His Nemesis

He [the Dark Master] had had his eye upon Francis for some time now … as he had known him to be the hope of the world. Years earlier he had morphed into a rabid dog and with the taste of the boy’s flesh within him, he now had a physical connection to the man, having assimilated some of his blood into himself, it now bore their union.

Hode knew of his nephew’s evil stalker, yet refused to use his name, lest he invoke the evil one - calling his attention or giving power to his menace - and so, in the stead, he only referred to him as ‘the Dark Knight’.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances