Noir Rod

Noir Rod
Information
Classification:	Magitronic monster
Height:	Gigantic
First Appearance:	Episode 21

“	I don't need to use the Shiny Rod or the Seven Words. I created my own power, stronger than anything else. And with it, I will take the seal of Grand Triskellion and break it.	”
—Croix expressing her plans with Noir Rod, "Wagandea."

The Noir Rod (ノワールロッド, Nowāruroddo) is a massive contraption-turned apocalyptic beast Croix Meridies originally created as Shiny Rod's magitronic counterpart, using data collected from its template and consisted of Pixels over metal parts. The overload of rage-based Noir Fuel Spirit used to power the contraption ultimately corrupted its programming, leading to Noir Rod's transformation into a malignant, sentient monstrosity driven by the desire to destroy the world.

Description

Noir Rod 's original base form

Originally, Noir Rod is a huge mechanical version of the Shiny Rod, covered up of hundreds of Noir Fuel Spirit Devices that feed it with magical power. It is about six meters high, its appearance is almost identical to the Shiny Rod, except that it is black instead of white and its seven crystals are red instead of blue.

Upon becoming a sentient beast, Noir Rod assumed a giant, draconic black and red beast resembling the Briton Red Dragon, but lacked wings with a dome-shaped head and seven eyes, with one of them located on its forehead. It also possesses an armored arm and upper chest. While it possesses a normal tongue and teeth, it only has a stomach-like cavity full of floating Magitronic cubes it is composed of. These cubes were unwittingly released by Akko when she destroyed the Noir Rod with Shiny Arc to save her mentor and idol Chariot, scattered around Arcturus Forest before swarming onto an intercontinental ballistic missile located in a submarine at the ocean.

After possessing the missile, the Noir Rod adds new features on the missile, including a red and black body, a spiked point, and two grayish blue stripes near its exhaust. However, upon confronting Akko and Diana, it progressively adapted more serpentine features that its overall appearance looked like what appeared to be a cross of a missile and giant, multi-eyed serpent with spiky body.

Abilities

Since it's created based on data of the Shiny Rod, the Noir Rod possesses the ability to transform into different objects and was designed to break the seal of Grand Triskellion albeit in a forceful manner. Like the Pixels and Sorcery Units, it can be controlled via program installed on either magitronic smartphone or tablets. It also has the ability to shut down Ley Lines within its radius to prevent anyone except users of Shiny Rod or other items with its own magic power from using magic against it. Since it requires a large amount of magical energy, Croix utilized Noir Fuel Spirit.

However, because of the immeasurable amount of emotional energy absorbed, the Noir Rod ends up developing its own consciousness and hellbent on destroying the world. It also developed a considerable intellect when its newly awakened dragon form, Noir Rod turned against Croix due to its creator still has some degree of control over its systems and thus, still able to restrain it. Its corruption also resulted in the Noir Rod evolving into a resilient and powerful monster. In fact, the Noir Rod survived from having its body destroyed twice (first by multiple Sorcery Units' self-destruction and Akko' Shiny Arc) in spite of the process reduced it into numerous Pixels it composed of in process, forcing it to regenerate by assimilating a military missile. Fortunately, it took the power of the Grand Triskellion and the Shiny Arc empowered by hearts of the whole country fired by Akko and Diana to finally destroy it once and for all.

Transformations

• Original
• Awakened

• Aircraft Form: Vaguely resembling a stealth bomber, this form functions as transportation for Croix. This form also capable of teleporting to a desired destination, as it warped from New Moon Tower to Arcturus Forest soon after its activation.
• Excavator Form: Resembling a giant, six-legged spider with barbed, arrowhead-shaped flat abdomen pointing upwards, this form was designed to drill through the near-unbreakable seal containing Grand Triskellion within via. its underside laser cannon. Its abdomen also has four built-in, blade-like restraints which Croix activated to bind Chariot, having foreseen her former best friend won't give up in stopping her.

