Nian

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Nian (年)
Species/Race	Fragment of the Great Yan divine spirit; described as a Sui Beast clone
Gender	Female
Affiliation	Rhodes Island; Kanna's S1 Comprehensive Support Squad
Occupation/Role	Elite Operator; Heavy Defender; blacksmith and artificer
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 87

Background

Nian arrived at Rhodes Island from Great Yan as a visitor. Kal'tsit had arranged her accommodations, and ACE personally received her at the entrance 87. Kanna immediately recognized her as a fragment of the Great Yan divine spirit; Nian noticed Kanna's observing consciousness and greeted it without hesitation 87.

After meeting Kanna in person, Nian agreed to join her prospective squad. Her decision was partly motivated by her need for a potential “witness,” though she initially doubted Rhodes Island's judgment in assigning such a young-looking girl to command a combat unit 88 89. She was formally registered as an Operator without undergoing ordinary testing, which she considered meaningless for someone like herself 92.

Nian later revealed that she and Xi are fragments of a slumbering deity. Should that deity awaken, both fear they will disappear; this drives Nian to seek a means of preserving herself and Xi, including pursuing help connected to Tamamo-no-Mae 228.

Appearance

Nian appears as a youthful, slender girl whose delicate build belies her role as a frontline defender. She is noted for a distinct Shangshu accent and a stylish manner of dress 91 101.

• Carries a large shield and a long sword in battle 100.
• Often presents herself casually or lazily outside combat.
• Her presence can make powerful individuals feel as though they are being scrutinized by a dangerous beast 101.

Personality

Nian is confident, unruly, and fond of teasing others. She readily treats new acquaintances as friends, such as when she casually put an arm around Ya Ye despite frightening her 87. She has little patience for formalities, ordinary evaluations, bland food, or prolonged travel by car 87 92 124.

Behind that easygoing manner, Nian is perceptive and protective. She quickly recognizes unusual lifeforms and magical dangers, evaluates Kanna's spellcraft critically, and helps protect Kanna's squad as an unwavering frontline defender 93 95 118. Her concern for Xi is genuine, even when expressed through pestering, arguments, or elaborate plans to force her reclusive sister to leave isolation 172 183.

Nian enjoys spectacle and entertainment. She is enthusiastic about filmmaking, helped Kanna develop movie ideas, and has a habit of judging situations while focused on spicy food 95 91.

Abilities & Skills

Divine Nature

As a fragment of the Great Yan divine spirit, Nian possesses exceptional resilience and a nature beyond ordinary Operators.

• She could safely consume half of a Heart of Pure Water, which would expose ordinary people to dangerous divine pollution 94.
• Kal'tsit approved her Operator status without conventional testing, and Rhodes Island regarded standard assessments as unhelpful for someone of her level 92 95.
• Her gaze alone causes combatants such as Saria to sense a predatory, overwhelming threat 101.

Metal Manipulation and Defensive Art

Nian can form a defensive circle from dust-sized iron fragments. The particles gather automatically against incoming attacks, creating a durable defensive surface.

• Blocked Rosemary's repeated greatsword attacks without moving from her position 95.
• Can place the same defense around allies, including Kanna 95 96.
• Her defense withstood attacks considered comparable to most Operators fighting at full strength 96.
• In squad combat, her protection allowed Kanna's team to resist the combined instructors and A4 Team 100.

Heavy Defender Combat

Despite her slight appearance, Nian is physically powerful, difficult to move, and effective with shield and sword.

• Easily pushed aside an opposing heavy defender, then sent him flying with her sword 100.
• Was assessed as an immovable, unbreakable frontline force whose defense could not be overcome during training 100.
• Can endure Kanna's high-impact weapon attacks without meaningful injury, including being repeatedly launched into the air 104.

Smithing and Artifice

Nian is an accomplished blacksmith who combines metalworking with her own magic.

