Outside Hollow Zero.
Ever since the elites of the Hollow Special Operations replaced the Public Security Bureau on the front lines, the advance of the giant Ethereals had clearly slowed.
Upgraded equipment had finally given the Hollow Special Operations the means to engage these giants head-on. At this pace, it wouldn't be long before the army of giant Ethereals was completely wiped out.
However, just as everyone believed things were finally turning around, a furious roar suddenly tore through the growing sense of hope.
Those Hollow Special Operations elites closest to the front instinctively looked up—only to see, from the very barrier of Hollow Zero, a massive claw rip through space.
Moments later, an enormous figure slowly stepped through. That monstrous height had to be at least fifty meters tall.
The ether pressure radiating from its body dwarfed anything the giant Ethereals beneath it could muster.
This was a supergiant Ethereal.
Its sudden appearance instantly threw the confident Hollow Special Operations soldiers into disarray. And then, two more colossal silhouettes crawled out behind it.
Three supergiant Ethereals.
"You've got to be kidding me…" From the defensive line formed by Hollow Special Operations, Tsukishiro Yanagi stared in disbelief at the three towering monsters.
It wasn't a joke. Just tracking one like Nineveh had nearly wiped-out Section 6 entirely. Now there were three—each stronger than Nineveh by far.
It was a catastrophic turn of events.
Even though their power would be diminished once they left the Hollow, taking them down would still be far from easy.
At the very least, Hollow Special Operations would need weapons with much higher destructive power.
"What do we do now, Section Chief?" With no better options, Yanagi turned to Hoshimi Miyabi.
Miyabi had just withdrawn from the battlefield, having slain over a dozen giant Ethereals. Her achievements were fearsome across the entire Hollow Special Operations.
Her title, "Void Hunter," was no exaggeration.
"We evacuate the wounded. The rest of us stay and hold them back. Even if we can't kill all three of those monsters, we must slow them down." Miyabi spoke calmly.
She was no longer the impulsive fighter she once was. Everything she'd experienced had taught her the limits of her power. Now, she focused on making the best tactical calls.
"How long until the rear defensive line is finished?"
Suddenly, Miyabi recalled the line of fortifications being built further back—New Eridu's real last line of defense.
Tsukishiro answered grimly, "After the Public Security Bureau pulled out, they sent people to help. But even then, it'll take at least three days to finish."
Three days…
At that rate, Hollow Special Operations would be obliterated long before then.
Against supergiant Ethereals, even advanced equipment meant little if they lacked raw destructive force.
Those rear defenses were supposed to compensate for that. But with them incomplete, their impact was heavily diminished.
The only option left was to hold the line with lives, buying time until the construction was done.
"Prepare for a fight to the death. We can't back down. New Eridu is right behind us."
A steely glint appeared in Miyabi's eyes as her hand moved to the hilt of her blade.
But just as she was about to strike, a shadow cloaked in black energy suddenly dropped from the sky—landing directly on the head of one of the supergiant Ethereals.
ROAR!
A piercing scream erupted from the beast's mouth.
Before anyone could react, the figure on its head flickered and reappeared at their defensive line.
Green hair. A Yaksha mask. Black demonic mist.
There was no mistaking it—it was Chi.
And there was no one else in New Eridu quite like him.
Aka had been sent by Zhong Yan to support the Hollow Special Operations.
"Who are you?" Miyabi's expression froze briefly at the sudden arrival.
Aka responded without turning his head, "That doesn't matter. What matters now is how you plan to stop those three beasts."
Without wasting another word, he thrust his spear forward, black mist erupting from the tip. The oppressive force of it shook every soldier to their core.
Seeing this, Miyabi immediately gave her order: "Stick to the plan! Evacuate the wounded—everyone else, with me! We hold the line!"
...
While fierce combat raged inside New Eridu, things weren't looking any better out on the outer ring.
Unlike New Eridu, the outer ring lagged far behind in technology. Now, with the Ethereal swarm invading, they stood no chance.
One gang base after another had fallen. Only in Blazewood Town, home of the Sons of Calydon, still stood unscathed.
And that was thanks to two people—Airi and Ying.
Under their command, wave after wave of Ethereal attacks had been repelled. Not even the giant Ethereals could breach their makeshift defenses.
But it couldn't last.
Now, two supergiant Ethereals had emerged here as well.
Airi and Ying could handle them—for now.
But who would take on the remaining giant Ethereals?
Even a single one of those could level Wildfire Town with ease.
Inside the town, what remained of the outer ring's gangs had all gathered and pooled their forces into a final line of defense.
At their head stood the Sons of Calydon. Beneath them, the outer ring's former overlord—Pompey.
"Caesar, are you sure your two friends can handle this?" Pompey asked, looking up at the distant figures of Airi and Ying clashing with the supergiant Ethereals.
Caesar's face betrayed her worry for a moment—but then she firmed her expression.
"Believe in them. Our job is just to survive. Don't drag them down."
Even as she said it, a shadow crept into Caesar's heart.
If only we can make it through this alive…