Phase 0, Phase Shift 2, Phase Shift 3, Phase Shift 4
When Jin awoke, he found himself lying on a hillside in the dead of night, with only the moonlight giving a glow to his surroundings. His hair and skin were dirty, his clothes torn and his consciousness slipping away from him. He knew he was going to die while the moon looked to him as if it was going to fall down. The wind fluttered and a girl appeared - Rachel Alucard. She offered him the chance to become a real hero, and teleported him to the Alucard Castle as he drifted into unconsciousness.[1] Unknown to Jin, the date was December 31st, 2099AD, a whole century prior to his time period.[2]
When Jin awoke, he was in a luxurious bed filled with the scent of roses within a manor he had not seen before. The door to the room opened and an old man in a wheelchair entered, being pushed by a butler. The man introduced himself as Clavis Alucard, his butler as Valkenhayn R. Hellsing, and the girl who brought him there as Rachel. Jin learned that he had been unconscious for a week and that it was Valkenhayn who tended to his wounds; most of his memories had been distorted by the Boundary, and the unusual trio left Jin to recuperate, and collect his memories and strength.
The girl with the name of a flower
A few days had passed and Jin found the strength to sit up, although he needed Valkenhayn to push him across the Castle's stately manor in a wheelchair. He was covered in bandages and had become paralyzed from the waist down thanks to his sustained injuries. Valkenhayn, Rachel and Clavis took him into a basement of the Castle. Clavis undid several sorcery seals on the basement's door, and the three of them entered a dark hallway. Clavis enquired about Jin's memories, and the young man revealed he had remembered Ragna, Tsubaki, and some of the information regarding the Dark War. The elderly vampire told Jin that the future had been determined, forcing the former Major to shout and clench his fists, furious that Ragna and Tsubaki would be cursed to meet the same fates again and again. They came to the end of the hallway and entered a small room - Clavis told Jin that there were three Gods, the Sankishin, and that he stood face-to-face with one of them - the Susano'o Unit. Clavis offered him the chance to wield the unit before leaving, and Rachel warned Jin that by using it, he would sacrifice his humanity. Jin, feeling he had a choice to either live unable to fight or to live to fight, decided to choose the latter, donning the Unit and a new name - Hakumen.[3] Hakumen later left the Alucard Castle, and challenged the Black Beast by himself. He was defeated, and was forced to retreat.[4] From this point onward, Hakumen began travelling for over 6 years across the war-torn world.
Hakumen visited the First District in 2106AD, seeing its cauldron and sensing a dark presence. He called out to the darkness, drew his sword, and asked for it to show itself, but nothing happened. Before walking away, he was met by three mages who appeared from a nearby staircase - Nine, Trinity Glassfille, and Celica A. Mercury. Hakumen remarked on them being witches and sheathed his sword. Before leaving, he told them that they would meet again, and kicked the ground, launching himself high onto another level of the facility. The dark presence that Hakumen had felt earlier was Ragna himself.[5]
In 2107AD, eight months after the encounter, Hakumen was in the Magister's City of Ishana, having become part of a council of warriors that were in charge of deciding how to beast the Black Beast. He looked out towards the ocean from the floating island, and was found by Celica, who had mistaken him for Ragna. Although he did not reply to the girl's chatter, he listened to her talk about how Ragna had saved her and how special he was to her - Hakumen turned to face the picturesque city, his mind in deep thought; he knew Ragna should not exist in this time period, and began to reminisce on how he had arrived in the period himself. After some reflecting on his twisted memories, Hakumen strode down the hill with Celica bounding after him.[6]
Hakumen found himself following Celica as they entered the main gate of the Mage's Guild. Nine began to interrogate him, as he had failed to attend the latest meeting that concerned the safety of the representatives of each nation. Trinity dismantled the tense air with her cheerful attitude, but it was plunged into strife once more as Yuuki Terumi arrived and taunted Hakumen, mockingly begging him to be his friend. Celica ordered them both to stop, and the group, also consisting of Valkenhayn and Jubei, walked into the Mage's Guild where they were disdainfully treated by Seven and Eight, two of the Ten Sages. Together with Terumi and Valkenhayn, Hakumen left the Guild's courtyard as they were uninterested in the politics that would follow their presence. Valkenhayn and Hakumen later met Rachel at the Alucard Castle, and they discussed what was to be done with Terumi - the butler suggested assassinating him, but it was only with Rachel's insistence on his necessity that the plan was dissolved.[7]
Another meeting concerning the Black Beast was scheduled. Hakumen listened, although did not contribute. The plan concerned how the Black Beast moved, which was primarily through the cauldrons which leaked the most seithr. Hakumen did not voice concern nor anger when Rachel told them all that she could not help them in the battle that was to come, but did listen intently as she revealed that the Beast was likely to appear wherever Celica was. The meeting concluded that the best chance to find the Beast was in Eastern Europe, and so made their way there.
