Past 1: chapter 4 part 1 Resonance of the Hero

The Past I: Sheree Backstory Chapter 4, Part 1: Resonance of the Hero The dark, smoke-filled atmosphere of the ash plains slowly began to settle after the cataclysmic detonation of the Havoc Death Slay beam. Reaper 800 stood firmly on his boots, calmly sliding his massive Broadblade back into its spatial containment fold as his dark red aura completely dissipated. Suddenly, a monumental, deep-space BOOM reverberated across the reality-warping boundaries of the active sector, shaking the floating skyscrapers and loose stone boulders hovering in the air. Reaper 800: "Do I hear a Big Bang annoyed?" Liang Huàn: [Squinting his glowing cyan lenses past his bone-white deer skull mask, pointing his freezing ice cane upward into the dark grey cloud void] "It looks like it's coming from up the top, and it's floating. The spatial coordinates are completely fluctuating." Remielle Dan: [Her natural white angel wings growing from her lower back fluttering aggressively, her mechanical weapon wings hovering over her shoulders tracking the sound] "You’re right! That comes from up! Let it get going already! We don't have time to waste!" Suddenly, Reaper 800 froze dead in his tracks. His intense blue eyes widened beneath his ivory-white tech-skull half-mask as a sudden, massive shockwave of pure cosmic energy rippled across his senses. He resonated his internal Path of Soul matrix, instantly identifying the unmistakable, divine signature of another god-like entity hiding nearby. A genuine, happy shonen smirk broke across his face as he turned toward a colossal floating boulder at the edge of the battlefield grid. Reaper 800: "Come out, old friend. I know you’re there behind that rock. Come out, Aeon of Heroism!" Stepping boldly out from the shadows of the floating debris came a magnificent, statuesque warrior. He looked like an eternally young, athletic adult shonen king with zero wrinkles on his face. He sported an ivory-white hair layout tied up cleanly into a short ponytail, a neat short full white beard, long pointy elven ears, and striking amber eyes. He wore heavy ornate royal golden plate armor that cast brilliant metal refractions, a rich crimson red cape draped from his shoulders, and a massive broadblade greatsword slung horizontally inside a scabbard held up by a wide leather weapon belt around his waist. Aurelius: "Please, Lord Reaper 800, Aeon of Soul... call me Aurelius now on, okay? And good to see you, old friend! How are you? Where are you been all the time? I could not believe you actually live in here!" Reaper 800: [Chuckling warmly, crossing his armored forearms] "Well, I did found Vesperine's home planet, and I decided to stay here on that planet with my girlfriend. I actually decided to leave the Astral Express with me, Vesperine, and Vantablack, but Pom-Pom continues the journey across the stars without us." Aurelius: "I see. Well, I’ve been here before you, because I have a ride on this planet for 140 years ago! And when I tell you, it’s a perfect planet—instead of deal with Ethereal, how annoying that creature is, and more common Nanook minions trying to burn down every star system!" Reaper 800: "I know, right? It’s weird. But did you learn a new element ever went to Sol-3?" Aurelius: [Flashing a confident, sophisticated anime grin as he pulls back his golden gauntlet to expose a glowing cosmic pattern on his right skin] "Oh yeah, I did! And I learned a couple of new element tracks! I use the Spectro Element, channeling the mark on my right arm. And honestly, I use the Broadblades class just like you, but you use the Havoc element, so we’re even match, old buddy of mine!" Liang Huàn: [Stepping between them, clicking his Glacial Scalpel cane against the stone with a completely flat filter]"Reaper 800... who is that man, in a way?" Reaper 800: "Oh, forget my manners! Let me introduce my old friend of mine. His name is Aurelius, and he’s the same with me—an Aeon! But he is the Aeon of Heroism, what I mean is he is the best hero in the whole galaxy!" Aurelius: [Bowing his head elegantly, his golden armor clanking] "Not only that... I am now a King." Remielle Dan: [Her jaw dropping comically before she points her twin daggers at him, shouting loud at his face] "YOU?! You was there in a hundred years ago?!" Aurelius: [Blinking his amber eyes in mild surprise] "Oh, yes, I did see you! But that’s odd... you’re meant to be older. Maybe you’re an angel, that made lot sense?" Remielle Dan: [Her face flushing bright red with standard anime pout fury, her lower back wings puffing out] "I am a winged Thiren, and it’s none of your business how rude! I’m still young! I’m not that old!" Aurelius: "I am very sorry what I said to you, how rude of me! But anyway... what are you three doing in the Sultana Hollow?" Reaper 800 quickly took the lead, explaining the entire grim reality—exposing Lord Drago's alchemical coup, the light green animal transformation potion, and how Princess Sheree was currently trapped inside the castle walls. Aurelius: [His amber eyes darkening with fierce royal anger as his fingers grip his waist-belt greatsword hilt] "I see... so it was Drago doing all the time, that green-skin prick! But I have to seal that castle away, because my daughter living there. I make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation of my people to left my daughter in the castle all the time. I put some of my finest knights to protect her... but then a week later, I heard an unknown organization collaborated with Drago. Some odd about him... he is with dark knight real people, and I heard they were the Creator! However, they are absolutely not more powerful than you, Reaper 800... you’re in the same league then Nanook." Reaper 800: [Groaning dramatically, a giant anime sweat drop on his tech-mask] "Oh great... more worship Creator people. How annoying to deal with them again. Anyway, I actually know how that Drago got the hand of mine Deep Green Staff the first place. It was my Bangboo's fault—Vantablack! Somehow, he left behind the staff out in the wastes, and some person with a green skin grabbed it." Liang Huàn: [His cyan lenses flashing with sudden, icy medical fury as white steam vents from his cane] "So... it was Vantablack let the green staff behind?! I’m gonna—" Reaper 800: "Don’t worry, I already punished him to clean all the rooms and stay inside the mansion house. His cleaning loops are locked down. So, old friend... are you coming with us?" Aurelius: "Of course I’m coming with you! Decide you need my back anyway! Now... to find my daughter!" With the alliance perfectly solidified, King Aurelius drew his golden waist blade, joining forces with Reaper 800 and the Void Hunters to storm the upper levels, track down Drago, and save the princess. [The temporal recording abruptly freezes, snapping the perspective back to the live IPC broadcast studio room where the Star Rail audience is gathered around the console desk.] Acheron stood completely still in the shadows, her violet eyes reflecting the monitor static as a rare, deeply personal memory surfaced across her mind files. A sudden, soft pink embarrassment flush exploded across her cheeks, and she looked down with an uncharacteristic blush. Acheron: "I remember him too well... I did have a duel with him once a long time ago. Then... I lost by him now. And to think, your second girlfriend's father is actually Aurelius." Reaper 800: [Turning his head in absolute surprise] "Oh, it was you?! I don’t resonate you, okay? Don't worry, I’ll keep your secret of your real name safe. Yeah, I did remember Aurelius mention a long time ago that he thought the strongest woman in the cosmos was a mysterious sword fighter. In his personal opinion, he explicitly said she is the best sword fighter ever... in other words, Acheron, you’re the best sword fighter in the whole galaxy." Acheron’s blush deepened, her serene composure melting into pure shonen modesty as she turned her face away from the console screen. Concurrently, the entire IPC Strategic Investment Department booth erupted into a frantic data calculation frenzy. The Stoneheart directors—Topaz, Aventurine, and Madame Jade—stared at the ledger feeds with wide, jaw-dropping expressions. They had extensively documented Aurelius's legendary, universe-shearing Imaginary Element paths, but they had absolutely never expected a powerhouse of his caliber to wield a secondary, forbidden Sol-3 Spectro Element on his right arm! The sheer economic and tactical balance of the past timeline had just expanded into absolute god-tier parameters under the pulsing light of the Time Crystal.