My one grip about Varus new lore.

Varus never chose duty over family only to regret it later.

This whole scenario never happen instead the opposite happen Val forsake his duties and chose to save Kai. He pulled a Yasuo by neglecting his duties and I hate it. He was meant to be the one who fight for a cause only to realize that the cause would lead him to lose everything he loved.

There is a quote from Castlevania that reminded me of Varus

Dracula: Tell me is this god's reward for the devoted and foolish Marie: You are no fool Gabriel, Dracula: I am no longer Gabriel woman! I am the Dragon Dracul the Prince of Darkness I am & forever will be a thorn in his side. That is my vengeance

Old Varus had an immense devotion into upholding his duty and as a result he lost everything. This drove him to unleash the power that he was suppose to keep locked away. Similar to how Gabriel kill the lord of shadow in the first game and lost everything which made him become a lord of shadow himself.