Dark Legion

### Overview

The **Dark Legion** is an independent military group consisting of several thousand members. The group was founded over 200 years prior to the main story. On the surface, the Legion is a benign group that works in tandem with councillors across the Grand Nations to provide military assistance and enforce peace. It is also known for recruiting non-elemental persons to give them a sense of purpose through finding their strength in non-elemental combat, freeing them from a life of shame and ostracisation. In reality, the Legion exists with the goal of keeping the Elemental Pantheon in check. Known only to its high-ranking members, the group has was founded based on a deep suspicion of Champions, believing their immense power to be an existential threat to mankind. As such, the Legion serves as a front, granting its leaders access to secret information and powerful alliances that give them the means to actively destabilise Elemental Society.

### Obsidian Steel

Dark Legion weapons, armour, artillery and general infrastructure are all constructed of an enchanted metal known as Obsidian Steel. This metal is supplied by rogue enchanters who imbue the steel with shadow energy harvested from Divine Portents scattered throughout the land. These portents are thought to be the remnants of the missing Shadow God.

Due to containing shadow energy, Obsidian Steel has numerous invaluable properties including drastically improved durability, rust resistance and the ability to absorb Type-III Prana. Therefore, it allows soldiers and their equipment to withstand and cut through elemental-based attacks. As such, Obsidian Steel is integral to the efficacy of the Legion and serves to level the playing field against powerful sorcerers.

### Elemental Swordsmanship

Although the Dark Legion traditionally recruits only non-elemental fighters, the occasional sorcerer that winds up in the Legion has the opportunity to learn the rare technique of Elemental Swordsmanship. This technique centres around using one's weapon to pool their energy before unleashing it via swinging or striking with their weapon, granting them greater precision and firepower in their attacks. Because this technique involves pooling Type-III Prana, which is highly potent and damaging, it requires fortified weapons such as those crafted from Obsidian Steel.

### Iron Legion

A radical offshoot of the Dark Legion inhabits the lawless city of Iron Ridge. Known as the Iron Legion, this branch contains just over 50 members, all of whom are elite fighters. This group operates in secrecy in the confines of a heavily fortified complex. Though they are virtually unknown to the public, they are responsible for many high-profile disappearances and assassinations. Ironically, the Iron Legion's ideals are a much more extreme interpretation of those of the main arm. Members use torture and extreme violence to extract information, and have been known to conduct inhumane experiments in the name of progress.

Despite their low manpower and scarce resources, the Iron Legion possesses some of the most advanced technology and weaponry in the world. Uninhibited by their lack of morals, they obtain all necessary resources through violent crime and ruthlessly experiment on live subjects to achieve their prodigious rate of progress. The Iron Legion is known to contain firearms, mechs and even simple computers.

### Notable Members

#### Zensu Katoshi (Leader)

Zensu was born into a middle-class family in the Elder Isles. Widely regarded as the most powerful mortal of all time, Zensu displayed an unbelievable aptitude for swordsmanship at just four years old. His superhuman abilities attracted the intrigue of healers and physicians from all around the world, and it was soon discovered that he possessed a perfect combination of genetic anomalies that rendered him a demigod amongst men.

Blessed with his talent, Zensu began a career in the military, but quickly became disillusioned by the senseless destruction and cruel experiments ordered by the leaders. After just one month, he resigned and became a vigilante, swearing to punish the leaders that threw away lives so callously. Over the next few years, Zensu had garnered a fearsome reputation, intimidating or beating leaders into submission. His infamy attracted both respect and wrath, and at 18 he was sought out and recruited by the former head of the Dark Legion.

#### Ren Kibuki (Second-in-Command)

Ren was appointed as Second-in-Command three years ago, and has faithfully served to protect humanity from the Elemental threat. As he truly loves the organisation, he laments the prospect of the impending war that will endanger the lives of his comrades.

##### Shin Hirose (Lieutenant, Rank 1)

Shin is the third most powerful soldier in the Legion. Shin's formidable swordsmanship and agility are further enhanced by a rare genetic mutation that allows him to absorb external Prana and embed it into his own techniques. He is fiercely loyal to the Legion, believing their cause to be noble, but is unaware of their more sinister operations beneath the surface.

#### Mei Kitahara (Lieutenant, Rank 2)

Mei is a nimble and lethal fighter who utilises unconventional striking angles and confusing movements to outwit her enemies and finish them in a single slash. Mei's prodigious skill allowed her to climb the ranks in an exceedingly short time.

#### Isamu Ito (Lieutenant, Rank 3)

Isamu was left orphaned at just eight years old after a vicious raid on his village by Stone Nation defectors. After being rescued by Ren, he swore to become strong and avenge his family. Fuelled by abject hatred of the gang that destroyed his life, Isamu trained relentlessly to master the art of the spear, eventually finding his way to the top ranks.