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Inside Hollow Zero.
With the Defense Forces relaying orders, all personnel within the Withering Garden began evacuating in an orderly fashion.
Escorted by the Defense Forces, a sizable White Star Institute group passed by Sol, Miyabi, and the others.
Some of the researchers couldn't help looking back, staring curiously at the only team that wasn't moving.
So… did Hollow Special Operations Section 6 come up with a method to completely eliminate Nineveh?
Their curiosity surged endlessly, yet they didn't dare defy the evacuation command. After all, Nineveh was strong—any stray shockwave during battle could be fatal.
At this moment, a gentle beauty with a broad heart, wearing a researcher's uniform, stepped forward. She walked up beside Hoshimi Miyabi, pushed up her black-framed glasses, and said, "Section Chief Miyabi, may I ask if Section 6 intends to completely resolve Nineveh this time?"
"If we absolutely must evacuate, is there a safe distance that still allows us to deploy data-collection pylons?"
As a senior researcher stationed at Scott Outpost, she harbored an intense passion for any data with research value.
In fact, the very reason she was assigned to Scott Outpost long-term was that same overgrown passion—she had once used hacking methods multiple times to access internal files above her clearance level, so she was effectively sent here to cool off.
Now, confronted with the possibility of rare data bursting from Nineveh, she could not possibly remain unmoved.
Miyabi looked at Ray and said calmly, "I'm not the main force this time, so I can't give you a definite answer."
She was familiar with Ray; they had collaborated multiple times.
But this time, she wasn't the one in charge.
"..."
Ray froze for a moment, then instinctively looked toward Sol.
Hoshimi Miyabi isn't the main force?
She also recognized this celebrity—Hollow Investigative Association's new ACE Investigator.
Although many of his records were blurred or hidden—she couldn't find much even after hacking the archives—the recent news clearly showed he was an exceptionally active powerhouse.
Moreover, for an ACE Investigator to have never entered Hollow Zero… this was a first, and people online talked about it endlessly.
If even Hoshimi Miyabi, a Void Hunter, wasn't the main force, then the only one left was him.
Miyabi turned to Sol and asked, "What's your suggestion?"
Nineveh's data was extremely rare. Its mutualistic-symbiosis traits were seldom seen and similar to Bringer's previous Ethereal control.
If possible, she also wanted to gather more intel.
Sol surveyed the surroundings, calculated the potential impact radius, and said, "Five hundred meters from here—you can conduct data collection. The disturbance won't be too big this time."
With power capable of giving a galaxy a middle part haircut, Nineveh couldn't stir up much trouble.
This time it was merely a ritual—and a demonstration.
"Five hundred meters?"
Yanagi's expression stiffened slightly as she murmured in uncertainty.
Hearing that data collection was permitted, Ray lit up with joy and hurriedly thanked Sol: "Thank you for your kindness! These data will greatly benefit future development of Hollow Zero!"
Nineveh was over fifty meters tall, and the branch-like tendrils extending from its body spanned dozens of meters, easily occupying a massive area.
Collecting data from five hundred meters away—with the instruments they carried—allowed for perfectly clear readings.
Besides, Nineveh's volatile Ether projectiles had a maximum range exceeding five hundred meters.
Wait—Nineveh's volatile Ether projectiles exceeded five hundred meters.
And Nineveh's flight speed was also incredibly fast; paired with extreme range, its strike zone was overwhelmingly large—like a mobile fortress…
Ray suddenly realized a blind spot. Five hundred meters away… sounded a little, maybe, tooclose. Not that safe at all.
Given Nineveh's size, even throwing a stone could reach five hundred meters.
As much as she wanted data, she felt that her small life was also quite important.
Miyabi looked at Ray and said calmly, "Trust him. He can do it."
Ever since experiencing the battle against Bringer and learning [Edge of Taixuan] from Sol—
Her trust in Sol had become absolute.
And with Section 6 supervising nearby, they would also handle any stragglers.
Ray snapped back to herself, nodded heavily, and said with determined resolve, "Understood. We will collect data properly!"
Since even Hoshimi Miyabi, a Void Hunter, trusted Sol Mercer that deeply, she had no reason not to gamble as well.
First-hand data on a colossal Ethereal—worth the risk.
Ray glanced at Sol, placing her life in the youth's hands.
Imitating the not-so-standard salute of her colleague, Captain Roland, she gave a slightly awkward greeting before marching outward with the tragic aura of someone being sent to their deaths.
That salute was respect for a hero. And also… like offering incense for herself.
Five hundred meters was still a bit too dangerous.
"Interesting."
Sol watched Ray's retreating figure and shook his head slightly.
This kind of self-sacrificing research spirit was worthy of respect—but right now, he couldn't help wanting to laugh.
"It feels like she just made some earth-shattering decision."
Soukaku scratched her head, confused.
They had already given her permission to collect data—what difficult decision was left?
Could it be… this researcher lady wanted to observe the scene up close? At zero distance?
That wouldn't do. Far too dangerous!
"She's singing hymns of courage in her heart." Sol patted Soukaku's head with a small smile. "Even if the courage arrived at the wrong time, it was still a shining moment."
The radiance of humanity always delighted the observer—perhaps it was something carved into the soul's inheritance.
"Oh."
Soukaku nodded, half understanding.
She also felt Ray had been super brave just now.
"Let's go. The place is cleared. Time to begin."
Sol smiled slightly and led the way toward the core of the Withering Garden.
"Mm. Let's move out."
Miyabi and Yanagi followed closely, their silhouettes darting forward like flashes of lightning.
At this point, there was no need for guidance.
That wild, rampant aura continuously poured outward along with the special pollen.
The aura drew surrounding Ethereals to guard the throne, like a beacon pulling death toward them.
Watching Sol stride ahead so fearlessly, Harumasa couldn't help muttering, "I get the feeling those Ethereals are about to be shocked."
He thought of the strike Sol used to sever Bringer—not only had it stunned Bringer to death, it had scared their whole team senseless.
And this time, Sol told Ray to retreat five hundred meters—much farther than the distance they had last time while watching the battle.
He had a feeling the Ethereals this time would die… beautifully. He almost felt sorry for them.
But Ethereals didn't feel pain anyway, so they probably didn't care how they died.
…
Meanwhile, as the group advanced through the Withering Garden—
The Ethereals drawn by Nineveh's pollen shrieked and roared, rushing to confront the intruders.
Old "friends" like Thanatos and Dullahan, the common Armored Hati, the rare Thracians, Doppelganger-type variants, and more.
And at the very core, a massive flower bud floated quietly in mid-air. As its branches pulsed, huge amounts of volatile Ether were absorbed into the energy core above its head.