Hegemon’s Will

Hegemon’s Will is Jason’s signature sword, originally forged and named Dread Salvation by Gary. After the blade is transformed and soul-bound, Gary reforges it under the new name Hegemon’s Will. Its paired scabbard is Hegemon’s Dominion; the scabbard is part of the later relic set, not an earlier name for the sword itself. (Chapters 56, 401–404, 449, 845)

History

Gary makes Dread Salvation as a personal gift, choosing a legendary growth weapon meant to remain useful throughout Jason’s advancement. Its first form is an elegant straight, double-edged blade whose powers build toward inevitability against enemies that resist Jason’s afflictions. At bronze rank it reaches the limit of that form, requiring its original smith to reforge it before it can properly advance again. (Chapters 56, 79, 158, 235)

Inside a transformation zone, the sword changes while Jason fights living anomalies far above his normal limits. Nirvanic Transfiguration refines the altered weapon, soul-binding it and letting it share his capacity to challenge rank disparity. The Soul-Imprinting Triune then makes it part of the Regalia of the Dark Hegemon. When Gary later examines the transformed blade, their soul bonds guide his reforge and six ideographs reveal its new name: Hegemon’s Will. (Chapters 401–404, 449)

Gary eventually uses Hero authority and his own flame to reforge Hegemon’s Will and its scabbard, Hegemon’s Dominion, from silver-rank growth items into silver-rank growth relics. The relic bond lets Jason know where they are, restricts use to those he permits, allows summoning to his avatars or designated servants, and lets destroyed pieces remanifest through transcendent power. Much of the relic functionality remains sealed until Jason reaches the appropriate transcendent state. (Chapter 845)

Properties and use

Dread Salvation’s original iron-rank effects react to immunity. Repeated physical or magical attacks build Stone Cutter or Spell Breaker, making later blows increasingly effective against physical defences, magical defences and incorporeal targets. At bronze rank, Vibrant Echo and Radiant Echo add ongoing harm when enemies are immune to the corresponding afflictions. These powers require repeated hits, so the blade overcomes resistance through accumulation rather than an immediate bypass. (Chapters 56, 79, 158, 235)

After the transformation, Jason can feed his aura and mana into the blade to increase damage, but the weapon’s current state caps the increase and the mana cost cannot be eliminated. Its Regalia effect, Hegemon’s Tribute, drains a small amount of mana on a hit, continues draining while the target remains inside Jason’s aura, and releases a final burst when cleansed or when the target dies. The blade can also take on the properties of Jason’s conjured Doom Blade forms, including Ruin’s necrotic corrosion and Penitent’s disruptive-force effects. (Chapters 403–404, 745, 748, 782)

Associated characters

• Jason Asano: Jason is the sword’s soul-bound wielder through every form, from Dread Salvation to the completed relic. (Chapters 56, 403, 845)
• Gary: Gary creates the original blade, interprets its transformation and performs both major reforges. (Chapters 56, 449, 845)