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Note: Read After [Chapter: 13]
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[Hierarchy]
Keepers (the bloodline/family name):
The overall term for those born with the Mark of CommandAll members of these special bloodlines were called "Keepers"They maintained the Covenant of Balance
Within the Keepers, there were different ranks/roles:
Wardens (most common):Could command demon obedienceSupervised demon actionsEnsured demons didn't exceed their boundsJudges (less common):Could determine if demon actions served the greater goodHad authority to punish or rewardArbiters (extremely rare):The highest level of authorityCould pass final judgment on existence itselfHad power to grant redemption or complete erasureOnly they could walk the Ninth Path
So Jin-Ho appears to be a descendant of the Keeper bloodlines, but the question is: what level of authority does he possess?
The demons suspect he might have Arbiter-level power, which would make him incredibly dangerous to them - he could literally erase them from existence if he judges them unworthy.
This makes the stakes much clearer: they are not just hoping for freedom, they are hoping to avoid complete annihilation at the hands of someone who doesn't even know what he is.
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[History]
The Keepers' Fall from Grace:
Initially Pure: Keepers genuinely served cosmic balance, using demons to protect and serve mortalsTchang Zu's Humiliation: Forced to be a "protector of villages" and "servant of farmers" instead of being worshippedGradual Corruption: Power corrupted the Keepers - they began using demons for personal gain and empire-buildingWeakened Bonds: Their corruption weakened the divine authority that bound the demonsDemon Exploitation: The demons found loopholes, turning the Keepers' corrupt commands against themMalicious Compliance: Demons followed orders technically but catastrophically (Dai Gui "removing obstacles" by destroying all mountains)Final Freedom: When corruption peaked, the divine bonds shattered completelyRevenge: The demons made the fallen Keepers pay for every humiliation
Character Motivations Now Make Sense:
Tchang Zu: Still burns with fury over being forced to serve mortals instead of being worshippedShendu: Acknowledges they manipulated the Keepers' corruption to gain freedomPo Kong: Plans to corrupt any new Keeper the same wayThe demons: Feel justified in their hatred because the Keepers betrayed their sacred dutyThis creates a much more complex moral landscape - the Keepers weren't innocent victims, they became corrupt tyrants who deserved their fate. But now Jin-Ho represents either redemption or a repeat of the same cycle.
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