| Overview |
Zeno Bell, known in the Japanese version as Zeon Bell (ゼオン・ベル Zeon Beru) and Dufort (デュフォー Dyufō, commonly translated as "Dufaux") are two characters in the manga/anime series Zatch Bell and the main antagonists for a large portion of the story, though they don't take over as the immediate threat until the second half of the Faudo Arc. Using the silver spellbook, Zeno specializes in Lightning Magic and his lightning is blue colored. In the manga they are placed 12th out of the 100 mamodo.
Appearance[]
Zeno’s appearance is almost identical to his younger twin brother, Zatch. He is short and childlike in build, with spiky grayish-white hair and very large violet eyes. Unlike Zatch’s rounder and softer look, Zeno’s eyes are striking and intense, marked by sharp lines that run downward from beneath them to his mouth. He wears a flowing white outfit with a large blue bow tie at the collar. His clothing contrasts with his cold demeanor, making him appear regal yet sinister. Unlike Zatch, he does not have small horn-like protrusions hidden within his hair.
Dufort, Zeno’s bookkeeper, has a tall, lean frame and an air of detached calmness. He has short, spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes, paired with a serious expression that rarely changes. His clothing is modern and understated: a pale jacket worn over a light green shirt tucked into blue jeans with a belt, finished with brown shoes.
Personality[]
Zeno initially displays an arrogant and obsessive personality, considering himself superior to his twin brother both physically and in magical power. He is calm, ruthless, and prideful, traits that set him apart from Zatch’s more emotional and earnest nature. His pride often manifests in a harsh and condescending demeanor, making his arrogant side especially prominent. He typically uses ore as his first-person pronoun and speaks in a relatively normal tone, though his gaze alone can be intimidating.
Zeno’s father once remarked that he had “inherited much of his own demonic side,” and throughout the series—particularly up until the end of the Faudo Arc—Zeno is portrayed as a cold-hearted and ruthless figure. However, his state of mind begins to shift after the Faudo battle, when he catches a glimpse of Zatch’s memories. This experience softens his outlook, allowing him to develop compassion and a deeper sense of care for others. Although not inherently cruel, his growth is gradual, and he ultimately becomes someone who respects strong opponents while combining his pride with newfound kindness.
Despite his imposing appearance and mature demeanor, Zeno is only six years old in the story, making him still quite young and in the process of maturing. His relationship with his bookkeeper, Dufort, highlights the softer side of his character. Though the two are rarely shown engaging in casual or cheerful conversation, their bond is evident—Zeno even sheds tears at their parting, wishing for Dufort to live on, which shows his affection for those close to him. In the anime, this is further emphasized when he calms Dufort during the battle against Zatch, gently reassuring him with, “Don’t worry, Dufort.”
Dufort is very silent and reserved, almost to the point of having no emotion. The manga reveals that Dufort possesses a psychic ability known as "Answer Talker", which allows the user to immediately know the answer to any question. This awakens whenever a human "dies and then returns to life", such as Kiyo himself in the manga after he is killed by the mamodo Riou and then subsequently revived within Faudo tower.
Zeno and Dufort have quite amazing teamwork being on the same level if not above in some ways than that of Zatch and Kiyo, thanks in part to Zeno's incredibly honed powers. While it can seem like Zeno is the one leading Dufort around it's actually quite the opposite. Both seem to be in sync with each other and their abilities most likely due to Dufort's Answer Talker ability allowing him to lead Zeno with the directions he needs to win any battle. However as seen in their brief fight with Cherish, Zeno's ego can cause him to act brashly which in turn allows for him to make critical mistakes (Such as allowing Cherish to free all of Zatch's companions).
Surprisingly to some, they seem to also care quite a lot for each other, Zeno going even as far as to discard his Mantle to protect Dufort and taking the brunt of Zatch's complete Baou Zakeruga. It's also to be noted that Dufort seemed to pick up on Zeno's odd behavior after the encounter with Cherish and throughout the Faudo Arc rather quickly. Dufort even goes as far as to refer to Zeno as "his brother" when thanking him and Zatch for helping him grow as a person and in how he went out of his way to help the remaining contestants in the fight against Clear Note, all for the sake of making sure Zeno lives.
