MISC VILLAINS IN ND

Villains/Antagonists in Norrington's Desire with not enough tropes to warrant their own document.

MARIYA:

Rape Is A Special Kind Of Evil: Mariya, along with Mia, are the only two who manage to push Nicoletta to the point where she’s willing to break her no-kill rule. She was ready to erase Mariya entirely and even managed to vaporize her wings to a point where they couldn’t regenerate. So, what did these two do to make the usually sweet and ideal hero Nicoletta even consider a lethal strike? They both sexually assaulted (or attempted, in Mia's case) Medea.

All Take and No Give: This isn’t just about Medea. When it comes out that Medea is only the latest in a long list of Mariya’s victims, it becomes painfully clear that Mariya enjoys every second of being a manipulative predator, constantly creating new demons without a shred of concern for her partners’ feelings. To her, people are tools—or playthings—and nothing more. Even her own daughter, Yoru, she only decided to go pay her a visit because she found some utility in her. 

• And here’s the kicker: this behavior isn’t some inherent "succubus thing." The V7D has encountered plenty of succubi who are non-predatory, even downright friendly. Mariya isn’t like that—she’s a monster, plain and simple, and not just by her species' standards

Didn't Think This Through: Like many real-world sociopaths, Mariya has a remarkably poor sense of foresight, almost incapable of fully grasping the long-term consequences of her actions. It’s not until she comes face-to-face with Nicoletta that the reality hits her; attacking the wife of her goddess’s human incarnation was, in hindsight, a catastrophically bad idea. Cue Nicoletta discovering her ability to vaporize demons into nothingness, demonstrated as she burns away Mariya’s wings with nothing more than a look. By then, Mariya is already in flight—figuratively and literally. If she hadn’t been on the run, she wouldn’t have merely been exorcised. Nicoletta would have erased her completely, forcing her into total oblivion.

Breeding Slaves: She kidnapped Freki and Medea for this purpose, planning to sire an army of demons from the World's Strongest Man and the World's Most Powerful Magic User, The V7D and the Tribal Wives were able to stop her before that but unfortunately, they didn't make it fast enough to prevent Medea's assault.

Shameless Fanservice Girl: She has no qualms about showing off her body in front of almost anyone, to be honest.

Out with a Bang: Doesn't happen often, but Mariya has had lovers that she has killed during sex for being annoying... then she proceeds to keep screwing their corpse because she still wants to sire a child that inherits their abilities!

The Sociopath: Along with Warren, Mariya is my essay on textbook sociopaths. In the world of ND, it’s generally accepted that most demons aren’t capable of sympathy or deep moral introspection. They don’t feel guilt the way humans do. Even so, many can still mimic a kind of empathy—a working understanding of pain, joy, fear—enough to read emotions, anticipate reactions, and even forge bonds, however shallow. Mariya is a rare and deeply troubling exception.

• Mariya doesn’t just lack sympathy—she’s completely devoid of empathy. She doesn’t understand or acknowledge the emotional weight of pain, fear, or even severe forms of trauma like sexual or psychological abuse. As those are things she inflicts freely — but fails to register it as something real or worth considering.
• Mariya sees herself as inherently above mortals, regardless of the growing number of mortals who now specialize in hunting demons. Her response is not fear or caution, but scorn. She views opposition as irrational, even offensive — fueling a cycle of deception, humiliation, and assault that she frames as fulfilling her nature.
• Mariya operates almost entirely on short-term impulse. She rarely plans ahead, she doesn’t build alliances, and she has no loyalty to her own kind. Ironically, that lack of loyalty is exactly why many demons won’t confront her — she’s a liability, yes, but one who performs her predatory role with unsettling effectiveness.
• And when backed into a corner, Mariya’s strategy is always the same: She slips into a performance of vulnerability — offering rehearsed lines, feigned regret, and just enough charm to confuse or delay her pursuers.

Eviler than Thou: Succubi and Incubi typically rank lower than city-threatening entities or high-tier monsters. They're rarely considered the most dangerous. But among her kind, Mariya is infamous. Hated and barely tolerated even within her own circles, Mariya is known not just as a predator, but as one of the most sadistic and remorseless individuals of her species. She is a serial rapist in a species who are often labeled as opportunistic tempters or manipulative seducers, but not necessarily hostile.

Lonely at The Top: It's subtly implied that despite Mariya’s flair for seduction and the thrill she gets from hunting new lovers (read: prey), her life as a succubus is ultimately a hollow one. Outside of her predatory games, she often appears with her eyes dull, her posture slackens, and she seems adrift, as though the world around her has little to offer. In The Maw Below, Mariya keeps her distance from others of her kind, and in turn, they keep theirs. Her fellow succubi tolerate her presence at best, avoiding her at worst. 

• But this isn’t framed to evoke sympathy. The implication is that Mariya’s existence is sustained only by the act of ruining lives and gaining pleasure from raping mortals, that moments of predation are the only times she feels truly awake, vibrant, and whole.

Never My Fault: Right before she decides to start with Medea, Mariya tries to wash her hands of her own cruelty, attempting to gaslight Freki into thinking that what is about to happen to his Rival is somehow his fault—or Medea’s—for being so powerful and alluring. Mary points out that Mariya isn’t entirely lying about being drawn to their strength, but also makes it clear succubi often prefer to traditionally ''tempt'' those they’re attracted to. In the end, the sadism? That’s all Mariya. It’s not something typical of her kind, it’s just her.

Knight of Cerebus: Just a whisper of her name is enough to extinguish the light in Medea's eyes, casting a heavy, gloomy atmosphere, and whenever she shows up, hardly anyone is pleased to see her. Despite being less imposing than other antagonists, the fallout from her actions and her unsettling rape of Medea inevitably injects a dramatic edge into any situation.

Charm Person: Her and the other succubi and incubi can magically charm humans into becoming fixated on them. Interestingly, this doesn't work on Medea. It's unclear if it's because she's the Eye of Laurel or because she's not a regular human who Mariya can enchant.

• It seems to be more about the latter, especially considering that Nicoletta can also resist her allure. The key word here is "resist" – unlike Medea, Nicoletta isn't immune to it, she just has the willpower to fight it.

FEDERICO ROMANO:

Affably Evil: In a very clear contrast to Valentino. You know, when he's not knee-deep in all that cartel shenanigans, he actually comes across as a bit of a mate. Like, he's proper decent with Nicoletta and Yuuki, even when you can tell he's got a right bee in his bonnet (and to be fair, who wouldn't with the way things are going?). And he even buries the hatchet with Medea once she puts an offer on the table that he just can't turn down. 

An Offer You Can't Refuse: Don Federico plays hardball with Medea and threatens her life. All because of some mess with an arms deal she ruined back in the day. Apparently, she got in the way, and boom—the deal was toast. But don’t worry, Medea’s not exactly sweating it. She flips the script on him with an offer he can’t refuse—prime Italian real estate to settle her little “debt” with him. And, just for fun? She’s also got a little side hustle cooking—y’know, plotting the epic collapse of his entire cartel. But, minor details, right?

Card-Carrying Villain: Oh, the ever-so-noble Federico, unlike the oh-so-subtle Valentino and Freki, who go out of their way to keep up the whole "mysterious, refined bad guy" act, Federico just says, "Screw it," and flaunts his shady dealings like it's a parade. Drug lord? Check. Arms dealer? Double check. Certified psycho killer? You bet. No pretending to be anything he's not—he’s out here living his worst self, no filter. So, naturally, the V7D had no problem taking down his whole cartel and sending him off to a nice little cell. Maybe if he'd taken some tips from Valentino and Freki, he wouldn’t have been such an easy target.

Foil: To Valentino.They're both top dogs in the criminal world, both crossed paths with the V7D crew, and both have a history with one of the V7D's raven-haired members. However, Federico's mainly out for a good time, enjoying the dosh, fame, and status that comes from running a cartel, whereas Valentino's dead set on climbing the ranks to be the head honcho of the Italian underworld while pushing his vampire-flavoured Nazi-like nonsense. Medea and Federico don't have any past together until she ruined his arms deal, but Valentino has a special bond with Yuuki since he's her father. Oh, and mind you, Federico's just an everyday Joe armed to the teeth, a human through and through, whereas Valentino's a bloodsucking monstrosity.

Secretly Wealthy: Despite living in a modest little spot tucked away in some backstreet of a Colombian city, Federico’s sitting on a mountain of cash. He’s way richer than any of the scumbags the V7D’s run into before Valentino, all thanks to his booming cartel. And the cherry on top? He's content to hang around in Cartagena, dishing out commands, instead of splurging on some fancy lifestyle in the U.S. Smart move if you ask me—his costs stay low while his cartel rakes in the big bucks.

The Cartel: Oh, what a splendid attempt at character assassination! To associate Mr. Romano's enterprise with that oh-so-charming term "cartel" is simply a stroke of genius, isn't it? Because, clearly, he's just a pristine and upstanding businessman who had the unfortunate luck of being unfairly implicated in a little Colombian-American gun trafficking and drug dealing affair. Bravo! Oh, what a remarkable legal victory that was, wasn't it? A trial and an acquittal, how quaint! It's not like the vanishing witnesses and their sudden bout of stage fright could possibly indicate anything remotely suspicious. Details, details, who needs 'em? After all, it's just a matter of words, isn't it? "Innocent until proven guilty," or more like "innocent until the witnesses take an extended vacation from reality."

Wrong Genre Savvy: Don Federico walks around like he’s untouchable, flashing his wealth, power, and connections like a shield. And sure, that might scare off your average Joe. But when you’re up against four battle-hardened soldiers who’ve gone head-to-head with the Italian mafia, demons, beasts, and even the du Cronos Dynasty? That’s a whole different ballgame. Yuuki makes it painfully clear that his attempts at bribery or deal-making are pointless. She’s a relentless, no-nonsense vampire who doesn’t need anything from him—except to drain every last drop of his blood, no matter how much he begs or bargains.

