Name: Rico Banderas Age: 30 Gender: Male Height: 7'0" Weight: 352 lbs. Birthplace: Kislev Measurements: (in cm) 121x95.5 Shoe size: (in cm) 32 Ring size: 28 Clothing size: (extremely) large Rank: Battling Champion Weapon: none Gear: Stier (Omnigear - same name) Armor: Martial wear, etc. Skills: Support ether spells, deathblows Gear skills: Normal attack levels, some effect ether abilities.

Rico was born a "normal" human, as far as I know. But when he was a child his body started transforming, until he turned into what is commonly referred to as a "demi-human" -- something Krelian later calls the "higher" form of humanity, or it's evolved form. His mother doesn't last long after that, and from there he somehow ends up as the "Battling Champion" of Kislev's D Block. (There are a lot of holes in Rico's story, and to tell the truth he's far from my favorite, so if anybody has info they'd like to donate regarding Rico, feel free to send it to me.) Rico remained the Battle Champion for years. Although he didn't have to remain in D Block, he chose to of his own free will, refusing to join Kislev's military. He and his 'associates' initiate all newcomers into the Block and it's way of life with their "baptismal ceremony" - a tournament-like fight that determines the new pecking order. They forced Fei thorugh such a ceremony when he was stuck in Kislev, and although Fei lost the first time, he won later during the gear tournaments. At first Rico refused to help Fei, even when Dominia's task force was threatening his city. But when Elly and Fei put their lives on the line for him and the city he detested, he finally acted and joined them in their effort to prevent Dominia from completing her mission. After this, he joins the party as a permanent member. ( Everything below is either speculation or my opinion.) I never used Rico. ^^ Even after I built his levels up, he kept dying on me while I was stuck in Kislev. Even Steel Body didn't keep him alive! His deathblows are about average as far as damage goes I suppose -- he's stronger than Elly, but not by much, and he can't equip a weapon. Overall, I would say to use someone else, and save Rico as one of your expendable members for the last battles. (I apologize to any Rico fans reading this -- my opinion is based solely on my experience with the character.) A lot of people are confused by the collar around his neck. It looks a lot like the collar Kislev puts around the necks of all the prisoners in D Block, but I think his is a little different. If you remember, Fei was told that if he won the Battling Tournament, the explosive collar would be removed and he would be free to go or join the military. Rico has been the undisputed Battle Champion for years. I doubt he would have kept the collar on. When I compared the collar worn by Fei to Rico's, I noticed that they looked very different, so I think Rico's yellow collar is just another part of his outfit.

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