Zack learned two crucial things within the next five minutes.
First, Ruby Rose had infinite stamina as a toddler.
Second, toddlers were more terrifying than Grimm.
"Ruby, please don't climb up like that. You might fall!"
It was too late.
Ruby had already scrambled up his back like a determined little Grimm monkey, perched herself on his shoulders, and declared victory by slapping her tiny hands on his head.
"Horsey!" she shouted.
"…I am not a horse," Zack said flatly, even as Phainon's absurd balance kept him from tipping over and falling face-first.
She disagreed with his statement by pulling his hair when he didn't move
"Ow! Okay! okay! Don't pull my hair!" Zack hissed as he could feel Ruby's tiny hands trying to rip his hair out.
She had already grabbed a handful of his white hair and tugged with surprising strength, giggling as if she had just discovered a new and fascinating toy.
After a few minutes of trying to get Ruby's little hands off his hair and saving the strands being pulled from his scalp, he carefully lifted her off his shoulder and cradled her in his arms.
"You are something, aren't you? Haha... You win. You win, but you can't pull people's hair, alright?" Zack told her, as he didn't have the heart to be mad at her, after all, she was still a child and was having fun.
Ruby just stared at him for a second, looking like she didn't understand what Zack was talking about, then she poked the sun-shaped mark on his neck.
"Shiny."
Zack stiffened.
The mark wasn't just decoration; it was connected to Phainon's coreflame, Kephale, the Worldbearing Titan. This mark carried significance, meaning, and history, and it might also trigger Phainon's ultimate transformation, "He Who Shall Bear the World Must Burn." During the game, which showed millions of cycles Amphoreus went through, as the truth was revealed about how the Era Nova was fake, it will release Irontomb and destroy the Aeon of Erudition, and the universe.
But in the current cycle of the 33,550,336 Amphoreus has gone through, but this time the Trailblazer and Dan Heng have arrived, Phainon faced the Flame Reaver once more and was revealed to be Phainon but called Khaslana, and ultimately Phainon killed Khaslana to transfer millions of core flames to him.
However, as the Flame Reaver was dying, the flame reaver's body shattered into pieces as one of shards struck the sun mark on Phainon, making him bleed golden blood, transfering Phainon the memories of all previous Khaslana's and setting into motion the process of restarting the world before the Era Nova could begin, but this time the Trailblazer will become the Deliverer and stop Irontomb.
As Zack feared that the sun mark would be damaged, Ruby poked it again.
"Shiny sun."
"…I'm glad you like it," Zack muttered, unsure whether to feel honored or mildly terrified if things went wrong.
He set her down gently on the wooden floor, but Ruby immediately crawled straight toward the rack of wooden practice swords.
"Nope. Absolutely not," Zack said, lunging forward and scooping her up just before disaster could strike. "Those are not toys, Ruby."
Ruby pouted.
Her lower lip trembled.
Zack felt his soul leave his body as he felt he was going to have a headache.
"Oh no," he whispered. "No, no, no, don't do that."
Ruby's eyes started to tear up in record time as her little face scrunched, her mouth opened, and the wail that followed made Zack panic, as he himself didn't know how to deal with a toddler, since he never had siblings back on earth.
This was Zack's first real crisis in a long time, well, aside from confusing school exams
"WAAAAAAAH!"
Zack flinched as he didn't expect this to go so horribly wrong in the past few minutes; he had barely arrived in Remnant.
"It's okay, it's okay, don't cry!" Zack tried to comfort Ruby in his arms, but it only made it worse as she kept crying.
He tried to gently bounce her in his arms, hoping to soothe her. However, it didn't work. Her crying only grew louder, making Zack realize that it would be difficult to soothe her if time went on. As he quickly thought of ideas and ways to stop her crying, he finally came to a realization about how to help her. After all, there was one thing Ruby Rose liked the most in the show.
Cookies.
Zack felt ridiculous for even thinking it. After all, this toddler Ruby was a soon-to-be huntress in training, and she was a cookie monster, and could eat a whole plate of them in one minute. Shifting Ruby to one arm, he raised his right arm, as Zack sighed to himself, as this was gonna be ridiculous to ask a system to make this of all things he could have asked.
Ding.
[Minor construct permitted.]
