Inside the Hollow.
The oppressive heaviness that had filled the air was gone, and even the dark red sky looked much clearer.
After that single sword strike, Bringer's body split cleanly in half, and the massive ether he had accumulated dissipated.
In an instant, the colossal Sacrifice form vanished like dispersed smoke, leaving only a severed hand—about the length of a human forearm—gurgling on the ground.
The hand was covered in eyes, with a mouth in its palm, essentially a miniaturized version of that enormous hand from before.
"Impressive."
Anby's expression was like that of an adorable android, her praise rigidly formulaic.
"It's extremely impressive!"
Nicole corrected Anby's understatement, though her cultural refinement wasn't much better.
Sol glanced at the two unskilled hype-women and gave a helpless smile.
One could see they were already trying their best to praise him.
"So the true power of that sword art isn't limited to slaying weak Ethereals."
Miyabi traced the path the sword aura carved through the air and murmured softly, "To cut without fail, and to let nothing remain uncut—that is the realm I seek to reach."
Against Bringer's massive Ethereal form, she would have struggled to cause meaningful damage without the help of the demon blade.
But Sol had severed it with a single strike as lightly as she would cut down the small foes threatening Tyrfing.
This made the disparity between them obvious—not only in swordsmanship, but in sheer power.
Her gaze firmed.
Having someone ahead was a good thing. It gave her someone to pursue.
As long as she trained harder, completing every objective seriously, she would continue surpassing her own limits and reach new heights.
"How is this possible!"
The severed hand's palm-mouth opened wide, shouting in shock.
He had been sliced apart in a single stroke, without even the slightest resistance.
That body was bestowed by the Creator from a vast ocean of ether, a refined vessel—not some inferior scrap like that of a Dullahan or a Thanatos!
"Brother, you've paved the road well."
The Aurora Edge dispersed from Sol's hand as he spoke with an easy smile.
"What do you mean?"
Billy leaned in, confused.
Wasn't this about instantly killing a Sacrifice? How did it turn into road maintenance?
"No gravel left on the ground!"
Sol clapped Billy on the shoulder, extremely satisfied with his designated hype-man.
Pa! Pa! Pa!
Smooth. Clean execution. Completely blindsided me with swag.
Billy couldn't help applauding, mentally recording the line to use the next time he wanted to show off.
Belle, who had been worried about her teacher's whereabouts, couldn't help laughing as well; she never expected Sol to remain humorous even at a time like this.
Bringer fell silent, deeply humiliated.
That was the glorious evolution bestowed upon him by the Creator, yet Sol dismissed it so casually.
But the truth was undeniable—there was little he could say in rebuttal.
This man was simply too powerful. Perhaps he was the true ultimate form of ether evolution.
"Bringer, where did your people take our teacher!"
Belle and Wise looked urgently at the severed hand.
"Teacher?"
Bringer stared blankly at the two frail-looking youngsters, not understanding.
"During the fall of the Old Capital, it was that same white giant hand that took Carole Arna away from the Helios Academy!"
Wise could no longer bother hiding anything. Besides, Sol—who had allied with them—stood right beside them, offering protection.
Carole Arna, the teacher who had raised the siblings from childhood, close to them as a parent.
Information about their teacher was priceless. Since the fall of the Old Capital, even though they had become legendary Proxies on the Inter-Knot using the HDD system, they had never been able to find a single useful clue.
This was the first time they had received information directly connected to their teacher's disappearance.
"Carole Arna?"
Miyabi furrowed her brow, whispering the name.
She had vowed to capture every mastermind behind the fall of the Old Capital, and this name had been one of the major suspects pushed forward in the aftermath.
These two siblings were Carole Arna's students?
But based on what they had just revealed, Carole was abducted by that mysterious giant hand and might not be the mastermind at all.
Bringer's case was becoming increasingly unpredictable—it seemed tied to the tragedy years ago.
She focused her gaze on the remaining severed limb, hoping it would yield something of value.
"So it's that woman!"
Bringer let out two strange laughs. "On that matter, I have only one thing to say."
"What is it!"
Belle stared anxiously at him.
Everyone—Section 6, the Cunning Hares, Belobog Heavy Industries, the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team—watched quietly, waiting to hear a long-buried truth about the Old Capital.
But Bringer remained silent, staring toward the back-left side. He was too short now for his gaze to rise beyond the pile of shattered containers blocking his view.
But he knew that direction well—that was where Sarah was.
He had learned what he needed through his test of strength. His final mission was complete.
"What I want to say is…"
Bringer suddenly straightened his truncated form. The mouth on his palm stretched open as he laughed wildly toward Sol's group:
"My mission is complete!"
"As for you two, keep hiding in the darkness forever—continue your pitiful game of searching for the real culprit!"
"Ke-ke-ke-ke!"
As soon as he finished, the remaining ether in the limb detonated.
In a burst of fire and thick smoke, it vanished completely, leaving only that eerie laughter echoing through the Hollow.
Sol watched the fading explosion quietly, acknowledging Bringer's villain performance.
A very standard antagonist indeed.
"Damn it!"
Belle and Wise punched at the empty air in frustration.
Just when they finally found a lead, it had been severed again.
Miyabi and Yanagi studied the siblings, eager for more detailed information.
There was no doubt—this was crucial intel regarding the fall of the Old Capital. Regardless of the truth, whatever organization stood behind Bringer was deeply entangled with that tragedy.
"Hmm? Is it finally over? Can we go back to eat?"
Soukaku rubbed her stomach, distressed.
She had spent a lot of energy today—if she didn't eat soon, she would shrivel up.
"Mm." Yanagi returned to her senses, patting Soukaku on the head before addressing the group. "Everyone, Bringer's situation is temporarily resolved. Why don't you come back to Section 6 with us to rest and replenish your energy?"
Yes—now was not the time for interrogation.
Belle and Wise were familiar with them, and with their secrets exposed, there would be plenty of opportunities later to speak plainly.
"Apologies, but we won't be joining you."
Zhu Yuan stood with Jane Doe and Qingyi behind her, speaking with regret. "The Public Security Bureau is unsettled because of Bringer's case. We need to return and stabilize the situation."
She looked around once more, offering sincere gratitude. "Sol, Miyabi, everyone—thank you for your help. Without you, Bringer might have caused unimaginable damage."
"Once we settle things at Public Security, I will properly thank all of you."
Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and Jane Doe departed first.