Abyssal Hunters
The Abyssal Hunters are a Terran organization. They are a band of Aegirian supersoldiers composing of Aegir-Seaborn hybrids whose mission is to keep the Seaborn in check and prevent their invasion of the land. Their eerie background makes them both mysterious and dangerous to the land-dwellers of Terra.
Background
The conception of the Abyssal Hunter could be traced back to the ninth Terran century in the early stage of the Seaborn crisis. Ekladious, a Consul of the Institute of Societal and Administrative Supervision, had suffered from diseases due to his old age, and he believed that genetic modification on humans was the only way to make them perfect in order to protect their homeland from the Seaborn. However, Aegir had long been holding the belief that genetic modification is the greatest taboo that could usurp their long-adorned humanistic value; many perceive that a perfect, healthy man is not a robot that can be simply replaced by machinery parts. In turn, Ekladious argued that Aegir is running out of time from the Seaborn invasion as these monsters are not just pesky invasive pests but a whole new lifeform that could greatly alter their environment. Ekladious’ proposal eventually did not come into being due to pressures from his colleagues and family, and he responded to his failure by formally resigning from his office.[2]
For the next two centuries, there had been heated debates over weaponization of genetic modification. It was only in the most recent twenty years in the 1080s when the Aegirian consuls finally gave a green light in conducting bio-engineering weapons to respond to the ever-increasing threat from the Seaborn, and Ulpianus volunteered to become the first subject in the experiment.[3] Through perfect technologies, these chosen subjects became the "Abyssal Hunters" Many were amazed by their technological supremacy to create a perfect hybrid, while others remain skeptical that Aegir is willing to sacrifice its value in exchange to create these "monsters." Even the Aegirian military remained highly cautious over the Abyssal Hunters by supervising them and killing them when necessary if they went rampage.
In 1095, Aegir managed to identify a Leviathan named "Ishar-mla." With full preparation, they unleashed its entire Abyssal Hunters force to destroy It in hope to end the Seaborn crisis once and for all. However, Aegir underestimated the number of the Leviathans, and the battle resulted in the total annihilation of the Abyssal Hunters. During that tragic battle, the First and Fourth Squads were immediately destroyed by the wave of Seaborn, and others quickly went missing in action, leaving only the Second Squad ambushing in their nest. The battle in Its nests was described more as a deadly "feast" to the Seaborn to bait them out of the nests. Despite succeeding in delivering a fatal blow upon Ishar-mla, none of the warriors survived from the aftermath.[4][5] Given its severe casualties, Aegir quickly shut down the Abyssal Hunter project and shifted towards other methods in repealing the Seaborn.
In 1100, after five years of missing, the surviving Abyssal Hunters finally returned to Aegir, bringing surprising news to many Aegirians. Nevertheless, they keep suspicion over the Aegirian Consuls as they have uncovered that their government bodies have long been infiltrated by the nefarious Church of the Deep.
Organization
The Abyssal Hunters consist of Aegir-Seaborn hybrid "super soldiers" created by the Aegirians as a countermeasure against the Seaborn, hence its name that derives from the Seaborn's origin.[4] The process of creating Abyssal Hunters contains many different advanced procedures, and the candidates are chosen from among the whole Aegir population, regardless of their previous status or occupation.
Abyssal Hunters possess unusually high physical strength, endurance, and speed, far surpassing regular Terrans. Their physical and psychological engineering is necessary to withstand the Seaborn's might and horror. They exclusively use "primitive" melee weapons to emphasize their physical prowess as well as preventing their enemies from evolving countermeasures against their advanced technologies. Unfortunately, a hunter’s Seaborn blood can overtake their Aegir blood if left unchecked (as in the case of Skadi the Corrupting Heart), which can lead to their transformation into the monsters they despise. Symptoms of such transformation include lack of awareness for their surroundings, loss of consciousness, and Seaborn scales occupying their bodies.[4][6]
Aside from their unimaginable strength and stamina, all known Abyssal Hunters possess white hair and red eyes, likely a sign of a successful merge with the Seaborn. However, Andreana, another hunter, lacks the traits listed above. And as such, is treated as a failed product; it is hinted that she might have been created by the notorious Church of the Deep. Abyssal Hunters are also entirely incapable of using Originium Arts, unlike normal Aegir people, as a result of their hybridization with the Seaborn.
