Zhang Heng

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Zhang Heng (张恒)
Alias(es)	David (Apollo Program Training Camp identity); Simon (codename) 284 1147
Gender	Male
Age	19 at the beginning of his recorded game career; 20 by the Rome instance 102 497
Affiliation	Player; formerly associated with the Blade of Balance 102 850
Occupation/Role	Player, former Pirate King of Nassau, gladiator champion, imperial advisor, bodyguard 258 829 873 945
Status	Active
First Appearance	1
Player ID	07958 102

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Archery Lv2; Wilderness Survival Lv2; Shooting Lv2	102	Earliest documented panel shows a broad survival-oriented skill set after three completed games. 102
Sailing Lv3	297	Reached after his extended Black Sail experience; reflects his time as Pirate King and commander at sea. 297
Blade Mastery Lv3	297	Achieved through years of combat and sword training during the Black Sail instance. 297
Astronautics Lv2	396	Advanced after successfully making an emergency landing in a Lunar Module. 396
Blade Mastery Lv4	608	Reached the stated human limit following his Bakumatsu Kyoto experience; his evaluation begins emphasizing his blade skill above all else. 608
Horsemanship Lv1	646	Broke through while training to tame the wild horse Bad Boy. 646
Shooting Lv3	753	Advanced through Western quick-draw practice and subsequent combat experience. 753
Assassin Lv1	853	Learned from the Persian old trainer while consolidating control of Rome's Southeast District. 853
Assassin Lv3	911	Reached after seven months and eleven days studying in the Library. 911

Background

Zhang Heng was raised primarily by his maternal grandfather after his adoptive parents—mythology researchers specializing in Norse, Greek, and Christian traditions—left China for field research. Their stories gave him an unusually high tolerance for supernatural phenomena; when his life began to change, he responded with curiosity rather than panic. 1

He became a Player after receiving a double-scale watch that added an extra twenty-four hours to each day and initiated monthly games. The experiences he accumulated across these worlds transformed him from a quiet student into an exceptionally capable survivor, fighter, sailor, investigator, and strategist. 177 606

His early game experiences included desert-island survival, the Black Sail pirate era, and Apollo training. In the Black Sail instance, he spent roughly 3,900 days in-game, became Pirate King of Nassau, and developed the Sailing and Blade Mastery skills that became the foundation of his combat style. 258 297

Later revelations complicate his origins. Zhang Heng learned that he had been taken from the Underground City as an infant and raised by adoptive parents; the blood of its master flows within him. The Fanatics had originally prepared his body as a container through blood transfusions, but Zhang Heng's human soul entered it unexpectedly. 1270 1307

The master of the Underground City's influence continues to threaten his identity and soul, forcing Zhang Heng to confront whether his body and life truly belong to him. 1307

Appearance

Zhang Heng is a young East Asian man whose youthful appearance often conflicts with the intimidating calm and combat experience he projects. In historical instances, he is frequently identified as an unusually mysterious Easterner. 262 755 862

• Appeared 19 years old after his third game; later documented as 20. 102 497
• Was described as having well-maintained skin and a demeanor that led Valo to mistake him for a noble from the Great Han Empire. 755
• Can use Makeup Artistry Lv2 to alter his appearance and evade recognition. 910
• Can manifest shadow-like wings from his back for aerial movement. 750

Personality

Zhang Heng is quiet, observant, and highly self-directed. Even as a child, he preferred reading and managing his time to group activities. He generally treats unfamiliar situations as problems to understand rather than reasons to panic. 476 1

His long game experiences have made him extraordinarily calm under pressure. He studies terrain, opponents, equipment, and social structures before acting, then commits decisively when a threat is confirmed. This pragmatism can make him appear cold: he kills Richie after proving that the man lied, uses enemies' assumptions against them, and will abandon a failed plan without sentimentality. 611 957 986

Despite this detachment, Zhang Heng is not indifferent to others. He protects Han Lu, accepts risks to aid people caught in supernatural conflicts, and earns trust through his consistency. His character evaluation specifically notes that he keeps his promises. 470 945 1405

As his strength increases, Zhang Heng becomes concerned that his reduced emotional fluctuations and bodily changes are making him unfamiliar even to himself. 476 606 1307

