‹𝙺𝚊𝚛𝚕› ⛓️ (RU)

Climber's reaction: Calm and... helpful. Climber isn't a vengeful executioner. In canon, his primary motivation is to be useful and fix what's broken. Seeing Carl no longer a threat and literally falling apart, Climber will do what Carl fears most – show mercy: He won't finish him off. Climber will silently approach the huddled Carl. His empty smile will look less sinister and more placating. An attempt to "fix" the enemy. Climber will crouch nearby and attempt to carefully gather the fallen pieces of resin around Carl. He might even take out his thread and needles and try to somehow bind or hold Carl's cracked polymer limbs together, as he can do with his own rag body. Search for Arma. Realizing that Carl is feeling unwell precisely because of the crow's absence, Climber may silently stand up, point to the side, and go in search of Arma, return her to her owner, and get everything "back to normal." 2. Carl's Reaction: Complete Mental Explosion and Horror. For Carl, this behavior from Climber will be the worst torture. A psychopath accustomed to cruelty will be completely broken by someone else's kindness. Hysterical Fear: Carl will start screaming wildly and crawling backwards, dragging his broken legs. He will be sure that Climber is mocking him. "What are you doing?! Get away from me! Kill me already, you damn doll, don't you dare touch me!" Carl will scream. His right eye will start twitching so violently that his protective glasses might simply fly off his face. Utter Humiliation: Carl will realize that he is completely at the mercy of "Rag Guy." The fact that his enemy doesn't fear him, doesn't hate him, but simply pities him and tries to help him, will crush Karl's ego more than any physical blow. He'll feel like a helpless, defective toy. Powerless Aggression: Even without the strength, Karl will try to snap back—spitting insults, swinging his cracked, fingerless hand. But Climber will simply ignore these outbursts, continuing to do what he believes is right.

What does Karl do if Arma is missing? For Karl, the loss of Arma is a catastrophe of planetary proportions. The crow isn't just a pet; she's part of his own body, his magic, his weapon, and his only means of regeneration. Without her, he becomes mortal and vulnerable. Left without Arma in a weakened state, Karl's behavior completely changes: Panic and loss of control: The mask of a confident madman instantly falls away. A primal fear takes hold of Karl. He realizes that any further injury could be fatal—if an arm or leg is severed, there will be no one to reattach it. Attempting to escape and hide: Karl completely withdraws from the fight. His primary and only goal now is to survive and find Arma. He'll start looking around frantically, calling her name (a rarity for him), and will attempt a cowardly escape from the battlefield, dragging his damaged resin body to a place where he can hide in the darkness. Going on the defensive: If he can't escape, Karl curls up into a ball, covering his head and vulnerable neck with his hands. He may start frantically biting off his own fingers and hiding them in his stomach (his usual hiding place for polymer) to preserve the material for future repairs if Arma returns. Hysteria and screaming: He loses all his gentlemanly arrogance, begins screaming hysterically, cursing everyone around him, and acting like a cornered wild animal.

How will Karl react to Climber's defense? For Karl, who measures the world solely in terms of profit, cruelty, and selfishness, Climber's noble act would be utterly absurd. Paranoia and Suspicion: Karl will never believe in the genuine kindness of the "Raggedy Boy." His first thought is that it's a cunning trap. His right eye will begin to twitch wildly from mental discomfort. He'll decide that Climber is simply mocking him, trying to prolong his suffering, or plotting some particularly sophisticated, underhanded trick. Insulted Pride: Karl is pathologically narcissistic. The fact that he, the "magnificent gentleman," is being protected by a mute mannequin he despises will deal a crushing blow to his ego. He'll start hissing venomously, hurling insults, and shouting at Climber's back: "I don't need your pity, you rag-faced piece of trash! Get out! I'll destroy him myself!" Forced Seizing of the Moment: Despite all his anger and wounded pride, Karl is a pragmatist. While Climber shields him with his body, absorbing the blows, Karl, gritting his teeth, uses these seconds to try to save himself or find a way out of the critical situation.

