Shinnosuke Kagami

Shinnosuke Kagami (嘉神 慎之介, Kagami Shinnosuke) is a 30 year-old character from the Last Blade series. He was the featured boss character of the first game but he became a playable character in the sequel. He is voiced by Makoto Awane, also known by SNK fans as the voice of Yashiro Nanakase and his Orochi counterpart. His symbolic items are western clothing and his sword. His official slogan is "Crisis Christ": 堕天の剣.

He was modeled after the anime character Shinobu Sensui, one of the main antagonists in YuYu Hakusho (he even had a mole on his face during his earlier concepts). The choice to dress him in an inverness cape was made to represent Japan's growing acceptance of foreign ideals, which was deliberately meant to be ironic to his role in the first game.

Story
Shinnosuke is one of the guardians of “Hell’s Gate”, a portal that allows demons and evil energy to seep through to the mortal plane humans call Earth. After residing over his position and finding (or so he thought) that the humans he protected were weak and inferior to himself, he decides to release the seal on the portal. Along with this, he goes on a horrific killing spree, murdering various warriors including Gaisei.

After five years of preparatory action to unseal the gate, including imprisoning his fellow guardian, Shigen Naoe, Shinnosuke is eventually found by Kaede, who has the latent power of the Seiryū. Kaede defeats him; humiliated by his defeat, Shinnosuke is thrown into the depths of Hell’s Gate as eternal punishment. However, he is soon reincarnated in a new form to fulfill his role as a guardian, as the portal is being opened by another force. Shinnosuke sets out to fulfill his destiny, and to seek atonement.

Personality
Shinnosuke is a refined gentlemen who is pretentious to people who don't amuse him. He once loathed people who he thought beneath him, but he eventually believes that they are the hope of the future.

Powers

 * Pyrokinesis: With Suzaku, Shinnosuke can control fire. He can create fire from thin air, create fire balls, deliver punches of fire, create pillars of fire and put his own body on fire. He is not immune to other types of fire. He cannot control other fires that he didn't create.
 * Float: When Suzaku is awakened, he gains the power to levitate.
 * Fly: When Suzaku is awakened, Shinnosuke gains the power to fly short distances at incredible speeds.
 * Energy Projection: When Suzaku is awakened, Shinnosuke is able to project a beam of energy that can also richochet in the ground.

Fighting Style
Shinnosuke fights with his own version of kendo and flame. When he is awakened, his flames are tinted blue.

A lot has been changed in his transition from boss to regular character, including added attack frames and reimagined attacks. In good hands, Kagami is just as deadly as his boss version but now requires skills and visualization to do so.

A lot of his deadliness comes from blind-siding attacks such as his overhead dive, certain overhead attacks (Shiranui follow-up from Gouen Sou) and his command grab, which can ruins an enemy's momentum. His Power Slash, while significantly toned down, is a table-turner when done as a counter-attack or right after a repel attack.

Kagami also excels in EX, but is far more fearsome in Power.

Music

 * Red Phoenix - Last Blade
 * Evil Gods' Portal - Last Blade

Game Appearances

 * The Last Blade - final boss
 * The Last Blade 2
 * The Last Blade - Beyond the Destiny - unlockable

Cameo Appearances

 * The King of Fighters XIII - console only background cameo