Shadar, "The Malevolent Shadow", was once the Prince Galahanzer, who faced the god of the world, Proteus, and was driven to despair upon learning the truth of humanity's past as creatures that had rejected their god. Seeking to balance the world by destroying the gods who torment humanity, Shadar became known and feared for killing overpopulated areas to maintain balance, and battles and mentors Slade, allying with him as needed, while outwitting his rivals to always come out on top. Nearly becoming a god before being stopped, Shadar returns in the sequel to implant his soul in Nero, a golem boy, whom he uses to defeat yet another rival and enters the Ether Vein to destroy it and achieve balance. Forced into a stalemate in a final stand, Shadar concedes, content with the balance achieved.
Proteus, the god of the world, once created a paradise for humanity and his demi-god children, but after being imprisoned and split into a good and evil half, the latter half became infuriated with his creation's ingratitude and resolved to wipe them out. Manipulating Rhea into becoming his pawn, the evil half of Proteus uses her to eliminate his enemies, getting the drop on Shadar and forcing his good half to engage the heroes personally to test their strength. When faced directly as the Final Boss, the evil Proteus remains undaunted and, even in his loss, merely questions if humanity is able to live on without him. Even then, he returns in the sequel under the alias Dalmar, attempting to destroy the new heroes and take back the world one last time.
