Port Elpis, inside the Hollow.
"Strange. The ether here is far too active."
Belle and Wise frowned, both unsettled. "Logically, a Hollow of this size shouldn't have ether this active."
"It truly is strange. Perhaps this is exactly why Bringer insisted on coming. He must have prepared something astonishing here."
Tsukishiro Yanagi was not surprised by the Hollow's abnormality.
If nothing were unusual, Bringer would have had no reason to lure them here at all.
But something else caught her off guard. Looking at Belle, she asked, "So, the external independent investigation division leader hired by the White Star Institute knows Sol as well?"
She had met Belle before—at Scott Outpost outside Hollow Zero.
That incident was tied to Nineveh, and thanks to Belle's Bangboo, Section 6 had been able to track Nineveh's trail.
Now Belle looked very familiar with Sol and the Cunning Hares. Clearly, her identity wasn't particularly orthodox—though, granted, that so-called independent investigation division was notorious for recruiting unorthodox freelancers.
Belle touched her head sheepishly. "Sol is our friend. We came specifically to help this time."
She and her brother hadn't been idle recently. To investigate their teacher, they had secured permissions from Shepherd to infiltrate exploration teams going into Hollow Zero.
Although they had cooperated with Section 6 several times while tracking Nineveh, Belle was still nervous about exposing her identity as Phaethon before Section 6.
Seeing this, Sol smiled and said to Yanagi, "Belle is always enthusiastic and eager to help. It's no surprise to see her anywhere."
Belle was delighted by Sol's rescue. She nodded vigorously and added, "I love sticking my nose into things! Wherever evil needs fighting, a good citizen of Sixth Street like me has to show up!"
"Indeed."
Yanagi nodded with a narrow-eyed smile, playing along with Belle's act.
She didn't press further and instead said to Belle, "Then we'll entrust you with locating Bringer."
"No problem. Leave it to me!"
Belle patted her chest confidently.
Fairy, time to get to work!
Fairy, currently inhabiting Eous, had already connected to the data collector pylons inside the Hollow. It reported sternly, ["Master, the ether inside the Hollow is undergoing violent fluctuations. The central zone's ether activity is extremely high, and the energy intensity is rising at extreme speed."]
["Initial conclusion: that location is Bringer's position. Rating: extremely dangerous!"]
["Assessment: if Assistant No. 2 were alone, Master, you could already start attending the memorial!"]
Its tone was soft, yet it took a jab at Wise, who had recently saved it some power bills.
Ignoring Fairy's insult toward her brother, Belle synced partial data from Fairy through her ocular implant.
She immediately understood the severity of the situation. The energy spikes were far stronger than anything she had encountered before.
She quickly pointed ahead. "It's in that direction. We need to hurry. If we wait any longer, that guy will become even harder to deal with!"
Belle and Wise boarded a yellow excavator—Hans, the intelligent construction machine brought by Belobog Heavy Industries—and Belle pointed the way from atop it.
The others followed behind, advancing toward Bringer's location.
But they weren't the only ones in motion. A large number of Ethereals had begun mobilizing.
Tyrfing, Hoplitai, Hati, Farbauti, Sordidus, Fossor…
All grotesque and varied in form.
Yet now they shared a single purpose.
Different types and different ranks of Ethereals surged toward Sol's group like a tide.
They moved like soldiers defending a sacred emperor, determined to stop all intruders from approaching the throne.
And behind them, the miracle of the Creator began to manifest.
Their shallow instincts resonated with, and obeyed, the Creator's call.
"Ethereals! A whole swarm is closing in!"
With her link to Fairy constantly active, Belle detected their movement and exclaimed.
"They're coming like tides of the sea, but organized like that of an army!"
Receiving Fairy's real-time analytical feed, Belle was overwhelmed like never before.
If Ethereals were represented by red dots of varying brightness based on rank, then the red dots had become an ocean.
Their group was but a tiny raft drifting atop this sea, with the risk of capsizing at any moment.
And this red ocean was gathering waves to crash onto their lone vessel, unwavering in its intent.
Belle stared in disbelief. "Those Ethereals are actively adjusting their direction based on our movements. They were aware of our presence—and are beelining straight toward us. It's like they've actually developed intelligence. That should be impossible!"
Hoshimi Miyabi already had her hand on her katana. "That's good news. Looks like we've located the correct place. Now this shouldn't be considered as cross-jurisdictional enforcement."
"Haha, hilarious, Section Chief Miyabi."
Harumasa said with almost no sincerity.
He sighed. It seemed tonight's overtime would be extremely unpleasant.
"To control Ethereals… the force behind Bringer is clearly no ordinary group."
The cold reflection on Yanagi's glasses sharpened—she was already prepared for combat.
"Then let's carve our way through and see for ourselves."
Sol reached his right hand into the void and casually drew out a longsword.
Gold and silver in its coloration, with five gemstones embedded in the hilt.
Seventy centimeters long, noble in design.
The Aurora Sword—the primary weapon of the [Emperor Armor].
Hoshimi Miyabi's eyes lit up, drawn instantly to the beautiful blade. "Clear as autumn water, sharpness hidden beneath the cold sheen, majestic in form—truly a ruler's sword."
She had an avid hobby of collecting renowned swords. This opulent blade was entirely to her taste.
"A good sword, but the swordsmanship is even better."
Sol smiled faintly, holding the Aurora Sword at a forty-five-degree angle beside him.
His countless rewards over time had included numerous exquisite sword arts.
Maybe not overwhelming in this world, but at least enough to stand atop the sword path.
He swung the blade—from upper left to lower right.
A crescent-shaped arc of pale white sword energy flew forth, jade-like in quality, suffused with dim moonlight.
"So beautiful…" Belle's gaze softened, utterly captivated by the sword light.
Nothing in the world was purer. Nothing shone more radiantly.
It was like the cold moonlight falling upon one's face at midnight—chilling yet comforting.
Such pure and pristine sword energy must come from a swordsman just as pristine and cold—
Hmm?
Belle glanced at Sol. While he was handsome, "pure" and "cold" definitely weren't adjectives she'd use for him.
So much for poetry!
She already liked Sol—but now—
She liked him even more.
Hoshimi Miyabi too watched the arc of sword light, stunned.
Calling upon the moon of the ninth heaven, luminous and clear.
Merging with the star's essence, a killing intent lurks subtly within.
The sword energy sliced through layer after layer of air, plunging into the oncoming swarm of Ethereals.
Shua!
Whether their bodies composed crudely of ether or layered armor—
Before this moonlit brilliance, all were as thin as cicada wings—fragile and defenseless.
Dozens of Ethereals were cleaved cleanly in half, their remnants dissolving into etheric light within the Hollow.