The battlefield was a desert with no greenery or water for miles on end. Battalions from the Mage's Guild were present, as were Celica, Jubei, Valkenhayn, Nine, Trinity, Terumi, Seven, Eight, and Hakumen. Hakumen, Celica, and the Deus Machina: Nirvana stood together, separated from the other units so the Black Beast could find them. He asked the young mage if she was scared and comforted her, telling Celica that she had nothing to fear. She unintentionally muttered the name Ragna, and moments later, Hakumen asked her if he bore any resemblance to him. The knight listened, and asked if she wanted to meet him, only this time, his question had emotion attached to it. Hakumen told Celica that she reminded him of a girl he once knew, someone who was as bold as her. The knight remarked at their unusual conversation before telling Celica that he would protect her like Ragna had once done. Their heartfelt conversation was cut short as the Black Beast had arrived, fulfilling Rachel's earlier prediction.
Hakumen ran towards the Beast as Nirvana carried Celica to safety. After delivering several swift blows, he was knocked to the wayside, but Nine's Ars Armegis battalion covered his disadvantage with a hail of lightning. He watched as Seven and Eight teleported the Gigant: Take-Mikazuchi next to Celica and make it fire at the Beast. The Beast retreated, marking the first victory humanity had tasted in the gruelling war. Hakumen and Valkenhayn ran to Nine and Celica, learning that the latter had part of her sorcery sucked out of her, and also learning that Nine had created the monster that had repelled the Beast.[8]
A few days after the Black Beast was repelled, Hakumen stood at the site where Take-Mikazuchi had fired its cataclysmic blast. Beside him stood Jubei, Valkenhayn, and Trinity. His three comrades were unable to comprehend the devastation that lay before them, but Hakumen betrayed no emotion as he silently stared at what used to be a small village, one that had been destroyed by the conflict between the Nox and the Beast. In a sudden moment, they were surrounded by the OLN, and Hakumen jumped down in front of Trinity to protect her from the soldiers.
After having been escorted back to Ishana, the group met with Terumi inside the Ishana Cathedral. Trinity left and returned with Nine; she told them about Take-Mikazuchi's origins as a revived weapon from the Age of Origin, and that it was used in a war lost to history. This war, which was the Prime Field War, resulted in the creation of the Hihiirokane and the Sealed Weapon Izayoi. Nine also revealed that a cauldron was underneath Ishana, and before she could reveal the information about Izayoi, Hakumen cut her off, instead saying its name himself. Before Nine could question his knowledge, the OLN entered the building, led by Seven and Eight. Nine was arrested and taken to the Committee of Hearing by the soldiers and the two Sages, leaving the remaining heroes to wait for her return. [9]
The wait was short as the OLN burst through the doors once more, firearms pointed at the heroes. Hakumen took large strides towards the soldiers, closing the distance between them before striking with his nodachi. In less than a minute, every OLN soldier who stormed the cathedral was laying unconscious on the ground. Without speaking a word, Hakumen then ran out of the cathedral.
