Yūma Kuga/Abilities

• Introduction
• Plot
• Abilities
• Relationships
• Image Gallery

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Despite his young age and even younger appearance, Yūma is an experienced warrior of rare skill. His father trained him for six years and, after his demise, Yūma continued fighting alongside Calvaria for three more years. Having received a Black Trigger from Yūgo, his combat prowess increased exponentially, which eventually led to Spinthir withdrawing its forces. Yūma's Black Trigger is even more effective in battle when Replica assists him in the overlapping and combination of seals and the creation of new ones, making both processes instantaneous. The Trion Soldier also helped Yūma continue his training in strategy after Yūgo's passing, and the loss of the need and ability to sleep gave Yūma even more time to spend on it.

After joining Border Yūma achieved a working command of many applications of the organization's Triggers in an extremely short amount of time and went on to hone them, eventually being praised not only for his proficiency, but also for his ability to utilize Trigger Set in completely novel and tremendously efficient ways. His fighting prowess is further augmented by the speed with which he can activate and change his Triggers, which allows him to instantly switch from attack to defense and back to offense and has prevented him from bailing out on countless occasions. Rapidly switching Triggers is also a component of his effectiveness at aerial combat, which in turn translates to Yūma possessing such high mobility that he can hold his own against whole enemy teams by quickly flitting in and out of range and turning their own teammates into obstacles for each other. Osamu's deployment of Spider threads enhanced his effectiveness even further, making his movements even faster and harder to predict, to the point that entire squads from the middle of B-rank were at a severe disadvantage when confronting him inside a wire zone. Even without them, however, Yūma was able to keep track of the movements of the members of Miwa Squad and Azuma Squad, and later matched no. 6 Attacker Tatsuhito Ikoma in combat while he was assisted by Satoshi Mizukami. On those occasions he suffered notable injuries only when previously hidden Snipers attacked him, and even then he managed to mitigate the damage.

His fighting capabilities have led him to being extolled as worthy of A-rank and put him on par with some of Border's most skilled Attackers. After Tamakoma Second's second rank war, his mentor was surprised to find out that he had been beaten by someone other than Kei Tachikawa, Sōya Kazama and herself, that person being the no. 4 Attacker Kō Murakami. Yūma currently holds a victory ratio of 38.8% against Murakami and 47.6% against Masato Kageura, even though Murakami considers himself less powerful than Kageura and has more losses than wins against him. In addition, Yūma is the only member of the trio without a Side Effect to boost his performance in battle. Yōsuke Yoneya described his movements as "quiet, matter-of-fact and deadly", adding that their sole purpose is to take out the opponent as efficiently as possible. This no-frills style reflects Yūma's single-mindedness in combat, which allows him to fight without emotion and makes him one of the only two people in Border not to trigger Kageura's Side Effect. He was also noted to excel at landing fatal blows in the middle of chaos, a skill which aids him in launching sneak attacks, and at supporting his teammates in a melee.

Although swordsmanship is his specialty, Yūma has shown to be competent also at hand-to-hand combat while using his Black Trigger. He generally resorts to kicks to deal damage right after approaching an enemy and to relocate them, and to punches when he is more confident that he will be able to land a decisive blow. Additionally, he has exhibited some skill with projectiles through his Bolt seal, hitting a very distant target with Replica’s guidance.

Possibly owing to his many years on the battlefield, Yūma was able to tell that Jin was powerful at a glance, admitting that he could not determine if he would be able to defeat him even with Replica's assistance. He also assured Osamu that he would die if he fought a Marmod, since 20 copies of him would be needed to take one down, and only two of them would survive. His years of traveling with his father endowed him with extensive knowledge of the Neighborhood and Trion Soldiers as well as of how to defeat them.

Physical Abilities

Battling Miwa Squad.

Yūma’s agility and movement speed constitute the very core of his fighting style and allow him to fight on par with several Border agents at the same time, as epitomized by his confrontation with Miwa Squad He can run on walls and bounce off vertical surfaces to change his trajectory or gain momentum with ease and control his body in mid-air with shocking accuracy. His swiftness is further increased by his Bound seal and Grasshopper as well as Osamu’s Spider wires. Combined with the latter, his movements became even more difficult to read. Being light he can move more precisely in aerial combat than bulkier opponents, and his small frame makes him even harder to hit.

