Born into the Styx Clan of the Abyss, bore the stigma of his clan's betrayal against the Sovereign of the Abyss. Yet he joined the Tribunal, executing traitors for the very same Sovereign—even his own kin. The Styx Clan had betrayed their master, but in order to survive, would even betray his own people. And when the clans of the Abyss rose against the Sovereign, it was who struck the fatal blow... Indeed, he was born in darkness and walked among darkness. A traitor by birth, however, even a traitor has the right to live. He will survive, and no one will stop him.
Born in the Darkness
They were traitors the moment they were born.
In the darkest depths of the Abyss, the Styx Clan once bared their fangs against the Sovereign of the Abyss.
The Styx Clan were the deadliest hunters to roam the shadows, born to spread the darkness. They could stalk their enemies for days in complete silence before finally slitting their throats and vanishing into the night. Their talents made them the most feared assassins of the Abyss. But even more terrifying was their beast-like nature, because when survival is at stake, there is no predicting what a beast would do.
"Survive..."
When the Styx Clan's rebellion reached the Sovereign's doorsteps, she simply sat high upon her throne and said nothing.
Against her overwhelming power, the Styx Clan was utterly crushed. They were branded as traitors and suffered a most cruel punishment: they were "gifted" the blood of the Sovereign, their flesh and bone forever shackled to her will. This not only physically prevented them from raising their claws against her, but also served as the greatest form of humiliation. The beasts of the Abyss were thus tamed like dogs.
was the offspring of this clan of traitors. He was born in the midst of the great war and witnessed his kin being used as fodder. Their broken bodies filled the battlefields, and eventually, it would be his turn.
"Survive..."
The only thought going through 's mind was to survive. He ran and fought with all his might across the battlefield, and emerged victorious from the merciless meat grinder. After the battle, he was summoned by the Sovereign of the Abyss. Seeing 's short, feral stature, the Sovereign coldly declared that had proven himself as the most loyal member of his clan, and placed him in the Tribunal to judge and execute traitors.
"Traitor, look at your so-called will, pathetic and weak."
The Sovereign bestowed a dark power upon . It slithered and writhed as it pierced his flesh, filling his body and corrupting his beliefs.
obeyed. The first traitor he judged was one of his clansmen. A veil of darkness shrouded his path that night, and amidst the fearful expressions from his kin, slit the traitor's throat with a flash of the blade, fulfilling his mission. The blood flowed silently as he dropped the lifeless body. He carried out the execution without hesitation, but in that instant, he experienced an eternity of anguish.
"Survive..."
He was born with the stigma of a traitor, and now he must live up to that name and hunt his own. He became the Blade of the Tribunal, slaughtering his brethren who had betrayed the Lord of the Abyss, even if they were only trying to survive. No one knew what was thinking on these hunts. All he knew was that he had to live on. Though he was born in the darkness, walked in the darkness, and shall forever remain in the darkness, he was still alive.
In the murky swamps where he could be alone, marked each passing year by tying a knot on a rope. This was his proof that he was alive. Living was his most humble and proud desire, even if he did so like a dog in the shadows......
As the Endless War raged on, the God of Darkness shifted his attention away from the Abyss, allowing the fires of rebellion to spread far and wide. The Sovereign of the Abyss, with the power of the God of Darkness in her blood, had controlled the Abyss for thousands of years and had filled the battlefields of the gods with mountains of bones... Left with no choice, the legions of the Abyss, led by the Fire Demons, turned against the Sovereign. They surged toward her palace, and , leading the Tribunal, stood as the last line of defense like an imposing wall.
Amidst the chaos, gripped his rope tightly.
"A thousand knots, a thousand years..."
The coarse feel of the rope reminded him that he was still alive.
Though born in the darkness, born a traitor, he had the right to live.
"Survive..."
turned around and came face to face with the towering Sovereign of the Abyss before emitting a beastly roar. With all his might, he violently purged the cursed blood from his body. The sheer force caused his bones to jut out from his skin like vengeful blades.
With his new blades of bone, severed the Blood Curse in the most painful way imaginable.
"When you decided my fate, you should have remembered that I was born a traitor..."
He bared his fangs against the Sovereign of the Abyss, just like his ancestors a thousand years ago.
He was born a traitor.
He had always been a traitor.