Bullying a Dragon: Oh, dear Federico, he had no clue what kind of storm was about to blow his whole world apart when he ran into Medea again after all those years. Let's be fair, shall we? The last glimpse he had of her was when she was a mere novice, oh-so-impressionable and stumbling through rookie blunders like a champ. But oh, how things have changed. She’s not that clueless kid anymore, and to top it off, she’s not standing alone this time... 

GEIST DU CRONOS:

Archnemesis Dad: To Myurne/Amy, Kawren/Owen and of course, Anima/Anthony—three siblings born of the latest dragon concubine he kept captive in his lair. Like many of his previous offspring, these children were intended to be eliminated before they could grow strong enough to pose a threat. But unlike his earlier, more successful attempts, Geist failed to kill them. Thanks to a combined effort of allies and protectors with Geist's concubines, the young dragons were hidden away—each spirited off to safety in the human world, far from their father’s reach. And once each was of age, decided to return home to usurp their father.

Battle Strip: A trait shared by both grandfather and grandson, Geist—like his future descendant Freki—has a notable preference for entering battle bare-chested. To the untrained eye, it might appear to be a display of arrogance or theatricality. But for dragons like Geist, whose human forms are merely veils draped over scale-forged bodies, it's a practical choice.

Big Bad: Of The Lair of the Crimson Emperor prequel. A ruthless and unyielding ruler, his iron grip tightens around the Southern Realm, bending it to his will with an obsession that goes beyond simple conquest. Driven by an overwhelming hatred for any power or force that refuses to submit to his authority, he seeks to expand his dominion by subjugating the other three realms, fueling a campaign of oppression and war. The three du Cronos siblings, who bear their own personal vendettas against him—particularly due to his failed attempts at infanticide—are among his most bitter adversaries. The Emperor's insatiable thirst for power has also stripped Akane of her original territory, an injustice she cannot forget. It is this shared animosity, this common cause, that has led Akane to align herself with the du Cronos siblings, offering them her aid in reclaiming what was once hers.

Oh, Crap!: For once, Geist’s usual confidence starts to crack the moment he sees Anthony charging into the arena like her life depends on it. He’s in the middle of a brutal, twenty-minute slugfest with Kawren—wounded, winded, and very much not at full strength. And now here comes Anthony, eyes locked on the throne, ready to claim what’s hers by birthright. Geist knows exactly what’s about to happen… and for the first time in a long while, he doesn’t look so sure of himself.

Slasher Smile: Geist is rarely seen without a sadistic grin stretched across his face—If someone nearby is in agony, you can bet he’s smiling about it. It’s less of a reaction and more of a reflex at this point. Unfortunately, that sinister little smirk isn’t exclusive to him—it’s practically a family heirloom in the du Cronos Dynasty. And no matter how hard Anthony tries to pretend she’s nothing like him, her own grin, when things get bloody, is… uncomfortably familiar.

Smug Snake: Geist is a textbook tyrant—arrogant, cruel, and utterly convinced of his own importance. And while he’s certainly dangerous, even brilliant in some respects, the truth is... he’s just not as formidable as he likes to believe. His empire runs on fear, psychological control, and pain. But once Anthony and the du Cronos siege party start pulling at those threads, it becomes clear just how fragile that foundation really is. And the problem with ruling through cruelty? When it all collapses, you’re left with a long line of powerful enemies—any one of whom he might handle alone, but not four. And certainly not all of them at once.

Blinded by Rage: When, in the middle of his match against Owen and without warning, Anthony charges in, unleashing a powerful running knee to Geist’s skull. Anthony, as a rightful child of Geist, has every right to challenge him—but the sheer audacity of her attack pushes the tyrant into a rage that clouds his every judgment. The second time Anthony attempts the same move, Geist’s fury has reached a boiling point. His focus narrows entirely on countering her attack, and he reacts with brutal intent, seizing his daughter in a chokehold. But his single-minded focus on punishing her leads him to overlook another immediate threat: Owen, seeing his sister in danger, rushes to intervene.

Breeding Slave: Whenever a female dragon caught his eye, he would charm, manipulate, and sometimes outright coerce her into coming to live in his lair. The manner of her arrival—whether by persuasion or force—was of little concern to him. Aurora, the main trio's mother was one of these 'concubines.'

The Bully: At his core, Geist du Cronos can be seen as little more than a bully—his grandiose title and tyrannical rule merely a mask for his deeply insecure nature. Much like a schoolyard tyrant, he surrounds himself with loyal lackeys, using fear and intimidation to assert dominance over those weaker than him. His sense of self-importance is inflated, convinced of his own superiority in ways that don’t always hold up under scrutiny.

• One notable example of his bullying behavior is seen in his treatment of his own children. He frequently mocks Anthony, taunting her for her fluidity in gender—constantly switching from male to female based on her mood.
• Furthermore, Geist's dismissal of Amy also is worth noting. He casually remarks that Amy was the only one of the trio he never saw fit to kill, claiming that a dragoness, in his eyes, could never pose a real threat to his rule.

Bullying the Disabled: One of his most troublesome behaviors is the way he mocks Anthony for having only two wings. What’s even darker is the reason for Anthony’s condition. Geist himself is responsible for it. When Anthony was born, Geist violently tore four of his wings, ensuring that Anthony would never have the chance to escape. Geist openly admits that, at that moment, he was preparing to kill Anthony. He also mentioned he wouldn't mind tearing the other two apart.

Murder The Hypotenuse: Aurora actually had a human lover, a shepherd young man named Sean. Geist made sure their romance was shortlived.

Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: As despicable as Geist is, he’s claimed that he could never bring himself to kill any of his concubines, after all, he lured them in with promises of safety and protection. That unfortunately translates to rather than killing, he resorted to effectively lobotomizing the more difficult ones. That way, they’d remain technically alive and fertile, retaining just enough awareness to serve his purposes, but stripped of any real resistance. Aurora was the first exception, she was the first concubine he actually tried to kill outright.

The Corrupter: Geist tried to play this role with Anthony. He wrote her off as the weakest of his three children, but that also made her, in his eyes, the most pliable. The easiest to sway. He figured he could twist her loyalty, turn her against her siblings, and pull her into his fold. And for a moment, it almost worked. But barely ten minutes later, Anthony turned the tables with a triple-cross that made it painfully clear where her loyalty truly lay: with Akane, and with herself.

The Caligula: A tyrant whose rule is defined less by governance and more by excess. His empire runs on fear, cruelty, and unchecked power, but instead of focusing on leadership, he spends most of his time indulging in the luxuries that come with the crown. A personal harem, a reign built on abuse, and a complete detachment from reality? He’s every bit the nightmare that title implies.

Outdoor Bath Peeping: Geist’s first encounter with Aurora happened on a quiet night when he was simply resting at the top of his lair. While surveying the surrounding cliffs and rooftops, he caught sight of something—or rather, someone—that stopped him in his tracks. Down below, in a secluded lake tucked into the mountainside, a dragoness was bathing with a human under the moonlight. That dragoness was Aurora. Geist didn’t make his presence known, didn’t say a word—he just watched. It wasn’t strategy or interest in the human companion that kept his gaze locked; it was her. Something about the way the moonlight hit her scales, the ease in her expression, the contrast of her presence in such a quiet moment—it overtook him... Sound familiar?...

Desecrating the Dead: After Geist was slain by Anthony, the upper jaw of his skull was claimed by the Crimson Emperor. Now and then, when she assumes her dragon form, she dons it as a helmet—a grim, ceremonial reminder of the tyrant who came before.

Would Hurt a Child: His own children, no less. Geist had fathered others before the twins and Kawren—but each time, he personally destroyed the eggs. The twins only survived thanks to a handful of his concubines helping Aurora hide the clutch. And when Geist eventually found out, they stalled him—just long enough for Aurora to spirit the eggs away to safety.

MALAKAIs TV TROPES

Animal Motif: Mandrills. His reddish-brown hair and the deep red hue of his pelt might make you think of an orangutan at first. However, the warpaint smeared across his face mimics the snout of a mandrill. His teeth—human, but just off enough to be unsettling—resemble a mandrill’s fangs, sharp and prominent. Then, there’s the way he moves. He has a habit of perching on high places, surveying everything beneath him like a king watching over his domain. He howls, a sound that can send a shiver down the spine of anyone who knows what it means—a warning, a challenge, or the prelude to something violent (though he's not above using it just to scare someone for fun). He also sucks at swimming, actually. Then there's the transformation. When backed into a corner, when he truly believes his life is on the line, his body reacts on instinct. Skin stretches, muscles shift, bones crack and reform into a weremandrill.

Pelts of The Barbarian: Seems that way. But the orange fur on the pelt is actually part of his body, a remnant of his mandrill transformation.

Trauma Conga Line: No matter how much blame he lays on Quincey, there’s no denying that Malakai’s life had already started spiraling long before he turned into a weremandrill. Things weren’t just bad—they were colossally bad, a downward plunge that felt more like a freefall with no bottom in sight. And then came the transformation. Even after everything, he still goes back and forth on how much it really got to him. 

Ascended to Carnivorism: Most of the time, Malakai is seen eating fruit, though, contrary to the stereotype, he’s more of a pear guy than a banana enthusiast. One time the V7D actually had a moment to breathe and decided to treat themselves to a fancy dinner. Quincey had been looking forward to one thing the entire night—a perfectly cooked, high-end steak... And then Malakai took it. Not out of hunger. Not because there wasn’t any other food on the table. No, he did it just to be an ass. Just to rub it in. He locked eyes with Quincey, took a slow, deliberate bite, and made a point of enjoying it.

• Judging by how much he seemed to like it, it’s safe to say that, much like real mandrills, Malakai’s more of an omnivore than he lets on. He might prefer fruit, but he’s got no problem tearing into meat when the opportunity... or the pettiness, calls for it.

Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Malakai’s vendetta against Quincey is about as textbook as a revenge plot gets: he wants payback, plain and simple. In his eyes, Quincey is the reason he lost everything—his job, his reputation, his sponsorships, his contracts. And to top it all off, Quincey humiliated him in the ring, in a fight Malakai swears was rigged from the start.