Yūma’s reactions are extraordinarily quick, allowing him to block Asteroid bullets at point-blank range both in his normal and in his combat trion body. He can also block or dodge Egret and even Lightning shots, or at least move out of the way enough to avoid fatal damage, even if they are fired by two of the very best Snipers in Border, Azuma, and Narasaka. He was also capable of avoiding a dart fired by Lampyris' railgun at a distance of only a few meters, whereas an agent as skilled as Reiji Kizaki failed to react to the projectile's speed until after it passed him by and hit Chika. Combined with good spatial awareness, his fast reactions aid him in melee as well, as shown when he managed to dodge the coordinated attacks of two A-rank agents while refraining from retaliating. Later on, he was able to fight off three B-rank agents at the same time with the help of Osamu's Spider wires and twice without, although on the latter two occasions he lost an arm.

Strategy & Tactics

Yūma is proficient at reading the flow of battles small and large and to adapt to changing circumstances. However, he always leaves the command of their squad and the planning of the greater picture to Osamu, focusing exclusively on his own fights and how to best defeat his opponents after they start. His skill at breaking down their fighting style has allowed him to neutralize Miwa Squad with relatively pacifistic methods that forced him to remain on the defensive for a long time. It is through clever tactics created on the spot that he was able to defeat Tetsuji Arafune, Akane Hiura, Kazuaki Ōji, and, with Hyuse’s help, no. 4 Attacker Murakami. The only other time the two fought in a team battle Yūma beat him via previous planning, by forcing him to fight in conditions favorable only to himself. The single most remarkable feat which Yūma’s skill at improvisation analytical and tactical prowess, together with the unique abilities of his Black Trigger, allowed him to achieve, however, is his victory over the incredibly powerful and experienced Viza despite the loss of Replica's support, although the Aftokrator soldier's primary aim was to stall him.

Yūma is also adept at psychological manipulation, pretending to be at a disadvantage in a confrontation in order to cause his opponent to underestimate him, and thus to lower their guard while at the same time reducing the sharpness of their movements when they find themselves unable to land a decisive blow. With this method, he inflicted a crushing defeat on A-rank agent Shun Midorikawa on the day of his enlistment.

Track Record

The first time Yūma wielded a Border Trigger, he won 1 round against the extremely powerful and skilled Kirie Konami after losing 9. Even when he grew more accustomed to them he never managed to get more than 3 wins against her, which Kyōsuke Karasuma regards as a feat in itself. On the day of his enlistment he broke every record for the simulation against the Bamster by clearing it first in 0.6 seconds and then in 0.4. No. 2 Attacker Sōya Kazama estimated Yūma to be already at Master Class level or higher, an assessment which was proven correct when the Neighbor defeated A-rank Attacker Midorikawa shortly afterward with a score of 8 to 2 while wielding a training Trigger, although part of the merit goes to his psychological warfare and Yūma himself admitted that he would have struggled if it had not been for his matches against Konami. At the time Midorikawa did not use his full loadout to better see the gap in their swordsmanship, but in subsequent matches where both could use their full Trigger Set Yūma always won 7-3.

Yūma's defeats at Murakami's hands are partly due to the latter's Side Effect: when the two fought for the first time, the score changed from 4-1 in the Neighbor's favor to 6-4 for Murakami after the latter had a chance to assimilate his opponent's fighting style, although Yūma might have been holding back. The next time they fought, an injured Yūma turned the tables on Murakami thanks to his ingenuity despite the no. 4 Attacker being estimated by Yūichi Jin to be four times more likely to win. Currently Yūma has become capable of holding his own against Murakami despite the latter having learned his movements, although he still holds more losses than wins, and is almost evenly matched with Kageura. His 20-round match with Hyuse right after the latter created his Trigger Set resulted in Yūma winning 12 times and losing 8.

Side Effect

Seeing through Midorikawa's lies.

Seeing Through Lies (噓(うそ) を 見(み)抜(ぬ)く, Uso wo Minuku ^?) After receiving a Black Trigger from his father, Yūma also gained his father's Side Effect of being able to distinguish lies from truth. It is not limited to lies alone, as it can also recognize omissions of detail and half-truths. It activates automatically when someone Yūma is looking someone who is voluntarily lying as a visual cue will show, but only when someone knows they are lying. When he uses this ability, his pupils become black. Apparently, Yūma can see through even Replica's lies, shown when he says it's uncommon for Replica to lie after he asks how Osamu and Chika are and Replica says there's no need to worry. However, Yūma's pupils didn't become black, so it's possible he simply can tell when Replica is lying.

