Belloc

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Jim Belloc (贝洛克)
Alias(es)	Bloodhound; “Lean Dog” Jim
Species/Race	Human; later transformed into the Abomination [Blood-Thirsty Hound]
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Hound Gang (leader); Blood Cup Cult (collaborator)
Occupation/Role	Hound Bar owner; gang leader; First Mark [Thug] of the Path of Strife
Status	Deceased
First Appearance	7

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
First Mark — [Thug]	10	Previously ascended through a cruel ritual onto the Path of Strife, a branch of the [Blade] discipline. He remained at this level for years.
Second Seal — [Blood-Thirsty Hound]	16	After his death, the Blood Pool used Belloc’s corpse and unfinished [Blade] Mark to produce a [Strife]- and [Devour]-derived Abomination.

Background

Belloc grew up as “Lean Dog” Jim, an orphan on the streets of London. He expected a life of menial work, petty crime, and an unremarked death until a powerful figure noticed him during a street brawl. He survived subsequent trials, received the [Thug] Mark, and became an extraordinary individual feared as the “Bloodhound.” 12

He eventually became owner of Birmingham’s Hound Bar and leader of the Hound Gang. The gang operated an underground warehouse, smuggling contraband and firearms, and disposed of victims in the Blood Pool beneath the bar. 7 12

Belloc collaborated with the Blood Cup Cult, managing the Blood Pool and supplying it with blood and animal viscera disguised as “grapes.” In exchange, he expected an Essence of Blood that could alter his path and allow him to truly join the cult. 10 11 He was aware that discovery by the Prevention and Suppression Bureau would likely mean imprisonment or death. 10

Appearance

In human form, Belloc fought with a single-edged blade and was recognizable by his sharp teeth and intense yellow eyes. After the Second Seal, his remains became a malformed, canine-like Abomination.

• Human form
  • Carried a concealed single-edged blade. 10
  • Yellow eyes that dimmed after sustaining gunshot wounds. 11
  • His left palm bore a ritual scar that split open and bled when he prepared to wield his blade. 12
• [Blood-Thirsty Hound] form
  • A pale-red miasma surrounded its incomplete, distorted body. 16
  • Possessed five arms, six legs, a wet canine nose, and a barbed tongue. 16
  • Moved with extreme speed across floors and walls, leaving a crooked trail. 16
  • Had a gaping mouth capable of emitting scorching wind and blinding light. 16

Personality

Belloc was ambitious, resentful, and ruthlessly pragmatic. Having clawed his way out of poverty, he treated power as the only protection against returning to the helplessness of his childhood. His self-image as a “Bloodhound” reflected his refusal to relinquish any opportunity for advancement. 10 12

As a [Thug], he embraced violence as a solution to obstacles. When the Hound Bar’s exposure threatened the cult operation, he chose to accelerate the Blood Pool’s plan through mass slaughter rather than abandon it. 10

His confidence collapsed after Horn burned away most of his spirituality. Faced with death, he pleaded for his life, attempted to establish his usefulness, and offered intelligence on Blood Cup Cult rituals. 13 14

Abilities & Skills

[Thug] Mark

Belloc’s First Mark granted physical traits suited to close combat and confrontation.

• Felt little fear of pain; he regarded wounds as badges of honor. 12
• Possessed wolf-like agility and strong close-range combat ability. 11 12
• Drew strength from ambition, rebellion against authority, and inciting disorder. 12
• Had remained at the First Mark for years due to lacking reliable advancement knowledge and resources. 10

Blade Quenching

Belloc could coat his blade in a yellow light that strengthened it in combat.

• Used it while pursuing Horn at close range. 11
• Deflected three bullets aimed at his head with the flat of his blade. 11
• The effect weakened after exposure to the Blood Pool’s corrosive blood. 12
• His incomplete [Blade] Mark later fused into the Blood-Thirsty Hound’s body. 16

Blood-Based Recovery

Belloc used Blood Cup Cult resources to recover from injuries.

