Zenith Dragon
| Zenith Dragon | |
| Dragon Quest IV | |
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| Japanese name | マスタードラゴン |
| Romaji | Masutā Doragon |
| Race | Dragon |
| Age | Several hundred years old |
| Voice actor | Yusaku Yara (CD Theater) Ken Yasuda (Your Story, Japanese) Neil Kaplan (Your Story, English) Andrew James Spooner (The Dark Prince) |
The Zenith Dragon is an important character in Dragon Quest IV, Dragon Quest V, and Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince.
He is an enormous, platinum coloured Dragon and the ruler of Zenithia, watching over the realm of mortals below. The Zenith Dragon later appeared in Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart and Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 as a playable character.
The Zenith Dragon is a regal being of incredible might who has taken it upon himself to prevent the infernal forces of Nadiria from invading the earth. Far more than the heavenly equivalent of the kings found in the earthly realm, the dragon undergoes a remarkable character development through the course of two games and is left in awe of the accomplishments the heroes he encounters in his long life.
Characteristics[edit]
When first spoken to by the Chosen Ones upon their arrival in Zenithia, the Zenith Dragon tells them that he is not the omnipotent "god" they may have hoped to meet. Though never implied to be a mortal being, the Zenithian Dragon is neither all-knowing nor all-powerful: he is a entity with limitations and prejudices he learns to overcome for the sake of maintaining peace in the world.
When introduced in IV, the Zenith Dragon is depicted as a stern authority figure that has no great affinity for humans and forbids his flock to descend to the realm below and commune with ground-dwellers. Though he insists on distancing himself from the world below on the principle of non-interference, the Zenith Dragon has stepped in to prevent world disasters beyond humanity's ability to handle in the past.
By the time of V, the dragon's views on humanity have softened to the point that he himself desired to interact directly with them, and he took his leave of Zenithia some twenty years prior to Generation 3 of the game's storyline. Stripped of his power for much of the game, the dragon proves himself to be resourceful and quick-thinking, coming to a solution to fix the disaster that has befallen Zenithia in mere moments of gaining an understanding of the situation. He furthermore shows that he puts others before his own well-being, researching ways to restore the comatose Zenithians, instead of himself. Once returned to full strength, he immediately grants the Hero permission to summon him through the use of a sacred talisman in order to penetrate the stronghold that the game's villainous cult has cloistered themselves within.
The Zenith Dragon places an absolute value on the principals of free will and freedom of choice via his staunch adherence to not interfering with the lower realms unless utterly necessary, best exemplified in Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince. Here he is shown to never once impose what he believes to be the right decision on Psaro during their encounters in his childhood and adolescence, allowing the half-human to walk his own path in life despite having the potential to put the world at great risk of calamity by doing so.
Appearances[edit]
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen[edit]
The Zenith Dragon maintains a strict policy of non-interference with the mortal world below the floating castle, forbidding any of his people to descend and interact with humanity. This law has been violated twice in IV's storyline, with the first incident resulting in death by lightning of the mortal man swoon by a Zenithian woman. This man was undoubtedly the father of the Hero, though it is never explicitly stated that the Zenith Dragon himself executed him.
In ages past he was the one to vanquish Estark when the fiendlord made his attempt to conquer the world through the Secret of Evolution, sealing the monster away in the area that would one day become Mines of Mamon. In the intervening years he has grown weaker with age, and can not directly aid in the battle against Psaro the Manslayer. When the Chosen Ones first meet the Zenith Dragon in Zenithia, he informs the group of the situation, as Psaro the Manslayer is rapidly amassing power in Nadiria. He imbues the Zenithian sword with the power necessary to defeat Psaro and shows the party the way into the underworld.
After the Chosen Ones vanquish Psaro and the battlefield begins to collapse around them, the dragon dives in to snatch the wagon in his claws and carry them to safety. Returned to Zenithia, he addresses the Chosen Ones and praises them for their merits in battle and contributions to the world, blessing them before they return to the earth below.
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride[edit]
The Zenith Dragon is first met in Diggery Pokery as Dr. Agon, a man claiming to be Zenithian despite his lack of wings and unassuming appearance. After he is freed from a perpetually looping mine cart ride, something he's been stuck in for the last 20 years, he joins the party but does not participate in combat.
