Kanakht

The entity known as Kanakht is described as having several distinct components corresponding to the parts of a living being: Body, Soul, Mind, Spirit, and a final part referred to as Shadow. Three of these components—the Flesh of Kanakht, the Soul of Kanakht, and the Madness of Kanakht—are identified as the primary existing pieces. The Spirit appears in the form of the Heart of Kanakht, which is in Jet's possession; part of the Heart is bound by the Mist Blade, and another part has fused with her shattered soul core. The Shadow of Kanakht is missing and not supposed to exist, due to Kanakht having been cursed by the Shadow God, for whom a person's shadow represents their death.^[5]

Each component is active in different forms. The Soul of Kanakht manifests as the Dutchman, which Jet is fighting. The Madness of Kanakht is engaged in combat with Nephis. The Flesh of Kanakht is undergoing an evolution that threatens to transform it into a Titan. The Flesh had previously been confined within a sealed chamber at the heart of the Palace, described as a cage resembling a prison with a broken seal.^[5]

Kanakht was one of the first humans, born at the dawn of the Age of Gods, when Gods and deities walked the earth and battled Corruption. Kanakht somehow angered Shadow God, who took his shadow away, along with his ability to die. Kanakht did not seem troubled by this curse, and instead eventually established a vast kingdom, ruling for numerous generations with overwhelming power. His people began calling him a god, but Kanakht wanted to be a god, not just be called one.^[4]

Despite his obsession, Kanakht was unable to attain divinity, being unable to step over the threshold of godhood without a shadow. His kingdom became dark and nightmarish, his people shifting from worship to terror and hatred toward the undying monster who ruled them. Generations disappeared into what Nightwalker described as "the ghastly cauldron of his obsession". Although he could not be killed, his people ultimately toppled his throne. Kanakht's body was severed from his soul and spirit, cut into pieces, and sealed separately in different places to prevent it from reuniting.^[4]

These seals later weakened when the Dream Realm was consumed by Corruption, and the severed remains became monstrous abominations. Nightwalker knew of this because he had visited Kanakht's kingdom in a Nightmare. The Demon of Repose had helped Kanakht's enslaved people overthrow him. The reason was that Kanakht had found an alternative way to become a god: he planned to consume his own kingdom, including every person living there, in his pursuit of Apotheosis.^[4]

The Demon of Repose had likely separated Kanakht into multiple pieces and sealed each piece away. The Eternal City was identified as the location of one such seal, and its original purpose may have been to contain the Flesh of Kanakht. After the Eternal City fell from the Black Skies, the seal was broken, leaving behind only the torn fragments of its lid.^[2]

The site where the Flesh of Kanakht had been kept is a deep pit within the Palace. The interior is depicted as being filled with mounds of repulsive mold that form black, hill-like shapes, along with strange flowers that open their meaty petals in response to sound or movement. Upon investigating the bottom of the pit, there was no remaining trace of the Flesh of Kanakht. The area contains no runes, no sorcerous structures, and no essence-related phenomena—only a landscape of bent, corroded metal. The Flesh of Kanakht itself is no longer present within the seal.^[2]