Abilities & Skills

Temporal Ability

Zhang Heng's game-related condition gives him an additional twenty-four hours each day. He also possesses a brief time-stopping window, which he uses for private practice and emergency movement. 177 750

• Uses the additional time to train skills at a rate unavailable to ordinary people.
• Has only twelve seconds of time-stop practice available each day. 750
• His Time Stop is dangerous enough that multiple gods obtain an item from the Three Fates specifically to counter it. 1403

Blade Mastery

Blade Mastery Lv4 is Zhang Heng's signature skill and the highest level stated to be attainable by humans. His swordsmanship combines physical conditioning, practical experience, and spiritual insight. 608 986 1139

• Can dominate opponents with superior physical attributes by controlling distance, tempo, and positioning. 986
• Uses dual blades effectively, sacrificing defense for overwhelming offense when necessary. 775
• His technique is refined enough to surprise observers who know his body should remain within human limits. 986
• Defeated gladiators, assassins, enhanced clones, exoskeleton users, robots, and mythological beings through blade work. 813 987 1074 1406

Marksmanship and Archery

Zhang Heng is a skilled shooter and archer, with Shooting Lv3 and Archery Lv2 documented. 753

• Developed archery through survival practice, including moving targets at thirty meters. 14
• Eliminated twelve enemies with a sniper rifle while infiltrating Mr. G's garden. 985
• Uses arrows creatively, including a physics-defying shot that killed a fleeing assassin with shadow wings. 548
• Learned Western quick-draw methods from Billy the Kid. 648

Assassin and Investigative Skills

Zhang Heng possesses Assassin Lv3, Criminal Investigation Lv2, and Makeup Artistry Lv2. 945

• Tracks routes and locations through details such as road conditions, carriage movement, and sound. 895
• Detects deception through observation and the Oath Ring. 611
• Uses stealth, botanical knowledge, and terrain to infiltrate guarded areas. 985
• Can fabricate convincing histories and adapt his identity to hostile social environments. 890

Shadow Wings

Zhang Heng can summon a pair of shadow-like wings, allowing controlled descent, flight, and escape. 750

• First learned to deploy them safely during a fall from a 405-meter broadcasting tower. 750
• Can use them to bypass cordons and rooftop ambushes. 901
• Their duration is limited; they once vanished after twelve seconds while he was airborne. 821

Aquatic Adaptation

Following his experience at Yonaguni Island, Zhang Heng can breathe underwater and manipulate ocean currents, although these abilities do not appear on his character panel. 933 945

• Uses currents to accelerate underwater movement and obstruct pursuers. 933
• Can stir seabed mud to reduce visibility while using the Filter Lens to retain an advantage. 933
• His water control is most effective through currents rather than shaped projectiles. 939
• Later defends against Nyx using water-controlling power attributed to Cthulhu. 1401

Bloodline Abilities

Zhang Heng's connection to the Underground City gives him abilities that grow alongside the danger of being consumed by its master. 1307 1406

• Possesses slightly stronger self-healing than an ordinary human after surviving Plague's disease. 472
• Can use Soul Impact to overwhelm minds with terrifying images; he rendered more than twenty gods unconscious and caused them to forget him. 1406
• His bloodline abilities became stronger after repeated nightmares, even as the threat to his soul intensified. 1406

Equipment

• [Hidden Sheath] — A reforged blade initially rated B-class. Its wounds fester and resist healing; it can damage self-healing metal and deals increased damage to mythological creatures. It later upgrades to A-class. 936 987 1074 1128 1406
• [Plague Bone Bow] — B-class bow obtained after Zhang Heng killed Plague, the rider on the white horse. 470 497
• [Infinite Blocks] — B-class construction item; Zhang Heng used it to assemble an emergency gas mask against Jörmungandr's poisonous mist. 497 1127
• [Heart of Keleisi] — D-class item that reduces the user's sound and lowers nearby creatures' alertness. 936
• [Oath Ring] — F-class item that allows its holder to perceive when the other party breaks an oath; Zhang Heng uses it as a portable lie detector. 611
• [Lucky Rabbit's Foot] — E-class item that grants a small increase in luck. 24
• [Filter Lens] — D-class lens that lets Zhang Heng retain visual advantage in murky underwater conditions. 497 933

