While everyone else was fast asleep, Tsutsumi quietly slipped away under the cover of his Aurora Curtains, reappearing in another world, in the home where he'd been adopted by Hoshimi Miyabi.
A glance at the clock told him it was 5 a.m.
Attack Ride: Fox Spirit!
His human ears disappeared, replaced by his fox ears. He rose to his feet and made his way to the kitchen. His movements were unhurried, practiced. Pots clattered gently, the smell of miso and grilled meat slowly filling the air.
As he worked, the long coat on his back rippled and detached, reshaping into a small Bangboo with red and black plating.
"Azu," Tsutsumi said simply.
The Bangboo gave a cheerful chime and began sweeping the floor with a broom.
By the time Miyabi and Souichirou awoke, the table was already set, breakfast steaming, lunch neatly packed.
They both sat down, a bit surprised but grateful as usual. "You're up early again," Miyabi said with a small smile.
Souichirou, halfway through his rice, blinked when he noticed the Bangboo. "Uh… did we always have a Bangboo?"
"I don't recall we ever having one," Miyabi murmured, frowning slightly as Azu toddled past. "Did we leave the door open or something?"
"I made her," Tsutsumi replied casually, watching as Azu began wrapping their bento boxes.
Both fox thirens paused mid-bite.
Miyabi blinked. "…You made her?"
Souichirou leaned forward, adjusting his glasses. "In one night?"
Instead of answering, Tsutsumi lifted his hand. "Azu."
The Bangboo froze, then broke apart into a swarm of tiny metallic grasshoppers that buzzed toward him, reforming into his long black coat once more.
Souichirou and Miyabi stared.
"What even is that?" Miyabi asked, touching his sleeve cautiously. "It feels like… metal, but soft. Like fabric."
"Cluster Cells," Tsutsumi explained evenly. "Micro-machines made from Hiden Metal. The material can freely alter its hardness, density, and plasticity."
He flexed his wrist, and the right sleeve dissolved into hundreds of silver motes that gathered around Miyabi's hand, reshaping into a gleaming metal gauntlet.
Her eyes widened. "It moves smoothly… like it's part of me."
Souichirou studied it carefully. "Incredible craftsmanship. Are there any more of these 'Cluster Cells'?"
"Only what I've made so far," Tsutsumi said. "But I can produce more."
The gauntlet shimmered, then broke apart again, drifting back to his sleeve and darkening into its original black with the inner lair being magenta.
They both wanted to ask more questions, but restrained themselves. Despite the time they'd spent together, the bond between them was still new; it's best not to make it seem like they were trying to use him.
"I see," Miyabi said finally, sipping her tea. "Then I'll call Zhu Yuan later to have Azu registered as a Bangboo citizen of New Eridu."
Then, her tone softened but firmed with warning. "Also, Ryoko, don't show Azu's ability off in public. There are people who'd do anything to get their hands on something like her."
Tsutsumi nodded. "Understood. I'll keep that in mind."
In truth, he wasn't worried. Anyone foolish enough to try stealing Azu would only meet a storm of Cluster Cells that could consume nearby metal and electronics, multiplying as they fed.
Linked directly to his will, they'd always find their way back to him. Unless, of course, he left the world.
By the time Souichirou left for work, the morning sun was already filtering through the clouds. Miyabi and Tsutsumi soon followed, making their way toward the Hollow Special Operations Section 6 headquarters.
"Good morning, Chief. Tsutsumi." Soukaku greeted as soon as they stepped inside, her usual energy bright even this early.
"Morning," Miyabi replied, her voice calm as always.
"Morning," Tsutsumi echoed, setting a pair of neatly packed bentos on Miyabi's desk before heading toward his station.
His work here was simple, transferring documents, fetching reports, occasionally slacking off with the Bangboos, a quiet routine not too different from his previous world. In between tasks, he'd often be found lazing around and slacking off to play games with the Bangboos.
That calm was soon broken when Yanagi strode in, her face set with quiet urgency.
"Chief, H.A.N.D. has issued a new directive," she announced. "We're being deployed to suppress Hollow Zero's recent expansion zone. Section 6 is to mobilize immediately."
The room stirred with movement as members began preparing.
While heading to the Hollow Zero in their vehicle, they gathered for a quick meal, the bentos Tsutsumi had made that morning.
