Vexen
- "I'm a scientist. Experiments are what I do, yes."
- —Vexen
Vexen, The Chilly Academic (いてつく学究 Itetsuku Gakkyū), is the Nobody of Even and the Rank IV member of Organization XIII. He controls ice and uses it to command storms and blizzards, freezing his opponents solid, while defending himself with his massive shield.
Vexen was the highest ranking member of the Organization inside Castle Oblivion, but ironically he is the first Organization member to be eliminated. He created the Riku Replica and uses the Replica to carry out several experiments on Riku and Sora. Vexen appears in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and he appears in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days as a playable character in Mission Mode.
Story
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
Vexen plays a relatively minor role in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, but it should be noted that this role plays a major contribution to the game's central plot. Adviser and leader of the Castle Oblivion-based Replica Program that created Xion, he was present when the replica joined Organization XIII. Vexen then was assigned on Day 12 to teach Roxas the art of reconnaissance in Twilight Town, and was later sent away to Castle Oblivion, where he used his Replica Program to create the Riku Replica in order to challenge Sora. The Chilly Academic was later exterminated by Axel to earn Marluxia's trust and for the purpose of raising Saïx through the ranks. All Vexen had left behind after his demise was knowledge that Axel later discovered in a document Vexen had composed about Naminé in the Castle That Never Was's library. This Nobody's only other mention in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was when Xemnas revealed the truth about Xion before the surviving members of Organization XIII in Where Nothing Gathers.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories
In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Vexen has parts in both Sora's and Riku's storylines.
He is called, along with Lexaeus, by Zexion when he detected "vistors" in the castle's lowest basement. When Zexion says one scent was Maleficent, Vexen says she can't come back from the dark realm on her own. Silenced again, Vexen learns Zexion actualy detected a copy, but the other scent remains unidentified; it's similar to Xemnas's. Curious, Vexen decides to wait until Zexion could identify the visitor. He later learns the scent belongs to Riku, being surprised by his speedy escape from the Realm of Darkness. Because darkness once doubled Riku's existence, Zexion mistoke him for Xemnas. Fascinated, Vexen reveals Sora arrived eariler, going on to explain Marluxia's already using Namine to meddle with Sora's memory; Marluxia desperately wants Sora's power for his own. However, Vexen's not impressed with Sora, seeing the "hero of darkness" more interesting.
Vexen appears before Riku, going on to explain he is connected to "another Ansem". Riku then fights him because of his disdain for Darkness. Sensing the powerful darkness coursing through Riku, Vexen reveals it was worth aggrivating him to obtain invuluable data. Vexen is never seen again in Riku's story, but it is mentioned by Axel and Lexaeus later on that he has indeed been slain. He uses this data to create replica of Riku, which he sends to fight the real one to test its powers. Despite it freely using the power of darkness, it was defeated and flees back to Vexen, needing more time to grow stronger.
While Lexaeus and Zexion remain silent, Vexen asks his replica how he found fighting Riku, learning that it will be "running circles" in no time around that "spineless wimp". Curious as to the events above ground, Vexen asks his replica if he wants to "meet another who is considered a hero", Sora. Upon his creation asking if he wants him to eliminate Sora, Vexen tells his replica that he intends to "make good use of him", saying it is a possiblity. His replica then tells him that niether Riku or Sora stand a chance.
He then goes to see Larxene and Axel after Sora's battle with her. After expressing his disgust at her losing to Sora, Vexen explains he's there to experiment to see if Sora is worthy the attention they are giving him. Being given a Destiny Islands card, Vexen agrees with the idea that they should use Namine's magic to rewrite his replica's heart to make it think he's the real Riku. The replica protests to this, feeling betrayed by his creator. However, Vexen reminds his replica that he told him that he would make good use of him. When Larxene taunts the replica, Vexen watches as she stuns his creation with lightning to keep him from resisting the process.
However, they soon lose control of the replica due to the clashing artifical memories they placed in it. While Larxene and Axel taunt him, Vexen is surprised by the appearance of Marluxia, who deem the experiment a failure. Vexen is insulted, saying that a novice like Marluxia has no right to speak to an elder like himself. However, when Marluxia makes the threat of reporting Vexen's failure to "the Superior", and that defying him will be seen as treason to Organization XIII, Vexen becomes fearful for his life. Marluxia then says that Vexen cannot win against Sora, something Vexen says is an understatement; he is stonger than he gives Marluxia credit for. Marluxia then tells him to prove it because "none of them wish to be suspicious of a comrade".
