Klaus

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Klaus
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Night Watch
Occupation/Role	Deputy Chief of the Night Watch branch in Bronze City
Status	Active
First Appearance	156

Power Progression

Order / Stage	Status	Details	Chapters
Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary	Confirmed	A highly unusual Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary who has retained a mostly human form and substantial sanity.	240 241
Amber Path	Active path	Uses the Amber Path's practice of excavating, extracting, and sealing his internal Divinity to resist degeneration.	281
Fifth Order path	Prospective	Has touched upon a route to the Fifth Order, though he fears he lacks sufficient time to complete it. Leike later identifies Klaus's path as unusually clean and believes he still has a chance of reaching a true, uncorrupted Fifth Order.	438 472

Background / History

Klaus serves as the Deputy Chief of Bronze City's Night Watch branch. He monitors threats within the city, including the Tower of Erudition, the Ascension Society, the Gray Covenant, and corruption among the nobility. He is willing to use surveillance, concealed assets, and political pressure to protect the city. 169 236 398

Before the Inner City disappearance investigation, Klaus intervened personally to protect Laurina after she became a Night Watch contractor. He threatened the Tower of Erudition with heresy charges and execution if it attempted to seize her. 156

He is a Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary who has retained an unusually human appearance and much of his sanity. Like other Weird Extraordinaries, he borrows power from the darkness and faces eventual loss of humanity; he admits that he may be nearing this fate himself. 240 241

Klaus follows the Amber Path, a method inherited from a person named Qiao. Its core practice is to excavate, extract, and seal one's own “Divinity” in order to preserve sanity while confronting Aberrations. 281

During the Pipe Network investigation, Klaus led Lu Yuan, Reke, and Bolen to investigate a Copper Pillar. When the Gray Covenant attacked, he and Reke remained behind to fight, defeating or capturing most of the attackers while the leader escaped. 240 241 242

Later, Klaus survived an ambush by J, Jie, and Nine of the Gray Covenant despite Bronze City's inscriptions suppressing his power. Lu Yuan's use of Inscription Silver Sheets briefly lifted the suppression, allowing Klaus to wound the attackers and escape with the arriving Guardian's support. 318 319 320

Klaus eventually uncovered evidence that the Gray Covenant's actions were connected to the Person on the Wall and the Tower of Erudition. He helped dismantle a Gray Covenant stronghold, captured Nine and J, and reported the seizure of Wooden Men and a Seed to the Guardian. 339 340 341

After personally descending into the Abyss, Klaus confirmed that the Bronze Pillars had merged with a conscious mass of Flesh. He also stated that he had touched upon a path to the Fifth Order, though he feared he might not have enough time to complete it. 430 438

During the later collapse of Bronze City's defenses, Klaus remained on the front line against Ghouls, Flesh, and the spreading white mist. He returned to the Night Watch branch to rally frightened residents, then entered the Flesh-surrounded Inner City aboard the Sky-Seeking Fortress to bring a Fifth Order Potion to the Guardian and evacuate survivors. 450 459 466 467

Klaus ultimately did not consume the Fifth Order Eerie core he recovered during the final crisis. Although he was prepared to accept the cost of becoming permanently bound to Bronze City, Reke—also rendered as Leike—took the core and the Fifth Order Potion to attempt the advancement himself. 472

Following Bronze City's survival, Klaus oversaw reconstruction arrangements, received news of Imperial support and tax concessions, and planned to send Lu Yuan to the northern Knight Academy so that he could avoid Imperial scrutiny and study under experienced Knight Commanders. 502

Appearance

Klaus normally retains the appearance of an ordinary human despite being a Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary. He usually dresses in dark shirts or gray clothing and keeps his sleeves rolled to his elbows. 240 241 255

• Wears a dull, withered-bone-colored ring on his left ring finger, carved with fine patterns. 177
• His eyes gain a faint green glow when he uses his power. 241
• Cyan light can appear across the back of his hand. 255
• His transformed equipment manifests from the ring as bone weaponry and armor. 255 318 430
• While testing Lu Yuan's Greater Ghoulification cores, he could temporarily develop pale cyan-gray scales and a Ghoul-like aura. 258
• His Bone Armor can encase his entire body when facing major threats. 430 441

Personality

Klaus is controlled, pragmatic, and habitually restrained. He speaks in a flat, measured manner even under pressure, but his calmness conceals a readiness to act decisively against threats to Bronze City. 169 240 241

He is highly strategic. Klaus keeps Reke's true rank hidden, places tracking marks on enemies, prepares evacuation contingencies, and coordinates forces from multiple factions when the city faces a larger crisis. 236 257 323 356

