"Master~ Do I need to go into the Hollow too?"
"Of course. You've trained long enough—it's time to put it to use."
"Got it!"
After arriving near the Hollow breach via taxi, Fu Hua paused before entering.
"Master? Aren't we going in?"
Fu Hua turned to her apprentice.
"Harin, now that you've learned my martial arts, that long knife of yours isn't suited for your style anymore."
She handed over a sleek suitcase.
"This is your new weapon. Prepared by the sect—tailored for you."
Harin blinked, surprised, then quickly took the case and opened it.
Inside lay a pair of boxing sleeves—sleek blue and black, with glowing ether gems embedded on the back of each hand.
"This… thank you, Master."
"No need for thanks. These are called White Bird Skybound. Use them well."
Fu Hua took back the long knife and watched as Harin slipped on the gloves, flexing her fingers.
"Master, what about your weapon?"
Fu Hua simply clenched her fists.
Black-and-white gloves materialized, glowing with blue-violet ether.
"A relic of the White Night Deacon form. I haven't activated it yet—but it's enough."
She adjusted her stance.
"Let's move."
"Yes, Master!"
Inside the Hollow
Using the radish device from Shepherd, the two navigated the Hollow's twisting corridors.
"Ether concentration: Level 3." Harin reported, scanning the detector.
"Target's nearby." Fu Hua confirmed.
They rounded a corner—an abandoned truck blocking the path.
Fu Hua didn't hesitate.
She charged forward and—
BOOM.
One punch shattered the vehicle's frame, clearing the way.
"Let's go."
"Understood."
Harin's new gloves enhanced her speed and power.
Combined with months of training, she was a different fighter now.
She slipped past two beast-shaped Ethereals, striking with twin hand chops that sent them flying.
A backflip dodged a gorilla-like Ethereal, and she landed beside Fu Hua with precision.
They bypassed the sealed zone and approached the teleportation array.
"Master, incoming!"
Elsewhere in the Hollow
On the other side, a man in a designer suit stumbled backward—only to be saved by a roundhouse kick from a poised figure in monochrome.
"Thank you, Lycaon."
"Protecting clients is Victoria Housekeeping's duty. No need to thank me."
Lycaon bowed slightly, then continued escorting the man through the Hollow.
Several hired agents flanked them, weapons drawn.
"Please remain calm. I've alerted the outside. Reinforcements are in route."
He checked his pocket watch, adjusted his tie, and nodded.
"You've always been reliable, Lycaon."
Just then, a massive Ethereal roared into view—wielding a giant hammer, flanked by dozens of lesser Ethereals.
Lycaon's eyes narrowed. His mechanical legs hissed with cold vapor.
Too many. These agents won't hold…