Ell'Hakan

Ell’Hakan is a Nahoom male with distinctive bright orange skin and refined, elf-like features. His eyes glow a golden hue when channeling divine or solar energy. He carries himself with unshakable composure and often wears light battle robes woven with Nahoom cultural motifs. His most iconic weapon is a three-pronged trident used to focus his devastating solar magic. His presence exudes both regality and danger with his smile often masking his cold manipulations beneath.

Ell’Hakan is charismatic, calculated, and deeply manipulative. While outwardly polite and charming, he is emotionally distant and sees others primarily as pieces to maneuver. His Bloodline allows him to sense and influence the emotions of others, making him extremely effective in social manipulation. He views grief and empathy as weaknesses to be severed and forgotten. As the story progresses, his calm detachment gives way to a zealous determination to ascend and a willingness to destroy or sacrifice anything to fulfill his ambitions.

Ell'Hakan began life as a street urchin who dreamed of more. His escape from the streets had not been a lucky one, but quite the opposite. He was captured by the guards after trying to steal water and was punished with enslavement. He was forced to join the slave army as the small kingdom required more soldiers.

Ell’Hakan quickly realized he excelled at war. He was not only a good fighter but he also always had impeccable control of his emotions, allowing him to do better on the battlefield than most. Complimented by his naturally gifted physique and talent for battle, he excelled. Even so, he had many brushes with death as he grew up in the army. And as he grew, so did his bloodline.

Ell'Hakan eventually noticed that his emotional control was not limited to his own emotions. He started with small experiments such as making the army cook give him an extra meal here and there or having the blacksmith ensure Ell’Hakan’s weapon was always the best cared for. He even influenced his captain to give him more leeway than any of the other slaves.

Gradually, his ambitions grew. From the captain to the commander to the general, he began to influence the military hierarchy from within. Half-truths, lies, emotions, and memories were so tightly tied that as long as he could make anyone believe something was possible, he could make them believe it was the truth. Eventually, his ambitions grew beyond the military and set its sights on the kingdom of Nahoom itself.

The religion of every people on the planet was worship of the sun and the moons, an ancient remnant from when the planet had been united as one and flourished with greenery and water every where. During that time of abundance, the world was led by the Celestial Child, a man viewed as a living god. When that abundant life crumbled, it was deemed a punishment from the sun and stars. In truth, it was the result of a massive super-volcano erupting, causing changes to the atmosphere and the entire planet.

Ell’Hakan seized the legend of the living god and, in front of the king and queen themselves, he proclaimed himself not just the second coming, but the Celestial Child reborn. It took a great deal of effort, but eventually he convinced a single priest. And with that single priest on his side, certainty that he was lying began to crumble, eventually turning into a sliver of belief that he was telling the truth. Ell'Hakan seized that sliver and amplified it until it was widely accepted.

All of this culminated in his lie becoming truth. He was proclaimed the Celestial Child, unified all the kingdoms and clans using the legends of old, and formed the new empire that ruled his planet for many years before the system even arrived.

Ell'Hakan approached his rivalry with Jake Thayne with his signature blend of charisma and manipulation. Using his bloodline, he influenced Jake to view him as a friendly and trustworthy new acquaintance, using this trust to gather sensitive information about Earth, Haven, and Jake's allies.^[1] Then, as normal, he pushed his luck and attempted to gain restricted information about Jake's bloodline. However, his attempt failed as he used the guise of friendship to try to obtain information that Jake wouldn't share with anyone, not even his closest friends, triggering Jake's bloodline to break through the compulsion.

In the face of Jake's rightful fury, Ell'Hakan takes advantage of the System's no fighting during system events rule to deliver a smug boast about how he will always control their interactions and Jake will always be a helpless pawn in his machinations before dramatically exiting the Administrator's Terrace.

In the lead up to the 3rd World Congress, Ell'Hakan took advantage of Jake's visit to the Order of the Malefic Viper to invade Earth under the pretense of freeing it from the tainted influence of the Viper's Chosen. Working with Arthur and the United City Alliance, Ell'Hakan teleported to the planet and then destroyed the teleportation network, isolating the major cities, including Saya, Skyggen, and Haven. Additionally, the pinnacle talents of Earth were targeted. Assassins were sent after the Sword Saint, forcing him into hiding. The Ashen Phantom Devourer, another Unique Lifeform, was brought in to keep the Fallen King tied up. Contracts were commissioned in a different universe to force Caleb and the Earth branch of the Court of Shadows to work on the side of the United City Alliance. Miranda and her leadership were forced out of Haven with mercenaries from the United City Alliance on their tail.

When Jake arrived, Ell'Hakan used his bloodline emotional manipulation and the murder of Chris to trick Jake into burning his boosting skill unnecessarily. Then Ell'Hakan used Celestial Alignment of Yore to throw Jake to the other side of the planet with no quick way to return. Ell'Hakan then told everyone that Jake fled the confrontation, leaving them to their fates.

