Grungust Kai

Grungust Kai
Classification
Archetype	Special Unit - Grungust Series
Model Number	SRG-01-1C
Specifications
Height	50 m (Alpha) 48.7 m (OG)
Weight	280 t (Alpha) 399 t (OG)
Armor Material	Variable Geometric Alloy
Power Source	Tronium Engine (Alpha) Plasma Reactor (OG)
Interface	TC-OS Voice Input System
Armaments	Big Missile (OG) Omega Laser (Alpha) Double Omega Laser (OG) Boost Knuckle (Alpha) Hyper Boost Knuckle (OG) Dark Rock (OG) Omega Cannon (OG) Twin Beam Cannon (OG) Octuple Missile Launcher (OG) Final Beam Keito Ragou Ken
In-World Profile
Developed From	Grungust
Known Pilots	Irmgard Kazahara
Real World Info
Mechanical Designer	Kazutaka Miyatake
SRW Debut	Super Robot Wars Alpha
Unit BGM	Hagane no Cockpit (Alpha) TIME TO COME (OG)

The Grungust Kai (グルンガスト改 | Grungust Custom) is a Banpresto Original Mecha debuting in Super Robot Wars Alpha. Part of the Grungust Series, it is an upgraded version of the Grungust. In Alpha, the Grungust Kai was developed into the Grungust Type-2.

Technological & Historical

In both Alpha and OG, the Grungust Kai is an upgraded version of the original Grungust.

Alpha Series

After being assigned to the EFF Far East Branch following the First Dinosaur Empire Invasion, the Grungust was upgraded into the Grungust Kai as part of the SRX Project. Serving as the prototype to the Grungust Type-2, it shares many external features with it. A Tronium Engine has been installed on the Grungust Kai, raising its overall power output but also required the omission of the transformation system, as frame strengthening is necessary to supplement the new reactor. A Gravi-Con System present on the Huckebein Mk-II has also been added, granting the Grungust Kai flight capabilities. Overall, despite being the Type-2's predecessor, the Grungust Kai boasts performance which surpasses said mecha.

SRW Alpha

The Grungust Kai only makes an appearance if the player chooses the Real Route of the game, where it and the Grungust Type-2 were stolen by SRX Project test pilot Irmgard Kazahara due to his distrust in the Project's director Ingram Plissken, bringing with him the hero's brainwashed lover. The player team will engage in a few skirmish with the Kai throughout the game until Stage 65, where it will become an on-spot ally, and if conditions are met, joins the player's team along with Irm.

OG Series

Sporting a radically different design compared to its Alpha counterpart, the OG Series' Grungust Kai is essentially a tweaked Grungust equipped with the new Roundel Wing backpack unit, now enabling flight capabilities for all 3 formations along with a couple of new weapons. The new alternate modes with the Roundel Wing are known as Gust Lander Kai (ガストランダー改) and Wing Gust Kai (ウィングガスト改). Based on the Roundel Wing's shape in its detached mode compared to its docked mode, it can be assumed that it is also made from the flexible Variable Geometric Alloy used by the Grungust. As for the main body itself, the Grungust Kai had its Boost Knuckles upgraded, as well as newly added Motion Patterns to enable usage of more finishers.

2nd SRW OG

The Grungust was upgraded into the Grungust Kai some time before the events of 2nd OG. It was teleported to La Gias along with the Hagane during the Surface Dweller Summoning Incident.

Armaments & Attacks

• Omega Laser (オメガレーザー)

Alpha only. Lasers fired from the Grungust's eyes.

• Kaishiki Bakurenda (改式爆連打 | Type-Custom Bursting Continuous Strike)

Alpha only. The Grungust Kai assaults the enemy with a rapid barrage of right arm punches. The data of this attack was probably also applied to the Type-2's Nishiki Bakurenda.

• Boost Knuckle (ブーストナックル)

Big Missile

Alpha only. The Grungust Kai launches its booster-propelled forearms at the enemy.

• Hyper Boost Knuckle (ハイパー・ブーストナックル)

OG only. Grungust Kai is equipped with an upgraded version of the Boost Knuckle.

• Big Missile (ビッグ・ミサイル)

OG only. Large missiles stored on the underside of Wing Gust Kai mode, or within the shoulder sections of Gust Lander mode.

• Double Omega Laser (ダブルオメガレーザー)

OG only. Lasers fired from the Wing Gust Kai's eyes.

• Omega Cannon (オメガ・キャノン)

OG only. A pair of long-range cannons mounted on the Grungust's back, used in Gust Lander Kai mode. The Cannons also serve as sheaths for the Keito Ragou Kens.

• Twin Beam Cannon (ツイン・ビームキャノン)

OG only. One of the new weaponry added with the Roundel Wing. These cannons are mounted on the sides of the support craft and utilize the same beam-converging mechanism seen in the Final Beam. They are usable in Wing Gust Kai and Robot mode.

• Octuple Missile Launcher (8連ミサイル・ランチャー | Hachiren Missile Launcher)

OG only. The other new weaponry added with the Roundel Wing. This is an 8-tube missile launcher mounted on top of the support craft, usable in Robot mode.

