Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Phaga fell from the sky and smashed into the ground, leaving behind a massive crater.
"Phaga! Billy, Anby, we need to—"
Before Nicole could finish, Billy's sensors spiked. He jolted forward and yanked her back just as she was about to charge ahead. At the same time, Anby swung his blade upward, barely managing to parry Black's sudden strike.
Clang!
Anby gritted his teeth as his legs plowed a long furrow into the dirt.
"Tsk… Incredible strength."
Even with his arm tingling from the impact, Anby moved forward again, positioning himself protectively in front of Nicole.
[So a few rats actually managed to crawl into the Hollow. I didn't notice you before.]
Black descended. He narrowed his eyes in brief contemplation before turning away with a dismissive wave.
[But consider yourselves lucky. I don't have time for you right now… You muscle-brained brute—finish them off!]
With that, Black spread his wings and flew straight toward the crater where Phaga had fallen.
"Hey—wait! Get back here!"
Nicole panicked. If Black left now, not only would Phaga be in danger—her eighteen million Dennies would vanish into thin air.
But the Thracian, missing an arm, suddenly stepped forward and blocked their way. Resting a silver spear on his shoulder, he swept his gaze across the group, a nuclear glow flashing through his eyes.
Anby and Billy felt a chill run down their spines.
This Ethereal creature wasn't someone they could casually deal with.
"Damn… this just got complicated."
At this point, Eous touched the side of her head as if communicating with someone.
"Ellen, things might get rough here, but we'll definitely—"
"Ellen? Ellen?"
Even after calling repeatedly, Eous received no reply. She anxiously tried again.
After a long wait, someone finally responded—but it was Little Corin:
"Um… Sorry, Miss Proxy. Miss Ellen got really mad just now, and she carried Miss Rain off to Belobog Heavy Industries."
"Belobog Heavy Industries…"
Eous paused. She didn't know what Ellen intended to do there.
But she did know one thing: Ellen had found a solution—and planned to act on her own.
"Let's hope she makes it in time."
Eous took a long breath, then looked toward the crater—where Phaga had fallen and where Black now headed. The surrounding area was entirely encircled by Ethereal beings.
...
Black looked down at Phaga, who was kneeling in the center. He scanned the area one last time—no one left who could save him. With everything firmly under control, he nodded with deep satisfaction.
[Creator, I've cut them off. Now no one can give you blood…]
He smiled, utterly pleased.
[This victory is mine.]
But the moment the words left his lips, he felt a sudden prickling—needles stabbing into his skin. Looking down, he realized Phaga was staring straight at him.
That gaze made Black's heart seize. Even surrounded, even with no escape, Phaga's predatory aura—his instinct to devour his prey—was still sharper than the Kunmutu in Black's own hand.
Wait. Kunmutu.
Black's eyes constricted. He stared hard at Phaga, his eyes widening, bloodshot.
Creator… Where did his Kunmutu go?
In that moment, Black's heart wavered. Instinctively stepping back, he watched Phaga struggle to his feet, clutching his bleeding abdomen—yet making no effort to heal it.
"You were right… about some things…"
Phaga panted heavily. His injuries were severe, roughening his voice.
Yet his gaze remained razor sharp. The outward-curved claws, the bared fangs—all revealed his bloodthirst, and his words carried weight like steel.
Suddenly, Phaga spread his wings. Sunlight filtered through the tattered holes, illuminating him in golden light.
Black's eyes narrowed as Phaga spoke:
"There comes a time when a person has to fight with everything they have. And when the reason is worth it—any method will do."
Phaga straightened his back. The wound in his abdomen began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye. The Ether activity around his body intensified, leaving Black unsure of what he was planning.
Between one breath and the next, he saw it—Phaga letting go of all hesitation.
"So… as both human and vampire… I, too, will take the necessary steps toward becoming Ethereal."
Black's pupils constricted sharply. He finally understood. He beat his wings furiously, launching himself toward Phaga, screaming inwardly—
Kunmutu hadn't disappeared.
Phaga had fused with Kunmutu. He had consumed Kunmutu.
He actually ate it!
A weapon with such extreme Ether concentration—even using it was difficult for most—and Phaga had just swallowed it whole!