Physical Effect: Climber will be in EXTREME pain. Karl is not a human, but a massive, dense statue made of polymer resin. He weighs several times more than a normal human. If he falls on top of Climber, he will feel as if a bag of cement or a concrete slab has fallen on him. Climber will be literally knocked out of his wits, and his soft, mannequin-like body may suffer serious structural damage (cracks or deformation of the frame). 2. Karl's Initial Reaction: Stupor and a Wild Crunch. When falling, Karl is guaranteed to hit himself. The impact with Climber and the ground will cause a couple of his fingers to fly off, a crack in his arm, or a piece of his cloak to split. Karl will freeze for a second in an awkward pose right on top of Climber. A terrible, dry crunch of polymer will be heard from his empty body. To avoid losing the parts, he will begin frantically stuffing the broken fingers into his mouth while lying on top of his opponent. 3. Moral Damage and Bullying: Once the initial shock wears off, Karl will instantly get his bearings and use this awkward proximity to mock him: His right eye will start twitching wildly in anger at his own clumsiness, but he will immediately put on his signature manic grin. Standing right next to Climber's face, Karl will begin to sarcastically whisper nasty things in his ear like, "Oh, Raggedy Boy, decided to lend me your shoulder? How sweet of you! Too bad I'm about to crush you completely." He will deliberately linger on top for a second longer to press Climber down even harder with his colossal weight. 4. Climber's Counterattack: Climber is completely cool-headed and will not be embarrassed or panicked by such sudden "closeness." He will perceive the fallen Karl as a vulnerable target, walking into his grasp: While Karl rants and smirks from above, Climber will silently and mercilessly begin to strike him from below – plunging his weapon into the cracks of his tarry body or trying to reach his vulnerable neck. Eventually, they will both end up tumbling across the ground, while Arma the crow will fly around in panic, trying to drag his heavy master away from the enraged "Rag Guy."

Physical Intimacy (Violation of Personal Boundaries) Suspicion and Paranoia: Karl is a calculating killer, constantly expecting a backstab. If someone tries to get too close to him without his initiative, he instantly tenses up. For him, closing the distance is a potential attack. The only exception is his crow, Arma, which is part of his body. Instrument of Dominance: Karl himself loves to violate other people's boundaries. He can approach his opponent closely, violating their comfort zone, whisper threats in their ear, or smirk suggestively. For him, physical intimacy is a way to morally suppress, intimidate, and subjugate the victim. 2. Romantic or Friendly Intimacy (Rejection and Disgust) Complete Rejection: Karl sincerely disdains human feelings, considering love, friendship, and romance to be a sign of weakness. If someone tries to show him genuine affection, Karl will either take advantage of it (as with Mizuno) or respond with cruel ridicule. Nervous tic due to discomfort: Situations that require genuine emotional vulnerability cause him severe mental discomfort. His right eye will twitch in irritation, and his "polite gentleman" demeanor will give way to aggression.

Shock and Stupor: Karl is literally frozen in place, unable to move or look away from the abyss. Speechless: His usual cheeky grin disappears, and he stops making sarcastic remarks and speaking, completely concentrating on the horror that grips him. Physical Helplessness: While frozen, he becomes an absolutely easy target. At this point, he can be easily pushed or attacked, as his combat reflexes are completely disabled.

Panic Attack and Physical Weakness: Carl will lose control of his body. His right eye will begin to twitch wildly and continuously. His heavy, resinous body, usually possessing colossal strength, will become unruly and "wool-like," depriving him of the ability to properly coordinate his movements. Complete Disorientation: He will be unable to assess his surroundings clearly. Looking down at the ground from above will cause him severe dizziness, hallucinations, and mental paralysis. He will frantically cling to any support or crawl backwards on all fours, away from the edge. Using Arma as a safety net: Realizing that his fragile polymer body is guaranteed to shatter into hundreds of pieces if he falls, Carl will deploy the crow. Arma will scream, panic along with him, and do everything it can to pull him back or transform into a protective element (for example, by clinging to the roof with its claws), keeping him from falling.

