Bondrewd, the Sovereign of Dawn, Novel, or Lord of Dawn, is a White Whistle delver infamous for revolutionary Abyss research. His past includes criminal acts abroad, resulting in a bounty. Funding his delving and experiments through illicit means—selling artifacts, secrets, and drugs from human experimentation—he became feared as bounty hunters pursuing him vanished. Fifteen years prior to the main events, he obtained the Special Grade Artifact Zoaholic, distributing his consciousness across multiple bodies called Umbra Hands. Ten years ago, he founded the Idofront base in the 5th Layer and pioneered routes to the 6th Layer. He used his original body to craft his Life-Reverberating Stone (White Whistle), becoming his own whistle.

He presents a tall figure in black clothing, including a long coat and suit, his face concealed by a black helmet emitting violet light through a vertical slit. His combat body integrates a mechanical tail derived from the Artifact Third Works. His White Whistle, shaped like clasped hands, requires rubbing against his helmet to activate.

Driven by the belief his work prepares humanity for the end of a 2,000-year cycle, he prioritizes knowledge over ethics, willingly sacrificing others while recording their names and ambitions. He displays no hostility towards adversaries, praising those who surpass him, and exhibits genuine affection for children, raising the orphan Prushka as his daughter and showing care for subjects like Nanachi.

His abilities rely on artifacts and inventions. Zoaholic implants his consciousness into others, creating the Umbra Hands collective; prolonged use disperses non-resilient hosts' consciousness, adapting Bondrewd's psyche into an inhuman state. He utilizes cartridges—portable units containing children's brains and organs—to deflect the Abyss's curse during ascents, receiving the Blessing instead. Drugs within induce ecstasy and terror to enhance efficiency. Other artifacts include an unnamed device enabling shared perception through others' senses, the tail-based weapon Sparagmos from Third Works, Shaker projectiles inducing the curse biologically, and Ascending to the Morning Star plasma rays targeting weaknesses.

Key events involve luring children to Idofront with exploration promises, omitting their role as test subjects. Nanachi and Mitty were among the last survivors; Mitty suffered irreversible curse mutations while Nanachi gained the Blessing, serving as Bondrewd's assistant before escaping. He later adopted Prushka after her Umbra Hand parent died in an accident. Upon Riko's group's arrival at Idofront, he welcomed them but ordered Reg's dissection. After a battle destroying his body, his consciousness transferred via Zoaholic. He converted Prushka into a cartridge, harnessing her love to achieve the Blessing during another ascent. Defeated again by Riko's group, he acknowledged their strength and permitted their descent to the 6th Layer. Later, during the Curse Fleet arc, he confronted White Whistle Srajo, questioning her use of non-human companions for a Last Dive before allowing her passage after a standoff.

Bondrewd appears across all official media: manga/anime flashbacks depict his early crimes and Zoaholic use; the Idofront arc is central to *Dawn of the Deep Soul*; manga continuations cover his post-defeat role and Srajo encounter. Video games feature him without adding new backstory. Spin-offs and OVAs highlight paternal interactions with Prushka without expanding his core narrative.