Yuuki Izayoi:
Ahmad Fakhri/Yuuki Izayoi (also known as Ye Aiyah in certain realms or contexts, on next chapter knew as Yurufuwa-chan) is the central protagonist of this extended isekai narrative. He is a wanderer-hero who traverses multiple worlds, originally summoned as a young traveler and later revealed as the successor to ancient divine sword techniques. His journey involves mastering unparalleled martial and mystical arts, ascending power systems, and ultimately fulfilling promises across realities. Below is a detailed biodata summary of his core techniques, drawn from their canonical origins and why they contribute to his overwhelming strength (especially the Six Meridian Divine Sword as the pinnacle of his arsenal).
Six Meridian Divine Sword (六脈神劍 / Liù Mài Shén Jiàn)
Origin: From Jin Yong's wuxia novel Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils (Tian Long Ba Bu). This is the legendary ultimate art of the Duan royal family of Dali Kingdom, created by founder Duan Siping and mastered in full only by Duan Yu (after absorbing vast internal energy) and the creator himself.
Description
A finger-based qi technique that projects invisible, blade-like streams of internal energy (sword qi) from the six major hand meridians: Taiyin Lung, Shaoyin Heart, Taiyang Small Intestine, Yangming Large Intestine, Shaoyang Triple Burner, and one additional (often interpreted as a complete set). It functions as rapid-fire invisible swords, capable of machine-gun-like barrages, cutting through weapons and flesh with immense force (comparable to clashing against a metallic sword with Desert Eagle-level impact).
Why it is more OP and holy than Qingming Sword, Tailless Sword, Yamato, Excalibur, Durandal, Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, Gram, Hrunting, Shamshir-e Zomorrodnegar, Asi, and even approaching Zulfiqar:
- Purity & Holiness — It is rooted in profound internal energy cultivation aligned with Buddhist-Daoist principles (requiring immense neili/qi reserves and mental purity). Unlike cursed blades (e.g., Qingming Sword corrupts the wielder, Tailless consumes the user, Yamato cuts dimensions but risks sanity), it is a "divine" technique free of backlash when mastered.
- Conceptual Superiority — It is formless yet absolute, projecting qi blades that surpass physical swords in speed, range, and destructive potential. It can rapid-fire from fingers without needing a weapon, making it more versatile than legendary swords (Excalibur/Anti-Fortress, Gram dragon-slaying, etc.).
- Power Scaling — Considered one of the most invincible arts in the jianghu (martial world). When fully mastered with vast qi (as Yuuki achieves), it nullifies curses, stabilizes power, and upgrades other blades (e.g., purifying Qingming). Its near-100% divine nature (99.8% in lore comparisons) rivals sacred relics like Zulfiqar (Islamic divine sword) in purity and exceeds others in conceptual "holiness" without drawbacks.
- Yuuki's Mastery — He trains patiently in Chinese temples, absorbing qi and achieving perfect control, making it his foundational technique that counters corruption and enables infinite use without exhaustion.
Noble Phantasm
Origin: From the Fate series (TYPE-MOON universe).
Description
"Crystallized Mysteries" — powerful armaments, abilities, or phenomena born from humanity's collective imagination and legends. They are the trump cards of Heroic Spirits (Servants), embodying their myths (e.g., Excalibur as a holy sword, Enuma Elish as reality-shattering).
Yuuki's Ascended Version (Phantasm)
Yuuki learns Noble Phantasm mechanics in Shinjuku/Fuyuki timelines (interacting with Kirei Kotomine) and ascends it into Phantasm — his own evolved law, surpassing the original by integrating wuxia qi and isekai elements. This makes his techniques conceptual weapons of higher existence, drawing from his legend as a wanderer-hero.
Buddha's Palm (如来神掌 / Rú Lái Shén Zhǎng)
Origin: From wuxia films/novels like Buddha's Palm (1982 Shaw Brothers) and related stories (e.g., Kung Fu Hustle homage).
Description
An ultimate palm strike technique that projects massive chi/energy blasts from the hands, often manifesting as giant glowing palms or light energy. It can crush islands, emit beams, or overwhelm foes with overwhelming force (sometimes visualized as Buddha's hand crushing evil).
Yuuki's Integration
Learned during world travels, combined with qi control for devastating ranged/melee strikes. It serves as a foundational palm art in his ultimate burst.
Rain of Swords (from Geomje in Lost Saga)
Origin: Lost Saga (Korean MMO), Geomje hero skill.
Description
Geomje (a skilled swordsman) controls multiple swords to strike enemies in a wide range/area, raining them down like projectiles for continuous multi-hit damage.
Yuuki's Use
Adapted as a barrage technique — summoning and controlling swords in a storm-like assault, enhanced by Phantasm for infinite, fatigue-free execution.
Eight Gates of Might (Hachimon Tonkou)
Origin: Naruto series (Might Guy/Rock Lee family technique).
Description
Eight chakra limiters in the body. Opening them removes restrictions, granting exponential power boosts (e.g., Gate of Death multiplies strength 100x+), but causes severe damage/death. Techniques like Evening Elephant (air pressure blasts) and Night Guy (space-distorting kick) emerge.
Yuuki's Adaptation
Trained for extreme physical limits, integrated into his taijutsu for bursts of god-like speed/strength without permanent death (due to Six Meridian purity).
### Other Skills Learned by Yuuki
- Four Symbols (from Jin Sasinmu in Lost Saga): Mastery over Azure Dragon (Seiryu), Vermilion Bird (Suzaku), White Tiger (Byakko), and Black Turtle (Genbu) — Korean-inspired elemental/symbolic powers for balanced offense/defense (wind/fire/metal/earth themes).
- Create and Delete / Time Stop (inspired by Sakuya Izayoi from Touhou Project): Sakuya manipulates time (stop, accelerate, decelerate, erase, compress). Yuuki develops similar abilities via Phantasm + isekai spells, allowing time deletion, infinite pauses for setup (e.g., knife placement), or age manipulation.
Yuuki's arsenal combines wuxia purity, Fate conceptual ascension, anime bursts, game skills, and Touhou time mastery into an OP, holy framework centered on the Six Meridian Divine Sword — making him a multiversal successor capable of nullifying existence (via Kaarosu Kamikazen) while remaining uncorrupted.
Ye Shunguang
An S-Rank Honed Edge (Physical) Attack Agent and member of Yunkui Summit. Sword Keeper of the Qingming Sword, disciple of Yixuan, and younger sister of Ye Shiyuan. A talented swordswoman who endured tragedy after her parents died protecting others during the fall of the old capital. She wields the blade to shatter fate, becoming the Void Hunter: Qingming Arbiter—master of the sword rather than its victim. Each slash costs memories, a silent sacrifice. Her title symbolizes resolve and ongoing hardship.
Ye Shunguang is the Sword Keeper of Yunkui Summit's treasured Qingming Sword, a disciple of Yixuan, and the younger sister of Ye Shiyuan, as well as a swordswoman blessed with extraordinary talent.
She enjoyed a happy childhood until the fall of the old capital, when her parents lost their lives rescuing others, bringing all her happiness to an abrupt end.
From then on, she relied solely on her brother — up until Yixuan took them in, bringing them into Yunkui Summit. Later, she was chosen by the Qingming Sword, taking up the mantle and duty of Sword Keeper.
Rumor has it that the Qingming Sword's favor is less a blessing and more a kind of curse. Though it gives its Sword Keeper Void Hunter level power, it extracts a harsh cost — the loss of one's memories and five senses.
In order to subdue this side effect, Yixuan Shifu crafted a custom sword case for Ye Shunguang. It appears effective for the moment, but the true nature of the weapon is still shrouded in mystery.
