The Three Races in Trinity Blood

The Three Races in Trinity Blood

In the post-apocalyptic world of Trinity Blood, humanity is divided into three distinct races: Humans, Methuselah, and Crusniks.

Humans (Terrans)

Humans
Humans once attempted to colonize Mars after a massive population explosion. While on Mars, they discovered the Bacillus and Crusnik nanomachines. When the Bacillus virus was embedded in humans, it transformed them into vampires who needed to feed on blood to survive. While this was unfolding on Mars, continuing wars on Earth led to Armageddon, the apocalyptic conflict that nearly wiped out humanity. The vampires—who now call themselves Methuselah—eventually returned to Earth and entered into a war with the remaining humans.

Nine hundred years later, the surviving humans are still recovering from the devastating effects of the war. They struggle to coexist with the Methuselah, despite lingering distrust and animosity. The Vatican leads the ongoing effort to maintain peace and to deal with rogue elements on both sides who would prefer the war to continue. The Methuselah refer to humans as "Terrans," or the "Short-Lived Race."

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Methuselah (Vampires / Long-Lived Race)

Methuselah
The Methuselah, or "Long-Lived Race," are vampire-like beings who feed on human blood and possess supernatural strength. Their name likely derives from the biblical figure Methuselah, known for his long life. Methuselah have extended lifespans, superior strength and speed, and impressive healing and regenerative abilities.

Beyond their physical prowess, Methuselah often have individual supernatural powers. These may manifest as blades extending from their arms, claws, or even prehensile, razor-sharp hair. Some can control elemental forces such as fire or ice. When first born, a Methuselah appears and behaves like a normal human—able to function during the day and without the typical traits of their race—until their transformation occurs.

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Crusniks (Vampires of Vampires)

Crusniks
Crusniks are vampires who feed on the blood of other vampires. They are incredibly powerful and nearly indestructible. Unlike Methuselahs, who are either born or infected, Crusniks are unique beings created during the Mars Colonization Project. The Crusniks—Seth, Abel, and Lilith—were genetically enhanced test-tube babies developed by the UNASF. They were the only ones capable of surviving infusion with the Crusnik nanomachines discovered on Mars. Cain, the fourth Crusnik, was later infused by Seth to save his life after a fatal accident.

Crusniks have powers that set them apart from Methuselahs. Abel and Cain both have angelic wings and can fly. They can also transmute their blood into weapons and possess psychokinetic abilities. Abel can generate powerful bio-electric fields, while Cain uses psychokinetic energy to shatter enemies and create barriers. Seth, meanwhile, can disintegrate objects and people using sound waves.

To activate his powers, Abel typically gives a mental or verbal command to the nanomachines in his body. The method varies across adaptations: in the anime, he says "Nanomachines: Crusnik 02 - Power Output __% Activate," while in the manga he activates them silently, receiving confirmation internally. Despite these portrayals, he’s also seen activating his powers without a command, suggesting it may be a narrative device rather than a strict rule. In contrast, Cain and Seth don’t appear to require any such trigger. A notable exception occurs in the third novel, where Sister Paula Souwauski prevents Abel from completing his activation phrase, stopping his transformation. This is significant because Abel's combat rating jumps from a B− in human form to an S+ at 40% Crusnik power.