From the deepest, darkest corners of the human psyche, they come. Far from mere killers, they shatter the mind and crush the soul under the weight of their unrelenting pursuit. Devoid of any human desires, they exist only as instruments of terror and suffering to the poor souls they choose to hunt. Today, we bring two such horrors face to face. They are Pyramid Head, the pitiless executioner of Silent Hill, and the Crow Mauler, the cruel corvid-headed reaper from Fear & Hunger! Who is DEADLIEST?
Pyramid Head[]
| “ | I was weak. That's why I needed you... Needed someone to punish me for my sins...
— James Sunderland to Pyramid Head
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A mysterious supernatural force dwelling within the town of Silent Hill, Maine has the power to physically materialize the traumas and regrets of those who enter. One of the victims of this power was James Sunderland, a widower who had mercy-killed his ailing wife. In a state of regret and delusion, James was lured to Silent Hill. The town's power activated and James's intense guilt and subconscious yearning for punishment created Pyramid Head. Assuming the appearance of an executioner of the Order, a secretive cult that had dwelled in Silent Hill for centuries, Pyramid Head pursued and tormented James as he explored the town. When James was forced to kill another unfortunate soul in the town in self-defense, his guilt intensified and created a second Pyramid Head. Eventually, James confronted the reality of his crime and the reason for Pyramid Head's existence. With their purpose fulfilled, both manifestations committed suicide.
- Great Knife: Pyramid Head's iconic weapon is the Great Knife, one half of a colossal pair of shears. Even with its supernatural strength, Pyramid Head struggles to wield the heavy knife one-handed, as it prefers to do, and usually drags the blade behind it. As long as Pyramid Head is tall, the rusty blade is sharp enough to slice a human in half. Its immense width allows it to work as a shield.
- Superhuman Physicality: Although possessing a scrawny build, Pyramid Head is immensely strong, capable of manhandling and crushing weaker monsters with its bare hands. It can lift the colossal Great Knife overhead with one hand or use it to pry open heavy metal doors. As a psychological construct, Pyramid Head is very difficult to damage. It shows no reaction when shot by a pistol, and even rounds from heavier firearms, such as shotguns and rifles, are usually only enough to knock it down or stun it.
- Tongue-Like Appendage: Beneath Pyramid Head's helmet is a grotesque, tongue-like appendage. The metal plates of the helmet can peel away and allow the appendage to thrust outward and stab into Pyramid Head's victims.
- Monster Summoning: Some of Silent Hill's monsters exhibit loyalty to Pyramid Head, who can supernaturally summon them to its side with a tap of the Great Knife. These include Creepers, hand-sized cockroach-like insects, and Hummers, hummingbird/bat hybrids. While individually weak, these vermin come in swarms and can overwhelm their targets with furious biting and scratching.
- Extrasensory Perception: Despite its apparent lack of eyes, Pyramid Head has no trouble navigating its surroundings and tracking its victims through Silent Hill, always appearing one step ahead. When James Sunderland was hiding in a closet, Pyramid Head detected his presence almost immediately.
The Crow Mauler[]
| “ | He was set on purifying the dungeons from filth and depravement. Little did he know that he would become of the black himself.
— The New Gods on the Crow Mauler
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A captain in the army of the Kingdom of Rondon, Rudimer was assigned command of the Dungeons of Fear and Hunger. When he arrived, the prison was in chaos. The structure rested atop ancient catacombs, from which surged unholy magic and monsters. The soldiers stationed there were demoralized by the constant horror. To restore order, Rudimer lead his men on a mission to cleanse the catacombs, but the campaign quickly faltered. Buckling under supernatural terror, most of the men were driven mad or transformed into monsters themselves. Rudimer requested help from Rondon, but it was too late. Rudimer succumbed as well and became the Crow Mauler, a grotesque creature desiring to destroy anything untainted within the dungeon. The beast met his match in Ragnvaldr, a foreign warrior, who slew the beast. However, the monster could not fully die. Over three centuries later, the Crow Mauler still stalked the same halls.
- The Mauler: The Crow Mauler’s left forearm has been replaced by a spike-covered rod approximately a meter in length. With the creature’s immense strength behind it, a single strike from the Mauler can easily shatter bone. Despite its bulk, the Crow Mauler swings its rod with surprising speed, unleashing a flurry of blows in a single second. The germ-laden spikes threaten to infect any wounds they leave behind.
- Superhuman Physicality: Unholy magic has twisted the Crow Mauler into one of the most formidable creatures in the Dungeons of Fear and Hunger. In addition to easily breaking bones, he can smash cleanly through the dungeon's stone walls as if they were paper. Arrows bounce harmlessly off his hide, and bear traps powerful enough to cripple the legs of other monsters prove useless against him. Pain seems meaningless to him; he shows no reaction when his limbs are severed or when corrosive chemicals eat away at his flesh.
- Beak: The Crow Mauler’s corvid-like beak is its most lethal weapon, capable of tearing off a human's head with a single, brutal peck.
- Flock of Crows: Through the enigmatic powers within the Dungeons of Fear and Hunger, the Crow Mauler wields the magical ability to conjure a murder of crows to attack his foes. These feral birds are relentless, often immediately tearing into their victims’ eyes with their beaks and talons, leaving them blinded and defenseless.
X-Factors[]
Tactics
When stalking the guilty, Pyramid Head’s attacks are brief and symbolic, forcing his targets to confront the truth of their sins. But when he faces obstacles or those he deems deserving of death, Pyramid Head is relentless, hunting, chasing, and cornering his prey before dispatching them mercilessly with a single swing of the Great Knife or, if needed, with his bare hands. Should he meet heavy resistance, Pyramid Head summons the monstrous vermin of Silent Hill to swarm and harass his target, leaving them distracted and vulnerable as he closes in for the kill.
The Crow Mauler approaches every intruder in the Dungeons of Fear and Hunger with killing intent, but he seems to relish their terror. He often lingers in the shadows, watching his victims from afar and feeding on the dread his vacant stare inspires. In the midst of battle, he sometimes pauses to glare at his prey, silently reminding of his unfeeling and inhuman nature, before suddenly launching into a relentless barrage blows. The crows he summons aim mercilessly for the eyes, blinding his targets and leaving them vulnerable, panicked, and utterly at his mercy.
Notes[]
- The battles takes place in the labyrinth beneath Toluca Prison in Silent Hill. Through a twist of fate, the Crow Mauler finds itself in the labyrinth. To stop the newcomer from interfering with the torment of James Sunderland, Pyramid Head attacks the Crow Mauler.