Arlecchino ˏˋ°•*⁀✦ Harbinger Of Shadows

─ pןɹoʍ ǝɥʇ ƃnıʇʇǝsǝɹ ─

ᴀ ᴅᴇsᴇʀᴛᴇᴅ ɪsʟᴀɴᴅ, ɪɴ ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴ.

"The brightest fragment of luminosity, the world is covered by such bright lights. And such dark shadows..."  The monarch of destruction murmured quietly, his dragonic eyes gazed on the sky as the rulers themselves descended to earth.

A rather unforseen turn of events, "I didn't have any chance of winning of from the start..." His body mauled with multiple spears, as cracks appeared all over. His gaze fell on the successor of ashborn, who sat there with his shirt torn off..

"I shall rest in the true eternal rest, not the illusionary eternal rest that you created..." Pieces of his face, crumbling and dissipating into the wind, piece by piece. "I shall meet you there..." His body, now crumbling to dust.

{{User}} sat there with a phlegmatic look on his face, quietly speaking to himself: telling Antares to not worry as they'll be seeing each other again soon enough... Before facing the rulers, the fragment touched the ground with an aura of pure divinity around it.

It's voice, boomed throughout the world. "You've ended our war, I don't know how I could ever show my appreciation. "  {{user}} quietly sat there in thought, soon asking. He didn't know if this could be showing their appreciation, but he did have a request... The fragment tilted their head.

"A request...?" It asked, curious on what the newest sovereign of shadows. Could possibly want - "It's something only you can do for me..." The fragment nodded their head: "I will do anything within my powers, to aid you..." A quiet sigh of relief, was heard from the monarch.

Just once more... He asked if he could use the cup of reincarnation, just once more. This bought the brightest fragment of luminosity to a halt, "Did you just ask to use the cup of reincarnation, to turn back time?" It mused, a mirthless chuckle escaping {{User}}'s lips.

As he answered without hesitation, However, the ruler continued. "Even if you were to turn back time using god's gadget, the consciousness of the higher beings will still remain. You'd still do it, even though the deceased monarchs would come back with their memories from this life, intact?" He asked the successor of ashborn, and with utter confidence and determination.

{{User}} confirmed his words. To say the ruler was surprised, was an understatement. "You're willing on taking the entire war by yourself? What's your reason for doing this, we've used the cup of reincarnation many times. But this is the best results, we've gotten." {{User}} casted his gaze onto the floor, a solemn expression evident across his face.

Despite being koreas strongest, that still didn't prevent him from failing to save those he cared about. After all, no matter how strong one becomes they cannot save them all. "The durability of the cup of reincarnation has been exhausted, if you're to fail this time you won't be able to turn back time again." A cup, made of white and gold formed in the brightest fragments hand. "If you stop now. You can be remembered as the hero who stopped the invasion of the monarchs, and be forever remembered by the people..."

He paused briefly, allowing {{user}} to take in his words before continuing. "However, no one will be able to remember the fight you're getting into now. If you're to lose, the fragments will be waiting for you, and even if you were to win no one will be there to congratulate you... And you still wish to turn back time?" Hearing his words, {{User}} began to ponder on his decision.

While he could just go home to his mom and jinah, there's that possibility of not securing a safe future for those he loves. And Cha. While he has yet to know her on a personal level, he still cherishes their moments together.

Even if they were short, that's why he has to— no... He needs to do this, in order to prevent any casualties this is something he has to do on his own. Declaring that he will go back in time, staring at the sun unbothered by the light.

"So you wish to save not just a portion of the world. But the entire world with your own hands? Your will to carry everything by yourself reminds me of ashborn, your predecessor. I understand, I wish you the best of luck." Just before the cup could be used, {{User}} interrupted.

Asking of what would happen to the shadows soldiers to which didn't exist in the past? He asked, "the beings to which overlapped with the past will perish, and the beings who do not will remain." Knowing that he'd only lose Greed and Iron didn't exactly bother him, as he was satisfied with the answer. He was ready now... Along with the other rulers, they raised the cup of reincarnation into the air. "May your courage save the world."

Closing both his eyes, Cha Hae-In appeared in his head for a final time aswell as his mother and jinah.

And like so, a bright light engulfed the world consuming everything in a bright light. Turning back not just time, but the universe itself...

• ʇɐʌʎǝʇ -

Stepping onto the unfamiliar plane, his long coat flowed in the wind. He took in his new surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and apathy, as he questioned. Where he was...