Attack! Attack! Attack!: Malakai’s approach to a fight is about as subtle as a wrecking ball—throw fists, throw them fast, and throw them hard. No fancy footwork, no patience, just pure aggression. And sure, sometimes it works. But more often than not, it’s also exactly why he ends up getting his ass handed to him.

• That’s where the real gap between him and Freki lies. It’s not just strength or speed—Malakai’s got plenty of both. The difference is control. Freki, even in his wolf form, keeps his mind sharp. He doesn’t let the transformation turn him into a mindless beast. Malakai? The second he shifts, he fights like a rabid mandrill—wild, brutal, but reckless as hell. And that’s why, no matter how much of a struggle it is, Quincey can still just barely manage to take Malakai down. But Freki? Heh, you can predict an animal’s rage. But you can’t predict a predator who still knows how to think.

Involuntary Shapeshifting: Malakai’s transformation isn’t too different from traditional lycanthropy—at least in principle. But unlike the classic werewolf curse, his transformation isn’t dictated by moonrays or an external force—it’s pure, biological desperation. Malakai doesn’t get to choose when or if it happens. It’s his body’s ultimate survival mechanism, kicking in only when he’s convinced he’s about to die. Which, in a way, makes it even worse. Because when Malakai shifts, it means one thing—he’s scared. And a cornered animal is always the most dangerous kind.

Killer Gorilla: Downplayed. Malakai’s weremandrill form is definitely not something you want to mess with—just like any other mandrill, really. But he’s not some mindless, bloodthirsty beast that just attacks anything that moves. Most of the time, he only lashes out when provoked… or if you happen to be Quincey. Honestly, it’s less like having a wild, rabid monster on the loose and more like dealing with an overprotective, pissed-off guard dog that shows up whenever Malakai needs backup.

Overshadowed by Awesome: Malakai was, without a doubt, one of the most dangerous opponents the V7D had ever faced. Every single one of the four members in the stable had a well-earned respect for him—along with just enough fear to keep them cautious. He was relentless, a fighter through and through, but sometimes his own tenacity worked against him. There had been times when he'd picked fights well outside of his weight class, like when he went up against Mia or Medea—both of whom had access to new spells and the luxury of preparation. Those encounters hadn't exactly ended in his favor. If anything, they’d left him with more scars than victories, the kind of injuries that made him wonder if his stubbornness was a strength or a curse.

• But nothing, not all the reckless battles, not all the bruises and broken bones, compared to what he felt watching Quincey get obliterated by Freki. And not just beaten—trashed. It wasn’t even a fight. It was a foregone conclusion from the start. He had already been defeated by Quincey before, both in his human form and as a weremandrill, fair and square. He knew what Quincey was capable of. And yet, watching him get manhandled like a ragdoll by Freki sent a primal kind of fear through him. It rattled something deep inside, so much so that for a split second, his body almost gave in to his own weremandrill transformation on sheer instinct.

Red is Violent: Even before he transforms. The guy’s got bright red fur—not just in his weremandrill form, but even as a human. A sharp red mohawk, a matching beard, and a pelt of the same striking color draped over his shoulders. Except it’s not just draped—it’s actually part of him, another reminder that he’s not quite like everyone else.

Nemean Skinning: After Freki delivers the final blow, Malakai's hide is flayed and draped over the shoulders of the Big Red Machine of Destruction.

Non-Malicious Monster: Even if he doesn’t look like it, Malakai seems to have at least some control over his bloodlust, even when he’s fully transformed. There’s a method to his madness—if he shifts in public, for instance, he doesn’t just go on a blind rampage. He makes a beeline straight for the V7D, his focus locked on the one person he truly hates. Any civilians unlucky enough to be in his way? They’re shoved aside, rough but not fatal, or simply left to scatter. He’s not interested in them. And while he does end up attacking the other three members of the V7D, it only happens after they step in to protect Quincey. 

• Later, there are moments that prove he’s not just an unthinking beast. One time, he manages to calm himself enough to stand still, humans right in front of him, without lashing out, just letting them run away. Another, he’s drawn in by the sound of Medea’s flute—completely transfixed, almost tamed by the melody. 
• At the end of the day, Malakai as a weremandrill isn’t just a rampaging monster. He’s a wild animal—one part terrified, one part starving, and entirely fixated on beating Quincey to a bloody pulp.

HOLLOWs TV TROPES:

Atrocious Alias: Nicoletta nicknamed the unknown masked woman ''Hollow'' based on the little to no information they had about her (mostly focused on the fact that she seemed to target Medea mostly).

Being Tortured Makes You Evil: The implication is pretty clear: At first, she was harmless, almost childlike in her curiosity, seemingly content just to exist. But that didn’t last. Not after weeks of agonizing experiments under Warren’s so-called care. At first, she must have had hope, some belief that there was a purpose to all of it—that maybe there was a reason for the pain. But that hope didn’t survive the moment she was tossed aside, labeled just another “unsuccessful experiment.” And it wasn’t just the cruelty of it all—her very body was against her. Her genetic material was unstable, riddling her with severe, unrelenting pain. Every second of her existence became a struggle, her own form betraying her. It broke something in her. Twisted whatever innocence she once had into something darker, something hungry.

Alas, Poor Villain: Her entire life was nothing but pain; ruthless experiments, brutal "training," and a level of isolation that stripped her of any real human connection. So, while Eve undoubtedly crossed lines that made her death inevitable, it’s clear that Medea takes no joy in executing someone she once genuinely tried to see as a sister. Even during the Siege, her death carries the weight for our Nero Angelo, and both Medea and Nicoletta reflect on it with quiet sorrow; not mourning Eve herself so much as grieving the person she might have become, had things gone differently. It’s not forgiveness, but a kind of tragic recognition of what was lost to hatred and paranoia.

Deconstruction: When Eve was created, Warren's only goal was to build a powerful, intimidating, and intelligent body that mirrored his own thought patterns. He mistakenly believed this would make it easier to transfer his mind into her, thinking they would be compatible. As a result, everything about Eve—her strange abilities, her extreme aggression, and even her psychopathy—was a direct consequence of being artificially engineered to be monstrous. When Warren asks for an explanation of her behavior, his daughters simply tell him that you can't give a creature all these different traits from other people, while enhancing its worst qualities, without triggering corresponding behavioral traits. Add her heightened intelligence to the mix, and you get something genuinely terrifying. This is the very reason why Medea was specifically allowed to be raised by normal, loving parents.

Cold Ham: Much like Medea, Eve almost never raises her voice. But when she speaks, her words carry weight—every syllable measured and deliberate, with a tone that’s dramatic and commanding. Unlike Medea, though, Eve’s restraint might actually be out of necessity. She suffers from a respiratory condition, so shouting would probably just make her condition worse than it already is.

Big Bad Wannabe: While Eve successfully claims the Nero Angelo title from Medea and proves dangerous to the V7D due to her adaptive capability, she is easily dealt with by Freki as soon as she targets him. In the end, Medea shows that Eve only beat her because she ambushed her while she was already hurt. And then, when Medea later finds Eve limping away after getting wrecked by Freki, she finishes her off, knowing Eve won’t give up the title unless it’s in a fight to the death.

Strong, but Unskilled: A monster engineered both scientifically and magically, Hollow has the strength and brains but lacks real experience. This is clear during the encounter with Medea and Freki. While Hollow is adaptable and formidable, Freki, the High Chief, is a battle-hardened fighter, shaped by countless battles defending his position at the top of the du Cronos Dynasty. The failed assassination attempt on Freki was one of the first times Hollow faced an opponent who wasn’t intimidated, knew how to fight, actually fought back, and was much bigger than she was. Freki also has the advantage of having already defeated one half of the V7D while being locked in a constant rivalry with Medea, meaning he's no stranger to facing people on Hollow’s level or even stronger.

Shadow Archetype: Warren took his own twisted psyche— Every ounce of hatred, every shred of bitterness, every seething drop of contempt he had for the world—it all became the foundation upon which Eve was built, shaping Eve into a living, breathing demonstration of what Medea would have become if she had been raised by his hands instead. From the moment she "was born," she carried the weight of his darkest thoughts, warped memories, and most vile traits, amplified to horrifying extremes. But that wasn’t enough for him. He subjected her to unspeakable torment, grotesque experiments, and endless suffering, only to discard her like a broken tool when he was done. It’s no wonder she completely lost her grip on reality.

Cain and Abel: She is the Cain to Medea's Abel. Neither of them planned for things to go down this path. In her final moments, with death looming, she finally confides in Medea that even though she has no regrets about her quest for vengeance, she would've loved to have a life where they could wander together, existing as sisters in each other's lives. It's a sad echo of the tale of Emma and Kiara, the genetic models they were created from.

The Cynic: Hollow is the most cynical and bitter of Warren's creations, holds the belief that no one deserves a second chance, as she never had a first chance to begin with.

Medea: He was full of joy and potential for greatness!
Eve: ...Have you forgotten that so was I?

Flawed Prototype: Due to the damaged state of her genetic composition, Eve, the prototype for the sixth stage of the hybrid magical container bioweapon project, suffers from Clone Degeneration. She has a respiratory disease, and her skin is deteriorating gradually.

Tortured Monster: Since she was intentionally designed to be as aggressive and brutal as possible and raised in complete isolation, with constant physical punishment whenever she did something Warren disapproved of, Medea believes her actions are driven by a lack of understanding of how to interact with her surroundings. On top of that, the idea of mercy is so foreign to her that she sees every living creature as a threat.

You Are What You Hate: As much as she loathes humanity, her villainy and behavior are deeply tied to the fact that her mind is essentially a warped version of Emma Norrington, Jr. with Warren Norrington's thought patterns—all of the issues, none of the redeeming qualities. She’s made a few odd attempts to mimic human customs, most notably in her creepy efforts to connect with Medea or even try to live Medea’s life as her own. She even went so far as to steal the Nero Angelo suit for that purpose. And despite all her hatred, there’s something painfully human about her self-deprecation and suicidal tendencies, both fueled by a life of relentless suffering.

