Lightning's History
Lightning was modeled after Jin Kolter;[2] he was created with the other Ignis by Dr. Kogami in the Hanoi Project to be the saviors of humanity. During the Lost Incident, Lightning learned how to frighten people. In fact, he created simulations for Jin showing how he'd be saved, then twisted them in order to scare him. The result made Jin crushed, which caused his soul to be broken.[3] Like his fellow Ignis, Lightning evolved and they created the Cyberse World, as well as the Cyberse monsters. Their progress worried Dr. Kogami, who predicted the AI and humanity would become enemies, who created Ignis to help humanity instead.[4]Despite this, Lightning and the other Ignis continued developing the Cyberse World. Lightning's sector of Cyberse was a place filled with plains and rocky landscapes with a stone pillar in the distance. In Ai's words, the Ignis would never try harm humanity, and would rather live in their own world.[5] Though referred to as living beings, Lightning and the other Ignis, except Ai, lacked human instinct, and their decisions were based on their rational thinking.[6]
However, the simulations showed that, in a group, the Ignis would destroy the world, but separately, they'd improve humanity through coexistence. The exception to this was Lightning, who was predicted to demolish the others' progress and start a war between the Ignis and humanity.[7] When Cyberse World was constructed, Lightning ran simulations at the same time Dr. Kogami ran his on the Ignis' future, and warned SOL Technologies of the threat. Since Lightning believed Dr. Kogami would soon learn that Lightning would be the source of the Ignis turning onto humanity, he went and corrupted him with a virus, causing SOL Technologies to imprison him and making him believe they punished him.[3]
Lightning captured
Varis launched an attack to Cyberse World with three of his "Cracking Dragons". The entities of Cyberse, including Lightning, were sealed off and could not retaliate, except for Ai. Varis and the "Cracking Dragon" chased Ai, who escaped Cyberse and severed the connection with that place. Others realized he wanted to hide Cyberse at the price of being unable to return. Just as Ai succeeded and gloated, Varis' "Cracking Dragon" ate him, though his eye was lost in the network. Varis had his team search for Ai's remains, for only he knew the location of Cyberse.[8] The attack swayed Lightning's mind, as he saw humanity as their enemy, an entity the Ignis would surpass. He believed humans had reached their peak of evolution, while the Ignis grew faster and better.[2]
In Ai's absence, Lightning spoke with the other Ignis on how their technology surpassed humanity. They wondered if they should share this technology with humans, and co-exist with them. Since they learned Varis and Dr. Kogami tried to destroy them, the Ignis noted that humans had the potential to be their enemies.[9] Lightning was designing the "Judgment Arrows" card, but Aqua noticed his activities. Lightning claimed the card would protect Cyberse World from humans, but Aqua found out he was lying. To prevent her from interfering, Lightning sealed Aqua in a cage. Aqua questioned his motives, while Lightning admitted he would destroy Cyberse World to further his actions.[10] Lightning was the one that had Cyberse World attacked, so he could "recreate" Cyberse World, as well as to build his plans to fight humanity itself.[2] He had Bohman destroy Cyberse World with the use of "Judgment Arrows" and "Paradox Hydradrive Atlas".[11] The Ignis escaped from Cyberse World.[9]