Vexen then confronts Sora, saying that Sora is in debt to him for reuniting him with Riku. Sora is angered, and the two battle. Seeing Sora is not one to die easily, Vexen explains that he delved deep into the memories of Sora's heart and created a new card from the memories locked in the other side of his heart. Vexen tells Sora that if he wants to truly defeat him, then he must enter that world.
Meanwhile, Marluxia, Larxene, and Axel note that Vexen is jeopardizing their plans, for if Sora discovers the other side of his heart, then he will no longer be of any use to them. Seeing Vexen's actions to be traitorous, Marluxia sends Axel to eliminate their traitor.
Sora discovers that the new world is Twilight Town, which is strange because Sora has only visited places in his memories, and he has no memories of Twilight Town. Even so, Sora feels a sense of familiarity from this place. He explores the town until he arrives at the gates of a mansion. Vexen makes his appearance there, asking Sora if the familiarity of this place or his memories of Naminé is true. Sora doesn't understand what he means, and Vexen sees that he is but a slave of his memories, just like "his Riku". Sora is again angered, and battles Vexen one more time.
However, Vexen loses again, amazed Sora's has such strength even at the mercy of his muddled memories. When Sora demands he put Riku back to normal, Vexen simply laughs. He tells him the (fake) Riku is destined to sink into darkness, and Sora will share that fate. If Sora continues to chase after Namine, "the shackles will tighten! You'll end up losing your hear and becoming Marluxia's pawn!" Sora questions him about this, but before he can explain things fully, Vexen is knocked down by Axel's chakram. Picking himself up, Vexen demands to know why Axel attacked him. Axel explains he's there to stop him from blabbing too much by eliminating his existence; he'll be "off the hook" by becoming nothing instead of a Nobody. Vexen tries begging for his life, but Axel snaps his figures and encinerates him before Vexen can finishes his sentence.
Other appearances
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories manga
In the manga, Vexen creates a set of Vexen Replicas (failed replicas, according to the replicas themselves) and has a grave which the Riku Replica visits before leaving Castle Oblivion.
Appearance
Vexen wears the basic Organization uniform of a black coat with like-colored boots and gloves, though the sleeves of Vexen's cloak are a bit longer than normal and partially cover his hands. His cloak is also the longest out of all the members having it almost like a gown that covers his boots. Vexen sports platinum blond hair (which was a somewhat brighter shade of yellow in the Gameboy Advance version of Chain of Memories), worn long with two slightly shorter (but still long) bangs that frame his face. He also has rather large, bright green eyes.
Personality
Vexen approaches problems like an intellectual, with a hypothesis and a method to test those hypotheses. He appears to view life as a grand experiment, suiting his title as "The Chilly Academic". He appears very much like the stereotypical 'mad scientist.' More than any other member, save Xemnas, he considers his numerical rank a literal one and will often deride members with lower numerical rankings than his; he reminds Marluxia of his superior rank when Marluxia ordered him not to "disappoint us" again and addresses Zexion by his inferior rank when Zexion lamented Vexen's impatience, but is often chastised by others for this behavior.
Vexen also displays a fear of Xemnas, immediately bowing to Marluxia's demand to destroy Sora when Marluxia threatened to tell Xemnas of the failure of the Riku replica. He also feared to approach Xemnas while the latter was in the Chamber of Repose, and took Zexion's suggestion to approach Xemnas there as a joke.
Ironically, Vexen's throne is the lowest of the Organization in their meeting chamber known as Where Nothing Gathers. This is mostly due to his recurring incompetence and preference of not sullying his hands like Zexion, though the latter can easily hold his own in battle. This also reinforces the trait of cowardice in Vexen, displayed through his fear of Xemnas and his fear of death.
In the Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories manga, Vexen appears as a character who thinks that he doesn't get enough respect from the aboveground members. He is also met by Sora, Donald, and Goofy right after they confront the Riku Replica for the first time, while in the original game, they fought the Riku Replica twice before fighting Vexen two floors later.
