On the map, the straight-line distance between Canvas Street and New Eridu wasn't all that far.
But because of the Dead End Hollow, the path in between had been completely cut off.
To carve out a new route, there was only one option left: make the Dead End Hollow contract.
The final step of the plan—defeat the Dead End Butcher!
"So this is where you calculated the Dead End Butcher would most likely appear, Proxy?"
Nicole looked around. This place had once been an open-air parking lot, with high-speed rail tracks nearby.
But now, the whole area had been reduced to ruins by the Dead End Butcher. The rail tracks had been severed in half, and piles of abandoned vehicles were stacked into a ring, leaving an empty circle in the center.
"Logically speaking, this should be the spot."
Eous leapt down from Billy's back, glancing about warily.
"Ugh, Proxy, this place feels so creepy. And the weather—looks like rain's coming. Why do I have such a bad feeling?"
A sudden chill cut through Nicole's body. Goosebumps broke out on her arms, and she instinctively rubbed them, shivering.
Anby nodded in agreement, her tone calm. "I feel it too."
"Heh heh heh, don't worry, Anby."
Billy swung out two pistols from his waist and struck what he thought was a heroic pose. With a smug grin, he boasted,
"I've mastered the rules of victory from the Starlight Knight series: never fight villains by the book. You start with a finishing flying kick…"
While Billy was rambling nonsense, Belle suddenly muttered to herself, sensing something was wrong.
"Huh? Why is the Ether activity spiking all of a sudden? But it's only a small increase… it feels like something is racing toward us…"
Then, Belle's shrill scream rang out through Eous:
"Something's coming! Watch out!"
Nicole: "Huh?"
Billy: "Huh?"
Anby: "Hm?"
Anby's expression sharpened. She reacted first, instantly drawing her sword and slashing backward with all her strength.
Clang!
A tremendous force surged through her arms, sending her sliding ten meters away.
When she steadied herself and looked clearly, she realized it was a colossal axe, nearly three meters long!
"Anby, are you okay? Billy, is this your so-called 'honorable guy' who doesn't play by the rules?"
Nicole hurried to Anby's side, scanning her from head to toe for injuries.
Anby shook her head, signaling she was fine.
Billy, however, clutched his face in exaggerated dismay. "He predicted my move? Don't tell me he's a Starlight Knight fan too!"
He pointed ahead. Nicole and Anby both followed his gesture.
Through the storm, they squinted and saw a massive figure crouched on the elevated bridge more than fifty meters away from the towering axe.
From afar, it looked as tall as a two-story building. Just sitting there, it radiated an aura of invincibility. Everyone who looked upon it felt their hearts sink into despair.
This was the origin of the Hollow's name—the sole ruler within it!
Notorious Title: Newborn · Dead End Butcher!
Suddenly, the creature leapt into the sky. Darkness swallowed the storm, the moon vanishing entirely behind its vast body!
"Move!"
Belle screamed at the top of her lungs through Eous.
A flash of lightning lit the sky, carving the Dead End Butcher's silhouette against the moon.
Everyone turned to see, under the pallid glow, the monster raising both fists high—then smashing them down with earth-shaking force!
Boom!
The impact thundered like the heavens collapsing.
The roar was indescribable. Cunning Hares clutched their ears, numb and dazed, minds blank.
Even Phaga's prized ability—the long-distance psychic link across the Hollow—was severed.
The H.D.D. screen flickered into static white.
Belle gasped in panic. "What's happening?"
"Calm down, Belle!"
Her brother remained steadier. Wise quickly analyzed and explained, "The signal broke because of a sudden Ether surge. Try reconnecting."
Taking his advice, Belle quickly reconnected.
Sure enough, the link was restored instantly.
"Wow!" Belle exclaimed. "You're a genius!"
But Wise didn't respond to her praise. His voice cracked as he shouted, "Duck!"
Belle jolted, immediately commanding Eous to duck its head.
Whoosh!
A shadow swept over its head, narrowly missing!