Hakumen dashed towards the hospital where Celica was being kept. When he arrived, he saw Celica held at gunpoint and Nirvana being strongarmed into cooperation, lest her mistress be slain. Hakumen knocked the soldier unconscious and carried Celica away from the remaining soldiers, bullets bouncing off of his armour. He turned back and called to Nirvana to retreat before he swung his nodachi in one fell motion at the OLN soldiers. The result was a shockwave so strong it uprooted trees and destroyed nearby walls. Celica broke free from Hakumen's hold and rushed to heal one of the soldiers, but she collapsed back into Hakumen's arms from the strain. She fell unconscious and he carried her back through the streets of Ishana, where he encountered the other heroes fleeing from the OLN. Together, they went to Trinity's workshop. Trinity made Hakumen some herbal tea and Celica thanked him for all he had done, but the man remained silent. Before the group could decide what to do next, the sounds of a large explosion rung throughout Ishana.
The group ran towards the source of the noise, finding Nine locked in battle against Seven and Eight. Hakumen continued to carry Celica, something that caused a slight ire within Nine. With more OLN soldiers and even members of the Ten Sages coming up to deal with the group, they decided to retreat instead of fight as they did not want to make more enemies. As they ran from assembly hall where Nine had fought, they were met by two shadowy figures that were known by Jubei. These figures guided them through to a secluded forest within Ishana where Nine could gather her energy. She then teleported the group outside of Ishana with her immense magical strength. [10]
The scenery was unfamiliar to Hakumen and the other heroes. Upon Nine's demand, Hakumen finally stopped carrying Celica and listened as the two shadowy figures introduced themselves as Suzukaka and Totokaka of the Kaka. Hakumen remained silent as Jubei explained his relationship to the Kaka and, eventually, they arrived at the Kaka village as the two girls guided them. At the village, Hakumen gathered the heroes together and listened to Nine continue her explanation on the Sealed Weapon Izayoi, Logic, and the Age of Origin.[11]
As the night approached, Hakumen sat upon a boulder in the village, gazing at the crescent moon. Celica came up next to him, having woken from a bad dream, and the two talked about Ragna. Hakumen told her his theory that there were two versions of Ragna: the one that Celica met, and the one within the Black Beast. Despite her asking, he refused to take off his mask. The moon in the night reminded him of how much he hated the moon due to his childhood fears, and Celica's demeanour reminded him of Tsubaki, though he avoided mentioning her name.
As Celica left to return to sleep, Terumi climbed up to the boulder. He began to aggravate Hakumen, calling him Jin Kisaragi and asking which phase of the Looping World he came from. Terumi's insults brought back painful memories that Hakumen had of Hazama and Tsubaki. Losing his composure for a brief moment, Hakumen threatened to strike him down, only relenting as he remembered how critical Terumi was to the plan to bring down the Black Beast.
The following morning, Celica noticed something and asked Hakumen if they could investigate it. He agreed, and the heroes (with Suzukaka and Totokaka) followed the young girl towards an old train station. The tracks lead into a tunnel and within was a cavern filled with glowing blue crystals. Celica began to glow with the crystals. Hakumen realized that, also due to essentially non-existent levels of seithr in the air, that these crystals were filled with the Power of Order. Moments later, a Kaka ran towards the group, telling them there was urgent news and that they were required back in the village. There, the heroes learned that Seven and Eight were trying to summon Take-Mikazuchi with the lives of innocents in another village. The group then decided to act and stop their plan. [12]
Nine teleported the group, including Celica, Suzu, and a group of Kaka, to the outskirts of the village. Rachel was there, and complained that they were late. Hakumen took charge of the plans, telling Nine and Jubei to engage Eight and Seven, and for the other heroes to focus on evacuation efforts. The Kaka were ordered to help stragglers and Terumi was ordered by Nine to focus on stopping the Sages from summoning Take-Mikazuchi. Celica was ordered to follow Hakumen every step of the way.
Terumi failed his orders, and Hakumen watched with Celica as Take-Mikazuchi was summoned. The Black Beast then appeared and the two giants began to fight. Hakumen helped with the evacuation effort and saw as the Beast locked one of its many jaws around the Nox's neck in an attempt to decapitate it. Seven and Eight panicked and forced the Nox, with the Beast still attached, back into its summoning circle. The result was a massive seithr explosion which swallowed the village.
