In Bringer's eyes, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi were merely two mere brats—he could wipe them out with a single strike.
But when he heard the voices of Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi, and turned to see them, his brow instantly furrowed.
Section 6 members... the so-called youngest Void Hunter... So what?
The so-called "youngest Void Hunter" was nothing more than official hype from New Eridu. He'd never taken it seriously.
Seeing Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and the others arrive, Zhu Yuan and Qingyi were overjoyed, simultaneously gaining absolute confidence in victory.
Tsukishiro Yanagi also looked toward Zhu Yuan, Seth, and the others. Seeing everyone unharmed, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness we made it in time..."
Soukaku slung her Oni Blade Banner over her shoulder.
"Let's wrap this up quick—gotta rush back for dinner. Starving—"
Just ten minutes prior, the entire Section 6 team had been with Sam Li and the others.
To speed up the search for Seth and Perlman, Tsukishiro Yanagi proposed splitting into separate teams: the Section 6 as one group, the Hare's House members as another, and the Adepti as a third.
Ultimately, it was the Section 6 that located Zhu Yuan, Seth, and the others first.
...
At that moment, Zhu Yuan fixed her gaze on Chief Bringer and asked earnestly,
"Why? Chief Bringer, why betray New Eridu?"
Hearing this, Bringer smiled.
"Betrayal? What is betrayal?"
Zhu Yuan replied earnestly,
"Providing sanctuary for Vision Company, acting as its protective umbrella, committing countless crimes—even triggering Hollow disasters that claimed thousands of lives... Chief Bringer, you weren't always this kind of person..."
All these crimes Zhu Yuan had heard from Perlman. Learning this filled Zhu Yuan with fury.
She had always held Chief Bringer in the highest regard, aspiring to be like him. Never did she imagine he had betrayed them long ago.
Watching Zhu Yuan's expression grow increasingly enraged, Chief Bringer remained calm, bursting into laughter.
"You've never witnessed the majestic form of the Creator. Of course you wouldn't understand—only by embracing glorious evolution and welcoming the Hollow's new era can humanity find its future. Foolish Zhu Yuan, if you're willing to join now..."
Before Chief Bringer could finish, Zhu Yuan abruptly cut him off.
"Enough... Chief Bringer. This is the last time I'll address you as such..."
With that, Zhu Yuan reached for her waist, drawing the Ether shotgun she carried. She would personally arrest her superior, Bringer.
Seeing this, Qingyi also drew her weapon. Before the confrontation escalated, she offered a friendly warning.
"Chief Bringer, the odds are six against one. If I were you, I'd surrender now and face a fair trial."
Hearing this, Chief Bringer roared with laughter.
"You lot?"
Apart from Zhu Yuan posing a slight threat, he dismissed the others entirely.
If that's the case, then there's nothing more to say.
As Bringer launched his attack toward Zhu Yuan and Qingyi, Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Asaba Harumasa, and Soukaku also moved simultaneously.
Just as Qingyi had stated earlier: six against one—each of them masters wielding anomaly powers, plus Hoshimi Miyabi, the youngest Void Hunter. Taking down Bringer alone was a breeze.
Even if Hoshimi Miyabi hadn't joined in, the other five could have easily defeated Bringer.
As Bringer's defeat became imminent, Zhu Yuan solemnly declared,
"Arrest him alive..."
Hearing this, Tsukishiro Yanagi hastily withdrew the blade poised to strike. Instead, he shifted mid-air and launched a flying kick toward Bringer.
The blow sent him crashing into a corner of the ruined building.
they'd assumed he was hiding immense strength. Little did they expect him to be so easily defeated.
After taking Tsukishiro Yanagi's kick, Bringer knelt in the corner of the rubble, coughing up a mouthful of blood.
At this moment, he was no match for the group.
Seeing this, Zhu Yuan slowly approached, drawing a pair of handcuffs from his waist, preparing to formally arrest Chief Bringer.
But the moment Zhu Yuan took a step forward, Hoshimi Miyabi pulled him back.
Hoshimi Miyabi's brow furrowed slightly.
"Careful..."
Zhu Yuan suddenly sensed an anomaly and quickly looked toward Bringer.
An abnormal ether reaction surged around Bringer's body. The highly concentrated ether even emitted a faint glow.
Before Zhu Yuan could comprehend what was happening, Chief Bringer laughed again.
"Warm-up complete. I was only toying with you. Very well. Since you're so foolish, I'll let you witness the perfect form stepping into the Holow Era..."
As he spoke, the etheric reaction on Chief Bringer's body intensified, his smile growing increasingly confident, bordering on fanatical.
The next moment, Bringer suddenly roared,
"Creator... I beseech you... refine me—"
With Bringer's furious cry, the etheric reaction on his body erupted completely.
A high-concentration ether storm instantly engulfed the surroundings, forcing Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and Tsukishiro Yanagi to stumble back.
Simultaneously, Bringer's body began rapidly swelling.
As if corrupted to the limit by the Hollow, Bringer's body began twisting into an Ethereal-Hollow.
Sensing danger, Hoshimi Miyabi urgently shouted,
"Back up—"
Just as everyone retreated, a spatial fissure appeared on the ground. A giant, eyed hand abruptly emerged from within, grasping the ethereal-corroding Bringer in its palm.
Instantly, the Ether reaction intensified. Blinding light flashed.
When the enormous hand opened again, a monstrous, unrecognizable creature appeared within its grasp.
Witnessing this scene, everyone was stunned.
Asaba Harumasa frowned deeply.
"This guy... don't tell me he's actually become an Ethereal?"
Tsukishiro Yanagi stated solemnly,
"His aura is still growing stronger. Prepare for battle—"
At that moment, the Ethereal Bringer, still suspended mid-air, laughed again.
"Creator, thank you. Leave these weaklings to me—"
It was clear. Even after becoming an Ethereal, Bringer retained human consciousness. This bizarre phenomenon was unprecedented to everyone present.
As Bringer completed his 'evolution,' the giant, eyed hand slowly retracted into the spatial rift, vanishing along with it.
Bringer's Ethereal form drifted downward.
"What a pity you won't witness humanity's glorious day of evolution. Still, to die beneath such a perfect form... consider it an honor..."
As he spoke, Bringer suddenly struck.
His speed was too swift to follow. In the blink of an eye, he stood before them.