The Whispers in the Void: Hunters and Dolls

A Legend Born in Blood

Long before Cain and Alice rose to legendary status in the Sanctuary, there was a name that struck fear into the hearts of even the most seasoned Hunters and Dolls: Jack the Ripper. Known as the Butcher of the Void, Jack was no ordinary cursed entity. He was a void-corrupted human, a malevolent spirit born from the darkest depths of humanity's collective nightmares. His presence alone was enough to spread terror and dread, turning the air cold and the streets empty.

Unlike other void creatures that came from twisted realms or abstract fears, Jack had once been a man—one who stalked the streets of a long-lost city and carved a legend in blood and madness. His true origin is buried in history, but every cursed zone has some version of his tale. Once human, Jack was consumed by the void, his humanity stripped away, leaving only an insatiable thirst for death.

A Monster in Human Skin

Jack the Ripper still bore the appearance of a human, but he was far from one. His once finely tailored coat had long since been torn and stained by the blood of his victims. His face, if it could even be called that anymore, was hidden beneath the shadow of a wide-brimmed hat. His eyes, once human, now glowed with a sickening void light, burning with madness and cruelty. His smile, stretched impossibly wide, was filled with razor-sharp teeth—a reminder that this was no longer a man, but a beast in disguise.

In his hands, Jack wielded two void-infused knives, blades that cut not just flesh but the very soul of his victims. Each strike was said to sever the connection between body and spirit, leaving his prey as empty husks. His movement was as fluid as shadows, slipping in and out of the darkness, a blur of death and chaos. Those who encountered him often only saw a glint of steel before the cold of death washed over them.

The Origins of Jack the Ripper

The true story of how Jack the Ripper became an agent of the void has been lost to time, but legends remain. In life, Jack was a notorious killer, a shadow that haunted the streets of a great city, targeting the weak and vulnerable. His cruelty was unmatched, and his body count rose with each passing night. But it wasn't just murder that drove Jack—it was his deep, inherent desire to spread fear. The thrill of watching his victims tremble before their demise was what fed his twisted soul.

When Jack was finally caught and put to death, it was said that even death refused him. His soul was too tainted, too dark, to move on. Instead, the void claimed him, dragging his spirit into its endless abyss. There, Jack's madness grew, his thirst for death amplified a thousandfold. The void gave him new life, but in return, it took his humanity and replaced it with a bottomless hunger for death and chaos.

From that moment on, Jack the Ripper was reborn as a creature of the void, one who fed on fear and despair. His knives became an extension of his power, each cut opening the gateway to the void, where his victims would be lost forever.

As a void entity, Jack the Ripper possessed a terrifying array of abilities that made him one of the most dangerous beings to ever walk a cursed zone. His primary power came from his mastery of shadows. Jack could blend into any darkness, disappearing from sight only to reappear inches from his victim. His shadow step allowed him to traverse great distances in the blink of an eye, making him nearly impossible to track or predict.

Jack's blades were extensions of the void itself. Each strike did more than just cause physical harm; it severed the victim's connection to the world, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell. Those unfortunate enough to survive his attacks were left hollow, their minds broken by the void's touch.

His greatest weapon, however, was fear. Jack fed on the terror of his victims, growing stronger the more frightened they became. He could project terrifying visions into the minds of his prey, forcing them to relive their worst nightmares. The more fear he caused, the more powerful he became, turning each encounter into a battle not just of skill, but of mental endurance.

The Rise of Jack the Ripper in the Cursed Zones

As the cursed zones spread, so did Jack's legend. He became the ultimate predator, hunting those who dared venture too close to the void. Entire teams of Hunters and Dolls were lost to him, their bodies found torn apart in the shadows, their souls forever missing.

Jack's cruelty knew no bounds. Unlike other void entities that sought chaos or destruction, Jack enjoyed the hunt. He took his time, stalking his prey for days, sometimes weeks, watching their fear grow as they realized they were being hunted by something they couldn't escape. It was said that once Jack had marked you, death was inevitable. His presence would haunt your dreams, his laughter echoing in the darkest corners of your mind, until he finally struck.

The Final Battle: Cain and Alice's Victory

When Cain and Alice were sent to confront Jack the Ripper, it was more than just a mission, it was a desperate move by the Sanctuary to stop an entity that had claimed too many lives. By then, Jack had become more than just a void entity. He was a symbol of everything the cursed zones represented: death, fear, and chaos.

The battle was legendary, not just for the intensity of the fight but for the sheer will and determination shown by Cain and Alice. Jack's ability to manipulate shadows made him nearly untouchable, and his mind games tested their mental endurance to the limit. At one point, Jack separated Cain and Alice, forcing them to confront their worst fears.

But where others had fallen, Cain and Alice stood strong. Cain's precision with his sword, Valkyrie, allowed him to strike at Jack even through the shadows, cutting through the void energy that protected him. Alice's illusions, on the other hand, turned Jack's own tactics against him. For the first time, Jack faced an enemy that could manipulate reality as effectively as he could.

The final blow came when Cain and Alice worked in perfect harmony, combining their skills to trap Jack in his own shadow. With a swift strike from Valkyrie, Cain severed the void's connection to Jack's soul, ending his reign of terror once and for all.

Legacy of Jack the Ripper

Though Jack the Ripper was defeated, his legend lives on in the minds of those who survived the cursed zones. His story is told as a warning to all who would underestimate the power of the void. Even now, whispers of his return linger, and there are those who believe that Jack is not truly gone and that the void has simply hidden him away, waiting for the right moment to unleash him once more.

For Cain and Alice, their victory over Jack solidified their status as S-Rank legends, but the battle left scars that neither of them would ever forget. Defeating Jack was more than just a physical triumph. Tt was a battle of the mind and soul, a fight against fear itself.

The Sanctuary remembers Jack not just as an enemy, but as a symbol of the void's relentless power. His defeat was a victory, but it was also a reminder that the void will never stop, and that there are always more horrors lurking in the shadows, waiting to strike.