#z.z.z. x reader

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

Ooops, was struck by inspiration. Oops ×2 - accidentally created some OCs and lore

Anyhow - have another trinket.

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- M-manager, is it supposed to be so errie here? - Billy was looking around nervously, one of his hands fidgeting near the gun holster. The surrounding ruins only grew more dark after the lighting that seemingly answered the gunslinger's question.

- Soon the monster must appear. - Anby declared with her usual stoic expression. - It always happens after people question their quides like that.

Nicole sighed quietly, muttering "You both watch WAY too much movies" under her breath. She looked at their guide - Phaeton's bangboo simply continued their track, looking for all the world completely unbothered by surroundings or the threat that was accompanying their latest task.

Nicole chewed on her lip - Butcher was a highly dangerous Ethereal all on its own. And, just their luck, they seemed to attract the attention of New Eridu's dark Legend.

"Etheral Eater", "Chaos Slayer", "Shadow of Salvation". Titles as numerous as they are mysterious applied to their newest "acquiatance". People were both terrified and taken by this "Kresnik" - tales of them saving people at the last second were mixed with cautionary ones. You were either to be saved from the most deadly situation or to suffer in the most horrible manner.

Nicole huffed out a laugh. "They are a deity, young lady. That's what people believe - and faith can grant a lot to the subject of it." That's what an old priest told her when he heard the kids at the orphanage talk about "Kresnik" again.

- Deity, huh? Some people consider Phaeton a god too.

- What's that, Nicole?

- Nothing, Billy. Eyes upfront - don't lose caution!

- Yes, boss!

Phaeton's bangboo stopped, its ears perking up.

- Everyone, the Ether's readings are skyrocketing! Be careful - something's happening to the left of us!

                                         ****

Wise's eyes were glued to the feed they were getting. And his ears were too, so to say.

- Fairy, what is this music? - Belle asked before him.

- Running a search. Several similar records - all connected to ancient religions and cults. Found a perfect match - the poster has labeled it "Mara's Dance".

- Mara's Dance?

- A group that claims to "follow their ancestor's footsteps and helping the spirits .

                                       ****

- Ohmygod, that's so cool! They are like Starlight Knights - but more scary! They even have a theme song! - Billy seemingly forgot about stealthiness altogether, openly fanboying over the spectacle below.

Nicole could easily admit that she was impressed too.

A group of four people was cutting through the crowd of Ethereals - with ease too. And grace befitting a dance, not deadly combat. But the most striking thing wasn't even their skills or strength - it was the reason for their display.

If Nicole was right - and she was sure of it - the group was cutting a path for something. It looked like they were creating a clear shot-

The sound akin to thunder filled the air - and everything in the straight line seemingly vanished.

Only for a second Nicole could see the figure perched on the spire in the distance, before it vanished again. The group below hastily followed and Nicole sighed.

- Well, that's that! The "Kresnik" has joined us again, it seems! - Phaeton's declared with way too much happiness.

Would it be too much to hope that "deity" would strike down a monster for them?

I am loving this idea so, so, SO much.

Now, time to show you my addition!

Everything was going to plan.

Practically perfect.

That should’ve raised a hundred red flags to Nicole.

Nothing ever went to plan in this business.

And, of course, something went wrong exactly when they needed it NOT to go wrong.

The tanker didn’t get struck by lightning as Fairy calculated it would.

And, like most things would be, The Butcher was not a fan of being crushed by a tanker of highly explosive ether.

It tossed the massive hunk of metal, nearly crushing Billy, forcing Anby to take evasive maneuvers, and forcing Nicole to dodge, sending her to the ground.

Enraged, The Butcher grabbed its previously discarded spear in two of its four hands, and locked onto the first thing it saw.

Nicole, laid out on the ground, dazed and defenseless.

With a terrifying roar, The Butcher rushed forward, fully intending to shish-kebab Nicole and turn her into a bloody mess.

Billy lacked the firepower to stun the beast.

Nicole was too far away to help with her sword.

Nicole’s Briefcase was just out of reach.

And there was nothing the little Bangboo named Eous could do.

But then, just as everyone was ready to scream in vain at the seemingly fatal situation Nicole was in, a miracle happened.

A sword clashed with the tip of the spear, stopping The Butcher from impaling Nicole, sending The Butcher stumbling back, and sending a shockwave out that stopped the rain from falling.

