After hearing Zhu Yuan's explanation, Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and the others exchanged looks of realization.

Clearly, they were not surprised that the Adepti had suppressed the erupting hollow and then proceeded to Scott Outpost.

Still, this was a matter of great importance.

Tsukishiro Yanagi said seriously, "Section Chief, we should go take a look too…"

Hoshimi Miyabi nodded. "Mm."

However, before leaving, she turned back and said firmly, "Zhu Yuan, we'll leave things here to you. We're heading to Scott Outpost to assess the situation."

Zhu Yuan nodded at once. "Don't worry. The hollow has been contained and should completely collapse soon. The Security Personnel here are more than enough to maintain order."

Hoshimi Miyabi gave a short nod. "Good."

Then she led the members of Section 6 toward Scott Outpost.

Just as they were about to leave, a cheerful, youthful voice called from behind them.

"Heh, are you heading to Scott Outpost? Mind giving me a lift? I'd like to see it too."

Hearing that, Hoshimi Miyabi turned and looked back, puzzled, only to find Venti smiling mischievously.

Tsukishiro Yanagi asked, "And who's this?"

Zhu Yuan quickly explained, "This is Venti, a wandering bard—and a friend of Mr. Sam Li's from Liyue."

A friend of Sam Li's from Liyue… That meant he was definitely not ordinary.

With that thought, Hoshimi Miyabi said calmly, "Alright, get in."

Venti grinned. "Much appreciated! Those Adepti flew off way too fast. I tried to catch up, but they didn't even wait for me. Ah, such a hassle—"

Hoshimi Miyabi fell silent. "…"

She didn't believe for a second that the carefree bard before her was just a normal person.

Yet even sitting in the same vehicle, so close to him, she couldn't sense any aura of power—no Ether reaction, no Geo or Electro traces. Only a faint breeze surrounded him, its nature impossible to discern.

Tsukishiro Yanagi asked, "Everyone ready? We're moving out."

Hoshimi Miyabi said, "Let's go. Take the shortcut—we need to reach Scott Outpost as fast as possible."

Tsukishiro Yanagi nodded. "Understood. We'll make it in half an hour."

They were currently on the southern side of New Eridu. To reach Scott Outpost, they'd have to cross nearly half the city—even taking a shortcut would still take about thirty minutes.

...

Half an hour later, at the gate of Scott Outpost.

As soon as Tsukishiro Yanagi parked the car, Hoshimi Miyabi, Asaba Harumasa, and Soukaku quickly stepped out and followed her inside.

Upon entering, Hoshimi Miyabi immediately asked the staff on duty, "Mr. Sam Li and several Adepti came here earlier. Where are they now?"

The staff member immediately set down their tools and replied nervously, "They entered the hollow about half an hour ago. They didn't have access passes—they just forced their way in. Seemed like they were in a hurry…"

The staff had wanted to stop them, but how could ordinary humans stop Adepti flying overhead? Before they could even react, the Adepti had already entered Hollow Zero.

After listening to the account, Tsukishiro Yanagi took a deep breath. "Should we go in and check?"

Hoshimi Miyabi nodded. "Yes. Harumasa, Soukaku—you two return to H.A.N.D. Headquarters and report the situation to our superiors. Yanagi, you're coming with me into the hollow to assist the Adepti."

Asaba Harumasa started to protest. "But Section Chief—"

Before he could finish, Tsukishiro Yanagi interrupted. "Don't worry. The Section Chief and I are just going to provide support to the Adepti. We'll be fine. You two hurry back and make your report."

It had already been half an hour since the Adepti entered Hollow Zero.

Time was critical. Without further hesitation, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi entered the hollow.

The moment they stepped inside, Hoshimi Miyabi immediately noticed that compared to their last entry, the Ether concentration and corruption near the edges had lessened. It seemed the Adepti had already slain quite a few Destruction-tier Ethereal.

Just then, Tsukishiro Yanagi pointed into the distance. "Section Chief, look over there—fresh battle traces. Let's check it out."

When the two approached, they found a massive crater amidst the ruins—not from an explosion, but as if something had been smashed into the ground with sheer force.

It must have been left by the Adepti.

Hoshimi Miyabi said quietly, "Let's keep moving."

Tsukishiro Yanagi cautioned, "We don't have proper equipment. We can't go too deep into Hollow Zero—we should stay near the perimeter."

Hoshimi Miyabi nodded. "I know."

With that, the two continued forward.

...

While Sam Li and the Adepti fought their way through Hollow Zero, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi had also stepped inside.

At that same moment—

Deep within Hollow Zero, near its core.

Here, there was no dense, mist-like Ether energy, nor the endless ruins that filled other parts of the hollow.

Instead, it was like stepping into an entirely different world.

Colorful ether threads floated gently through the air, condensed from pure Ether itself. The ground wasn't rubble—it was covered in translucent flowers. All around were shimmering butterflies, winged bicycles gliding through the air, and chairs drifting like fish swimming through invisible waters...

The entire place looked like a dreamlike paradise.

But the most shocking sight of all lay in the distance—an enormous figure, thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands of meters tall. A mountain-sized, multicolored titan that looked vaguely human, yet clearly wasn't. Bathed in radiant, star-like light, it exuded an unsettling, divine presence.

The transparent flowers on the ground all grew in its direction.

The strange floating "lifeforms" were all drifting toward it.

Everything—every color, every thread of Ether—seemed to be drawn toward that massive being, converging upon it.

Then, suddenly—

A thunderous boom echoed from afar.

A colossal rock beast, over two hundred meters tall, crashed into the dreamlike world, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

The translucent flowers shrieked with piercing cries, and the strange floating lifeforms froze in alarm.

The next moment, the massive rock beast rose to its feet, releasing an earth-shaking roar toward a World-Ending-tier Ethereal looming in the distance.

That rock beast—was none other than Azhdaha.

Just over half an hour ago, Azhdaha had torn open a spatial fissure and charged straight into the very heart of Hollow Zero.