A Honkai: Zhongli x Star Rail

The ruins of Xianzhou Yaochi groaned under the weight of time.

Ancient structures loomed overhead, their once-pristine walls now cracked and entwined with creeping vines. The faint glow of sigils flickered along the marble pathways, remnants of a civilization that had not seen the light of day for centuries.

Yet something within these ruins still breathed.

"…Who dares disturb the slumber of the Yaochi?"

The voice was resonant—not merely heard, but felt, pressing against their very souls.

Zhongli's golden eyes sharpened. This was no mere echo of the past. This was a will that endured.

March tensed, gripping her bow. "Okay—so that's definitely creepy. Are ghosts a thing in space?"

Dan Heng remained still, his spear subtly shifting into a defensive stance. "No. But remnants of the past often leave more than ruins."

Himeko tapped at her communicator. "Welt, are you picking this up?"

Static.

A sudden shift in the air sent a warning through Zhongli's instincts. The sigils around them flared, their soft golden light twisting into something darker.

And then—they moved.

The carvings detached from the walls like swirling calligraphy, taking the shape of spectral figures—warriors clad in ancient Xianzhou armor, their hollow eyes burning with golden fire.

"The trespassers must be judged."

In a heartbeat, the wraiths attacked.

---

Battle in the Ruins

The first phantom lunged with an unnatural speed, its spear aimed directly for March's heart.

"Whoa—!"

She barely had time to dodge, twisting mid-air and firing an arrow of ice at point-blank range. The projectile struck the ghost's chest, but passed right through it, dispersing into frost.

"Physical attacks won't work!" she called.

Dan Heng spun his spear, shifting into a low stance. His lightning-fast counterstrike cut through another specter, but it simply reformed, its shape twisting like mist.

Zhongli observed them carefully. "These beings do not possess physical bodies. They are constructs of lingering intent."

Then, he took a step forward, lifting his hand.

The air responded.

A deep, resonant tremor rumbled through the ruins, shaking the ground beneath them. Golden cracks spread like veins through the marble floor. The weight of an Archon's will descended upon the battlefield.

"Return to stone."

A great pillar of Geo erupted from the earth, crashing through the phantoms with unrelenting force. The moment it struck, the spectral figures froze—as if bound by some unseen contract. The golden light in their hollow eyes flickered… and then, one by one, they shattered.

Silence followed.

March let out a slow breath. "Okay. That was terrifying."

Dan Heng gave Zhongli a pointed look. "You severed their tether to this place. That ability… it isn't Geo from this universe, is it?"

Zhongli lowered his hand, his expression calm yet unreadable. "No. It is not."

His power remained. Even without Teyvat, even without his Vision, he was Morax—the Geo Archon. The contracts he had forged, the dominion he held over stone and structure, transcended worlds.

And something here had recognized that power.

Himeko frowned at the now-empty ruins. "Those were constructs, not ghosts. Someone—or something—is still sustaining this place."

Zhongli nodded. "Then we must find the source."

---

The Heart of the Yaochi

The central archive was a vast chamber, its walls lined with glowing scrolls and intricate jade tablets. The architecture spoke of grandeur, of an empire that had once commanded the stars.

Yet, at the center of the room, something remained untouched by time.

A lone figure knelt before an ancient throne, clad in ornate battle robes of deep crimson and gold. Their long hair cascaded down their back, flowing like liquid metal. Their hands rested upon the hilt of a great blade, its edge buried in the stone floor.

Even in stillness, their presence was immense.

March hesitated. "Uh… are they alive?"

At her voice, the figure stirred.

Slowly, they rose to their feet. The air shuddered with the weight of their movement. When they turned, their gaze burned with golden irises—slitted, like a dragon's.

Zhongli recognized them immediately.

"You…"

The figure stepped forward, their voice calm yet edged with steel. "You are not of the Xianzhou. Nor are you bound by the Trailblaze." Their gaze fixed upon Zhongli, eyes narrowing. "And yet… you carry the weight of an ancient contract."

The air in the chamber became thick, charged with intent.

March took an uneasy step back. "Okay. Anyone else feeling the 'I am an all-powerful guardian' vibe?"

Zhongli did not move. His gaze remained steady. "You are a remnant of the Yaochi. A protector of what remains."

The warrior inclined their head. "I am Yanqing—last general of the Yaochi, and Guardian of its final decree."

Dan Heng stiffened. "Yanqing? But the records said he was lost centuries ago."

Yanqing exhaled slowly. "Lost? No. I was bound—to a contract that has yet to be fulfilled."

Their grip tightened on the hilt of their blade.

"And you, stranger… you reek of the old laws. Tell me—do you still believe in the sanctity of a contract?"

Zhongli met their gaze evenly. "I do."

The ruined sigils around them flared *to life*, their golden glow forming an unbroken circle around the two of them.

Yanqing raised his blade, its edge gleaming with a celestial glow.

"Then prove it."

A pulse of raw energy erupted from the warrior. The chamber shook.

Dan Heng's eyes widened. "Zhongli—!"

But the former Archon merely exhaled, stepping forward as golden energy swirled at his fingertips.

"So be it."

The duel had begun.

---

Chapter 4 Preview: The Weight of a Name

A battle between two remnants of the past.

A clash of unshaken wills.

And the truth buried within the ruins of Xianzhou Yaochi.

As blades meet and history stirs, Zhongli begins to uncover the reason for his presence in this new universe.

But will the past welcome his name… or reject it?

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Author's Note: (⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)