Relationships

• Zhang Heng's adoptive parents — Mythology scholars who raised him through stories but were largely absent during his childhood; they later brought him out of the Underground City. 1 1270
• Maternal Grandfather — Raised Zhang Heng for most of his childhood while his parents traveled for research. 1
• Bartender Lady / Hydra — Appraises items, provides information and contacts, and ultimately reveals her true form to defend Zhang Heng from the Old Gods. 596 1227 1403
• Han Lu — Ally whom Zhang Heng saves during the battle against Plague; she later recognizes that the fear she felt around Director Kuang may have originated from Zhang Heng. 470 733
• Fan Mei Nan — Ally and witness to Zhang Heng's defeat of Plague; later joins others in protecting him from Justitia. 470 1405
• Shen Xixi — Player ally who fights to protect Zhang Heng against her own teacher, Justitia. 723 1405
• Persian old trainer — Mentor who taught Zhang Heng assassination and recruited him as a Blade of Balance successor, while remaining wary of his hidden depths. 850 853
• Macrus — Owner of the Victor Arena and Zhang Heng's former gladiator master; trusted his ability but struggled with losing control over him. 802 829
• Commodus — Roman Emperor impressed by Zhang Heng's arena performances; granted him freedom and later appointed him as an advisor. 808 829 873
• Lucilla — Commodus's politically astute sister, initially suspicious of Zhang Heng's ambitions but later reliant on his information. 808 903
• Miss F — Ally in New Shanghai 0297 who recognizes Zhang Heng's unusual self-awareness and supports him against Hunter VI robots. 985 1074
• Fengzi — New Shanghai ally who repairs Zhang Heng's captured Hunter VI robot and chooses his side against Mr. G. 1001 1078

Story Role / Major Arcs

Early Games and Black Sail

Zhang Heng survives a desert island through hunting, farming, and archery practice, then enters the Black Sail instance. His years in the Caribbean make him Pirate King of Nassau, develop his sailing and swordsmanship, and establish the legend later recounted across Europe. 14 258 297

Apollo Program and the Horseman of the Apocalypse

During Apollo training, Zhang Heng adapts to the identity of David and gains Astronautics training. Later, he survives Plague's disease, destroys the Horseman's black heart, and kills him—an act that begins exposing the abnormal nature of Zhang Heng's body. 284 396 470 472

Bakumatsu Kyoto and the Western Frontier

Zhang Heng pursues swordsmanship in Kyoto, where spiritual realization contributes to Blade Mastery Lv4. In the American West, he develops horsemanship, learns quick draw from Billy the Kid, and tames Bad Boy. 569 608 646 648 1139

Twilight of the Empire

Sold into a Roman gladiator school, Zhang Heng becomes a celebrated arena champion through rapid victories and an unprecedented bullfighting performance. He earns freedom, works to stabilize Rome's Southeast District, becomes Commodus's advisor, and ultimately flees the Empire after the Blade of Balance conflict. 813 815 829 850 873 910

Yonaguni Island and New Shanghai 0297

Zhang Heng gains underwater breathing and current manipulation during the Yonaguni Island incident. In New Shanghai 0297, he is identified as an unusually self-aware clone, defeats enhanced opponents using skill rather than attributes, and captures a Hunter VI robot for use against Mr. G. 933 985 987 1078

Conflict with Gods

As his Underground City origins emerge, Zhang Heng becomes a target for gods who identify him as Loki's container. He fights Nyx, escapes a coalition of Old Gods, and uses Soul Impact to incapacitate more than twenty gods before entering his final nightmare. 1270 1307 1403 1406

Notable Quotes

“I only joined the Blade of Balance for the ancient texts in the Library.” 850

“Every gladiator's rise is accompanied by countless legends anyway. Just consider this as adding another legend to mine.” 821

Trivia

• Zhang Heng can converse in eight languages at a daily-use level. 297 945
• His character evaluation describes him as a “rare find among players” because of his unusually broad skill set, combat power, and reliability in keeping promises. 945
• Although his combat ability is often mistaken for superhuman physical strength, Zhang Heng's advantage against enhanced opponents is primarily superior technique, experience, and judgment. 986 1003