A'Zur

A'zur is the semi-sentient symbiotic Overlord of the Neutral Zone, where all unpowered and plausible universes, their derivatives, and alternates exist. A'zur has by far the most power of the Overlords, being proclaimed unofficially by others as "the essential Esta of the Neutral Zone", which is reasonably accurate. Normally, A'zur has no consciousness and is akin to an amorphous program, maintaining a barrier around its plane of existence so as to make sure no crossovers or breaches are possible (in fact, it is the only Overlord of the three capable of doing so, and there is no known bypass apart from a Bound granting access). However, at times it chooses a being of qualified worth and grants them abilities meant to remedy & prevent crises, before ultimately retreating back into a state of passive protection upon completion. The current (and permanent) being it has chosen is Japhial Palimour, with whom its existence is fused for several reasons, some of which are personal.

Currently, A'zur identifies as/takes the form of a humanoid female nicknamed Zura with long, curly dark blue hair, often switching between flashy royal sapphire crystalline battle armor and a simply long, ruffled blue longsleeve shirt and blue jeans. She, unlike previously, possesses a personality and solid-sentience thanks to her Fusion with Japhial, and both deeply admires, deeply loves, and is deeply angered by him, feeling a dangerous mix of those three concerning many aspects about him, particularly his self-sacrificial and arrogant nature. When she & Japhial are one, they take the form of an armored knight in polished indigo armor with a gold-embroidered waist-cloth flowing behind them, their helm having shimmering yellow diagonal downward slits bleeding into long downward lines for eyes.

A'zur, upon their Fusion, gave Japhial the ability to form clones of himself for various purposes based on a mixture of his self and his imaginations, which he uses to great effect in his workspace, named the Citadel, in the Null (his void of observation) of the Neutral Zone. He also has four Soul Servants that represent a division of his core parts into Valaktrik the Shadow (Alter Ego), the Gentleman of Palatinate (Versatility), Ultramariner the Magus Mentaal (Savant Mind), & the Indigolussus of Blackened Blue (Strength of Mind & Body). The two main ones he always has around and on board are Valaktrik, the wielder of the Cerulathyst FireBolt (whose appearance closely resembles a vigilante guise Japhial took up in his life named the Blue Crest) , and the Gentleman, a magical musician with near infinite power and capability limited only by his song and his master. He also has a variety of Zular magic inherited from the passive nature of his Fusion, which he the primarily passes on to the Ultramariner, his primary medium (and at times, solo representative) for traveling between worlds (in fact, the Ultramariner was for a long time believed by many of the Valantar residents to *be* Japhial). As for the Indigolussus, Japhial simple gave his armored look one more akin to Daniel Ford.

Japhial as the Zaffrezier (Zaffre x Vizier)/Zircon Ambur (an inspired visual take on Arson's look but in indigo, obsidian, gold, & amethyst) also has two additional servants: the Prismal Sapphiron Dracon Princess, Seluna Yveltor, for whom he crafted the Sapphire Soul Slayer Demination (domination x denim) & the Tanzanite Tankard Celescutcheon (Escutcheon x Celestial blue); and Emythalar Om'Inar Dominatus (the original combined form of Myra, Elamal, & Ilar, now in the form of a Shadow Spirit and imprisoned in Vlanquiktch, a blade of Japhial's own design.

Japhial also has several children with various women in Surreality (primarily demis from Valantar, which is why he has made himself fluent in Abez, the universal demi-human beast tongue) , along with several adopted, namely:

Knight of the Blue Order

Celene "Tyrantazur" Alcrescien von Dalques (Daughter of Kredivondraga/Kredia Alcrescien von Dalques)

Cyran "Blue Shadow" Sigul Velgerijest (Daughter of Karan Sigul Velgerijest)

Kyrazi "Crescent Blu" Veriscitian Harrows (Daughter of Kinora Veriscitian Harrows)

Emina "DiaBleu" La'Zure Akananhadem(Daughter of Myra J'Thul Akananhadem)

Lonare "Soluleon"\* (Daughter of Arshora)

Seidros "Auranos" Atlans Lauchnoss(Daughter of Makarna Atlans Lauchnoss)

Valorntra "Ablutroz" (Daughter of Alphenic Kombast)

Filan "Lunazu" Na'ul (Daughter of Ka’Un Na’ul)

A'salamaluna "Harbringer/Sheathkill" M'kaman Aflun Harrows (Daughter of unnamed escapee of Demammil universe & unnamed being from T3K@137)

Squadron Endeavor

Nijhel "Rust/Ebon Ore" Kroskov

Diyon "Mech" Asalvario

Jasin "Encrypt" Latremon

Rafael "Titan" Bagriels

Tyrone "Beholder" Ondirios

Feronika "Blind Spot" Enjokanshe

Felinicia "Dancer" Enjokanshe

Eliza "Chaos" Verione

Anabeth "Refugee" Verione

Cyrus "Mirror" Heller

Jin "Reverb" Osherin

Claire "Corporal" Evenhart

Aaron "Swiss" Reyford

\*(sol + leo + cerulean)