Zeno’s connection to Dufort is also underscored in small moments. For example, one of Zeno’s favorite foods is hot dogs, which he is seen eating with Dufort before their fight with Lops—suggesting his human-world experiences influenced his tastes. The back cover of the Complete Edition Volume 14 even features an illustration of Dufort pedaling a bicycle with Zeno riding in the carrier, symbolizing the closeness of their partnership. These details, combined with his development in the Faudo Arc, portray Zeno as a character who grows from ruthless pride into a proud yet compassionate figure.
Biography[]
Background[]
During his early years, Zeno remained in his family's royal palace. He underwent rigorous training under the guidance of one of the royal servants and supervised by his father. One day he found out he had a brother: Zatch . Zeno was unaware of his existence as he left the palace at a young age after receiving the Bao, whose power his father could no longer control. He knew that the Bao was decisive in determining his father's victory during the previous mamodo battle, so with the resentment and envy that came from not having received the power of the Bao, and from the harsh training he suffered day after day, Zeno began to accumulate resentment towards his brother.
The final straw came when Zeno learned that Zatch was going to participate in the battle to decide the future king of his world. He vowed to personally seek out his brother and send him to the Mamodo World as soon as possible, proving that, although he didn't possess the power of the Bao, he could perfectly defeat him since he considered himself superior.
As for Dufort, his life was a total mystery, until he told his story to Kiyo and Zatch near the end of the Faudo Arc. The story was quite different in the manga from the one in the anime.
Part I[]
After the start of the Mamodo Battle, Zeno found his brother Zatch in a forest living peacefully with the animals in his environment. He decided to appear before him and attack him in order to send him back to the Mamodo World but ultimately decided not to do so in order to make him suffer the consequences of the war. Even so, he decides to erase his memory so that his suffering is even greater. After that, Zeno and Dufort disappear, leaving Zatch unconscious in the forest to be later found by Seitaro Takamine.
When Baltro and Steng were escaping from their battle against Zatch Bell and Kiyomaro Takamine , they are intercepted by Zeno saying that they are useless for not achieving their goal. Steng asks him to explain why he ordered him to catch Seitaro Takamine but Zeno ignores him and sets out to defeat them with a Zaker that makes Baltro disappear and leaves Steng injured. After that, Zeno leaves without saying another word towards an unknown destination leaving Steng scared and injured on the ground unable to do anything to defend himself.
Later, when Zatch and Kiyomaro went into the forest where Seitaro found him to inspect it, Zeno spies on Tia and Megumi Ooumi but Tia notices and thinks it's Zatch so she goes to greet him but just at that moment Zeno leaves enraging Tia. She then sees Zatch regain some of his memory and his fourth spell unlocked after finding the place where he attacked Zatch in the past causing Zatch and his book to glow having the consequences mentioned above.
His book was burned by Zatch, but under radically different circumstances in the manga than in the anime, although in both versions the book is burned as a result of a struggle between Zatch's Bao Zakerga and Zeno's Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga. In the anime, he is resentful of Zatch right to the bitter end, breaking the jewel that controls Faudo out of spite. In the manga, Zeno becomes aware that Zatch had as hard a childhood as he did, and regrets his own foolishness. The jewel breaks due to Zeno being hit by Bao Zakeruga, and Zeno gives his power to Zatch (the power their father wielded was split between them).
During the ceremony in which Zatch is crowned king, Zeno tells Zatch that they (Zatch's parents and him) will be waiting in the ceremonial hall. He scolds Yuno, Zatch's foster mother, who was now working in the palace, stating that throwing her into jail after how she treated Zatch was not too unthinkable. While Zeno does not make an appearance in Konjiki no Gash!! Gaiden: Friend, he is mentioned by one of Zatch's classmates, who, after being grouped with Zatch, immediately stated "Oh no! I am in the same group as the king, If I mess up, I will be killed by Zeno!", hinting that Zeno has become highly protective of Zatch after the duo start living together.
