Tsukishiro Yanagi, Hoshimi Miyabi, Keqing, Yae Miko, Cloud Retainer, Vigilant Yaksha Xiao, and the others all lifted their heads to gaze into the ether mist ahead.

The colossal Ethereal that had appeared moments ago had already fallen.

In its place, a massive, dragon-shaped silhouette drifted through the very patch of mist where the creature had stood.

Yes—drifted.

It moved as though it were a great beast of the sea gliding effortlessly through water.

Seeing this, Tsukishiro Yanagi was struck by memory. She recalled a mythological film from the old era where she had seen a being much like this one. In that film, the people of the old era called it a dragon—one of the celestial beings of legend.

Cloud Retainer and Mountain Shaper had the forms of immortal cranes...

Moon Carver had the form of an immortal deer...

With that thought, Tsukishiro Yanagi understood at once. The colossal dragon soaring in the ether mist was most likely Sam Li's true form. After all, Sam Li was an Adepti, just like Cloud Retainer and the others.

Beside her, Hoshimi Miyabi stared at the dragon-like giant as it swam through the mist, her thoughts also turning to the ancient dragons of myth.

But what startled her even more was that the demonic blade in her hand began to tremble violently, as though in fear.

All these years, no matter the enemy, the blade had never reacted like this. Not once. This was the first time.

The next moment, she tightened her grip and whispered to herself,

"Don't worry. That shouldn't be an enemy..."

At once, the blade fell still.

On the other side, Yae Miko gazed at the dragon gliding majestically through the ether mist, her eyes brimming with reverence, excitement, and a touch of wonder.

So strong.

Even at this distance, the aura of the Geo Archon was overwhelming. Yae Miko could feel the pressure clearly, along with an immense force of Geo power radiating from him.

Keqing also watched intently.

The last time she had seen the Geo Archon reveal his true form was four years ago during the Divine Summoning Ceremony, when she had witnessed him fall with her own eyes. To see him unharmed now filled her with irrepressible joy.

Compared to them, the Adepti—Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and Xiao—remained calm.

They showed neither shock nor surprise, only a quiet sigh of acknowledgment.

After all these years, the Archon's presence was as awe-inspiring as it had been a thousand years ago. A single movement was enough to crush a mighty foe.

To have such an ally was truly life's greatest fortune.

At that moment, Soukaku munched on the biscuit Tsukishiro Yanagi had given him and said earnestly,

"Sis Yanagi, Sam Li must have been eaten by that giant Ethereal. We need to hurry and save him!"

Keqing quickly explained,

"There's no need to worry. That is Sam Li... the Master's true form. He has already defeated the Ethereal. Let's go to him."

With the Ethereal's collapse, everyone could feel the ether concentration and activity in the air lessen slightly, the pressure easing.

At least, breathing no longer felt so strained.

Led by Cloud Retainer and Keqing, the group advanced toward Sam Li's location, their eyes still fixed on the divine dragon above.

Before long, they reached the fallen Ethereal. Its head alone was over ten meters tall, its hideous features enough to chill the blood.

Unlike the other Ethereal they had encountered, this one did not dissolve instantly into ether energy. Instead, it was dissipating slowly. Around its vast body coiled wisps of black smoke—ether so concentrated it had taken tangible form.

Just then, Soukaku tugged at Tsukishiro Yanagi's sleeve again.

"Sis Yanagi, look! He's coming down..."

He pointed excitedly at the mist above.

The colossal dragon was descending through the fog. As it drew closer, its hundred-meter-long body suddenly transformed into a streak of golden light that landed upon the ground, reshaping itself into Sam Li.

Though they had already guessed it was him, witnessing such a massive dragon become Sam Li still left them stunned, marveling at the divine power of the Adepti.

Seeing their astonished gazes, Sam Li said calmly,

"It's been a long time since I've moved around. I might as well stretch my legs while I have the chance."

Moon Carver immediately agreed.

"Indeed. Come to think of it, we haven't fought together since that battle five hundred years ago."

Mountain Shaper chuckled.

"If we don't keep moving, we'll rust away like those ancient mechanisms in ruins."

Tsukishiro Yanagi was speechless.

Casually defeating such a powerful Ethereal with one strike, and he called that stretching his legs?

If he fought seriously, would he not shatter all of Hollow Zero itself?

Still, she couldn't deny that she hoped Sam Li would stretch his muscles a few more times—slaying more Destruction-tier Ethereal like this one.

Companion hollows could be suppressed by killing Ethereal, and Hollow Zero was no different. If enough were slain, perhaps its expansion could even be halted.

As everyone's eyes remained on Sam Li, his mood was unusually light.

Just now, after slaying the colossal Destruction-tier Ethereal, he had gained another three percent in his role-playing progress. His total progress had officially reached seventy-five percent—unlocking the ability to manifest his true form.

He had immediately tried it and found it extremely effective.

Though manifesting his true form meant he could no longer wield the Vortex Vanquisher or rely on his martial techniques, his sheer strength had grown immensely.

Not only that, he could now unleash new abilities, such as the Breath of the Geo Dragon and the Dragon Claw.

Each form held its own advantages compared to his human state.

As the group spoke, the fallen Ethereal finally dissolved completely into nothingness. Only then did they continue deeper into the mist.

The further they went, the stranger the phenomena became.

They saw houses that moved, Ethereal without aggression...

Xiao himself seized one such seemingly ordinary Ethereal.

At a glance, it was no different from the others—weak, no larger than a human, and likely unable to withstand even a simple bullet.

And yet, the group found it fascinating.

Keqing studied the entity pinned beneath Xiao with a puzzled expression.

"It seems different from ordinary Ethereal. Its aggression is weak... could it be that it simply doesn't dare to attack us?"

...