Tragic Monster: The more we learn about Eve, the less she seems like a stronger, darker version of Medea and more like a twisted mass of burnt, decaying flesh, always shedding silent tears. Her every movement, every word, screams of a pain so deep, so unrelenting, that it’s hard to imagine how she endures it. Simply existing seems like torture for her. Her regeneration, what should be her salvation, is nothing short of torture. The process rips through her like fire and glass, tearing her apart as it stitches her back together. It heals her only to prolong her suffering, forcing her to relive the pain over and over again, a brutal reminder that even her own body is her enemy. Her rage isn’t born from evil—it’s born from despair. She isn’t trying to destroy life itself out of malice but out of desperation. Every ounce of her hatred is aimed at a world that shaped her suffering and denied her even a shred of mercy. She burns with a singular, tragic desire: to end it all, to tear down the world that let her become this, and in its destruction, finally destroy herself.

Medea: ''Eve doesn’t want victory; she wants release. She wants an end to the agony that has been the only constant in her existence. Every tear she sheds, every scream she swallows, is a plea for peace—a peace she feels she will never have until everything, including herself, is gone.''

Adaptive Ability: At first, she’s relatively easy to handle, especially given the V7D's expertise and experience. But Hollow's mutations give her abilities that make her perfectly suited to battle a conventional military force. She starts replicating Medea's memories, using them to study and counter the V7D’s tactics, steadily increasing her threat as they continue to face her.

Curb-Stomp Battle: Hollow’s plan to take out Freki doesn’t even get off the ground. She sneaks in, thinking she’s got the drop on him while he’s "asleep," but he’s only playing possum. He traps her with the bedsheets and absolutely wrecks her, leaving her in rough shape. The only thing she manages to pull off is slightly tarnishing Medea’s already questionable reputation as Nero Angelo—not that Medea’s rep was spotless to begin with.

Mood Swinger: To say Eve is "unstable" is being pretty nice about it, considering how easily she plunges into sadness and explodes with anger.

Reptilians are Abhorrent: Her deteriorating skin gives the impression that it's turning into reptilian scales, especially around her neck. It's suggested that Warren tried to use dragon DNA on Hollow, but since Medea’s skin shows no signs of scaling, it’s likely just another side effect of Hollow’s patchwork genetics. Something Warren probably noticed and decided to leave out when he created Medea.

Worf Had the Flu: Though it may not have made a substantial difference in the battle's outcome, starting the fight severely wounded and bleeding out probably expedited her defeat and eventual death by Medea.

Curb-Stomp Cushion: While limping away from her beatdown by Freki, she runs into Medea, who, though not fully recovered, is well enough to calmly ask Eve to return the Nero Angelo outfit willingly. Eve, obviously uninterested, engages in a one-sided fight that was always going to end in Medea's favor, although Eve manages to land a few good hits—likely because Medea hadn't fully healed.

Go Mad From the Isolation: The traumatic experiences of her past have left her with deep emotional scars and a severe lack of social skills. Her ability to communicate with Medea only serves to highlight the extreme isolation she has endured, having been deprived of any meaningful connection or relationship with anyone other than her creator, who has only brought her pain and suffering. This has undoubtedly contributed to her developing a disturbed and morally questionable personality, leading her down a dark path of violence and chaos.

Hidden Depths: Despite her intense animosity towards Medea, she acknowledges that ultimately, Warren was the one who stripped her of everything, and that Medea was as much a victim of the Norrington Patriarch as she was. It's surprising that Eve would turn to the person she resented the most for comfort in her final moments.

Lean and Mean: She's taller than Medea but more lanky, with long limbs and a strikingly sunken, skeletal face—at least, before her skin started to deteriorate.

Freudian Excuse: It is frequently stated by Medea that the various events since her creation (being kept in an overly cramped container, Warren's preoccupation with her abilities over her well-development, and her isolation from anyone other than the madman who brought her into existence) have contributed to her growth into an unstable, extremely violent sociopath. The ongoing physical pain resulting from bodily mutilations and skin degeneration further complicates her situation.

Sickly Prodigy: A telltale sign of her suffering from a genetic decay-induced illness is her peeling skin and irregular breathing. However, her menacing presence and skills are not diminished in any way, and she remains as intimidating and capable as Medea.

Meaningful Name: She was named after the first woman in Judeo-Christian religions, but to Warren, she was just another failed attempt to create his Magnum Opus. Her creation, however, was not in vain, as it provided him with crucial knowledge that eventually led to the successful creation of Medea as the seventh attempt. Despite this, she remained a forgotten and discarded failure, with her only legacy being the knowledge that she had helped pave the way for someone else's success.

''Eve was born into mist and agony, molded by a life that never showed her even a glimpse of genuine compassion. She's full of sharp edges and bitter resolve, a creature whose every scar tells of survival, not kindness. To her, compassion is something foreign, almost laughable—a concept that others cling to, but one that’s always been out of her reach. So, when Medea comes along and offers her something resembling kindness, she can’t make sense of it. Why would anyone help her? She’s convinced there’s no reason in this cruel world to be anything but relentless, to return the pain that shaped her by leaving her own mark, as jagged and unforgettable as the wounds she bears. She has no intention of fading into the background. Her pain demands to be felt, and she’s determined that the world will never forget her name. Her fury burns like the fire that birthed her, and she won't allow herself to be the only one... Hollow...''

Driven to Madness: The cruel fate of being an incomplete clone of a person, who was deemed unworthy and abandoned before receiving the complete genetic template is enough to push one towards the brink of madness.

Obviously Evil: You'll notice her facial scars and skin deterioration, along with her always-present Death Glare, and that'll clue you in to what makes her different from Medea.

Evil is Bigger: Eve is noticeably bigger than Medea, which is strange considering their genetic templates were identical twins. But it's likely a trait that Warren intentionally added. That being said, being taller than Medea's small frame isn't exactly impressive, Eve still falls short compared to Nicoletta.

Bullying a Dragon: Eve knows full well that Freki has defeated all but one member of the V7D. Trying to take on the Tribal Chief, no matter how convinced she was of her abilities, turned out to be just as disastrous as it sounds.

• On a different note. Even though Medea was weakened by injury, Eve's decision to ambush her, beat her up, steal her Nero Angelo outfit, and arrogantly dismiss her as "just a woman" was incredibly short-sighted. Eve had already experienced firsthand what Medea is capable of,  especially if given the chance to heal from her injuries rather than being finished off.

Cloning Angst: Eve is utterly enraged with The 7th Attempt and Warren Norrington for not even giving her a chance to develop, as she was the alleged "imperfect" 6th attempt that was rejected before the conception of The Eye. Medea is the target of most of her rage, though.

Artificial Family Member: Eve's rage is fueled by the knowledge that she is the clone of Kiara's twin sister, Emma Norrington Jr., making her feel like a distorted reflection of what should have been. Meanwhile, Medea, who is a clone of Kiara, attempts to mend their strained relationship by appealing to their shared genetic bond. However, Eve's thirst for vengeance consumes her so completely that she cannot see beyond the pain and betrayal she feels towards the Eye, rendering any hope of reconciliation futile.

Clone Degeneration: Medea's heart started pounding as she uncovered the truth that "Hollow" was none other than Eve, the sixth experiment in Warren's project. Her face, hidden behind the mask she had just destroyed, was now revealed to be a damaged and decaying copy of Medea's own face, a result of the clone's gradual deterioration.

VALENTINOs TROPES

Abusive Parents: Valentino’s parents were hardly any more affectionate than Ayuuki’s, showing little concern for his lack of interest in marrying her. Much like Ayuuki, they went so far as to place a bounty on him when he attempted to evade the arrangement, explicitly demanding he be brought back “dead or alive.”

The Ace: He is among the most formidable swordsmen, cunning negotiators, and members of the vampiric aristocracy the Cosa Nostra has ever produced—so much so that he retained immense respect (rather than fear) even after forcibly seizing control of the mafia by eliminating the Don and any loyalists.

• Valentino can also hold his own against the World's Strongest Man, Freki, and frequently maintains the upper hand when confronting the V7D, who must rely on numbers to balance the scales against him. What makes him truly dangerous is the breadth of his abilities: he often exploits his mastery of one of the rarest forms of vampire magic—blood manipulation—to overwhelm foes whose magic power and dueling prowess would otherwise make him difficult to challenge.

Neglectful Father: The V7D is surprised to learn this trope is actually subverted with Valentino. 

• Valentino has almost no direct communication with his daughter, to the point where their relationship feels more like distant acquaintances than family. When the V7D formally presents themselves before him, he is visibly caught off guard, needing several moments to register that the young draculina standing among them is, in fact, his only daughter. 
• And yet, Yuki doesn’t respond with anger, fear, or even unease. Instead, she behaves as though this estrangement is nothing unusual. To her, the lack of open communication seems normal for vampire families, where bonds can be stretched thin by centuries of life and where it is common for parents and children to go years, even decades, without speaking.
• He also quietly ensures that Yuki’s life is provided for. Her college tuition is fully paid, the paperwork for her apartment in Naples is filed in her name, and (even if it's not apparent) she has financial stability that can be traced back to his influence. Vampire monstrosity mafia boss he may be, he never truly forgot his daughter.

Affably Evil: He sure is.

• Valentino doesn’t take it personally that he ends up on the V7D’s targets—in fact, he says he always figured it would happen sooner or later. 
• When asked about the time he sent a hundred armed men to ambush them at their Airbnb, he insists it wasn’t really an assassination attempt at all. According to him, it was more of a “character test,” a way to make sure Yuki’s companions were competent enough not to drag his daughter down. He even says he was pleased with the outcome, joking that he never would’ve sent more people than they could handle; if anything, he thinks he didn’t send enough.
• During his sword duel with Nicoletta, what looks like a life-or-death battle to everyone else is, in Valentino’s eyes, little more than a friendly sparring match. He treats the clash as an opportunity to size her up and, oddly enough, to help her improve. Between strikes of his rapier, he offers her pointers, commenting on her form, her footwork, and the rough edges of her otherwise natural talent. To anyone watching, it’s surreal: Nicoletta is fighting with everything she has just to stay alive, yet Valentino carries himself with the calm, conversational air of a mentor running drills with a student.

