Great Demon Hound

The moment Ji Ning stepped into the library, he felt as if time itself had paused for an instant. An uncanny sensation enveloped him, and he was certain that a hidden gaze lurked in every corner of this place. On the empty first-floor hall, only a few pallid students leafed silently through books. Ji Ning was about to approach and ask if they had seen two young girls, but as he drew near, one of the readers began muttering in a feverish tone: “Souls writhing in flesh are not to be despised. My master draws ever closer, the city bathed in blood. Cold steel entwined with living tissue, life sublimates in death...” The mad ramblings prompted Ji Ning to make a wise decision—he steered clear of these people, putting as much distance between himself and them as possible.

Casting his eyes about, Ji Ning let go of any curiosity to peruse the shelves. The labels alone—Ashen Trees and Blood, Dream-Speech of Calamity Beasts, Dream Counsel, Laughter and Merriment, Scorched Pages, Odd Tales of Wanderers, Malignant Fissures—gave the unmistakable sense that these books were under the watchful eye of something malicious. To open their pages might mean that an ordinary, unremarkable life would either be swept into an epic saga or become, before long, a mere after-dinner morsel for an indescribable presence.

“Ji Ning, over here.” The crisp voice of Aphra, clutching a stack of books, roused Ji Ning from his drowsy daze at the reading table.

Aphra placed her books on the table and, sneaking a snack as she turned the pages, busied herself with research. Catherine, meanwhile, opened her laptop, typed for a while, then turned the screen toward Ji Ning. “This is all the information we have so far. If you have any questions, ask me.” She removed her glasses and closed her eyes for a moment’s rest, looking more than a little weary.

Like ordinary Black Hounds, the Greater Hellhound resembles a large, wolf-like dog, with long, dense jet-black fur. Besides supernatural strength and speed, they possess the ability to move in absolute silence and can appear or vanish when unobserved. Their eyes are usually red or gold, glowing brightly in darkness or when agitated. They certainly live longer than ordinary dogs—perhaps even immortal. Most disturbing of all is their howl: loud enough to be heard for miles and so chilling that it can only be likened to someone walking over your grave.

The distinction between Greater Hellhounds and Black Hounds lies in their behavior. Despite their lupine traits, they act unmistakably like dogs—intelligent, emotional, and highly trainable. They make fearsomely effective guard dogs, savagely attacking any threat to their master with horrifying ferocity—often targeting the throat or head, sometimes decapitating with a single bite, and dismemberment is not uncommon.

It’s important to note that Greater Hellhounds are not merely subdued—they are domesticated. Black Hounds have been selectively bred over generations to create these creatures. While they are undoubtedly rare, their existence as a breed means there was, at some point, more than one, and likely still is today.

As noted, Greater Hellhounds are said to be fundamentally loyal to the family that created their breed. Those with the Sight have observed that these hounds’ auras are innately imprinted upon certain individuals’ True Names. Yet, to this day, no means—arcane or otherwise—has been found to reveal these True Names.

Thus, those who bred the Greater Hellhounds must have hidden their True Names somehow. This is why we call them the Nameless Lords. Tales of mysterious nobles accompanied by fierce yet loyal supernatural black dogs go back centuries. The Beast of Gévaudan, which terrorized the French province of Gévaudan from 1764 to 1767, is often considered an example of a Greater Hellhound.

The most recently confirmed Greater Hellhound is named Ol’ Shock, discovered by the Wilson Wildlife Response Team, who kept the animal at the Wilson Three Portlands Shelter for two years. Its pedigree was verified by at least two external consultants. In May 2012, the leader of the Chicago Ghosts crime syndicate reclaimed the animal.

Little is known about the leader of the Chicago Ghosts, but he was seen to bond instantly with the creature and command it at will. While this may be due to unknown supernatural abilities, some claim it proves he is a Nameless Lord.

Unlike common Black Hounds, stray Greater Hellhounds are unlikely to harm you without cause. They seem to possess a strong urge to serve and will form a close bond with the first person able to establish a connection. However, if they already have a master, they will kill without hesitation if ordered or to protect their master. Though Greater Hellhounds have physical bodies, they are also spectral in nature, making them highly resistant to physical attack. Countermeasures should rely on anti-spectral barriers and talismans, but only as a last resort. They are extremely dangerous; it is best to avoid antagonizing them or their master.

Though caring for a Greater Hellhound is not much different from other large dogs, adoption is not recommended, as a Nameless Lord may seek their return and may not show the same gratitude as the Chicago Ghosts did to the Wilson Center.

We kept Ol’ Shock at the Three Portlands Shelter for nearly two years, treating him mostly like an ordinary dog. We attempted to rehome him several times, always without success. Once we confirmed his true nature, we considered sending him somewhere better equipped to care for him, and perhaps to study him, since he was clearly no ordinary Black Hound.

Aside from the case of Ol’ Shock, confirmed encounters with Greater Hellhounds are extremely rare, and unverified sightings and attacks are far more numerous. Because of this, and the breed’s unusual ferocity, opportunities for research are scarce. Most reports of Greater Hellhounds, or any sort of hellhound, are mere rumor. Sadly, our understanding of them and the Nameless Lords they serve remains quite limited.

“Seems a bit dangerous,” Ji Ning ventured, his comment a tentative understatement.

“It’s just a reconnaissance mission, and it might not even be a Greater Hellhound. That’s just the worst-case scenario. Maybe it’s just an overfed husky raised on fried chicken,” Aphra replied, lifting her head from her book with a look of earnest sincerity.

“This is the most basic assignment. If you’re thinking of refusing even this, then by the time you graduate after earning all your credits, you might as well become a gravekeeper at Three Portlands by virtue of age alone.” Catherine spoke bluntly, making her feelings on Ji Ning’s timidity clear. At Hart College, caution was necessary, but cowardice—like recklessness—was a quick path to an early grave.

“Reconnaissance, just reconnaissance. If anything feels off, we withdraw immediately.” Ji Ning sighed, thinking that his luck had been bad enough lately—surely it couldn’t last much longer.

“So afraid of death... Ah, what am I to do with you? Here, wear this. It could save your life in a pinch, but I’m only lending it to you for now.” Like a little adult, Aphra sighed, slipped off her shoes, stood on a chair to reach her neck, and took off a talisman, tying it around Ji Ning’s wrist. The red-haired girl, much shorter than him, handed it over with a solemn air.

“A magical artifact?”

Aphra gave him an enigmatic smile. She flicked the forehead of her companion—who made no effort to disguise his fear of death—saying, “Perhaps sincere faith will help.”

After finalizing the plan, Ji Ning left the Exiles’ Library to find the moon already high in the sky. Glancing back, he saw the library looming in the darkness, like a lighthouse rising from stormy seas.