Zeno Bell[]
Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga, Zeno's strongest spell.
Zeno Bell (Zeon Bell in the original) is a mamodo who is the older twin brother of Zatch Bell and a son of the Mamodo King Dauwan Bell. He appears similar to Zatch, save for his pastier colors and purple eyes. He is taller than Zatch and his teeth bares more resemblance to fangs, thus giving him a more aggressive look. His spells are the same as Zatch's, only more powerful; additionally, Zeno does not lose consciousness during the spells and thus knows what he is doing while they are being cast. His cloak also has magical abilities, allowing him to protect himself and his bookkeeper from harm, and to teleport himself and his bookkeeper to another location. He is very powerful, malevolent and evil, and bears a strong hatred towards humans but more importantly towards Zatch due to the fact that Zatch had inherited King Dauwan Bell's "Bao" and was sent to a civilian school where he, Zeno believed, could spend his days playing about while Zeno himself had to endure harsh training every day. He was extremely angry when he learned that Zatch was one of the hundred mamodo to take part in the battle as he believed that his hardships were actually due to Zatch's existence.
Zeno is Zatch's twin brother and the cause of his amnesia. As it is revealed in the manga, their father is the king of the Mamodo world: an electric elemental who possessed the ultimate power known as "Bao". When twins were born to him and his wife, the "Bao" power was given to Zatch and Zeno did not get it because the Bao loathes dark and evil souls and will devour him if he did not learn to control it. To protect both brothers, Zatch was sent away to live like a commoner, forced into near servitude by his foster mother and consistently teased and taunted by his classmates at a private school. Meanwhile, Zeno was forced to undertake harsh, military training. When the silver-haired child found out about both his brother and the "Bao" power, he grew resentful, believing that this twin he never met would hold his father's ultimate ability without understanding the implications. With both children referred for the Mamodo Fight, Zeno continued his preparations, training his body as well as reading of certain items and artifacts that would assist him when sent to the human world.
Zeno attacking Zatch in England
By the time Zeno was sent to take part in the Mamodo Battle, he took action in order to guarantee both his own victory and his brother's ultimate misery. After finding his bookkeeper, he tracked down Zatch to a forest in England, where he was living peacefully with the local fauna. Without saying who he was, Zeno brutally attacked the golden-haired lookalike, both physically abusing him and using his own spells to smash him down. But instead of burning his book, where he would instantly go home to his family and live peacefully in the mamodo world, he decided to remove his memories to force him to be stuck wandering around this strange, human world without any friends or any idea who he was. Shortly thereafter, Zatch was found by Seitaro Takamine, who eventually sent Zatch to Japan, so Seitaro's son, Kiyo, could try to find out Zatch's origin, as well as to benefit Kiyo's personality.
After seeing Zatch's memories, Zeno realizes that Zatch has suffered as well and regrets what he had done to Zatch, apologizing and stating that he had been a fool. Before going back to the Mamodo world, Zeno gives Zatch his strength of lightning in order to stop Faudo and a letter which explained the special abilities of the mantle and the brooch. He was sent back to the Mamodo world after his book was burnt and lost his body, turning into a soul. His spirit appears to help Zatch in his battle with Clear.
Dufort[]
Dufort is Zeno's bookkeeper.
Anime[]
Dufort activating his ability
According to Dufort's story, he was born with powerful psychic abilities. For this reason, he was confined to an asylum located in the North Pole, experimented on and possibly abused throughout nearly his entire life. He vowed to destroy humanity for what they did to him in the past. That hatred is what took Zeno's attention and came to release Dufort from the asylum.
His power gives him the ability to perfectly understand his opponent's attacks. It also gives him telepathy, which lets him read minds and show mental visions, and telekinesis, the ability to move objects with his mind. Dufort generates mental shock waves when he is emotionally stressed.
Manga[]
Dufort's tale has also been revealed as different in the manga: he had been sold to a mad scientist by his own mother for a price of ten thousand dollars who’s laboratory was located in the North Pole. The scientist subsequently performed mental and emotional experiments throughout his childhood, culminating with the passage of his ultimate test leading both to his own freedom and the destruction of the lab (which was done also with the intention to kill Dufort), revealed to be located at the North Pole. He was saved from the destruction of the lab by Zeno, who took him and made him his bookeeper.
