A Honkai: Zhongli x Star Rail

The air in Panhua's ruins was thick with tension.

The crystalline figure at the end of the street moved, its form shifting unnaturally as if struggling to maintain its shape. The eerie glow that pulsed from within its body cast long shadows across the crumbling structures.

Then, without warning—it charged.

A streak of corrupted energy lashed out, cleaving through the air with terrifying speed. The ground beneath it cracked, sending shards of stone and crystal flying.

March 7th reacted first. "It's coming—!"

She raised her bow, a flurry of ice-tipped arrows forming in the air. With a sharp motion, she let them loose, sending a barrage of frozen projectiles toward the creature.

The arrows struck—but instead of piercing, they dissolved on impact.

March's eyes widened. "What the—?"

Dan Heng was already moving, his spear flashing as he lunged forward. His attack was precise, aimed at the core of the creature's form.

But just as his spear was about to connect—

it phased through.

Dan Heng's momentum carried him past the entity, his stance quickly adjusting as he landed several meters away. His grip on his spear tightened.

"This thing isn't fully materialized."

Himeko's voice came through their communicators. "Be careful. If it's unstable, then it might not follow conventional combat logic."

Zhongli watched carefully, his golden gaze analyzing the creature's movements. There was something unnatural about it—not just in its composition, but in its very presence.

It did not belong to this world.

The entity turned toward them, its form shuddering before stabilizing once more.

Then, it spoke.

A distorted voice echoed through the ruins.

"…Lost… the contract… broken…"

Zhongli's expression darkened.

"A contract?"

The others exchanged glances, uncertainty flickering across their faces.

March whispered, "Did it just talk?"

The creature lunged again, this time toward Zhongli.

The moment it moved, Zhongli's body reacted instinctively. He raised his hand.

The earth answered.

With a single pulse of energy, the ground beneath them shifted, golden cracks spreading outward in intricate patterns. A massive Geo construct erupted from below, forming an unyielding barrier between him and the creature.

The entity collided with the barrier—and stopped.

For a brief moment, its entire body froze.

Then, something strange happened.

The crystal that made up its form began to resonate—the same golden hue as Zhongli's own power.

Zhongli's eyes narrowed.

"It reacts to Geo?"

Before he could analyze further, the creature shuddered violently and let out a distorted, fractured wail. The resonance broke, and it dissolved into scattered fragments of energy.

The battlefield fell silent.

---

The Aftermath

March lowered her bow. "What… just happened?"

Dan Heng stepped forward cautiously, analyzing the fading traces of energy left behind. "It seemed unstable. Almost like it wasn't meant to exist in this state."

Himeko's voice came through the communicator. "I've recorded the energy signature—it's unlike anything we've seen before."

Zhongli slowly approached the spot where the creature had vanished. He knelt, running his fingers over the stone where the resonance had occurred.

"The concept of contracts exists even beyond Teyvat," he murmured. "But if this entity spoke of a 'broken contract'…"

He closed his eyes briefly, focusing on the faint lingering resonance.

There was something buried within this world.

Something that had been forgotten.

He rose to his feet. "We must go deeper into the ruins. The truth behind this anomaly lies ahead."

Welt's voice came through the intercom. "Understood. We'll coordinate your path forward from the Express. Stay on guard—there may be more of them."

March sighed. "Great. More creepy not-quite-there monsters."

Dan Heng adjusted his grip on his weapon. "Let's move."

Zhongli cast one last glance at the remnants of the battlefield before following the group forward.

Beneath his feet, the ground pulsed ever so slightly.

Something within the ruins had awakened.

And it was watching.

---

The Depths of the Ruins

As they moved further into the city, the architecture shifted. What had once been crumbling buildings gave way to massive underground structures, untouched by time.

Glowing inscriptions lined the walls, pulsating with energy.

March let out a low whistle. "Okay. Whoever built this place? Way ahead of their time."

Dan Heng ran a hand along one of the engravings. "This language… it resembles the script found in some Xianzhou archives."

Zhongli examined the inscriptions carefully. The patterns… the symmetry… it was unlike anything he had seen before.

Yet, there was something familiar about it.

He reached out, letting his fingers lightly graze the stone.

And then—

His vision blurred.

The ruins faded.

For a brief moment, Zhongli was somewhere else.

---

A Vision of the Past

A city stood before him.

Not a ruin. Not a memory of destruction.

But a thriving civilization—one filled with scholars, artisans, and warriors. Towers of gold and jade stretched into the sky, their surfaces engraved with countless inscriptions.

The people walked with purpose, their eyes filled with knowledge and ambition.

And at the heart of it all—

A great monument stood tall, inscribed with a single phrase:

"In contracts, we find order. In order, we find eternity."

Zhongli's eyes widened slightly.

"This civilization… it followed principles akin to my own."

But then—the vision fractured.

The city shattered, split apart by an unseen force.

A massive rift tore through the land, swallowing everything in its path. People screamed. The sky darkened.

And standing at the edge of destruction was—

A figure cloaked in gold and obsidian, watching as their world fell apart.

Their voice echoed in his mind.

"The contract has failed. And now, we must pay the price."

Zhongli's breath hitched.

The vision ended.

He staggered back slightly, catching himself before falling.

March turned to him in concern. "Hey! You okay?"

Zhongli exhaled slowly, regaining his composure. "I am fine."

Dan Heng studied him. "You saw something."

Zhongli met his gaze. "Not just something. I saw the fall of this civilization."

Silence followed his words.

Himeko's voice came through the communicator. "Then we're not just dealing with an ordinary Stellaron crisis. Something deeper happened here."

Zhongli looked toward the darkened path ahead.

"This world was bound by a contract."

His golden eyes gleamed.

"And I intend to discover who broke it."

---

Chapter 8 Preview: The Forgotten Oath

A civilization built upon contracts.

A shattered past buried beneath the ruins.

And a secret that was never meant to be uncovered.

As Zhongli and the Trailblazers venture further, the truth behind Panhua's fall begins to surface.

But some pacts should never be broken.

And the past does not forget its debts.

---

Author's Note: (⁠⌐⁠■⁠-⁠■⁠)