| “ | Do you have the courage to fight here? The strong and powerful shall rule the world! Weaklings must obey the strong or be struck down. It isn't about good or evil. It's jsut the way of things! For myself I trust in my own strength! I am your superior, and here I will prove it!! | „ |
| ~ King Bulbin |
King Bulblin is a major antagonist in the 2016 manga series, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, by Akira Himekawa, which serves as an adaptation of the 2006 video game of the same name.
A firm believer that the strong should dominate the weak, he leads the Bulblin forces during the Twilight invasion of Hyrule. Attacking Ordon Village, he is the first enemy Link faces, having captured his friend Ilia.
Personality[]
King Bulblin is a barbarian operating under the Social Darwinist philosophy that the weak shall serve the strong lest they die. A firm believer in such a philosophy, Bulblin revels in oppressing and killing those who feel are weaker, feeling he is above good and evil. Ironically, this also lends him a weakness as he cannot fathom the people he deem weak having the will of their own and will stand up to them or refuse his whims, such as when Ilia rejects his advances despite his infatuation with her, or how Link refuses to give up on his stand against him. This lends to him not taking his losses well when Link does actually manage to beat him which results in him losing command over the Bulblins and lashing out when Ilia tries to show some pity to him. But when push comes to shove, Bulblin proves he does genuinely believe in his philosophy, as he surrenders to Link and obeys his command, dying for the sake of protecting Link's allies.
Biography[]
King Bulblin is first introduced appearing out of a shadow puddle, and then eventually knocks out Fado. Their armies then eventually march into Ordon Village in an attempt to raze it. Ordering his men to fire arrows at the bridge while the villagers flee to close the gate, an arrow strikes Illia who tried to pull Colin away. Dragging them away, Bulblin seeks to make Ilia his bride while plotting to feed Colin to his minions. This eventually earns the wrath of Link, a swordsman who took refuge in Ordon Village and fights Link. However, they both eventually fall into the river where King Bulblin seemingly kills Link. He then informs Ilia of Link's seeming passing, who rejects King Bulblin's advances on her.
He then invades Kakariko, surprised that Colin had escaped his minions and plots to kill him for good. Link then interferes for a rematch with King Bulblin, Shocked at his survival, he then gleefully challenges him to a duel on Eldin Bridge, to which Link manages to cut off his horn. However, King Bulblin simply taunts Link for how one day he will be betrayed soon while Link mounts his horse Epona and leaves to meet the Goron Tribe. Eventually on his way to Hyrule Castle under Zant's orders, King Bulblin encounters Link once more, now wielding the Master Sword. In his overconfidence, Link had beaten King Bulblin rather easily and nearly finishes him off, having left just seconds before his death.
The Bulblins then proceed to abandon him as they invade Hyrule Castle. In a desperate attempt to claim his strength, King Bulblin tries to take Ilia away from Hyrule Castle but was too weak to do anything, much to his chagrin. When he recovers from his injuries during Ganondorf's final invasion, King Bulblin encounters Link again, before killing his other enemies to help him and pledges loyalty to the one who bested him. Link then orders King Bulblin to protect his friends to which he agrees and dies taking down hordes of monsters. His corpse, covered in spears and swords, is then found by Ilia.
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