Cerberus sat on his chair as Reese poked his cheek. The young man had become unresponsive at the revelation of his greatest secret while Asta, bless her heart, tried to comfort him. 

"So... an idol?" March asked with a grin, finally proving her dominance to her friend and older brother of the family. 

"no..." Cerberus replied as he whimpered. 

"Oh, my~ I guess these photos would be a good deterrent," March said, showing him the photos as the young man whimpered even more. 

-----

"My lord," Xiao said, looking at Zhongli as the consultant of Wangshen Funeral Parlor drank his drink while Guizhong reconnected with the other Adepti. "Is Cerberus..."

"He is," Zhongli replied as he looked at Cerberus. "Although, we signed a contract that removed the title and name of Rex Lapiss from him. I cannot discuss the details, however, I trust him," Zhongli said. 

"Very well," Xiao said with a bow as Venti smiled and approached Zhongli. 

-----

Bronya, the supreme guardian of Belobog, finished wiping the trail of blood from her nose at the sight of her friend expertly acting and cross-dressing as a girl. 

"Okay, first, he's a musician, then we find out he's a geologist, then now we find out that he is a cross-dresser?" Seele asked as she pinched the gelatinous orb in her hands while she thought about her friend. 

"He is also a knight," Serval added with a smile. Hearing this, Gepard raised his brow. 

'Sorry Dunn, but with Mr. Cerberus, the Landau family bloodline must continue.' 

------

Reena smile as she watched her baby focusing poke her father's alternate version to try and get him to respond. Well, it was payback to all the banter they had and it might be petty but it was worth it. Smoothing her dress, the young woman decided to play one of Cerberus' memories, the one where he earned the title he used. She can just send the children away first.

"Reena," Feeling a tug on her leg, Reena looked at the form of her cousin. "Uhm, can you show one of Stinky's awesome moments?" Reese said, wanting to get her friend to stop moping. 

Smiling at the kind heart of her cousin, Reena hugged her and smiled. "I will, but you and the other kids have to make sure to not watch," 

"No! Stinky is my friend and I will watch it!" Reese said, defiantly looking at her unknown cousin who only sighed and pinched her cheeks. 

"Fine, now run along." Glaring at Reena, Reese rubbed her cheeks and went back to the theater. 

----

Cerberus, finally recovering from the embarrassment, said nothing as Arlan and Peppy looked at him. 

"Well, it's not that bad," Arlan said, hoping to cheer up his mentor who shivered even more. 

"So... cross-dresser," Seele said with a grin as she looked at Cerberus. 

"Stop..." Cerberus moaned out. 

"Seele, stop teasing Mr. Cerberus," Bronya said, looking sternly at her friend. "How are you?"

"Weeping, soulless, honorless, and ashamed," The young man replied to Belobog's version of his dear friend. 

"I see," Bronya gently held his arm and squeezed it. 

"Everyone, please return to your seats, our newest viewing will be starting in five minutes," Reena's voice echoed inside the Archon hall. "I recommend that all the children will be accompanied by adults."

"Thank you, Bronya," Cerberus said, calming as he felt her hand which resulted in him reflexively reaching in and rubbing her hair.

'He is a god...,' Arlan thought as he saw the blush on the supreme guardian's face. 

------
A few minutes later, Cerberus, now seated with the crew of the Astral Express with Reese on his lap while March carried Pom-Pom, hummed as he drank the coffee in the cup of his hand. 

"Can I have some?" Reese asked, looking at the cup of coffee,

"No, you'll be too hyper and it's not good for kids," Cerberus said gently giving his niece a cup of milk from one of the automaton servers, nodding, Reese smiled as she got her cup of milk with the niece and uncle sporting similar expressions as they drank their drinks. 

"That's cute," his seat neighbor, Lumine, said as she and Paimon took and rank their drinks. 

"Yeah, Reese might be hyper all the time but she can be well-behaved." Cerberus said as he raised his brow as Reese held his arm and took a sip of his coffee only for her to stick her tongue in disgust. Chuckling, Cerberus put his cup on a small and barely noticeable amber platform as he used his robe to wipe his niece's mouth. "See, I told you," 

"So, who is she? You two are close," Lumine asked as she looked at Lumine. 

"Oh, Reese is my-,"

"I'm Uncle Rex's niece!" Reese said with a smile. "And who are you, pretty lady?" 

"What the?" Cerberus asked, looking at his niece in shock. "How did you?"

"Uncle Rex! I'm a kid and not a dumb-dumb like Auntie Kiana," Reese said with a pout to her uncle. "But I found out when I saw your portrait and after asking Mommy, Daddy, Uncle Reve, and everyone!" 

"Then that means?" 

"Well, I only found out after I started to arrive in the express after I used your special technique, Simp-castration fist!" Reese said proudly, causing March to giggle at the Astral Express's youngest unofficial trailblazer. "Besides, you made everyone cry. Say, pretty lady, are you single? Uncle Rex here is single and I know that he likes girls like you," Reese said with a grin and smile while Lumine chuckled and rubbed her head while Cerberus pinched the bridge of his nose at his niece's antics.

