His mechanical face remained calm, but in his lone human eye flickered a storm of complex emotions.
"Using one's own strength... to do the right thing, huh..."
"Heh... I can't even remember why I became a Void Hunter in the first place. What was it that drove me back then..."
Yano lifted his gaze toward the stars scattered across the night sky. What had been on his mind at that time?
At the moment he received the title of "Void Hunter," a title he had held close for so long—what had he truly been thinking?
Now, not only were those memories fading, but even the title of Void Hunter had long since been abandoned, left to disappear without a trace.
He shook his head slightly. Before his eyes, a live broadcast feed appeared automatically, and his gaze locked onto Zane. He recognized him instantly.
"Since parting ways with Lamia last time, I've wondered if we'd ever cross blades again... But it seems there won't be a chance. After all, I have my own path to follow now."
"To do what I believe is right."
The feed faded from Yano's vision, and he recalled the man who had sought him out days ago—along with the plans he had revealed.
Yano raised his head again, but this time his eyes didn't fall on the stars. Instead, they fixed on the strange, looming full moon.
He stood tall and motionless, gazing at it in silence before lowering his head and turning away.
The starlight pooled around him, casting a faint glow—just as it had when he first accepted the title of "Void Hunter."
Gradually, his figure vanished into the night.
...
Inside the Ether Crystal.
"Corin, are you sure it's here?"
Ellen frowned as she asked. Corin stared at the pitch-black Ether Crystal before them, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.
"Yes. I just saw someone come out of here... I shouldn't be mistaken..."
Behind them, Lycaon silently watched the scene unfolding on stage through the window, while Rina let out a quiet sigh.
They had come to carry out a commission. Just as they were making real progress, both the client and the target had suddenly vanished.
One had blown up before their eyes, the other reduced to ashes. Between the two of them, they couldn't even scrape together a single intact finger.
"Tsk... Could this be a weak point?"
Ellen muttered under her breath, then silently drew her weapon and rammed it forward.
The sound was faint, drawing no attention. But the Ether Crystal didn't give way. Not even a trace was left behind.
"No good. Too hard."
Ellen shook her head and continued,
"I say we just go find him, ask him to let us out. Or wait until he's done—then we should be able to leave. Though we'll probably get investigated either way..."
Of course, she had recognized Zane. After all, he was the only one who could wield Ether Crystals.
But right now, getting close to him was easier said than done.
"Mr. Zane..."
Corin's gaze also drifted toward the center of the hall, her eyes filled with unease. She had no idea what was going to happen next.
Suddenly, a small black sphere appeared out of thin air beside her, circling quickly around her.
"Eh? What's this?"
Startled, Corin instinctively stretched out her hands. The sphere hovered there as though resting in her palms.
Her voice drew the others' attention. All eyes turned toward the strange black sphere.
What was it?
The sphere floated upward, then zipped toward the Ether Crystal. As it approached, a gap quickly opened in the crystalline wall, leaving the group staring in surprise.
"Did Mr. Zane send you to take us out of here?"
Corin's eyes widened, hope and relief flickering in her voice.
The black sphere bobbed up and down, as if nodding.
It opened a path. Without hesitation, the group rushed through and escaped the Ether Crystal.
But outside, they immediately came face-to-face with Hare's House.
At that moment, Hare's House had been trying to figure out how to break through the layers of encirclement outside.
Nicole recognized Lycaon and his group, and when she spotted the black sphere, she quickly pieced it together and gave a brief greeting.
Victoria Housekeeping and Hare's House joined forces, immediately considering how to slip away without attracting attention.
"The ground's a dead end... It looks like the only way is up."
Ellen frowned, deep in thought. The others exchanged helpless looks. If only they really could fly.
Just then, Ellen felt a faint vibration. At first she thought it was her imagination, but the uneasy expressions on the others' faces told her otherwise.
Boom!
The ground suddenly caved in, opening a massive hole. A voice called up from below.
"See? I told you my calculations were exact. If we'd done it your way, we'd have ended up under the police cars."
Covered in dust, Trigger stood with her hands on her hips, lecturing Soldier 11.
She turned to Nicole and the others, her eyes landing on their masks.
"We're going out underground. Once we move the vehicles back a bit, you can head in. But the temporary supports won't hold long—it could collapse any minute, so be careful."
Corin and the others could only stare, stunned.
Of course. If the skies were blocked, then the underground was the answer.
They had literally dug a tunnel.
Time was short. Both groups immediately began preparing. As Nicole drove the vehicle into the tunnel, the Ether Crystal above began to fade away piece by piece.
Realizing what that meant, Nicole urged them on, then detonated explosives outside, burying the tunnel entrance beneath rubble.
The blast drew no attention. Everyone's eyes were locked on the Ether Crystal as it dissolved.
Light spilled in. But the people inside the banquet hall, already warned, didn't dare flee. Instead, they raised their eyes to the masked figure standing on the shattered rooftop.
High above, Zane stood calmly in the sky, gazing down at the helicopter before him with a faint, amused smile.
Now that he and Nineveh could fly... they had full freedom in the air. Only Hoshimi Miyabi was still bound to the ground.
"What exactly are you planning?"
From the helicopter, Hoshimi Miyabi leaned out, her long legs braced, her expression sharp as she stared at Zane.
"Shouldn't I be asking you? What are you planning?"
Zane's voice was light, but Miyabi's brows furrowed.
"Isn't the situation clear enough already?"
Zane tilted his head slightly.
"Then what is this? Are you here to talk me into surrendering? Or planning to fight me and drag me down?"
"I told you before, you're not very bright..."
Miyabi ignored the jab. She shook her head and replied softly,
"I only want to understand what you're thinking. From the Void Hunters' perspective, what you're doing is wrong. But from my own perspective... I approve of it."
After all, this man still technically counted as a member of Hollow Special Operations Unit 6—though only barely.
The pilot beside her stared, wide-eyed. Was she seriously saying that? Not that he disagreed...
"Understand me? Hah. There'll be plenty of time for that later. For now, carry a message to those trying to block my way."
Zane chuckled softly, admiration glinting in his eyes. He raised his hand, and a black sphere materialized.
"This... is a Hollow."
"If it were to erupt here... how many people within several kilometers would survive?"
"Hehehe..."