When Ye Shunguang first took up the Qingming Sword, she was still just a child, suddenly burdened with responsibilities far beyond her age.
She wasn't allowed to own toys, was constantly pushed to be mature, and made to undertake constant sword training... The weight of it all pressed down on her, and she simply had to accept it.
After an emotional outburst, she once fled the sect and wandered across Failume Heights — where you appeared and handed her a small packet of osmanthus candy, offering a rare moment of warmth.
Addition: her favorite pastry now is osmanthus cake, perhaps for this very reason.
Ye Shunghuang's weapon: Qingming Sword
The sacred power of the Qingming Sword grants its user the ability of a Void Hunter for a short duration, which comes at the cost of gradually consuming the user's five senses and memories with each use. Every High Preceptor receives the sword as a symbol of their position. When its wielder dies, the sword's power goes berserk and affects everything in its vicinity.
Legend has it that it was first discovered near the Lemnian Hollow, originally a bizarre object feeding on the Ether within human bodies, until a powerful master with incredible control over Ether suppressed its rampage. Unable to find a way to destroy it, they forged it into a sword, leading to the establishment of the Yunkui Summit sect. From then on, the Qingming Sword chose its master, acting as both a blessing and a curse.
In recent times, the Qingming Sword had chosen Yijiang as its new master, while the health of previous one, the eleventh High Preceptor, was slowly deteriorating as the aftermath of using the Qingming Sword. To prevent her sister to meet the same fate and instead live a long and happy life, Yixuan, together with Yijiang herself, developed a new technique called the Qingming Bird. However, when faced with the disaster of the expanding Hollow Zero, Yijiang chose to sacrifice herself and save her sister (and Eridu with her) from calamity.
After the Fall of the Old Capital, the orphaned Ye siblings got taken in by Yunkui Summit. While Ye Shiyuan struggled at the beginning of his training, Ye Shunguang showed an incredible talent, which brought her to be chosen by the Qingming Sword. Fearing that tragedy will repeat itself, Yixuan gifted her a sword case she crafted to suppress the side effects of the Qingming Sword, sealing it away, and put her in constant training in order to keep her away from dangerous missions. Shiyuan, who swore to free his sister from the curse, first tried to shift the Qingming Sword's side effects onto himself instead, then left to look for a definitive solution after Shunguang had unsheathed the sword to save him from the Creator's control.
Ye Shunghuang's Void Hunter Description
The Void Hunters represent the highest honor and strongest force in all of New Eridu.
The mayor will bestow each of them a unique title before their name.
This title not only commends and represents their irreplaceable and impressive feats, but also immortalizes the resolve unique to each Void Hunter.
As for Ye Shunguang, her title is the "Qingming Arbiter."
This symbolizes the fact that Ye Shunguang is no longer constrained by, nor is a victim of, the Qingming Sword, but rather its master and is able to harness its power.
It not only cements the fact that Ye Shunguang holds dominion over the Qingming Sword, but also serves as a reminder to all that behind this honor lies an unrelentless and ongoing sacrifice.
Every time she slashes her sword, the sands of her memories silently fall.
Every time she shields another, her senses gradually fade.
This is the Qingming Arbiter of New Eridu.
She is no divine being, yet she holds unimaginable strength. Consequently, she also bears a burden so heavy that it stirs the heavens.
Thus, when you see the blinding flash of her sword streaking through the night, never forget:
That light represents the young lady's devotion and protection through self-sacrifice.
Ye Shiyuan
An NPC Thiren and former Yunkui Summit member (older brother of Ye Shunguang). Analytical and cynical, he questions everything and plans meticulously. Deeply protective of his sister, he swore to free her from the Qingming Sword's curse. After the old capital's fall, he and Shunguang were taken in by Yunkui Summit. Returning to Waifei Peninsula resurfaced his nightmares, now including fears of losing Shunguang to the sword.
Despite being a member of Yunkui Summit, Ye Shiyuan has a more analytical, down-to-earth approach to the world; he is prone to question everything and plan ahead, which is why Pan Yinhu dubbed him as "cynical." He deeply cares for his sister Shunguang, and he swore to find a way to free her from the Qingming Sword curse.
Ye Shiyuan's parents were free spirits that dabbled in the mystic arts and spent their youth traveling the world; after witnessing the dangers of Miasma, they decided to settle in Waifei Peninsula with their firstborn son to study a better way to suppress it, and welcomed their second child Shunguang shortly after. Shiyuan and Shunguang thus spent part of their childhood in the residential area near the mines.
During the Fall of the Old Capital, there was a Miasma outbreak at the mining site: Shiyuan and Shunguang's parents managed to protect the two children with a technique, while they themselves got corrupted, and asked Banyue to leave them behind and save the kids instead. This experience scarred Shiyuan, who started having nightmares of his parents getting killed by a monstrous figure in the Miasma. After a short period where the two siblings had to scrape by, Banyue brought them to Yunkui Summit so that they could be taken in under Yixuan's guidance. The Ye siblings arrived at temple gates at the same time as Pan Yinhu, and to establish their order of seniority, Yixuan made them draw lots; Shiyuan let his eager sister draw first, but she drew the junior lot, while Shiyuan himself became the most senior one, with Pan Yinhu in the middle. Settling at Yunkui Summit made Shiyuan's nightmares gradually subside.
In the beginning, Shiyuan struggled with his training as a mystic, unlike his sister, whose talent was eventually noticed by the Qingming Sword, which chose her as its new wielder. At first, the news made him ecstatic, but when he learnt of the curse the sword entailed, he swore to find a way to save Shunguang, even resorting to experimenting with forbidden techniques, trying to shift the Qingming Sword's side effects onto himself instead. This angered and saddened Yixuan, and he promised he would never let his obsession ruin him, not even for Shunguang's sake.
When the Lemnian Hollow started displaying abnormal observation data readings, he followed Yixuan, Ju Fufu and Pan Yinhu in relocating to Suibian Temple to investigate the situation under Mayor Mayflower's request. However, returning to Waifei Peninsula made his nightmares of the Fall resurface again, deeply troubling his sleep, now with seeing Shunguang getting consumed by the Qingming Sword as a new nightmare.
A few months later, while the rest of the team was trying to prevent Mevorakh's ascension, he faced Sarah alone. He thus witnessed the Overseer mark being granted to her, which shook his beliefs that the Creator was not real, and Sarah tempted him with the possibility of the Creator granting his "wish." She then took him by surprise and feigned using her power of "Erasure" to free him from his nightmares, forcing him to change into his hidden form. Shiyuan played along, with the plan of locating and destroying the Creator before They could take form. His schemes were however predicted by the Creator, and Sarah let him believe he had the upper hand; the Qingming Bird messenger he tried to use to contact Yixuan got trapped in Miasma by the Creator. Shiyuan helped Sarah find the array needed to gather the Miasma's power for the Creator's descent, in exchange for the promise of not including Shunguang (who he believed was still on Yunkui Summit) in her plotting. After witnessing that Sarah had tended a trap to Shunguang to lure her in the Hollow, he went with Sarah to evoke the Creator, only to attack her while she was distracted. However, this did not stop her, as she managed to merge with the Creator despite her wounds, and they together corrupted Shiyuan with Miasma. His mind-controlled self then attacked the newly arrived Phaethon, Dialyn, Banyue and Shunguang, pushing the latter into unsheathing the Qingming Sword so that the Creator could absorb its power. After the unsheathed Qingming Sword hit him, he returned to his senses, rushing to help his sister. Nonetheless, he left immediately to investigate further into the Qingming Sword's nature, since he had gained important info by accessing the Creator's mind while possessed.
