While Hoshimi Miyabi still felt uneasy, Zane had already arrived alone before the hollow.
He stood on solid ice, mere inches from the gaping hole. A night breeze swept by, carrying lingering traces of gunpowder smoke. The hollow disaster had erupted on a massive scale, and such a sudden crisis in New Eridu had officials scrambling to respond with all available resources.
Compared to this, the hollow in the river, which had ceased expanding, seemed almost serene. Of course, that was merely an illusion—no one truly believed this place was peaceful.
Zane exhaled softly, his eyes bright. He raised his hand, and several small black spheres emerged from the void, drifting up and down slowly.
"Come to think of it, you've accompanied me for quite some time..."
"Now, please assist me with one final task."
"Afterward, you shall be free."
Zane spoke softly, his words drifting away as if they left not a single ripple on the water's surface.
His gaze fell upon the five small black spheres—Cretan, Lamia, Dead End, the Twins, and the one from the Hive Master who had come to be the Sunbringer. The five hollows, as if truly alive, listened quietly to Zane's words, awaiting their master's command.
"Take those little things away. They distract me."
Zane gazed at the hollows before him and continued, "As for the rest, leave it to me... After all, this is a battle destined to be mine."
The moment Zane's words fell, the five small black spheres swayed, trailing colorful streams of light as they scattered toward New Eridu. Without further delay, Zane stepped into the hollow.
...
"Bro... I feel like today's the day we meet our end..."
"If that's the case, then let's go all out! Even if it's the end, let's go down with a bang!"
Hiding behind a massive steel frame, a disheveled Anton held an electric drill raised in his arms, ready for a final stand. Not far from the steel frame, a colossal two-headed Ethereal creature moved forward. With each step it took, Anton could feel the ground tremble slightly beneath him.
Yet he showed not a shred of fear.
A mere Ethereal! His drill could pierce the heavens!
Just as Anton timed his move to strike, a thunderous roar erupted.
"Fiscal Fist!"
Boom! A massive collision shook the air, making even Anton's ears ring. He instinctively glanced sideways, witnessing a crimson pillar of flame erupt, followed by a "small flame" merging into the pillar.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out as the flame pillar fully blossomed. Surging waves of heat washed over them, causing even the steel framework to tremble and sway precariously.
Seeing this, Anton quickly backed away from the flame's center. As the heat gradually dissipated, Koleda and Ben's figures emerged from the blaze.
"President, you..."
"Hahahaha! That's our 'Boiling Furnace' combo move!"
Koleda placed her hands on her hips and laughed twice, high-fiving Ben who approached from behind. Her body swayed slightly before steadying, then she turned to face Anton.
"Well? Did my dazzling entrance blow your mind?"
Just as Koleda prepared to say more, Grace's voice crackled through her earpiece. Her expression turned serious as she and Ben headed off in another direction, giving Anton a sharp tap on the shoulder as they passed.
"What are you standing around for? Run!"
"That thing's incredibly tough. Ben and I only temporarily incapacitated it!"
Hearing this, Anton glanced back at the Ethereal shrouded by the collapsed steel frame before hurrying to catch up.
But as he watched their direction, doubt crept into his mind.
"President, isn't this direction away from the hollow?"
Koleda didn't deny it, merely nodding before speaking softly.
"There are still people from Belobog Heavy Industries inside the hollow. Though I don't know why this disaster struck so suddenly, my father once protected the entire company and me. Now I can do the same!"
Koleda clenched her jaw, her eyes sharpening.
"Not a single one left behind!"
...
The hollow's immense barrier stretched out like towering city walls, making outsiders appear minuscule.
On the ground, Tsukishiro Yanagi was exchanging intelligence with Defense Force personnel, while Harumasa and Soukaku prepared for combat operations. When it came to dealing with the hollow, Section 6 was the expert!
Beyond their own preparations, however, they received another surprise from the Defense Force.
"This is the military's latest technology, still in the experimental phase, but highly reliable. I'll pilot it and accompany you on this mission."
A pilot briefed Harumasa on the Predator III's operational precautions while Soukaku curiously examined the dragonfly-like mecha.
Soon, the trio was fully geared up and ready to go, leading several Defense Force squads into the hollow. Just then, Tsukishiro Yanagi's keen senses detected something, causing her to halt.
"What is it?"
Harumasa looked at Tsukishiro Yanagi with curiosity, noticing she seemed to be watching something. He followed her gaze and looked in the same direction.
A small, colorful glow was drifting from the sky toward the hollow—somewhat inconspicuous, yet impossible to miss.
"What... is that?"
Harumasa frowned. Tsukishiro Yanagi pushed her glasses up and instinctively turned her gaze toward the fireworks display.
Ya was over there.
That person should be there too.
Unlike Harumasa, who only noticed the colorful stream of light, she used her glasses' special function to see clearly what lay ahead.
It was a pitch-black spherical object. And she remembered... this thing was connected to that person.
That person who had saved them before—the "secret team member"...