"Sorry about her," Cerberus said while Lumine just shook her head. 

"So, a knight?" Lumine asked as Paimon watched while drinking her drink. 

"Yeah, well, Reese would be one too, if she wanted," Cerberus said. "A swordswoman?" 

"Yes, what about you, Archon?" Lumine asked, whispering the last part with a grin, causing Ayaka to shake her brother as she saw the two. 

"Well, well, well. Color me impressed," Cerberus said with a smirk. "It's former and I am more of a Lancer, but I can use a sword very well," 

"Greatsword?" Lumine asked, her eyes shining as she saw the callouses on Cerberus' hands. 

"Yup, I like the range but I am better with a knife," Cerberus said with a smile, not noticing the pout Stelle gave him nor the checklist Reese pulled out from nowhere. 

"Want to spar?" 

"Sure, it's been a while since I last let loose," Cerberus said as he smiled at her. 

The theater screen opened up to reveal a room with hospital beds as a younger Cerberus around 14 years old sat and held on to the hand of a girl with pink hair. "Captain Rex," A soldier in gold-painted armor said as he watched Cerberus hold onto the hand of a pink-haired girl. 

The screen distorted to reveal a star before it distorted once more to reveal a horrifyingly beautiful star covered in red. 

"Ooh! It's your title, Uncle Rex!" Reese said excitedly. "Daddy told me you were a hero and you earned that title!"

"Yeah," Cerberus whispered with a false smile as he rubbed Reese's head. Lumine saw the pain in his eyes as he watched the screen. "A hero..." 

"Are you alright?" Lumine asked, gently squeezing his arm. 

"Uhm, yeah," Cerberus replied as a grin formed on Reese's face as she watched her Uncle's younger form on the theater screen. 

"Prepare the rest of the company," Cerberus ordered as he fixed the girl's position to make her more comfortable. 

"Already done sir," The soldier said as his tarnishedd golden armor glinted as the young Cerberus' eyes were revealed, the once gentle dark orbs were replaced with determined obsidian as he turned around and walked away. 

"Prepare the honor guard and all the loyal men that my brother has," Cerberus ordered as the duo walked through rows and rows of similarly-armored men and women. "Assign them in numerous safe guards such as this," The soldier nodded and as he moved, Cerberus looked at him as his long unkempt hair stuck on his head. "If any of my brothers or Rin has as much as a scratch on them when I return, I will personally commit a decimation on them and their entire companies," 

Hearing the word, all the soldiers flinched as the one that he spoke to suddenly stood straight. 

"Sir, yes sir!" The soldier said as he broke off from the group as Cerberus walked away. 

"Decimation," Welt whispered in horror as he looked at Cerberus. "Rex! Are you serious?!" 

"Yes," Cerberus replied as the Astral Express family and the ones from Herta's space station looked at Welt in surprise. 

"They are your brother's men!" Welt reminded as he looked at Cerberus. "You can't order a decimation on them,"

"My brothers and sister became comatose for a week because of their incompetence," Cerberus said, voice turning cold and calculating. 

"Uncle Welt," March said. "What's Decimation?" 

"March... Decimation is a punishment tactic where men will be lined up and every tenth men will be beaten by their comrades," Welt answered as everyone looked at Cerberus. "Cerberus was recorded to have done a Decimation in a total number of three times, each in different legions of knights under House Crozzo in the week he became the acting-leader of House Crozzo," 

"That's horrible!" March whispered. 

"Uncle," Reese asked, looking heartbroken at the fact.

"My reasons are my own," 

'Those traitors have been bolder than ever,' Cerberus thought a he stood under the stream of water released by a shower, steam hiding his profile as his eyes became cold. 'Rin, Reve, and Rein are in a coma,' 

Numerous plans and scenarios appeared in his mind as the warm water danced on his skin.

Many young women blushed at the sight of Cerberus' shirtless top until it showed the horrifying scars on his back similar to the Philippine flag. 

"No!" Reese shouted, horrified at the countless scars on her uncle's face as she hid her face on his chest. "I don't wanna see it!" 

"Shh, there, there," Cerberus said as he calmed his niece. 

Lumine saw this and noticed a scar on his hand and she gently traced it.  "Where did you," 

"In this viewing," Cerberus said as he rubbed his niece's back. 

The screen then changed to see Cerberus marching towards a warehouse in the cover of darkness as the golden-armored troups behind him with a red heart and a drop of blood as their insignia marched with him. 

"Chapter master, the rest of the others are prepared." Cerberus said nothing as he looked at the military base. 

"You know what to do," Cerberus whispered as he rested his hand on the handle of his blade.

"Roger," the soldier said as he pressed something in his helmet. "Lamenters, the captain has initiated the operation. We will now commence, Traetorus Exterminatus," 

"Rex..." Welt whispered in horror as he looked at the former Archon. "An exterminatus... now it makes sense... Four vassal houses, you found them as traitors and ordered an exterminatus on them. Brtutal... but effective," 

"For those we cherish," Cerberus started as soon, an orchestra of screams, gunfire, and more echoed in the entire military base as Cerberus drew his sword and charged ahead of the group and turned into a blender as with each strike of his blade severed people in two. "We die in glory," Cerberus finished as he finished massacring the group, drenching the silver star on his sword crimson. 

