Anrui

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Anrui (安瑞)
Alias(es)	Lord Anrui; Borderlands Lord
Species/Race	Human Awakened
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Border Town; War School
Occupation/Role	Lord of Border Town; Fifth Stage warrior; martial instructor
First Appearance	Chapter 13

Background

Anrui studied at Nal Kebandek roughly a century before the Border Town crisis and had joined expeditions to the World Boundary before the town was established. He later governed Border Town for a hundred years. 75 76 99

He is one of only three people in the Hidden Borderlands to have truly embarked on the path of war. His talent reached the Fifth Stage, but could not progress further. 17 82

Anrui became interested in training Linsey after learning that he was a Self-Awakening individual possessing Life Source Material. Although Red Moon refused to place Linsey entirely under his care, Anrui taught him martial fundamentals and delegated continued instruction to his formal apprentice, Alan. 13 17

Appearance

After losing his left arm during the Black Mountain World expedition, Anrui continued to fight and lead Border Town one-handed. 81 91

• Often wears a white shirt and a black wide-brimmed hat. 147
• His left arm was amputated after a Black Spider's venom began dissolving its flesh and bone. 81
• Retains imposing physical presence despite his injury, able to incapacitate weaker Awakened almost instantly. 148

Personality

Anrui is direct, energetic, and deeply committed to Border Town's survival. He readily offers his knowledge to Linsey, teaches without withholding key fundamentals, and places himself in danger to investigate threats facing the town. 17 74 76

As a leader, he combines long experience with decisive action. He organizes supplies, assigns personnel, and directs campaigns against magical beasts, but also recognizes that military victories alone cannot resolve the townspeople's desire to escape the Hidden Borderlands. 111 123

He is protective to the point of self-sacrifice. After being mortally wounded in Black Mountain World, he attempts to hold off pursuing spiders alone so Linsey can return with a warning. 81 However, he can also be ruthless when he considers people active enemies of the town. 148

Abilities & Skills

Fifth Stage War School Warrior

Anrui is a Fifth Stage Awakened of the War School who cultivates Combat Essence. At this stage, he is capable of mastering the use of every weapon. 17

• Possesses speed far beyond Linsey's enhanced agility, carrying him across roughly a week's journey in a day and night. 74
• Can fight effectively despite losing his left arm. 121 148
• Is able to overpower Fourth Stage magical beasts and weaker Awakened with overwhelming physical force. 78 148
• His Fifth Stage advancement grants him clear perception of source essence. 76
• His advancement has stalled at the Fifth Stage. 82

Advantage Strike

Anrui's primary combat technique is Advantage Strike, a War School skill that creates a decisive advantage in exchanges and allows him to target vital openings. 44 78

• Suppresses magical beasts through rapid, precise attacks that leave them little chance to resist. 78
• Can be used with unconventional weapons, including the corpses of giant spiders. 80
• Allows his offense and defense to flow together in battle. 148

Combat Endurance

As a Fifth Stage Ascendant, Anrui possesses exceptional physical resilience and Life Source Material-supported recovery. 75 81

• Temporarily confined Black Spider venom to his left arm rather than allowing it to spread through his body. 81
• Continued escaping through Black Mountain World while severely poisoned and carrying Linsey. 81
• Was nevertheless vulnerable to a poison specifically prepared by Suo Mu Jin using food, scent, and merchant source material. 149

Equipment

• Two Long Daggers — his usual weapons during the Mirror Lake battle. 78
• Battle Axe — a two-meter-long axe brought for Border Town's magical-beast purge. 121

Relationships

• Linsey — Student and trusted companion. Anrui introduced him to martial training, later relied on his knowledge during the Black Mountain World expedition, and came to respect his judgment as an Awakened. 17 74 82 85
• Alan — Anrui's only formal apprentice and chosen successor for managing Border Town. 17 111
• Anna — His daughter. Anrui considers her future while preparing Border Town's succession plans; she later joins the School of Death to support his political efforts. 111 125
• Red Moon — Linsey's godmother. She opposed Anrui taking full responsibility for Linsey's upbringing, fearing an early focus on War Arts could negatively shape him. 13
• Suo Mu Jin — Political opponent and eventual would-be killer. Suo Mu Jin poisoned Anrui during an attempted escape from Border Town. 123 149
• Dan — Fellow veteran Awakened and hunter. Anrui recognizes the importance of her tracking ability during expeditions. 52

Story Role / Major Arcs

Linsey's Martial Training

Anrui provides Linsey with training clothes, brings him to the manor's training grounds, and personally teaches him grip, stance, movement, defense, evasion, and weapon control. He then entrusts Linsey's continued training to Alan. 17

Black Mountain World Expedition

Concerned by the changing environment near the World Boundary, Anrui takes Linsey to investigate the Snowy Wasteland. He identifies the abnormal cold as a source-essence change and later determines that a Dragon Beast is forcibly drawing upon the world's source material in an attempt to reach the Eighth Stage. 74 76 81

During the expedition, Anrui defeats hordes of magical beasts at Mirror Lake and battles Corrupted Poison Spiders in the forest. A Fifth Stage Black Spider ambushes him with flesh-dissolving venom, forcing him to amputate his own left arm. 78 80 81

Border Town Defense

After returning to Border Town, Anrui warns the Awakened of the Dragon Beast's advancement and opposes attempts to flee through Black Mountain. 91 Acting on Linsey's proposal to redirect internal conflict, he organizes a purge of magical beasts around the town, assigning Alan to coordinate combat-capable Awakened and arranging supplies, medicine, and equipment. 110 111

Anrui leads the successful campaign against the Southern Forest's magical beasts, securing both Border Town's safety and food supplies for winter. 123

Winter Rebellion and Poisoning

When desperate Awakened attempt to leave during the endless winter, Anrui blocks their path and defeats the first challenger in an instant. The confrontation escalates into open battle, during which he kills an attacking opponent and leaves Alan to command his supporters while pursuing Suo Mu Jin. 148

Suo Mu Jin lures Anrui to a warehouse and poisons him with a merchant-crafted toxin. Linsey intervenes before the merchant can kill him, and Anrui survives after receiving the antidote. Rather than immediately executing Suo Mu Jin, Anrui keeps him alive because Border Town needs manpower for its coming relocation. 149 150

Notable Quotes

“No matter what you want to learn, I can teach you!” 17

“An enemy in battle is only an enemy, nothing else!” 148