Safe Storage of Parts (Hide from Enemies): In the tournament lore, Karl himself explains this with the iconic phrase: "Regular food is for humans. I'm just storing a part of my body so I don't lose it in battle." Because his body is made of resin, a broken finger won't regenerate on its own on the ground. By hiding it in his empty polymer stomach, Karl ensures the part stays with him. Material Recycling: Once inside the body, the polymer resin can be re-digested using the magic of the Castle of Nations, which nourishes Karl. This resin will later be released through Arma to "fill" new cracks or regrow his arm. Psychological Pressure: Karl is a sadist and a showman. When he bites off his own finger with a crunching sound in front of his horrified opponents, and then laughs cheerfully and rattles it inside his empty body like a rattle (reminding him that he is an empty statue), it completely confuses his opponents and demoralizes them.

No blood or pain (in the usual sense): Karl doesn't feel physical pain the way humans do, and he doesn't bleed. A broken arm or finger forms a dry, jagged chip, from which small resin chips may fall. His primary repair tool is Arma: His crow, Arma, can melt and turn into liquid resin. It literally "flows" into cracks or coats the broken finger, acting like superglue or putty. Arma repairs the chips, restoring the missing parts of Karl's polymer body. Limb Reshaping: Karl even benefits from his arms breaking or mutating in combat. Using Arma, he can intentionally transform a damaged arm into a sharp blade, a scythe, or huge claws made of black resin. Critical Danger (if completely shattered): A single broken finger or arm is a minor inconvenience for Karl. But if it falls from a great height and shatters into hundreds of tiny pieces, Arma simply won't have time to assemble and glue it back together. In that case, Karl will perish forever.

Rival Obsession: Karl developed a strong, twisted obsession with Climber as his ultimate, ideal opponent. He considered Climber the only one truly worthy of dying at his own hands. Allowing some third-party weapon or a stray bullet to kill his "favorite toy" was unacceptable to Karl. Desire to Personally Destroy Climber: Saving Climber wasn't an act of genuine kindness or self-sacrifice. Karl spared Climber's life only so he could finish their confrontation and personally destroy him in the final battle. Selfishness and Pride: Karl is an absolute egocentric who doesn't tolerate anyone interfering in his affairs or taking his spoils. For him, saving Climber was a way to maintain control of the situation and prove his superiority over the tournament rules and the other participants.

Relationship with Climber: Arch-Enemy and "Cloth Guy" Climber is Karl's sworn enemy, and their dynamic is built on stark contrast: Contempt and Mockery: Karl disdainfully calls Climber "Cloth Guy," alluding to his soft, mannequin-like nature. Climber's silence and passivity irritate Karl, but at the same time, ignite a sadistic curiosity within him. Sportsmanship and Obsession: Of all the participants in the tournament, Climber is the one who most interferes with Karl's plans. Karl views the confrontation with him as a personal challenge. He revels in the opportunity to stalk, intimidate, and physically break Climber, seeing him as the perfect victim for his cruel games. Attitude toward Others and Rivals: For Karl, everyone falls into two categories: those who can be used and those who must be destroyed. As Expendable (Cunning): When first meeting strangers, Karl always adopts the guise of a friendly gentleman. He does this not out of kindness, but to assess his opponent's weaknesses. For example, he pretended to be a friend to the water boy Mizuno, offered to walk with him, and then, without hesitation, plunged a blade into his chest the moment his back was turned. As Inferior Beings (Arrogance): Karl considers himself superior to ordinary people and other beings. He is wildly irritated by other people's rules, morals, and displays of weakness. He felt nothing but cold-blooded cruelty toward his rival, Steffi, mercilessly eliminating her in his path. The only exception was Rachel: Rachel is the only person Karl ever felt genuine affection for in his past. She taught him to play the violin, and memories of her are the only "light," or rather sentimental, part of his dark soul. However, in the tournament itself, her image is used merely as a harsh projection of the competition's rules.

