Michael Smithson
Michael Smithson is the English leader of the Metal Knights, a front-line defender whose hostility toward Yu IlHan gradually becomes cooperation and mutual respect.
Biography
Rival clan master
Smithson first appears during the Kantou crisis as an ambitious clan leader furious that Susanoo has eclipsed him. Proud of his country and clan, he openly threatens the unknown hero and resents being outperformed. Nevertheless, he joins the other major clans in defending civilians and later offers protection to Vanguard in exchange for access to its equipment. (Chapters 71–81)
Repeated crises broaden his sense of duty. He cooperates with Carina Malatesta’s Magia, proposes exchanging half of their clan members so both countries remain protected, and charges an apparent Overflow in London rather than allow the city to be destroyed. Although he still dislikes Yu IlHan, he comes to respect the fairness and quality of the weapons sold to him. (Chapters 144 and 152)
Defender of Earth
Smithson helps build the mercenary guild and becomes a pivot of the Front Line Alliance. During Earth’s accelerated era he attains fourth class, accepts Yu IlHan’s leadership, and trains as the defensive anchor of a team with Carina and Takagaki Asuha. Seeing Yu IlHan’s relentless discipline finally makes him acknowledge the gap between them without denying the hero’s flaws. (Chapters 158, 171, and 274–282)
True dragon and father
Smithson enters Dragon’s Nest, becomes a true dragon, and survives the war against higher existences. He marries Carina, asks Yu IlHan to serve as godfather to their daughter Yuni, and later has a son, Nick. By then his former narrow loyalty has expanded to his family, allies, faction, and world. (Chapters 325, 331, and 339–340; Extra Chapters 1–3)
Appearance and personality
Smithson is a heavily armored, physically powerful man suited to holding a front line. He begins stubborn, self-righteous, greedy, and fiercely nationalistic, but he also possesses a gentlemanly side and protects those he considers his own. That protective circle steadily widens, tempering his hostility without erasing his pride. (Chapter 152; Chapter 339; Extra Chapter 2)
Abilities and classes
Shield defense and redirection
Smithson is described as a “super tanker,” a defender built to take hostile attention and keep it away from less durable allies. He uses a shield to meet attacks at an angle, redirect force, and hold an enemy in the area where Carina or another damage dealer can act. The role depends on positioning and cooperation: stopping a target is useful because an allied attack follows, while threats that bypass him or greatly exceed his class can still reach the formation. (Chapters 120 and 277–281)
Greatsword and armored endurance
He can switch from shield-centered defense to a unique-ranked greatsword when direct offense is required. Heavy armor and physical conditioning allow him to endure impacts and magical backlash while protecting a position, as shown when he charges into what appears to be an Overflow threatening London. His equipment materially contributes to this durability; Vanguard’s armor, shields, and weapons are crafted advantages rather than innate skin or an automatic immunity to magic. (Chapters 81, 152, and 277–281)
Fourth class and true-dragon body
Earth’s accelerated battles carry Smithson into fourth class, where his reinforced body makes him a credible defensive anchor beside Carina and Takagaki Asuha. Dragon’s Nest later advances him into a fifth-class true dragon, increasing his mana, durability, and physical scale for war among higher existences. The corpus does not assign him a unique draconic element or breath attack. His demonstrated latest-state role is therefore the same disciplined protection, now backed by a dragon constitution and faction support. (Chapters 274–282, 325, 331, and 340)
Power progression
| Stage / Realm / Ability | Chapter(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fourth class | 274–282 | Accelerated Earth combat raises him into a durable class suitable for higher-risk defensive formations. |
| Fifth-class true dragon | By 340 | Gains higher-existence mana and durability without a demonstrated unique breath or new named element. |
Relationships
- Yu IlHan: Former rival, later faction lord and godfather to Smithson’s daughter.
- Carina Malatesta: His allied clan master, combat partner, wife, and mother of his children.
- Kang MiRae: An early rival clan leader whom he respects and once romantically admired.
Items
Smithson uses Vanguard shields, armor, and a unique-ranked greatsword, but the corpus does not identify a separately cataloged signature item belonging to him.