Facing the gleaming blade, the robot swallows nervously with a human-like touch, raising his hands and trembling, “Anby, it’s me, Billy…” Disregarding whatever Billy said, Anby continues recording, “I have encountered an unknown entity whose appearance closely resembles my colleague, Billy Kid.
To verify his identity, I will ask a few questions.” Billy is left speechless upon hearing this, “Anby, I am Billy Kid!” “The target is attempting to bewitch me.
Rumor has it that there are Ethereals in the Hollow capable of mimicking others’ appearances.
They disguise themselves as survivors to deceive investigators entering the Hollow, only to reveal their true forms once taken outside, unleashing a brutal massacre upon the entire city.
In the end, a heroic investigator sacrifices themselves to push the Ethereal back into the Hollow, finally bringing the disaster to a close.
Truly tragic and lamentable…” Billy can no longer hold back, “Isn’t that just a movie plot?
Besides, Ethereals cannot survive outside the Hollow at all.” “Cut the crap!” Anby lifts her blade slightly, “If you really are Billy Kid, which movie character would you most want to have a candlelight dinner with?” “The starlight knight, of course!” Billy replies without hesitation.
However, Anby’s blade slashes down anyway.
Billy reacts quickly, twisting his flexible body a few times to dodge the strike.
“Wait, wait, wait!
I’ll tell the truth!” Billy raises a hand to stop Anby, then says with a hint of shyness and bashfulness, “It’s…
it’s Big Sis Monica.” Anby retracts her blade and taps her earpiece, “Identity confirmed.
It is indeed my colleague, Billy Kid.” Hearing this, Billy finally breathes a sigh of relief.
“Pfft…” Firefly, who has been watching the entire scene unfold, lets out a chuckle, then covers her mouth upon realizing it might be inappropriate.
Billy glances at Firefly, then back at Anby.
What he wants to say goes without saying.
“This is…
a survivor.” Anby was too busy recording and didn’t ask for Firefly’s name.
“I am Firefly.
I accidentally fell into the Hollow.” Firefly voluntarily introduces herself and feels rather pathetic about falling into the Hollow.
“So it’s Miss Firefly!” Knowing her name, Billy becomes less reserved and shakes Firefly’s hand up and down.
“May I ask if you happen to have a luobo?” “She doesn’t have a luobo.” Anby answers the question on Firefly’s behalf.
Hearing this, Billy’s demeanor deflates.
He lets go of Firefly’s hand, but quickly perks up again.
“It’s fine.
Boss Nicole is outside the Hollow; she will definitely find someone to rescue us.” Anby agrees as well, but looking around, she says to the two of them, “I just killed some Ethereals here.
It probably isn’t safe nearby; we’d better relocate.” “Right, we must leave here, find a safe place, and wait for Boss Nicole’s rescue.” Billy agrees with the proposal.
What else could Firefly say?
Naturally, she follows along.
Since Firefly’s speed isn’t fast, both Anby and Billy slow down their pace.
Firefly is very grateful for their consideration.
The three of them clear out Ethereals along the way until Anby suddenly hears someone’s voice nearby.
“Wait, Billy, there’s someone nearby.” Anby looks towards the subway station entrance and moves forward to scout the path.
Stepping past a flight of stairs, Anby’s pupils constrict.
A person—no, to be precise, an Ethereal—has its head completely taken over by an Ether core, with only one arm still intact.
When it sees Anby, its transformation seems to accelerate instantly, and its remaining human tissues completely Etherealize.
“Roar, roar, roar!” Accompanied by a resounding howl and purple light, an Ethereal wielding a shield and sword towers before them.
“Not good!” It’s the elite Ethereal, Dulahan!
Anby is about to retreat; they must evacuate because there is a powerless person in their group, and safety must be ensured.
“Isn’t that our commission target?” Billy peeks over and sees that the safe, their mission objective, is right at the Ethereal’s feet.
Anby sees it too.
If they can retrieve the safe, they can complete the commission along the way.
She glances behind her.
Firefly is hiding far away.
Seeing Anby’s expression, she says, “I…
I’ll hide properly.” Anby finally feels a bit more at ease and signals Billy to attack the Ethereal together.
(Since Firefly did not participate in this battle, it will not be described in detail.) After a round of combat, Anby and Billy fail to gain any upper hand at all.
This Ethereal has an extremely deep obsession; it will not move five steps away from the safe, and its defense is airtight.