Eventually the party finds their way to Zenithia, which had fallen into a lake some years after the dragon took his leave. Dr. Agon uses his meditation powers to see into the past and learns that the Gold Orb, one of the two that keep Zenithia afloat, has been destroyed: in the beginning of the game, the Hero acquired the orb, and it is later destroyed by Ladja. Dr. Agon stays in the castle while the party finds a replacement Gold Orb, informing them that the Faeries were the ones who crafted the original orbs and may be able to create a replacement. The Hero ends up having to travel back in time to when he had the orb before it was destroyed, and he switches the gold orb held by his past self with a fake one. When the party returns, Zenithia is raised and Dr. Agon checks on his subordinates as they exit their suspended animation.
Later, when the party finds the Dragon orb in Talon Tower, they return to Zenithia to find the doctor being questioned by Zenithians, who doubt the man's strange mannerisms and don't remember any of their race by the name of "Dr. Agon". He will ask for the Dragon orb, which allows him to transform into his true form and regain the power he had lost in the many centuries since his battle with Estark. His very presence is now capable of preventing the minions of Grandmaster Nimzo from teleporting between the realms (as demonstrated by Ladja).
The dragon will then carry the party to Crocodilopolis, the center of the cult of evil that plagues the world. The Zenith Dragon can also be used to travel over any terrain at high speeds, but can only drop off the party on flat terrain. After the vanquishing of Grandmaster Nimzo, he will take the party to many towns and let the Hero talk to the inhabitants, eventually returning everyone to Gotha and joining the victory celebration as Dr. Agon. During the ending credits he is pulled into a dance by the Hero's cousin Gertrude.
Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation[edit]
Though the character does not directly appear in VI, it is strongly hinted that the large egg found in Cloudsgate Citadel is his own. The egg pulses with a ethereal energy when touched, and the caretaker states that what hatches from it will bring about miraculous changes in the world once it is born. As Ashlynn remained behind in the citadel as it entered the real world during the dream world's vanishing, it is very much implied that she had a great influence on the dragon's upbringing.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart[edit]
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Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2[edit]
| Zenith dragon | |
|---|---|
| Family | Dragon |
| Rank | ??? |
| Size | L |
| Weapons | Staves |
| Traits | Desperado, Grand Slammer, Hit Squad, Tactical Genius |
| Resistances | Immune to Zap, Whack, Poison, Confusion, Inaction, Paralysis, and Sleep. Healed by Fire Breath and Cold Breath |
| Skill | Zenith Dragon |
| Location | - |
| Breeding chart | Xenlon x Nokturnus x Dracolord x Sagittar |
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Professional[edit]
| #410 - Zenith Dragon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Bestiary # | 410 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Game | Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 Professional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Console | DS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Zenith Dragon is nothing less than an Rank SS monster.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Terry's Wonderland 3D[edit]
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Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Marvelous Mysterious Key[edit]
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Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 Professional[edit]
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Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince[edit]
The Zenith Dragon first appears during the game's introduction cutscene, when Randolfo curses Psaro to be unable to harm monsters. Just as Randolfo is about to cast Globo Oscuro and banish his son to the end of time, the Zenith Dragon intervenes by casting Bazoom and teleporting Psaro to his throne room in Zenithia. Before the cutscene concludes Randolfo growls "Hmph...You again..." under his breath, implying that the dragon has meddled in the Tyrant's machinations in the past.
Once Psaro recovers in Zenithia, the Zenith Dragon regretfully informs him that his mother Miriam has passed away while the youth ventured into Nadiria to force Randolfo to cure her terminal illness. He then states that he will help fulfill her dying wish by using his magic to remove the monster blood from Psaro and allow him to live as true human. The boy refuses, however, and explains that he will need the strength of his monstrous heritage to get revenge on Randolfo. The Zenith Dragon respects Psaro's decision and does not argue with the boy, stating that he is the master of his own destiny before returning him to Terrestria.
