Gustang is not only an irregular wave controller but also mad scientist. Those combo would destroy the likes of traumerei and his shineuh. Be it wave attack, bio weapon, genjutsu, robots/golem, magical tools, even his simole wink etc. He is too smart to show his overall capabililies to be appraised by ranking adm. He is far surpassed blossom already
Tperie. Lighthouse is not only for peeking. It could possess the greatest fire power and mirror wall and powerful sealing too. Even khun level enna core is already amazing. Tperie gods eye and opera would make him invincible. he worked with the workshop and ultimately creates opera and other innovations. So he is another genius like gustang.
There must be a good reason why we havent met this family member (or have we?tuperie repellista zahard?), Tuperie family doesnt look like having great influence in the tower compared to top FH, YET she/he is placed just right below Yurin. So if not influence, must be his capability/strength is that great.
Ari Han pursue peace and balance. It is said that he has quite the power and influence to do so. So i expect he wouldnt be at the bottom. Combat strength might be 7 or 8 among FH.
My opinion is align with the ranking adm office with a slight variation:
Zahard,
Hon, Eduan, Yurin, Gustang (yes, above blossom. In 1v1, unlike blossom, after eons He has much more than just wave controlling, unlike the ultra genius but lazy blossom. Knowledge eventually wins over talent),
blossom, tperie, bloodmadder, Han, Hana, traumerei
Pretty much this. While I think
@PGT is pretty close to the money otherwise, I see people sleeping on Gustang. Which I think is not wise.
Gustang:
- has a deeper access to the Workshop than arguably anyone else in the tower, probably even Zahard himself (the later relying on Gustang for the the tech to do the princess program). This is the same Workshop that can recreate life, pseudo (if not real) admin, shinwonryu, and know enough about thryssas to have a serum to be used against them (implying they've worked with them before). All the advanced tower weapons come from them, and, oh, they probably have access to outside the tower and all that implies as well.
- has a more than probable alliance with Headon. Headon, the only admin that can actually travel, the first admin, arguably the most powerful, the one who determines who can even come in the tower (by shutting them down on 1F if he chooses to do so), and has been called the TRUE god of the tower.
- has obtained a relic/tech in the bracelet that Zahard REALLY didn't want him to have, and that the later went to great lengths to hide. This is probably tech from the Workshop anyways going back to the first point. Gustang doing this was enough to move Zahard personally and then issue orders against his compatriot in a tower-spanning war that hasn't happened in tens of thousands of years
- has ties to FUG, and by extension probably Luslec - and thus Baam. What more needs to be said if he has a Baam on his side, even if it's an uneasy alliance or an alliance of necessity? Oh, and Luslec as well, probably the only capable FUG member and one that would take at least a FH or Adori to stop if he were to 'move'
- has a backup Rachel if need be. While she sucks hard, maybe he'll engineer her into a proper weapon yet. That's the only two irregulars of recent memory or importance that are inside the tower
- oh, and he knows/knew where portions of the thorn are, probably the other pieces as well - implying he was saving them for the right wielder, and knows Baam will be reliable enough to put his influence and energy behind Baam getting all the pieces. This is THE thorn, the most important weapon in the tower and the piece needed to kill the king. That alone is enough.
- has some incredibly-powerful princesses on his 'side' - his daughter if he can spring her (which will obviously happen) is powerful enough to rival even Adori, maybe even a FH or two to a stalemate (stopping short of being able to kill them due to contracts). And of course the hidden princess on FoD which I bet is at least top100 material, maybe even approaching Mas levels.
- and to the above point while their love has died, they have the commonality in a daughter, so he might very well have Eurasia on his side as well.
- has sidelined Urek from working against him (the only wildcard he couldn't directly control that he reported to someone that's his equal or greater - probably Headon or Macseth). Urek is on the fence about fighting Zahard (even if as a simp for princess), but he notably has no beef with Gustang. This is a feather in Gustang's cap, and Urek can only remain neutral for so long. Once/if Yuri is in trouble, or Baam, or both, or the whole tower is on fire in a war then Wingtree will have to pick a side. There's every reason to believe it won't be the pro-Zahard side, thus that means more of a chance he'll end up on Gustang's side by default.
Gustang *IS* Aizen (hell, he even favors him, and he's the leet scientist of the group of 13). He's playing two steps ahead of everyone in the tower. Zahard and even Rei are reactionary. That puts them behind the curve and on defense. Gustang probably knows all there is to know about their fighting style and weak points.
While the story/author via Zahard has pitted the two mad scientists against each other, they aren't equals from a cerebral perspective. Rei may or may not be highly intelligent, but I don't see any evidence he's as intelligent or connected as Gustang. He's more the sadistic scientist - the throw some shit into a box and see what comes out alive type. Gustang is far more methodical and predictable. This is like comparing Mayuri (Rei) to Aizen or Uruhara (Gustang). They're both intelligent (questionable for Rei - he seems to rely on Workshop and makes questionable choices) scientists, but one clearly outclasses the other.
I bet Gustang has planned out as much as can be. He's working on the Vizard with the Gotei 13 are playing catchup and haven't even caught on to his machinations. IF/WHEN they think they have him cornered he'll be caught in a protective beam rendering him untouchable, take off his glasses, and slick his hair back as he's teleported to either outside the tower or FoD.
Sure, Gustang might be - compared to his fellow irregulars only - relatively 'weak' in his vessel. Yurin certainly has more durable hide and harder punches. Eduan certainly has more powerful snipes and spearings (and more potent shinsoo qualities). Hon has more vicious bladework. Other FH WCs may have more violent shinsoo/shinwonryu blasts. Etc.
But, I put my money on Gustang knowing *precisely* how to counter each one (think: more Batman than Superman) in an event that pits them against each other.
Moreover, I bet he has ways of undermining them entirely to avoid direct confrontation, or has worked behind the scenes to form alliances so he never has to fight them to begin with. OR he has someone else in mind to do his dirty work (Baam, Rachel, Luslec, any connections beefed up with GongBong tech, admin involvement).
Then, we have all this in mind when we consider Gustang HAS to know the threats and risks, and yet STILL chose to point his blade at Zahard (he doesn't seem to be suicidal, but calculating). That's not an act of balls (although it takes balls), that's an act that someone with all the information on his side and the knowledge to crunch the data and predict outcomes knows the dust will settle with him being victorious.
I've seen a similar argument - 'Rei and/or Zahard think Rei is qualified to take Gustang by himself!'
Well, that argument has several flaws. Zahard could be using his WEAKEST ally to draw out his potent enemy and gauge his war power. Or to see how the allies go - a test of sorts to see where the 'maybe' FH's join in. Or maybe Rei is the biggest ass-kisser and is thus easiest to manipulate even if it's a losing battle (enabling stronger FH allies time to prepare, or soften up Gustang before the bigger guns come out). Or maybe Rei even volunteered as much, to get Zahard's approval (possibly an ancient beef). Or maybe it's as simple as the trope of scientists fight other scientists.
In any event, LPB is having a terrible showing all things considered. I highly doubt even with his entire family Rei could take Gustang directly. Gustang is ready for him, and even Zahard.
TLDR: go Gustang, Rei ain't shit
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