Despite his bluntness, Klaus is protective of the Night Watchers under his command. He gives Lu Yuan defensive resources, shields the secrecy of Lu Yuan's prescription-making ability, worries about Franz's Sanity damage, and orders Lu Yuan out of Bronze City rather than treating a Second Order combatant as expendable. 236 312 385 391

Klaus has a strong sense of responsibility toward Bronze City's civilians as well as its defenders. He personally addresses panicked residents to encourage them during the city's collapse, prioritizes evacuation from the Tower of Erudition, and continues to seek treatment for the Guardian despite the danger involved. 450 466 467

Abilities & Skills

Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary

Klaus is a powerful Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary who has remained mostly human despite deep involvement with the Weird path. 240 241

• Can release a high-risk contamination aura. 241
• Retains his human form rather than undergoing an obvious bodily transformation. 241
• Is vulnerable to Bronze City's inscription-based suppression. 318 319
• Is vulnerable to corruption from Rotating Inscriptions, which can invade and distort his Transcendence. 441
• His path carries the long-term risk of degeneration into a monster. 240
• Can temporarily assume a pseudo-Ghoulified state through Lu Yuan's linked Ghoul Brain Core inscriptions, though the transformation consumes one of the cores after use. 258

Green Crystallization

Klaus channels green energy that crystallizes targets and contaminated matter.

• Crystallizes wounds inflicted by his Bone Sword. 319
• Can spread crystals through liquid-based attacks and force opponents to shed affected material. 319
• Used green crystals to restrain a special Ghoul. 419 420
• Crystallized a Gray Covenant deputy during the Pipe Network battle. 242
• Can fire green crystal fragments as projectiles, using one to pin and kill a Great Ghoul. 441
• Can crystallize portions of his own corrupted power or armor to prevent contamination from spreading further. 441

Afterimages

Klaus creates multiple delayed afterimages during combat.

• Uses afterimages to evade attacks and confuse opponents. 241 319
• Can sacrifice an afterimage to reverse damage inflicted on his body. 319 320
• The number of remaining afterimages limits how many severe injuries he can negate. 319
• Used afterimages to block Nine's escape routes during the Gray Covenant stronghold battle. 337
• Can position an Afterimage at a distant location and use it to move himself and a nearby ally deeper into the Abyss. 430

Amber Path

Klaus's personal path centers on managing the Divinity within himself.

• Extracts and seals Divinity gradually to maintain sanity. 281
• Was developed from teachings associated with Qiao and refined through Klaus's own long-term notes. 281
• May provide a route toward the Fifth Order. 438
• Leike considers the path and its direction unusually clean, giving Klaus the possibility of reaching an uncorrupted Fifth Order rather than degenerating as the Guardian did. 472

Leadership and Strategy

Klaus is an experienced operational commander and political negotiator.

• Secretly deployed Reke as a Fourth Order bodyguard and observer. 236
• Organized reinforcements, noble negotiations, and possible evacuation plans when Bronze City became unstable. 257
• Coordinated the descent into the Abyss between the Night Watch, Church, Ascension Society, and other Fourth Order combatants. 356 357
• Pressured merchants and nobles into committing resources to Bronze City's defense. 398
• Prepared specialized anti-Forest Seed weaponry before the planned assault. 404
• Led the second assault team against the Forest Seeds. 404
• Directed the evacuation of Tower of Erudition survivors through the Sky-Seeking Fortress during the Inner City crisis. 467
• Oversees post-crisis reconstruction and the reorganization of Night Watch personnel. 502

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Withered Bone Ring — A patterned ring worn on his left ring finger; manifests and retracts Klaus's bone weaponry. 177 255
• Bone Sword — A man-height bone blade infused with green crystallizing energy. 318 319
• Bone Hammer — A weapon form that retracts into the Bone Ring after use. 255
• Bone Armor — Armor manifested during his deeper descent into the Abyss. 430
• Ghost-Suppressing Bell — A bell used alongside his Bone Sword against a special Fourth Order Ghoul. 419
• Sealing Disk — A headquarters artifact Klaus borrowed through personal connections and gave to Lu Yuan. It suppresses Extraordinary activity within ten meters for thirty seconds per use, with three total uses. 236
• Tracking Marks — Marks placed on Jie and Nine after their ambush, intended to lead Klaus to the Gray Covenant. 323
• Tracking Crystal — A tracking tool used by Klaus's force to identify the location of the Gray Covenant's Inner City workshop. 333
• Fifth Order Potion — An Empire-supplied potion Klaus carried into the Inner City in an attempt to save the Guardian. 438 457 466

