char.hound-master

Character Profile

The founder and supreme leader of the Black Metal Crew, whose true name, identity and past are all shrouded in layers of mystery. He is the human known to have the deepest understanding of Chaos energy, far exceeding the research level of the Anti-Chaos Directorate. He advocates that “Chaos is Truth,” believing that humanity’s current form of civilization is false and restrictive, and that only through the baptism of Chaos can humanity evolve to a higher stage. He is the ultimate mastermind behind Volume 1’s main storyline, and every action of the Black Metal Crew is planned by him.

Character Background

Mystery of Origin

Almost no reliable records exist about the Hound Master’s past. The Directorate’s archives contain very little information about him, only confirming that he suddenly appeared in Nova City’s Underground Layer several years ago, and subsequently integrated underground forces at an astonishing speed, founding the Black Metal Crew.

There are rumors that he was once a researcher at the Anti-Chaos Directorate, who defected after going too deep in Chaos energy research; other rumors claim he is the sole survivor of a large Chaos rift incident, who gained transcendent Chaos knowledge within the rift; still other rumors say he is not human at all, but a “humanoid Chaos” formed after Chaos energy materialized. None of these rumors have been confirmed.

Founding the Black Metal Crew

Several years ago, the Hound Master founded the Black Metal Crew in Nova City’s Underground Layer. With his profound Chaos knowledge and powerful personal strength, he quickly attracted a group of Espers dissatisfied with the status quo and Chaos worshippers. The Black Metal Crew grew from a small underground organization into Nova City’s largest Chaos radical organization in less than two years.

The Hound Master established the core philosophy for the organization—“Chaos is Truth”—and personally designed the organization’s structure and operational model. He rarely appears directly, mostly conveying instructions through trusted subordinates, but his will permeates every action of the Black Metal Crew.

Chaos Anchor Plan

The Hound Master’s core plan is to use Nova City’s ley line structure as the “Chaos Anchor” to awaken higher-order Chaos, thereby triggering global Chaos transformation. He believes Nova City’s Chaos Anchor is the key to “Truth,” and only by fully activating the Anchor can humanity be liberated from the current “false order.”

In Volume 1, the Black Metal Crew’s series of actions—cultivating Chaos Manifestations, expanding rifts, placing unknown devices in medium-sized rifts, conducting experiments with meteor power—are all components of this grand plan.

Personality Settings

Item	Content
Strengths	Master strategist, knowledgeable, iron-willed, highly charismatic
Weaknesses	Paranoid and fanatical, pursuit of “Truth” overrides everything
Behavioral Habits	Rarely appears directly, conveys instructions through trusted subordinates; likes to meditate near Chaos rifts
Interpersonal Style	Gentle and persuasive to followers, cold and merciless to enemies

Additional Personality Details:

• Unfathomable—almost no one can truly understand his thoughts and plans, even core members of the Black Metal Crew only know fragments of the plan
• Paranoid and fanatical—unwavering belief in “Chaos is Truth,” willing to sacrifice everything for it, including his own life
• Master strategist—every action of the Black Metal Crew is carefully planned, often completing the layout before the Directorate detects it
• Twisted compassion—he genuinely believes he is saving humanity, viewing Chaos as a force to liberate humanity, and this twisted compassion makes him even more dangerous
• Rarely gets angry—remains calm even in the face of failure, but shows a terrifying side when someone questions his “Truth”

Relationships

• With Black Metal Crew Members: Absolute leader, deeply worshipped by followers, but his true thoughts are unknown to anyone
• With Dila: Former collaborator, once invited Dila to participate in meteor power experiments, the two broke off after the experiment went out of control, and Dila has complex feelings toward him
• With Anti-Chaos Directorate: Main adversary, views the Directorate as “maintainers of false order,” the greatest obstacle to his plan
• With the Captain: Not yet confronted directly, but already regards the Captain as an opponent requiring focused attention; the Captain’s tentacle ability has piqued his interest
• With Anbo Industries: Relationship unclear, there are rumors that the Black Metal Crew has connections with Anbo Industries’ illegal research

Signature Weapon

Chaos Scepter

The Hound Master’s signature weapon, a pitch-black long staff with a dark red Chaos crystal embedded at the head, constantly surging. This scepter is not only a weapon, but also a medium through which he channels and controls Chaos energy.

Functions:

1. Chaos Channeling — Channels surrounding Chaos energy through the scepter, converting it into various attack forms
2. Rift Manipulation — Can artificially open or expand rifts within a certain range, summoning Chaos Manifestations
3. Energy Shield — The scepter can release a Chaos energy shield, resisting physical and energy attacks
4. Mental Influence — The Chaos fluctuations emitted by the scepter can affect the minds of weak-willed individuals, causing hallucinations or brief control

Characteristics: The scepter is bound to the Hound Master’s life energy, and only he can fully wield its power. The Chaos crystal on the scepter appears to have been obtained from a high-order rift, containing extremely powerful energy.

Abilities and Settings

Item	Content
Special Ability	Chaos Control · Rift Manipulation · Mental Influence
Combat Style	Mid-range caster + summoning Chaos Manifestations, rarely engages in close combat personally
Exclusive Mechanism	Chaos energy reserve, can channel Chaos energy from the surrounding environment to enhance self
Signature Trait	Understanding of Chaos far exceeds ordinary people, surrounded by Chaos energy fluctuations

Combat Details

• Core Tactics: Uses the Chaos Scepter to channel energy for mid-range attacks, while manipulating rifts to summon Chaos Manifestations for auxiliary combat, using mental influence to disrupt enemy judgment
• Advantages: Profound Chaos knowledge, precise energy control, far-reaching tactical layout, almost never caught in a passive position
• Weaknesses: Relatively weak in close combat (but not without it), overly reliant on Chaos energy, strength decreases in areas with low Chaos concentration
• Unknown: His true upper limit of strength has not yet been observed; in Volume 1 he never personally took action

Story Appearances

• Volume 1 (Behind the Scenes): As the supreme leader and mastermind of the Black Metal Crew, his will permeates the entire Volume 1 storyline, but he never appears personally
• Volume 1 Chapter 5: After the Black Metal Crew’s large-scale attack fails, the leader’s existence is officially revealed, and the fact that his understanding of Chaos far exceeds ordinary people shocks the Directorate
• Key Scenes:
  • Meditating before a Chaos rift in an underground cave, expounding the philosophy of “Chaos is Truth” to trusted subordinates
  • Conversing with Dila through remote Chaos projection, attempting to persuade her to rejoin the plan
  • At the end of Volume 1, watching Nova City from an unknown location, hinting that a larger plan is brewing

Classic Quotes

Chaos is not destruction—it is liberation. The order you guard is the true cage.

Humanity has slept too long in false peace. It is time for Truth to awaken them.

Nova City’s Chaos Anchor is the door to a new world. And I am the one who pushes it open.

You think you’re protecting this city? No, you’re only delaying its rebirth.