Black yelled through clenched teeth:
[Aren't you afraid that after transforming into an Ethereal, you'll forget the very reason you live?!]
Phaga's wings gradually folded around him. Ether crystals sprouted naturally along the surface.
In the last sliver of time before they closed, he looked at Black:
"That's why… I'm only going to half-Etherealize."
"That way, I'll still have a chance… won't I?"
Thud!
Black's fist slammed directly into Phaga's wings. The Ether crystals shattered—but Phaga didn't budge an inch.
The next second, Phaga's wings swelled—heat radiating outward, rapidly intensifying.
[Damn it!]
Black's eyes reddened. He clenched his teeth so hard they nearly cracked.
Having used this tactic countless times himself, he knew exactly what Phaga was about to do. He instantly wrapped his own wings around his body, expanding violently.
Boom!
A deafening explosion ripped through the Hollow. Smoke billowed as the ground shook, and twin blood-red beams shot straight into the heavens. Everyone in New Eridu watched through the official livestream, wide-eyed and speechless.
With no audience inside the Hollow itself, the smoke eventually thinned. Purple Ether drifted away, revealing the two combatants at the center.
Inside a crater dozens of meters deep, the world was painted in scorched crimson and black. The shattered asphalt exposed the gravel and dirt beneath, shimmering under the burning heat.
Black's body was covered in blood-red scars. His wings had completely detonated earlier, Ether Substance drifting behind him.
Yet he stubbornly locked eyes with the newly transformed Phaga. Even though he was on the verge of collapsing to one knee, he forced a mocking grin:
[Hey, Creator—now that you've become an Ethereal, how about we team up?]
"Not fully Ethereal… I still don't have a [Core]…"
Phaga frowned, sensing something off. He instinctively touched his neck—only to feel cold crystal. The Ether Crystal scratched his finger, the sting sharper than the blood running down his back.
Right now, at least half of him was Ethereal.
But…
Phaga raised his hand toward Black and suddenly curled his fingers inward, as if intending to crush him within his grasp.
"This works too. Looks like I've gained the ability to devour Ethereals alive."
Hearing this, Black's pupils tightened.
He glanced around in sudden terror. The Ethereals surrounding the pit had formed a complete ring, all leaning over the edge to look down.
[What are you idiots standing around for?! Run! Move it, damn you!]
Black howled frantically, ordering the Ethereal creatures to flee.
But the very next second, a dark red shadow flickered past the edge of his vision, and purple smoke began billowing through the entire Hollow.
[Damn it!]
Black grit his teeth and leapt up out of the pit.
As he lifted his head, he saw Phaga with his back turned, holding an Arlaune to his mouth.
Then, as if hearing a sound, Phaga slowly turned. Purple Ether coated his lips.
"Your men taste pretty good."
He said this casually before tossing the half-eaten Arlaune aside like trash, then began walking toward Black.
Slowly walking, slowly walking.
The Arlaune's mangled body drifted apart into wisps of Ether Substance.
Slowly walking, slowly walking.
Suddenly, Phaga's wings unfurled, wrapped in violet Ether crystal. His Ether activity surged, and in his half-Ethereal form he began matching Black's speed—then surpassing it.
Slowly walking, slowly walking.
Black fled in panic, devouring his own subordinates as he ran, desperately praying for strength to return. At the same time, he sent the other Ethereals charging forward to stall Phaga's advance, burning through his energy.
Slowly, slowly.
The wall of the teaching building suddenly shattered from a single kick. Phaga stepped into the corridor, tilting his head as he gazed at Black—who lay sprawled on the floor from the impact.
Black swallowed hard. Steeling himself, he bit through his own fingertip. Droplets of bloodlike Ether burst forth instantly.
Whoosh!
Dozens of Ether lasers erupted, piercing more than a dozen bloody holes through Phaga's body!
Black was overjoyed—Phaga hadn't even dodged!
But Phaga simply lowered his head, indifferent. He looked down at the wounds riddling his body as purple blood dripped away, his strength ebbing with it. He didn't panic. He merely reached to his waist, pulled out another Arlaune, and put it into his mouth.
He'd picked it up while chasing Black—perfect as a revival token.