When Hakumen awoke from the impact, he was in Ishana with the other heroes, Celica, Suzu, and Eight. They walked over a hilltop and saw the Beast chewing on Take-Mikazuchi's shoulder. It stopped, looked up at them and smiled. The Beast now knew Ishana's location, and disappeared. [13]
Two days after Take-Mikazuchi crashed into Ishana, Hakumen and the other heroes were allowed safe passage within Ishana. This was due in part to them no longer being a priority and also because of the OLN fearing Hakumen and his wrath after his display a week earlier. Nine gathered the heroes together and made them aware that she had taken half of Take-Mikazuchi's core and would be creating new weapons using them, the Nox Nyctores. However, she needed time, and so the group devised a plan to stall the Black Beast to grant her the time needed to complete the weapons required to finally kill the planet's scourge.
Hakumen was among those chosen to delay the Beast. The night before he was to go, he stood above a hilltop and looked down at the harbour and at the moon gazing down upon it. Celica found him. He noticed Nirvana was no longer following her, and she revealed it was with Nine. Celica also told him that she met Ragna when Take-Mikazuchi and the Black Beast were in the summoning circle. She also told him that Nu-13 was inside the Beast. Upon hearing this, Hakumen's attitude changed and he realized she was likely the heart of the Beast. Hakumen swallowed his emotions and asked Celica to return home. As she left, he continued to stare out to the moon hanging in the sky.
When the camp was created near the cauldron that the Beast was arrived at, Hakumen helped organize it and its efficiency. As he walked through the camp, he bumped into a woman, one who looked strikingly familiar to him. It was Ayame Yayoi, a member of the Duodecim, Tsubaki's ancestor, and her spitting image. Hakumen was lost for words as her appearance dredged up emotions buried deep within his heart. He asked for her name, and his suspicions were confirmed that she was a member of the Yayoi household. Ayame left as she was called away by another soldier; Hakumen walked forward, lost in his own emotions until he came back to his senses. When he stopped walking, he saw Jubei in front of him; the beastkin was struggling with his own emotions as well, lamenting that their camp was close to a city destroyed by the Beast, and that they were too late to save it. Jubei told Hakumen that he would clasp onto any power in order to defeat the Black Beast, even if it meant going mad. Although he understood the sentiment, Hakumen disagreed and told him that it was not the answer. They were both called by Terumi back to the camp in anticipation of the Beast's arrival.
One month later and the Black Beast had signalled its arrival. Pillars of black seithr rose up in the air. Hakumen, Jubei, and Valkenhayn stood forward and charged, the soldiers behind them following. The seithr took shape, forming into a monstrous army that stood in opposition. Hakumen rushed forward, cutting down every foe with a prototype sword developed for him by Nine. The three heroes came to realize that the seithr was encircling them and the army. Desperately they called back for the soldiers to retreat, but it was too late – the Black Beast made its appearance, bursting through the center of the circle and wildly attacking all in its wake. The battlefield had instantly turned into a slaughterhouse. As soldiers fled, Hakumen charged forward, blade in hand and eager for it to meet the Black Beast; as he charged, he called for Valkenhayn and Jubei to retreat, but they refused. In an instant, Ayame ran beside them, cutting down a seithr monster in her dash. She begged them to retreat as she activated Izayoi. Ayame cut down a path for the heroes and the soldiers, allowing them to flee from the ambush that the Black Beast had orchestrated.
The Beast nor its seithr army gave chase, instead seemingly losing interest. When Hakumen returned to the camp, he walked towards the medical tent and found Ayame there, her sight lost from overusing Izayoi and her body battered and broken from fighting. He ignored everyone else in the room and stood beside her bed. She cried and begged to continue fighting, but it was clear that she was dying. She outstretched her hand and Hakumen held it. Minutes later, Ayame passed away – the second Yayoi to die in front of him.
Hakumen stood outside of the tent, meeting both Jubei and Valkenhayn. They asked about Ayame and he coldly told them that she had died. They had no time to mourn her, as a soldier ran up to them and told them that seithr monsters were rising up within the camp. Hakumen shouted orders to Jubei and Valkenhayn as he ran towards the center, gathering as many of the Beast Guard as he could. They evacuated the camp, knowing that the Beast was coming for its second strike. The army had to only hold out for one month, but this battle was just the first day.[14] Through some miracle, they managed to stall the Beast for one month, but over half of the army was killed by the Beast. When they returned to Ishana via boat, Hakumen's usually clear armour was covered in dirt and blood; as he walked down the pier, he saw Nine and asked her if the Nox Nyctores could be made. She looked back at him and confirmed that they were ready.
