Shuli

Shuli
Title	Vermillion Bird
Current Residence	Shangri-La
Gender	Female
Race	Sage (Vermillion Bird Anima)
Affiliations	Elders of Grandis Four Symbols
Enemies	Gerand Darmoor Kaling Maolang Shensung
Status	Alive

Shuli the Vermillion Bird is one of the Four Symbols, the protectors of Shangri-La.

Story

The Four Symbols

During the Ancient War, the elders of Grandis were tasked by the Overseers to create Adversaries in order to defeat the Ancient Gods, for which the elders created the floating laboratory of Odium. Knowing that those who feared the power of the Adversary, as well as those who coveted it, may attempt to attack Odium, the elders gathered four of the strongest Anima in Grandis.

Shuli was a bird Anima who was chosen alongside three others - Ara, Baekyeon, and Gaon. Severing their ties to their old lives, these four Anima were imbued with the divine blessings of the Overseers, giving them a nearly infinite lifespan. With this divine blessing, Shuli ascended to sagehood and became known as the Vermillion Bird, one of the Four Symbols who protected the elders.

Protector of Shangri-La

Following the end of the war, the elders decided to clear away their research and sequester themselves away in Shangri-La, a magical realm created to halt the spread of their contamination, which threatened to erase their humanity. Shangri-La was created in the image of a beautiful painting and structured with four inner realms that corresponded to the four seasons.

The outermost barrier was Spring, which led deeper into Summer, Autumn, Winter, and finally to the innermost pavilion where the elders lived. Shangri-La was created to be closed to outsiders, with only a true sage being allowed to enter and leave, either physically through a special hanging scroll, or by astral projection through their dreams.

In order to prevent outsiders from forcing their way into Shangri-La, the Four Symbols who protected the elders were tasked with guarding each of the inner realms and their barriers. Ara the Blue Dragon protected Spring, Shuli the Vermillion Bird protected Summer, Baekyeon the White Tiger protected Autumn, and Gaon the Black Tortoise protected Winter. Each of the Four Symbols had their life forces tied to special scrolls that served as gateways in and out of their respective realms.

A New Adversary

Eons after the end of the Ancient War, Tai Yu brought a new Adversary to Shangri-La after the Angler Company's invasion of Odium. Immediately upon arriving, however, Gaon the Black Tortoise appeared and pointed his spear at them. Upon seeing Tai Yu, Gaon explained that he had been wondering how they had managed to elude all Four Symbols.

He told Tai Yu that he had known that Tai Yu had been given permission by the elders to go back and forth from Shangri-La and the world below, though he added that Tai Yu definitely hadn't been given permission to interfere in the affairs of the outside world as he pleased, chiding him for having brought outsiders to Shangri-La.

Tai Yu smiled and told Gaon that he appreciated the concern, though he added that Gaon had given them a bit of a scare. He turned to the Glory Guard and introduced Gaon as the Symbol of Winter. Turning back to Gaon, Tai Yu explained that though he hadn't expected a warm welcome, he added that Gaon ought to hear him out first.

Just then, the other three Symbols appeared – Ara, Baekyeon, and Shuli. Baekyeon joked that Gaon was a bit impatient, to which Ara told Baekyeon that he shouldn't talk about Gaon like that, especially since Baekyeon hadn't stopped them either. Shuli then noticed the Adversary and noted that she could clearly see why such outsiders had been brought into Shangri-La.

She explained that she had heard from Tai Yu about an Adversary who had been created in the outside world. She told the Adversary that the Four Symbols had protected the elders and the researchers when they had been conducting their experiments, and that in all the ages since then, none of them had seen anything quite like the Adversary, who was the only one of their kind to have retained their sense of self. She added that she would be lying if she were to say that their existence wasn't a surprise, not only to them, but to the elders as well.

Just then, Zigang, Maolang, Shensung, and Weio appeared to greet the Adversary, and were shocked to find that not only had they retained their humanity and sense of self, but that they had also escaped their preordained death, despite having fulfilled their purpose by killing a god.

Upon learning that Gerand Darmoor had broken their Seal Stone, thereby saving their life, Zigang and the other elders realized that the Adversary had rejected the will of the world, and that they would one day throw the world into chaos. Zigang ordered the Adversary and the World Heart, which they had brought from Odium, to be locked in Shangri-La.

Kaling's Invasion

Soon after, however, Kaling - with the help of several elders who had betrayed Shangri-La - was able to break her way into the realm of the sages. As a result, Kaling was able to enter Shangri-La along with her three Perils. In Summer, Shuli faced off against Taowu alone. Soon after, Brighton and Oz - whom Zigang had ordered to be thrown out from Shangri-La by Ara - arrived in Summer after Ara bought them time to escape. However, they were unable to prevent Shuli being defeated by Taowu. With the life force of the Symbols being tied to special scrolls that served as the seasonal barriers of Shangri-La, Shuli being injured resulted in the barrier weakening.

Soon after, Gaon and the Adversary arrived in Summer and found Shuli knocked unconscious. After they managed to defeat Taowu, Shuli regained consciousness and expressed her relief that Gaon was alright. She began warning him about the traitorous elders, to which Gaon reassured her that he was aware. He explained that Winter had also been attacked, and that Ara had sent them from Spring, as she had been worried about Shuli.

He regretted that he had come too late, as he might have been able to protect her if he hadn't hesitated. However, Shuli reassured him that they all knew that he was doing his best, promising that he hadn't come too late. She then weakly asked him to check on Baekyeon, after which she passed out from her injuries and exhaustion once again. After Oz checked on Shuli and determined that she would be fine, the Glory Guard and Gaon headed towards Autumn.

Following the battle, Shuli remained unconscious as a result of her injuries. After Gaon chose to leave Shangri-La in order to rescue Ara and Baekyeon, who had been kidnapped by the traitorous elders, Shuli was left behind as the only member of the Four Symbols in Shangri-La.

NPC

Shangri-La

Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Shuli
Location	Orchid Leaf-Green Summer

Sinners' Paradise

Shuli
Location	Sinners' Paradise

Gallery

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  NPC Portrait of Shuli
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  NPC Portrait of Shuli
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  NPC Portrait of Shuli

Trivia

• Based on the original Korean dialogue, Shuli is the second oldest of the Four Symbols after Baekyeon, followed by Gaon and Ara.