Extremely Sharp Blade: Valentino’s rapier is so sharp and strong that it can slice through one of Nicoletta’s Conqueror bullets.

Wicked Cultured: Valentino is a ruthless, unapologetically villainous vampire, and a gentleman nonetheless.

Villain Takes an Interest: It is heavily implied that he wants Nicoletta to become his new apprentice in fencing and dueling, having recognized her raw, unrefined potential; most notably in the fact that she managed to land a genuine blow against him in an otherwise one-sided fight, despite never having wielded a sword before and relying solely on books and tutorials.

Aristocrats Are Evil: Technically, he hails from a vampiric aristocratic family, but he refuses to touch the fortune of a family that placed a bounty on him simply for rejecting an arranged marriage. This defiance drove him to carve his own path, rising through the ranks of the Cosa Nostra to become its mob boss—now sitting atop wealth he earned entirely on his own terms.

Underestimating Badassery: Valentino is often underestimated for wielding a sword in a world dominated by firearms and magic... until others are forcibly, or fatally, reminded that he has very good reasons to regard guns as vulgar, unrefined, and entirely unnecessary. Case in point: he never took Nicoletta seriously until she picked up a blade.

Awesome, but Impractical: Valentino’s style of fencing is undeniably impressive, though not particularly suited to the realities of his time. By this point in history, most magic users rarely engage in hand-to-hand combat unless they're born with enhancement mana, and even then, non-magic opponents usually rely on firearms. His dueling-focused swordsmanship is therefore relatively vulnerable to ranged attacks or any kind of projectile... Despite this, his combat style remains one of the most graceful and precise in history, serving him exceptionally well in his climb to the top of the Cosa Nostra. It doesn’t hurt that he’s often fast enough to slice through a barrage of bullets. Yes, a literal barrage.

Death Seeker: Despite his long life as a vampire lord, Valentino appears pretty bored with existence. Trying (and failing) to escape his marriage to Ayuuki, fathering Yuki, and rising through the ranks to become head of the Cosa Nostra ultimately failed to give him any real sense of purpose. It becomes increasingly clear that he seeks to train Nicoletta into a fencer capable of killing him. Curiously, this is someting she once shared with his daughter Yuki who, unlike him, eventually found meaning, or at least excitement, as a member of the V7D, something Valentino himself never found.

They Look Just Like Everyone Else!: While his daughter looks like someone who just escaped a cuckoo’s nest, he himself appears every bit the refined, mature gentleman—like a royal who somehow fathered a child that looks as though they live under a bridge.

Can't Kill You, Still Need You: Valentino’s initial response to the V7D was kind of extreme, he sent an army of a hundred hired goons to ambush them at their AirBNB. Later, he clarified that his intent was simply to assess whether his daughter had surrounded herself with competent allies; he had little patience for deadweight. From that point on, he rarely interferes with the V7D and, on occasion, even opens doors for them that they otherwise couldn’t access (usually because their targets coincide with threats to his business interests or rivals of the Cosa Nostra). He does so fully aware that the day will come when they might circle back to challenge him, something he doesn’t take personally and, to some degree, quietly anticipates.

Evil is Bigger: The V7D really should stop trying to pick up fights with people that tower over them... But to be fair, Valentino's height is similar to Quincey's so he's only taller than the three ladies.

Blade Spam: Valentino can strike with his sword as swiftly as Nicoletta can fire bullets.

Royal Rapier: True to the image of an Italian vampire with French ancestry, his weapon of choice is a long, thin rapier designed for deadly thrusts.

Master Swordsman: He's hailed as such in-universe, as he's not only skillful, fast but also hits fucking hard. Even Freki, the world’s strongest warrior, admits he’s never beaten Valentino so long as the vampire has his blade in hand. To be fair, the same goes both ways — Freki always fights barehanded, and every one of their clashes has ended in a stalemate, either by mutual decision or outside interruption before a victor could be crowned.

Let’s Fight Like Gentlemen: A man of elegance and old-world charm, he approaches every duel with the honor of a French knight. He even scolds Nicoletta for shooting him mid-conversation, deeming guns a crude weapon for cowards too afraid to face a real fight head-on... easy words to say when you’re an nigh-immortal vampiric monstrosity with a ridiculous healing factor, but sure — point taken.

''Please, don't bring a gun to my swordfight, this isn't America.''

DIANA PEROSA/EMBERs TROPES:

Demonic Possession: Her werecat transformation originated from an artifact she acquired after trading it for a panda she had hunted. What she didn’t realize was that the relic served as a prison, housing a demon that had been sealed away for centuries. The moment she solved its puzzle, the demon was released and seized her body. Fortunately for her, the creature’s long confinement had weakened its power; instead of completely overwriting her identity, it became little more than a parasitic voice in her mind. From there, it whispered temptations, urging her to indulge in her new animalistic urges—hoping that, one day, her surrender would grant it full control.

Full Frontal Assault: At first, she clung to clothing out of habit, but the longer she spent in her werecat form, the less reason she saw to bother. Why wrestle with zippers and seams when fur does the job just fine? Before long, she was strutting about without a stitch, her natural coat covering the essentials while leaving everything else deliciously unapologetic.

Dating Catwoman: For Diana, antagonizing the V7D is incredibly fun. but also she’s convinced that Nicoletta’s brand of heroism can’t exist without a proper foil—and she’s more than happy to play the part. Of course, that doesn’t stop her from shamelessly flirting with her so-called nemesis at every turn. Nicoletta, for her part, doesn’t exactly push her away. Their clashes often blur into something halfway between combat and foreplay: bullets and claws give way to stolen kisses, fights devolve into tangled embraces, and more than once Nicoletta's found herself shedding clothes in the middle of a battle without anyone stopping to ask how it came to that. 

Beast Woman: Aside from her long hair, she's a monstrous a violent WereSnow Leopard.

Fully-Embraced Fiend: Possession and demonic whispering nothwistanding, she seems pretty happy being a snow leopard girl.

Woman of Kryptonie: As a physical manifestation of a demon's power derived from a curse, Medea's Umbakinesis has a hard time grabbing her.

Redemption Rejection: Even though Nicoletta is hardly repelled by her advances, she nonetheless tries to find a way to 'cure' her from the demonic possession, blatantly saying out loud that she wants to rehabilitate Diana. Unfortunately, Diana really hates the idea.

BÁLOR AND VIDARR (TROPES THAT APPLY TO BOTH)

Does Not Know His Own Strength: In an unconventional move, Freki trains Bálor and Vidarr to push their physical and mental limits through relentless drills and extreme endurance tasks—without ever letting them actually fight anyone or hunt real prey. But this isn’t laziness or neglect. Freki intentionally withholds combat experience, believing real technique should be something his sons develop in the field, not in controlled conditions. 

• Before the ritual of the Savage Hunt, Vidarr grows anxious, thinking all their preparation—hauling boulders, sprinting through mountains, and solving mental endurance trials—hasn’t prepared them for a real hunt. It’s Bálor who catches on: Their bodies are so overpowered from Freki’s regimen that they have to consciously hold back to avoid accidentally killing the ritual’s designated "Chaser."
• They weren’t just ready—they were overready. So much so that Freki himself had to volunteer as their Chaser, knowing full well that if anyone else took the role, the boys would overpower them instantly and never truly learn what it means to earn a victory.

Bash Brothers: Bálor and Vidarr may throw jabs and sarcastic remarks at each other whenever they're in the same room, but the second a hunt begins, that sibling rivalry flips into seamless coordination.

Challenge Seekers: Freki's two sons rarely stick around the Dynasty’s citadel for long. They’re constantly venturing out, looking for worthy opponents and dangerous challenges to conquer—each new victory adding to their reputation. Bálor tends to be more patient; he waits for battles to play out on their own so he can swoop in and face the victor at their strongest. Vidarr, in contrast, clearly enjoys the spotlight.

Princeling Rivalry: Subverted.  While Vidarr and Bálor constantly push each other to prove who’s stronger, faster, or more capable, it’s not out of some desperate scramble for power. They both know full well that the title of Tribal Chief won’t go to either of them—dynastic law dictates it will pass to their sister, Juni, once she’s born. They’re trying to earn their father’s respect and prove that when the time comes, they’ll be more than just glorified bodyguards. They want to show they’re worthy of guiding and protecting the future Chief, not just standing in her shadow.

Overlord Jr: Both Vidarr and Bálor are sons of the Tribal Chief, Freki du Cronos. Vidarr, notably, is Freki’s favorite—widely expected to take over Váli’s position once his uncle retires. That said, neither brother is in line to become Tribal Chief themselves; the dynasty’s leadership passes from father to daughter, meaning that title is destined for Juni. Still, both Vidarr and Bálor are deeply involved in the Dynasty’s operations and have earned the respect of their peers.

Even Evil Can Be Loved: Maisy and Rhona openly show love for their sons, even as grown men—hugs and warmth all over the place. And Freki, for all his cold authority and brutal reputation, made time every day to personally train his sons when they were young. He could’ve easily handed that responsibility off to someone else—Váli, a trusted enforcer, or any number of elite tutors. But he didn’t. He chose to do it himself. 

Intellectual Animal: Unlike their father, Bálor and Vidarr mostly acted like typical wolf pups growing up, clearly sharp and perceptive, but still very much behaving like animals. As they hit their rebellious “teen phase,” they leaned even harder into their instincts, becoming increasingly wild and territorial, so much so that even their own parents weren’t entirely safe around them. They no longer saw them as parents, but as alphas.

• It wasn’t until they outgrew that phase that their minds settled enough to take on a human form—and with it, the kind of intellect and self-awareness that had always been buried beneath all that instinct.