"Tsutsumi, will you make delicious food for me forever?" Soukaku asked between mouthfuls, already almost done with her lunch and eyeing Harumasa's portion next.
Seeing this, Harumasa turns away, pulling his lunch away from the blue oni. Entering Hollow Zero meant he would have to work overtime; there is no way he is giving up his good lunch to someone who already ate.
"That depends," he said without looking up. "I only cooked because Miyabi asked."
"Oh, come on!" Soukaku whined, trying to look pitiful. "If you stop cooking, I'll starve! Do you want my death on your conscience?"
"You're not gonna die that easy." Tsutsumi replied calmly.
"Focus, Soukaku," Yanagi cut in sharply, slipping her gloves on. "We're about to enter Hollow Zero. Try not to die before we get there."
Soukaku pouted. "Yes, Nagi…" she muttered, shoulders slumping as she fell in line.
Their mood shifted the moment they crossed the threshold.
The air inside Hollow Zero was heavier; a deep, oppressive silence hung in the darkened expanse. The faint hum of energy pulsed through the fog, mingling with the scent of rust and decay.
All around them, the ruins of an old civilization stretched endlessly, shattered skyscrapers, collapsed walkways, and corroded metal, frozen mid-collapse.
Tsutsumi stopped briefly, raising his camera and snapping a picture of a half-collapsed tower in the distance. The faint sound of the shutter clicked through the quiet, echoing faintly.
"Let's move," Miyabi said, her tone calm but focused. "Stay close and keep your comms open. Hollow Zero isn't like the others."
She was mostly saying this for her adopted son, this was his first time in Hollow Zero. The others had all been here before; they knew what to expect.
"Uh… Chief?" Soukaku's hesitant voice broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention. "Where's Tsutsumi?"
"He's right-" Miyabi's words caught in her throat the instant she turned around.
He was gone.
HSOS6: "..."
For a heartbeat, no one spoke. The entire Section froze in place, scanning the dark corridors around them.
"Ryoko?" Miyabi called, her tone tightening. But there was no response.
Her pulse spiked. She turned left, then right and that's when she saw it.
A gaping maw of the Void had torn open just meters away, shimmering like an oil-black and violet wound in the air. She was certain it hadn't been there when they arrived. That could only mean one thing, a newly formed Void, and most likely where her son had disappeared.
Without hesitation, Miyabi sprinted forward and dove in.
"Chief, wait!" Yanagi shouted, but it was too late. Miyabi vanished into the rift.
"We have to moved!" Harumasa barked, and the rest of Section 6 followed after her, emerging in another part of the Hollow, darker, deeper, and far more unstable.
"This kid really is something…" Harumasa muttered, scanning the ruins. "Does he not know how dangerous a Void is?"
"Probably not," Yanagi sighed, eyes darting around the crumbling structures. "Back in Twelve Street, when the Hollows first appeared, he walked right into it. He even told members of Public Security to run."
Before anyone could respond, a low, echoing explosion rumbled through the air. Dust fell from the ceiling, and Miyabi's fox ears twitched toward the sound.
Her gaze lifted, and her heart nearly stopped.
Across the broken skyline, a massive black swarm was crawling along the side of a ruined skyscraper, a writhing tide of Ethereals moving as one.
In the middle of it all, darting from one shattered floor to the next, was Tsutsumi, evading claws, debris with precision.
"...How did he even..." Yanagi began, stunned.
Another explosion burst from the building's side as Ethereals poured out like a living shadow.
"Chief…" Soukaku's voice trembled as she pointed upward. "That's an Ethereal Swarm."
A monstrous, spider-like Ethereal clung to the tower, its obsidian body so massive it barely fit within the structure. Its countless eyes glimmered red under the holes in its dark, stone-like skin.
"Fantastic," Yanagi muttered, tightening her grip on her weapon. "Of course, he managed to find a new Ethereal Swarm…"
Although there are many Ethereals in Hollow Zero, one of the most powerful and noticeable ones is Nineveh, another Ethereal Swarm. It had crossed paths with Section 6 multiple times already, but it always managed to escape, thanks to its ability to fly.
Inside the ruined building, Tsutsumi darted from room to room, the floor cracking under his boots. A swarm of black spider-like Ethereals chased after him, dozens of them, their legs clattering against the metal and concrete like static.