Aircraft form

Spider form

• Noir Dragon: Also known as Pixel Monster Combined ver.. Considered to be Noir Rod's "true form" due to assuming this appearance upon gaining sentience, it resembles the lone Briton Red Dragon from the first short and displayed great strength and durability befitting to its size. It can also interact with things with its front legs and prehensile tail as well as trapping others within its stomach-like cavity by devouring them. Its Pixel composition not only enables Noir Dragon to withstand the shock of impacts akin to rubber, but also allows it to survive much of the destruction of physical form as long as a portion of its Pixels intact; when Akko soundly destroyed its Noir Dragon form via. Shiny Arc, much of Noir Rod's original skeleton and Pixel composition took the brunt of the spell, allowing Ursula/Chariot who trapped within to survive the ordeal with no worse to wear among the wreckage and scattered its surviving Pixels which then infested an ICBM within a military submarine in the ocean far away from Arcturus Forest in order to fully regenerate.
• Noir Missile: Also simply known as Missile. Evolved version of Noir Dragon form via. infesting one of military submarine's ICBMs. Initially resembling the missile it assimilated albeit with its color scheme, rows of eyes along the body and pike-like impact fuse, this form progressively assumes more serpentine features in response of two missiles sent to destroy it and later, the course of wild chase and battle against Akko and Diana, indicating it would be a matter of time before it regain its previous draconic form albeit more terrifying if given time. As it did, Noir Missile displayed the ability to fire, small guided projectiles with jagged mouth and split into smaller missiles.

Dragon form

Initial Missile form

Final Form

Gallery

Official Art

Concept art of Noir Rod's original form along with its alternate forms and awakened form

Concept art of Noir Rod's evolved form from assimilating a missile

Designs of Pixel Monsters and Noir Rod from page 163 of Little Witch Academia Chronicles

Takafumi Hori (堀剛史) @porigoshi 2017 key animation note sample

Screenshots

Noir Rod being secretly constructed deep in New Moon Tower

Animated gifs

Trivia

• Although it appeared Noir Rod was about to spread negativities among humanity had it succeeded in reaching Great Britain's rival nation and detonated there (a scenario which predicted by one of visions Akko received while transverse through Ley Line portal she opened via. First Word of Seven Words of Arcturus) thus leading to the possible World War III, its missile form's increasingly monstrous appearance as the magitronic monstrosity fought Akko and Diana highlighted the possibility of a more catastrophic outcome which best not to be ruled out and further stressed their urgency to stop it; as the all-out conflict among nations in the aftermath of its supposed detonation at Great Britain's rival nation worsened, Noir Rod put itself back together in more powerful form and already unstoppable by the time everyone put aside their differences against their common foe.
• While not confirmed, due to its serpentine, draconic features upon becoming an out-of control Magitronic monster, as well as the fact it caused Ley Lines to shut down (which led to Akko and her friends ended up at Arcturus Forest) until Akko defeated it with Shiny Arc, Noir Rod is possibly alluding Nidhogg, the great dragon who gnaws at the root of Yggdrasil from Norse Mythology. Its serpentine features and intention to bring forth chaos and destruction may also alluding Jörmungandr, the World Serpent whose awakening is supposed to herald the beginning of Ragnarok, the end of the world.
• Noir Rod's regeneration and development to the stronger form through assimilating an ICBM after its first defeat, coupled with its final destruction via. an ultimate attack, serpentine motif, and association to the series' main antagonist who has bitter rivalry with a main character before their eventual redemption is indirectly parallel to Maga-Orochi from Ultraman Orb Chronicle.
  • Additionally, despite its appearance (presumably) meant to echo the lone Briton Red Dragon from the series' first short, the head of Noir Rod's draconic form displayed greater resemblance to Zaigorg from Ultra series, particularly head design.
  • Color scheme-wise, Noir Rod is reminiscent to Eternatus, a dual-type Poison/Dragon Legendary Pokémon from Pokémon franchise.