As they moved forward, Eous had already stepped ahead.

But Hoshimi Miyabi grabbed him and pulled him back into the middle of the group.

"Stay behind me."

Belle quickly nodded.

"Okay..."

The group pressed deeper into the Hollow.

Soon, they came across a dozen ordinary Ethereal. These weak creatures posed no threat at all—Cloud Retainer merely waved a hand, sending them flying and crashing into the distant ruins.

"Keep moving—"

But after only a few more steps, another dozen appeared. The Ethereal density in Hollow Zero was clearly far greater than in other hollows. Almost every new street brought them face-to-face with at least a dozen more.

Yet, according to the records from Scott Outpost, this area had been cleared just a week ago. There shouldn't have been so many Ethereal.

Tsukishiro Yanagi immediately noticed something was wrong and warned, "Stay sharp. Their numbers don't add up. A high-tier Ethereal might be nearby."

Keqing nodded.

"We'll be careful."

However, even after traversing a long stretch, they encountered hundreds upon hundreds of ordinary Ethereal, but not a single high-tier one. Even Belle failed to detect any etheric fluctuations from stronger Ethereal.

This could only mean there were no high-tier Ethereal in the area.

Yae Miko spoke slowly.

"Weren't we told there'd be something big? Why hasn't it shown up yet?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi replied seriously, "Strange indeed. These ordinary Ethereal don't seem herded here by stronger ones... they've gathered on their own."

Suspicious, but still within reason.

The group pressed on. After passing through a stretch of ruins, they emerged into open ground. Ahead, their view widened dramatically.

Hoshimi Miyabi gazed forward and said with grave seriousness, "That mist, formed from Ether and unknown substances, is the farthest anyone has ever explored. Many have entered it, but none have returned..."

Keqing frowned.

"What lies beyond it?"

Hoshimi Miyabi shook her head.

"No one knows... but once, a destruction-class Ethereal emerged from that mist. I suspect the very source of Hollow Zero is inside."

In the past, colossal shadows had been seen wandering along the boundary of Hollow Zero—those too were destruction-class Ethereal.

Also known as S-rank Ethereal. The most terrifying kind known.

For instance, the Exaltist Order Bishop slain by the third head of the Hoshimi Miyabi family was such a creature.

Hoshimi Miyabi herself had faced them before in Hollow Zero. Towering over a hundred meters tall, they darkened the sky wherever they passed, the ground trembling beneath their steps.

Even though Hoshimi Miyabi had reached the Void Hunter tier, when confronting such monsters she could only strike at their weak points to drive them back. She lacked the means to slay them.

She relayed all she knew to Keqing and the others.

Hearing this, Keqing frowned.

"Ethereals over a hundred meters tall... their power might rival that of an Archon..."

Moon Carver shook his head.

"Size alone doesn't mean strength. It can even be a burden. With few exceptions, Archons' true power never comes from their bodies, but from the elements they command."

In other words, Moon Carver didn't consider S-rank Ethereal true threats.

After a pause, he smiled faintly.

"This immortal would rather welcome the encounter—to see what they are truly capable of."

Like the other Adepti, Yae Miko showed no urgency at all.

"Then let's go in and see. We might even meet one or two."

Hoshimi Miyabi took a deep breath.

"Alright, I'll lead."

Tsukishiro Yanagi quickly added, "Manager, keep analyzing the terrain and Ether fluctuations ahead."

Controlling Eous, Belle reassured, "Don't worry. I'm monitoring constantly."

But after just a few steps, she suddenly exclaimed, "Wait—such a powerful Ether fluctuation..."

Tsukishiro Yanagi immediately asked, "What is it?"

Belle frowned.

"A strong Ether signal appeared, but vanished instantly. Strange... just be careful. Something feels off about the Ether data around us."

Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded.

"Understood. Everyone stay alert. There may be unknown high-tier Ethereal nearby."

Yet, the group didn't seem too concerned. Or rather... the Adepti seemed eager for a high-tier Ethereal to finally show itself. After so long without one, they were itching for a fight.

As they drew closer to the mist, Sam Li suddenly stopped and looked upward. He sensed an Ethereal's aura above.

But it seemed completely concealed, its form invisible.

Moon Carver approached slowly.

"Sam Li... sir, did you notice something?"

Sam Li frowned.

"It feels like we're being watched..."

Or perhaps... they had been watched since the moment they entered the Hollow.

Before Moon Carver could respond—

The ground suddenly trembled violently.

Cloud Retainer barked, "Dodge!"

He immediately grabbed Eous and Tsukishiro Yanagi, retreating swiftly. Mountain Shaper seized Asaba Harumasa and Soukaku, retreating alongside him. Hoshimi Miyabi and Yae Miko also withdrew quickly at Cloud Retainer's warning.

The very next instant, an enormous hand appeared out of nowhere and slammed into where they had just been standing. The impact exploded like countless bombs going off at once, annihilating the area.

Seeing this, Hoshimi Miyabi's brows tightened. She recognized it instantly—it was an S-rank Ethereal, or rather, an Annihilation-class Ethereal.

At that moment, Tsukishiro Yanagi cried out, "Where are Sam Li and Moon Carver Adeptus?"

Keqing's face darkened.

"They didn't dodge... they were struck."

Of course, such an attack could not kill Adepti. But Sam Li... Keqing's worry deepened.

Before she could act to rescue them, the ground beneath their feet split apart. A colossal beast burst out from below.

The group scattered to evade.

But it wasn't over. Another massive entity manifested in the sky, countless tentacles descending to strike at them.

As Hoshimi Miyabi had described, the monstrous Ethereal blotted out the sky, even larger than Cloud Retainer's manifested form.

Three terrifying Annihilation-class Ethereal appeared at once.

Keqing's heart sank. This was an ambush.