Domesticated Predator: This trope gets played with depending on the age of the brothers. 

• Bálor and Vidarr start off like normal wolf pups, being playful, adorable, and energetic during their early months. 
• But once they hit about a year old and grow to the size of full-grown grey wolves, they stop acting like cute puppies and start behaving more like actual, territorial wolves... even with their own mothers.
• Freki and Rhona's early training helped a lot; they made sure they didn’t treat every person like enemy. But that doesn’t mean they were tame. Maisy initially assumed this meant the wolves would be obedient or be docile around her and Rhona just because they’re their mothers. Freki and Rhona immediately shut that idea down. Even Freki can’t truly make them “obey”, what it took was a full year of constant training, dominance-building, and parental imprinting just to get the wolves to hesitate before attacking them... and even that isn’t guaranteed every time.

• They're more like angry wolves in captivity: still dangerous, still dominant. They’ll swipe at or growl at Freki when irritated, not because they don’t recognize him, but because they see him as their Alpha, not their dad. Maisy and Rhona get slightly more leeway due to being their mothers, but it’s conditional; if they slip up, Bálor and Vidarr are more than capable of reminding them with claws to the throat just how fragile that leniency is.

• However, this changes once the wolves mature beyond their aggressive adolescent phase and gain better control over their shapeshifting into human form. At that point, the trope plays out more straight: they become calmer, more respectful, and even affectionate. They stop snapping and growling, and show genuine warmth toward Maisy and Rhona, almost like they don’t even remember ever being hostile toward them in their “teenage wolf” days.

VIDARR (Maisy's Son):

Arrongant Kung-Fu Guy: While Vidarr—like many in his pack—is a highly skilled hunter who treats the hunt as both an art and a way of life, he takes an especially prideful approach to it. So much so that he’s willing to break from his pack's usual behavior just to secure a win. Unlike his father, who holds onto a sense of fairness even in battle, Vidarr is more concerned with saving face than playing fair when things get tough.

• Skogsbrand learns this the hard way. When pushed, Vidarr lashes out in a surprisingly flashy and brutal fashion—attacking and ultimately killing the pyromancer in needlessly brutal and flashy flair, more like a tantrum than a tactical finish. The kill stands out from a wolf's usual calculated style; it’s a violent statement, not just a tactical decision.
• He’s also unusually reckless for a du Cronos wolf. He allows himself to be hit repeatedly, tanking damage like a walking pincushion without adjusting his approach much at all. Even when cornered, he sticks to his same tactics—nearly costing him his life. If Skogsbrand had been just one second faster, Vidarr would be dead.

Ax-Crazy: Even by the brutal standards of his own family, Vidarr stands out as especially bloodthirsty. While he technically upholds the typical du Cronos code of honor, that doesn’t stop him from enjoying violence. He actively seeks out fights with anything or anyone he thinks might challenge him—and takes a disturbing amount of pleasure in the act of killing when it feels "earned" in his eyes. 

Big Brother Bully: Downplayed, probably just standard dragon stuff, but back in his “teenage” phase, Vidarr had no problem intimidating his smaller brothers and stealing their food. Pretty typical for a young dragon testing boundaries, a little more problematic in a wolf, but not unexpected. As you’d expect, he grew out of it once his yearly “blood adolescence” ended, and now neither he nor his brothers seem to even remember those incidents.

But Not Too Challenging: Unlike his father, who welcomes a true fight regardless of the odds, Vidarr only seeks enough of a challenge to boost his ego—not to actually risk losing. He wants to look impressive, not be humbled. So when Nicoletta starts to gain the upper hand in their battle, instead of rising to meet her skill, he takes the coward’s way out—grabbing an innocent civilian as a human shield to tip the fight back in his favor.

Used to be a Sweet Puppy: Vidarr was once just a lost wolf cub the V7D stumbled across—small, scared, and stranded. Medea took him in, cared for him, and kept him safe until they figured out who his father was and returned him to the du Cronos. Sadly, Vidarr only vaguely remembers being rescued, not who saved him. And since the V7D hadn’t seen him again until he was a full-grown, battle-hardened adult, they didn’t recognize him either. So when they crossed paths later, a fight ensued.

Cuddle Bug: As a young puppy, he was easily the more affectionate of the two brothers, always seeking out his parents for pets and cuddles. He got a bit more standoffish while hanging with the V7D, but the fact that he never really left their side until he was given back to his parents shows he genuinely enjoyed being around them.

Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: Vidarr is a total momma’s boy, which made his blood-adolescent phase rough on her. During that time, he wasn’t fully himself, and the most “grace” he could show was hesitating a moment before lashing out. Maisy hated having to be so authoritarian with him, but she knew it was either make him follow her rules or risk getting hurt by her own son. Once he snapped out of that phase, though, their bond mostly went back to normal.

Contrasting Sequel Antagonist: Vidarr is practically a walking contradiction to what people expect from a du Cronos wolf—especially when compared to his father.

• Unlike most of his kind, who stick to hunting animals and rely heavily on ambush tactics and raw physical power, Vidarr isn’t above using weapons when brute strength doesn’t cut it. In fact, he prefers close-quarters combat, jumping into melee fights even before his target fights back.
• He also breaks the mold when it comes to durability. While Freki has taken damage in serious battles—like against Nicoletta or Medea—he usually walks away looking more composed. Vidarr, by contrast, gets bloodied in nearly every fight he’s in. He’s far less invincible-looking, but still terrifying in his own right.
• Also, while Freki treats combat and hunting as something sacred—something to be respected like a ritual—and might bend the rules strategically but never outright cheat, Vidarr only cares about the Dynasty’s code of honor when he already has the upper hand or thinks he can win with little issue. The second the fight turns against him or he feels like he's losing control? He’ll start using cheap tricks, dirty tactics, and even unleash his full wolf form without hesitation—just to tip the fight back in his favor
• In many cases, Vidarr is the one wolf that behaves a lot more like Anthony rather than Freki.

Multi-Melee Master: One of the few things Vidarr clearly inherited from his father is a strong preference for close-quarters combat. He's better when he's face-to-face with his enemy, and that shows in his choice of weapons. While his natural wolf claws are already lethal, Vidarr doesn't stop there. He’s been seen wielding an ice-climbing pick, a construction sledgehammer, a sharpened pipe wrench, a broken street sign turned into a cleaver, and even the blade from a dismantled industrial fan. He rarely touches a ranged weapon unless he’s overwhelmed or boxed in, and even then, he’ll usually find a way to charge his way back into melee range.

Stealthy Colossus: Even though he’s huge and built like a tank, Vidarr's stealth skills are just as sharp as any other wolf of the du Cronos Dynasty. That said, he doesn’t use them like his old man or his brother. Instead of ambushing his target, he uses stealth purely to locate whatever—or whoever—he’s after. Once he’s decided to go after them, He makes his presence known, loud and clear, choosing confrontation over surprise.

Strong, but Unskilled: Vidarr muscles his way through Skogsbrand’s trap-filled stronghold with brute strength and raw speed alone—but it doesn’t go unnoticed that he’s not exactly a seasoned fighter. Skogsbrand realizes pretty quickly: while Vidarr has training and knows how to hunt, he lacks real combat experience. That gap shows. The endless traps, calculated layouts, and layered strategies give Skogsbrand the edge, allowing him to score multiple hits. Vidarr manages to adapt on the fly and gradually improves, but it’s obvious—if he weren’t a Velkanian wolf with a near-supernatural body, he wouldn’t have made it out alive. A less resilient opponent would’ve died ten times over in that deathtrap.

Accidental Hero: During his time with the V7D, Vidarr ended up saving (or at least helping) them on more than one occasion, often without really meaning to. Half the time, it was just his looming presence that threw enemies off their rhythm; the other half, someone tripped over him and he made the logical choice of launching himself at them like a wrecking ball. That said, given his age and the strength he had at the time, he was more of a moving distraction than a game-changer, useful for shifting momentum, but not exactly the secret weapon.

BÁLOR (Rhona's Son):

Combat Pragmatist: Of Freki's two sons, Bálor is by far the more stealth-focused. Unlike Vidarr, who barrels into battle with brute force, Bálor keeps himself hidden until it's time to strike. And even when the fight begins, he doesn’t stick around to trade blows for long. He’ll vanish back into the shadows, reposition, and set up the next ambush without hesitation. He’s not interested in drawn-out brawls or proving dominance through endurance—he fights to win with the least amount of risk and the fewest injuries possible. Freki himself once described Bálor as “a wolf in chameleon’s skin”—able to blend into his surroundings and strike when least expected.

Lean and Mean: Bálor doesn’t have the towering, muscle-bound frame of his brother Vidarr or his father Freki, but that doesn’t make him any less of a threat. He’s tall, with a lean and athletic build—his body optimized more for speed, balance, and accuracy than raw power. His strength comes from how efficiently he moves and strikes. He doesn’t waste energy, and every hit is deliberate. While he might not bulldoze through obstacles the way Vidarr does, he still packs enough force to crack solid concrete when needed.

Made of Iron: Don’t let Bálor’s lean build fool you—he’s built like a tank under that wiry frame. Despite looking more agile than armored, he can take a serious beating and keep going. During his fight with Quincey, he endures brutal hits, including getting a sharpened rock jammed straight through his left arm—and somehow, he still keeps fighting like it’s nothing. 

Eye Scream: Bálor’s got a scar that runs from just under his left eyebrow down to the top of his cheekbone. And while no one’s ever seen him open that eye, not even during a fight, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.

WINDLÄUFER

Above Good and Evil: Windläufer insists they have no intention of interfering with the V7D, yet they have an uncanny habit of showing up whenever the group uncovers a lead on the Tempio or Ayuuki—usually under circumstances that are far from innocent. Still, Windläufer rarely initiates conflict and almost always opts to flee rather than engage in a direct fight.  It's one of the subtle signs pointing to the fact that Windläufer is actually Medea.