After discovering Lu Hengzhou's scheme of sacrificing orphans to the Qingming Sword, Shiyuan grew resentful towards Yunkui Summit: he temporarily aided them during the Lemnian Hollow emergency for the sake of Failume Heights and his sister, but after Shunguang got awarded the Void Hunter medal, he left the sect, aiming to uncover the secrets of the Void Hunter Weapons and find a way to put an end to the Qingming Sword negative effects.
Yixuan
S-Rank Auric Ink Rupture Agent, the 13th High Preceptor and Grandmaster of Yunkui Summit (addressed as Shifu). Eccentric leader and Void Hunter-level investigator affiliated with the Hollow Investigative Association. Master of Ether, she guides disciples with wisdom and authority. She walks New Eridu's streets solving troubles, restoring the sect's reputation as a true sanctuary.
Yixuan is the 13th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit and a Void Hunter-level investigator, officially recognized by Mayor Mayflower.
She was once an orphan, wandering the world with her sister from a young age. Later, the then-High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit took them in, and they became disciples, learning the craft of Yunkui Summit. During this time, Yixuan demonstrated exceptional talent. No matter the technique, she would quickly master it, not only understanding it thoroughly but also creating her own unique techniques. The Qingming Bird was one of the special techniques she and her sister developed together, which helped her eliminate enemies and banish evil spirits in various difficult and dangerous situations. After becoming the sect's High Preceptor, she accepted an invitation from Mayor Mayflower and joined the Hollow Investigative Association as a partnered special investigator.
After becoming High Preceptor, Yixuan took in many talented disciples to continue Yunkui Summit's lineage. However, her approach is rather casual, and often, even when teaching by example, her disciples can only guess her intentions... Yet, Yixuan isn't troubled by this, as she believes there's no standard answer to the so-called "right path." What matters to her is that her disciples find their own "right path." Of course, if they can understand and learn on their own, that's even better. As their Shifu, she simply lets things unfold naturally.
When Yixuan was young, she loved eating char siu buns with her sister. but [sic] after the fall of the old capital, she lost all interest in them overnight and hasn't eaten them much since.
The disciples of Yunkui Summit are unaware of this, and just think their master is a bit picky.
Naturally, it's best to keep this a secret. Some memories and attachments should just be left to fade away with time.
Yixuan's Grandmaster Bio
Since its founding, Yunkui Summit has dedicated itself to helping others and aiding humanity.
Only those who have mastered the Way of Ether to perfection, reaching the pinnacle of their craft, can be called "Grandmasters" of Yunkui Summit.
As time passed, the sect changed, losing its former glory. Yet the 13th High Preceptor Yixuan
still walks the streets of New Eridu, solving troubles and bringing blessings to those in need.
In these peaceful days that pass one after another, people only know Yunkui Summit as a place of fortune-telling and worship, rather than a sanctuary for all.
Until the howling calamity of despair descends, and that silver-haired figure emerges again in the night...
Only then will people truly understand what it means to be a Grandmaster of Yunkui Summit.
Ju Fufu
S-Rank Fire Stun Agent and highest senior disciple of Yunkui Summit. A short-statured Tiger Thiren who takes pride in her power and identity. Often mistaken for a child due to her size and demeanor, but she is Yixuan's first disciple. Fierce and heroic, she roars justice into battle while being playfully "scary."
Ju Fufu is a powerful mystic who takes great pride in her work and in her nature as a tiger Thiren. She is the most senior disciple of Yunkui Summit, though often gets annoyed with people assuming she's a kid when in practice she's just short in stature. She holds strong convictions and carries herself as a warrior of justice; one capable of dispatching evil wherever it should lurk.
Like other tiger Thirens she has a preference for meat dishes. People often mistake Ju Fufu for various types of cat Thiren rather than a tiger Thiren, which irritates her greatly.
Ju Fufu is accompanied by an Intelligent Construct popcorn machine named Hu Wei. Hu Wei's name is derived from a fictional tiger Thiren martial arts heroine called Hu Weiwei. He is non-verbal and has an overall grumpy disposition. He and Ju Fufu often come in to disagreements, but he is always primed to help her in any situation, and doesn't complain about being tired or hurt when being used in combat.
Ju Fufu lived in the tiger Thiren settlement as a child, and grew up watching old martial arts films, being inspired by them, particular the tiger Thiren actor named Cang Huang, and the fictional tiger Thiren heroine Hu Weiwei.
During the Fall of the Old Capital a companion Hollow of Hollow Zero consumed the tiger Thiren settlement, and the powerful Ethereals who appeared at the time decimated the resident, with 98% of them being killed. Yunkui Summit appeared shortly after the Hollow emerged, and Ju Fufu was rescued by the efforts of the mystics of Yunkui Summit, being one of the few survivors of the now near-extinct tiger Thiren clan. As Yunkui Summit made a deal with Porcelumex to leave Failume Heights following these events, Ju Fufu would join Yunkui Summit and lived on the mountain proper with what remained of the mystic order, being the first disciple of the new Grandmaster: Yixuan.
She maintained her training over the years, and eventually would come to have juniors in Ye Shiyuan and Pan Yinhu. At some point in time, Ju Fufu would encounter Hu Wei, who would become her companion and combat aid from then on.
Several months before the events of Where Clouds Embrace the Dawn, Yunkui Summit began their return to Failume Heights, resettling within the long abandoned Suibian Temple, and at this time Ju Fufu was roped in to a movie production called Legend of the Tiger Warrior!, however it was revealed this was a plot by The Exaltists to use the Tigerbane Bell; a tiger Thiren artifact long thought lost, to steal the power of Ju Fufu and one "Master Tiger", a process which would have turned them both in to ethereals. This however was revealed to have been orchestrated by Master Tiger; he had used the bell multiple times on his own kind since the tiger Thiren's decimation, and had manipulated the Exaltists in to drawing Ju Fufu out so he could do the same to her. Using the bell he merged the gathered Exaltists in to a powerful Ethereal with the hopes of defeating her, but Ju Fufu defeated it singlehandedly before apprehending the Master Tiger and handing him over to Public Security.
Once Phaethon joined the ranks of Yunkui Summit, Ju Fufu became quick friends with them and supported them in their efforts as the most senior disciple.
Hoshimi Miyabi
S-Rank Frost Anomaly Agent. Chief of Section 6, youngest Void Hunter ("Isshin Muga"). Stoic yet eccentric swordswoman wielding the cursed Tailless blade. Highly considerate of teammates.
The youngest Void Hunter to date and Chief of Hollow Special Operations Section 6, Hoshimi Miyabi is a woman who defies the status quo and uses Tailless, her family heirloom's cursed blade, to protect the city of New Eridu and unveil the corruption within it. Although she's the chief of Section 6, Miyabi does little work related to it, with bureaucratic tasks being handled by Deputy Chief Tsukishiro Yanagi.
Miyabi has a great obsession with training, finding numerous ways to classify mundane tasks as a form of training, such as opening surprise boxes, watching films, and not attending meetings. The intensity of some of her training leads her to black out and enter a trance-like state, where's she's only capable of parroting the last word said by another.
Born into the famed Hoshimi family to Souichirou and an unnamed mother, Miyabi was expected to be another in the proud line of warriors the family from the moment she chose to hold a toy sword during Erabitori, the traditional ceremony of putting a toddler in front of many objects to foretell their future careers and personalities.
Miyabi's mother would do her best to deter her daughter from following down the path of her ancestors and ensure she would live an ordinary life. These included giving young Miyabi unique trainings like eating all her vegetables, sleeping eight hours, and remembering all their family member's names, while also her horseback riding, archery, calligraphy, and how to play an instrument.
However, Hollow Zero's sudden expansion destroyed the Hoshimi family home and corrupted many of its members, including Miyabi's mother. Severely corrupted, she handed Miyabi Tailless and described her the last training: to use their family blade to end her life before she could mutate into an Ethereal. After mercifully killing her mother, under the influence of the katana's power, Miyabi entered a frenzy state and slayed countless Ethereals, event which would later be addressed by her father as an "accident."
