The sight of the giant rock man looming before him made Mo Wang feel like he was staring down the barrel of a cosmic shotgun. He had met Aeons before, but this was different.
Unlike the chaotic jester Aha, the Amber Lord radiated an aura of immense power. That hammer of They looked like it could shatter galaxies with a single swing.
This was Qlipoth, the Aeon of Preservation, one of the oldest beings in the universe, and the undisputed deity of the Interastral Peace Corporation. They was the creator of the Celestial Comet Wall, the Subspace Crystalline Barrier, and the Great Attractor Base.
They wasn't just some shield-toting good guy; They had a reputation as a brutal warrior in the old days of battling the Propagation.
In fact, They faction was arguably the largest and most powerful in the entire universe. The IPC practically worshipped Them, as evidenced by their calendar being based on Their "Amber Era."
They was basically the Honkai Star Rail version of Genshin Impact's Zhongli dialed up to eleven. (Another one of those rock-solid shield-dog martial gods.)
Qlipoth gazed at Mo Wang in silence, sizing him up. It made Mo Wang incredibly nervous. He had never expected to draw the attention of the Amber Lord. The most he had hoped for was a passing glance.
Instead, he had managed to attract the attention of one of the most powerful and ancient beings in the universe.
"Um, respected creator of the Celestial Comet Wall, the Subspace Crystalline Barrier, and the Great Attractor Base., the magnificent Amber Lord. What can I do for you today?" Mo Wang asked.
"If you'll excuse me, Aha needs me for something. I'll be on my way now." As he spoke, he frantically tried to contact Aha.
He was really in trouble now. This was not good. He was pretty sure he'd be on the fast track to getting space-stoned.
Mo Wang: Aha! Aha! Do you copy? We've got a problem! Qlipoth is here! Save me!
Aha: The number you have dialed is not in service. Please try again later. Beep beep beep...
Aha was ghosting him. He was completely on his own. Aha had promised to cover for him if things got out of hand, and now he had vanished.
Though to be honest, even if Aha did show up, They'd probably get Their head bashed in by the Amber Lord.
"Human, you are interesting."
Just as Mo Wang was about to give up hope, Qlipoth spoke, Their voice deep and resonant.
"Huh?" Mo Wang looked up, stunned. Qlipoth wanted to know more about him?
"Um, Qlipoth, with all due respect, could you be a little smaller? It's kind of hard to look up at you," Mo Wang said.
Qlipoth paused for three full minutes, clearly not used to being addressed in that way.
Just as Mo Wang was about to apologize, he saw Qlipoth's body begin to shrink. And in a few seconds, the ancient Aeon had transformed into a tiny, white-haired loli.
Mo Wang: (ー`′ー)? Wait, what?! Why is They a loli? A white-haired loli? What are you doing, Qlipoth?!
"Do you not like it? I based this form on your memories," Qlipoth said, tilting her head in confusion.
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just... weird." It was, in fact, hitting several of his most specific kinks.
But the knowledge that Qlipoth had seen those memories made him feel strangely exposed. Was this some kind of cosmic Fetish reveal?
And anyway, an Aeon turning into a cute anime girl...
There was nothing inherently wrong with that. After all, even Archons could change their gender at will. But the thought of an army of Aeons as magical girls was too much for him to handle.
"You are, as the Aeon of Elation said, an interesting and unusual being," the loli version of Qlipoth said. "Though surrounded by Elation, you also possess the will of Preservation and the fire of the Hunt. Even the traces of those who have passed can be felt within you. I see that your soul is constantly reaching outward, touching the very boundaries that we ourselves cannot cross."
"Well, you're making me blush here. Thanks for the compliment," Mo Wang said. "Could I get a discount card for the Interastral Peace Corporation? A lifetime VIP pass would be even better."
He had a feeling this meeting wasn't going to end badly.
"I care little for such mortal affairs. I do not have the power to grant you what you seek from the Interastral Peace Corporation."
Qlipoth seriously contemplated the request.
"Ah, no worries! I was just kidding. I know you're busy. Heheh," Mo Wang said.
Before he could take it back, Qlipoth stated matter-of-factly, "If you desire it, I can request it from the Interastral Peace Corporation. This is a simple task."
"Whoa! You're the best, Amber Lord! This is way better than anything Aha would offer!" Mo Wang couldn't stop grinning. He couldn't imagine how much that VIP status was worth.
"With that out of the way, may I inquire as to the purpose of my presence?"
Now that things were off to such a good start, Mo Wang was more than happy to listen.
"I wish for you to become my Emanator."
The words struck Mo Wang dumb.
"Me? An Emanator of Preservation?" Mo Wang stammered. Was he good enough for that honor? As much as he hated to admit it, Preservation was pretty low on his priority list.
If Aha had offered him a spot as Their Emanator, he would have refused in an instant. But this... this was tempting.
In the original story, the only known Emanators of Preservation were members of the IPC's Ten Stonehearts, at the highest levels of galactic power.
Unlike those abominations following Aha, becoming an Emanator of Qlipoth would have him swimming in prestige! He hesitated. It all seemed too good to be true.
"Is this some kind of joke?" he said.
"That is not my intention."
The situation made Mo Wang uneasy. Everything he knew about the game told him to refuse, yet the benefits of becoming an Emanator of Qlipoth were too good to ignore.
"Then why me? There must be others more suited for the job, those who actually care about Preservation."
"That may be the case. As it stands, your connection to Preservation is weak," Qlipoth stated blankly.
Mo Wang felt a vein throb in his forehead.
Well, that was one way to put it.
"However, the path you walk resonates with my ideal," Qlipoth continued, ignoring his outburst. "When you took hold of the Stellaron, you could have abandoned this world to its fate. Instead, you chose to remain and fight, to continue the struggle for its salvation."
"Though Elation, Destruction, and Harmony guide your steps, you are walking the path of Preservation," Qlipoth declared. "This has made me see a possibility."
Mo Wang coughed, unsure how to respond. Was he being told that he was somehow upholding the ideal of Preservation through a series of random acts of chaos?
But the core of it was that he wanted to save them, though finding amusing ways of doing it. It was less about the method, and more about the act itself.
"Before you take the mantle as my Emanator, there is a condition you must meet," Qlipoth said. "Your connection to Preservation must be strengthened."
Uh oh.
"What do you mean by that? How will I ever know if I'm good enough for you?" Mo Wang asked nervously.
Qlipoth did not answer. She simply stared at Mo Wang before disappearing, leaving him alone in the void.
"Hey! What about the gold card with the IPC? Don't forget!" Mo Wang called out, then sighed. He was a sucker for shiny objects.