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Turning the corner, Ignis discovered that the defensive mechanism at the corridor entrance had been activated. Three searing laser beams blocked the entire passage.
This was good news. Ethereals wouldn't activate such devices, and he could clearly see a thermal radiation trace nearby. It seemed that after being scattered, someone had found this usable defense system and taken refuge inside.
Although such a mechanism could be destroyed with a single kick from the Salamander, Belle stopped him.
"No need to wreck it. These things are easy to crack."
As she spoke, Eous hopped toward the terminal by the door. After a few quick manipulations, the pillars maintaining the laser beams retracted back into the floor.
Ignis marveled at Phaethon's electronic warfare capabilities while preparing to enter—
A laser beam struck his shield.
Though it caused no real damage—only leaving scorch marks on the thick surface—Embo reacted instantly.
With a gunshot, the Defense Force soldier opposite felt a bullet graze past his faceplate and slam into the wall behind him. Had the green Bangboo aimed a little off—or not off at all—that round would have blown his skull apart.
Realizing it had targeted the wrong entity, Embo stiffened and quickly hid the pistol behind its back. Unfortunately, it was the only one present using live ammunition; hiding it was pointless.
"Ah—nearly scared me to death. Thought you were an Ethereal." The Defense Force soldier spoke first. "Who are you? Wait—whoever you are, don't come closer. There are Ethereals nearby!"
Despite being fired upon, he maintained his composure and issued a warning to Ignis.
"Relax." Eous walked forward and waved. "Your squad's sergeant requested us to extract you. We're… unofficial Hollow specialists."
"Unofficial Hollow specialists?" The soldier froze. "The sergeant… actually relied on Hollow Raiders to save us…"
He realized his wording was inappropriate and quickly looked up at the fully armored giant—and the Bangboo that had just shot him. Though unofficial, their equipment was clearly no joke.
"The sergeant…" He swallowed the rest. "Understood. The vanguard unit was ambushed by Ethereals. We were scattered. I roughly remember their positions."
He raised his rifle. "If the sergeant is willing to break regulations to save us, I won't waste that resolve!"
"Sorry about that." Embo approached to apologize.
"I fired first. In a Hollow, protecting your master is correct." The soldier was magnanimous, even kneeling to pat Embo's head. "Your Bangboo is impressive. Rare to see such reaction speed."
Without waiting for Ignis, he headed for the door. "Let's move. We'll talk after extraction."
"You're not taking this?" Eous pointed at a small cargo cart beside where he'd been standing.
"If you want it, take it." He observed the corridor beyond. "Priority is rescuing personnel. The supplies are yours."
Hearing that, Eous quickly input an address into the cart's panel.
"Done! It'll exit the Hollow automatically and drive itself to my garage!"
Even through the speaker, Belle's excitement was obvious. Once finished, Eous hurried after them, the Salamander close behind.
"This way." The soldier gestured toward a door on the left. "Nearest one's behind there."
Ignis saw the thermal signatures—both personnel and the Guardian tactical mech were in that direction.
He had fought such autonomous tactical units before. For an Adeptus Astartes, they were manageable. For most Ethereals, however, they were terrifying opponents.
Thermal ray cannon. Shock grenades. Rotary autocannon for self-defense. Pile bunker for close combat. Bipedal locomotion with wheel-assisted bursts for short acceleration. For a semi-intelligent tactical platform, it was a superb design.
The soldier kicked the door open and cleared the area.
"To the right—catwalk section." He glanced at Ignis. "You can cross that?"
The catwalk was supported by relatively thin steel pipes. With the Salamander's immense build and heavy footfalls, doubts were understandable.
"No concern." Ignis was unbothered. "Load-bearing capacity in structural design exceeds operational weight several times over. As long as I don't create excessive shock, it will hold."
The soldier said nothing and sprinted ahead—urgency clear. His squad had been scattered too long.