The adepti watched in horrified familiarity as the mortal resembled how Rex Lapi slaughtered countless during the Archon war. The Astral Express crew, except for Welt, felt sadness for their family member. The people from Belobog watched in fear as their savior slaughtered countless men. 

The viewing continued on as Cerberus massacred everyone on his way until he arrived. 

"Welcome, Lord Crozzo," The man said with a smirk. 

"You betrayed the covenant your ancestors signed with mine," Cerberus said as he focused on him. "Fort the bond our families shared, Sapphiria, stop this madness," 

"No," Saphiria said with a smirk. "You see, the Crozzo family has reigned for too long," Countless guards appeared, aiming their guns at him. 

"The only reason why you are alive is because my family adopted yours," Cerberus countered. "Or do you forget that you only married into the family and killed my cousin after she gave you a child," 

"You mean my asset?" Those words made his blood boil as he tightened his hold on his blade. 

'Ones who break their contracts shall suffer the Wrath of the Rock.' Cerberus' eyes widened as he heard that voice. 

"Lord Rex Lapis," Ganyu whispered. 

'Worry not, I shall grant you the power to shrug off those blows, my successor,' The voice said as an image of a man with amber eyes appeared in Cerberus' eyes. Countless years of knowledge appeared on Cerberus' mind as he lowered his head. Countles battles, memories, and more flowed into his min. 

"You're Rex Lapis' successor," Ganyu said as she looked at Cerberus.

"Former successor," Cerberus instantly said as he looked at Ganyu and the people of Liyue. "I signed a contract with Rex Lapis to channel his power directly and other things which lead me to being stripped of most of my powers and the title of an archon," 

"You gave it up?!" Pierro asked as he looked at Cerberus.

"You're a mortal, a human yet you gave up your godhood," Damselette whispered in glee as she licked her lip. 

"Archonhood is overrated. Besides, it was way more detrimental than helpful to me because I am more attuned to the Anemo element," Cerberus said as he looked at them. "

'I don't have time to manipulate the entirety of the element of Geo in this room,' Cerberus thought as he felt himself get attuned into the leylines. Smirking inside, the young man found his answer as he reached out to the geo element found all around him, specifically in the metal all in the room. 'If I can't have enough time to harness and generate power from the leylines... I have enough material that already exists,' 

"So that is your answer," Cerberus asked as suddenly, all the men around him along with Sapphira grabbed their throats as the dust in the entire room did their job. 

"What did you do?!" Sapphiria gritted out as Cerberus' dark eyes glowed amber as the dark hair he had became dark brown due to the dried blood that covered it. 

"Reena! Get the kids out of here!" Cerberus shouted as he recognized what will happen. 

"But-," 

"Now!" Cerberus shouted and soon, the kids disappeared in a flash just in time as the scene played pu

"Guizhong, the goddess of dust, while not physically powerful," Cerberus said as al around him, Sapphiria's men burted and exploded, sending blood, guts, and gore everyone, drenching the star motiffs in his armor and sword in crimson blood. "Has a dangerous power,"

"Demon!" Sapphiria whispered in fear as he pissed his pants as he tried to crawl away while Cerberus raised his blade and silenced the traitor as he pressed his ear. 

"Commence the Decimation of all traitor chapters, all traitor houses are under an exterminatus, spare the children but if they fight back, kill them," Cerberus ordered as he walked away as the screen showed the countless carnage that the week-long reign of the acting leader of house Crozzo. 

"This is a warning to all those that plan to betray or harm a member of House Crozzo," Cerberus' voice echoed in the theater. "You better pray that all of you kill us because if you don't, this is what will happen to you," 

The scene then changed to Cerberus, his hair still dark brown with dried blood along with his armor as he completed the exterminatus and decimation of all traitors while earning the fear and awe of all houses and organization under House Crozzo. while all the traitors killed were crucified in a large space as a warning.

"The crimson star of despair," Welt whispered. "The official title they gave to the dragon they woke up." 

"Ironic that they gave me the title of Rex Gaius, the joyful lord of the Earth," Cerberus whispered with a wince. For he kne his past actions severed his newfound connection. 

The souunf of a roaring engine echoed as Cerberus stood up, hearing the familiar roar of a motorbike just as a portal opened and a bike exited revealing. 

"No... way," Seele and Bronya from Belobog whispered as they saw the rider and how her dress clung onto her form. 

The rider turned around as she removed the visor and looked at Cerberus with tears in her eyes. A more feminine Seele clad in a mature version of her Stygian Nymph outfit while the other Seele stood beside her. Before anyone can react, Seele tackle-hugged the former archon. 

"Rex-Onii-chan!" Seele cried out as she bawled her eyes out as she wrapped her arms around him. 

"You shithead! You made Seele Cry!" Veliona roared out, dressed in her Starchasm Nyx battle suit as she grabbed him by his collar with tears in her eye.