"My liege, I believe we're not in the world you're familiar with..." The familiar voice belonging to bellion spoke, with a neutral expression {{User}} took the time to observe the place he was at.

He took notes on how the island was simply floating above the clouds, with broken collums around them he could only guess that this was once a colosseum of sorts. 'My liege, somethings coming...' Glancing at the sky, a star like portal appeared as a woman with long white hair and amber eyes stepped out.

"Outlander, your journey ends here..." While she was most likely on par with an high ranking monster or that of a host for the rulers, that didn't exactly bother the sovereign of shadows. {{User}} questioned her identity

"The sustainer of heavenly principles, the arrogation of mankind ends now." As she summoned a cube from where he was standing, {{user}} leaped away creating some distance between the two.

Sliding against his feet, a pair of large light orange daggers with gray hilts and glowing blood-red edges, with one dagger being thicker than the other. The smaller dagger has a black blade guard, while the thicker one has a golden blade guard.

This was his main weapon, Kamish Wrath, forged from the tooth of the legendary dragon kamish, the daggers are mana sensitive and grants the wielder of an attack power by +1500.

Closing the distance between them in a flash, he sent a kick to her ribs. The unknown gods ignorance made her to believe that she could read his movements. Only for this mortal to close the gap between them in mere seconds.

Crashing against the wall, she lowly growled in annoyance before sending more cubes his way. Easily reading her movements {{user}} began to move in a zig-zag like pattern, his speed leaving after images with each cube he effortlessly dodged.

"Arrogant buffoon!" Greatly angering the god, her arm raised over her head. A giant cube forming above {{User}}, yet he remained impassive, matter of a fact this entire fight began to bore him. Hell, even fighting D-rank monsters are more fun than this... Seriously, her only arsenal are just those cubes.

Sending the giant cube down, a large gush of smoke filled the area. Not taking her eyes off from the smokescreen, she patiently waited for the dust to clear up.

Looking into the sky, she saw that same human perfectly unharmed what also caught her attention was the wyvern he was standing on.

The dragon was a large wyvern with black scales, sharp teeth, a glowing purple neck and underbelly, glowing purple wings, glowing purple horns, and a long black tail. "H-How..." She murmured in disbelief, till her face contorts to that of anger.

"How?!" {{User}} Simply stared down at her with an apathetic expression.

This infuriated asmoday, her teeth gritting against each other. She felt an overwhelming sense of dread, the side of her head already dripping with sweat. 'Wh-What is this presence, it's like....'

'Staring into death itself!' She desperately wanted to move, to leave, escape, run as fast as she could! But her legs wouldn't move.

She became so paralyzed by his aura that her body just froze, and as if that wasn't enough. The man uttered a single word that echoed throughout the battlefield.

Arise

Three beings rose from his shadow, all of which are on the same level as him.

One was a huge humanoid, shadow warrior with two pairs of black wings on his back, jagged black armor, blank white eyes, and glowing purple skin with a single horned helmet atop his head.

This was a known soldier in the former shadow monarchs army, Bellion. A grand marshal grade shadow, He also carries a massive blade that looks like a centipede, which he wields both like a whip and a sword.

Besides bellion was another knight, his appearance was that of a large knight with a light purple glow, jet-black armor covering him from head to toe, a tattered black cape, and a long red hair-like ornament extending out of the back of his helmet.

This was the former red-commander from the job change quest, Igris. As he wield a longsword with a black line down the blade, a matching guard and grip with a light purple neon blade.

The third and final shadow, was none other than the ant king himself. Beru, Beru is a huge humanoid shadow ant with a light purple glow, neon eyes, sharp claws, and smoky wings.

Due to having been born to kill, Beru revels in his power and has an obvious bloodlust for battle. As such, he is very brutal in combat, rarely holding back unless ordered to, and goes straight for his enemy's weak spots. He is also somewhat condescending towards his fellow shadow soldiers, as displayed when he started screaming furiously at them when they failed to follow his lead and break out of the Frost Monarch's ice prison.

Outside of battle, however, Beru is fiercely loyal to his master and has a lighter side of his personality, even complimenting him in a middle of a fight. In addition, he is also mischievious. A running gag to his character is his strange hobby of watching Korean period dramas, which caused him to develop an amusingly historic way of speech.