Then, they appeared, the sword still spinning end over end in the air and the air crackling with the sound of pure ether.

After that, no one could truly see. The speeds that both “The Butcher” and “Kresnik” were moving at were far, far beyond the comprehension of the human eye and only just barely visible to Billy, Eous, and Fairy.

Not to mention, the sounds of thunder shaking the entire Hollow to its core, and the blurs of greens, Blues, and purples.

It wasn’t until all of them returned to Random play that they were able to see what happened by extracting the data and putting it together.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

The sword spun end over end and then, you grabbed it out of the air as your mask began to glow with ether between the cracks and crevices. Purple and pink lightning running down the length of your blade.

Then, you spun on the spot, building momentum and then throwing your blade straight at The Butcher's core.

However, the blade was swatted away by The Butcher’s weapon, sending it careening over the spear.

Exactly as you intended.

You snapped your fingers and, in an instant, you were standing on the haft of the spear, sword in hand and the sound of thunder screaming behind you.

Reacting instinctively, The Butcher swung its weapon skywards, trying to send you flying away.

But you were already gone, with half of its spear with it.

Then, The Butcher was sent flying into the side of the crater, embedding it deep into the stone.

Right behind where The Butcher once stood, was you, holding your sword as if it was a baseball bat you had just hit a home run with, the half of The Butcher’s spear impaled in the ground.

In retaliation, The Butcher threw the half of the spear it still held at you like a javelin, intent on impaling you.

You effortlessly dodged to the side.

“It seems this one is smarter than the average Ethereal.” you thought to yourself as The Butcher rushed forwards to grab its broken weapon, swinging it like a club.

You slid under the weapon, perfectly avoiding the head of the spear being torn from the ground by the blow and all the mud from the extraction as well as you stabbed the tip of your sword off the ground and used it to launch yourself upwards and onto a piece of rubble, sitting on it with your masked face in one hand and leg crossed over the other as you pointed the tip of your sword at The Butcher.

In retaliation The Butcher grabbed the head of the spear by what remained of its haft from out of the air and slammed its second pair of arms on the ground sending a shockwave out and causing the pile of Rubble you were on to become unstable which you were seemingly unbothered by as you leapt off and high into the air, lightning arcing through the sky behind you.

It was an intimidating silhouette.

A shadow in a black long coat, a mask glowing with neon purple and pink light, clawed hands covered only by fingerless gloves, one of which were wrapped around a longsword with a wide blade and purple and pink lightning surrounding it.

The Butcher raised its second set of arms to block the incoming attack, Ether Crystals forming on its skin to enhance its defense.

They were cut clean off with ease, like a hot knife through butter.

The Butcher swung the arm holding the head of the spear.

It was caught by your free hand and torn from its grip before using it to send The Butcher flying towards the Tanker.

“Uh-oh.” Anby muttered while Nicole screamed and Billy screeched as he grabbed the pair, Eous hitching a ride on his back.

After that, everyone lost sight of what happened next.

However, the massive explosion and the Hollow Shrinking to minuscule levels gave them a good idea of what occurred.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Sis, you’ve watched that video a hundred times…” Wise muttered, concerned for his sister’s newest obsession.

This mysterious “Kresnik” person.

If they were a person…

He had never seen someone fight like that… ever.

Were they bending space time in a localized and controlled area, creating a stable and intentional version of the Fissures that riddled Hollows?

Or were they just that fast?

They definitely had the strength the stories said they had if the way they kept ragdolling The Butcher around was any indication.

Still… was this “Kresnik” a friend or a foe?

It was too early to tell.

However, before Wise could get too deep into his own thoughts, Fairy spoke.

“Correction: Master has watched the video 156 times. This is her 157th.”

Wise shook his head.

“Alright Belle, time for bed.” he declared as he grabbed her by the back of her jacket.

“Five more minutes!” Belle whined as she was pulled out of her seat.

“Nope. We’ve got work to do tomorrow. Besides, is that Video really that cool?” Wise asked as he continued to drag Belle along.

“YES!” Belle exclaimed with stars in her eyes causing wise to sigh and shake his head for the 157th time today.

[cosmichorrorsarestillnicerthanme]

Thoughts on Zenless Zone Zero

Holy fuck its so pretty!!!

Holy fuck that's so cool!!!

HOLY FUCK THAT'S SO COOL AND PRETTY!!!

In other words, welcome it to the list!

This is going to do wonders for my inbox