Bringer, transformed into an Ethereal, saw his power surge dramatically—especially his speed. The Hollow's high-concentration ether and corrosive environment not only failed to harm him but instead became a source of strength.
He moved like a fish in water.
After his transformation, Bringer moved through the dense ether as though it were his natural element. This was the "perfect form" he had spoken of.
However, the others were not so easily defeated.
As Bringer launched his assault, Qingyi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, Soukaku, and the others immediately countered.
Qingyi's three-section staff, Yanagi's naginata, and Soukaku's Oni Blade Banner struck against Bringer's warped giant hand.
The impact was nothing like striking an ordinary Ethereal. It was as if they had struck solid ether alloy itself. The impact thundered, knocking them all back.
As Bringer prepared to strike again, Hoshimi Miyabi rushed forward.
"Same as before—leave the front to me—"
Yanagi steadied her breathing.
"Right. Chief, be careful—"
Then, Section 6 spread out into formation.
Hoshimi Miyabi, their strongest fighter, held the front without hesitation. Soukaku, wielding her Oni Blade Banner, coordinated with Miyabi to restrict Bringer's movements.
Tsukishiro Yanagi and Asaba Harumasa attacked from the flanks, their strikes alternating in rhythm, creating seamless pressure and giving Bringer no chance to breathe.
Naturally, Zhu Yuan and Seth were not idle either.
Zhu Yuan joined Tsukishiro Yanagi in rotating flank attacks, while Qingyi charged forward. Together with Soukaku on the opposite side, they eased some of the immense pressure on Miyabi.
Bringer was powerful in this form—much stronger than ordinary notoriety-class Ethereal. But compared to a Destruction-class Ethereal, he still fell short.
And under their coordinated assault, the group quickly forced him onto the defensive.
Hoshimi Miyabi swung her blade with full strength.
A flash of white light cut across more than ten meters, piercing Bringer's defenses and sending him crashing into the ruins of a nearby building with a deafening thud.
"Is it dead?" Soukaku asked quickly.
Hoshimi Miyabi shook her head.
"Probably not. His defenses broke, but his body is still intact—"
All eyes locked on the rubble ahead.
"Stay back. I'll check it out," Miyabi said slowly.
But before she could advance, a massive fist punched through the wall of the ruined building, swinging straight at her.
"The power of the Creator cannot be stopped—"
The colossal strike covered not only Miyabi but also Tsukishiro Yanagi, Zhu Yuan, Soukaku, and the others behind her.
In that critical instant, Miyabi raised her blade.
But the hurried slash couldn't stop it. She realized Bringer's strength had grown again—already nearing Destruction-class strength.
She unleashed a flurry of strikes, blending in the techniques Cloud Retainer had once taught her. Only then did she manage to force the massive fist back.
But it wasn't over.
The next moment, a spatial rift tore open above them, and the enormous hand reappeared, slamming down from the sky.
Tsukishiro Yanagi, Zhu Yuan, Qingyi, and the others quickly struck back.
But this time the giant hand was erratic—appearing above to fire ether beams, then from below to smash the ground, then from behind to throw a crushing punch.
The relentless attacks harried them on all sides.
And in the midst of it, Bringer's mutated body leapt from the rubble, joining the assault.
"You could never hope to resist the Creator's power—" he roared with confidence.
Miyabi's eyes were unwavering.
"Then try me—"
She raised her blade once more, channeling the strike she had forged from Cloud Retainer's teachings into her own technique.
The demon blade gleamed as she drew it close to her chest.
With her draw, the air itself shifted. A freezing storm swept outward, chilling the battlefield.
Sensing this power, Bringer faltered for the first time, bellowing in rage.
"Don't even think—"
But it was already too late.
Miyabi unsheathed her blade in a single, flawless arc.
The icy strike pierced Bringer's body clean through, carving into the massive hand and leaving a scar etched deep across its surface.
Everyone exhaled in relief.
Yet none noticed the red vial that shot from afar, embedding itself into Bringer's ruined body.
The dying Ethereal suddenly stirred—revived.
Or perhaps it was no revival at all, but a third evolution.
Ether surged wildly, condensing into a crimson aura around him.
"Creator! Grant me greater strength—" Bringer bellowed.
His nearly shattered body began to knit itself back together.
The others recoiled in shock.
"Why won't it just die?" Soukaku blurted, exasperated.
Miyabi's voice was calm.
"Then we'll kill it again—"
Before Bringer could finish evolving, Miyabi struck once more.
Frost engulfed her arm as she unleashed her signature technique, the "Wuxiang Slash."
Her swing shattered the ice around her, releasing a blinding white arc across the battlefield.
This time, she poured her full strength into the blow.
The strike not only pierced Bringer through but froze his body solid before shattering it into fragments.
With a thunderous crash, his remains fell to the ground, breaking apart into ether crystal shards.
At last, Bringer was dead.
But the Hand of the Creator wasn't finished.
As Miyabi's energy waned, the colossal hand surged forward with even greater force, striking down toward her.
Its strength now far surpassed Bringer's, fully at the level of a Destruction-class Ethereal.
Everyone froze in horror.
"Miyabi, get out of the way—!" Tsukishiro Yanagi shouted, sprinting toward her.
"Chief, dodge!" Asaba Harumasa cried.
Soukaku, Zhu Yuan, and Qingyi all rushed forward, eyes wide in panic.
But Miyabi knew there was no escape.
Gripping her blade tightly, she braced herself for a desperate stand against the massive hand.
At that very moment—
A blazing golden light burst across the distant horizon, faster than the Creator's Hand itself.
In the blink of an eye, it was upon them.
With a deafening crash, it slammed into the ground.
Like a colossal Geo spear, the golden pillar drove the Creator's hand deep into the earth.
...