Eventually, Ell'Hakan was confronted by the Sword Saint and challenged to a duel. He attempted to use the same displacement trick he'd used with Jake to send Miyamoto away, but the Sword Saint used his own transcendent skill to immediately return and resume the fight, keeping Ell'Hakan from interfering in Jake and the King's fight against the Ashen Phantom Devourer.

Jake and the King were ultimately successful. Realizing that the pinnacles of Earth had all returned, Ell'Hakan declared that he no longer had any reason to remain and retreated from his invasion. He later met up with Yip of Yore where they lamented the surprise presence of a transcendent. But it was also revealed that while the invasion appeared to be a plot to install Arthur as world leader, it was actually a deception to set up Jake as a villain who fought off Ell'Hakan's efforts to free Earth from his malignant influence. ^[2]

Nevermore presented the first opportunity for Ell'Hakan to directly compete against Jake and show the multiverse that Ell'Hakan was the superior Chosen. Ell'Hakan arrived first and immediately began charming the attendants, building the idea that he was the heavy favorite to place first on the Leaderboards.^[3] Believing Jake was avoiding him, Ell'Hakan delivers a grandiose speech about desiring to come to a peaceful agreement with Jake to lead him away from the taint of the Order and to maybe develop a friendship. However, Ell'Hakan was unaware of Jake's ability to suppress his bloodline, preventing other bloodline holders from detecting its presence.^[4] Jake interrupts Ell'Hakan's speech and calls the Nahoom out for his invasion of Earth, for the innocents he killed, and for the hypocrisy of claiming to want peace while committing acts of war. Jake then left before Ell'Hakan could regain control of the narrative in front of their captive audience.

Ell'Hakan entered Nevermore with a party of peak-level geniuses, primarily from the Altmar Empire.^[4] His party included a beastfolk warrior who appeared to be descended from a wolf, a mage of an unknown race, a metal elemental in humanoid form, and Saintess, a healer from the Holy Church.

The final confrontation between Jake and Ell'Hakan evolved from their competition in the Prima Guardian Event. Jake led an independent team to first defeat the Prima Guardian of Earth and then assist other planets in defeating their Prima Guardian, assistance that would net Jake better System rewards and hasten the end of the event. In contrast, Ell'Hakan served as the de facto leader of the Prima Guardian Alliance, a mutual defense organization that planets could elect to join pre-event to receive aid in their Prim Guardian fight. Ell'Hakan, with the assistance of the Holy Church, leveraged this organization to gain more allies and connections that would strengthen his own Path and influence. Naturally, Jake and Ell'Hakan, as Chosen of feuding gods, competed to defeat the most Prima Guardians and make the most planetary allies.

Due to missteps by Jake during the competition, Ell'Hakan ultimately places first in the competition with Jake right behind him in second place. However, before anyone can even really process the results, Earth falls under attack by the followers of gods allied with Yip of Yore.^[5] This is an attempt to broaden Ell'Hakan's influence in the Milky Way galaxy and a larger of the much large conflict between the Viper and Yip of Yore in the larger multiverse. Eventually, the confrontation between the pinnacle god and the Primordial reaches its inevitable climax with the Viper emerging victorious. With his patron now dead, Ell'Hakan engages in a ritual to usurp the fallen Yip's legacy. However, he emerges to find his allies are under heavy attack by Jake and the forces of Earth.^[6]

In the aftermath of Yip's defeat, Jake determines to finish the job by also killing Ell'Hakan, to nip any future problems in the bud. To that end, he decides to target Ell'Hakan's home planet, both to draw the world leader out of hiding and to target the source of Ell'Hakan's faith energy. Jake initially launches arrows from orbit, causing catastrophic damage but receives minimal response. He then decides to target the planetary pylon. Initiating a Divine Bargain with the Malefic Viper also triggers a warning notification to Ell'Hakan. This triggers a long fight where Ell'Hakan uses a number of solar, lunar, and heat based attacks as well as attempting to use his emotional abilities. Jake responds with bow attacks, poisons, and his own bloodline based abilities to manipulate time.

Both combatants are pushed to the very edges of their abilities. At one point, Jake gains the upper hand on Ell'Hakan who is injured near death. As Jake prepares to land the final blow, Ell'Hakan senses pity in the Hunter. This triggers flashbacks of Ell'Hakan's life as a slave, a struggling soldier, a leader built on lies. All he can think of is that this would not be happening if he were truly the Celestial Childe. This earnest belief triggers a glitch in the System which upgrades his skill [Myth of the Celestial Child (Mythical)] to [Absolute Delusion: Reincarnation of the Celestial Child (Unique)]^[7]. Bolster by a temporary influx of godlike powers, Ell'Hakan continues the fight.

Ell'Hakan triggers a planet-wide sacrifice to gain more faith energy, a surge that William can feel all the way from Earth.^[8] At this point, Ell'Hakan truly believes himself to be the Celestial Child who temporarily took on the identity of Ell'Hakan who is now ready to prove himself to his Celestial mothers. However, despite the crazy increase in strength and ability, his body ultimately cannot handle the magic it is trying to process. Combined with Jake's use of Pride of the Malefic Viper, Primal Gaze of the Apex Hunter, Moment of the Primal Hunter, and Timeless Focus of the Apex Hunter, Ell'Hakan's soul eventually gives out.

