Jangzelang (2023).
Jangzelang (pronounced: "Djahng-zuh-lahng") is a demon and the main character in A Sacrifice for a Lover, created by VampireMeerkat. Though initially presented as the inoffensive lead in a love story, it's revealed his meeting with Sepere was an erotomaniacal interpretation.
Jangzelang is a curse demon, which entails he can sense "curses", a term that covers a surprising selection of subjects; like feelings of revenge, deathbed regrets, prayers to any and all deities that specifically ask for favours, items and practises tied to superstition, and those who attempt to perform supernatural tricks and rituals while not actually possessing any magic abilities themselves.
Anyone who engages in any of the above, no matter how genuine they are(n't) or what the intention may be, is an acknowledgement of Jangzelang's being and allows him to devour their souls.
His bloodline speciality is the power to enter, traverse, and manipulate reflections; as mirrors are more direct, literal tools of "acknowledgement".
Jangzelang was conceived in late October of 2023, but has not made an official online appearance.
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Backstory
Jangzelang came from the demon realm to Earth through a large mirror located in a Chinese lord's bedroom, in a time period that did not yet acknowledge mirrors of that size and quality. The craftsmanship was good enough to help him sense and use the item as a portal, away from his unpleasant and overpopulated homeworld.
Though he enjoyed some form of luxury in his homeworld as a member of a prestige family, his bloodline is inflicted by a curse, causing them to lose it all. Jangzelang assumed their cursed nature might dilute itself if they separated, and left home as a teenager to start his own empire.
Earth increased the usefulness and effectiveness of his demonic powers, and with the planet being more aesthetically pleasing and humans an easy prey, he chose to make it his new home. Since he was still young at the time, he got fairly influenced by his surroundings and adapted the Chinese culture that ruled at the time. With his human form not looking too much off, either, he fit in as a local citizen and learned the language over time.He quickly regained the wealth his family had lost and lived like a typical lord, surrounded by mind-controlled servants who ensured he never had a second of worry or strife in his life. When he believed to had gained all there was to gain for him, he grew bored and decided to sleep inside a mirror, where he had crafted a large and inaccessible domain for himself. This proved a mistake when enemy soldiers followed behind soon after to damage the mirror, believing it would kill him, allowing for the passage of time to seep through and age the lazy Jangzelang without his knowledge.
Personality
Not uncommon for demons, Jangzelang is overly confident and self-concerned, only humbled when in the presence of beings much stronger than himself. Amongst a weaker crowd, he acts proud and demands to have his way. Having lived his entire life as an untouchable rich man and getting his supernatural strength back tenfold amplified all these negative traits, though that doesn't seem to be the case in Sepere's presence.
He immediately fell in love with her over her remarkable appearance, and her rather agreeable personality made him see the perfect partner in her. Though his feelings are genuine, he's obsessed and harmfully overprotective.
Having always been feared and hated pushed him to eat her soul, out of worry there could come a time she wouldn't love him anymore, though it was more of an automatic response, since he always used to eat the souls of people around him and didn't trust humans otherwise.
He was blind for the truth Sepere was never even in love with him, as he had taken her short moments of politeness as signs she was infatuated with him.
Jangzelang came to love the Chinese culture of the past and adapted it as his own, though with some added liberties. Having that said, he's old-fashioned and his long sleep didn't help him get with the times.
Appearance
Jangzelang's human form has black hair, dark eyes, fangs, sharp nails, and is moderately muscular. While demons are genetically removed from any human race, he has a believable Asian appearance and in addition is 5'6" (1.69 meter) tall.
He's thousands of years old and physically looks around the age of 18, though met Sepere while looking like a man in his late 50s.
He dresses himself in traditionally Chinese clothing and his mansion also looks the part, though many of his possessions are simply inspired by the culture. He likes adding details that are not necessarily historically accurate, but considered trendy in the demon world.
Jangzelang's true form is one typical for a curse demon. Though there's a general, humanoid shape to his body, it isn't static and keeps morphing extra body parts or other features. Stringy manes droop down from his head and neck, and he has at least two mouths at all times, the bottom one often breaking off and regrowing, the other closing itself up and reopening. Two eerily small, amber-coloured beady eyes rest on his misshapen face, he has a short reptilian tail, and multiple arms of differing lengths, though there's no consistency on how many. His skin is milky white, though blackens when angered.
Abilities
Jangzelang possesses a few supernatural powers and traits:
ImmortalityAs a demon, Jangzelang doesn't age, as long as he eats.
Powered by soulsJangzelang can eat raw meat or drink blood like most demons, but needs his diet of souls, which keeps him looking young and thus strong.
CursedLike is the case with all curse demons, Jangzelang isn't immune to his own nature and is doomed to lose everything he cherishes and worked for, sooner or later.
Soul enslavementBy eating a soul, Jangzelang automatically has ownership over that organism, who will obey his every word without hesitance or the ability to doubt him.
Global enemyJangzelang is dangerous in the sense his abilities can affect fellow demons as well, if weaker than him, which normally isn't possible for demons.
Cursed capturerJangzelang can only grab souls under certain conditions; and the target needs to engage in behaviour or feelings that fall under the demonic definition of "a curse" or "cursing".
As souls are the essence that holds one's humanity, the victim will lose their morals and becomes consumed by negativity, as for delusional. For example, priests and professional psychics become money hungry and overly defensive towards critics.Mirror world travelWhen Jangzelang enters a reflective object, he'll enter a mirrored version of the real world. This world is devoid of organisms and only acknowledges the environment. Locks and other blockades are absent, allowing him to traverse every corner of the world and watch or enter it through whatever reflective object is present inside there as well.
If Jangzelang makes use of his "still glass"-ability, there'll be no passage of time inside this world. If not, the environment will be affected whenever something happens to it in the real world.Mirror world buildingJangzelang can enter a reflective object and choose to erase the mirror world from it and build his own domain inside. This domain will only be accessible through that object/mirror, unless it's a mass-produced item, which will then turn every one of those items into a portal to that domain.
If Jangzelang makes use of his "still glass"-ability, there'll be no passage of time inside this world, though damaging the mirror will circumvent this, and destroying the mirror completely erase the domain.Mirror eyesJangzelang can watch people and environments through the reflective objects stationed there. His range was originally as wide as that of a rural town, but at the end of the story, expands over the whole world.
Still glassWhen in the mirror world, or his own mirror domain, Jangzelang can make it so that time in the real world does not pass for him, making it possible for him to return as if no time ever passed at all. This is done by moving all reflective objects inside the mirror world away from him at a specific distance, or covering these up with a blanket or whatever else.
See also
- Sacrifices That Lived (series);