Years later, Miyabi would hold Tailless once more, with the desire of protecting the citizens of New Eridu by becoming an officer. Her father supported her plan by crafting an advanced scabbard able to seal the cursed katana's power.
During her time at the Public Security Training Academy, Miyabi befriended fellow classmate Zhu Yuan and almost lost her family's katana to a scam by Nicole Demara, but was soon given it back by the streetwise woman. After graduating, Miyabi enlisted in H.A.N.D. and quickly became an executive officer.
Hoshimi Miyabi was crucial in the successful containment of the Argos Hollow by managing to destroy the massive ethereal Lerna in under three minutes, saving the life of around 208 people. This feat rewarded Miyabi with the esteemed title of Void Hunter, but instead of attending the ceremony, she took advantage of her new position to transfer fellow executive officer Asaba Harumasa and Defense Force member Tsukishiro Yanagi to the newly founded Hollow Special Operations Section 6, which she created to uncover and destroy the roots of corruption within New Eridu and find the true culprits behind the Fall of the Old Capital, in order to avenge her late mother.
Miyabi goes on a lot of field missions and still doesn't know which floor the regular monthly meeting is on.
Even if you see Miyabi in the office, it's unlikely she's dealing with paperwork, and more likely polishing her sword.
Being conferred the title of Void Hunter due to her outstanding contributions, she's an elite amongst elites in Section 6.
She has great prestige amongst the citizens.
Once, Miyabi accidentally wandered into a "Miyabi Fan Club" hosted offline event.
Miyabi was thought to be a fan with godlike impersonation skills, and that event resulted in a precious visual recording.
Hoshimi Miyabi is honest and pragmatic. She is not simply a martial artist obsessed with her art and without care for the world around her.
Anyone who knows her will realize she's always pursued justice in her heart... even if it may eventually cause a revolution.
Hoshimi Miyabi is the heir to a famed martial arts family in New Eridu.
According to an insider, Miyabi's mother died when she was young and Miyabi's relationship with her father is rather odd.
Note: Miyabi's father has not taken any civil or administrative positions within New Eridu.
Miyabi's weapon: Ethereal-Slaying Katana: "Tailless"
A cursed blade originally wielded by the first head of the Hoshimi family and passed down from generation to generation. Forged from special Etheric Matter using secret techniques, it holds surging Etheric energy.
However, under the effect of the sealing sheath, "Tailless" is merely a sharp blade wielded by Miyabi.
Maybe only when the seal is lifted will we uncover the story behind this blade.
Miyabi's Void Hunter Info
In the old capital under the gaze of the moon, seven travelers of the World's Void once made a decision:
to allow the king of the mortal realm to bestow honors upon them.
To this day, most of the new capital's seven badges lie forgotten, gathering dust,
a fact known to few, while the joyous city remains confident in her impenetrable protection.
The Ethereal-hunting foxfire has been tamed by the martial artist,
and young fox ears flicker frequently on fluorescent screens,
filling people with boundless confidence.
Yet those seated atop the pinnacle of the new capital are restless, each harboring their own fears.
Tsukishiro Yanagi
Deputy Chief and Intelligence Officer of Section 6. The "brains" keeping operations running smoothly. Skilled strategist and battlefield powerhouse.
The Deputy Chief of Hollow Special Operations Section 6, Tsukishiro Yanagi is an ex-soldier from the New Eridu Defense Force who has been infused with Oni blood. Her main jobs include general management, on-site support and being the guardian of her fellow member Soukaku; alongside all these duties, she usually finds herself having to complete the rest of the team's tasks as well. Due to the unique personalities of the other Section 6 members, Yanagi's seriousness and diligence classify her as the only "normal" member of the team. It is with her guidance, experience, and leadership that the primary on-field group's powers combine into true combat power.
Tsukishiro Yanagi was a member of the New Eridu Defense Force Obsidian Division[Note 1] who served during the Oni rebellion. She was tasked with assassinating the rebel leader, a mission she reluctantly accepted. Whilst making her way to the leader's hideout, she met a young Soukaku and soon saved her from an oncoming missile strike, being captured by Oni rebels in the process. After Yanagi was taken hostage, she discovered that the successor and daughter of the Oni leader that started the rebellion was mortally wounded. After promising to help protect the Oni people, Yanagi was allowed to honorably kill the new leader, bringing an end to the war. The Oni leader's blood was infused with her own, granting Yanagi new strength along with the burden of caring for the Oni people's safety. Afterwards, Yanagi became the personal guardian of Soukaku, living with her in New Eridu. As a member of the Defense Force. she collaborated with H.A.N.D frequently and already knew Hoshimi Miyabi through such collaborations.
Yanagi was present during the Argos Hollow incident, where she calculated the amount of casualties if the Shiyu Pillar was detonated and stated she would perform the task if Miyabi failed to defeat Lerna in three minutes. After Miyabi's victory, she, alongside H.A.N.D. executive officer Asaba Harumasa, were transferred to the newly formed Hollow Special Operations Section 6 by the newly titled Void Hunter in order to expose the roots of corruption within New Eridu Yanagi later ascended to Deputy Chief, taking responsibility for both her ward and her fellow members.
During an invitation by the Hollow Investigative Association to test out their VR system, Yanagi became crucial in saving her teammates' lives when the systems were hacked by the Proxy group Null_Face, trapping them within the virtual environment. Her perseverance and combat skill allowed her to escape the system along with her teammates.
Yanagi's weapon: Ethereal Naginata: Uro Tsuki
A retractable naginata custom-made in the HAND weapon workshop from a special lightweight Ether alloy. It's light and agile, easy to conceal, and looks like an ordinary self-defense device when retracted.
A lightweight retractable blade... can it really hold up against a ferocious Ethereal?
It doesn't matter. After all, Deputy Chief Tsukishiro is an exceptional intelligence officer with thorough intel on each enemy's weakness — one fatal strike is more than enough.
Soldier 11
S-Rank Fire Attack Agent. Primary Responder and Lead Striker of Obol Squad. A stoic, highly trained soldier specializing in close-quarters combat and frontline assaults. Her kit revolves around Fire Suppression buffs for massive Fire DMG on Basic Attacks after key skills.
A soldier with no name and an affinity for fire. Soldier 11 is a model soldier of the New Eridu Defense Force, serving as the primary responder and first striker for Obol Squad.
Though an exceptional by-the-books soldier, Soldier 11 has notable quirks, namely her love for spicy food (specifically super-spicy noodles from Sixth Street's Waterfall Soup) and a habit of calling Phaethon by a different codename on every occasion.
Before being known as Soldier 11 of Obol Squad, she was originally a replica named Harin from Silver Squad, a name she deemed "too weak" for her. Silver Squad was a company that consisted of an infantry made up of replicas, artificial humans made via genetic cloning. These replicas were incredibly skilled and loyal soldiers who could be easily replaced. Silver Squad was led by Soldier 0 - Anby, who was considered to be the best of the replicas when it came to combat prowess.
However, despite Sliver Squad being considered a game changer, the costs to maintain and produce replicas of high-caliber was too expensive. Alongside being part of an internal power struggle, the Defense Force decided it was best to keep just one of the replicas and dispose of the rest. Due to her skills, Anby was the one they were going to keep, but she soon began purposefully failing tasks in an attempt to save her 'sisters' from disposal. In the end, Obsidian Division devised a suicide mission for Silver Squad, keeping Anby's name off the deployment list as well.