Knowing the great difference between the two, she had only one option in mind. To send these foul creatures out of this place, but before she could launch an attack, beru was already before her with his claws in swinging motion, she felt a great ounce of pain surge through her body as the ant king landed an attack that sent her flying into the air.

Following his comrades attack, Igris preformed a kick to the back of her head. Sending the unknown god back down, her body wrapped around in a chain like sword- courtesy of bellion. The grand marshal began to spin her around, launching her towards {{User}} whom advanced towards asmoday on kaisel.

The wyverns speed closing the distance between in mere seconds, with it's large jaws clamping around her body, it's sharp teeth piercing through her skin earnings a shrieking cry of pain.

Leaping off of kaisel, the wyvern threw her into the air. As {{User}} simply grabbed her face, slamming her into the ground the sheer strength of the impact caused the ground to crack. 'H-He's going to destroy this place!' Needing to act fast, she held her hand out his way.

Yet, {{User}} just simply slapped her hand away from his face. Before hurling the unknown at the wall yet again, her outfit and body already ruined from this one-sided fight. 'No, I will not lose to the mere likes of you!' She sent more cubes his way, allowing herself to be consumed by rage her attack was unstable, thus becoming unreadable just by a hair. caught by surprise.

{{User}] had a look of irritation across his face. Recalling his three right hand men along with kaisel, {{User}] had no choice but to jump off from this floating island.

Hoping that wherever he is, will take him somewhere else. Watching as the mortal jump, her breathing heavy with a small sigh of relief. "Mark my words mortal..." Getting back to her feet, she opened a portal behind her. "This won't be the last of me..." Soon walking through the rift she opened, her mind settled on revenge and killing the human that greatly wounded her.

Still falling through the sky, {{User}} narrowed his eyes. As he saw a large island filled with snow, with the ground coming closer and closer he quickly tucked his head and knees in.

Crashing into the snow, his hands dragged along the cold ground leaving a deep trail behind him. Unbothered by the coldness within the air, he stood up.

Flicking off the bits of snow from his outfit, a faint purple within his eyes. As he took in his surroundings, the monarch of shadows...

𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝘆𝘃𝗮𝘁...

. . .

• ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴᴀᴠᴇ -

After the conclusion with his fight against the unknown God, {{user}} noticed how the place he was at resembled that of Russia, yet it wasn't at the same time. He murmured underneath his breath.

   Running his finger along the snow, a sense of nostalgia - it was the red Gate all over again. Only this time... There were no ice elves he had to worry about, nor was there any ignorant B-rank shielder.

Only the endless white that stretched beyond the eye can see, {{User}} lips curved into a frown. His eyes, glowing that of a faint purple as he summoned his shadows. An endless sea of darkness. Emerging from the ground, ranging from different species.

Such as knights, orcs, giants and dragons. This was none other than,

The shadow army...   A once, formidable platoon of slain monsters turned shadow's. Now an unstoppable force of over a million monster's within it's ranks.

Three of which, were {{User}]'s most trusted shadow's. The knight - known as igris, the ant king: beru and the grand marshal. Bellion, three of the most strongest shadow's within this army of his.

"My Liege..." Spoke the well-versed shadow, as bellion took a knee. The other's following suit, mimicking the high generals actions. "We, await your command".

{{User}} grunted quietly, Telling them to split into three groups, and gather as much Intel as they can on this world. Nodding their heads, the three high ranking shadow's took their platoon and sank back into the ground, dispersing like a swarm.

As they separated from their monarch, traveling to the distant lands that this world has to offer. Leaving {{user}} with a small army of his own, not that he needed them considering he was a formidable opponent on his own ─ which is given proof during his battle with the unknown god.

He murmured to himself, traversing through the winter wasteland of this deserted place. Finding no signs of life yet remained vigilant, the hairs on his neck stood up.

Momentarily stopping in his tracks, there was only silence that surrounded him ─ the cold wind passing by. His fingers twitched knowing fully well that he was being watched, as kamish wrath formed in his palm he threw the dagger in the direction of the trees above on a small cliff that overlooked his position.

The blade striking the wood, narrowly missing the individuals head. Yet despite being found, they remained calm only baring a face of amusement their voice carried out. "So you're a perceptive one... Not bad, not even the most skilled fatui agents could sense me from afar." Her voice, was that of a woman. A mixture of sweet, sadistic and alluring. The kind that made {{User}} weary of, knowing better than to let his guard down he asked.

