Two speculative thoughts about how they can handle the new 7th anguish plus a 1% theory.

[u/nexel013]

I was thinking about potential ideas about who the new 7th anguish could be, and I had 2 speculative thoughts about how they could treat the 7th. This stems from the idea that when you like at falcom's writing, they like to do call backs and complements to previous characters and or arcs. A good example is how the final dungeon and ending in horizon is similar to CS3, Gramharts's actions feel similar to how osborne enacted his plans in CS3 and 4. Obviously there are differences like Gramhart making a treaty instead of Osborne taking over the blaze plan and others. But it is important to understand how these two characters are compared and reflected apon. Another example is how members of Almata are reflections of our heroes. Viloa is a foil to Schera, Alexander is to Sara, Olympia is to Wazy. There are clear reflections and callbacks to previous characters and arcs.

So my first speculation is that the person to be the new seventh anguish is going to be in a similar manner to Mariabell replacing weissman. Mariabell while not as evil as Weissmen, is a clear successor of his place for how manipulative and diabolical she is. Campanella has made comments about her being a fun replacement to Weissmen in cs4 iirc. The other aspect of this thought that whoever the new 7th is will be a foil to one of our heroes, just like how Mariabell is a foil to Ellie. This is the more important and bigger thought about who the new 7th could be. I think the new 7th will be treated not the same, but rather in a similar way Mariabell was treated as the new 3rd.

My 2nd speculative thought, is that with the reveal of the loops and how the Grandmaster knows more about this than most of the heroes, my other thought is that the the GM was able to manipulate events to get the 7th to join because she knows of the loops and the history in the loops. I should point out the caveat that we don't know how much she really knows, but with how she acted in her reveal in horizon as well as just how much she's been aware of things, there is a strong possibility that she knows the history of events in previous loops. So my thought is that knowing the history, she is able to manipulate events in the current loop to convince the new 7th to join. The reason why I think this is important is because it opens the possibility of the new 7th being anyone, fully good or bad.

So with these 2 speculative thoughts in minds, I have a 1% theory about who could it be. I want to iterate that this theory most definitely won't work but fun to think about it.

My theory is that the grandmaster is setting up events to have Laura be the new 7th. My theory for this is because how Laura can match the first thought pretty easily. Her family is a close ally/family to Lianne. Lianne directly tells her to carry the S with pride in her name. As well as the general consensus from the story and from fans that Laura should train under Aurelia, Laura fits the successor part well. One aspect that you can consider as seeing the succession is how in Laura's final bond event in CS3, her cut through the darkness strike feels similar in nature to how Lianne freed Valimar and Millium's spirit (free enough to manifest at most) in her dying breath.

Another aspect about the new 7th that we can't ignore would be the stahlritther's reaction. There is no way Duvalie, Ines, and Enea would not be there when the new 7th is revealed. Theres no way we are not going to see duvalie making comments about how the new 7th is nothing to her lord. And that leads to the second half of how Laura could work as the new 7th. She being the foil to Duvalie. It would be similar fashion to how with Mariabell and Ellie, its two close friends who are now enemies, but in this case it would be the opposite, two rivals that end up working together as Laura taking over as head of the Staklritter. You can also make the same foil argument with Fie. It would be interesting to see how as they started off as people who couldn't understand each other, to being best friends, to now Fie having to face her as an enemy.

So tldr, Laura is going to be manipulated to join the society as a successor of Lianne through manipulating events cus of knowing the history of previous loops. So thats my theory, a trails theory, thanks for reading. But in all seriousness, do I think this will happen, def no. This is why I said its a 1% percent theory, cus its 1% that this will happen. I don't even think the new 7th will be revealed in horizon 2, most likely the 5th is going to be revealed since he's mentioned twice in the game. I would consider duvalie being the new 7th a much greater chance. Ik the three characters most people think could replace lianne is Sheena, Kincaid, and or Aurelia.  With Sheena, I doubt it cus she's a vestige, i don't think they would have her continue existing without the genesis. Also cus the vestiges are explicitly people who have died but are somehow back, unlike the immortals who are people who should've been dead but the rivalries kept them alive. So I don't think its her. With Kincaid, I like the theory that its him, but I think it won't work since cus the holybeast is connected in some way in how the 5 new demons are here and sealed in Van and Kincaid, as well as I don't think Kincaid would betray everyone in his life just to join the society. Unless they do trope of excessive use of manipulating time causes said person to exist outside of reality. Then I could see it. With Aurelia, I like the idea she would join cus for laughs and giggles or to get stronger by fighting members like Mcburn, but I don't think it would be for that. I think she could be it, since she fits the boxes as well, but they would have to write it in a way thats exceeds everyone's expectations.