The dragon is next seen in a flashback witnessed by Psaro, Rose, and Toilen when the group gaze upon the memories locked away within the Lower Echelon of the Cradle of Corruption. These memories detail the dragon's battle with Estark that alluded to briefly in the original tale of Dragon Quest IV. Here it is revealed how the mad Zenithian Azabel used the forbidden Secret of Creation to birth three almighty monsters, guiding them to bring global genocide to the entire world so that she may be the mother of a new, perfect creation in its place. The Zenith Dragon intervenes by fighting the madwoman with the entire heavenly host of Zenithian soldiers aiding him, putting a stop to her insane ambition after days of ceaseless conflict. The dragon condemns the "children" to damnation by separating their souls from their bodies and assigning Whitewhorl the Watcher to guard the spirits so that they can never rejoin their physical forms again. As for Azabel, she is banished to an ancient elven realm. The memory concludes with the Zenith Dragon ordering that the tragedy be committed to scripture and engraved in the minds of every Zenithian so that the grave sin may never be repeated.
At some point prior to the game's events, the Zenithian Dragon would learn of the existence of Ludo the half-elf, the youngest of Randolfo's three sons. He would also discover that Ludo's mother is none other than Elshael, the elf whom the Zenith Dragon tasked with becoming the living seal of Azabel in the distant past. Fearing that the nihilistic young man would attempt to free his mother without a care of unbinding the dangerous Zenithian, the dragon conscripted him into serving as the warden of the Lower Echelon of the Cradle of Corruption to keep an eye on him. These fears would eventually prove true once Ludo manipulates Psaro into freeing the memories sealed away in the Lower Echelon, thus absolving Ludo of any obligation to stay put on the pure technicality of no longer having anything to guard.
When the trio returns to Rosehill in Terrestria, the Zenith Dragon sends Sparkie as an envoy to request their presence within the floating castle. The child dragon's growls are correctly interpreted by Rose, and the group soon stands before the god. The dragon wastes no time with pleasantries and warns the trio of the impending revival of Estark, stating that the world will be set on the path of ruin if it isn't stopped. The Zenith Dragon also states the doom may be averted with the emergence of the Chosen Ones, and that Psaro will join forces with them to defeat Estark. After this the Zenith Dragon reiterates Miriam's wish and asks if Psaro will honour it: if the player selects "yes" as their response then the Zenith Dragon will tell Psaro that he cannot hide the truth from him. He sees through the half-monster's desire to use Estark as a weapon against Randolfo. He warns Psaro that should he succeed in fully reviving Estark and making it his pawn then he would not take the act lightly and also informs him that Zangiel the Omniarch, who rules over the monsters of Terrestria, also seeks to control the monster.
The dragon asks if Psaro truly wishes to side with his father's heritage over his mother's, telling Psaro that if he seeks the power of Estark and continues to ally with monsterkind and wage war on humanity, he will inevitably face repercussions for his actions and make himself a powerful enemy. The Zenith Dragon informs the group of Zangiel's headquarters within Diabolic Hall and empowers the Rosehill teleportal to reach it before dismissing Psaro from Zenithia, forbidding him to return.
Much later, when Psaro is alerted to Rose being kidnapped by humans after witnessing the Chosen Ones vanquish Estark in his tomb, the Zenith Dragon telepathically speaks to the misguided one as he races back to Rosehill. Showing Psaro a vision of Rose's kidnapping and Toilen's witnessing it, the Zenith Dragon tells Psaro that he must make a decision of the gravest importance that will affect the entire world. Though he does not spell out the entire picture for him, the dragon does tell Psaro that deceit is at play and implores him to see through the deception.
The Zenith Dragon next appears during Psaro's lowest moment, when he has fallen for Aamon's ruse and fully given into his hatred of humanity by transforming himself with the Secret of Evolution. What transpires is similar to the events of the original Dragon Quest IV with Psaro becoming a mindless beast that destroys all in it's path, with the cutscene depicting him ravaging the echelons of Nadiria and killing many of the friends he mad along his journey. He makes his way to a ragged cliffside and is confronted by the Chosen Ones, with the Zenith Dragon telepathically contacting him during the battle. Describing the folly of using the Secret of Evolution for power, itself an imperfect technique, the god solemnly laments the sad fate of the half-blooded princes of monsters as his life is brought to an end by the Hero.