The night prior to the mission, Harin was training in preparation for the upcoming missions, during which overexerted herself and suffered an injury. Noticing what her 'sister' had done, Anby took her place on the mission meant to kill all but her, whilst Harin rested. Anby would watch her all her squadmates supposedly die, buried by rubble and leaving an injured Anby to return alone.[3]
Upon her return, Anby was ordered to kill Solider 11, an order she refused to follow by slitting her throat in an act of disloyalty. With that, Silver Squad was disbanded and Anby's body was disposed of in the Old Capital, where she was later found alive by Nicole Demara.
Harin would not know the truth of what happened until years later. In her mind, Anby had abandoned her and the rest of Silver Squad. Feeling betrayed by one she greatly admired and left to deal with an awful situation by herself, Harin began to resent Anby, setting her sights on becoming stronger than her. It was around this time she finally gave up the name Harin and fully went by Soldier 11.
Over time, Soldier 11 would become an exemplary soldier, receiving promotions and eventually becoming the final member of Obol Squad, a division with the goal of finding out what truly happened on the day Eridu fell. Upon joining Obol Squad, Soldier 11 was quick to notice Seed's bond with Seed Sr., despite not being told about Obol Squad's agreement to hide Seed Sr.'s death from the pilot, and she began to use the Intelligent Construct's phone to send her texts.
After a mole was discovered within the Defense Force, Soldier 11 was tasked with pretending to defect from the force in an attempt to make contact with the mole and uncover the rebel force they were a part of and disperse them. Learning that Mr. Mole was an admirer of Legendary Proxy - Phaethon, she sent out a commission for a proxy to imitate Phaethon as a way to get closer to him. As fate would have it, the proxy who took up her commission was none other than Phaethon.[8] The duo would complete the mission with the aid of Trigger, Obol Squad's sniper, taking down the rebel faction. Soldier 11 would remain oblivious to Phaethon's identity, believing them to be acting still, despite them revealing the truth.
Sometime during a solo mission, Soldier 11 would wind up as the captive of Twiggy, a strategic mind of Silver Squad and one of her 'sisters' who was assumed to have perished in the suicide mission. She would be saved by Trigger and Anby, who was now a member of the Cunning Hares and going by the last name Demara. During her kidnapping, Soldier 11 sustained heavy injury, leading to temporary retrograde amnesia (something that occurs to replicas under heavy damage). She would stay with Phaethon until her memories returned thanks to hearing a recorded conversation she had with Anby from to a doll Nekomata had made for Anby with a hidden camera inside the head. Though in an extremely unstable state, Soldier 11 would come to the aid of Anby, helping her put Twiggy out of her misery after she and a replica she had made willingly corrupted themselves into the Ethereal Palicus. Afterwards, Soldier 11 told her captain she wasn't a traitor, but a coward. She was later escorted out of the Hollow she had entered and returned to the Defense Force where she would receive professional care for her condition.
Still recovering from her memory loss, Soldier 11 would begin to lose trust in herself due to her condition. After having turned down an assignment that could've led to a promotion, she visited Phaethon and explained how she feared she'd mess up the mission and how she wasn't allowed indefinite leave, with the Defense Force still having use for her. She realized that she had become attached to the proxy and needed them. She entrusted herself to the siblings, believing that when they're by her side, she won't mess things up and also asked them to keep two promises: To stay in touch, and remind her of their name. They promised to both, ready to help remind them of their name when the time arose.
Trigger
Sniper specialist of Obol Squad, providing long-range fire support with near-perfect accuracy. Formerly used the alias "Charon" during early collaborations.
A nigh-blind sniper and frontline survivor of the old capital's fall, Trigger is a member of Obol Squad, where she uses her array of close-range, sharpshooting and stealth skills obtained from her time at Lyre Squad along with an ability gained from her corrupted eyesight dubbed 'Ether Vision' and heightened senses in hopes of finding the true culprits behind Eridu's fall.
Outside of being a soldier specializing in killing targets from afar, Trigger has a caring side. Her desire to protect those near to her has a notable effect on her psyche, and she also gets along well with children. Also, she likes red bean buns.
Trigger wears a mask with two lights at the bottom two corners that light up depending on her emotions
The once shy Phlegethon was a soldier brought into Eridu Defense Force's Chrysoberyl Division - Lyre Squad by its captain Charon to be their sniper. Her codename was considered cumbersome by Charon, who decided to redub her with a new codename: Trigger. Over the span of a two and a half years, Trigger became more talkative and skilled as a sniper, capable of adjusting to changes in wind speeds on the fly and protecting her teammates from harm. She also made tight bonds with each member of Lyre Squad to the point her captain noticed how she seemed on the verge of breaking any time a member got hurt. Whilst recording a message with the rest of Lyre Squad to celebrate Trigger's 1000th day, she told the sniper not to bear everything alone and to trust them with her vulnerable side and gifted her a song she composed on a harmonica "Homecoming". Trigger would never hear this message until after the old capital's fall.
When Hollow Zero first began expansion, Defense Force HQ believed it was a normal Hollow disaster that could easily be stopped with the standard amount of troops, this included Lyre Squad, who were sent with the promise of reinforcements coming to support them, but soon what they expected to be a regular amount of Ethereals became an onslaught and their backup never came. Trigger watched her fellow soldiers die or be corrupted until she was hit with a powerful etheric beam to her eyes, which corrupted them to the point that 90% of her eyesight was gone. Trigger soon lost consciousness due to that and other wounds, and the last thing she ever saw was her squadmates, heavily corrupted and injured yet still protecting her. Whilst they continued to fight, Lyre Squad soon saw another solider, Grim Vulture of Nemesis Squad, who was retreating. With them being beyond saving, they tasked the fleeing sniper with saving Trigger, which she did.
When Trigger regained consciousness, the old capital had been destroyed and Hollow Zero was contained. Now blind, Trigger was interrogated by an unknown group. According to her Lyre Squad was still alive and with her, which contradicted with other statements and caused the sniper to mentally break, when the interrogation concluded, Trigger promised to find her friends.
Trigger soon left the Defense Force, now suffering heavy PTSD from the Hollow Zero incident. Over time she learnt that her disability had granted her a unique ability to detect etheric fluctuations of humans, Ethereals and objects within a Hollow, an ability she named "Ether Vision". During this time Trigger spent most of her time around Port Elpis. It was at this same location where she heard the familiar melody of "Homecoming" once again. This song led to her befriending then rookie proxies Phaethon and soon led to them learning what happened to her squad and ending the life of her savior-turned-serial killer. Afterwards, Trigger made her new goal in life to be finding the real culprits behind the old capital's fall, and took an offer given to her by Nathan, former captain of Obsidian Division - Impera Squad to join a squad that was being formed which aligned with her new goal: Obol Squad.
Now the sniper for Obol Squad, Trigger would still stay in contact with Phaethon and find herself working with them later down the line.
Trigger's weapon: Phlegethon
The military-grade electric sniper rifle Phlegethon is a custom weapon made for Trigger by members of Lyre Squad when she first joined the Defense Force. Its special construction allows it to handle multiple combat scenarios with utmost ease, including, but not limited to, long-range sniping, rapid firing, and close-quarters combat.
Initially, to maintain a stylistic consistency with the other members, the young lady's codename was supposed to be Phlegethon. However, since it was too cumbersome to read, Captain Charon ultimately gave her a different codename: Trigger. The name Phlegethon was instead given to her beloved rifle, serving as proof of the bond between her and her teammates.
Seed
Electric Attack Agent from Obol Squad. A cheerful, flower-loving member who excels in off-field support and team synergy.
Seed is the artillerist of the Obol Squad, and has a passion for flowers, mechanics, cramped spaces, and communicating with Bangboo. She knows how to speak Bangboo, and likes doing it, making fellow squadmate Trigger believe she has a "complicated" nature. Despite this, Bangboo largely struggle to understand her, with Mercury commenting her accent is so thick as to be nearly incomprehensible.
