TV-Series
Description
Desha is a central figure in the narrative of Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage, known as the King of the Underworld. As the son of the tyrannical deity Satun, Desha’s background is steeped in rebellion and tragedy. Horrified by his father’s relentless pursuit of immortality, achieved through large-scale human sacrifice, Desha led a successful revolt to overthrow him. After eradicating Satun’s soul, Desha ascended the throne, becoming a respected and wise ruler of the Underworld, and eventually achieving the number two rank in the global Ranking of Kings.

Desha’s personality is a complex interplay of stoic authority and deep-seated insecurity. On the surface, he is a proud, ambitious, and fiercely practical king who values strength and does not tolerate weakness, often presenting a jaded and disinterested demeanor. He is a decisive strategist and a meticulous ruler who cares for his people and governs with fairness. However, this formidable exterior conceals a profound vulnerability: an intense jealousy and complex about his own appearance. He perceives himself as unattractive, a feeling exacerbated by the stark contrast with his younger brother Despa, who is charismatic and popular. This insecurity runs so deep that Desha once destroyed a statue erected in his honor, not merely out of envy but because he despised resembling his hated father.

Motivations for Desha’s actions are rooted in his familial bonds, particularly concerning his other brother, Ouken. Satun’s experiments granted Ouken a cursed immortality, which gradually drove him to madness, causing him to become a danger to himself and others. Desha was forced to imprison Ouken, a decision made both to protect his subjects and to shield his brother from his own rampages. Desha’s primary driving goal is to lift this curse and restore Ouken’s humanity, a mission that defines his role in the story. He also pursues the sorceress Miranjo for her role in a series of tragic events, leading his forces to the Kingdom of Bosse. During this conflict, his pragmatic nature is on full display, yet he is also capable of shifting his stance, such as when he ultimately follows his brother Despa’s counsel to pardon a former enemy.

Desha’s key relationships are the core of his character. With Despa, his bond is fraught with rivalry and unspoken care. While they are capable of working together effectively in serious situations, Desha’s jealousy of Despa’s looks and charm creates a sour tension between them. Despite this friction, they share a unique ability to communicate over any distance, typically by Desha cupping a hand over his mouth. His relationship with Ouken is defined by tragedy and a sense of responsibility. He is a strict but caring older brother, who trained Ouken without holding back and ultimately sacrifices everything to save him. Desha’s initial meeting with the protagonist Bojji is dismissive; he turns the young prince away for his apparent lack of power. However, upon learning that Bojji is Despa’s student, Desha’s attitude shifts, demonstrating his respect for his brother’s judgment and his own capacity for pragmatic reconsideration.

Throughout Ranking of Kings: The Treasure Chest of Courage, Desha undergoes a dramatic and tragic development. The climactic events see him enter the Divine Treasure Vault, a place holding the power to grant a wish. He rejects cursed swords that demand blood and territorial conquest, instead venturing deeper to form a contract with a demon imprisoned there. Desha makes a deal to cure Ouken, but the cost is immense: he sacrifices his own memories in exchange for his brother’s humanity. This act leaves him a hollow, confused, and destitute figure, wandering without a sense of identity. In this amnesiac state, he encounters Bojji again but does not recognize him. Paradoxically, even while lost, he acts on lingering instincts of kindness, offering aid and even a mysterious power to the young prince, cementing his legacy as a monarch who sacrifices everything, including his sense of self, for family.

Desha possesses notable abilities befitting his divine heritage as a demigod. He inherited immense power from his father, most prominently the ability to summon and manipulate devastating lightning strikes in combat. He also wields a massive spiked club with great physical strength, making him a formidable opponent in both magical and martial combat. Beyond raw power, he has a peculiar, unexplained ability to communicate telepathically with his brother Despa across vast distances. His divine intuition also allows him to sense magical anomalies and the presence of other powerful beings.