Members
| Character | Information | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Noted to be the first and oldest Abyssal Hunter. Leader of the 3rd Company. | Alive | |
| Daughter of Horatia. Leader of the 2nd Company and Aegir's representative in Rhodes Island. | Alive | |
| Assigned to the 3rd Company. Worked as a bounty hunter before being employed by R.I. | Alive | |
| Real name Laurentina, the only Infected Abyssal Hunter after being experimented upon by the Church of the Deep. | Alive | |
| Specter who regained her sanity following the hunt for the Stultifera Navis, believed to be induced by her Seaborn blood that suppresses her Oripathy. | Alive | |
| The only Abyssal Hunter not native to Aegir, believed to be a failed result of the Church of the Deep's attempt to replicate the Abyssal Hunters. Joined R.I. as a bodyguard of Incandescence. | Alive |
Secunda would have been an Abyssal Hunter if her request was not rejected by Ulpianus and Blandus, despite her being the one of the most talented candidates.
Other members
- Celsus†: An Abyssal Hunter known for being the youngest commander of an Aegirian scientific exploration fleet.
- Flavius†: A seaweed breeding technician who volunteered to the Abyssal Hunters program.
- Lunia†: An Abyssal Hunter who worked as an exotic organism researcher.
- Nona†: An Aegirian songwriter who volunteered to the Abyssal Hunters program.
- An unnamed Hunter assigned to the 3rd Company who was swarmed by the Seaborn after casting away his sledgehammer in order to protect Skadi from a bony projectile during their fight with Ishar'mla.[7]
- An unnamed Hunter assigned to the 2nd Company who, after being severely wounded, decided to stay behind to let her comrades approach Ishar'mla.[8]
Interactions
Skills/talents
| Operator | Subject | Interaction |
|---|---|---|
 | Abyssal Intuition |
Increases the ASPD of Abyssal Hunters Operators (including Andreana herself) while Andreana is in the squad.
|
 | Waves of Ægir |
|
 | Abyssal Predator |
|
 | Predatory Habits |
The base ATK buff is doubled if an Abyssal Hunters Operator is within the range of the Corrupting Heart or Skadi's Seaborn. |
 | Experiences Dissolved in Blood |
While deployed, increases the damage dealt by all Abyssal Hunter Operators.
|
 | Ægir's Depths |
|
 | Nourish the Blood |
Half of the maximum HP and ATK increase is applied to other Abyssal Hunters so long as Ulpianus remains on the map. |
Base skills
| Operator | Base skill | Interaction |
|---|---|---|
|  Tide Observation |
While Gladiia is in the Control Center:
|
 Group Hunting α |
While Gladiia is in the Control Center, Abyssal Hunters Operators in Factories increase its respective productivity by 5% for every Abyssal Hunter in Factories, capping at 45% (overrides Cooperative Will but overriden by Automation and Bionic Seadragon). | |
 Group Hunting β |
While Gladiia is in the Control Center, Abyssal Hunters Operators in Factories increase its respective productivity by 10% for every Abyssal Hunter in Factories, capping at 90% (overrides Cooperative Will but overriden by Automation and Bionic Seadragon). | |
|  "Methods Should Be Effective" |
For every Abyssal Hunter assigned to facilities (those appointed as Base Assistants are excluded), the Specialization training speed increases by 10%, up to 5, while Ulpianus is assigned as the trainer in the Training Room. |
Trivia
- With the exceptions of Andreana and Skadi, members of the Abyssal Hunters are the only characters whose weight are listed in their Archives (albeit unknown).
- In addition, Gladiia and Skadi are the only characters whose physical evaluations have "■■" as its scores. (likely denoting that the value is immeasurable). Aside from that, they're the only other faction aside from the Sui fragments in which the entirety of their members' Arts Adaptability is listed as Flawed.
- In the beta version of Arknights, Blue Poison was listed as a member of the Abyssal Hunters.
- Andreana is the only member of Abyssal Hunters who do not share the trait of having red irises on their eyes.
References
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