"Fire Picker, I am the highest-ranking officer of the Staff Army in this area. I mean you no harm—I just want to talk."
"Could we speak privately?"
Xin looked toward the crater, where Zane stood—his eyes like ice, sending a chill down her spine. The pressure he gave off was palpable.
On her way here, she had seen the massive black sphere floating effortlessly through the sky. Just witnessing it had left her shaken.
Something so immense, so dark it seemed capable of devouring everything—drifting above the battlefield. The sheer pressure it exuded made it nearly impossible to stay calm.
But Zane didn't acknowledge her. He had no intention of engaging and simply turned to leave.
Xin's expression immediately grew tense.
You've got to be kidding—after all this time, finally getting the chance to meet the Fire Picker, and now he was just going to walk away?
"Wait! Don't go!"
"Fire Picker, have you noticed your emotions shifting unpredictably? That sometimes you feel completely hollow, and other times overwhelmed?"
"Do you ever feel lost... then suddenly like you have so much to do—but most days, just drift along aimlessly?"
"You enjoy fighting, but sometimes you crave peace. You're capable of caring for others, yet at times you feel nothing at all?"
As she spoke, cautiously and slowly, Xin moved toward the crater, inching closer to Zane, afraid he might vanish in the next breath.
"What are you trying to say?"
Zane glanced at her. His tone was flat, indifferent.
Hearing his voice, Xin was momentarily surprised.
A man?
But she quickly gathered herself and looked at him seriously.
"Fire Picker, the divine nature within you is entangled with your humanity. The two are at war—and the instincts of the Ethereals are interfering."
"It's a complicated situation, but believe me, I can help."
"You need me. And I need you."
"So please—just give me the chance to talk."
Zane still showed no reaction. Xin realized he was waiting—waiting for something worth his time. Gritting her teeth, she raised the stakes.
"If divinity gains control and suppresses your humanity, you'll forget everything!"
"No, not forget exactly. The memories will remain—but their weight, their meaning, will shift dramatically."
"The people you care most about... they could mean less to you than weeds growing by the roadside. After all, you were created by the world itself..."
"Even if you don't have anyone you treasure, there must be something you do, right?"
Xin stepped closer—now within ten meters.
"Fire Picker... you don't want to lose everything, do you?"
Zane's gaze dimmed slightly. The air around them fell still, growing heavier by the second.
After several long moments, he finally spoke, voice quiet.
"Have your people pull out. Wait here."
"I'll come back later."
With that, his figure shot into the sky. Cracks split the earth beneath him as Zane soared into the distance.
Xin watched him disappear into the horizon. A glint of satisfaction crossed her face—he had agreed. But then she clicked her tongue.
This guy... so damn violent.
Shaking her head, Xin quickly began coordinating the Obol Squad's withdrawal. After all, there were still stray Ethereals left roaming.
They were in the outer mid-layer of Hollow Zero. If those Ethereals broke through to the outer rim, it would cause serious trouble for anyone stationed there.
The Staff Army moved swiftly. With Xin's orders issued, the entire force began an orderly retreat.
Soldier 11 and Trigger were among them. Though Soldier 11 had snapped out of her daze, she still couldn't quite process everything.
She touched her coat pocket and felt a shiver of unease.
Zane must have seriously overestimated her.
Was that thing really okay to just leave with her?
If she'd known from the start that the little black ball wasn't a toy—but something that terrifying—she would've run as far as she could.
Suddenly, Soldier 11 froze.
Wait... that thing he gave the cat to play with... don't tell me...
Using something like that as a toy?
Yeah, anyone who followed Zane definitely wasn't normal.
...
Far from the Obsidian battlefield.
High above, ten rebel mechs were locked in combat with four Jian 20. But even with ground support, the rebels were clearly outmatched.
Zane arrived on the scene, having returned to his human form. He now wore the Fool's Mask.
The identity of the Fire Picker was too conspicuous—too many people in Hollow Zero recognized him.
"This should be the place..."
Looking toward the surrounded compound up ahead, Zane could tell—his target was inside.
He advanced toward the facility. The rebels spotted him immediately.
There were no warnings—just open fire. But Ether crystal shields the size of a palm automatically formed around Zane, intercepting all the incoming rounds.
Step by step, he continued forward.
The rebels were visibly shaken by the display. Armed personnel rushed him, but they were erased in an instant—by pillars of ice, blazing flames, and crackling lightning.
Zane moved at an unhurried pace, making no visible effort—as if all their attacks were irrelevant.
His eyes locked onto the open-air outpost behind enemy lines.
Inside, he spotted a scholarly-looking man in a white lab coat, surrounded by various instruments.
That was it. No one else.
Before Zane could speak, the man turned, glanced at him, then calmly resumed his work.
A soft voice drifted to Zane's ears.
"A masked human, hiding his identity... Using large-scale Ether manipulation without a single device..."
"Your clothes are ordinary—probably from a store somewhere outside. Yet despite Hollow Zero's intense corruption, you aren't wearing protective gear..."
"You're powerful, but didn't show up earlier. Instead, you've arrived at this specific moment. Based on what I've just learned from the main battlefield..."
"It's difficult to believe—but when you rule out all other possibilities, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth."
He stood upright, gently swirling a test tube in his hand.
Under the dim light, the liquid inside glimmered brilliantly.
"In conclusion..."
"Are you... the Fire Picker?"