They weren't hard to kill individually, but there were too many. Every one he cut down just drew two more.
"Henshin."
Form Ride: Ex-Aid! Mighty Creator VRX!
A white holographic screen shimmered in front of him. Jumping through it, his black coat flared and shifted into bright magenta lined with black circuitry. White and cyan arm guards snapped into place, followed by a chest plate and a glowing VR headset locking over his eyes.
He twisted around midair, landing backward and raising his hand. A hardlight wall materialized behind him, halting the swarm's advance, their claws scraping and sparking against the barrier.
When they began crawling over, around, under, he drew something in the air with one finger. A massive glowing bomb appeared in front of him, followed by a cube outline that sealed him in.
The swarm lunged.
The bomb detonated, a blinding flash and shockwave tearing the top half of the building apart. Chunks of rebar and concrete fell like rain, scattering the Ethereals and blasting a hole through the upper floors.
When the smoke cleared, Tsutsumi rose from the rubble, brushing dust off his coat. Above, more spider Ethereals poured in through the opening.
"Persistent little bugs…" he muttered.
Form Ride: Wizard! Dragon Time!
A red flare engulfed his body, shifting his clothes into crimson and silver while the white armor and VR headset disappeared. A dragon head formed on his chest, releasing a powerful breath of fire that washed over the incoming swarm.
A green magic circle appeared beside him, another Tsutsumi stepped through, clad in green with draconic wings unfurling from his back. He swung his arms, sending slicing gales through the horde.
A blue circle appeared next, the third Tsutsumi emerged, his clothes deep blue, a dragon's tail trailing behind. He spun and whipped the tail forward, unleashing a crescent of pressurized water that cut through several Ethereals at once.
A fourth circle glowed yellow-brown, an earthen Tsutsumi stepped out, gauntlets morphing into massive claws. He stomped the ground, shattering the unstable foundation. Spikes of rock erupted upward, impaling dozens of Ethereals mid-leap.
The four worked in perfect unison, weaving their elements together, fire melting through the ranks, wind slicing the survivors, water sweeping debris aside, earth crushing the remainder.
The building groaned under the chaos. And then, with a deafening crack, it gave way, collapsing inward, opening the way for something far larger.
The mother of the swarm emerged.
A monstrous spider Ethereal, its chitinous body obsidian-black, forcing its way through the wreckage. Its roar rattled the broken glass and sent the air vibrating.
"What, mad that I beat up your kids?" Wind Tsutsumi taunted, dodging as one of its colossal legs swung past him.
"Why bother talking to it? It's already dead," Water Tsutsumi replied, rolling aside.
"Poor thing," Earth Tsutsumi rumbled, raising stone pillars to launch himself into the air. "Missed its children so much it can't even think straight."
"Let's end this." Fire Tsutsumi pulled out a card.
Final Attack Ride: Wi-Wi-Wi-Wizard!
The four Tsutsumis circled the giant, splitting its attention between them. Magic flared beneath their feet, four elemental magic circles forming in perfect sync.
"Now!"
They leapt, four aerial flips, four kicks from four directions. Fire, wind, water, and earth slammed into the monster simultaneously.
The explosion was tremendous the spider screamed as its armor cracked and its legs gave way. It collapsed into the ruins, shaking the ground and throwing up a massive dust cloud.
Under the cover of the haze, Fire Tsutsumi straightened, only to feel a sharp grip seize the back of his neck.
Miyabi glare at him with her crimson eyes, her fox ears were flat. "You are in big trouble, young man."
Before Tsutsumi could respond, she tapped her earpiece.
"I got him."
"...I got him!" three other voices echoed, the rest of Section 6 emerging from the dust, each holding a different-colored Tsutsumi.
The entire squad froze. For a moment, nobody said a word. More-likely, they don't know what to say.
Then the ground rumbled.
The massive spider Ethereal's body convulsed, cracks spreading across its surface. It let out a distorted, furious roar as black ichor poured from the wounds.
Its body split open, revealing sharp white stone beneath. New legs, ten in total, burst outward, followed by a humanoid torso rising from its back, six arms ending in hooked claws.
Above its new head floated a massive, pulsing black and red core.
The members of Section 6 tense up, realizing that this newly discovered Ethereal Swarm has entered it second phase.