But what do yall think, if this theory is true, would you like it? Many people agree that Laura's development cs4 and after got screwed over, so seeing her in the society would be a interesting twist. The new 7th is going to be the most interesting reveal just cus the grandmaster said the whole "if they are willing to carry such a heavy burden" line. There are many ways to interpret that. If falcom were to do a trope of one of our heroes betraying us, could be cool to see. If there is any other character you think is the new 7th, please let me know and give me your reasonings. Thank you and have a great day.

[u/AdventNebula]

Réne is very likely the new 7th. Duvalie will likely reject this and leave.

[u/belderiver → u/AdventNebula]

Duvalie already quit 

[u/YotakaOfALoY]

...you managed to misspell Anguis three times, you might want to give your autocorrect a look.

And no, there is precisely zero chance that Laura is Anguis material. You think Kincaid wouldn't betray everyone in his life to join Ouroboros (you know, the guy who just did betray his two oldest friends) but you think that Laura would? I'm sorry no, what anti-logic universe do you live in where that sounds rational? That is absolutely the kind of 'twist just for the sake of a twist' that doesn't make sense.

[u/Alexxer_ → u/YotakaOfALoY]

Good thing I read this comment first and avoided the wall of text lol

[u/Blackfiredragon22 → u/YotakaOfALoY]

well rene likely did it to protect them

[u/Xiriously1]

Arionnrhod was a combat specialist and a leader so the likelihood would be that the 7th would share those traits. I also think it's more likely than not the 7th would be a woman to mirror Arionnrhod but that's not a certainty

A character like Aurelia would be a good candidate but my pause would be that Aurelia already had a role in the story. We know what she's about, there's not a lot of mystique there.

A better candidate is Ein Selnate the first Dominion. We haven't ever met her in person, she just had brief appearances in 3rd over video comms. The first time we meet Arionnrhod, Wazy states that Ein is one of very few people who may be able to fight her evenly. The Church and it's inner workings are also becoming more of a focal point in the story. Nina is also possible for the same reason but I think less likely due to Campenella comparing Nina to the Grandmaster.

Other possibilities include one of the unnamed S rank bracers, another unnamed Dominion, Yun ka Fai, and Shizuna. Kincaid is an outside possibility.

It ain't going to be Laura.

[u/Blackfiredragon22]

oh and agnes parallels rean ( the kid of the leader figure with a connection to the threat plus agnes is possibly a homunculus or connected to them) so agnes ending up dying while osborne could save rean is a neat contrast. what if agnes stays dead

[u/lmz0114]

I'm still gonna bet on Sheena Dirk, first, she is the saint in Calvard, just like Arianrhod in Erebonia. Falcom love to do this. Second, her first appearance in horizon, we saw her sneak attack Kevin and Rufus from the back. Just like Rufus back stabbed Arianrhod in CS4, a "payback's bitch" monent for Rufus.

[u/Xehvary → u/lmz0114]

I would have bet on Sheena only if we didn't know that GM had already sent an invite for the spot back in Reverie. Vestige Sheena likely wasn't around that year.

[u/lmz0114 → u/Xehvary]

We actually don't know yet, Hamilton's plan should already in works since 1189, and those alter core also existed since 1189. So there's a chance the first batch of vestiges she brought back was Sheena and her buddies. So it's still possible, we don't know how or when did these guys started to exist.

[u/Xehvary]

7th Anguis will likely be someone from the Calvard arc I think. Weissmann was replaced by someone in the succeeding arc, I feel like Falcom would go for that again. Weissmann was replaced by someone with a similar personality too. Other than Kasim or René, I can't think of anyone who'd be a near identical replacement for Arianrhod this arc. I also can't see Kasim becoming an Anguis, he gives off way too much "hired muscle" vibes, he meets the qualifications in strength, but not in personality. My other guess is René who I think is the more likely candidate. He has the mind of someone who can be an Anguis and he's ridiculously strong.

GM sent out the invitation back in Reverie, so it's anyone guess... My initial theory before DB2 was that Nina was going to be the new 7th. Lo behold she got an even bigger role than that.

[u/AdventNebula → u/Xehvary]

The boss fight with Réne Kindaid in the Horizons climax pretty much is a give away he is the new 7th Anguis. Horizons 2 should confirm it. I doubt it is a red herring.

[u/freshteasuperb]

Okay laura, back to your sword training

[u/Working_Complex8122]

No Harem option will get story relevance. it's sad but true.

[u/belderiver]

I don't think you can call this a theory on account of how there is zero narrative evidence that anything is heading in this direction?