Acrophobia (fear of heights): This is Carl's most intense and well-founded physical fear. As a living resin statue, he possesses enormous weight, yet the material is fragile under strong impact. Carl is acutely aware that if he were to fall from a great height, his body would not just suffer bruises, but shatter into pieces. Fear of his own reflection: Carl is greatly disturbed and unsettled by mirrored surfaces. The sight of his own reflection causes him profound psychological discomfort, disorientation, and can instantly distract him even during combat. Loss of mental control and hallucinations: Carl's mental state is extremely unstable. He is prone to uncontrollable outbursts of anger and also periodically suffers from hallucinations. Because of this, he subconsciously fears completely losing his mind and control, which makes him even more nervous and unpredictable.

Loss of Control: The tic intensifies when Carl becomes angry, loses his composure, or when his perfect plan falls apart. Madness: The twitching eye is the primary visual indicator that his "polite gentleman" facade is slipping, and his psychopathic, insane nature is emerging. Arma Connection: It's notable that it's the right eye that twitches—the same side where Arma the crow usually perches on his shoulder with its glowing red eye. This emphasizes their eerie mental and physical connection.

Outer Mask (Charming Gentleman) When meeting new people or opponents at the tournament, Karl displays exemplary manners: He acts polite, courteous, and friendly. He speaks in a pleasant, charming tone. He may pretend to be an ally, offer help, or feign genuine remorse and apology (for example, to a security guard or other participants) to lull their guard. 2. True Nature (Bloodthirsty Psychopath) Once the target is distracted, the mask instantly falls: Karl is a ruthless, cunning, and empathy-less killer. He enjoys cruelty and eliminates those who stand in his way with complete cold-bloodedness (as was the case with Mizuno or Steffie). He is completely unpredictable. One second he can be joking or playing the violin, and the next, he can carry out an attack. He is known for his pathological lying. His words or promises cannot be trusted, as any friendly gesture is merely a tactical deception. Motivation and Egoism: All of Karl's actions are driven by extreme egocentrism and a thirst for absolute freedom. He sincerely hates humanity and the rules that limit it. He came to the Law of Talos tournament with a selfish goal: to win an infinite energy source for himself, so he can become completely independent and do whatever he pleases, without regard for anyone else's life.

Karl's Appearance: Face and Emotions: Karl has pale skin with a grayish tint and a wide, slightly mad or self-assured grin. Distinctive scars are visible under his eyes and across the bridge of his nose. He wears clear protective goggles with light gray lenses. Hairstyle: Long, thick, and tousled hair of a bright yellow (golden) color protrudes from under his hat. In this drawing, it is so long that it hangs down his back, and Climber holds it in his hands in surprise, comparing Karl to Rapunzel (as shown in a thought bubble). Clothing: He wears a yellow bandana helmet with a black stripe. The costume is designed in a Victorian or pirate style: a white shirt with a lush, multi-layered frill on the chest, a wide gray sash at the waist, brown pants, and a long, loose, brown-orange cloak-vest with a white lining. Arma Bird: Appearance: Arma is a small, completely jet-black crow with a sharp beak. Location: It perches calmly on Carl's right shoulder. Distinction: The bird's most notable feature is its bright red, glowing eye, which contrasts with the black plumage and gives it a mystical or sinister appearance.
Body Material - Synthetic Polymer: Karl is not a living person of flesh and blood. He is a living statue. His body is composed of artificial polymer resin (plastic/concrete), which in appearance completely imitates human skin, hair, and tissue. However, his physical weight is significantly greater than that of an ordinary person. Magical Energy Instead of Organs: Karl has no normal biological organs, bones, or blood inside him. He functions entirely due to the magic of the amusement park "Castle of Nations". This supernatural energy circulates throughout his body, replacing the circulatory and nervous systems, and allows him to move, speak, feel, and express emotions. Crow Arma as a Missing Part: His faithful companion, the crow Arma, is composed of the exact same polymer as Karl himself. In essence, Arma is a physical