The progress bar on the electronic display crept forward bit by bit—until finally—
As the number jumped from 99% to 100%, the massive mechanical device before Belle gave a soft click, and its heavy door slowly opened.
Inside the chamber floated several colorful spherical objects of unknown composition. Without a moment of hesitation, Belle directed Eous to grab a small explosive charge and toss it in.
"Go!"
At her shout, Lycaon and the others collectively exhaled in relief and immediately pulled back with Eous.
These Ethereals were nothing like the ones found in ordinary hollows—their ether energy was on a completely different level, and fighting them required constant vigilance.
The group had barely retreated a short distance when a thunderous explosion erupted behind them. Flames swallowed the spot where Belle had stood, and the machinery was blasted apart into scattering fragments.
Right after that, the entire hollow began collapsing at rapid speed.
Belle lifted her head, watching as the hollow's shell dissolved and the sky beyond came into view. Only then did she finally let herself relax.
Another one, done.
Only one final segment remained.
She gave herself a little boost of encouragement. Victoria Housekeeping was already at its limit—time to switch teams.
She would handle one more hollow extraction, and after that, it would be her brother's turn to take over.
Looking toward the distant skyline of towering buildings, her gaze pierced past them and settled on the massive hollow faintly visible beyond.
She hoped everything on Zane's side was going smoothly.
And she hoped things on her end would continue to do the same.
...
"This is troublesome… but this is my domain."
"Challenging me inside Hollow Zero was a foolish choice from the start!"
Voices boomed around Zane, each one slamming against his mind. The Primordial wasn't merely speaking—He was attacking him with waves of mental interference.
Zane had not yet seized full control of Hollow Zero; he merely possessed the right to compete for it. With Hollow Zero aiding Him, the Primordial's pressure was overwhelming.
Even so, He couldn't easily take Zane down.
When it came to mental strength, Zane was no amateur.
Within the storm, strange forces roared, the very atmosphere resembling a battlefield filled with soldiers tearing everything apart.
Qingyi sat silently not far from Zane. Ether, sharp as blades, cut through the storm, and even as an Advanced Automaton, she could feel pain.
She had wanted to remain right at Zane's side, but the Ether corrosion and physical damage there were too severe. She could only stay as close as possible without being destroyed.
Under the storm's violent shroud, Zane's figure blurred, and Qingyi could no longer open her eyes under the Ether's intensity. She couldn't see him anymore.
Yet perhaps through instinct, she knew he was there. Her heart never wavered.
Then suddenly, Qingyi sensed that the Ether surrounding her was resisting something—some other force pushing into the territory Zane had carved out for himself.
In an instant, she understood.
This new force wasn't aimed at Zane.
It was aimed at her.
The true clash—Zane versus that entity—was happening elsewhere.
This intrusion could only be a threat directed at her.
Trying to use her to threaten Zane…
Qingyi felt no surprise.
Zane had expected this.
She trusted Zane would protect her—but she had no intention of letting him.
A small smile curved Qingyi's lips.
Hmph. She was the master.
How could she simply obey her disciple?
Just thinking about what she was about to do sent a thrill through her chest. It was… admittedly exciting.
And once she had decided, there was no turning back.
No matter how Zane reacted, she would never regret it.
The thought made her smile widen.
Truthfully, she had long been curious—Just what kind of expression would Zane make?
That man was always so calm, so composed, as if nothing could ever shake him.
It made her fists itch just thinking about it…