Crusnik

The four commanders during the Red Mars Project. From left: Cain, Seth, Lilith and Abel.

Crusnik (クルースニク,Kurūsuniku) can refer to two things: the Crusnik Bacillus nanomachines (ナノマシン "バチルス", Nanomashin bachirusu), or the Crusniks, vampires who feed on the blood of other vampires. It should be noted that despite their name, the "Crusnik Bacillus," are not bacteria, but sentient nanomachines.

Whereas the Methuselah are either born or infected, the Crusniks are unique beings created upon infusion of Crusnik nanomachines. Only four genetically-enhanced test-tube babies created for the Mars Colonization Project by the United Nations Aero-Space Force were the only beings capable of surviving the procedure. They were Cain, Seth, Abel, and Lilith.

Crusniks possess immense power and destructive potential and are nearly invincible. They are easily able to overwhelm even the most powerful of Methuselahs and with enough strength to raze a whole city. Their lifespan is longer than that of normal vampires, and they are presumably immortal but are not immune to death. Lilith was murdered when she was 135 years old, but by end of ROM VI, Cain and Abel are 976 years old, while Seth is 966 years old.

It should be noted that "Crusnik bacillus" are sentient nanomachines exist as a separate entity within their hosts. Abel is seen talking to his Crusnik in the mirror and his Crusnik nanomachines refer to himself as "we" when they're in control. Cain is also seen mocking "02" for protecting their host.

History

Background

Crusnik Nanomachines were created by an intelligent life form several billion years ago. Bent on destruction, these nanomachines eventually destroyed the race that created them, and travelled throughout space, infecting other intelligent life forms on its way. They were able to destroy the bodies of their hosts and travel further throughout space in the spacecrafts of their hosts. Eventually they crash-landed onto Mars. Some time later, the Red Mars Project colonizers discovered them, along with the Kudlak Bacillus, not knowing the Kudlak Bacillus were created by the Crusniks to serve as their food.

The Red Mars Project

See main article: Red Mars Project.

Around the year 2080 AD, Earth experienced an overpopulation crisis, with 12 billion people and insufficient resources. Because of this, the United Nations decided to start a project that aimed to build colonies in Mars, known as the "The Red Mars Project." Cain, Seth, Abel, and Lilith, were test-tube babies created to be leaders of the Mars Colonization Project by the United Nations Aero-Space Force with genetically enhanced bodies. They are genetically-enhanced beings that age 1.5 times slower than normal humans. The colonizers were the 100,000 people were sent to Mars to make the planet suitable for to sustain human life.

Discovery

During this time, several colonizers who disliked Abel lured him into the Martian wilderness. Lilith rescued him just before Abel was about to die from oxygen deprivation, however, Lilith’s vehicle broke down on the way back. It was during this time that the two found a highly technologically advanced space ship, later known as "The Ark."

"The Ark" housed many dead, but preserved alien bodies, though the bodies of higher-ranked aliens appear to have been more well-preserved than the others. These bodies were later taken back and examined.

Upon examination, Seth discovered the Kudlak Bacillus and Crusnik Bacillus (named after their cross-like shape). However, the Crusnik Bacillus proved to be difficult to grow, and attempts to reproduce more were unsuccessful. It should be noted that although the Kudlak and Crusnik are named as "bacilli," they are actually nanomachines.

Integration

Some time after the discovery of the nanomachines, accident in a project left Cain and another colonizer near the brink of death. In an effort to save them, Seth injected the two with the Crusnik Bacillus. This initially killed them both, but after some time, Cain came back to life, suggesting that only the four genetically-enhanced individuals are capable of utilizing the Crusnik nanomachines. The Crusnik Bacillus was frozen and preserved, while the Kudlak Bacillus were replicated and distributed to the other colonizers, allowing their bodies to survive the Martian environment and live up to 300 years.

Armageddon

See main article: Armageddon.

Every country wanted to gain possession of “The Ark.” Due to the fact that every country had a colonizer (now Methuselah) representative on Mars, war broke out on Mars, known as the Martian Civil War. The spaceship that the colonizers had used to travel between Mars and Earth, as well as the equipment used to communicate to Earth, were all destroyed in the process. At this time on Earth, there was a global nuclear war, known as Armageddon.

Return to Earth and The Dark Ages

See main article: The Dark Ages.

Flashback of The Dark Ages .

After eighty years, the colonizers (now Methuselah) were able to rebuild a spaceship and return to Earth. The colonizers (or "returners") were able to return to Earth, only to find the planet in a devastated state, with only Europe being the few continents left standing, as it was affected by biological weapons. The colonizers vowed to help the people on Earth.

Some time later, the Kudlak Bacillus in their blood caused the symptoms of vampirism in the returners, possibly due to Earth's closer proximity to the Sun. Many humans were killed by the returners, even against their will, and conflict soon broke out between the returners and people on Earth, known as "The Dark Ages."

Cain, Abel and Seth joined the war and took the side of the "returners," with Abel and Seth infusing themselves with the Crusnik nanomachines and becoming Crusnik 02 and 03 respectively. Cain, however, had fused his mind with 100% of the Crusnik nanomachines, and was bent on destruction. The three of them killed millions of people in the process, disturbing Lilith, who then infused herself to become Crusnik 04 to help the humans.