• Spiral Breaker (スパイラル・ブレイカー)

OG only. Grungust Kai's finisher in Wing Gust Kai mode. The aircraft deploys an energy field in front itself and performs a continuous barrel roll, as it rams through the target.

• Drill Attack (ドリル・アタック)

OG only. Grungust Kai's first finisher in Gust Lander Kai mode. Similar to Spiral Breaker, the Gust Lander Kai deploys an energy field in front of itself, this time with the field taking shape of a rapidly rotating drill, as the machine rams through the target.

• Gust Burst　(ガスト・バースト)

OG only. Grungust Kai's second finisher in Gust Lander Kai mode. The Gust Lander Kai fires all of its weapons before charging in with a Drill Attack.

• Dark Rock (ダーク・ロック)

OG only. Throwable knife-like projectiles deployed from within the Grungust Kai's forearms, handheld when used. They explode upon contact after being thrown.

• Final Beam (ファイナルビーム)

Lineart of Chest beam cannon

Shared weapon between Alpha and OG versions. In Alpha, since the Grungust Kai is the predecessor to the Type-2, its Final Beam attack resembles that of the Type-2's - a flashing star-shaped ray unleashed from the chest.

In OG, the 3 triangular beam emitters on the Grungust Kai's chest flip forwards as they converge to generate a powerful, destructive beam. The weapon is only seen used in tandem with the Twin Beam Cannons for the Ultimate Beam attack.

• Ultimate Beam (アルティメット・ビーム)

OG only. Grungust Kai unleashes the Final Beam and the Twin Beam Cannon at the same time.

• Keito Ragou Ken (計都羅喉剣 | Ketu-Rahu Sword)

Shared weapon between the Alpha and OG versions. This is the Grungust Kai's primary melee weapon. In Alpha, since the Grungust Kai is the predecessor to the Type-2, its Keito Ragou Ken resembles the Type-2's Keito Shungoku Ken in shape, along with how it is summoned from thin air when used. In OG, a Keito Ragou Ken is stored behind each of the Grungust Kai's Omega Cannons.

The "Keito" (Ketu) and "Ragou" (Ratu) in the weapon's name refer to the names given to the South and North lunar nodes respectively in Hindu mythology. Both of them are considered as malefic celestial bodies, thus Irm can be heard chanting "Ten ni futatsu no magatsuboshi...!" (天に二つの禍つ星 | Two stars of calamity in the skies...!) when initiating Ankensatsu.

• Keito Ragou Ken - Ankensatsu (計都羅喉剣・暗剣殺 | Ketu-Rahu Sword - Dark Sword Killing)

OG only. The Grungust Kai's first finisher. After drawing the Keito Ragou Ken, the Grungust leaps into the sky and slashes down on the target, before making another horizontal slash, forming a cross-shaped mark. Irm additionally shouts "Zan!" (斬! | Slash!) after the attack if it's a finishing strike. With the addition of Goousatsu, the Grungust Kai now only enters "Semi-Final Mode" when unleashing this secondary finisher, as noted by many pilots that can be chosen to pilot the robot.

"Ankensatsu" (Dark Sword Killing) refers to to the direction opposite to the Gooudo Star (五黄土星 | Fifth Yellow Earth Star, which represents the Earth element, wastelands, or even the Earth itself) in Kyuusei Kigaku, if said direction happens to be a bad direction in that year. It signifies disaster and unexpected bad luck from someone else, as if "killing with a sword from the dark". Kyuusei Kigaku is a form of fortune telling based on astrology. There is also a slight running gag at how certain pilots, when chosen to pilot the Grungust by the player, will mistake the attack's name to "Ansatsuken" (暗殺剣 | Assasination Sword), with Irm himself even remarking this fact in one of his battle lines.

• Keito Ragou Ken - Goousatsu (計都羅喉剣・五黄殺 | Ketu-Rahu Sword - Fifth Yellow Killing)

OG only. The Grungust Kai's second, and currently strongest finisher. Ejecting the Keito Ragou Ken, Grungust Kai picks up the sword as it falls and lodges into the ground before leaping high above with its thrusters. Firmly wielding its sword, Grungust Kai accelerates straight towards the target and slashes downwards, then fixes its standing posture and follows up with an upwards cut, leaving behind somewhat of a V-shaped mark on the enemy. Grungust Kai enters "Final Mode" when unleashing this attack. The attack is somewhat reminiscent of Voltes V's Tenkuuken - V-no-Ji-Giri finisher due to the V-shaped mark they leave behind.

"Goousatsu" (Fifth Yellow Killing) refers to the direction of the Gooudo Star of a certain year in Kyuusei Kigaku, if said direction happens to be a bad direction in that year. It signifies self-destruction and extreme misfortune. It is possible that this direction was chosen for the Grungust Kai's second finisher due to how it is at the opposite direction to Ankensatsu.

Appearances

Video Games

• Super Robot Wars Alpha (2000)
• The 2nd Super Robot Wars Original Generation (2012)
• Super Robot Wars X-Ω (2015)
• Super Robot Wars OG: The Moon Dwellers (2016)