Dufort returns to assist the others in fighting Clear Note by telling each of the Mamodo how to get stronger during Clear's ten months of recuperation. When Kiyo asks him why, Dufort replied that he didn't want Zeno to be destroyed in the Mamodo world.
History[]
The Doll-like emissary
Zeno took interest in the immense tower of the mamodo Faudo from the moment it first arrived in the human world, having done research on the locked away force within in the libraries of his home.
After extensive preparation, he immediately took action, leading Kiyo and Zatch towards the tower by the use of a doll-like emissary that told them of the danger about to be revealed. However, while using his brother to help awaken the tower for Riou, all of his works was for his own ambition. Once Faudo was resurrected, Zeno challenged Riou in battle, upon which he immediately crushed him, burned his book and took his control jewel. While he doesn't divert Faudo from its original mission (the destruction of Japan, as instructed by Riou), Zeno awakens the full capability of the beast, giving guardians inside new life and using its power to upgrade many of the mamodo previously fighting under Riou. All of these would give the remaining Mamodo inside one difficult challenge after another as they moved upwards towards the destined showdown with him and Dufort.
Although Dufort's fate is not determined at the end of the anime outside the escape from Faudo, he ends up wandering off in the manga after Zeno goes back, trying to find a purpose after being used for so long. Eventually he uses his "Answer-Talker" abilities to help others whether he wants to or not, finally appreciating everything that both Zeno and Zatch had done for him.
He later returns to help Kiyo develop his Answer-Talker ability and to assist in the fight against Clear Note. In conjunction with his Answer-Talker, Dufort opens the heads of other Mamodo (much to Megumi's surprise and horror) in order to determine the training style each needs during the ten-month period while Clear recuperates within Goomu's dimension. He tells Kiyo the reason he is doing this is because he did not want Zeno to die in the Mamodo world.
Zeno with Faudo's Power
Other connections with Zatch[]
Once Zatch defeated Robnos, he tells Kiyo about a mysterious boy that looks like him (Zeno) in England, where the duo goes on Kiyo's vacation to investigate the history from Robnos. In England, Kiyo searches for his father, because it was him who found Zatch in the forest, but with some clues left by Zeno, the duo discovers that Kiyo's father was taken as a prisoner at Baltro and Steng's castle.
After Baltro and Steng escape from Kiyo and Zatch, they meet Zeno, who quickly burn their book with a strong lightning spell from the sky, most likely a Bargirdo Zakeruga. While still in England, Kiyo and Zatch go to the forest where Prof. Takamine found Zatch to discover about his past. Soon they're surprised by Tia and Megumi, who have also seen a boy who looks like Zatch.
In the forest, Kiyo and Zatch see the place where "it happened," and after having contact with it, Zatch remembers that it was Zeno who erased his memory for unknown reasons. During one of Kiyo's school days, he meets Apollo only to be told Rops' spellbook was burned by Zeno during an accidental meeting. Zeno is only seen again in the Faudo Arc.
Spells[]
Zeno's ability is lightning. However, unlike Zatch's, his lightning is blue, and instead of coming from his mouth, his lightning comes out of his hand.
