Tortaros

Tortaros was an S-grade space mage, member of the Order of the Malefic Viper, a demi-god, and a Divine Heretic. In the absence of the Malefic Viper, the Order's patron, Tortaros was one of the most powerful members of the declining faction, rivaled in power only by the Lord Protector and possibly Duskleaf. With such power, Tortaros expected commiserate status and had vied to be Hall Master. However, Viridia was selected instead, despite barely being in S-grade, because of nepotism by her master, the previous Hall Master.

Believing himself slighted, Tortaros resented Viridia and often sought to subtly slight her in any way as possible. As a branch leader at the Order, Tortaros was insubordinate and conniving, but he never dared to try to overthrow her, lest he incur the wrath of the Lord Protector.

When the Viper does return, Tortaros behaves in the manner that he has become accustomed to. Instead of kneeling and respectfully greeting his patron just like every other member, including Viridia, Duskleaf, and the Lord Protector, Tortaros instead bowed to the Primordial and introduced himself as "Divine Heretic Tortaros", invoking the multiversal protocol that held that gods did not kneel before each other.^[1] He then goes on to describe his accomplishments and achievements, including surviving a fight with a god. The Viper is deeply unimpressed, making it clear that he doesn't care who Tortaros is nor does he consider the space mage a prodigious member of the Order. When Tortaros begins to lose his temper at being so summarily dismissed, the Viper simply erases him from existence. He then addresses the rest of the Order, presenting Tortaros as an example of the dangers of resting on your laurels, no matter how powerful you believe yourself to be.