• Drank a concentrated crimson reagent to force a shoulder wound to expel a bullet and close. 11
• Carried two vials of [Healing Herbal Tea: Blood], which relieved pain, replenished blood, and aided healing. 12
• His recovery depended on consumables; Horn’s ignition later reduced him to ordinary physical strength. 12 13

[Blood-Thirsty Hound]

The Second Seal produced a mindless, hunger-driven Abomination from Belloc’s corpse.

• Crushed a Hound Gang member’s reason through its fear-inducing miasma. 16
• Tore out and consumed a victim’s throat. 16
• Tracked Horn by the scent of his blood. 16
• Demonstrated enough strength to destabilize heavy shelving and enough speed to rapidly pursue through the warehouse. 16
• Was ultimately destroyed by Horn’s [Apprentice’s Explosive]. 16

Equipment / Items

• Single-edged blade — Belloc’s primary weapon; used with Blade Quenching. 10 11
• Crimson recovery reagent — Expelled bullets and restored damaged flesh. 11
• [Healing Herbal Tea: Blood] — Blood-based healing consumable supplied by the Blood Cup Cult. 12
• Essence of Blood — A promised cult reward Belloc sought to change his path; it was delivered only after his death through the creation of the Blood-Thirsty Hound. 10 16

Relationships

• Horn Lancaster — Enemy and eventual killer. Horn infiltrated the Hound Bar, defeated Belloc, extracted cult intelligence from him, and later destroyed the Blood-Thirsty Hound created from his corpse. 11 13 16
• Blood Cup Cult — Belloc collaborated with the cult by collecting Scarlet Blood and maintaining its Birmingham Blood Pool; he hoped its promised Essence of Blood would enable his advancement. 10 14
• Hound Gang — Belloc’s criminal organization, operating from the Hound Bar and its underground warehouse. He was willing to sacrifice its members once they had served his plans. 7 10
• Martin — A zombie police officer who identified Belloc as the Hound Gang’s leader and offered to lead Horn to his warehouse. 7
• Emma Moore — The Prevention and Suppression Bureau credited Horn with Belloc’s death and paid a bounty for Belloc’s head. 21

Story Role / Major Arcs

Hound Bar and Blood Pool

Belloc oversees the Hound Bar’s Blood Pool, which feeds on patrons’ spirituality and supports the Blood Cup Cult’s ritual. When disturbances threaten exposure, he decides to accelerate the operation through a massacre in Birmingham. 9 10

Battle with Horn

Mistaking Horn’s disguise for that of a gang member, Belloc initially orders him to deliver “grapes” to the Blood Pool. He soon detects the deception and attacks. Despite being shot, Belloc heals, uses Blade Quenching to block bullets, and forces Horn into the Blood Pool. 11

Horn survives and ambushes him. Belloc’s obsession with overcoming his station pushes him toward the Second Seal, but Horn uses spirit-rich blood covering Belloc and his blade as fuel for the Flame of Destiny, burning away most of Belloc’s spirituality. 12 13

Interrogation and Death

Reduced to ordinary strength and severely burned, Belloc bargains for his life with information about the Blood Cup Cult’s Birmingham ritual. When he attempts to reveal the nearest ritual site, an unknown force triggers a violent change within him; his enlarged heart erupts and falls into the Blood Pool. 13 14

Birth and Destruction of the Blood-Thirsty Hound

The Blood Pool consumes Belloc’s body and integrates his unfinished [Blade] Mark with [Strife] and [Devour], creating the [Blood-Thirsty Hound]. The monster hunts Horn through the warehouse until Horn lures it into an [Apprentice’s Explosive], killing it. 16

Belloc’s remains are subsequently retrieved and consumed by the entity emerging from the Blood Pool. 17

Trivia

• Belloc’s original nickname, “Lean Dog,” came from his impoverished childhood in London. 12
• His “Bloodhound” title reflected both his persistence and his rise from street orphan to feared gang leader. 10 12
• The Prevention and Suppression Bureau offered a bounty for clearing out Blood Cup Cult collaborators; Horn received a gold coin for Belloc’s death. 21