"Everyone ready? The rising star of Proxies in New Eridu is about to hit the road!"
Ruby sat in the driver's seat, slapping the steering wheel and shouting, "Wuhu!"
"Phaga's not even on the bus yet. What are you starting for?"
Ellen rolled her eyes from the seat behind the driver and sighed helplessly. "One last check, Ruby. Are you really sure you can drive this bus?"
At the strategy meeting earlier, Ruby had already mapped out a full escape route. If they could get past the obstacles, she was confident they could break through the Hollow.
The problem was that very "getting past the obstacles."
As an apprentice Proxy, her abilities had limits. She couldn't guarantee what dangers lay along the way.
How many Ethereal they could shake off would ultimately depend on how fast the bus driver could push it.
"Oh, relax!"
Ruby flashed a mischievous smile over her shoulder, kneeling on the seat in an almost childlike pose. She stuck out her tongue playfully and gave herself a thumbs-up.
"Don't worry, the road's mostly straight. Who doesn't know how to hit the gas?"
Ellen sighed, closed her eyes, and leaned back to rest. "I just hope you don't stall while shifting gears… Ah, forget it."
They were already on this pirate ship—no, pirate bus. There was no turning back now.
Tap tap!
Hearing footsteps, Ruby turned toward the sound, her eyes lighting up. "Phaga, you're back! How'd it go?"
"Not bad."
Phaga strolled up the bus steps, dropped into the seat beside Ellen, and set his parasol aside.
"The underground garage doors are open. All the Ethereal lingering near the entrance are gone. But more are closing in—we need to move quickly."
He added, "Don't stress yourself. Just focus on driving. Ellen and I will handle the rest."
"Got it!"
Ruby shrank back into her seat, her eyebrows twitching with excitement. Her hands on the steering wheel trembled.
In a sudden motion, she twisted the key, pressed the clutch, yanked the gearshift sideways, and shoved it forward.
Roar!
The engine thundered to life, and the bus's tires surged ahead without hesitation.
"Class President, stop zoning out—the bus just pulled out!"
A student in the SUV's passenger seat whispered urgently.
"I know."
The Class President slowly opened his eyes, drew in a deep breath, and glanced to the side.
On the other side, a minivan driver turned to look at him as well.
The Class President grinned and gave a thumbs-up. "Hey, buddy—let's go all out!"
He twisted the key, and the multi-ton steel beast roared awake. Once it charged forward, nothing could stop it. Black smoke trailed behind as the monster lunged into the distance!
In no time, it burst from the underground garage alongside the bus.
"Wait—how'd you guys get moving that fast? Aren't you supposed to start in first gear and work your way up?"
A student in the van wailed, but soon they floored it too, chasing after the others.
The convoy, carrying the hopes of over thirty families, roared toward the outside world.
The underground garage nearest the school gate fell silent once again...
Buzz!
Crash!
The massive bus slammed into a spatial rift and dropped half a meter onto solid ground with a thunderous boom.
The instant it landed, it flattened several Ethereal.
Those in front barely had time to react before they were sucked beneath the bus, crushed under its wheels without resistance.
The SUV and van flanked the bus, pushing past it to clear the way.
The Ethereal on the playground froze, staring blankly before finally giving chase.
From all directions, more surged in like a tidal wave.
Meanwhile, Phaga climbed out through the sunroof onto the bus's roof, parasol in hand.
"Kunmutu, switch from 'Jetpack' to 'Sniper' mode."
He whispered softly, pulling his coat over his head to cover his hair.
The parasol in his hand immediately began to transform. Metal plates peeled away from its tip, elongating the muzzle.
A lens snapped up from the handle, aligning perfectly with Phaga's gaze. Then—Bang!
A flaming bullet tore through the air.
The Class President in the SUV raised an eyebrow as an enormous Ethereal charging at them was reduced to ash in an instant. The weight on his chest finally eased.
Wiping sweat from his forehead, he no longer cared about the dread he'd felt earlier when facing Ethereal like mountains.
He slammed his fist against the roof, ignoring the sting as he drove headlong into the weaker Ethereal, sweeping them under the vehicle until they too turned to ash.
If the bus faced the swarm alone, it would be dragged down.
That was why the SUV and van had to shoulder part of the burden.
"Charge! Chase Flynn, everyone—Wuhu!"
The Class President shouted, the wind whipping his face red. Adrenaline surged harder than ever before, flooding courage straight into his brain.
Fear? Hesitation? Crush them all!
These Ethereal? Blow them away!
...Though some of the bigger ones weren't budging...
Damn it!
Phaga! Phago! Phagye! Shoot it!
"Class President, another hundred meters forward, then veer left at eleven o'clock!"
The student in the passenger seat clutched Ruby's map, urgently calling the next move.
"The teaching building?"
The Class President glanced, but his body reacted faster than his words. He drifted hard, tires screeching across the concrete.
The steel beast's tail swung wide, shredding the Ethereal behind into a burst of fragments—like fireworks exploding.
Another massive Ethereal loomed ahead, twin hammers in hand, nearly two meters tall.
The Class President recognized it instantly: a Goblinoid, one of the elite.
But before it could act, a shot from Phaga on the bus blew it apart.
The SUV roared past, scattering the Goblinoid's fading Ether dust.
"Yeah, the teaching building," the passenger confirmed quickly. "Ruby said there's a spatial rift there. But if there isn't..."
...they'd crash straight into the wall.
"Then we smash through it! Wuhu!"
The Class President didn't hesitate, flooring the gas!
The van behind followed suit, engine screaming.
"Those two up front are way too into this!"
Ruby grumbled, but she too stomped the pedal, her bus roaring forward.
"Time to speed up! Our hero, get back inside—don't trip!"
Phaga climbed back down silently. Glancing up, he saw all three vehicles had already plunged into the rift, now racing along a paved road.
It looked like they'd reached the school perimeter, the Hollow's edge looming ahead.
Ellen leaned back in her seat, teasing along with Ruby. "Ah, the hero's back."
"Cut it out. You're ruining my image of your icy coolness, you know?"
Phaga straightened his jacket and buckled his seatbelt.
Ellen tilted her head. "Am I really that cold?"
"Usually, yes. I've never seen you with another expression," Phaga replied.
"Tsk, you're no different!"
Ellen clicked her tongue and nudged him. "Hey, move over so I can put my tail down. I need some sleep, or I won't have any strength later."
Phaga shifted aside—her tail had nearly whipped his face earlier.
Soon, he heard her soft breathing and glanced over.
Her small fists were tucked up against her chest, as if she were hugging herself in sleep. The two tear-shaped beauty marks at the corner of her eye, barely noticeable in battle, now lent her a quiet, unexpected beauty.
Suddenly, the bus jolted. Ellen slid across the seat and slumped against Phaga's shoulder.
He froze, then gently pushed her off when she didn't stir.
"That high energy consumption… unique to the Thiren."
He murmured, pulling his gaze away.
But at that moment, a crushing force slammed from behind.
Phaga's eyes widened. That brake—!
Thankfully, the seatbelt locked tight, creaking under strain as it held him back.
Ellen, though, wasn't so lucky. Her tail had kept her from fastening hers.
She flew forward and slammed headfirst into Ruby's seat.
Hiss—
Phaga drew a sharp breath. Just watching made it hurt.