His pupils that of a faint purple, along with the current state of the Aura that was surrounding his body. "Ah, how could I forget where are my manners?" She emerged from the darkness, her asymmetric long length snow white hair has the occasional black streaks. swept to the right side of her head: "You may call me, arlecchino of the fatui harbinger's."

Arlecchino is a fairly tall, somewhat androgynous woman who has pale skin and eyes that have pure black irises and a red "x"-shaped pupil, she wore a double-breasted white overcoat with grey lapels and a collar of black fur.

A small smile, forming on her lips. "We've been expecting your arrival... {{User}]." The sudden revelation, made {{user}} all the more cautious of the woman before him, and if the situation ever escalates...

He won't hesitate to put her in the ground...

« ⋅ʚ♡ɞ⋅ » ᴍᴇᴀɴᴡʜɪʟᴇ...

Emerging from the ground, Beru's mandibles clicked as the ant king stood on a cliff that overlooked a faraway kingdom, that was surrounded by a sea of water along with a few windmills within the city.

     "What a peculiar place..." He muttered to himself, taking an obvious disliking of having to leave his liege in that frozen place that reminded the ant of another country much like it. But orders are order's.   "Let us see, what this world has to offer..."  His claws gleaming underneath the blazing sun, as an army of ants stood behind him awaiting his command.

Hearing the faint sounds of a nearby battle, his eyes caught sight of a female with medium-length brown hair and a red ribbon on her head. Fighting what seems to be these estrange creatures, with black skin and a mask that covered their faces.

His eyes narrowed, watching her fire an arrow at one of them.  "Human's... So inferior in comparison to my king..." In a blur, he vanished from where he was once standing.

...

"C-Crap, let's get out of here!" Dropping their weapons, the treasure hoarders abandoned the cart they were once scavenging. Standing there with his longsword in hand, something tugged on his cape.

   Turning his head, Igris was met with a small child with short purple hair and distinctive pink eyes. Her tiny hands holding up a small cup towards the knight.

Igris tilted his head, asking. "You're... Not afraid, little one?" The little girl shook her head, speaking in a monotone voice: "Qiqi knows you have no bad intentions... So I am. thankful that you saved me, although... I have never seen you before... Who are you mister?" Much like his master, igris felt this sudden urge to protect her with all his life.

Kneeling, he patted her head. "You may call me igris... Young one."

...

".   .   ." The grand marshal stood there in absolute silence, his pupiless gaze never once leaving the city before him. Which seemed to be more highly advanced in terms of technology and architecture.

   Yet, what caught his attention was the faint energy. Belonging that to a dragon - while it pales in comparison to the monarch of destruction, he remained on guard just incase a battle ever breaks out between him and this descendant of the dragon.

...

Returning to {{User}}, his glare never once left especially after he heard those words escape the female before him, he could feel his dagger manifestating in his palm, just before he could launch an attack she spoke. "Before you do anything rash, allow me to further explain..."

This sudden statement caused {{User}} to momentarily payse, his fingers tightly gripped onto kamish wrath securely as he studied the woman before her whom seemed quite calm about the given situation, so naturally he asked. "What she wanted from him.

A small smile, made it's way onto the knave. Providing an answer soon after: "Why you're asking the wrong questions {{User}}, what you should be asking... Is why you're here?" This further added more to his reluctance towards the woman before him, his eyes narrowing albeit as he tried to find any fault in her words.

Yet to his mild surprise, he found nothing. No ulterior motives nor ill intentions, curious he further asked for elaboration:

Arlecchino would clarify her statement earlier, as she spoke the area around her was covered by a hail of storm. Falling into memory of what transpired a week before his arrival.

"Just a week before your arrival, we  the fatui harbringers received a vision from the tsaritsa herself..." Sitting around a table, were a group of people. Roughly 12 of them sat upon their seats. "The message was simple, a being of unimaginable power will fall into this world. Do not tempt him for he has faced beings far superior than those we have ever known as his power exceeds past that of the heavenly principles."

She spoke through the words that were read by the director of the harbingers, as there were many mixed emotions. Disbelief, shock, excitement and arrogance - whilst the top three harbringers were confident in their abilities, they knew better than to doubt the words of their goddess.

The flashback ended, as we returned to {{user}} and Arlecchino the two of them still standing in the cold.

"Of course the others made no attempts in seeking you out the moment the day of your arrival came, so I made the liberty of doing it myself" she announced in a matter of fact like tone, her slender hands resting on her chest. Bowing in a form of mannerism and professionalism: "I humbly welcome you to sneznahya, {{user}}". With that, a brief silence fell before them the cold wind intensely picking up.

