The night passed in peace—the first true peace the children had known in years.
Zhongli's residence, tucked deep within the mountains and shrouded in divine stillness, was nothing like the orphanage they had escaped. Its hallways were lined with warm stone and ancient wood. No chains. No hidden screams. Only the wind and the soft hum of spirit energy flowing through nature itself.
He had told them gently, "This place is yours, for as long as you need it."
And the children—scarred but alive—slept for the first time without fear.
As sunlight spilled through the open courtyard, Zhongli stepped outside, sipping tea in silence. The world felt cleaner—lighter—now that Ferid Bathory was gone.
But what he saw next gave him pause.
All eight children were kneeling before him.
Mika and Yūichirō stood at the front, their heads bowed. The others—Fumie, Taichi, Akane, Kōta, Ako, and Chihiro—followed suit, silent and determined.
Mika raised his head, eyes shining with clarity.
"Please, teach us to be Soul Masters."
Yūichirō added firmly,
"We want to protect each other. We want to fight monsters like Ferid. We want to be strong… like Chen Xin."
Zhongli looked at them for a long moment. These were no longer frightened orphans begging for safety.
They were survivors seeking purpose.
Chen Xin stood beside Zhongli, surprised at first, but slowly… proud.
The children's small fists were clenched. Their backs straight. Even Ako, wiping tears from her eyes, had knelt without hesitation.
Zhongli finally spoke.
"Becoming a Soul Master is not just a path of strength."
"It is a path of discipline, pain… and responsibility. Once taken, there is no return."
His golden eyes scanned each of their faces.
"Why do you seek this path?"
Mika's voice was soft but unwavering.
"So no one else has to be saved from monsters like we were."
There was silence.
Then, Zhongli smiled faintly.
"Then rise… all of you.From this day forward, you are my disciples."
Chen Xin watched as the children looked up in awe—hope burning behind their eyes.
They were no longer lost children.
They were now the next generation, under the guidance of an immortal.
And the first embers of their legend had just been lit.
The early morning mist still clung to the earth as Zhongli stood at the center of the clearing. A warm breeze rustled the leaves, but the silence held—sacred, anticipatory.
One by one, the children stepped forward. Zhongli's palm hovered above their chests, his divine power gently threading into their cores.
As each Martial Soul awakened, a brilliant light flared to life, and Zhongli's amber eyes lingered—reading not just Martial soul essence, but souls future evolution.
Yūichirō Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Demonic Sword (魔剣 Majin Ken)
Type: Weapon / Offense
Best Suited For: Frontline Assault, Shock Trooper
An obsidian katana materialized in Yūichirō's grip, its edges glowing with a vivid green hue. As the sword's aura surged, so did his presence—he stood taller, the air thick around him, his eyes glinting with something raw and instinctive.
Zhongli tilted his head slightly, voice low.
"A blade born of rebellion… but not evil. This soul carries pain—refined, not shattered. His fury is wild, untrained… but there's honesty in it. If he can master that rage, this Demonic Sword won't consume him—it'll become his shield."
Mikaela Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Angel Sword (天剣 Tenken)
Type: Weapon / Support / Control
Best Suited For: Midline Commander, Status Controller, Holy Duelist
A regal blade emerged in silence, the white steel catching the light, etched with gold and crowned with a green jewel. The room softened around Mikaela, the glow of the sword casting a tranquil aura as the sheath clicked open without a sound.
Zhongli's gaze lingered.
"Composed. Radiant. And yet… beneath that light, I feel sorrow. His strength is tied to restraint, not wrath. This Angel Sword isn't here to judge—it's here to protect. If he remembers that, he'll never lose his way."
Taichi Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Fire Boot Greaves (炎魔靴 Enmakutsu)
Type: Elemental / Speed / Offense
Best Suited For: Flanker, Skirmisher, Disruptor
Flames ignited at Taichi's feet. The ground beneath him blackened in patches as ash-colored greaves locked around his legs. Each step left a charred mark—Devil's Footprints trailing behind him.
Zhongli narrowed his eyes.
"Unrestrained. Reckless. But driven by purpose. These flames don't exist to destroy—they mark the lengths he's willing to go to protect. In time, he'll become both a spark of chaos and a pillar of hope."
Ako Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Golden Bell (金鈴 Kinrei)
Type: Defense / Barrier
Best Suited For: Team Defender, Tank, Barrier Support
A golden bell floated gently behind her, resonating with a soft, otherworldly chime. Each note sent out a ripple of protective force, golden and translucent.
Zhongli's expression softened.
"A soul built to stand firm. Gentle, but unwavering. This bell doesn't call for battle—it sings for her family, for those she holds dear. She will not bend, not even against the storm."
Fumie Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Emerald Winged Butterfly (翡翠蝶 Hisuichō)
Type: Support / Healing
Best Suited For: Healer, Rearline Restorer
Dozens of luminous butterflies emerged from her shoulders, wings fluttering with grace and warmth. Each one drifted out before dissolving into specks of light.
Zhongli looked away for a moment.
"Kindness like this… often carries a cost. Her power is healing, but fragile. She'll give everything, even when she has nothing left. That kind of heart… needs others to shield it."
Kōta Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Eagle Eye (鷹眼 Yōgan)
Type: Perception / Support / Precision
Best Suited For: Scout, Tracker, Sharpshooter
One of his eyes flashed gold, pupils narrowing like a hawk's. Behind him, a faint golden sigil formed—circular and pulsing, aligned with each breath he took.
Zhongli gave a single nod.
"Focused. Quiet. His Martial Soul doesn't roar—it watches. He'll be the one who sees what others miss, who guides from the shadows. When the time comes, his aim will not falter."
Chihiro Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Book of Thoth (托特之書)
Type: Control / Tool / Summon
Best Suited For: Tactical Controller, Summoner, Soul Beast Binder
A glowing tome floated beside her, its pages flipping under an invisible wind. Ancient glyphs shimmered across the parchment.
Zhongli's voice dropped slightly.
"Her Martial soul is definitely powerful, versatile."
Akane Hyakuya
Martial Soul: Guqin of Harmonic Blades (和鸣古琴)
Type: Tool / Control / Offense
Best Suited For: Crowd Control, Area Suppression, Musical Bladework
Strings glimmered as the guqin materialized, hovering in front of her. Each note she played sent out unseen blades of vibrating air, slicing forward with graceful lethality.
Zhongli's eyes flicked upward, remembering something distant."A melody turned weapon. Rare, but not unfamiliar. She weaves art and war into one form—music that can heal, guide… or kill."
He paused. A distant image flickered in his memory: a film from his other life… harpists conjuring blade with their melodies.