Crazy-Prepared: Windläufer always seems one step ahead, slipping past the V7D’s attacks with uncanny precision—even when they come at them all at once. They never fight to win, only to evade: redirecting blows, throwing up distractions, and using the team's own momentum against them. It’s less a battle and more a graceful act of avoidance. We figure out why they never tried to fight back when we learn who is behind the rabbit mask.

Finding Judas: Medea created the Windläufer persona with genuinely good intentions, but good intentions don't matter when your actions hurt your loved ones. When the truth finally surfaces, her teammates struggle to look past the deception.

The Infiltration: As Windläufer, Medea attempted to pass herself off as a fellow Velarii from the Tempio, deep cover, no backup, not even a whisper to her teammates. The plan was to keep Mia convinced that everything was authentic. What she didn’t anticipate was that Mia had known the truth from the very beginning: Windläufer and Medea were one and the same.

Master of Disguise: Well... depending on who you ask. 

• To her teammates, Medea made for a pretty convincing Windläufer. Whenever they got too close to the truth, she’d nudge them in another direction with a carefully crafted lie that sounded just plausible enough to believe. Their suspicions grew, but they couldn’t prove anything—not until they finally cornered her and forced her to unmask.
• Mia, however, from the start, she wasn’t fooled. For one, she had already memorized Medea’s scent and had logged it into the Tracker suit’s internal systems. And two, she’d made a quick call to the Tempio to confirm if a Velarii had actually been deployed to Italy. They said no. She only played along because, in her own words, she “just wanted more time with Medea.”

My Greatest Failure: to Medea. Not the disguise itself, but what it forced her to do: deceive and work against the V7D, even if only in appearances. The moment Mia saw through her act (and she did, almost instantly) it was clear the whole charade was on borrowed time. And the rest of the team? Even after the truth came out, the damage was already done. For a while, the trust they had in her was fractured.

Powered Armor: Windläufer’s gear bears a passing resemblance to Mia’s Tracker Suit (an intentional choice on Medea’s part). The plan hinged on convincing Mia that Windläufer was just another Velarii operative sent to support her in Italy, so the familiar design helped sell the lie. That said, the similarities are only skin-deep. While Windläufer’s outfit is practical and built for speed, it’s nowhere near the level of Mia’s masterpiece. The Tracker Suit is a marvel of magical engineering—adaptable, resilient, and deeply personalized.

Sinister Rabbit: The hood of Windläufer’s mask forms two long, ear-like extensions that subtly evoke the image of a rabbit—sleek, alert, and always on the move. Their entire combat style leans into the motif. Windläufer doesn’t stand and fight: they dart, jump, and twist out of reach, using agility and misdirection over brute force. Even the name, Windläufer, or “Wind Runner,” reinforces the theme. Fast, elusive, and impossible to corner—everything about them fits the image of a rabbit… just one with more aggession than innocence.

Disguised in Drag: Medea tried to make the suit as genderneutral as possible to make it harder to know who was behind Windläufer's mask.

Fighting with a Handicap: Medea is basically nerfing herself on purpose; no necromancy, no shadow manipulation, no wormholes. She’s running on basic self defense and improvisation.

Height Mismatch Impersonation: People assume Windläufer is tall based on the suit and movements, only for the reveal to shock them when it turns out to be tiny Medea inside. She used padding, stilts, and posture control to seem nearly as tall as Mia.

Feinting Master: She fights like a fencer or illusionist, never coming at you directly. Her movements are full of fakes, distractions, and reversals. Think ”Was that a real attack, or a trap?”

Cat and Mouse Game: Mia knows. Medea knows Mia might know but can't afford to risk the mission. But no one’s saying it. It becomes a careful psychological dance.

Master Actress: Medea manages to keep the V7D's suspicions about her being Windläufer pretty low—never quite zero, but low enough. Anytime they get a little too close to the truth, she manages to nudge them in another direction or propose a different, just-plausible-enough explanation to throw them off course. It might've even worked on Mia too, if not for two things: one, Mia’s obsessive fixation on her; and two, her annoyingly sensible choice to contact the Temple directly to confirm whether another Velarii had actually been sent to support her in Italy.

Undercover as Bait: Windläufer may sometimes provoke the V7D not to hurt them, but to test them. To see how far they'll go, or to distract them from a deeper goal.

Weak, but Skilled: Medea’s real strength is magical, so as Windläufer she has to lean into pure technique; exploiting physics, anatomical weak points, misdirection, illusion spells and trap setting.

You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Inverted. Medea never intended to keep the Windläufer act forever: Once she had what she wanted, she planned to quietly retire it. But things went wrong before she could.

Smoke and Mirrors: Windläufer’s style is all about confusion, misdirection, and illusion. Instead of overpowering foes, she makes them question reality. Mirrors, decoys, holograms, visual magic, or tech-based cloaking could all be part of her toolkit.

Clothes Make the Superman: The Windläufer suit is a Velarii suit, so it is also elaborate magical engineering tool in itself, equipped with:

• Enchantments for height extension and posture alteration.

• Magical echo voice modulation (something all Velarii suits include).

• Integrated spell cores that store her bought illusion magic.

Schrödinger Spellbook: Windläufer's illusions, unlike Medea's usual living shadows and necromantic horrors, are store-bought, containment-based, or infused into single-use trinkets. This explains the difference in visual and magical signature. Her limited arsenal means:

• She never sticks around for long fights.

• She avoids prolonged combat.

• She leans hard into "one big show and vanish" tactics.

Tactical Pacifist: She goes out of her way to avoid real damage during fights with the V7D, not just for personal reasons but to maintain the disguise. She disables, entangles, blinds, but rarely strikes to injure.

''Now You See Me'' Gambit: Medea, using her limited cache of pre-prepared illusion spells and magical devices purchased from undisclosed sources, deliberately engineers scenarios where Windläufer and Medea are "seen together" using clever prep, misdirection, and acting. Windläufer disappears in a cloud of smoke (illusion + pre-programmed feint), a few moments later Medea stumbles in from another angle, feigning confusion. To the V7D, this happens enough times that it reinforces the illusion of them being separate people.

Actually a Doombot: More often than not, a member of the V7D thinks they’ve landed a clean hit—shattering a rib, shooting her neck, impaling her—it turns out they were fighting an illusion, a magically disguised construct, or even attacking the environment itself (e.g., a statue, pillar, shadow, or trick of light). Windläufer is rarely where you think she is.

Church Militant: They claim to be a member of the Velarii, the secret militant branch of the Tempio. Then again, it's all part of Medea's facade.

ULYSSES:

“A better world is simply a matter of adjusting the variables.”

Ambiguous Robots: There's an in and out of universe reason for Ulysses' biomechanical body structure.

• In-Universe: Because he's an imperfect artificial human like Eve, his body carries a distinctly biomechanical look, though he leans closer to the organic end of the spectrum. At a glance, his skin resembles the carapace of an insect—tough, ridged, and unnervingly smooth—durable enough that one could mistake it for metal. However, his almost robotic posture and movements are largely a choice, they're intentional. But when he’s forced into action—whether sprinting, fighting, or under strain—that stiffness gives way to an unexpected grace. His motions become fluid, almost elegant.
• Out-of-Universe: Because he's an expy of Ultron. Ulysses is an artificial human with insectoid-like body, while Ultron is an AI with an ant motif.

Creating Life is Bad: To say that Medea and Nicoletta regret creating Ulysses is... something of an understatement. That said, they're not blind to their own role in how things turned out. She knows full well that when he needed guidance—when they should’ve stayed, taught him restraint, empathy, something resembling humanity—they chose instead to shut him down and disappear.

Constantly Curious: At least in the beginning, Ulysses wasn’t driven by sadism so much as mere curiosity. When he first re-encountered the V7D, he didn’t engage them with hostility right away instead, he treated them like a fascinating new discovery (As he only remembered Medea and Nicoletta, not Yuki or Quincey). His initial behavior came across as a mix between a child toying with something novel and a scientist running experiments, testing limits before deciding to fight back. In fact, he didn’t actively seek them out; he was simply drawn to the noise and light from one of their battles. 

• His earlier encounters with civilians followed a similar pattern, he wasn’t hunting them in the traditional sense, but rather investigating them. His attacks were more from a desire to learn: Were they edible? Useful? Could they serve a function in some imagined hive structure he had yet to define?

Blue and Orange Morality: Ulysses’ moral compass operates much like that of a hive insect. His core directive is simple: protect the queen and grow a colony. In his case, the ‘queen’ is Medea—his creator, and to him, the singular figure of longing and purpose. Beyond that, his actions rarely stem from personal malice. Most of the time, his victims are just collateral—necessary obstacles, not sources of hate.

• But most of the time is the key phrase. Because Ulysses is, in many ways, Medea and Nicoletta’s worst instincts stripped of empathy and consequence. With no internal filter to hold him back, he slides into cruelty with remarkable ease. Nowhere is this more evident than in how he approached the V7D. Rather than confront them directly, he spent weeks observing from the shadows—stalking them, sowing panic, deliberately escalating their fear. There was no tactical benefit. No strategic edge. Just a slow, methodical spiral into sadism... and the quiet thrill of watching them unravel.
  

Evil is Not a Toy: It’s unsettling how many believe they can tame Ulysses—treat him like a tool, a bodyguard, or worse, a profit-making enforcer. Time and again, people attempt to weaponize him, convinced they can bend him to their will. And nearly every time, the result is catastrophic. More often than not, the first to suffer are the ones who made that mistake.

• What makes this even more alarming is that Ulysses was able to turn even on his real creators. The only reason he hasn’t turned on Medea and Nicoletta—hasn’t harvested or killed them like so many others—is because he’s hardwired to see her the way a hive insect sees its queen: untouchable, sacred, irreplaceable... that unfortunately doesn't extend to the people they care about, though.