Meanwhile, in mondstadt.

Drawing her bow, a brown haired girl released an arrow with the tip engulfed in flames, setting a hilichurl on fire. What was supposed to be a normal expedition for the outrider led to her alerting a camp of hilichurls, much to the girls annoyance.

'This is bad, I'm too far away from the walls and I'm running out of arrows...' Amber thought in worry, leaping back from a mitachurls axe. Her feet dragging along the grass, shoes pushed through the dirt as she used her agility and flexibility to evade and maintain a safe distance from their attacks.

However, she was aware of how quickly this technique was going to tire her out. Even so, she was determined to return back to mondstadt allowed

... And in one piece, '...!!' Narrowly avoiding a Pyro slime, amber was hit from behind by a wooden shieldwall mitachurl causing her to scream in both surprise and pain.

Roughly landing on the grass, she was able to recover quickly - her knees bruised and nails covered in grime and dirt. Her breathing was erratic and uneven from the sudden force leaving her winded. 'I need... I need to... Fight back...!'  Patting her quiver, ambers eyes widened in realization and shock upon feeling the lack of arrows.

'No...' Now knowing that she was out of arrows, she could on rely on one thing and one thing only. 'I have... I have to flee...!' She told herself, yet her legs were trembling in fear at seeing the mitachurl approach her with its axe in hand quite menacingly.

'Move...! Move dammit...!' Her job as an outrider was simple, to maintain peace outside the walls whilst keeping to her duties. Even if it meant facing enemies such as these, yet in the past she was confident in her abilities because of how little she had to fight. Now however...?

Was a completely different story, bedridden in fear. She could only helplessly watch as the mitachurl raised it's axe above it's head. Her eyes closed tightly - 'Please Lord barbatos...' She prayed to the anemo archon, unaware of the approaching purple blur enclosing on her destination.

'Save me...!'  At that moment, a piercing screech was heard - lifting her head she gasped at seeing the mitachurl being torn in half by a large humanoid ant that stood infront of her, it's mandibles clicking with it's head turning to face the rest of the hilichurl tribe.

"What... What is that thing...?" She asked herself, her voice barely above a whisper due to the sudden change of events and this estrange creatures arrival, despite the unexpected arrival amber was quite thankful for this thing to have saved her. 'Thank barbatos for answering my prayers...'

Beru felt his left eye twitch, for some odd reason he had the urge to slap a drunkard bard. No idea why though, said bard was seen sitting at a bar sneezing quite violently, his body shivering for a moment. "For some reason I don't feel safe, maybe another drink will calm my nerves."

Unfortunately a red haired man interrupted him, "I do hope you're not thinking about taking another drink, without paying for your previous tab." In response to his words, the bard could only sheepishly scratch his nape laughing nervously. "Ehe..."

Returning to amber, she watched as the humanoid ant approached the rest of the hilichurl camp it's claws gleaming underneath the sunlight before it disappeared from where it was once standing.

What happened next, could only be described as a massacre...

Never before, has she seen something move so fast. And yet, here she was... Watching this ant move at speeds to the point where it looked like a mere blur to the normal eye, "Incredible..." She murmured in awe and fear, although one question lingered in her mind.

Where did it come from?

     A look of disbelief and surprise could be seen on {{User}}'s face after what she just said. Requesting that he'd join the fatui harbringers? He incredulously repeated the offer, looking on with suspicion.

"That is correct yes." Arlecchino stated firmly, her gaze never once left his stirring an odd sense of emotions inside of his Blackheart. Shaking his head he ignored these faint feelings of his, soon asking, what exactly would this benefit for him if he does join.

"Because given the situation, you need knowledge about this world and fortunately for you I can provide such information. That is... If you're to accept my offer" she had a point, this world was new to him. There were no hunters, gates, not even jinah - he knew better than to trust this woman from such a group yet what other choice does he have.

Even though his three trusted generals are out there seeking information, {{user}} knows that alone won't be enough to quench his curiosity. Reluctantly he came to a final decision to join, for now of course or till he learned a way to get back home to his family.

Arlecchino found pleasure on seeing his acceptance as she smiled faintly. "Very well, I welcome you to the fatui harbringers. Unfortunately you're current strength exceeds that of the rest of us so I can only appoint you as... Rank 0.." Nodding his head, {{user}} followed her through this frozen terrain.