Trion Body

Yūma's trion body's recovery abilities.

Yūma is always in a special Trion Body due to his real body being sealed in his ring to prevent his death. This grants Yūma enhanced physical abilities, allowing him to perform many superhuman feats. It also gives him superhuman durability, allowing him to receive most physical attacks with little to no damage, as proven when he was hit by a car and emerging nearly unscathed, with his body quickly recovering. In fact, Yūma's trion body has the unique ability to regenerate itself. In return, its durability is lower than that of ordinary trion bodies. Yūma's trion body also makes it so he never needs to sleep, although he still needs to eat and breathe.

Triggers

Yūma Kuga's Triggers

Current

Type Black

Yūma's Black Trigger

The Black Trigger Yūgo created to save his son's life, it sealed Yūma's dying flesh and blood body inside the Trigger Holder and replaced it with a self-repairing trion body which still allows Yūma to use other Triggers. When the Black Trigger is activated, Yūma's trion body is replaced with one clad in black armor. The Trigger's main ability is the use of seals with different effects, which can also be enhanced or combined. Additionally, new seals can be created by analyzing other Triggers. Although Replica is generally in charge of multiplying, merging, and creating seals, Yūma can do so himself, although it takes him longer. He was first seen using this Trigger in Chapter 1 (Episode 1 in the anime).

Type Normal

Scorpion

Classification Attacker

Yūma is not only extremely skilled with Scorpion, having managed to defeat the no. 3 and 4 Attackers a few times with it, he is also its most prolific user. Through emulation and sheer creativity, he managed to learn all the applications of this Trigger invented by other agents, as well as to develop a few of his own: he has shaped Scorpion like fins to control his movements in strong currents and to bandage a grievous wound in order to stop the initial trion leakage. Yūma's combat prowess makes him superior even to most A-Rank agents, as shown by his ability to repeatedly best Midorikawa, another proficient Scorpion user. He primarily fights by dual-wielding it, quickly switching to Grasshopper or Shield when the need arises. His extraordinary agility, coupled with the lightness of the blade, allows him to land swift, critical attack before retreating just as quickly. He makes full use of Scorpion's ability to be drawn from any part of the body to strike from unexpected positions, further increasing its efficacy by altering its shape. This skill enables him to continue fighting normally even after the loss of an arm, as he can cause the blade to grow out of his wound. His control of the techniques he did not invent was noted to be still unrefined in round three, although it is unconfirmed to what extent this observation continues to hold true. Yūma can use Scorpion as a projectile by throwing it at close range to finish off an opponent who has lost their balance, or shapeshift it into a large shuriken before tossing it. These blades are powerful enough to pierce focused Shields. By surreptitiously touching one with Mole Claw, Yūma can restore its shapeshifting abilities and impale an unsuspecting opponent, and he is capable of causing it to swerve mid-flight, as well as to redirect it with Grasshopper. This latter application can be taken to an extreme by surrounding the target with repelling pads so that the blade will bounce around continuously, hacking at the opponent at each passage. Yūma is first seen using Scorpion in Chapter 33 (Episode 12 in the anime). Mole Claw (もぐら爪(モールクロー), Mōru Kurō ?): Yūma causes Scorpion to come out of his sole to attack for a surprise attack. By using it when in contact with a wall, he can aim directly for the target's head. Leg Blade (脚(あし)ブレード, Ashi Burēdo ?): Yūma covers his foot and part of his leg with Scorpion, allowing him to cut the enemy with a kick. It can be used to attack from unexpected positions as well as to intercept sword slashes. Branch Blade (枝刃(ブランチブレード), Buranchi Burēdo ?): Yūma splits Scorpion in multiple blades inside his body and sprouts them from different locations, either to attack from unexpected positions or to defend. Mantis (マンティス, Mantisu ?): Yūma can combine two Scorpions to perform a mid-ranged, piercing attack. He is skilled enough to bend it after starting it in order to slip through the opponent's defenses and strike their vitals. Curving Blade Throw (曲(ま)がるブレード投(な)げ, Magaru Burēdo Nage ?): Yūma morphs one Scorpion into a throwing blade with three spikes and a circular protrusion at the back. At the moment of the throw, he extrudes a second Scorpion from his palm, so thin it may be invisible to unsuspecting eyes. This second blade serves as a rail for the first, allowing Yūma to alter its trajectory even after it leaves his hand.