Thankfully this terrible end is avoided with the intervention of Toilen and some freshly half-inched Sands of Time, giving Psaro a second chance. Instead, the Zenith Dragon now contacts Psaro, Rose, and Toilen once the group has defeated Aamon in his sanctum within the Upper Echelon of the Circle of Caprice. He shows them a vision of Aamon being killed by Psaro's older brother Dolph after trying and failing to dupe Randolfo into using the Secret of Evolution and become a mindless monster under the guise of being granted unlimited power. The Tyrant saw through this deceit and muses that he has already perfected what he calls the Supreme Secret of Evolution and, upon noticing the four spying upon him, goads Psaro into confronting him in his castle. The Zenith Dragon warns that this new and improved occult mechanism allows the wielder to retain his mind, and that if Randolfo were to use it in a war against humanity then surely all life would be annihilated. The god implores Psaro to put an end to his father before the monster can begin his assault on humanity.
Upon Randolfo's defeat, the Zenith Dragon descends into Nadiria to personally escort the trio of heroes home to Rosehill. The Zenith Dragon congratulates Psaro for vanquishing his wicked father and reflects on their shared history, asking for a final time if he would like to have his monster blood removed and life as a human. Psaro declines that offer, to which the Zenith Dragon states that he is blessed with dignity of remaining true to who he is no matter what. He bids the Psaro farewell and returns to Zenithia, flying past the hot-air balloon of the Chosen Ones as they float over Rosehill.
The Zenith Dragon also appears as the final opponent in the Category S contest of the Maulosseum, having a team of a great keeper, a phoenix, and a giant Xenlon.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light[edit]
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Dragon Quest Treasures[edit]
A statue of the Zenith Dragon's likeness appears as Treasure No. 484, with a base value of 1,100,000. Oddly, it is classified as a monster statue despite being grouped under Dragon Quest IV.
Dragon Quest of the Stars[edit]
Under the name of Golden Dragon, the Dragon of Zenithia appears in the Heavenly Golden Dragon event in Dragon Quest of the Stars. Dr. Agon, his human form, takes the role as the navigator through the event, which retells the stories of the fourth, fifth and sixth Dragon Quest games. After finishing revisiting the games, the player must face against a corrupted Zenith Dragon and free his soul. Once the corrupted version is defeated, the dragon regains his golden glow.
In this game, the Golden Dragon mixes traits from the Zenith Dragon, from whom it takes the identity and general role; the mysterious dragon, from whom it takes the appearance.
The Golden Dragon inspired a lot of gacha gear, including but not limited to: an Axe, a Spear, Claws, two full Armor sets, two Shields and more. The Golden Dragon also inspired a few skills, like the main skill of the alchemized Zenithian sword: Golden Dragon Cometh, which blasts the enemies with a powerful fire breath attack and raises the breath resistance of the whole party.
As a boss, he is weak to Woosh-type attacks, and resists Crack, Sizz, Zam, Ice Breath and Dark Breath attacks. He is neutral to every other element. His main attacks are from the Zam and Dark Breath elements, but he can also use skills and spells like C-c-cold breath, Kaswoosh or Frigid Wave. Two "Zenith Wings" aid him, two corrupted floating crystals. One only attacks and puts the heroes to sleep, while the other can cast Fullheal on the dragon for 999 HP. One defeated in a "fiend" difficulty dungeon, he drops a shield reminiscent of his corrupted form.
Dragon Quest Rivals[edit]
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Dragon Quest Walk[edit]
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Trivia[edit]
- Series illustrator Hazuki Kurikara revealed in a Xitter post that the Zenith Dragon's design was used for the logo of Dragon Warrior III[1]
- The Zenith Dragon's team in The Dark Prince consists of monsters that first appeared in the Cloudsgate Citadel bonus dungeon that was added to the 16-bit remake of Dragon Quest III: The Seeds of Salvation. It should be noted that Cloudsgate Citadel and Zenithia share the same name in the Japanese version of the games, being called ゼニスの城.
