Bernal

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Bernal Krog (贝纳尔)
Alias(es)	Narl 121
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Krog Family; former Thorn Ring prodigy associated with the Silver Thorn 82 83
Occupation/Role	Wizard, bloodline researcher, alchemist, Krog Family protector, and Dago’s mentor-like ally 89 90 96
Status	Alive; his soul decay is nearly cured following a breakthrough in Bloodline Purification research 418
First Appearance	Chapter 77

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Three-Knot Rank prodigy; nearing Fifth-Knot Rank	83 114	Formerly set the Thorn Ring record for fastest promotion to Three Knots and came close to achieving a Fifth-Knot evaluation.
Late First-Ring Wizard	77 83	Severe soul injuries reduced him below the Second Ring and left his strength in continual decline.
Recovering strength and vitality	418	Bloodline Purification research rejuvenates his body and nearly resolves his soul decay; his restored rank is not stated.

Background / History

Bernal was once one of the Thorn Ring’s most celebrated geniuses. He lived on the seventh floating island, rose through the Three-Knot Rank faster than anyone before him, and nearly reached Fifth-Knot status. His advancement relied on the Ancient Battle Wizard path, which fused body and spirit through continual combat; after exhausting his natural potential, he began burning his soul’s origin and suffered lasting damage. 83 114 138

His wife, an official Thorn Ring member, fell into an eternal sleep in the Ring Tower library after apparently losing her soul. Bernal believes the Thorns of Pain were responsible because they coveted the Krog Family’s inherited magical imprint. He preserved her body in a rune-covered crystal coffin while seeking a means to recover her soul. 77

The Thorns of Pain’s schemes eventually drove Bernal out of the Thorn Ring and left him politically isolated. His soul injury weakened him to the Late First Ring, yet he returned to sponsor Dago’s entrance into the organization in exchange for help investigating the Thorns of Pain and the possibility of restoring his wife. 77 82 83

When the Thorns of Pain assaulted Krog Castle, Bernal fought alone to defend Selena and refused to surrender the family inheritance despite torture with the Pain Dagger. Dago’s arrival prevented Bernal and Selena from being killed. 85 86 87

Afterward, Bernal brought Dago and Selena to the Krog Family’s deteriorating miniature secret realm. There, he became Dago’s instructor in Thorn Ring hierarchy, domain resonance, cultivation theory, and political survival, while Dago became essential to Bernal’s research and family’s protection. 89 96

Bernal’s later experiments produced the God-Prison Blood Tree, a bloodline-purification tool cultivated with rare materials and powerful blood. He eventually used its results on himself, restoring his vitality and creating Bloodline Deduction to identify a viable path for Dago’s third Bloodline Purification. 98 182 418

Appearance

Bernal is a tall, burly wizard with a heroic face and a weathered presence shaped by injury and prolonged hardship. His soul decay once made him appear prematurely aged, but successful bloodline research later restored him to the appearance of a sturdy young man with thick brown hair. 85 242 418

• Roots can emerge from his skin to form vine armor and leaf-like facial markings in battle. 85
• His combat Soul Imprint manifests as a massive Silver Tree marked by black, worm-eaten-looking spots. 86
• Before his recovery, old and fresh scars visibly reflected his long history of conflict and soul damage. 89
• After rejuvenation, he retains the oil-stained white shirt and practical appearance of a working researcher. 418

Personality

Bernal is cynical, blunt, and often deliberately provocative, but he is also dependable when he gives his word. He openly explains the exploitative side of wizard society to Dago, encourages him to compete for resources, and offers pragmatic solutions rather than empty reassurance. 79 84 96

His greatest vulnerability is his devotion to his wife. Her condition drives his hatred of the Thorns of Pain, his dangerous Old One research, and his willingness to risk cooperation with Dago despite distrusting him. 77 90

Bernal approaches crises with the mentality of a scholar and experimenter. He records anomalous phenomena, treats intuition as environmental analysis rather than mysticism, and remains focused even when Dago’s transformed bloodline nearly kills him. 212 213

He is fiercely protective of Selena and the Krog Family’s remaining legacy. Though he trains Selena harshly, he shields her from attackers and insists on bearing the family’s suffering himself. 85 86

Abilities & Skills

Silver Tree Soul Imprint

Bernal’s Soul Imprint manifests as a black-spotted Silver Tree capable of both large-scale defense and lethal projectile attacks. 86

• Expands into a giant tree phantom to shield Bernal and Krog Castle from Dren’s Howling Hurricane. 86
• Produces Silver Leaf Blades, which strike like silver throwing knives and can break through enemy spells and barriers. 86
• Extends branches to intercept magical artifacts and fireballs. 86
• Becomes unstable and sluggish during prolonged combat because of his soul injury. 86

