The Hundred Years' War

Lore & Background

The war began when the Gears, artificial lifeforms created by humans to serve as laborers and soldiers, suddenly turned on their creators in an uprising led by Justice, whose awakening and command directly triggered the conflict. For decades, cities burned, and nations fell as these powerful bio-mechanical entities hunted down human populations with relentless efficiency. Humanity's only hope lay in a desperate alliance between the remnants of the military and the few humans who could wield magic, known as mages or magic users. The conflict ended with a decisive victory for humanity when the Sacred Order of Holy Knights defeated Justice. The Gears were largely neutralized, destroyed, or sealed, but the world was irrevocably changed. In the ashes of the war rose new powers, including the Post-War Administration Bureau, which sought to control the remaining Gears and prevent future uprisings. This era established the deep-seated fear and hatred that humanity holds toward Gears, a prejudice that continues to fuel tension in the modern timeline.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell like oil on the cracked pavement of what was once a bustling metropolis, now a graveyard of rusted steel and shattered stone. A lone survivor, clutching a broken rifle, watched as the silhouette of a Gear emerged from the smoke. Its eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, indifferent to the screams that had long since faded into silence. The war had taken everything—families, cities, hope—but it had also forged something unbreakable in those who remained. As the Gear raised its weapon, the survivor whispered a prayer not for victory, but for an end to the suffering.

Reader's Guide

The name 'Hundred Years' War' is a deliberate historical nod to the real-world conflict between England and France, suggesting a long, grinding struggle that defines generations. In Guilty Gear, this mirrors how the past trauma of humanity continues to shape current events. Thematically, the war embodies the concept of 'guilt'. Humanity's creation of Gears was born from ambition and a desire for control, yet it led to their near-annihilation. This reflects the series' exploration of whether playing god is a sin that must be atoned for through suffering. The aftermath also touches on 'redemption', as characters like Ky Kiske and Sol Badguy grapple with the legacy of this war. Their actions are often driven by a desire to prevent history from repeating itself, highlighting the struggle between destiny and free will.

Did You Know?

• The war resulted in the creation of the 'Gear Hunter' organization to track down remaining Gears.
• Many modern technologies in Guilty Gear are salvaged or reverse-engineered from pre-war machinery.
• The conflict is central to the backstory of almost every major character in the series.
• Justice's awakening and command directly triggered the Gear rebellion, leaving no mystery about its origin.