Kardia of Scorpio

Kardia of Scorpio engages Rhadamanthus — the most formidable of the Judges of the Dead — in an epic battle that all know is lost in advance. His sick heart races with every expenditure of cosmos, each attack bringing him closer to his own death. And yet Kardia continues, with a smile.

Kardia's battle against Rhadamanthus is one of the most celebrated fights in the manga. The Scarlet Needle technique — the essence of Scorpio — unfolds in all its poetic cruelty. Kardia's sacrifice, chosen in full lucidity, weakens Rhadamanthus enough to allow his companions to advance. His last thought goes to the cosmos that consumes him.