Claude

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Claude (克劳德)
Alias(es)	Xu Lin (past-life name); Claude White; Claude Ait; Kataviyals 2 47 87
Species/Race	Kuranta 23 35
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Reunion Movement / Chernobog; Silverlance Pegasi
Occupation/Role	Knight, Transcendent, military commander, deputy captain of the Silverlance Pegasi 39 64
Status	Active 105
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Sixth-rank Transcendent (past life)	2	Reached “demigod” status in his former world; a thrown spear could shatter a mountain peak, while a sword swing could split the earth.
First stage of the Transcendent path	6	Cultivated chaotic energy gathered during a Catastrophe, integrating it into his bones to reinforce his skeleton and resistance to impact.
Second stage of the Transcendent path	11 12	Began training in an Ursus mine. His strength became abnormally high for the stage, allowing him to uproot and lift a massive partly buried boulder.
Third stage of the Transcendent path	33	Reached the stage after cultivating for three weeks inside a warship’s high-density Originium engine room; strengthened his brain and nerves, improving senses, reaction speed, and learning ability.

Background / History

Claude is the reincarnated Xu Lin, a former sixth-rank Transcendent from another world. He was sent to train as a First Legion reserve at eight years old and spent most of his prior life in warfare, eventually becoming an aerial knight and commander. His memories include the Human Empire’s brutal expansionist wars and his admiration for an emperor who combined military conquest with material security for imperial citizens. 2 9 37 79

In Terra, Claude presents himself as the survivor of an impoverished hereditary knight family: after his parents’ deaths, he claims to have sold the family estate and gone to Kazimierz to make a living. He initially enters the knight competitions for prize money and to repay Kowal for his equipment. 3 5

Appearance

Claude is a tall, sharp-featured young man with golden eyes and a physique exceptional even by Rhodes Island’s standards. He bears few visible scars despite his military history, relying on refined combat instincts, durable armor, and regeneration to avoid lasting injury. 30 35 98

• Usually wears heavy black knight armor and carries multiple belts and pouches for categorized supplies. 20
• Uses a black-and-gold, winged knight helmet; Maria made it for him, and Claude considers it a permanent possession. 20
• Often wears a black fur cloak lined with red silk, made by Alina. 10
• When avoiding attention in cities, dresses in a white shirt, black trousers, boots, and a gray trench coat, with his hair tied back. 86

Personality

Claude is composed, disciplined, and intensely practical. He refuses to compromise his honor for corporate sponsorship, but he is equally direct about fighting for money when he needs it. His habits—maintaining his equipment, organizing his belongings, rising quickly, and keeping himself combat-ready—reflect a life structured around warfare. 2 3 14 20

He is merciful toward people who are no longer a threat, including desperate Infected, surrendered gangsters, and children who initially attack him. However, he can be extremely ruthless toward enemies he judges irredeemable, particularly assassins, mercenaries, and oppressive forces. 12 17 18 25 89

As a commander, Claude recognizes the limits of his own knowledge and favors preparation, reliable allies, logistics, and disciplined organization over reckless idealism. He has little experience with romance; decades of war left him more comfortable with weapons, armor, strategy, and combat than emotional uncertainty. 9 30 104 105

Abilities & Skills

Transcendent Physiology

Claude’s cultivation grants strength, resilience, speed, perception, and regenerative capacity far beyond normal combatants. Rhodes Island’s medical staff found his body tougher than a Vouivre’s and his mental processing and reaction speed nearly comparable to Abyssal Hunters. 12 33 35

• Can lift massive boulders and crack pavement while stopping at speed. 12 62
• Can break through a brick wall with a gauntleted arm without damaging his armor. 89
• Uses heightened senses to detect emotions, track footprints, hear distant voices, and notice approaching people without seeing them. 38 61 83
• Possesses strong regenerative abilities and declined a mechanical replacement after losing a hand, trusting his body to recover. 68 103

Originium Arts

Claude channels lightning through Originium mechanisms installed in his weapons. His Arts can coat weapons in electricity or discharge lightning outward, making them especially effective against metal armor. 2 3

• Electrifies his sword during close-quarters combat. 3
• Can release lightning from weapon mechanisms rather than directly casting without equipment. 2
• Later manifests a physical black warhorse that he can control and ride; others can ride it under his control. 48

Lance and Swordsmanship

Claude is an elite lancer and swordsman whose technique combines fluid footwork, precise deflections, rapid counters, and overwhelming physical force. He defeated every opponent in his first tournament free-for-all and later overcame twenty Iron Guard soldiers in under a minute during training. 3 43

• Employs lance charges, spear strikes, throwing spears, longsword techniques, and unarmed attacks. 2 3 18
• Can fight through large formations while heavily armored. 32
• Uses measured force when necessary, incapacitating hundreds of gangsters without killing them. 89
• Prefers a helmet in dangerous situations due to prior experience with skilled snipers. 36

Command and Military Training

Claude reorganizes forces according to Imperial military doctrine and is regarded as the central figure of the Reunion Movement’s army. His army eventually numbers ten thousand soldiers, while his personal Iron Guard receive direct instruction from him. 30 39 43 96

• Emphasizes discipline, unity, trust, logistics, and tactical awareness. 30 43 54
• Trains individual operators, soldiers, officers, and young knights in combat fundamentals and battlefield roles. 5 36 64
• Personally instructs Talulah in greatsword use, footwork, weapon control, and awareness. 33
• Rapidly memorized Lungmen’s complex sewer and maintenance maps to coordinate a search for Koschei. 101

Runes

Claude understands rune-based techniques and teaches others to infuse mental strength into rune patterns. 36