| Zaker | ||||
| The First Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Zakeru (ザケル) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 21 | Chapter: 48 | ||
| Description: Zeno shoots a powerful bolt of lightning from his hand. | ||||
| Zakeruga | ||||
| The Lightning Beam Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Zakeruga (ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 147 | Chapter: 217 | ||
| Description: A concentrated beam of lightning fired from the palm. | ||||
| Teozaker | ||||
| The Wide Lightning Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Teozakeru (テオザケル) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 147 | Chapter: 218 | ||
| Description: The technique which creates a powerful thunderbolt from Zeno's hand. A powered-up version of Zaker. | ||||
| Jaro Zakerga | ||||
| The Ring Lightning Beam Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Jauro Zakeruga (ジャウロ・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 147 | Chapter: 218 | ||
| Description: Shoots an enormous ring of electricity with many Zakerugas emenating from it. | ||||
| Bargirdo Zakerga | ||||
| The Burst Lightning Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Barugirudo Zakeruga (バルギルド・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 20 | Chapter: 233 (Flashback) | ||
| Description: Tremendous burst of lightning from above that fries the enemy. | ||||
| Swordo Zakerga | ||||
| The Lightning Sword Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Sorudo Zakeruga (ソルド・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: N/A | Chapter: 258 | ||
| Description: Creates a huge sword made of electricity. | ||||
| Ganreizu Zaker | ||||
| The Rapid-firing Lightning Attack Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Ganreizu Zakeru (ガンレイズ・ザケル) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: N/A | Chapter: 259 | ||
| Description: A multi-turret gun is summoned, allowing for several small blasts of lightning to be thrown out at the same time. | ||||
| Redo Diras Zakerga | ||||
| The Lightning Yo-Yo Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Rēdo Dirasu Zakeruga (レード・ディラス・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: N/A | Chapter: 260 | ||
| Description: Zeno summons a massive electric yo-yo with the appearance of a circular saw, and attacks the opponent using this. Zeno can control it with a string-shaped lightning. | ||||
| Jigadiras Ul Zakerga | ||||
| "The Thunder God of Destruction" / The Strongest Spell | ||||
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| English Name: Jigadirasu Uru Zakeruga (ジガディラス・ウル・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: 149 | Chapter: 261 | ||
| Description: Zeno's strongest spell which summons a winged entity nicknamed the "Thunder God of Destruction (破壊の雷神 Hakai no Raijin). Said entity fires five thunderbolts from the holes/cannons on its body which merge into one tremendous Zakeruga blast. | ||||
Video-Game Spells[]
The following spells Zeno has in the video games are non-canon to his anime/manga counterparts.
| Rashirudo | ||||
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| English Name: Rashirudo (ラシルド) | ||||
| Type(s): Defense Attack | Episode: N/A | Chapter: N/A | ||
| Description: Summons a shield in front. Any projectile that hits it will be reflected, damaging the opponent with a combination of their own attack and lightning energy. | ||||
| Jikerdor | ||||
| ||||
| English Name: | ||||
| Type(s): | Episode: N/A | Chapter: N/A | ||
| Description: Creates a slow-moving sphere that magnetizes the opponent to any metallic objects. | ||||
| Zeo Zakerga | ||||
| ||||
| ||||
| English Name: Zeo Zakeruga (ゼオ・ザケルガ) | ||||
| Type(s): Attack | Episode: N/A | Chapter: N/A | ||
| Description: Zeno summons and attacks with an electrical white dragon from his hand that resembles Bao Zakerga. | ||||
Spellbooks they burned[]
- Baltro, in London (for failing to defeat Zatch and Kiyo) (episode 20)
- Rops, in the countryside of Holland (episode 42)
- Zaruchim, in Faudo's control room (episode 147 anime only)
- Riou, outside of Faudo's control room (episode 147)
- Riya, in Faudo's control room (episode 148 anime only)
- Cherish, in the main hallway in Faudo (chapter 265 manga only)
Trivia[]
- VIZ's translations of the manga initially named the character Zeno as in the anime, but newer volumes have him named Zeon as in the original. From Volume 23 onwards it returns to calling him Zeno.
- In the Clear Note Arc, Dufort is seen to have a habit of saying, "You're pretty stupid, uh?" when responding to questions he feels have obvious answers, which irritates Sherry and Tia. Sherry later pictures a typical conversation between Zeno and Dufort, where Dufort says Zeno must be "pretty stupid".
- In episode 42 of the anime, Zeno stopped Dufort before he could use a Giga Spell. This was the English dub's name of the spell Jigadiras Ul Zakerga.
- In episode 42 of the anime, Dufort is seen with a hot dog when encountering Rops and Apollo. This could possibly be hinting that Dufort's favorite food is hot dogs.
- Based off his Japanese name (Dufaux), which is original. Dufort/Dufaux is possibly Swiss.
- Zeno's starting location in the Human World was in the North Pole.