Relationships

• Lu Yuan — Subordinate and trusted operative. Klaus equips him for dangerous missions, assigns him independent command, protects the secrecy of his unusual medical aptitude, and relies on his intelligence reports. He later arranges for Lu Yuan to enter the northern Knight Academy for safety and further study. 236 302 385 391 502
• Reke / Leike — Klaus's concealed Fourth Order Weird Extraordinary operative. Reke poses as an ordinary Second Rank Night Watcher and serves as Klaus's watcher, bodyguard, and combat ally. During the final crisis, Leike defies Klaus by seizing a Fifth Order core and Potion to advance himself in an attempt to save Bronze City; Klaus later remains concerned about his condition during his fusion with Hope. 236 241 242 472 502
• Glock — Night Watch associate who coordinates branch operations with Klaus and remains involved in major investigations. 220 240 321
• Bolen — Inscription specialist and expedition ally. Klaus accepts Bolen's expertise during Copper Pillar investigations. 240
• The Guardian — A senior Night Watch predecessor and Fifth Order Weird Extraordinary. Klaus respects his authority, reports major discoveries to him, and seeks ways to help his failing condition. Klaus later attempts to administer a Fifth Order Potion to him, but the Guardian refuses it. 240 341 438 466
• Laurina — A Night Watch contractor whom Klaus personally protects from the Tower of Erudition's attempts to reclaim her. 156
• Adrian — Church representative who plans the Abyss descent alongside Klaus and the Great Ascendant. 356 357
• The Great Ascendant — Ascension Society leader and strategic counterpart in operations beneath Bronze City. 356 404
• The Blue Knight — Earl Helmut's Fourth Order Believer Transcendent and a key combat ally during the Abyss and Inner City crises. Klaus works alongside her in the battle against Ghouls and Flesh, and she accompanies him into the Tower of Erudition to rescue the Earl and the Guardian. 419 430 459 466
• Arthur Heinz — Imperial special-appointed Inspector initially suspected by Klaus of collaborating with the Person on the Wall. Klaus cautiously accepts Arthur's explanation and works with him during the Abyss crisis; Arthur later sacrifices himself to complete the fourth fishing operation. 339 356 466
• Earl Helmut — Noble ally who supports Klaus's authority and contributes private knights to Bronze City's defense. 398 439
• Jie, J, and Nine — Gray Covenant Fourth Order enemies who ambushed Klaus; he later hunted them through the tracking marks he left on Jie and Nine. 318 323 337

Story Role / Major Arcs

Pipe Network and Copper Pillar Investigation

Klaus personally joins the investigation of a Copper Pillar after reports of Seeds and Alienation Extraordinaries. He reveals Reke's true identity to Lu Yuan and confronts the Gray Covenant in the Pipe Network. 236 240 241

Tower of Erudition Crisis

Klaus confronts the Tower of Erudition over the River of Light and its forbidden experiment. He refuses to immediately destroy the Tower, instead preparing Night Watch contingencies while investigating its connection to a Forbidden Land. 255 257 259

Gray Covenant Conflict

After the Gray Covenant's assassination attempt, Klaus survives a three-on-one Fourth Order ambush, uses his Afterimages to reverse lethal damage, and later helps dismantle the faction's local stronghold. 318 319 320 337 339

Abyss Descent and Bronze City Defense

Klaus organizes the descent into Bronze City's Abyss, investigates the Flesh beneath the Bronze Pillars, and assumes a central command role as the city's defenses collapse under Ghoul attacks, spreading Flesh, and Eerie phenomena. 356 357 430 438 439

He continues to fight during the city's later collapse, confronts the danger posed by Rotating Inscriptions and the Mist Traveler's fog, and rallies civilians at the Night Watch branch while the Guardian and the Person on the Wall clash over the Inner City. 441 450

Inner City Rescue

When the Inner City becomes surrounded by Flesh, Klaus chooses to enter it via the Sky-Seeking Fortress to deliver medicine to the Guardian and rescue trapped residents. 459

At the Tower of Erudition, Klaus finds the Guardian almost wholly transformed into an Eerie and unsuccessfully attempts to make him take the Fifth Order Potion. He then signals the Sky-Seeking Fortress to evacuate the Earl, Hilde Winter, the Guardian, and other survivors as Lu Yuan remains behind to delay the Crown of Ten Thousand Kings. 466 467

Aftermath and Reconstruction

After Bronze City's victory, Klaus coordinates the rebuilding effort, receives Imperial promises of reinforcements and economic support, checks on Leike's fusion with Hope, and arranges for Lu Yuan to continue his growth at the Knight Academy. 502

Trivia

• Klaus's ring reacts to the strange stone recovered near the Copper Pillar. 240
• His booklet preserves a handwritten dedication from Qiao, suggesting that Qiao was personally important to him. 281
• Klaus keeps extensive preparations for major threats, including Alchemy Cannons, Mithril-infused armor, Furnace Fire Sprayers, and Copper Bait Minefields. 404
• He was prepared to consume a Fifth Order Eerie core during Bronze City's final crisis, despite knowing that doing so would bind him permanently to the city and restrict his future path. 472