The middle-aged man, weathered by time, seemed to regain a trace of the fearless spirit he once carried in his youth.
The laughter gradually faded. Tyce said nothing more. After a brief pause, he spoke softly.
"Begin."
Zane's lips curved into a faint smile before he nodded.
In an instant, a deep blue flame rose and began to burn slowly, like a blooming rose shimmering with ethereal light, enveloping him completely.
At the same time, the light within the hollow rapidly dimmed. Darkness spread, swallowing everything—just like the night outside.
The seamless blend of sky and water was gone. Silence fell within the hollow, heavy and absolute.
As time crept on, a single streak of golden light suddenly bloomed within the ink-black void.
...
"The third team hasn't returned either?"
At the temporary Defense Force outpost by the riverbank, Hoshimi Miyabi frowned slightly, her expression tightening as the situation grew more troubling.
So far, three teams had entered the hollow to investigate, yet none had returned. All contact had been lost.
Given the hollow's nature, this wasn't entirely unexpected. After all, she knew this one was different—extraordinary, and more dangerous than most.
Even so, unease had begun to stir in her chest.
After receiving the latest report, Hoshimi Miyabi left the camp and approached the hollow hovering above the river.
Her brow furrowed as she recalled her recent call with Shin.
"Zane's situation... isn't looking good, is it?"
There was no longer any doubt in her mind—another grand conspiracy was unfolding.
Normally, she would never have believed Zane could be in true danger. But things were different now. For reasons still unknown, Hollow Zero had started to act up—perhaps connected to the massive Hollow Disasters erupting across New Eridu.
Shin needed more time to extract the Falkenhayn Mercenary Troupe and make it there.
Without the power of the Hollows, Hoshimi Miyabi had no idea how much strength Zane still possessed.
He had left those Hollows behind to suppress the large-scale Hollow Disasters—to protect the citizens of New Eridu.
Her grip on her sword tightened unconsciously.
"Shin said Zane mentioned this sword of mine before... Could he already have noticed something?"
Zane had always been sharp.
Hoshimi Miyabi turned slightly, glancing at the spirit floating beside her, a thoughtful look flickering in her eyes.
Perhaps, to Zane, the power of the demon blade could serve as a Hollow in its own right...
It was only speculation, but she was almost certain of it.
After all, it had been him who had tied her fate so deeply to that blade in the first place.
When it came to understanding the sword, even now, Hoshimi Miyabi couldn't claim to know it better than Zane once had.
But the current Zane—aside from the last time she had approached him—hadn't touched that blade again.
Still, even without full understanding, he should be capable of drawing upon its power.
Her hand tightened once more around the hilt.
Ever since that moment of reunion, she could no longer look at Zane with calm detachment.
He was family—someone profoundly important to her.
On the horizon, the night was slowly receding, and dawn was not far off.
Staring at the hollow reflected on the river's surface, growing clearer as the light changed, Hoshimi Miyabi made her decision.
There was personal emotion in it—yes.
But there was also duty, as the Chief of Section Six and as a Void Hunter.
Before acting, however, she knew she had to inform Shin and Tsukishiro Yanagi.
She wasn't the type to rush in blindly. That way, even if something went wrong, they could respond quickly and avoid unnecessary chaos.
Once her preparations were complete, Hoshimi Miyabi wasted no more time. She stepped to the river's edge and leapt lightly onto the water's surface.
Her toes skimmed the rippling surface as her body lowered, her white legs bending gracefully—like a crane taking flight.
Her skirt fluttered, and frost began to gather beneath her feet.
Hoshimi Miyabi lifted her gaze toward the hollow ahead. Then, moving swiftly, she fixed her eyes on it and whispered—
"Wait for me."