Story Intro

A'zur Binds (a term for the symbiotic relationship it has with a host) with a human named Japhial Pulemor, a resident of a universe in the Neutral Zone at risk of the Mirror Incursion. Japhial's universe is somehow an alternate stem to Surreality's stem universe Wegintkwat

β

{\displaystyle \beta}

 2833264044-31263530, which means that those two universes were branches of some other stem universe. Regardless, Japhial's universe is on track to repeat the history of Wegintkwat

β

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 2833264044-31263530, and nearly every positive path that he can take (for his own fulfillment & happiness in love) results in the birth of Aidendej & Dedurnel's parent from one of five women: Amile Kraseganford, Emili Kraseganford, Luna Osheros, Lady Alynagula Ulantodes, or Estella Woodavil.

The aforementioned three, along with Dontel Silverio, a well-connected rich friend of Japhial, and Jeson Khartogran, a savant poor friend of Japhial, were issues for their universe, as their associations with Japhial always resulted (for every possible timeline) in the same fate: the birth of Aidendej & Dedurnel, and the resulting death of B4 triggers the same series of events as seen in the Hidden Genome system. This would then raise two problems:

1. A'Zur would still be bound to Japhial in this world, and would thus be at risk for capture or exposure to danger from threats such as Arson, as well as the natural effect a cross-plane breach has on any Overlord

2. Alternates of (or even those originating from) the new stem universe would theoretically be capable of trans-universal travel similar to what has been accomplished in the *Gen NEX-D* series, and thus, not only break existing rules concerning trans-timeline breaches, but also have dangerous duos interacting (e.g. two Dedurnel Metoys).

To monitor and assist him in the prevention of this fate, Djon Silvar sent Myra J'Thul Akanadhadem, universe MURD's Aidendej "Redpoint" Lenrap, Kinora/Kina "Psyiodionic/Bionic Angel" Veriscitian Harrows, & Khoru/Ko "Dimenisis/Bounty HuntNoir/Cellulon" Veriscitian Harrows, as well as Memoreincarnations of Nedalia "Automatrona" Odwhin & Jeven "Mindkhastel" Khafel. Over the course of countless resets and attempts at finding ways to maintain a life for Japhial and fulfilling the mission, he befriended & formed ties with the six of them, and, upon their arrival, Rinyol Quinwor Alokutes, Elamal V’ash Likhtore, Jardyn Velsar Shjikoviz, & Ilar R’Ach Androvidoi join as well. He learns of the issues regarding his position from the former six and chooses to work toward fixing/remedying this situation (Japhial is aware of this being an issue from the first time he meets the six, as well as the fact that he is an Author, capable of creating worlds via only his imagination, that he is Redpoint's grandfather, and that there exist multiple planes of reality, along with many other things. He, however, only makes known his competence of his situation to Myra & Redpoint in confidence, with Elamal, Ilar, Dedurnel joining them thanks to the former two's mindshare they have with Myra and Redpoint's explanation to the latter.)

Japhial eventually comes to the realization that any path of happiness for him will make it harder to actually be happy (due to the impending doom), and that his responsibility is not to himself, but to his new purpose. He cannot exist in the timeline, nor any other stems, in order for the issues of A'zur's exposure & the transfer of his universe to be resolved. The solution is clear: erasing his existence so that A'Zur cannot Bind with him nor can he sire the parent of Aidendej & Dedurnel. After relaying his decision to the group, they cannot help but disagree (even those who knew prior, such as the Devel Tria, Dedurnel, or Redpoint), and beg him to find another way. Japhial challenges them to a duel, using a fake capture of Myra as bait, and overpowers & restrains them with swiftness and ease. However, he discovers that both Khoru & Jardyn have access to a means of defeating him, namely with Cellulon & the devil-infused Three Cornerblades of Reality. Ultimately, he is defeated and killed by these means, to the despair and sorrow of the eight (Jeven & Nedalia's Memoreincarnations retreated back into time upon their deaths), but it is revealed that only his physical existence within the Neutral Zone was destroyed, and Japhial now lives on as a Guardian Overlord as A'Zur.

He harbors and has confessed romantic feelings for Myra & Elamal (particularly Myra during her times in the Neutral Zone assisting him), who admittedly reciprocate (in addition to Ilar), and the former has even proposed that when all is said and done, they get married. However, all reject this sort of relationship respectfully on the mixed grounds of prior responsibilities (also of greater importance) and prior lives they need more.

Japhial & A'Zur have also proven themselves capable of restraining & defeating Full-Sak member of the Pinnacle universe, and restore many lost members to them under a Soulbind. They have also revived, defeated, & card-sealed Esta, Niko, Viko, Eve, Tricia, Arida, & Kaylah, and have proven they are more than capable (at peak, full-Fusion, all Assembled form) of defeating them as a group. They have also defeated a released duo Fusion of the remaining data fragment of the Chaos Crystal Whole from Kaylah's staff & Esta's buster sword's sealed Malice spirit, and have re-imprisoned the two as separate beings in their respective original objects.