• Offered rune tutoring to Maria. 60
• Taught Centaurea and Ceobe rune fundamentals, though both struggled with the practice. 36
• Uses runic security measures, including a room-wide rune activation before discussing confidential past-life information. 47

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Knight’s lance — A three-meter spear with a composite shaft around a steel core, a D32 Steel spearhead, and reinforced blade-like plates beneath the head. Its shaft separates into two sections for transport. 2
• Throwing spears — D32 Steel-tipped consumable lances designed by Claude and made by Kowal. 2
• Mercy — An evil, sentient longsword capable of changing form and weight within fixed limits. It absorbs blood from slain enemies, repairs damage to itself, and has gradually become able to convey simple words to Claude. 18 25 64
• Heavy black armor — Claude’s standard battlefield armor, worn with belts for his sword, throwing lances, supplies, and tools. 20 30
• Winged helmet — A black-and-gold helmet with upward-sweeping steel wings, made for Claude by Maria. 20
• Black fur cloak — A knee-length black-fur cloak with red silk lining, crafted by Alina; Claude also wears cloaks to regulate his temperature and project an imposing image. 10 86
• Massive beast fangs — Eight forearm-length teeth taken as trophies after a Silverlance Pegasi hunt. 64

Relationships

• Margaret Nearl — Ally and like-minded knight. Claude supports her effort to restore knighthood’s ideals, intentionally loses the tournament final so she can become the Radiant Knight, and later vows to help her reform Kazimierz. 3 6 60
• Centaurea — Initially Claude’s servant while secretly surveilling him for the Armorless Union. He saves her from the Union’s assassins, after which she returns to his side as a trusted companion; she later develops romantic feelings for him. 4 6 43
• Talulah — Political and military ally. Claude advises her resistance movement, teaches her swordsmanship, and works alongside her in leading Chernobog and the Reunion Movement. 9 33 93
• Maria Nearl — Claude’s apprentice in swordsmanship and later rune studies. He treats her with patient but demanding mentorship. 5 7 60
• Patriot (Boccas) — Initially distrustful of Claude’s ambitions, Patriot becomes a comrade after Claude proves himself and helps secure treatment for Yelena. They fight and prepare campaigns together. 11 28 54
• Yelena — A trusted companion and Patriot’s daughter. Claude reassures her over her guilt, travels with her, and supports efforts to preserve her health. 28 35 101
• Ceobe — A childlike companion toward whom Claude is protective. He promises to take her with him once she recovers and later teaches her runes. 23 36
• Hart — Claude’s former griffin from his past life, reincarnated as Hellagur’s daughter. Their bond remains deeply affectionate across worlds. 47
• Hellagur — Hart’s father. He initially confronts Claude in defense of Hart, then accepts Claude’s explanation and receives his trust and protection. 47 48
• Alina — Reunion Movement ally and administrator. She made Claude’s black-and-red cloak and helps manage Chernobog’s development plans. 10 93 94
• Amiya and Kal'tsit — Rhodes Island partners. Claude signs a long-term contract for Oripathy suppressants and later cooperates with them on larger strategic matters. 21 38
• The Doctor — A strategic counterpart whom Claude regards as a kind, upright person after discussing military plans. 43
• Cyril Nearl — Former leader of the Silverlance Pegasi who assists Claude’s entry into the order and shares his wish to help Margaret and Kazimierz. 60
• Kowal — Armorer and early supporter who crafts Claude’s weapons and remains a close acquaintance after Claude’s rise. 2 61

Story Role / Major Arcs

Great Knight Territory

Claude arrives in Kazimierz, receives his lance and armor from Kowal, and enters the Great Knight Tournament. He overwhelms the first round, allies with Margaret Nearl, and helps her secure the championship by intentionally losing the final. He then prevents the Armorless Union’s assassination attempt against her. 2 3 6

Ursus and the Infected

Seeking more chaotic energy, Claude travels to Ursus. Witnessing the Empire’s treatment of the Infected gives him a new purpose: oppose oppression through an organized force rather than isolated acts. He rescues mine workers, begins his second-stage cultivation, and recruits Skov, Ino, and Sasha. 10 11 12

Rise of the Reunion Movement

Claude earns Patriot’s trust, reorganizes the movement under Imperial military principles, and develops it into a disciplined army. By the time preparations begin for Chernobog, he commands ten thousand soldiers and serves as the organization’s military center. 14 30 39 40

Chernobog Command

After Chernobog comes under his control, Claude leads its military defense, assigns mercenary support roles, oversees civic development, and works with Talulah and Alina to relocate slum residents. 54 56 93 94

Return to Kazimierz

Claude returns to Kazimierz to join the Silverlance Pegasi with Cyril Nearl’s help. He earns the order’s respect through military competence, becomes deputy captain, inspires Infected knights, and helps dismantle the Armorless Union after its renewed assassination campaign. 60 61 63 64 66

Lungmen Operations

Claude travels to Lungmen to deliver news of Talulah to Ch'en Hui-chieh, becomes involved in conflict within the city’s slums, and later directs Black Mantle Shadow Guards in the pursuit of Koschei through Lungmen’s underground infrastructure. 87 89 101 103

Notable Quotes

“Just a knight. Go get some sleep.” 9

“I will help them. With all my strength, wisdom, and everything I have, I will help them. I will change this country with her and breathe new life into it. That is my promise, and my oath.” 60

Trivia

• Claude considers armor, weapons, and combat competition to be his principal interests; peaceful leisure initially leaves him unsure how to occupy himself. 71
• He is an accomplished chess player and seeks strong opponents. 37
• He taps nearby surfaces—or Mercy’s hilt—when thinking. 104
• Claude dislikes extreme heat despite being able to endure severe cold in armor. 35 98