"It's been going on for two hours now..."
In New Eridu, somewhere amidst the outbreak of the Hollow Disaster, Tsukishiro Yanagi stood within a temporary camp. She wasn't focused on the intricate detection equipment surrounding her—instead, her eyes were fixed on the sky.
Up there, a pitch-black sun hung beneath the night sky. Beneath it, the Hollow Disaster raged across the ground.
Two hollows—one above, one below—were connected by a vast stream of flowing Ether, forming what looked like an upside-down hourglass. The newer hollow was devouring the remnants of the one that came before it.
"Since the beginning, the size of the Hollow Disaster has already shrunk to less than thirty-five percent of what it was..."
Not far away, Harumasa spoke with a furrowed brow, clearly troubled by the strange situation before them.
"What about the other areas?"
Yanagi asked. Upon hearing her voice, Harumasa replied immediately.
"According to the latest reports, the progress varies across the five sites. It might be related to the scale of each Hollow Disaster—or to the nature of the hollows themselves."
"So far, six hollows have completely consumed their disasters. The largest one in the sky has already devoured three separate Hollow Disasters."
"And the first team we sent into the aerial hollow... still hasn't returned."
Hearing that, Tsukishiro Yanagi frowned slightly. Judging by the current situation, this hollow did seem to be helping suppress the disasters. But what troubled her was something deeper—
What could be the true cause behind such a massive, sudden outbreak of hollows?
...
While the Hollow Disaster in New Eridu gradually stabilized, over in the Jiang River Hollow, Tyce was preparing to leave.
Light shimmered and scattered, merging sky and water into one.
Clink—
A clear metallic sound echoed. It was still that same denny.
"What's this for?"
Zane caught the denny as it fell, gave a small shake of his head, then tossed it back to Tyce.
Tyce caught it easily, smiling faintly.
"I'm leaving soon. I won't be needing this anymore. You should keep it."
It was just a denny. He had no use for it—especially since he was about to depart completely from this world.
The denny flew up again, glinting silver under the light, before landing once more in Zane's hand.
"Heh, this denny was originally yours. You should keep it."
With another soft chime, the denny flew out again.
Tyce looked puzzled. It was only a single coin—why make such a point of insisting? Still, he caught it and closed his hand around it.
"Alright then, I'll take it."
Tyce sighed helplessly, while Zane watched the denny being tucked away, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.
He had said before—none would be left behind.
There was no place for him in humanity's future, nor did he wish for one. Yet for that future to be peaceful and steady, some things were still necessary.
A capable helmsman.
Zane had no interest in that role—so someone else had to remain. Someone controllable, yet not entirely detached.
Tyce didn't dwell on the coin. Standing upon the water's surface, he turned his gaze to Zane.
"By the way... are you ready? Whatever happens elsewhere, if something goes wrong here, it's game over."
Zane raised an eyebrow.
"Are you asking if I trust myself?"
He let out a quiet chuckle, his voice soft.
"Do you trust me?"
"I do."
Tyce nodded once.
"I'm the same as you then," Zane said lightly, tilting his head with a relaxed smile. He trusted himself just as much.
"Then... are you ready?"
Tyce's expression didn't change. It was as if the question stirred nothing within him.
"For decades, I've been ready."
That was Tyce's answer—and the answer he had given himself for his entire life.
Whether Zane succeeded or failed, Tyce would no longer be there to see it. But he had already found his own peace.
He had done many things—some right, some wrong. Over the long years, some hated him, some revered him, some feared him, some despised him...
And now, it was all coming to an end.