with some help from Rachel Alucard, Sol finally returns to his world to reunite with Sin, Ramlethal and Raven and resume their search for Jack-O'.

Trivia

 * Series creator Daisuke Ishiwatari designed Sol in many ways to reflect his alter-ego, and also recorded Sol's battle quotes from Guilty Gear until Guilty Gear XX Λ Core.
 * The word sol in Latin means "sun", and is also the name of a Norse goddess and a Roman god.
 * Sol's exact age is unknown, but as of Guilty Gear X, he has spent the last 150 years living as a bounty hunter, and experienced the Dawn of Revival firsthand. If he got his PhD at age 25 by 2014, that would make him 191 years old by the time of the original Guilty Gear.
 * Official artwork and Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- confirm that Sol enjoys smoking. He can arguably be heard lighting a cigarette in the Guilty Gear X Drama CD.
 * Sol's drink of choice is gin.
 * Sol's clothing brand of choice has always been "RIOT", the same brand used by Sin and Bridget. According to text in artwork, RIOT was established in 2134. Sol regularly carries around Fireseal/Junkyard Dog in a red duffel bag purchased from RIOT.
 * Sol has created a portable phonograph so that he can listen to Queen albums.
 * In Guilty Gear Xtra, Sol's hideout/laboratory in the ruins of Old New York has a global mapping system. There he keeps a picture of himself, Aria and That Man (whose face has been intentionally damaged). This is alluded to in Elphelt's win quote against Sol when she suggests that Sol would always carry a picture of her as if they were a couple.
 * A costume based on Sol's Xrd look appears in Border Break X Zero.
 * Sol has made guest playable appearances in the following games: Lord of Vermilion III, Lost Saga, Star Ocean: Anamnesis, Mabinogi Duel, Fantasy War Tactics, Chaos Heroes Online, Brave Frontier, Seven Knights, Last Period, Chain Chronicle, Epic Seven, Crusaders Quest, #COMPASS, Elemental Battle, Code Shifter.
 * In Guilty Gear Begin, it is revealed that Sol (as Frederick) was a huge fan of baseball as he would frequently visit the batting cages in the gymnasium of the Gear Research Laboratory.