[Now creating small object]\
Soft blue particles started appearing and forming to create this small object in Zack's palm, as every blue particle was combining and getting smaller and expanding to make a circle.
When the blue particles faded, the only thing left in his palm was the object that would appease this small cookie monster.
A warm chocolate cookie.
Ruby's crying stopped instantly as she looked at the cookie that had appeared in front of her.
Her sniffles froze mid-sob.
Her silver eyes were only locked onto the cookie as if it were the most important object in the whole universe, which made Zack raise an eyebrow at how she stopped immediately when the cookie appeared.
"…Cooookie," she whispered, awe-struck.
"Yes. Cookie. Just for you...Luckily, that worked in my favor." Zack exhaled in relief, mumbling to himself on the last part, glad that it had worked and wouldn't have to worry for a while.
He held it out carefully to her so she wouldn't drop it accidentally and begin crying again.
Ruby took it with both hands, stared at it for a full second, then took a bite.
Her entire face lit up, and Zack could have sworn her silver eyes had been shining just a bit.
"Mmm!" she squeaked happily, crumbs immediately forming around her mouth. She giggled, swinging her little legs as she chewed, completely content now.
Zack slumped against the wall, his legs finally giving in as he sat slowly down on the dojo floor, not too fast that it would cause him to lose grip of Ruby, who was in his arms.
"…I am so exhausted from just trying to calm her down...is this what parents feel like when they are first-time parents?" he muttered, watching her eat the cookie he created, but he couldn't help but smile as she was enjoying the cookie.
Ding.
[Side Quest Completed!]
[Calming The Baby Cookie Monster]
[Disturbing Quest Rewards now...]
"Rewards...Quest... Huh, I guess that gives me some comfort. But I wonder what rewards I'll get. Since this is a side quest, probably not much," Zack thought as he looked at the blue screen waiting for the rewards.
[Character Card Fragments]: Mydeimos 5/50 (Honkai Star Rail)
[Character Card Fragments]: Cipher 5/50 (Honkai Star Rail)
[Character Card Fragments]: Nayuta 4/50 (Nikke: Goddess of Victory)
As soon as Zack had seen the rewards, he was a bit shocked to see this, since he knew all three of these characters from the games he had played back on earth two from the Honkai Star Rail Universe and a part of the Chrysos Heirs, while the third being Nayuta from Nikke: Goddess of Victory, but what makes this so much better is that Nayuta is from the Pioneer Squad or Pilgrims, and she can make duplicates of herself from using her NIMPH that can roam around the world.
While that's great, it can also be challenging. The clones have their own lives and can live like human beings. However, if the original tries to absorb them back into the original body, the heartbreaking part is witnessing their lives, experiences, and emotions. This can take an emotional toll on the original, but without a doubt, it could be used to gain information and have eyes and ears around the world. But in Nayuta's case, she erased their lives and memories due to not being able to hold on to them, and to transfer the more important information to the original during the event 'Goddess: Fall' to tap into her power.
But for Mydeimos and Cipher, they are both Chrysos Heirs as well and have history with Phainon, but in this world, they would have to follow the rules of the world since they can't just get into this world just for free, but if Zack were able to gain all fifty of Cipher's fragments.
He then glanced at Ruby, who was happily enjoying her cookie as if there were no tomorrow. Turning back to the system, he considered that there could be changes to Cannon if he allowed Cipher to train Ruby on her semblance and use more than just her weapon. Cipher is fast and is also the demigod of Trickery, while Mydeimos is the demigod of Strife, and he could train Yang in martial arts and endurance.
"…So I guess this system also lets me do Quests to help me get more character cards," he muttered. "Good to know."
Ruby munched happily on her now half-eaten cookie, as cookie crumbs and chocolate were now staining her cheeks. She noticed Zack staring and proudly held up the half-eaten cookie.
"Cookie hero," she declared, as if confirming a sacred title.
Zack sighed, not wanting to say anything that might make Ruby cry again. "Alright. Alright. You can call me Cookie Hero."
He waved the system away with his hand as it turned into blue particles, leaving only the chewing of a toddler with her magical cookie in the dojo, and leaving him with his own thoughts for the moment.
In all honesty, Zack's mind was racing with thoughts and speculation as the system presented him with numerous ideas to consider. He had gained fragments of three powerful characters that could change the very foundation of the world and its power scale.
Cipher.
