Outside a tall building...
"Dun dun dun, dun dun dun, the sky's my blanket, the ground's my bed, life is such a drag..."
"Anby, it's fine if you hum it to yourself, but why are you singing out loud?"
"Spill it—did Billy teach you that?"
Seeing Nicole glance over, Billy quickly raised his hands in protest.
"It wasn't me, I swear, Nicole! It's some silly song from a TV show yesterday. I just happened to flip to that channel!"
Nicole shot him a doubtful look, then turned to both of them with a sigh of exasperation.
"Honestly, Hare's House should be all about golden blankets and silver beds, not living like beggars with no place to hide!"
She put her hands on her hips, then turned to Eous beside her.
"Proxy, are we really off the hook for this? That was high-end equipment we wrecked..."
Seeing her worried expression, Eous waved dismissively as Belle's voice spoke up.
"Told you, Nicole, don't stress! That detector didn't break because your cannon misfired. The investigator explained it clearly."
After enough reassurance from Belle, Nicole finally relaxed.
Government equipment was no joke. If you owed a private debt, you could write an IOU or stall for time—but if it was official? Game over.
What if they ended up having to sell off Hare's House to pay for it...?
What a bleak future.
"Come on, Nicole, the spot to retrieve the observation data is just up ahead. Weren't you the one complaining about getting this over with?"
Eous walked forward toward the waiting investigator, and Nicole quickly followed.
...
Moments later, atop the building...
Data retrieval—complete.
"Whew... finally done."
The investigator turned back to the group with a smile.
"You folks in this independent investigation team are impressive. I'd bet anything that when you return, you'll be officially licensed!"
"See? Easy stuff. As expected, Hare's House delivers."
"Looks like it didn't matter whether Zane was here or not..."
Flattered by the praise, Nicole practically floated on air, grinning.
"Nicole, that's not what you were saying earlier..."
"Shut it, Billy!"
Eous scratched his head and gave a helpless chuckle. Just as they were about to leave, the yellow detector in his hand started beeping. The investigator's expression changed instantly.
"Wait... the advanced detector's reacting!"
She snatched it from Eous and stared at the growing intensity of the signal. Her brows furrowed deeply as she muttered,
"One beep means minor activity... two beeps, significant... three is strong... four means..."
A strange buzzing filled the air—soft, but piercing in the stillness around them.
The investigator's eyes darted around as the detector's beeping accelerated.
"What's happening?"
Nicole saw the grim expression on her face and grew anxious too.
"No... no way! This is...!"
Panic seeped into the investigator's voice.
The next moment, sparks danced across the detector—crack!—the screen shattered, and black smoke hissed from within.
It exploded.
The buzzing returned, clearer than before.
"Wh-what is that noise?"
Nicole's face tensed in panic. Anby's expression darkened. Billy was already in full combat stance.
"That sound..."
"Over here, quickly!"
The investigator regained her wits and urged the Hare's House crew and Eous to take cover in the narrow stairwell.
It was the only place that gave her a sliver of security.
Her eyes widened as dread settled in, something primal and terrifying hanging in the air.
Eous, perched on Billy's shoulders, peeked over the railing toward the source of the sound.
Between the buildings, something red and white emerged—like a flower bud just beginning to open. Two pitch-black arms followed.
"What... is that?"
Suddenly, the monstrous presence seemed to sense Eous' gaze. The bud atop its head burst open, turning toward them, revealing radiant streaks of crimson.
"Watch out!!"
The investigator yanked Eous back down. Her body tensed, the fear on her face shifting into determination.
"Damn it... it's her."
"Her? Him? What are you talking about? Who is it?!"
Billy, completely lost, looked between Eous and the investigator, ready to ask more—when a black blur rapidly filled his view.
"Shut up!"
Nicole smacked him with her briefcase and quickly covered her mouth as the sound grew louder.
The group held their breath, hearts pounding.
Seconds later, a massive body flew overhead—swathed in red, white, and black. The oppressive pressure felt like it could crush a person's soul.
She blocked out the sky. Her enormous tail shimmered, and above them trailed a swarm of smaller Ethereals.
One, two, three... up to nine...
As Nineveh passed overhead, Billy leaned against the wall in shock. That thing had the power of nearly ten cores!
He turned his head—Nicole was crouched, clutching her head, whispering to herself.
Billy couldn't hear her, but Anby could.
"Zane, where are you... please save us... we're so screwed... hurry, Zane..."
As the last glimmers of colorful light faded from the sky, Eous—under Belle's control—poked her head out, the investigator doing the same.
"Watch out!"
An Ethereal shaped like a hornet dived from above, its stinger glowing as it prepared to strike.
Anby called out and drew her blade, but the distance was too short—too late!
Just then, brilliant blue slashes flashed through the air.
The Ethereal shattered and vanished. Behind the pair stood a figure with long, flowing black hair.
Hoshimi Miyabi.
She calmly sheathed her blade and took off without hesitation, dashing after Nineveh with swift, nimble steps.
As the girl vanished into the distance, more people wearing matching uniforms arrived at the scene from the same direction she had come...
...
"The big one's here."
Zane sat atop the hand of a crumbling statue, one leg bent, cheek resting on his hand, eyes locked on the towering figure on the horizon.
He glanced down at the strange Ethereal dissolving beneath him, then stood and leapt down, landing lightly.
With a gesture, flames in shimmering hues flared around him. Wisps of ghostly blue and green Ether merged into demonic forms, shifting and unraveling endlessly.
Each step he took made the flames grow thicker.
By the time he exited the plaza, the flames had completely vanished—leaving only a faint glint of dark gold, glowing ominously in the dim light.