Nine summoned the heroes and Celica to a small room within the Mage's Guild. There, she introduced them to the Nox Nyctores and handed them out to each of them, with the exception of Valkenhayn who could harm the Black Beast without one due to him existing outside of Logic. Trinity received the Arma Reboare: Muchourin, Jubei the Mucro Somnio: Musashi, Terumi the Geminus Anguium: Ouroboros, Celica was returned the Deus Machina: Nirvana, and Hakumen was gifted the Interfectum Malus: Ookami. Nine made it clear to them all: these weapons were to be sealed away after the war as they were strong enough to distort the balance of the world. As well as this, they cause adverse effects to the mentality of their wielders, so they were to be used with caution.
Ishana rallied together with the remainder of humanity to strike the Black Beast for one final time. Hakumen summoned the other heroes and Celica to Trinity's workshop. There he revealed that they were not going to be able to kill the Beast. Their mission was simply impossible unless they tried something else. To this end, Hakumen proposed that Celica go inside the Beast and meet with Ragna. Together, they could fight against the heart of the Beast, Nu-13, causing the Beast to lose some of its intelligence and succumb to its base desires of wanton massacre. It would be baited to follow after a large army, bringing it closer to the Kaka Village and the cave near it which was filled with crystals of Order. These crystals neutralize seithr, so the Beast will only get so close. Once it was close enough, the Ten Sages and strongest members of the Mage's Guild would work together to teleport the Beast above it. The Black Beast would be drastically weakened and could then be killed. In order to do so, however, both the body and the heart would have to be killed at the same time as they shared a life-link. Jubei offered up a solution to get Celica inside the Beast: using the Hihiirokane to cut through it, and then using Nirvana to retrieve her. Nine hated this idea, but both Hakumen and Celica managed to persuade her that this was the only way the Dark War could finally end.
The Hihiirokane was kept in Castle Alucard, having been sealed there by Clavis Alucard before his death. Hakumen went with Jubei and Valkenhayn to the manor, where Rachel agreed to give Jubei the blade on the condition that he also accept the role of slaying Terumi. Jubei agreed, and Rachel offered him another item: the Eye of Tomonori, an artificial eye based on Tomonori's eyes which had seen Terumi's true spirit form. Jubei agreed so Valkenhayn and Rachel took him to have it implanted.
Hakumen descended down the manor, making his way to the bedchamber where he was last human – where he was last known as Jin Kisaragi. Standing alone in this room, he reminisced and felt a twinge of jealousy towards Jubei. Jubei could avenge his brother, but Hakumen was forced to slay his own who had become the Black Beast. He did not dwell on these emotions. Hakumen turned his back on the room and his back on his human life for one final time.[15]
Ten days before the Black Beast was predicted to appear near Ishana, Hakumen was present for a meeting where Nine explained to every organization in Ishana what their plan was. She did not mention Hihiirokane, Celica, or the Beast's heart as it was not something that they were likely to believe, and if they did not believe it then they would not accept the plan. With the lies in the mix, the organizations accepted the plan originally drafted by Hakumen. Both he and Jubei went ahead to the mainland to set up a small camp in anticipation of the Beast's arrival.
On December 31st, 2109, the Black Beast finally made its appearance. It aimed towards Ishana. As it arrived, an Ars Magus unit rained arrows of light down upon it, distracting it. As it was distracted, Hakumen jumped onto its back and stabbed Ookami deep within. The Beast screamed but Hakumen was not finished as he ran, blade still buried deep, carving a large ravine across the back of the Beast. He then jumped down to one of its many necks and cut deep with Ookami before jumping down to the front of the other faces. Hakumen cut at one of its fangs before being headbutted away. But this was to plan as the Beast was distracted, allowing Jubei to cut an opening into the Beast's shoulder using Hihiirokane.