Mydeimos.
Nayuta.
Three characters that he can use in the future, and two of them are beings who had stood beside Phainon and against Khaslana during Amphoreus' endless loops. While the last character still has an unknown past with D.E.E.P, which none of the player fanbase know much about yet, only a bit of information about D.E.E.P...
"If this system really plans to integrate them into Remnant," Zack murmured, "then it's not just giving me power. It's giving me that chance to see what I can do with this ability and how I can make it interesting."
He was also curious about how the system would create their origins to allow them to enter Remnant and follow the rules of the world that would be implemented onto them, like Phainon's body was.
He looked down at Ruby again.
She had finished the cookie and was now licking her fingers with intense focus, as if crumbs were a resource too valuable to waste.
Zack smiled, but then sighed, "All this information is overwhelming to think about. I'll address it later, making it future Zack's problem."
Ruby then yawned.
Her silver eyes fluttered, the sugar finally catching up to her. She crawled and climbed onto Zack's chest, her small hands clutching his shirt, and within seconds her breathing evened out.
She had fallen asleep.
Zack was surprised that she had fallen asleep so quickly. He thought the sugar would make her hyper, but I guess she had a sugar crash.
"…Well, that clears out the problem for a bit," he whispered.
Carefully, he adjusted his hold so she was more comfortable. Phainon's strength made it easy to hold her with one hand; what made it difficult was that he wasn't familiar with this body's strength or even taking care of a toddler who was smaller and more delicate.
Zack could recall the memories that the system had provided him after he fused his soul with Phainon's character card. He remembered the origins and history that the system had created for Phainon in Remnant, as well as his own village, where the Grimm had slaughtered his friends and family. Surviving that tragedy, he settled in Argus. He understood why this body had chosen to be a caregiver; he didn't want any children to be alone if their parents died in a mission.
He would be lying if he said he couldn't feel Phainon's emotions in his own heart. In all honesty, it felt like they were one and the same. Knowing that Summer Rose would die, but unsure of Ruby's age when her mother disappeared, weighed heavily on him. It filled him with guilt, knowing her fate. But could he really defy destiny to save Ruby's mother?
He looked at Ruby, who was sleeping, and shook his head. From what he recalled, Yang had mentioned in Volume 5 that Ruby could barely talk when Summer left. Could Ruby have been around the same age she is now, which is two years old?
That means...
This year!
Before Zack could contemplate it any further, as he had figured it out, he was cut off from his train of thought by a sudden knock that echoed through the dojo from the door.
Before he could react, the door slid open.
A tall man with messy black hair, tired red eyes, and a flask hanging loosely at his side leaned against the doorframe.
Qrow Branwen took one look at Zack.
Then, at the sleeping toddler in his arms.
Then back at Zack.
"…Huh," Qrow said. "Didn't think you'd survive this time with cookie monster who is on your lap, knocked out like a light."
"…Qrow," Zack said, keeping his voice low so he wouldn't wake Ruby. "You're early."
Qrow snorted softly, pushing himself upright as he stepped fully into the dojo and closed the door behind him.
"Yeah, well," Qrow replied, rubbing the back of his neck, "Summer asked me to swing by and pick up Ruby from you. She would have, but she got the killing blow on a Grimm during our mission, so here I am."
Qrow walked forward with the casual laziness of a man who had seen far too much in life to be surprised by anything. And yet, there it was, the amused smirk tugging at his lips said he was enjoying this far more than he should.
"Hate to say it, kid," Qrow added quietly, "but this is the first time I've seen her fall asleep on someone else after having one of her tantrums, even Tai had problems except Summer."
Zack blinked.
"…Really?"
"Oh yeah," Qrow replied, thinking of the times Tai had suffered under Ruby's tantrums. "Normally, it's a full hour of crying, screaming, trying to pull hair, or hiding very well."
"That… actually sounds kinda scary to think," Zack muttered.
Qrow chuckled. "Yep. Well, Summer calls her a bundle of joy. Tai calls her a miniature natural disaster."
Zack snorted before he could stop himself.
Qrow's grin widened. "Look at that. The friendly neighborhood savior can laugh as well."
"…Please don't call me that...Ever."
Ruby shifted slightly in her sleep and murmured, "Coowkie hero…"
Zack froze like he'd been hit with a Flash Freeze glyph.
