Within the Hollow, a pack of Ethereals wandered aimlessly. Lacking any real intelligence, they were even less sophisticated than the Honkai Beasts of other worlds.
They were completely unaware as a white figure silently closed in.
SWISH!
A flash of lightning cut through the dark Hollow. Before one of the Ethereals could react, a blade crackling with electricity had already pierced its head.
The surrounding Ethereals were too slow to process what had happened. In the next instant, the white figure became a streak of lightning, and in less than ten seconds, the flashing light had devoured every Ethereal in sight.
"Phew~"
Anby landed softly, letting out a breath and wiping the sweat from her brow.
"To have such skill... She's truly the Anby of legend," Trigger murmured, awestruck at how easily she had dispatched the entire group.
"It's far from enough," Anby replied, showing no sign of pride. Her gaze shifted to Mo Wang. "This was nothing. These Ethereals were too weak to showcase my true strength."
She looked at him expectantly, as if seeking praise. He was always calling her weak, saying her skills were lacking for a captain of the Silver Squad. Now that she'd shown him a fraction of her power, surely he'd have nothing more to say, right?
To her surprise, he chopped her on the head.
"Ow!"
"So you have been slacking off at work, haven't you?" he said, waving his phone at her. "Heh, I finally caught you in the act. I should send this video to Nicole. Let her see how her 'star employee' has been holding back. This deserves a serious pay cut, don't you think?"
The power Anby had just displayed was on a completely different level from her usual performance. Even without her old gear, she was at least twice as strong as she normally let on.
So, the seemingly most hardworking member of the Cunning Hares was actually the biggest slacker of them all.
Perceived Anby: A diligent, responsible, model employee of the Cunning Hares.
Actual Anby: Cashes Nicole's paychecks, slacks off on every mission using less than half her strength, then goes to eat hamburgers.
"Don't tell Nicole!" Anby's expression immediately became pitiful. Her salary was already meager, and she could only afford burgers from the cheap convenience store. If Nicole docked her pay, she wouldn't even be able to afford that.
The thought of not being able to eat her precious little hamburgers was more terrifying than hearing Number 11 was in danger.
"Hehehe, well now, what should I do?" Mo Wang let out a villainous chuckle. "You know, all this work lately has left my back feeling a little sore."
"Please don't tell Nicole~" Anby immediately clung to his arm, begging. "I'll give you a massage when we get back, okay?"
"I can't believe it. That Anby is acting like this," Trigger muttered, finding it impossible to reconcile the legendary Executioner from military rumors with the pouting girl in front of her.
...
Led by Eous, the group quickly reached the deepest part of the Hollow.
"Look! Number 11 is over there!"
But her situation was dire. She was surrounded by a massive horde of Ethereals, her movements growing sluggish, her breathing heavy.
THUD!
After kicking away an Ethereal, she stumbled and fell to one knee.
"Heh, finally at your limit?" a cold female voice echoed from the darkness.
Two silver-haired women emerged, their faces nearly identical to Number 11's, but their eyes were chillingly cold. "I'm surprised it was so easy to lure you into this trap," one of them sneered. "After all this time, you haven't improved at all. I really don't know why the Captain saved a failure like you."
Her voice was thick with venom and jealousy.
"What... did you do?" Number 11 rasped, cold sweat beading on her forehead.
"Nothing much," the silver-haired woman said, casually twirling a glowing metal shard between her fingers. "Just had you inhale a bit of a special neurotoxin during the fight. It was prepared just for you."
"You...!"
"Don't struggle," she cooed. "In a few more minutes, you won't be able to move a single finger."
"What are you talking about? I..."
"Heh, as expected. You're just a poor, ignorant wretch. How pathetic, our littlest sister. You still don't know a thing."
"What... do you mean?" Number 11 tried to stand, but her body wouldn't obey.
"You don't need to know the truth. Now, please serve as the sacrifice for the revival of the Silver Squad."
Just as the woman reached for the nearly unconscious Number 11, a flash of lightning appeared between them. Anby's blade swung at her with blinding speed. At the last second, the other silver-haired woman pulled her comrade out of the way.
SWISH!
A drop of blood fell through the air.
"You...!" Number 11's eyes widened at the sight of her rescuer.
"Tsk, you really don't hold back, do you, Captain?" The woman who had been attacked touched a shallow cut on her neck. "Attacking with such a deadly move right after we meet again."
"It's been a long time, Cui Ji," Anby said, her expression complicated.
"So you came after all. Why? Just to save her?" Cui Ji's face twisted with resentment.
"It's not..."
"Heh, you're still the same. We're both your sisters, so why do you only have eyes for her?" Cui Ji's expression turned to one of sorrow, like an abandoned puppy.
"I'm sorry, Cui Ji," Anby said, taking a deep breath. "I'll apologize for what comes next later. But for now, please give Xia Lin back."
She raised her weapon, pointing it at her former sister and comrade.
Hearing her real name, the semi-conscious Number 11's expression flickered, but then the poison took hold, and she passed out completely.
"You want to save her? Then come and try."
As if on cue, a massive Ethereal burst from a nearby building and charged at Anby.
But just as it was about to hit her, Mo Wang, who had been watching the show for a while, finally stepped out and stopped the behemoth's charge with a single hand.
BOOM!
"What the hell?! Who are you?!" Cui Ji stared at him like she'd seen a ghost. This man, wearing nothing but casual clothes, had stopped a three-meter-tall Ethereal with his bare hands. Was he some kind of superman?
"Me? I'm just a spectator. Would you believe that?" Mo Wang said with a wave of his hand.
"What took you so long?" Anby grumbled.
"Sorry, sorry. Your sisterly drama was just too interesting. I couldn't help but watch a little longer," he said with a grin. "Besides, it would have been rude to interrupt your long-awaited reunion, wouldn't it?"
Anby just stared at him, speechless. Does he think this is some kind of soap opera?
"ROAR!"
"Quiet, can't you see they're having a family reunion? Your timing is terrible," Mo Wang said, and with a slight flex of his arm, he sent the giant Ethereal flying.
"Alright, all clean," he said, and then turned to the other two women. "Well then, you two... uh, sisters-in-law? You can continue with your family matters. I won't disturb you."
He then slung the unconscious Number 11 over his shoulder and strolled back to Trigger's side.
"Sisters-in-law? Heh, no wonder you were so confident coming here, Captain," Cui Ji sneered. "So you found yourself a powerful boyfriend?"
"Wh-what?! No! It's not like that at all!" Anby's face turned beet red as she tried to explain.
"No need to explain! You win this time, Captain. But don't think you can stop the revival of the Silver Squad just by taking her back. We'll meet again."
With a final glare at Anby, Cui Ji and her companion disappeared into a rift.
Anby watched them go, her expression more complicated than ever.