"What was that… Billy!"
Eous turned to see—and froze. The one who had nearly been smashed was Billy!
Eous rushed over on its stubby legs, patting his steel thigh urgently. "Billy, are you okay?"
"That voice… is it… the Manager?"
Billy groaned, lifting his battered head from the wreckage. His helmet was dented, his supposedly indestructible [Lost Technology] frame caved in and sparking.
"Just now… lightning blinded everyone. No one saw the Dead End Butcher's move clearly…"
He strained to pull himself free, his voice stuttering through broken circuits.
"But I… saw it! That Ethereal's definitely a Starlight Knight fan… his strike… was vicious!"
Then Billy collapsed again, sinking into the wreckage.
"Billy!"
Eous shook his thigh desperately.
Not far off, Nicole and Anby struggled against the Butcher, pushing with all their might to force him back.
Nicole glanced back quickly. "Billy! What's happening over there?"
But Billy didn't respond.
Nicole clenched her teeth, but before she could speak, the Butcher's axe came crashing down, forcing her to turn and block.
The impact numbed her wrist instantly, hurling her back ten meters. Glancing down, she saw her briefcase crushed flat under the monster's overwhelming strength!
"Billy! If you don't get up now, you'll never see Monica again!"
In desperation, Nicole no longer cared what she said. To rally Billy, she even invoked Monica's name!
With her briefcase damaged, her combat strength was halved. Anby alone couldn't possibly hold out!
"No way! This can't be happening!"
Before Eous's astonished eyes, Billy suddenly sprang up from the rubble, twin pistols spinning in his hands.
"Ha! Full recovery!"
Belle's voice rang with joy from behind Eous. "Billy, you're back?"
"Hmph! As a Starlight Knight fan, Starlight's brilliance could never—wait, what's that—ugh, Anby!"
Before he could finish, Anby came flying, crashing into him and knocking him back into the wreckage.
She lay sprawled across his stomach, one eye half-open. "Sorry… I lost…"
Billy beneath her was already unconscious.
Both Anby and Billy were down.
That left only Nicole.
Eous spun around.
Nicole staggered, barely dodging the Butcher's furious strikes. She was panting heavily, pushed to her limit.
Ding!
The Butcher's ether core flared with yellow light. He swung his axe straight down at her.
Nicole's eyes widened in fear, but she grit her teeth, raising her briefcase to block.
Clang!
She held—barely. Relief flickered in her eyes.
But then cracks spread across her briefcase.
The next instant, the Butcher swung his axe horizontally, aiming for her midsection.
Nicole threw her briefcase up in desperation.
Clang!
Her eyes widened. The briefcase shattered on impact!
How…?
The thought echoed in her mind as her body was flung backward, colliding with Billy.
The faint light flickering in Billy's pupils died instantly.
The Cunning Hares—completely wiped out.
Now, only the Dead End Butcher and the short-legged Eous remained.
The Butcher glanced at it, then turned to the heap of Cunning Hares members, judging them the bigger threat.
He strode forward, dragging his massive axe across the ground, sparks flying.
At this moment, he seemed invincible.
Eous froze. Belle, behind him, was just as helpless. She turned toward her brother, pleading softly. "Brother?"
Wise shook his head with a sigh and turned away.
Seeing this, Belle's eyes dimmed, the light gone from her pupils. She buried her face in her hands.
[Fairy: Large object detected approaching at high speed.]
"Huh?"
Belle and Wise reacted at once, panic fading into shock as they looked back at the H.D.D.
And there, they saw a sight they would never forget.
A speeding train plunged off the elevated bridge, slamming straight into the Dead End Butcher and hurling it hundreds of meters away.
Moments later, Eous heard the sound of wings flapping. Looking up, it saw Phaga descending slowly, clutching a stranger by the collar.
"Not too late, right?"
Phaga tilted his head toward the side. The three members of Cunning Hares lay sprawled flat on the ground.
"Looks like I might be a little late."