Although Soldier 11 initially believed her to be an Intelligent Construct, in reality it was Seed was controlling her mech, Seed Sr., whom she is very close with, although Seed Sr. is completely controlled by her. Upon meeting Seed for the first time during Phaethon's Story: The Impending Crash of Waves as Seed Sr., she remarks how the Proxies have the "scent of my own kind," while the Proxies remark how her voice does not originate from inside the mechanical construct in front of them. Soldier 11 retorts that the Proxies frequently "possess Bangboo," much in the same way that Seed has "been hanging out in Seed Sr.'s cockpit all this time."
Seed often uses peculiar idioms while speaking that very few people seem to be able to understand. She generally dislikes being touched, doesn't know how to swim, and generally sleeps in Seed Sr.'s cockpit despite residing at the Defense Force's dorms.
The history of the young girl who'd become the heavy weapons specialist of Obol Squad is partially clouded in mystery still. However, her story began at the same place as Phaethon's: Helios Academy.
There she was subjected to experiments that were likely responsible for her unique ability to control, disable or even destroy machinery with her mind, alongside causing several "defects" in her personality, leading to her being emotionally disconnected to the concept of life. It's hard to ascertain what really happened as Hollow Zero's sudden expansion brought the fall of the Old Capital and Helios Academy with it. She also suffered a form of retrograde amnesia, making it difficult for her to remember what happened.
This girl would remain in Hollow Zero for half a month, miraculously showing no signs of Ether corruption. She was found at the Helios Academy monument by a mass-produced military Intelligent Construct unit named Seed. Seed was tasked with searching for survivors within Hollow Zero, but upon meeting this girl, the "Iron Order" program: a defense-system installed in the logic-cores of these units that would stop them from disobeying orders, recognized her abnormal powers and classified her as a "extremely high-risk target", with Seed's autonomy being overridden to ensure the threat was eradicated. Somehow, Seed's own personality was able to fight back and disabled the "Iron Order" program, at the cost of greatly damaging his logic-core.
Returning from the Hollow, Defense Force medic Veronica performed a check-up on her and noted how she "has no heart," in reference to how she perceives and comprehends life. Despite this, Seed took this orphan in and named her Flora, becoming a father figure to this mysterious girl and teaching her how to have a heart. Seed also began investigating into the fall of the old capital, hoping to find the truth about his adopted daughter.
A while after taking Flora in Seed's self-damaging of his logic core began to show effects, with him shutting down for extended periods of time and having only a few months to live. He kept Flora oblivious to the fact he was dying, explaining his periods of down-time as "falling asleep." As a precaution, he joined Obol Squad with the ulterior motive of taking care of Flora after he died and to keep his death a secret from her, this motive was prematurely revealed after Flora's powers caused several mechs to go berserk before self-destructing.
Knowing how Flora liked his cockpit, Seed decided to teach her how to pilot him, so she could take care of herself when he was "sleeping." On the first piloting, Flora asked if this meant she would be Seed, which the Intelligent Construct agreed on, leading to his codename being inherited by her, with him now going by the name Seed Sr. The two Seeds would partake in missions together, until Seed Sr.'s logic core finally failed and he passed on. Before his death, he recorded a message for Seed and entrusted coordinates to where they first met to Veronica. Seed Sr. died with no regrets, except for not being able to see her fully grow up, one of his final thoughts was wondering if the seeds he planted where they first met had become a field of flowers by now.
It was unanimously agreed by Obol Squad to tell Seed the false narrative that Seed Sr. was on a special mission and wouldn't be able to talk or be active for a long while. This lie was strengthened by Soldier 11, who despite not being aware of the situation, recognized how much Seed Sr. meant to her, using his phone to send her texts to her.
Seed would be present for the incidents involving Porcelumex's co-CEO, Ferox colluding with the Exaltists and the eradication of the Exaltists in Waifei Peninsula. Afterwards, Seed established a safe house in Hollow Zero, as she contemplated methods to bring Seed Sr. back from his dormancy. The resulting events led to her confronting Veronica, and in the ensuing incident, she discovered that he was truly gone. Veronica gave Seed the coordinates Seed Sr. entrusted her with, which Phaethon and Fairy used to locate the spot in Hollow Zero where they had first met. Seed brought Seed Sr. to the monument, now surrounded by flowers that had bloomed in the 11 years since they were first planted, with her tears activating a mechanism in him that then played his final message to her, allowing her to finally process the grief of his death.
His final message now imparted to Seed, she has now decided to continue in his footsteps, to try and uncover the mysteries behind the Fall of the Old Capital and her own past, that Seed Sr. had worked towards in his final days. Seed also learnt she was from Helios Academy, but is currently unable to remember anything else.
According to multiple sources, Seed is an unidentified orphan Seed Sr. rescued from Hollow Zero during the fall of the old capital. Seed Sr. adopted her and raised her alone in the Defense Force dormitories.
A few years ago, Seed Sr. successfully applied to join Obol Squad, but not long after, he passed away due to irreversible damage to his logic core. As a result, Seed took his place in the squad. Any voice lines heard from Seed Sr. today are system-preloaded audio files.
Seed possesses an extraordinary gift for mechanical engineering and research, capable of designing and building inventions far beyond the imagination of most. She also has an exceptional adaptability for Ether, able to push Seed Sr.'s combat capabilities to the limit by piloting him, through remote control, and by using custom combat modules.
And so, despite her extraordinarily substandard physical capabilities and entirely mysterious origins, the military still gave tacit approval for her to serve as an elite soldier.
Seed behaves quite differently from most people in everyday situations. She uses Seed Sr.'s cockpit as her bed, prefers confined spaces, and strongly dislikes talking to or interacting with anyone outside her immediate circle. Her logic jumps wildly, making meaningful conversation difficult.
The good news? For some reason, she's taken a special liking to you, Master, and the second assistant. You've been spared the long ordeal of earning her trust — and you don't have to worry about her occasional bouts of destructive behavior turning your way. Congratulations.
Suggestion: Focus on topics like flowers and robots — her favorite things — when engaging in conversation. Stay calm when parts of her logic or meaning don't make sense; treating such moments as normal can help strengthen your bond with her.
Orphie and Magus
S-Rank Fire Attack Agent (duo). Formerly Orpheus (codename Magus), a Defense Force soldier. After near-death, consciousness split: body as Orphie, soul as Magus (Intelligent Construct in a gun). They support Aftershock teams and excel in off-field buffs.
Orphie Magnusson and Magus are two members of the Obol Squad. Orphie is a human soldier, and Magus is the tail-like Intelligent Construct attached to her back.
Due to being created solely as a gunner, Orphie has doubts about her uniqueness as a person and her purpose outside of the military. She is aware that many of her comrades in the New Eridu Defense Force pity her and mock her, with some even being disgusted by her existence. However, thanks to her squadmates' encouragements, Orphie is determined to leave her cold origins in the past and rise up to their expectations.
Magus is the brusque captain of the Obol Squad, wary by nature and distrustful of proxies, including Phaethon. Despite being tough on her subordinates, she cares deeply about them. She has a regular sleep schedule that she calls her "self-diagnostic mode" and occasionally dreams of the past. She often forgets to address others by proper rank while on duty.
Before the Fall of the Old Capital, Magus, whose real name was Orpheus, was a soldier of the Defense Force's Agamemnon Squad, serving under Colonel Isolde. During the disaster, Agamemnon Squad was tasked with guarding a train that they believed was carrying civilians out of the Hollow. The squad eventually came under heavy assault from Ethereals, with many of them being injured and later perishing in the skirmish. Yijiang, 12th High Preceptor of Yunkui Summit and Yixuan's sister, came to their rescue, ultimately sacrificing herself using the power of the Qingming Sword, allowing Isolde and a heavily injured Orpheus to escape.
