"Miss, what should I call you?"
Fu Hua paused briefly.
"Red Kite."
The golden retriever in a suit nodded.
"Alright, Miss Red Kite. Good luck out there. No one dares enter that Hollow on the surface… but inside, it's crawling with cave thieves. So I advice you watch your back."
But Fu Hua didn't slow her pace.
"Thanks. I will."
The retriever—Shepherd—tipped his hat and scratched his blond fur.
"What a strange and fascinating agent… but…"
He glanced back at the shattered warehouse wall.
"She's strong. Might be worth recommending."
After reviewing the mission specs and route, Fu Hua made her way to the Hollow.
Using her refined movement techniques, she slipped past official patrols and entered undetected.
She paused, feeling the ambient ether ripple against her skin.
"Not bad."
She activated the radish device Shepherd had given her, syncing with the mapped route.
Ahead, the air shimmered—etheric anomalies forming around a group of Ethereals.
Fu Hua cracked her knuckles and walked forward, calm and composed.
A roar echoed.
A four-legged Ethereal lunged at her.
Fu Hua ducked low, sidestepped, and countered with a palm strike.
As the creature staggered mid-air, she spun and delivered a side kick to its flank.
"Inch Fist: Storm Surge."
Her hands gathered pale golden ether, forming a shockwave.
She unleashed three rapid strikes, followed by a massive burst.
"Inch Fist: Thunderbolt."
The impact sent the Ethereal flying like a broken kite, disintegrating into etheric particles.
Her system interface pinged.
"Energy gain from Hollow elimination confirmed. This will make farming easier."
She continued forward, dodging attacks with ease.
Then, she planted her feet and slammed her fist into the ground.
"Inch Fist: Landslide."
The terrain erupted, sending debris and ether flying. The surrounding Hollows were obliterated.
Fu Hua pressed on, carving through enemies like slicing vegetables.
Then she reached an abandoned factory.
Inside stood a skeletal Ethereal wielding a shield and greatsword.
Fu Hua didn't hesitate.
She dashed forward and struck with both palms.
"Inch Fist: Cloud Break."
BOOM.
The shield shattered. The core in its chest cracked and collapsed.
Without missing a beat, Fu Hua vaulted to the second floor office.
She didn't bother with keys—just punched the door off its hinges.
Inside, she located the documents, packed them into her suitcase, and exhaled.
"Mission complete."
As she followed the radish's route to the exit, Fu Hua spotted a group of cave thieves in a clearing.
They wore helmets and surrounded crates filled with stolen art and weapons.
One man stood out—dressed in a flamboyant suit, leaning on a cane.
Among the loot was a girl with short white hair, bound and barely conscious.
A disabled bomb sat ominously nearby.
Fu Hua stopped, watching silently.
She was already near the exit… but she stepped forward anyway.
"Excuse me. What's going on here?"
A burly man turned, annoyed.
"Scram, kid! Don't mess with our business. Or we'll sell you too!"