Dark Rift Entities

The **Dark Rift creatures**, also known as **Entities**, are mysterious, malevolent lifeform made of darkness that wish to destroy everything within their eyesight featured in *Voltron: Legendary Defender as* the overarching antagonists. Initially featured in flashback episode The Legend Begins, they are also the first opponent Voltron has ever faced and are revealed to be overarching antagonists of the series, having responsible for corrupting Zarkon, Honerva and became the latter's source of dark powers.

## Description

Rift creatures are formless, trans-dimensional creatures which, according to Honverva, are the only known lifeforms that can survive passing through the Rift between worlds without use of ships made of the Trans-reality Comet. One of these creatures was contained by Honerva not long after receiving signals the Altean alchemist sent into the Rift. From what reality these creatures originated from is still a mystery, but they are implied to originate from the Quintessence field, as many of them surrounded the original Paladins as soon as they entered the realm due to being tricked by Zarkon who desperated to save Honerva.

While weak on their own, Rift creatures pose a genuine threat to any universe they come across. A single creature can summon a swarm of its brethren from the nearby opened Rift where they can then proceed to combine into a giant polymorphic beast capable of creating blasts of energy, as well as assuming different forms to suit its attack or defense requirements. The polymorphic beast can also launch a part of itself which then become an independent creature of their own.

The reason why the rift creatures are referred to as dark creatures is likely due to their inherently hostile nature and indication to be comprised of corrupted Quintessence; they are only know lifeforms that capable of passing through the rift between realities and Quintessence field without the need of ships made of the Trans-Reality comet, and exposure to these creatures induces physical enhancements and mental corruption similar to Quintessence itself as seen in what happened to Zarkon, Honerva, and to an extent, Lotor (as he was within Honerva's womb when her dying body was exposed to the rift creatures). Should those who exposed to these creatures possess the potential of magical and alchemical abilities, they can utilise rift creatures inside them as source of their powers and medium to control others, as demonstrated by Honerva aka. Haggar.

## History

A solitary specimen was temporarily contained by Honerva, However the Dark Entity then became agitated and summoned more of its kind through the rift, causing them to burst from the rift. Luckily they erected a particle barrier to contain the genocidal creatures, however Honerva knew the barrier wouldn’t last forever. Zarkon laments over how once the entities escape they will quickly overrun his forces before destroying his planet and his people. Honerva reassures Zarkon that Alfor's project will save them, Zarkon responding that he hopes.

Alfor then used the Trans-Reality Comet that opened the rift to the creatures realm to create the Lions solely to defeat the entities. They merged into one giant entity that then wrecked havok on Daibazaal, forcing Alfor, Zarkon, Gyrgan, Trigel, and Blaytz to fly out and confront it with the newly constructed Lions. It was their first battle as Paladins, and the first time Voltron was formed.

Zarkon then tricks his fellow Paladins to use Voltron and it’s sword to enter the creatures realm, a void dimension filled and made of only pure quintessence, he then brings Honerva and himself outside of Voltron so the pure quintessence can heal Honerva. However the entities return, seeking vengeance, encapsulating Voltron again, however Zarkon and Honerva we’re outside so we’re hit by the full blast, the creatures essence gave Zarkon and Honerva an agonizing death. Voltron then uses it laser beams to force the creatures off of it before grabbing Zarkon and Honerva before escaping the creatures realm before they could regenerate.

Alfor then destroys planet Daibazaal to close the rift to ensure that the creatures never escape again and bring havoc to the universe. However the pure quintessence from the creatures realm revived Zarkon and Honerva, however the creatures essence devastated Zarkon and Honerva's sanity. The creatures essence turned the once caring and justice-wanting Zarkon into the ruthless and cruel leader of the Galra Empire, Emperor Zarkon. The creatures essence removed Honerva's memories and transformed her into the wicked witch and Zarkon's advisor, Haggar, the Dark Entities are also the source of her power.