Meanwhile, Billy is nearly exhausted.
He says solemnly, “No good, we can’t keep wearing it down like this.
We must retreat and regroup.” Afterwards, Billy aims precisely at a nearby scattered fire extinguisher and shoots it, enveloping the battlefield in a dense cloud of white smoke.
Two figures rush out of the smoke, achieving their goal of retreat.
Meanwhile, Firefly, who is hiding nearby, is suddenly pulled up by someone, and failing to react in time, almost stumbles and falls.
Fortunately, although Firefly lacks strength, she isn’t too clumsy.
Anby leads Firefly in a rapid evacuation, finally reaching an open area.
Clearing out the nearby Ethereals, the three of them finally get a chance to breathe.
At this moment, Anby’s usual calm expression is gone, replaced by a somewhat downcast mood.
“Awooo, awooo, Anby has been eroded by the Hollow and is going to turn into a monster.
Awooo, awooo…” “Anby, don’t you worry about chipping your teeth?” Billy pulls his arm back from Anby’s grasp.
He glances at Firefly; although she is very pretty, it can’t offset his melancholy.
Anby is clearly hungry.
Having entered the Hollow for several hours and fought multiple battles, she has consumed a massive amount of stamina.
Having a temporary resting place right now is already extremely rare.
At this time, Firefly is also sitting on the ground, resting while communicating with HQ in her mind.
“HQ, is it really impossible to walk out of the Hollow without a luobo?” “Not necessarily.
No luobo means no real-time map, but powerful Proxies can determine the route out of the Hollow through calculation.
For instance, New Eridu’s Void Hunter Lady Wanri…
although Lady Wanri is not a Proxy—ah, praise Lady Wanri, Lady Wanri is peerless in this world, Lady Wanri…” “Stop!
I don’t want to hear this right now.
I just want to know how to leave the Hollow.
That feeling of something wanting to pierce through my skin is too agonizing.” “…” “Search complete.
Pass through the intersection ahead; at the corner of the small alley making a left turn, there is a wall with a spatial rift leading directly outside of the Kreet Hollow.” “What?
This close?
Then why didn’t you say so from the beginning?” “HQ is not a luobo and cannot cater to a young lady’s moods.” Hearing this news, Firefly stands up excitedly, ignoring whatever HQ replied to her.
Noticing this anomaly, Anby and Billy both look at Firefly.
Firefly realizes her movements were too drastic.
She scratches her head shyly and says, “I…
I think I’ve calculated the exit.” “What?
Calculated the exit?
Th—this kind of technique…
are you a legendary Proxy?” Billy exclaims aloud.
Many people know that Hollow data can be calculated, but the difficulty is no less than finishing a set of Olympiad math test papers in ten seconds, with every single answer correct.
“Indeed, being able to calculate Hollow data is something that can be called legendary among both Proxies and investigators.
I didn’t expect you could do it, Firefly.
That’s amazing.” Anby doesn’t have much of a big reaction, though looks of joy and hope are certainly not lacking.
“What are we waiting for?
Let’s get out of here quickly!” “O—okay.” Firefly leads the two of them along the route, clearing out Ethereals all the way until they reach that wall.
“There’s an exit here?
It doesn’t look like one at all.” Billy looks at the wall and observes his surroundings.
Meanwhile, Firefly tentatively reaches out to touch the wall, but her palm passes right through it.
Overjoyed, Firefly steps entirely into it.
Seeing this scene, Billy and Anby exchange a glance and also walk inside.
In a dim alley enclosed on three sides, behind them is the churning, ether-writhing Hollow.
All three find it somewhat unbelievable that they have actually left the Hollow safely.
Even now, the three of them haven’t fully processed it, as if they are currently inside a dream.
“Anby!” Someone bypasses Firefly, rushes towards Anby, and pulls her into a tight hug.
Anby doesn’t resist at all and rather enjoys it.
Seeing this scene, Firefly doesn’t intrude on the reunion of loved ones.
She asks HQ in her mind.
“HQ, what should we do now?” “Naturally, it’s to take out funds from your luggage to settle down in Sixth Street and start a wonderful life.” Firefly is dumbfounded upon hearing this, “I have luggage?” “Yes.” “Where is it?” “Inside the Hollow.” What do you mean the luggage is still inside the Hollow?!
Firefly lets out a mental shriek.