• Helped Vulcan forge Kanna's modular weapon and advised Kanna during the forging process 99 104.
• Added runes that allow Kanna's weapon to assume fire or ice properties without being damaged by abrupt temperature changes 104.
• Offered to redesign Kanna's weapon for greater portability and versatility 95.
• Can create or improve specialized tools, including an enhanced replacement for a damaged lighthouse-monitoring artifact 241.

Perception and Magical Analysis

Nian has strong observational ability and can rapidly assess unfamiliar powers.

• Correctly identified a concealed fourth attacker during SWEEP's training exercise when other observers could not locate them 91.
• Determined the operating principle of Kanna's Atomic Collapse after a single test 118.
• Recognized that Kanna's spell restrictions were artificial, prompting Kanna to break through the system-imposed limits on her Lightning Wedges and other spells 123 124.

Reality Marble: Blacksmith Shop

Nian can unfold a Reality Marble known as the Blacksmith Shop.

• Used it as a secluded space to inspect Chage's naginata while Kanna entered to consult her 184.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Large shield — used as her primary defensive equipment in close combat 100.
• Long sword — wielded alongside her shield 100.
• Sui token — a distinctive badge given to Kanna to identify Xi near Huaiqi Mountain 174.
• Enhanced lighthouse artifact — Nian agreed to remake and improve a damaged artifact connected to Terra's lighthouse 241.

Relationships

• Kanna — Teammate, confidante, and the person Nian chose to observe as a possible witness. Nian joined Kanna's squad, protects its frontline, and helped Kanna overcome the restrictions on her spellcraft 89 100 124.
• Xi — Nian's reclusive sister and a fellow divine fragment. Nian wants to protect Xi from disappearing when their origin awakens, though their interactions are often argumentative 172 183 228.
• Kal'tsit — Kal'tsit accepted Nian at Rhodes Island and approved her Operator registration without a standard evaluation; she later assured others that Nian posed no threat to the organization 87 92 95.
• Rosemary — Sparring partner. Nian's defensive Art stopped Rosemary's greatswords directly, earning Rosemary's caution and respect 95.
• Vulcan — Forging collaborator. Together, they created Kanna's versatile rune-equipped weapon 99 104.
• Ifrit and Dalia — Kanna introduced both to Nian. Nian was particularly fascinated by Dalia's existence as a Purestream Spirit 93 94.
• Tamamo Cat — Nian viewed Tamamo Cat as a possible source of help for resisting her eventual disappearance as a divine fragment 228.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Arrival at Rhodes Island and Squad Formation

Nian arrives from Great Yan, meets Kanna, and accepts a position in Kanna's squad. Her defensive power becomes central to the squad's composition and later enables its victory in training against a larger force 87 89 100.

Wolumonde Catastrophe

During the Wolumonde Catastrophe, Nian remains on the upper levels with Kanna while the rest of the squad escorts survivors below. She and Kanna later coordinate against groups observing Rhodes Island's convoy 108 109.

Leithanien, Victoria, and Iberia Travels

Nian accompanies Kanna through northern Leithanien, Victoria, and Iberia. In Victoria, she evaluates Kanna's Atomic Collapse; in Iberia, her observations lead Kanna to remove the numerical limitations placed on her spells 106 118 124.

Journey to Great Yan

Nian asks Kanna to retrieve Xi from Great Yan because Xi is reclusive and powerful. She provides Kanna with a Sui token, later battles Xi through her scroll-worlds, and ultimately succeeds in bringing Xi toward Rhodes Island 172 174 183 184.

Preventing the Divine Reawakening

After revealing that she and Xi may vanish if their shared origin awakens, Nian begins seeking a solution. Kanna directs her toward Tamamo-no-Mae through Tamamo Cat, and Nian leaves to gather funds for a summoning attempt 228.

Trivia

• Nian strongly prefers spicy food and asked Rhodes Island for chili peppers upon arrival 87.
• She identified Kanna's Shangshu dialect as unusually fluent and difficult to learn without significant time spent in Shangshu 92.
• She considers long-distance car travel torturous despite her extraordinary strength 124.
• Nian initially forgot that Xi's painted world could be used to transport a large hot-pot vessel without carrying it through Rhodes Island herself 195.