After Ell'Hakan is slain, Jake is rewarded with the Starlight Heart of the Celestial Child.

Starlight Heart of the Celestial Child (Unique)] – The crystalized heart of Ell’Hakan, also known as the Celestial Child, former Chosen and Usurper of Yip of Yore. This Starlight Heart was created after his death, containing his Records. Contains remnants of the Bloodline of the [Redacted], granting it unique powers. This item allows you to [Redacted] while held. Additionally, if consumed, the Starlight Heart of the Celestial Child may grant the consumer [Redacted]. May the powers of the moons and stars guide you.

Jake notes that it is unusual for people to drop Unique grade items, even if they had unique bloodline or transcendent abilities. ^[9]

• Bloodline: Can detect and manipulate emotional states of others, amplifying or suppressing key feelings.
• Solar Magic: Wields powerful sun-based attacks including wide-area flames, concentrated sunbeams, and the domain-level ability "Sundown."
• Trident Combat: Fights with a signature trident to channel his magic; also proficient in melee techniques and battlefield positioning.
• Sun Domain: Constructs a high-noon arena to empower solar attacks.
• Usurper Ritual: Absorbed part of Yip of Yore’s Records, increasing his power beyond normal C-grade limits.
• Will-Infused Speech: Certain declarations carry supernatural pressure and psychological impact.

• Nahoom – Unified his homeworld under a single empire after the System Integration.
• Yip of Yore – Former Patron deity who Chose Ell’Hakan before being slain by the Malefic Viper.
• Holy Church – Supported Ell’Hakan’s rise and assisted in the Usurper Ritual in exchange for access to his Bloodline.
• Eversmile- The Primordial of Karma worked along side Yip of Yore and Ell'Hakan in their attempts to bring down Jake and the Viper. When Ell'Hakan invaded Earth, Eversmile commanded William, his Chosen, to assist in the efforts.
• Prima Guardian Alliance- Ell'Hakan was the de facto leader of the planetary alliance during the Prima Guardian Event.
• Milky Way Invasion Force – Orchestrated galactic chaos and war during the Prima Guardian Event in a multi-faction effort to defeat Jake Thayne and secure dominance.

Ell'Hakan described his relationship with Yip of Yore as mutually beneficial, one that greatly helped each achieve their own respective goals. However, he noted that they always kept each other at length. This distance was partially due to the level of ego that accompanies genius, but also because they didn't see each other as friends but rather no more than useful tools to further their respective interests.^[6] Ell'Hakan also noted that the primary reason they could never grow close was due to their limited interactions. The pair had met in person less than a handful of times. This was due to the fear they had of one another. Ell'Hakan was afraid of Yip's willingness to discard or even kill him if it would be of benefit. Yip was afraid of Ell'Hakan's bloodline ability to influence others, even gods if given enough time.

Initially, Ell'Hakan truly believed that Yip of Yore could defeat the Malefic Viper and went along with his orders without question. However, an encounter with Valdemar in the Colosseum of Mortals revealed that the mere idea of Yip succeeding was the most asinine thing the War God had ever heard.^[6] It was at this point Ell'Hakan began to develop backup plans, leveraging his connection to the Holy Church as a contingency should Yip of Yore fail. However, sharing his suspicions with his patron was never an option, due to the lack of trust between the two. Ell'Hakan sincerely believed that voicing any doubt in Yip's plan would have been signing his own death warrant. Yip was too entrenched in his narrative and would have viewed any doubt as a weakness to be eliminated.

Despite publicly supporting his patron, Ell'Hakan quietly worked with the Holy Church to prepare a ritual circle for usurpation. Similar to Jake's more publicly action, Ell'Hakan waited inside this circle upon the fight between Yip and the Viper commencing. He was in the circle when he felt the connection between himself and Yip snap and the formation powered to life. Ell'Hakan described the severing of the connection as painful, but the ritual kicked in nearly immediately and strengthened his connection to Yip's legacy, causing a rush of Records to stream towards Ell'Hakan. He quickly began to gain levels, his legacy skills updated, and he received instinctual knowledge on how to use the skills with plenty of room for future growth.

Unexpectedly, Ell'Hakan received a final message from Yip, hidden inside his records. The pinnacle god included his final moments at the Viper's mercy and requested that a message be passed along to Jake, a request Ell'Hakan ultimately fulfilled in his own final moments.

• “You are not the one who decides anything here. I do.”^[10]
• “Our pasts are merely there to build experience… If the past becomes a burden, those emotions are to be severed and forgotten.”^[11]
• “The harshness of the sun knows no mercy.”^[12]
• “Sundown.”^[12]
• Synergy detected. Skill gained: [Absolute Delusion: Reincarnation of the Celestial Child (Unique)]^[7]

• His Bloodline was so valued that the Holy Church planned to preserve it through forced breeding.
• His public persona was modeled on Nahoom prophecy—a role he privately disbelieved in but used to great effect.
• Jake tentatively wants to use the loot dropped heart as an ingredient in his B-grade capstone project to create a unique subspecies of dragon.^[9]