For example, patients suffering from Ether erosion would find their symptoms alleviated when they came near the statue.
If the erosion wasn't severe to begin with, they might even be completely cured.
Now, several officials from H.A.N.D. and the Public Security Bureau were considering using the Seven Heavenly Gods statues against Hollow Zero.
If they could build a dozen—or even several dozen—around it, they might be able to halt Hollow Zero's expansion entirely and seal it away.
Or perhaps, they could place the statues directly inside Hollow Zero itself to suppress it at the source...
It wasn't just the H.A.N.D. commanders—
even Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi were watching Keqing with anticipation, as if they were looking at the hope of saving the world.
It was a beautiful idea.
But Keqing shook her head without hesitation.
"Impossible."
Tsukishiro Yanagi frowned. "Why?"
Keqing said seriously,
"According to Liyue's historical records, the Seven Heavenly Gods statues originate from Celestia and were created by the gods. They cannot be replicated by human hands."
Her words left those present stunned, staring at her in confusion.
Celestia?
Gods?
Had she been watching too many old mythological films?
Yet from her solemn expression, both the H.A.N.D. commanders and Hoshimi Miyabi could tell she was not lying.
Suddenly, Tsukishiro Yanagi asked,
"Then who created the statue in the Federer District? It's only been there for a few months."
All eyes turned to Keqing.
"I don't know either," she admitted after a pause.
"Perhaps the gods in Celestia saw the disaster here and sent down a statue of the Seven Heavenly Gods belonging to the Geo Archon."
Of course, she was only speculating—she truly had no idea.
But one thing was certain: the statue was new. Someone had placed it in the Federer District two months ago.
Who could it have been?
The Geo Archon himself?
No... no, that was impossible. The Geo Archon was gone.
Keqing sighed.
"Although we cannot create Seven Heavenly Gods statues, there are other ways we can help you resolve the Hollow crisis."
Tsukishiro Yanagi asked, "What ways?"
Keqing replied,
"I've heard that as long as all the Ethereal creatures inside a Hollow are eliminated, the disaster can be suppressed. If we do the same inside Hollow Zero, we can end the crisis threatening this city."
Her words drew looks of astonishment from both the H.A.N.D. and Public Security Bureau commanders.
Even Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi were caught off guard—this plan sounded almost like a joke.
Deal with the Ethereals in Hollow Zero?
Those Ethereals were nothing like the ones in companion Hollows.
In Hollow Zero, even Notoriety-class Ethereals were little more than small fry, with far more terrifying high-rank Ethereals deeper inside—creatures that even Hoshimi Miyabi would avoid.
No one knew what horrors lurked in its depths.
But Keqing's expression made it clear—she was serious.
One of the H.A.N.D. commanders cleared his throat.
"Miss Keqing, I know your team is strong—comparable to our Sixth Unit—and that you were able to suppress Hollows like A37. But I must remind you, Hollow Zero is nothing like A37."
"I understand," Keqing said with a nod, "but you mustn't underestimate Liyue's strength."
Though the Geo Archon had passed, Liyue still had several powerful Adeptus—
Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper... each one a mighty being who had fought in the Archon War.
Dealing with New Eridu's Ethereals would be no challenge for them.
If they could be persuaded to help, Keqing was confident the Hollow crisis could be resolved.
But... those Adeptus were notoriously difficult to move.
New Eridu was neither part of Liyue nor within their protection.
If... New Eridu could somehow become part of Liyue, then persuading the Adeptus would be far easier.
Unlike Keqing, who spoke with quiet certainty, the New Eridu officials looked at her and Xiao as if they were mad.
Either the two of them were insane, or the world itself had gone mad.
Breaking into Hollow Zero to suppress it like a companion Hollow was sheer lunacy.
Keqing didn't seem to care about their expressions. She hadn't decided which plan to pursue yet anyway.
After a moment's thought, she asked,
"Disasters don't happen without cause. Can you tell me the history of the Hollows? For instance, how did Hollow Zero come into being?"
The Hollow disaster here reminded her of the Black Calamity that had swept across Teyvat five centuries ago—
and that calamity had originated in Khaenri'ah.
She wondered how New Eridu's Hollow crisis had begun.
Her question made the H.A.N.D. commanders exchange glances.
After a brief hesitation, one of them said,
"No one remembers the origin of Hollow Zero. There are no records at all... but there are many theories."
"The first theory: the Hollows are a weapon from another civilization, sent here to wipe out humanity."
"The second theory: the Hollows are a cancer of the world."
"The third theory..."
The speculations were endless, and the authorities didn't put much stock in them.
But there was one other theory.
It claimed that the civilizations of the old era discovered Ether energy and, in order to mine it from space, created the first Hollow—Hollow Zero.
But it spiraled out of control and destroyed the world.
Of course, this theory had many holes.
For example, how exactly had Hollow Zero gone out of control? Why were there no surviving records?
And in recorded history, there seemed to be a faction actively driving the expansion of the Hollows—the destruction of Old Eridu was tied to this group.
After hearing it all, Keqing said thoughtfully,
"So even you don't know what caused the Hollow disaster?"
Tsukishiro Yanagi sighed.
"For the people of New Eridu, Hollow Zero has been there since the day they were born. No one knows why it exists."
It seemed the root of everything lay within Hollow Zero itself.
After a pause, Keqing said slowly,
"I want to go inside Hollow Zero."
The H.A.N.D. commander refused immediately.
"No. It's far too dangerous. I can't allow you to take that risk."
It had been difficult enough to establish contact with another city—one willing to help solve New Eridu's crisis.
He couldn't risk losing Keqing and Xiao.
"Don't worry," Keqing said seriously. "We won't go deep inside Hollow Zero."
"I can accompany them," Hoshimi Miyabi added, "and guarantee their safety."
At that, the commander relented.
"Very well. But before you set foot in Hollow Zero, I want to test both of your abilities using professional equipment."
Keqing and Xiao exchanged a glance, then nodded.