Atarax

Atarax, called the Punisher, is the highest-ranking active Inquisitor of the Maleficarum, Hemoria's father and master, and a longtime subordinate of Cardinal Sergio Rogeris. He investigates the Black Lion Castle ritual and later tries to stop Eugene from disrupting Kristina's ceremony, dying when Sergio converts his body into a divine explosion. (Chapters 152–155, 182–199, and 416)

Biography

The Hunt and the Holy Empire

Atarax comes to Black Lion Castle with Hemoria to investigate the demonic ritual and Hector's escape. He questions Eugene's possession of the Holy Sword, permits Hemoria to test him in a spar, and uses the Church's network to pursue suspects. In Yuras, his obedience to Sergio takes a more violent form: he orders force against Eugene, joins the defense of the abusive Saint ceremony, and declares Eugene a heretic when an unfamiliar divinity resists the Signum Crucis Barrier. Severely wounded and shaken, Atarax accepts Sergio's promise of martyrdom; Sergio then uses him as the conduit for an explosion that vaporizes his body. (Chapters 152–155 and 182–199)

Appearance and personality

Atarax is a man with long blond hair who wears the Maleficarum's red clothing and black shako. He speaks calmly and smiles during formal investigation, but his composure rests on rigid certainty that the Light justifies the Inquisition's actions. His confidence survives secret dealings with black wizards and the engineered creation of Hemoria until the Holy Sword rejects none of Eugene's power, at which point fear and doubt finally break through. (Chapters 152–155, 192–199, and 416)

Abilities and powers

Atarax is an experienced close-range fighter able to hide his presence and seek openings like an assassin. He also uses divine power, healing magic, the life-consuming Signum Crucis Barrier, and combat-specialized blood magic. Blood magic embeds formulas in blood rather than circulating mana through conventional cores; Atarax opens his wrists, creates a large blood wave, and turns suspended droplets into projectiles with crossbow-like force. (Chapters 154–155 and 192)

His blood supply and concentration limit prolonged use. Eugene's flames evaporate the medium, slice his limbs and torso, and leave him unable to maintain the technique. Sergio's final miracle extracts destructive divine power through Atarax's body at the cost of his life, leaving no corpse. (Chapters 192 and 198)

Relationships

• Hemoria: Atarax is Hemoria's biological source, father, and Inquisitor master. He raises her in the faith while concealing that the Church created her as a human chimera from his blood and sperm. (Chapters 152–155 and 416)
• Sergio Rogeris: Atarax serves Sergio for years and interprets his goals without needing explicit orders. That loyalty culminates in Atarax accepting martyrdom and Sergio detonating him as a divine conduit. (Chapters 182–199)
• Eugene Lionheart: Atarax questions Eugene's worthiness, investigates him, and later attacks him as a supposed heretic. Eugene overwhelms his blood magic and destroys the religious certainty on which Atarax relies. (Chapters 152–155 and 188–192)

Items

None.