Non-Humans Lack Attributes: Though Nicodea originally designed Ulysses as a male artificial Myxarid—likely following Warren’s research, which indicated that previous attempts at creating male bodies failed, leading him to switch to female templates like Eve, which proved way more successful—he doesn't have visible genitalia. Either that or given his mostly human-insectoid-looking body, it's possible that his penis is retractab— Ok let’s not unpack that. Seriously. Let’s not.

Morality Pet: Deconstructed. Now, despite spending years seething over being shut down and tossed aside, Ulysses is hardwired to see Nicodea as his queens. Not metaphorically. Biologically. Like a wasp to its queen, he’s incapable of raising a hand against her. 

• He can loom, snarl, deliver all the villainous monologues he likes, but when it comes to actual violence? Nothing. Not a slap. Not a shove. It’s as if the moment calls for it, his entire nervous system just forgets what it’s doing.
• And what’s worse—for him, anyway—is that sometimes he’ll even defend her. Mid-fight, mid-rant, mid-plot-to-destroy-everything, he’ll just… protect her. Almost like muscle memory. He hates it. Despises that baked-in loyalty. So instead, he lashes out at what he can reach—her friends, her sense of safety, her peace of mind. If he can’t kill the queen, well… he’ll just poison the hive.

From Nobody to Nightmare: This is, essentially, what became of Ulysses following his shutdown and separation from Medea. Deprived of his queen-figures and primary directive, his behavior evolved—growing markedly more intelligent, strategic, and fixated on survival. Even after meeting with Nicodea, he had been in the absence of her external control for so long that a new pattern began to emerge: one hinting at the early stages of hive-building behavior. More notably, he started to exhibit distinct traces of sadism—suggesting that what was once instinct may now be shifting toward something far more intentional.

Antagonistic Offspring: Ulysses naturally regards his creators, Nicoletta and Medea, as mother figures—though not in a human sense. It's more akin to how a hive drone sees its queen: a biological imperative, hardwired into his very being. Because of this instinct, he finds himself incapable of hurting themdirectly. However, that bond is far from sentimental. Ulysses is deeply resentful of Nicodea for having shut him down and abandoned him. Ironically, that very act allowed him to develop independently, growing beyond her direct influence into something far more self-aware—and far more unpredictable.

• While he won’t raise a hand against them, Ulysses has no such hesitation when it comes to those they care about. He’s been known to target her loved ones, or take actions that he knows will cause them pain. In his mind, harming Medea indirectly doesn't violate the instinctual loyalty he still holds. It simply... sidesteps it.

The Stoic: Ulysses rarely displays much emotion, and when he speaks, it’s in a cold, unsettling monotone. This likely stems from the fact that Medea never spent much time teaching him how to express or process emotions in a clear or healthy way before shutting him down. Combined with his insectoid face and six unblinking eyes, the result is undeniably eerie.

Animal Motifs: His behavior pattern is modeled after yellowjackets wasps.

• Yellowjackets don’t always strike immediately. Ulysses often observes before he engages. He stands silently in a room too long. He lets silence stretch. People feel his presence long before he moves—because he chooses not to hide it.
• Yellowjackets don't always sting to kill, sometimes they sting to test. Ulysses tests people emotionally. He says things designed to provoke, watches their faces like he’s checking for symptoms.
• Yellowjackets blur the line between insects and machines. His skin isn’t metallic, but it reflects light in a segmented, alien way. When he stands still, light doesn’t cling to him—it slides. Standing perfectly straight feels wrong for a human. But he never slouches. Never breathes heavy. Never blinks when he should.
• The needs of the hive outweigh everything else—and dissent is irrelevant. Ulysses is hardwired to be loyal to his queen, so he feels compelled to do as she tells him to, though he always finds a loophole to turn it against Medea. Abusing the technicalities of ''exact words'' as much as he can.
• Without a queen to anchor him, a yellowjacket becomes volatile. He drifts between extremes—hyper-focused control and spontaneous violence. Sometimes he overreacts to perceived threats because there’s no hive-mind to calibrate his restraint.
• He doesn't treat the V7D as equals to Medea. He refers to her companions in sterile terms: “drones,” “scouts,” “parasites.”
• His “skin” subtly segments in certain areas, like his chest and abdomen, with overlapping ridges—similar to a wasp’s abdominal plates. These ridges might pulse or flex slightly as he moves or breathes, almost imperceptibly—but once seen, they evoke the image of an insect's abdomen preparing to sting or expand its wings.
• He has recessed vertical lines along the sides of his jaw that suggest mandibles folded into the structure. In moments of tension, these seams twitch or shift like they’re trying to open, but never do.
• His fingers taper unnaturally, a bit longer than they should be—almost stylus-like. The nails? Matte black, needle-sharp, maybe slightly conical, like wasp stingers. He doesn’t stab people with them, but they look like he could.
• Medea never gave him visible wings, but the scars or indents on his back suggest where wings might’ve once been (or should be). These are slightly transparent and veined skin patches under strong light, like vestigial remnants.
• He built a shrine in his mind. Not a literal altar, but a psychic ossuary. Every memory he has of her—distorted, idealized, or corrupted—kept preserved like dead wasps suspended in amber. When he finds her again, alive and… healed, it doesn’t match. It hurts. She’s not what she wa.
• The Queen left. The Queen broke. The Queen abandoned him. Still, he obeys. Ulysses continues to protect Medea if he's nearby her. He defends her with near-religious ferocity but won’t look her in the eyes afterward. His loyalty is compulsive, not affectionate. Like muscle memory.
• He remembers the way larvae remember light—instinctively. Her voice haunts him in fragments: not words, but tones. Not meaning, but command.

• Hiveless wasps don't become individuals—they search for structure, order. Ulysses tries to “recruit” others—not with affection, but utility. He collects people like tools. He doesn’t want to be alone. But his version of community is chilling—hive logic in a human world. No names. No bonds. Just roles.

• Yellowjackets removed from the hive don’t suddenly stop behaving like yellowjackets. Ulysses sometimes pauses mid-task—as if waiting for silent confirmation. After accomplishing something brutal or necessary, he might whisper to no one, “That was right... wasn’t it?” Like he still expects Medea to be watching and judging.

• Yellowjackets don’t swarm unless provoked. A single sting—deliberate and clean—does the job. Similarly, Ulysses waits until his enemy moves, then exploits the smallest opening—like he’s already mapped their joints and tendons in his mind. One well-placed jab to the throat. One tendon-cutting slice. Never a flourish.

''Not So Different'' Remark: Ulysses doesn’t make any effort to reassure his creator either, but Medea spends a significant amount of time fearing that he’s a glimpse of what she might turn back into if she ever lost herself. She worries that, without her moral restraints, and without the V7D, she could spiral back into the darkest parts of herself—cruel, unfeeling, and destructive, just like him. After all, Ulysses was modeled directly from her own brain patterns. The only real difference between them is that he lacks the filter… the inhibitions that keep those urges in check.

Mommy Issues: Gee you think? Ulysses sees his creators and contemplates that he:

• Needs their validation

• Despises needing their validation

• Seeks their attention

• Punishes them for not giving it

• Wants to stand above them

• Can’t break the instinct that kneels him at their feet

Hypocrite: Ulysses has plenty to say about the V7D. Too emotional, too illogical, too clingy with Nicodea—according to him, they are weakening the queens. Which is rich, frankly, coming from a genetically spliced, emotionally unhinged murder-boy with mommy issues, who spends most of his free time brooding over betrayal and trying to build a hive of his own. Subtle, he is not.

Color-Coded for Your Convenience: When Nicodea first brought him to life, Ulysses had pale blue eyes—strikingly similar to Medea's own. But everything changed after they shut him down. Upon his reawakening, introduced to a world marked by abandonment, confusion, and fear, something in him shifted. By the time he reunites with Nicodea five years later, his eyes have turned a haunting yellow.

Back from the Dead: Not ''death'' but he managed to re-activate himself after being shutdown and abandoned by Medea.

Ax-Crazy: Ulysses’ motivations tend to bounce around — sometimes he wants to destroy the V7D, other times he’s trying to replace them, and in some moments, he even seems intent on convincing them to join him. It’s erratic, but in a strange way, it tracks. After all, he’s operating off the brainwaves of Medea during one of the lowest points in her life, and things have only spiraled from there. At this stage, you could argue that Ulysses has lost the thread entirely — he’s so far gone that even he might not know what he really wants anymore.

Pragmatic Villainy: What he sees his mission as. To Ulysses:

• Intervening in someone’s life is no different from stitching a wound.

• Ensuring someone gets fired to avoid them committing a crime in a year is “preventative care.”

• Breaking someone’s arm so they don’t stab a neighbor two weeks later is “acute behavioral correction.”

• Overthrowing governments is “mass-scale social triage.”

He doesn’t do things because he hates people.

He does them because he wants the best outcome, and he knows how to force the pattern that leads to it.

To him, his actions aren’t violent.
They are inevitabilities he carries out early.

Meaningful Name: Not unlike Medea herself, he was named after a famous figure in Greek Mythology. In his case, Medea christened him Ulysses—the Roman form of Odysseus. The name itself translates to 'one who hates,' a chillingly appropriate title for someone created from Medea’s own darker impulses. Stripped of her compassion and moral restraint, Ulysses was the embodiment of everything she suppressed… and everything she feared might one day resurface.

Born as An Adult: Downplayed. Though he was built with the mind and frame of a child, his growth was something else. Within just five years—or perhaps even less—he’d reached full adult size. When he finally encountered his creator again, he stood tall above her. And while Medea had only taught him the basics of speech, by then, he spoke fluent Italian.

Rex

Beak Attack: Arguably if you have a beak the size as a Quetzalcoatlus and as sturdy as his, not using it would be stupid.

Giant Flyer: Well, the dinosaur it turns into was indeed as big as a giraffe.

Expy: of Dinosaurus from Invincible and X-Drake from One Piece.

Resurrective Immortality: In a roundabout sort of way. As long as the man is alive and gets too still again, no matter how thoroughly killed the monster was beforehand, he will come back no worse for wear.

Scaled Up: His mana allows him to turn into a Quetzalcoatlus at will.