Li Long

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Li Long
Game series	Soul series
First game	Soul Edge
Voice actor(s)	Jin Yamanoi (Soul Edge) Masaya Takatsuka (Soul Calibur III)
In-Universe Information
Age	31
Birthplace	Peking, China (Ming Empire at the time)
Birthdate	October 23, 1560
Blood type	B
Weapon	Bladed Nunchaku
Weapon name	Falcon
Fighting style	Matchless Dragon
Family	Parents, deceased Sister, Meimei Wife, Chie Son, he doesn't know of his existence

Li Long (リ・ロン, Ri Ron^?, Chinese: 李龍 Pinyin: Lǐ Lóng) is a fictional Chinese character designed for the Soul series of fighting games. Li Long made his first appearance in Soul Edge and also appears as a bonus character in Soul Calibur III.

1 Biography
2 Weapons
3 Stages
4 Trivia
5 Series' Appearances
6 External links

[edit] Biography

After the death of the great Eirakutei, the Ming Dynasty was left open to plundering by pirates from southern Japan. Li Long was hired by the emperor on a private mission to assassinate the leader of the pirates and bring Soul Edge home with him. However, he never really cared about Soul Edge and instead decided to not only assassinate the leader of the pirates, but the daimyo feudal lords as well. This was not part of the mission, but there was no doubt in his mind that he would succeed. However, Long was not as strong as he thought, and an attack on the head of a powerful family in Honshū failed horribly. Left badly injured, he was rescued by a young girl named Chie. Chie was the daughter of the former leader of the Fu-Ma clan, Hachibei, operating as an innkeeper. Chie had been permanently traumatized by the death of her mother as a child and had permanently lost the ability to speak. She devoted herself to Long's care, and they eventually fell in love; and he stayed with Chie long after he was made fit for travel again. One day, while Li Long was out, a fight had broken out at the Inn. Chie was thought to have been killed, and a wounded Hachibei told Long that a wandering swordsman had started the fight and left. Witnesses thought that it may have been Heishiro Mitsurugi, but obviously, Mitsurugi was not the only swordsman wandering the land. In actuality, the swordsman had been a ninja of the Fu-Ma clan, sent by its leader, Toki, to take back a sword that Yahei had stolen from them. Long set out for revenge on Chie's behalf, learning along the way that Mitsurugi was looking for the Soul Edge. Long decided that if he found the sword first, Mitsurugi would eventually have to come to fight him; and if it turned out that Mitsurugi wasn't responsible for Chie's death, he would seek out every last swordsman until he got his revenge.

In his journey, he came to Valencia, Spain, where he found the dread pirate, Cervantes de Leon, keeper of the watchers--one of which Long had killed previously--and possessor of the Soul Edge. He tried to steal the evil blade from him, and ended up in a fierce battle with the pirate; but he was quickly defeated by the sword's overwhelming power and fell to the ground, drenched in blood, calling out Chie's name. At that exact moment, Chie awoke in a monastery in Honshū. She may have been severely scarred on her back, but she was alive, and eventually learned of Long's misguided quest for revenge on her behalf. She waited for him for a month, when she discovered that she was pregnant with his child.

After his complete defeat at the pirate's hand, Li Long tried to escape. Cervantes chased him, but for some odd reason he gave up pursuit (probably at the presence of Sophitia). Before faiting, Li Long took a look back and witnessed a bright column of light coming from the port - the Evil Seed. When he woke up, he found he not only suffered physically, but mentally as well. He questioned himself if his acts were righteous and not atrocities, and his confidence shattered while his inner self was consumed. Unable to fend off the assassins hunting him anymore, he fled during the nights, disguised and under a false name.

Three years later, when Chai Xianghua, a member of the Ming Dynasty Imperial Guard, was preparing to leave on a similar mission on the emperor's behalf, she was asked by Li Meimei to check on her brother, Long, and see if he was alive. Xianghua did eventually learn that Li Long had not died, finding him just after having won a battle, but he told her that he would never return to Ming Dynasty China again.

