Deep within the middle layers of Hollow Zero, Tyce was locked in battle with Zane's projection. Meanwhile, in another massive hollow, everything appeared calm and still.
But that calm was deceptive. Unlike before, subtle changes had begun to unfold.
Zane, however, knew nothing of this—because at that moment, he was meeting a woman within his inner world.
"What's going on?"
Looking lazy and relaxed, Zane lay down on a patch of grass beneath a tree, glancing at the woman standing beside him with mild curiosity. What could be so important that she had called him here personally?
"Humans are undertaking a dangerous operation."
Although she had taken the initiative to summon him—something she rarely did—her expression remained serene, as though nothing in this world could disturb her composure.
"An operation... I sensed it."
Zane nodded slightly. He had noticed the signs ever since the incidents surrounding the shifting hollow—no, since the events beneath the Mars District. The operation had likely already begun back then.
"A large-scale operation like this can't be completely hidden. It's only natural that you sensed it. But the details... they've gone far beyond even my expectations. You probably wouldn't have imagined this either."
The woman turned toward him, her gaze soft but heavy.
"Humans intend to bring that entity to the surface."
"And if it breaks free from spatial constraints, forcing its way here... the consequences will be catastrophic."
Zane raised an eyebrow, half-smiling at her words.
"If this is all part of a plan, then surely humanity has a countermeasure? Otherwise, that would just be suicide. I doubt they're that stupid."
Of course, he didn't actually trust anyone. He said that only because he was fairly sure Shin was involved—and that guy wasn't dumb enough to pull something suicidal.
"You're right. They do have a countermeasure—a simple and brutal one."
She lifted her hand and waved it slightly. Streams of light gathered before them, forming a glowing image in the air.
Zane recognized it instantly. It was a projection of New Eridu—and dominating the image at its center was the immense Hollow Zero.
"Here."
She pointed at it.
"There are over a thousand energy singularities inside. I detected them using the residual energy you left behind from your last fight in Hollow Zero."
"I don't know exactly what those singularities are, but the total energy they contain is... staggering."
Her expression shifted slightly. She paused, then continued in a quieter tone.
"The combined energy equals half of Hollow Zero—and it's still growing. It seems to be absorbing energy from Hollow Zero itself..."
Zane's eyes narrowed slightly. Absorbing Hollow Zero's energy? That could only mean one thing—the Black Coffin.
And if that was true, then those singularities were undoubtedly the same things that had "gone missing" beneath the Mars District not long ago—the constructs modeled after the Test Towers.
"If those singularities are all like the Black Coffin... then..."
Zane sat up. The destructive power of a Test Tower explosion was no secret. Just one could suppress a hollow equivalent to the Twin Hollow. How many had been detonated back then to halt Hollow Zero's expansion?
Now there were over a thousand energy singularities. Even if each wasn't as powerful as a Test Tower, the combined force...
Zane had good reason to believe it surpassed the blasts from the Hollow Zero suppression.
"You say you don't know what those singularities are, yet you call the countermeasure simple and brutal..."
He looked toward her. She nodded, her expression complicated.
"What you're thinking—I've thought of as well. I don't know exactly what those singularities are, but I've made some guesses."
"I remember the great battle against Hollow Zero... that thing with immense destructive power..."
She narrowed her eyes. Zane raised a brow in return and said with a teasing tone,
"So you were spying on me back then?"
Her lips twitched slightly. "Spying? Please. I was perfectly open about it."
"So, how powerful do you think these things could be?"
He didn't press further. Truth be told, he'd long suspected someone like her had been watching him. After all, as the so-called "Child of the World," it would be stranger if no one was.
"If each singularity can cause that level of destruction, then a thousand of them..."
"They could truly annihilate Hollow Zero."
"At the very least, nothing would survive within a vast radius. The singularities are packed so densely they almost blanket the entire core region. If their power somehow resonates and stacks..."
"Even hiding in the Hollow won't help. Once space itself shatters, there's nowhere left to run."
She lowered her hand, and the projection dissolved. Zane fell silent, realizing the weight of what she'd said.
"Not even I could survive that?"
"Unlikely."
Her reply was soft but firm. Then, after a pause, she added,
"But if you prepare properly—and with the advantage of being within your own world—you should survive. Though you'll likely suffer heavy injuries."
"Blowing up the entire hollow to bury the source of the disaster along with it... bold move."
"So having me absorb Hollow Zero... is to prevent any aftermath from the explosion?"
Zane let out a quiet sigh. If this plan failed, the blast could easily reach beyond Hollow Zero itself. And New Eridu was right next to it.
He looked back at her.
"So, you called me here just to tell me this? Or are you planning to stop them?"
"Not stop them. Informing you was only the first step. To use your words—I intend to turn their plan against them."
Her eyes gleamed with dangerous intent. Zane met her gaze, curiosity flickering in his own, though there was a seriousness behind it.
By now, he was certain she wasn't the Will of the World. Whoever she truly was, she wasn't simple.
"How exactly do you plan to counter their move?"
"That entity has opposed the world for ages. It won't let this chance slip by. So, we'll ensure humanity's plan succeeds—and I'll take the opportunity to clear out everything there."
She raised her hand, erasing part of the space around them. Through the rift spilled moonlight—revealing that strange, radiant moon.
"Your main task now is to subdue Hollow Zero before that entity descends."
"That way, it'll be forced to bring its original power with it. It can't come here empty-handed—and once it does, there'll be no turning back."
"After crossing such a vast distance, its foundations will weaken. What we'll face will be only a fraction of its full strength."
"If the plan succeeds under those conditions, the victory will be enormous. For a long time, there'll be nothing to fear—and you'll have all the time you need."
Listening to her, Zane frowned slightly.
"Even so, it won't eliminate it completely?"
What he wanted wasn't just victory. He wanted this hollow—and everything tied to it—erased for good.
"It can't be done. Not yet."
Her voice dimmed as she looked toward the eerie moon, where trails of black mist drifted in the endless void beside it.
As the space returned to normal and the scene faded, Zane understood her intent. The next step was to discuss the details—especially one thing he still didn't grasp: how exactly to subdue Hollow Zero...
Time passed, and outside, dusk had already fallen.
Inside Hollow Zero, Shin waited in the Falkenhayn Mercenary encampment, keeping an eye on communications from both sides.
Moments later, a faint light flickered from her communicator. Seeing the encrypted signal appear on the screen, she slowly exhaled.
Tyce's mission was finally over—though judging by the report, it hadn't gone smoothly.
"Zane's side..."
Her eyes turned toward the vast hollow in the distance, worry glinting faintly in them. She wasn't worried for Zane's safety—there was little danger for him.
What she feared was that he might uncover something.
And she suspected he already had. What mattered now was his reaction.
"Ugh..."
Shin shook her head with a sigh.
"Damn it... I let my emotions get in the way. I should've talked it over with Zane first."
Thinking back, she realized she hadn't told him the full plan—not just because she didn't want to trouble him, but because she'd wanted to prove something.
The gap between them kept growing, and she'd begun to feel she could no longer keep up.
So she'd wanted to prove herself.
Prove her worth. Prove humanity's worth.
But now, that defiant resolve felt childish and foolish.
Maybe it still wasn't too late to make things right...
Meanwhile, in another massive hollow—
"The hollow is contracting..."