Type Normal

Grasshopper

Classification Optional

Yūma was able to employ Grasshopper in combat with great efficacy the day after it was explained to him, possibly thanks to his practice with Bound, and soon after became capable of fighting while in mid-air. Not only he quickly mastered its basic applications, his originality with this Trigger earned him Kōhei Izumi's admiration. His small build gives him an advantage over heavier opponents in aerial combat. Yūma can use this Trigger for quick dodges even while airborne, for hit-and-run tactics, to build up momentum before a strike, and to outmaneuver the enemy, cutting off their retreat. He also utilizes it to rapidly cross the map in order to assist teammates in need, as well as to distantiate himself from troublesome foes, which he primarily does by jumping upwards. While this generally allows him to get out of Attacker range, it makes him an easy target for Snipers. By feinting the jump, however, he can catch the opponent off-guard. In addition, Grasshopper compensates for any impairment to his mobility, such as injured legs or terrains that make walking difficult. In need, he can also propel himself by touching a pad with his hand. Yūma's less conventional applications of this Trigger include using a platform to hurl debris at the target, to boost an ally and to launch an enemy in the air, where they are vulnerable to subsequent attacks. Yūma is first seen using Grasshopper in Chapter 89 (Episode 40 in the anime). Pinball (乱反射(ピンボール), Pinbōru; ?,  lit. Diffuse Reflection): After creating multiple platforms around the opponent, Yūma bounces from one to another at very high speed while slashing at the disoriented target with Scorpion. Murakami regarded Midorikawa as the superior user of this technique in round three. Yūma has created his own variation of this technique, which sees him surrounding the target with Grasshopper pads before lobbing a Scorpion shuriken at them, causing it to bounce from pad to pad and cut at high speed and cut the target in passing.

Type Normal

Shield

Classification Defense

Yūma can deploy his Shield extremely quickly, which has prevented him from bailing out on multiple occasions, also intercepting Lightning fire as well as frontal Egret shots, although he may fail to block rapid fire from the former and to compress his Shield enough to negate sneak attacks with the latter. He almost always attaches his Shield to his wrist, although there are exceptions. Although he tends to maintain Shield's hexagonal shape, he has also erected hemispherical barriers to protect himself from explosions. In a pinch he can also maximize his defenses by activating Full Guard. Yūma is first seen using Shield in Chapter 88 (Episode 40 in the anime).

Type Normal	Bagworm
Classification Optional	Border's Optional Trigger which conceals the user from Radar. Yūma uses it to launch lethal sneak attacks on unsuspecting opponents. He is first seen using Bagworm in Chapter 89 (Episode 40 in the anime).

Former/Temporary

Type Normal

Raygust

Classification Attacker

Yūma borrowed Osamu's training Raygust to battle the Marmods invading their school without being detected by Border. Despite it being his first time using it, Yūma easily shape-shifted it into a shorter, lighter blade with a curved tip and easily killed the Marmod. Ai Kitora expressed doubts that she would be able to achieve the same feat, which is all the more impressive considering that it was Yūma's first time wielding a Border Trigger. He used Raygust in Chapter 5 (Episode 3 in the anime).

Type Normal

Wire and Dagger

Yūma Kuga used this Trigger while living in the Neighborhood. It summons two daggers connected to Yūma's wrists by a string. Their small size allows the user to hide them under their clothes, a tactic Yūma used to disguise himself as a civilian and then swiftly eliminate the enemy. The string can be lengthened to throw the corresponding weapon and then retracted to quickly retrieve it. Yūma was first seen using it in Chapter 20 (Episode 11 in the anime).

Anime Only

Type Normal	Chameleon
Classification Optional	After Giev captures Osamu, Yūma and Chika use Chameleon to infiltrate his hideout unnoticed. It is only used in Episode 58.

Parameters

Normal Trigger

Reference	Trion	Attack	Defense/Support	Mobility	Skill	Range	Command	Special Tactics	Total
Border Briefing File Page 144	7	9	8	10	8	2	5	4	53