Despite surviving the battle, Orpheus eventually succumbed to her injuries. The Defense Force managed to salvage her body in a cloning experiment, while her remaining consciousness was uploaded into a special gun Intelligent Construct.
The gun donned the old codename she had used in the military, Magus, while the clone was similarly named after the real-life soldier and became known as Orphie Magnusson. However, Orphie was designed for the sole purpose of aiding Magus as a gunner and nothing more.
Strictly speaking, Orphie enjoys many things Magus disapproves of: fancy desserts, cute animals, and overly decorative toys. Her captain sees them as signs of softness, unfit for a soldier. Still, while Magus enforces discipline in public and imposes the expectations of a perfect soldier, she pretends to be in "sleep mode" just to turn a blind eye to Orphie's less-than-perfect behavior. According to this supposedly "strict and impartial" captain, she's simply following the parenting advice laid out in an online series titled "Raising a Child Prodigy."
Caesar King
S-Rank Physical Defense Agent. Leader of Sons of Calydon. Formidable, straightforward "monarch" figure who commands respect in the Outer Ring.
Caesar King is the daughter of the founder of the biker gang "Calydon."nAs she grew up, Caesar befriended members Big Daddy and Billy Kid, with the latter calling her "Big Sis."
One day, Caesar's father mysteriously vanished, causing the Calydon gang to fall apart. Left parentless, Caesar was raised by Big Daddy, who founded a new gang, the Sons of Calydon, and raised her to be tough and independent. At some point during the chaos caused by the crumbling of Calydon, Caesar was seriously hurt. Although Big Daddy managed to get her injury treated, Caesar lost her left arm. Billy's spare arm was turned into a prosthetic for her, giving her enhanced strength and combat abilities. She initially had a hard time controlling her new strength, gaining the nickname "King Wreck-It" from Burnice and Piper because of how often she broke things. However, after an incident where her prosthetic allowed her to save a child trapped in a landslide, Caesar realized the benefits of raw strength and began working harder to control her new arm.
Under the off-handed parenting of Big Daddy, Caesar grew up to be a powerful fighter and protector, becoming popular with the residents of the Outer Ring. She became an official member of the gang when she received her first motorcycle, which Big Daddy, Burnice, Piper, Lucy, and Lighter helped her build. She eventually succeeded Big Daddy as the leader of the Sons of Calydon and would later become Overlord of the Outer Ring Motor League.
Caesar's Weapons: Ether Alloy Sword: Veni, Exotic Ether Alloy Shield: Vidi
Big Daddy once hired a particularly skilled group of wanderers at a high price, determined to teach Caesar how to fight with a sword and a round shield.
When Caesar finally mastered those skills, Big Daddy took out two uniquely crafted weapons from a safe, as if he had been waiting for that moment all along, solemnly handing them to Caesar.
At first, I wasn't fond of these unwieldy weapons. They didn't seem like they were custom-made for me. But when I wield them on the battlefield, I feel a comforting strength support me, guiding me forward as the leader of the Sons of Calydon... haha! These truly are weapons only Big Daddy could've give me!
Astra Yao
Main vocalist of Stars of Lyra. Extremely popular songstress whose music captivates audiences across the city.
'The Queen' of New Eridu, Astra Yao is a multitalented celebrity mainly known for her singing prowess and impact she had on Ridu's music scene. Examples of her musical prowess include "The Ultimate Voice," which led to a live album from that concert and a videotape labeled "f.f." being released afterwards,, the album "Monologue," with the final song being a compilation of interviews she did for the "Jealous" Magazine, and "Stars of Lyra," Astra's first album she recorded before her big debut.
Outside of her stage presence, Astra Yao is a relatively hapless and bubbly young lady, always eager to explore New Eridu, meet fans or spend time with the Legendary Proxy Phaethon. Because of this, she's semi-dependent on her manager/bodyguard/close friend Evelyn Chevalier for daily life.
Astra is currently signed with Odeum HAE, a record label that is under the entertainment subsidiary of High Ambitions, one of the groups in the TOPS Alliance.
Like many of the citizens living in New Eridu, Astra Yao was but a child when Eridu fell due to Hollow Zero. Having been missing for 24 hours since the disaster, Astra was found between the border of Vulcan and Janus Quarters by a H.I.A squad. The captain of the squad helped calm Astra by teaching her a song as she readied her for extraction, whilst the rest of her team looked for other missing people, but only two members returned, the rest having been slain by Ethereals. With no other option, the captain told Astra to sing the song she just taught her, before ordering that only the rope connected to Astra should be lifted at full speed. Astra Yao was saved, but at the cost of the captain and her team.[3] The final words of her savior were "Be happy, child, live on with a smile."
Whilst at a makeshift shelter, wondering if her parents were okay, Astra overheard the music of Joran de Winter on a speaker. Her fear and loneliness melted away thanks to the melody, and the tears she once wept in sadness were now tears of joy. Noticing that others in the shelter were moved by Joran's music, Astra knew that the new era would need a new songstress and decided to become exactly that.
Astra's start in the world of music was rough, with no access to good recording facilities or the funds to obtain a decent master copy, Astra's first album "Stars of Lyra" sold partially well. It wasn't until she signed with Odeum HAE that her music career blossomed. Astra Yao soon became one of the most popular musicians in all of New Eridu, to the point she obtained significant roles in the movies Family and The Heartbeat, appeared in countless forms of commercials for brands like Carlishe. It got to the point rival music license Fugue sent Evelyn Chevalier to spy on her, which ended with the two becoming good friends to the point several of Astra's fans have shipped them.
One day, an Intelligent Construct entered a coma after partaking in a beta test for a new VR machine that was funded by the TOPS Alliance, having learnt TOPS swept that info under the rug and with no way to openly oppose them, Astra used her connections to find a skilled VR-enthusiast to save the Intelligent Construct. She also used a prototype consciousness synchronizer with her Bangboo Snap in order to directly speak with the chosen enthusiast which just so happened to be Phaethon. Since this encounter, Astra Yao became close friends with the proxy siblings, Belle and Wise, having them assist her in ditching a public event and thwarting an act of terrorism at her New Year's concert.
Astra Yao's weapon: Hemiola
Astra's exclusive performance instrument, handcrafted by renowned acoustics artisan Melody, is truly one of a kind.
When Astra's voice merges with specific melodic frequencies, Hemiola unleashes awe-inspiring sonic waves, delivering a performance both graceful and lethal.
Hugo Vlad
Founder and leader of Mockingbird. Master phantom thief, formerly co-founder with Von Lycaon (who left after a betrayal incident).
In public, Hugo dons the facade of a collector, running an art gallery and making mingling with the elite. From members of TOPS, like the Marcel Group (where his Bangboo, Robin holds a coaching position), to prominent figures like Lord Edmund.
Whilst performing heists or fighting, Hugo bears a smug yet cruel demeanor, usually showing his flair for the dramatic with edgy monologues. He uses an array of tools and weapons, including a flip knife and coins disguised as darts that he hides in his suitcase - that also doubles as an intimidating scythe capable of firing beams of ice.
Born as the illegitimate child of the head of the infamous Ravenlock Family and a commoner mother, Hugo Vlad's life was full of despair since the day he was born. Due to noble blood running through his veins, Hugo's heterochromia was a subject of strife to his mother, believing that because of it, Hugo's father had left her. She saw his heterochromia as an imperfection, and later tried to gouge his paler eye out in hopes of killing him. Years later, Hugo's mother sold him to the Ravenlock Family and started a new life with the money. Though now in the hands of a prestigious family, Hugo was still treated horribly by the rest of his family, including their servants.