Plant and Vine Magic

Bernal uses roots, seeds, and thorny vegetation for ambushes, defense, and battlefield control. 85

• Forms vine armor directly across his body. 85
• Condenses roots into a massive club-like pillar capable of pulverizing a courtyard wall and seriously wounding an enemy through it. 85
• Scatters enchanted seeds to create fields of thorny vines that restrict enemy movement. 85
• His magic output rapidly weakens when he aggravates his soul injury. 85

Battle Wizard Expertise

Bernal once followed the Ancient Battle Wizard path, using repeated combat to strengthen his body, spirit, and Soul Completion. 138

• His former advancement was exceptionally rapid due to constant battle. 138
• The path became destructive after he exceeded his natural potential and began burning his soul’s origin. 138
• His own decline makes him especially qualified to warn Dago against allowing ambition or despair to dictate his actions. 96 138

Alchemy, Runes, and Bloodline Research

Bernal is proficient in several secondary professions and uses research as his primary means of overcoming his damaged condition. 90

• Claims skill in forging, alchemy, medicine-making, enchanting, and rune engraving. 90
• Brews rare high-grade mental-strength potions for Dago. 91
• Maintains and repairs the Krog Family’s miniature folded-space refuge with rune techniques. 89 158
• Developed and cultivated the God-Prison Blood Tree, using it for bloodline analysis and purification. 98 182
• Created Bloodline Deduction, a heart-inscribed rune-array method that tests possible purification routes while risking irreversible Origin Depletion. 418

Wizarding Theory and Instruction

Despite his weakened combat strength, Bernal remains an unusually knowledgeable instructor. 89

• Explains the Thorn Ring’s Knot Rating system, resource competition, and age restrictions in ancient secret realms. 84 89
• Introduces Dago to First-Level Domain Resonance and the connection among the soul, Soul Imprint, domain, and Spirit World. 89
• Advises Dago to exploit Thorn Ring rules by challenging higher-ranked members rather than allowing enemies to sabotage him unchecked. 96
• Recognizes the dangers of Dago’s despair-based power and warns him to retain emotional control. 96

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Crystal coffin — A rune-inscribed crystal coffin that preserves his wife’s body through ice-based protective formations. 77
• Wand — Used to direct his Silver Tree and Silver Leaf Blade magic. 86
• Enchanted seeds — Grow into thorny vines for battlefield control. 85
• Soul Atoms — Consumed to ease the pain caused by his soul injury. 86
• Krog Family miniature secret realm — A collapsing folded-space refuge containing a potion garden, laboratory, training ground, living area, and library. 89
• God-Prison Blood Tree — His principal bloodline-research creation; it later grows large enough to overwhelm most of the secret realm. 98 418

Relationships

• Dago Heka — Sponsor, ally, researcher’s partner, and mentor-like figure. Bernal sponsors Dago’s Thorn Ring entry, teaches him cultivation principles, relies on him in emergencies, and develops bloodline research around Dago’s future advancement. 77 89 108 418
• Selena Krog — Younger sister. Bernal protects her fiercely, trains her harshly to survive wizard society, and depends on Dago when she becomes trapped in a secret realm. 85 86 108
• Unnamed wife — Sleeping wife whose lost soul motivates Bernal’s revenge, research, and determination to capture or study Old Ones. 77 90
• Carl Paul — Former junior or close associate whom Bernal trusted enough to ask for Dago’s protection. Carl later proves connected to the betrayal of Bernal’s wife and downfall. 83 122
• Thorns of Pain — Hostile faction Bernal believes caused his wife’s condition, inflicted severe soul injuries upon him, expelled him from the Thorn Ring, and seeks the Krog Family’s inherited imprint. 77 82 83
• Jarliden — Three-Knot Thorns of Pain wizard who covets the Krog Family inheritance and targets Dago as part of the wider conflict with Bernal. 82 89
• Chaplin — Bernal’s former rival, now a Fourth-Rank Rating wizard allied with Jarliden against Dago. 96
• Undine — Silver Tower Master who knew Bernal personally and explains the self-destructive cost of his Ancient Battle Wizard path. 138

Notable Quotes

“Youth is your greatest bargaining chip. Put it on the table and make good use of it. When it's time to fight, fight. Never retreat or show mercy.” 84

“Resources, inheritances, reputation, connections—you have to fight for everything!” 84

“A Soul Imprint is a bridge between the will of the soul and deep resonance with the Spirit World.” 89