Celica and Nirvana were able to enter the Beast, allowing the first part of the plan to be successful. Suddenly the Beast began to act strangely – it was Hakumen predicted. With the heart now engaged in battle, the body would succumb to its base desire of destruction. It was lured towards the teleportation circle set up by the Ten Sages and one of its heads lunged for Nine, only to be caught mid-bite by Valkenhayn. Hakumen and Jubei leapt into the fray, cutting of the head that Valkenhayn then slammed into the ground. Then, with the power of the Sages, the Beast was teleported above the cave filled with crystals of Order. Hakumen, Nine, Jubei, and Valkenhayn were teleported onto a cliff above it, seeing that it was writing around in pain. Hakumen's predictions proved true again as the Beast was unable to regenerate its wounds.
Both Valkenhayn and Jubei attacked the Black Beast, managing to sever another of its heads. Hakumen gave the order for the heroes to decapitate as many heads as they could while they waited for Celica and Ragna to stop the heart. Hakumen leapt forward and with one strike of Ookami was able to slice cleanly through one of the Beast's many throats, decapitating the head attached. The other heroes followed suit until just one head was left. It stared upwards and saw Hakumen as he came down with Ookami, cutting off the last head. The Beast then stopped moving.
Celica, Nirvana, and Rachel appeared nearby as the Beast deflated down into a human-like shape. Its heart had been killed as well. Hakumen recognized the shape of Ragna as it pitifully crawled forward. This was the Ragna that Hakumen grew up with, one that had been transformed into the Beast when he fused with Nu. Hakumen slowly walked up to what was once his brother and decapitated him with Ookami. The Dark War was over, and the Black Beast was finally dead, as was the last connection Hakumen had to his old life as Jin Kisaragi.[16] Hakumen, Nine, Jubei, Valkenhayn, Trinity, and Terumi were then known as the Six Heroes for their incredibly bravery and influence in winning the war. [17]
When the war ended, both Hakumen and Jubei began to travel the world together, destroying the cauldrons that existed in order to prevent another being like the Black Beast rising out of it. The OLN had merged with the Mage's Guild to form the Novus Orbis Librarium. The pair of heroes went to the NOL's Geological Survey Asian branch to kill the cauldron there. This was to be their tenth one in the years since the war had ended. As they made their way through, they found few guards in the vicinity. At the cauldron, however, they were met by Terumi, who opened it.
Terumi asked them if they had heard the news. Neither man knew what he meant so Terumi clarified: had he heard that Nine and Trinity had been killed. Jubei was unable to move from shock, but Hakumen asked who had killed them. Terumi ignored their questions and instead told them that the only ones left to kill were them, Valkenhayn and Rachel. As he finished his sentence, Terumi launched Ouroboros at them both. They dodged, but Terumi sent more chains after Jubei. Hakumen called to his friend to dodge, but as he did, Terumi slid next to him and kicked Hakumen in the jaw with enough force to shatter the bones of an average man.
Hakumen regained his composure and slashed at Terumi; Ookami met its mark, but the damage done was minimal since Ookami had its core removed by Nine following the end of the war. Ouroboros, however, still had its core intact. Terumi continued to fight them both, taunting them until the cauldron fully opened. Both Jubei and Hakumen were struggling to fight him, unable to comprehend how his reaction time was so fast. Terumi summoned a giant snake made of energy to attack them both. Jubei dodged but Hakumen was hit in the side. The battle continued on, but it was one that both Jubei and Hakumen were losing. Jubei activated the Eye of Tomonori, allowing Terumi's true form to be seen. With this, Hakumen was able to grab a hold of Terumi. Jubei wanted to deliver the killing blow but it was not possible without the Hihiirokane, which Jubei no longer had. Hakumen continued, telling Jubei that he was going to drag Terumi into the cauldron and that it needed to be shut afterwards to prevent his escape. Hakumen reminded Jubei that he had to do this for his family - for Celica and the newborn Kokonoe. With this, Hakumen dragged Terumi inside the Boundary and Jubei bitterly closed the cauldron behind them. Hakumen, protected by the Susano'o Unit, remained inside the Boundary for decades.[18]