Eventually he stumbled upon a town, and hoped to get lost among its population. But even there his pursuers were approaching him. About to lose hope, he was saved by a girl. He tried to leave, but at last he accepted his offer and stayed with her, knowing it wasn't meant to last. His pursuers were still at the hunt, and she reminded him of Chie, stirring his guilty conscience. She took care of him, because she felt he has lost everything.

Then one day the assassins found him. The girl tried to tell him to leave, but Li Long ignored her and stood with his weapon in hand, trembling. In the past it was hard to believe he'd been defeated, but now he barely defeated his foes. In that moment something returned to him: how to fight for something. He decided to leave after that. As he was leaving, the girl ran to him and gently touched his back, communicating her feelings more clearly than ever. But still he left the town that day, now knowing what to do, for the ones who urge him to live.

Half of himself was left with that dreaded blade. Now it's time to regain it, but still he doesn't know that his lover is searching for him, and that the proof of their love is now breathing.

[edit] Weapons

-- Falcon

Li Long wields a pair of handmade nunchaku, originally only one on Soul Edge, made by himself. Both nunchakus possess blades on each of their ends. Their damage-dealing abilities are greatly increased, but they require great skill to be handled without receiving severe injuries. On the UK and eastern Europe version of the game, the weapon is referred to as a Sansetsukon, a three-sectional staff, though this resembles more a bladed nunchaku with its chain replaced by a third, shorter section.

[edit] Stages

-- The Narrow Gorge (SB)

The San Kyo gorge is found running through one of China's greatest rivers, the Yangtze. It's a vital point by traveling in the mainland, and is quite fit for travel in a raft. Li Long came to the conclusion that Mitsurugi must come through this passage. Burning with vengueful thoughts, Li Long awaited his rival to show.

-- Lakeside Coliseum (SC3:AE)

What is the most primitive, most appalling, yet most exciting sport? The answer lies in ancient Rome. It is the Colosseum, where men bet their lives in combat. On a certain lakeshore exists a secret arena constructed to recreate that world. Men of power who have already exhausted all other luxuries the world has to offer come here to watch men fight for their lives. This place was built in search of this ultimate stimulation. In contrast to the blood-stained madness of the arena, the surrounding landscape is pleasant and peaceful. The surface of the lake calmly reflects sunlight onto the gently swaying trees of the forest... The arena, which has tested the blood of countless warriors, breathes deeply of the clear lakeside air and quietly awaits the signal for the next battle to be.

(Note: Li Long shares this stage with Rock, but without cage and on daytime)

[edit] Trivia

Li Long's character, fighting style, weapon choice and name are all homages to the martial-arts legend Bruce Lee (whose Chinese screen name was Lì Xiǎolóng 李小龍).
Since he stopped appearing after Soul Blade, most fans believed him to be dead. The theory was reinforced by one of the pictures in Soul Calibur's Prologue where Li Long lookalike was shown at the brink of death. Li Long appeared alive during one of the many outcomes of an official VMU mini-game, but due to that it was assumed as non-canon. His inclusion and profile from Soul Calibur III closes the issue at last.
Li Long is a Bonus Character in Soul Calibur III. Both his outfits are similar to his 2 outfits in Soul Edge. He represents the Custom Discipline "Nunchaku".
Li Long appears as a standard character in Soul Calibur III: Arcade Edition, along with fellow Bonus Characters Hwang Seong-gyeong and Amy. He also features an updated movelist, more than any of the other newcomers.
Li Long can be found, as a "Prepare to Defend Yourself" challenge in Soul Calibur III's Tales of Soul Mode in Tira's stage. This is most probably an homage to his old Soul Edge stage, as both are quite similar.
In the Eastern European and UK version of Soul Edge, his weapon was changed into a Sansetsukon, due to negative cultural associations with the term "ninja" and "ninja-like" weapons.
Li Long traveled from China to Japan using the false name Zhang Wu. He took it from a rival assassin from the Ming empire.
There's a mistranslation in Li Long's Soul Calibur III profile found in Soul Archive. In it, Chie is erroneously identified as Li Long's daughter, instead of lover.
Li Long's nickname in Soul Edge is "Rage of Executor".
Li Long's Destined Battle in Soul Calibur III (Quick Play) is Taki.