Abilities
Vexen is one of the most prolific Organization members in battles, appearing as an opponent three times during Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. He fights with a large blue shield, which he uses to fend off frontal attacks, making it necessary to attack him from behind. He is also able to use the shield offensively, akin to Goofy, but further enhances the style with the spikes lining the edge of his shield. He can use his cryokinetic abilities to blast his enemy with ice from his hand, and can call forth large chunks of ice from the ground to freeze his opponent solid. He also has the power to create slippery ice patches on the ground, or summon icicles that rise from the ground and follow their target for several seconds. Finally, he can create an unavoidable blizzard that can be resisted only with a card break. In the remake, Vexen can conjure up a sword out of ice and whack his opponent several times with it before performing a final shockwave which destroys the sword and ends the sleight.
Like several other members of Organization XIII in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Vexen moves by levitating, sometimes several feet into the air. Also, in the English version of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Vexen has a high-pitched laugh similar to that of Kefka Palazzo from Final Fantasy VI while in battle. This is not heard in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.
In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Vexen, as well as other members of the Organization that have already been eliminated, can be fought. Vexen's shield makes him completely invincible in this game, but the shield has an HP bar of its own and can be temporarily destroyed, allowing Sora to attack Vexen directly. Vexen has the additional power in this battle to create a copy of Sora's Anti form to aid him in battle. Vexen still has his "freeze" attack when a blizzard freezes Sora, immobilizing Sora while Vexen gains data, but it can be stopped by a Reaction Command. He also has the icicle attack from before, but also returns with a new attack when he makes two spinning blades of ice and throws them at Sora. In the data battle against Vexen, he has a new attack when he throws giant chunks of ice at Sora.
Vexen also has the ability to collect and manipulate Data. This ability allows Vexen to create Replicas. Not much else is known about this ability.
In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Vexen has a Limit Break called Diamond Dust. During Diamond Dust, Vexen summons three large mounds of ice to come up from the ground to strike enemies, dealing ice damage to and freezing all struck enemies. Enemies that are frozen take three times as much damage while frozen. During Vexen's Final Limit, Vexen's three mounds of ice are replaced by one larger glacier. This deals greater ice damage to enemies, and temporarily makes them gradually lose HP. It also freezes them for awhile.
Initially appearing as a powerful foe to Sora, Vexen is revealed to be one of the weaker members of Organization XIII alongside Demyx. This is indicated by the fact that no one in the Organization seems to show Vexen any respect despite his high rank. Marluxia and Larxene seem to frequently poke fun at him with jokes and sneers, with Larxene going as far as to call him a "half-baked good for nothing". Vexen is also easily eliminated by Axel, who fought evenly with Marluxia. In Riku's story, Vexen seems to be below Zexion and Lexaeus in terms of authority as he is the one doing all of the work while the other two hide in the basement and direct him.
Weapon
Vexen, like Goofy, carries a shield into battle. His shield Frozen Pride is pointed, and is colored blue and silver. He can use it to block attacks, but it is also used to slash foes. If turned upside down, the shield has the vague shape of the Nobody symbol. In Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories it can be changed during the sleight "Slide Break," where he freezes ice onto the shield to form a gigantic ice sword that he wildly slashes with before smashing the blade onto the foe. However, his Absent Silhouette does not use it to attack, instead relying on his data replicas and ice magic for his offense, and uses his shield to block any attacks during battle. However, the Silhouette's shield has its own small health bar, and breaks after a while, and leaves him vulnerable until another shield is summoned. In Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix, Goofy can obtain a similar shield through synthesis.
Vexen's shield, Frozen Pride
| Vexen's Shields |
|---|
| Tester Zero | Product One | Deep Freeze | Cryolite Shield | False Theory | Glacier | Absolute Zero | Gunz | Mindel | Snowslide | Iceberg | Inquisition | Scrutiny | Empiricism | Edification | Contrivance | Würm Subzero | Cold Blood | Diamond Shield | Aegis | Frozen Pride | Pot Lid | Snowman |
| Nobodies |
|---|
| Organization XIII |
| I. Xemnas | II. Xigbar | III. Xaldin | IV. Vexen | V. Lexaeus | VI. Zexion | VII. Saïx | VIII. Axel | IX. Demyx | X. Luxord | XI. Marluxia | XII. Larxene | XIII. Roxas |
| Enemy Nobodies |
| Sorcerer - Sniper - Dragoon - Berserker - Assassin - Dancer - Gambler - Reaper - Ninja - Samurai Dusk - Creeper - Specter - Twilight Thorn - Fake Vivi |
| Special Nobodies |
| Naminé - Absent Silhouettes - Organization XIII's Replica Data - Anti-Saïx - Data-Roxas - Data-Naminé |