Qrow's smirk sharpened.
"Oh, now I'm calling you that forever now."
"Qrow," Zack hissed under his breath, feeling a headache coming in as he started recalling memories of Qrow doing this every time they met up, "I swear..."
"Come on now, Phai, it will catch on in the future," Qrow waved him off. "Look, hand her over. I'm sure Summer's waiting to see her bundle of cookies of mass destruction."
Zack hesitated just for a moment.
He looked down at Ruby, who was softly snoring. He felt that if he didn't ask Qrow this simple question, he would always feel guilty in the future, especially if he saw Ruby a bit older.
After all, Summer was going to disappear this year...
And Ruby would lose her mother.
The thought made his chest tighten.
Qrow watched him carefully, his expression losing some of its lazy humor.
"…Hey Phai, you alright?"
Zack just nodded and carefully transferred Ruby onto Qrow, making sure her head rested gently against Qrow's shoulder.
Despite his grumpy demeanor, Qrow held her with the practiced ease of someone who had done this a thousand times.
Ruby barely stirred, only burying her face into Qrow's shirt with a tiny grunt.
"…Thanks," Qrow said softly after a moment. "For watching her for a couple of days."
Zack blinked. "It was nothing."
"No," Qrow shook his head. "It wasn't. She likes you. Really likes you. The first time we tried finding a babysitter for her and Yang, let's say...The previous babysitter didn't want another shift...Poor guy almost lost all his hair."
Zack scratched the back of his head. "Haha…Sounds about right."
"Well," Qrow sighed, "I should probably head to Summer's location before she thinks something's gone wrong. See you later, Phai, catch you next time."
Zack nodded, though his fingers curled slightly at his sides.
Summer's fate lingered on his mind, a shadow crawling under the warm light of the dojo. He swallowed once, and before he could stop himself...
"…Qrow."
The Huntsman paused, one hand on the doorframe.
"…Is Summer going on any missions this coming week or months?" Zack's voice came out quieter than he intended.
Qrow raised an eyebrow at the question and answered honestly, "Not that I know of. However, she did ask for one or two months off to be with Ruby, Tai, and Yang. Is something wrong that you need to tell me?"
Zack swallowed.
He couldn't say because I know she will disappear.
He couldn't say he knew about the Grimm Queen, and she is immortal.
He couldn't say because in another world, I watched Ruby grow up motherless.
So he forced a small shrug.
"Just… worried," he said. "I heard rumors of Grimm activity increasing on the outskirts of Vale. Didn't know if Summer was going to be overworked, same to you too."
That was close enough to the truth that he could give.
Qrow wanted to ask if he had been having nightmares or something, but he knew that Zack would tell him if he wanted, but he didn't want to force him, so he decided to trust his word.
"Alright, Phai, but don't worry, things get dangerous. Huntsmen get hurt. Sometimes worse. But Summer's one of the best. I don't believe she will fall anytime soon." Qrow replied with absolute confidence.
Zack just smiled and nodded.
Qrow stepped toward the door again. "See you around, Phai. And… thanks again."
He opened the door and smiled at Zack for a moment before grabbing the handle and sliding the door shut.
Sorry Qrow...But you gave me the right questions I needed.
Ding!
[Secret Main Quest Unlocked]
[Defy Destiny: The Woman Who Should Have Lived]
Objective: Protect and stop Summer Rose from her fated disappearance by any means necessary.
Time Left Until Quest Starts: Three Months.
Warning:[This quest will alter Remnant's timeline.]
Rewards:
If Succeed: 40 Fragments of ???, Flame Reaver's clone ability, Rose-Xiao Long Families' gratitude.
If failed: No Rewards and timeline will flow like normal.
Zack looked at the system and nodded seriously. He then walked over to the wooden weapon rack and grabbed a wooden sword.
"Let's get to work."
...........
Author's Note: Most people in Remnant know Zack's name as Phainon due to the system allowing Phainon's character card to be able to enter Remnant by creating Phainon's history and origin by following the rules of the world and not unbalancing the power system quickly, and making other entities notice something going on in Remnant. Also, Zack's name will change to Phainon if it turns to other people's perspectives who live in Remnant, for example, "Qrow" or "Summer".
While for the other character cards that Zack will collect, and how they will be entering Remnant, will be a fun thing to think about.