Aurakles

Aurakles was the 'first hero', created by the Eternals as part of their long-term bioengineering experiments on behalf of the Celestials. He shared the physical capabilities of the godlings of New Genesis, though without being bound to the powers of the Demiurge to sustain him. He was created as both a repository of Neanderthal DNA and as a check against creatures with genocidal ambitions who might try to destroy humanity itself.

As one of the earliest sentient creations bound to the Savage Land, he was appointed as a curator and guardian of that land. He would be sent out periodically to survey human development and record the impact of humans on the totality of Earth's biome. Several times over the millennia he bred, his unique genetic legacy producing a higher than normal incidence of metagene potential. Aurakles brought many of his progeny and their families back to the Savage Land to help curate the preserve. The reintroduction of Neanderthal DNA into the human population diluted the divergence of the Homo Denisovan genetic branch, and produced modern Homo Sapien.

Aurakles ran afoul of Vandal Savage in 12,000 BCE. He was captured and refused to divulge the location of his home or the source of his immortality. Savage imprisoned Aurakles in one of his strongholds in what is presently the Sudan, but the rapid climate change that dessicated the African grasslands into the Saharan consumed the prison and buried it under sand.