"U-Uchiha?!"
Billy's mechanical eyes widened to exaggerated proportions—despite being a robot, the sheer shock he displayed was practically human, perhaps even more expressive. He looked as if the word "stunned" had been etched across his digital face.
He recognized Uchiha immediately, thanks to their prior collaboration. As for Zhu Yuan, who had never seen him before, she only caught on after Billy blurted out the name.
"Uchiha? You mean the legendary Hollow Raider the New Eridu Public Security and Hollow Investigation Association have been hunting?"
As a Public Security officer, Zhu Yuan knew Uchiha's name well—it was engraved on the most wanted list. Which made her current thoughts... very complicated.
But she wasn't some rigid rulebook fossil. Given Uchiha's overwhelming power, he could likely wipe out the two Thanatos-class Ethereal with ease. If he truly meant to save these people, then for now, she could overlook his status as a Raider.
The Public Security Officer Training Manual even stated clearly: in emergencies, officers could collaborate with unofficial individuals without prior identity checks.
Besides, she knew she couldn't take him down even if she tried.
And technically speaking, since she was still under suspension, she wasn't officially a Public Security officer at the moment—just a concerned citizen with a "Best Young Officer" award hanging in her past.
Elsewhere in the building, Nekomata's attention was also drawn to Uchiha.
"It's him..."
She remembered this man. The mysterious powerhouse who had slaughtered so many members of the Red Fang Gang—he had to be the one.
And the fact that he had come down from the upper levels that day... it meant Miguel Silver was probably dead by his hand too.
According to the game's storyline, Nekomata was supposed to pursue revenge for Silver's death. But things had escalated so far that his fate no longer mattered.
What mattered now... was whether these civilians trapped in the Hollow could be saved.
The moment Uchiha appeared, both Thanatos instinctively sensed danger emanating from him. Their attention immediately shifted to the more threatening target.
In a blink, one Thanatos vanished—reappearing behind Uchiha in less than a breath, weapon raised for a crushing blow.
Zhu Yuan instinctively tried to fire in support—but realized too late her magazine was empty.
Uchiha stood perfectly still. Whether he hadn't noticed or simply didn't care, he made no move to defend himself.
The Thanatos's weapon came crashing down—only to pass through his body like mist. The creature lost balance, stumbling forward.
Zhu Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief.
Uchiha hadn't even flinched.
"So hasty," he said calmly, his voice steady. "But unfortunately for you, attacks like that won't work on me."
He turned slowly, eyes locking onto the second Ethereal—Thanatos, Energized Form.
From behind his white mask, two blood-red, lotus-patterned eyes were revealed—the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. A faint crimson glow pulsed deep in the left eye.
"Now... witness what it means to be consumed by flames that never die."
Without warning, a wave of black fire erupted on the Energized Thanatos's body—licking up its crystalline skin with agonizing intensity.
It screamed. It flailed. It teleported. But the flames never ceased.
The fire clung with an unnatural force. It couldn't be extinguished.
The other Thanatos, now recovered, charged Uchiha again. But its fate was the same. Its attack phased right through him, as if he were made of vapor.
But this time, Uchiha didn't plan to let it try again.
As his left eye glinted once more, he turned—and the black fire followed his gaze, carving an arc through the air.
A matching red glow flickered in his right eye. The streak of flame suddenly shaped itself—solidifying into a blade.
The black flame blade pierced cleanly into the Thanatos's core.
With its weak spot impaled, the Thanatos disintegrated almost instantly.
The other Thanatos, still writhing under the black fire, couldn't withstand it much longer. Its form began to break down, its screams fading as the flame devoured it completely.
Once both were gone, the fire vanished as if it had never existed.
Two upper-tier Ethereals—the same ones that had wiped out an entire investigation team—had been eliminated in mere moments.
Zhu Yuan and Billy stood frozen, unable to believe their eyes. Especially Billy.
Last time they'd worked with Uchiha, the guy had at least used weapons against the giant Ethereal.
But this?
This time... he hadn't even moved a finger.
"Gulp." Zhu Yuan swallowed hard, her astonishment plain on her face.
With power like that, even if the entire Criminal Investigations Special Unit teamed up, they'd still be slaughtered.
So, this was the infamous, legendary Hollow Raider...
"Trouble's been dealt with," Uchiha said, turning his gaze to Zhu Yuan. "So, tell me, Officer... are you planning to arrest me now?"
His sudden question caught her completely off guard. She stammered, clearly flustered: "I-I'm deeply grateful for your help. A Public Security officer would never arrest someone who just saved innocent lives... At least... not this time."
Uchiha let out a soft, amused chuckle at the word hero.
Then, his smile vanished.
"What makes you think I care about saving these people?" he said coldly. "Maybe I just wanted to kill those two Ethereals."
"I'm not a good person. I help whoever I feel like. I kill whoever I feel like. I act on impulse—that's all there is to me. Call me a hero, and all you do is chain me down."
"And another thing—" he added, tone sharp. "You should be glad you didn't get any ideas about trying to take me down. Because if you had..."
"I'd have erased your memories of me..."
"Or just taken your head."