Abilities

Crusniks possess unique attributes that separate them from Methuselahs. For instance, both Abel and Cain sport angelic wings and can fly quite easily. Crusniks can transmute their blood into weapons and often possess psychokinetic powers. Abel can generate powerful bio-electric fields while Cain can use psychokinetic waves to pulverize objects and enemies and to generate barriers. Seth can reduce people and objects to a pillar of sand using sound waves. In order to activate his Crusnik powers, Abel usually issues a verbal or mental command to the nanomachines in his body. The exact wording and method of activation varies amongst the novels, the manga, and anime, and between the original Japanese and the English translations. For example, in the anime he says "Nanomachines: Crusnik 02 - __% Activate" while in the manga he silently activates Crusnik mode and receives a confirmation from the nanomachines of "Crusnik 02 Loading. Limitation at __%... Acknowledged".

In the anime, neither Cain nor Seth demonstrated a need to do this in order to activate their powers, and there are several times when Abel activates his powers without saying his usual command.

When the Crusniks do not activate their Crusnik nanomachines, they do not have any visible fangs or any other characteristics that separate them from normal humans. For this reason, they can pose as ordinary terrans.

Crusniks

Crusnik 01 - Cain Knightlord

Cain has six white wings in the manga and novels, his lips are darkened, and his eyes become red. In the anime, his lips turn red and he has four white wings. Cain is able to materialize a black lance, likely a reference to the Spear of Longinus, also called the Spear of Destiny, keeping in line with the many Catholic references in this anime. In this state, he can generate destructive red energy.

When not in Crusnik form, he appears to have the power to launch a destructive and invisible force from his hands, perhaps being composed of sound waves. A similar tactic may be used as his shield, as he is shown with the ability to stop bullets in midair without raising his hands. He also seems to possess super strength and speed. Among the four Crusnik siblings, he is the only one who has fused 100% with his nanomachines. These nanomachines effectively took over his mind, but it should be noted that Cain's brutal destruction comes from his own personality as well. Cain often refers to Abel as "02" and first person plural, suggesting he is talking to the Krusnik nanomachines within Abel. This is made clear later on, when he taunts the "02" for being the unlikely protector of it's host after being struck by an electric bolt generated by Abel's body.

Crusnik 02 - Abel Nightroad

Abel fuses with the Crusnik nanomachines after taking the colonizer returners' side in the Human-Vampire war.

With 40% of Crusnik nanomachines activated, his eyes become red, his lips turn a dark blue, his teeth become fangs, his nails turn into claws, and a gigantic scythe made of his own blood materializes in his hands.

At 80%, he grows black wings and can generate massive amounts of electricity ("bio-electric fields").

In the anime, at 100% activation, he turns into a humanoid creature with dark skin, black bat-like wings, and blue markings that cover his entire body. He also generates more electricity than his 80% form and a second blade forms on the other end of his blood scythe.

Abel has also demonstrated what may be form of telekinesis, and can draw Methuselah blood directly into his body without using his fangs. Abel can also capable of absorbing Ion's blood into his wings. It is possible that this presumed telekinesis is actually a result of Abel controlling the Kudlak Bacillus present in Methuselah blood. It should be noted that in Krusnik form, Abel refers to himself in first person plural, suggesting the Krusnik nanomachines have some control over his mind and body. In the novels and the manga, he explains to Esther that he did not tell her about his power as he had considered it a mark of his sins.

Abel's Krusnik form in the novels.

Crusnik 03 - Seth Nightlord

Seth fuses with the Crusnik nanomachines after taking the colonizer returners' side in the Human-Vampire war.

When her Crusnik powers are activated, Seth's eyes turn red, her lips turn greenish-blue, her voice becomes deeper, insect wings grow from her back and a pair of oversized tuning-forks made of blood materialize in each of her hands. In this state, she can almost instantly disintegrate her enemies into salt. Similar to Cain, this power appears linked to the manipulation of sound waves. She calls her technique "The Flames of Sound".

Crusnik 04 - Lilith Sahl

Lilith is the last person to have fused with Crusnik nanomachines, taking the side of the humans after witnessing the destruction caused by Cain, Abel and Seth.

Lilith is shown to have six blue wings while in 80% activation, and four white wings during 40%. Her Crusnik form varies between artworks, but she is usually featured with six blue-feathered wings.

She was also a powerful combatant and strategist, protecting humanity from Cain, Seth, Abel, and the Methuselah during the post-Armageddon Human-Vampire War, The Dark Ages.

Etymology

Cain, Abel, and Seth are Biblical sons of Adam and Eve. Lilith is found in Jewish mythology as the first wife of Adam.

"Crusnik" is Slavic for "crosser". The Krusnik/Crusnik are based off of Krsnik (vampire hunter) from Slovenian mythology. The origin of the name may be from the word krst, which means "cross". Seth, who discovered the Crusnik, named it as such after their cross-like shape. Dietrich von Lohengrin describes "Crusnik" as "bearer of the cross".

In Slovenian mythology, a person born with a caul was destined to become either a Kudlak or a Kresnik. A person so destined to become a Kudlak would already begin a career of evil while still alive - at night, his soul would leave his body, taking the form of animal, fly, and attack or harm people. After his death, he will become and undead vampire. But if a person born with a caul became a Kresnik, he became a champion of the community. While he lived, his soul would leave his body at night in the form of an animal to fight against both living and undead Kudlaks.

In Trinity Blood: Canon, the term is spelt as "Kresnik" in English, however the katakana has is クルースニク (Kurusuniku) "Krusnik/Crusnik."