A notable incident during his youth was when Hugo accidentally ate a slice of cake that one of his half-brothers had enjoyed. His siblings would then force Hugo to eat the rest of the cake and a whole table of desserts. Since then, Hugo has been unable to stomach sweet foods, but has to due to his hypoglycemia.
There was only one person who treated Hugo kindly: Serena, his half-sister. The two would share sweets, and Serena would stand up to Hugo's abusive relatives and tend to the wounds they gave him. Seeing the bond between the sister and illegitimate brother, their siblings schemed a way to get rid of them both and ease the competition; they killed Serena by poisoning her, then blamed her death on Hugo. However, instead of being expelled from the family, Hugo's Father praised his son for killing his sister and considered him to be a worthy heir. Hugo later avenged Serena by beating the ringleader behind her murder to near death.
Unable to handle the abuse, Hugo fled his family when he was nearing adulthood. On the streets, he met Jack, an aging phantom thief, and Von Lycaon, his student. Jack took pity on the young noble and took him in, teaching him valuable life lessons and the art of thievery, tagging along for his heists. He and Lycaon became partners in crime and close friends. Sometime before Jack's passing, Hugo overheard his ailing mentor talk with Lycaon in secret about him, warning the Thiren about the "seed of evil" inside Hugo, one he had inherited from his accursed family.
When Jack died, Hugo and Lycaon buried him somewhere in the Outer Ring.[Note 1] Whilst standing by his grave, Hugo and Lycaon began their own phantom thief syndicate, naming it Mockingbird at Hugo's suggestion.
As the founders and only members of Mockingbird, Hugo and Lycaon made it their goal to strike fear into the hearts of the rich and aid the poor, whilst not causing harm to the lives of others, as Jack taught them. They would add Robin a Bangboo to the team to assist with their missions. Hugo would often have to tutor Lycaon in his acting skills.
During a mission, Hugo learnt that his father was coincidentally at their target location, driven by hatred for him, Hugo planned to kill his father in an act of revenge. When he finally confronted his father, Hugo hesitated, unable to kill his father. This hesitation had Mockingbird become intertwined in a scheme orchestrated by Hartman Ravenlock to take the title of family head by killing his brother and nephews by using a sudden Hollow incident to hide the evidence and eliminate innocents. Lycaon found his partner surrounded by the bodies of innocent people and came to the conclusion that Hugo was responsible; angered by his supposed actions, Lycaon left Mockingbird and took the olive branch that Mayor Mayflower had offered them, being deemed a traitor by Hugo. Lycaon then went off to save as many people as he could from the Hollow, losing both legs and an eye in the process.
Now alone, Hugo drifted from place to place until a fateful encounter with Vivian, a young girl who bore a striking resemblance to the late Serena. Hugo took Vivian under his wing and taught her the ways he learnt from Jack, reforming Mockingbird in the process. Now a thief once more, he would blend into society by becoming a collector and opening his own art gallery. He also managed to secure a notable position for himself and Robin at Marcel Group.
Years later, during the events of And the True Heroes Are Always Behind the Scenes, Hugo Vlad learnt of a band of thugs pretending to be Mockingbird who were soon brought to justice by his former partner, before he had a chance. Whilst thinking about the events, Hugo knew before long he would have a reunion with the traitor. Hugo would later participate in the 'Ridu's Got Boo' beauty contest with Robin as his entry, he used the contest as a way to get close to Astra Yao and steal her self-produced copy of Stars of Lyra, replacing it with one of the limited edition copies produced by High Ambition Enterntainment. One day, Hugo made a reservation to pick up a film from Random Play and became acquainted with the two siblings running the video store, his encounter reuinion with Von Lycaon would happen after a few day after, leading to him getting involved with Phaethon's upcoming mission to retrieve a Sacrifice core, whilst concocting a scheme that would finally bring down the Ravenlock Family that involved him betraying the proxies to work with Hartman; be willingly drugged by him in the process with a mind-controlling drug he recieved from The Exaltists, and faking his death with the assistance of his former partner. Hugo would later fight off the effects of the poison and come to terms with his inner demons, dragging himself out of the abyss and finally ridding himself of the Ravenlock name.
Back during his time with the Ravenlock family, Hugo once ate a piece of cake that his older brother liked. In retaliation, the other children forced him to eat an entire table's worth of desserts.
Ever since, the taste of anything sweet makes him want to throw up — likely due to PTSD.
But due to his hypoglycemia, he needs sugar to keep his body functioning properly. Hugo forces himself to eat sweets over and over, pushing through the nausea to overcome the pain.
Note: Neither Lycaon nor Vivian knows about this, and Hugo once asked you to keep it a secret from them.
Hugo Vlad's Weapon: Final Notice
A scythe disguised as a briefcase, Final Notice symbolizes "the very last warning letter delivered to sinners." Once delivered, the moment of judgement descends.
Final Notice is not only mysterious in form but also possesses the ability to transform fluidly — sometimes morphing into a cold, sharp blade to sever the wicked, other times shifting into a form suited for ranged combat to strike opponents when they least expect it.
As unpredictable as Hugo himself, the weapon acccompanies Hugo as he prowls through the night, taking on the mantle of both messenger and executioner.
Vivian Banshee
Hugo's apprentice, a skilled young thief and seer. Member of Mockingbird with tragic foresight abilities.
Vivian is a member of Mockingbird, skilled in gathering all kinds of intel. She's also a jack of many trades — cooking, mixology, translation, art forgery, electronics repair, and more.
In the past, she apparently wandered without a home and was viewed as one who "brought disaster," almost like a living omen of bad luck.
It's said she can predict incoming misfortune through her tears, though there's no scientific proof of this ability.
A loyal follower of Phaethon. Ever since your original account went inactive on Inter-Knot, she's been trying to track you down — digging for clues, running intense searches across the network. However, Master, she didn't find anything... all thanks to my efforts in keeping your cybersecurity airtight.
Suggestion: Until her true intentions are clear, do not reveal your identity as Phaethon.
In case you've already let your identity slip, be sure to lock your doors and wear proper sleepwear before going to bed. Based on her old blog posts, she's likely to express her admiration in... overly passionate and intense ways.
As a child, Vivian was adopted by a man named Landon, a member of the Exaltists, and became close friends with a girl named Dina.
After Landon's crimes were exposed, Dina continued to defend her father, while Vivian broke away from the Exaltists and cut ties with her.
Vivian fell into despair for a while, hitting rock bottom — until you responded to one of her messages. That single reply gave her the hope to start trying again.
Vivian Banshee's Weapon: Flight of Ceremony
Flight of Ceremony is a custom-made retro parasol for Vivian, featuring a base of interwoven dark purple silk and black leather, with silver bows adorning the edges. When opened, the parasol displays a ring of embroidered birds in flight, creating an illusion of birds performing a cerimonial flight aound the parasol as it spins.
Usually, it's merely Vivian's elegant accessory. But when enemies appear, the mithril spike at the tip can instantly pierce through foes, while the propulsion system around the umbrella's rim helps Vivian lift off the ground to dodge attacks. The parasol not only helps Vivian hide her blush but has also witnessed her courage along the way.
Belle
Co-owner of Random Play video store with her older brother Wise. One-half of the legendary Proxy duo Phaethon. Energetic, music-loving (especially guitar), and optimistic. She assists in guiding Agents through Hollows via their unique system, known for high success rates.
Wise
Co-owner of Random Play and Belle's older brother. The other half of Phaethon. Calm, genius-level strategist who manages operations. Quiet and protective, with interests in biking, sneakers, and tech. Together with Belle, they are New Eridu's most renowned unlicensed guides.
To be continued...