Moments later, every wound had vanished. Aside from his shredded clothing, no one could have guessed he'd been moments from death.
"Mm. Just a scratch. Nothing to worry about."
Phaga nodded to himself lightly, then lifted his gaze back to Black.
Walk slowly. Keep walking slowly.
His steps steady, light, without the slightest hesitation.
Because you can't kill me.
Black finally snapped, teetering on the brink of collapse.
[Fine! I'll take you down with me!]
The wings on his back swelled rapidly, trembling with the onset of an explosion.
Black finally understood.
Phaga, capable of devouring Ethereals, now had resources he could expend endlessly. Within this Hollow, he was practically invincible.
But Black was not.
He was Ethereal in essence.
If the Hollow survived, he might survive.
If the Hollow collapsed—he would die without question.
And if Phaga continued devouring Ethereals at this rate, every last one of them within the Hollow would be wiped out.
Then the Hollow itself would collapse.
There was only one path left:
Kill Phaga.
BOOM!
Another violet beam tore through the sky, erupting from the Hollow.
...
"How… how is this possible?"
The host murmured blankly, frozen in place.
In over twenty years of broadcasting, she had never seen anything like this.
She couldn't imagine what kind of brutal battle could produce Ether activity on this scale.
Not even clashes between Notorious Ethereals and Void Hunters came close.
It was as if the entire Hollow had gone to war—pouring every last shred of its strength into annihilating a predator equal to itself.
Suddenly, she sensed a shadow draw near her.
She began to turn—only for the microphone to vanish from her hand.
Before she could even react, an uninvited guest was already pestering her cameraman.
"Don't mind your host for now. I'll take over… Yeah, yeah, point the camera a bit more this way."
Bern, microphone in hand, directed the cameraman until the frame was set just right.
Soon, Bern filled the screen completely. With all of New Eridu watching eagerly through the live broadcast, he began speaking:
"Everyone, everything is going smoothly. Thanks to the vampire clan—especially Phaga's efforts—this operation to eliminate the Black will end in total success…"
Meanwhile, inside a certain tent, a handsome vampire was fiddling with his computer.
Anyone entering would instantly notice the walls lined with rows upon rows of mobile phones, all connected by data cables.
Rustle.
A tall, lanky vampire pulled aside the curtain and stepped in. His gaze swept once across the wall of phones before he flopped into a chair.
"Ugh… so tired. On a day this sunny, why am I out working instead of sleeping at home…? Hey, how's the mission going?"
The handsome vampire didn't raise his head. His dark-circled eyes remained locked on the computer screen as he spoke in a voice as dry as a corpse left out for three days:
"Almost done. I'm guiding online sentiment—isolating Phaga from the vampire clan as much as possible."
The lanky vampire sprawled in his chair, tossing a pillow over his face.
"Give me a break… We're doing all the grunt work and he gets all the credit. What are the Elders even thinking?"
"You should watch your mouth. Black was pretty much defeated by him alone."
The handsome vampire typed rapidly, the keyboard clacking nonstop. "Besides, giving Phaga positive public exposure is part of the plan."
"Ugh, plans, plans… I'm sick of it!"
The lanky vampire threw the book off his face, grumbling, "By the way—has Phaga even beaten Black yet? Isn't it too early to hype him up? What if he loses?"
"Impossible."
The handsome vampire's fingers paused for an instant before resuming, tapping even faster:
"Decades of vampire research, plus over ten years of tracking Phaga's physical condition—perfect synergy. Functionality surpassing the modern standard. He cannot lose."
BOOM!
A massive tremor shook the Hollow, rumbling outward across the land.
The ground quaked, rattling the chairs in the tent.
The handsome vampire braced the table to keep it steady as he waited for the shaking to stop.
Sure enough, within three seconds, it ended.
He exhaled lightly. "See? With that kind of force, there's no chance Phaga is losing."
The lanky vampire, pale from shock, clung to the table as he pulled himself up from the floor, rubbing where he'd landed hard enough to split something.
"Good grief… What are those two even doing? It sounds like the end of the world!"
"What do you think vampires who don't care about collateral damage do?"
The handsome vampire resumed typing.
"They're throwing nukes at each other."
BOOM!
Another explosion echoed the moment he said it.