Ignis's confidence wasn't only structural knowledge; he had seen the Guardian mech's movement traces. That machine outweighed him. If it crossed, so could he.
Crossing the catwalk, each of the Salamander's steps caused it to sway violently. Even Eous hurried across. Ignis remained steady.
Even if he fell, his Mark X Gravis Power Armor would endure. He had leapt down here before during a prior rescue.
"I thought that thing was going to collapse."
As Ignis stepped off, the soldier muttered.
"I told you. Within specification." Ignis raised his shield. "We have company."
"Company?" The soldier froze—then understood, raising his weapon.
The unique Ethereals of the Ballet Twins Hollow—those that crawled from walls—emerged. The Defense Force knew them well; these ambushers had tormented them upon entry.
Bang!
The first shot was Embo's. A large-caliber round pierced a brass mask and destroyed the core within.
Before the first body hit the ground, the Salamander charged.
The thunder hammer crackled with arcs of electricity. With a roar of thunder, nearby Ethereals were consumed in explosive force, reduced to fragments.
The soldier stared. The giant was faster than their Guardian mech. His hammer struck harder than a thermal ray blast. The Bangboo was equally lethal—first pinpoint gunfire, now charging with a chainsaw-like blade.
He snapped back to focus, suppressing an Ethereal attempting to flank Ignis with his laser rifle.
Embo had already seen it. The enemy dared attack its brother from behind—cowardly.
The chainsword screamed as its serrations spun. Sparks flew as it cleaved through the suppressed target, splitting it cleanly in two.
The remnants attempted to burrow into the floor. Embo denied it. The blade plunged down, roaring teeth shredding the brass mask and grinding the core into dust.
"That Bangboo of yours is formidable." The soldier stared. "Many of our troops can't fight so cleanly."
"It is all due to Brother's guidance." Embo did not claim credit.
Indeed, over recent days Ignis had demonstrated how a Space Marine wielded such weapons and conducted simulation drills. Small and rabbit-like though it appeared, the Bangboo possessed considerable power. Its internal drive systems were strong, its logic core efficient, its learning speed exceptional.
Machines—especially those with rudimentary intelligence—excelled in this regard. Rapid acquisition. Rapid refinement through practice.
With several missions, Ignis believed it would become a reliable combat asset.
Leaving the hall, they advanced into another corridor. As expected, more Ethereals lay in ambush. Gunfire and thunder resounded—then silence. Without higher-tier support, lesser Ethereals posed no threat.
"Never-ending," the soldier sighed. "Just like when we entered."
"This is light." Ignis recalled his first entry—Ethereals swarming like sharks, saved only because Phaethon discovered a high-intensity flashlight.
"You've been here before?"
"Affirmative."
Something entered his peripheral vision.
He raised his shield—then halted.
Before him stood a long-legged dancer, entirely black. Her slender ether-crystal body was clad in a matching ballet dress, the underskirt glowing violet-red.
The Gray Veiled Marionette—was active. Of course. Within the Ballet Twins Hollow, one could not avoid its queens.
Ignis prepared to charge.
Instead, the queen bowed gracefully, spun lightly backward, and dissolved into motes of ether light.
"What… was that?" The soldier's eyes widened. It was his first time seeing an Ethereal perform such a human gesture instead of attacking.
"The local sovereign. We have… history." Ignis answered.
"History? With an Ethereal?" The soldier was stunned.
Ignis was not certain himself. But its lack of aggression suggested warning rather than hostility. These entities were born from the devoured twin dancers—Augetta and Augilia—Ethereals modeled after them.
Did they retain memory? He did not know. But their behavior surpassed instinct.
Since it did not obstruct them, it was fortunate.
Perhaps a small blessing earned after aiding Old Man Rhodes.
Advancing along the corridor, they soon reached a downward slope. At the base lay the Guardian autonomous mech—motionless. Beside it, another Defense Force soldier stood guard nervously.
"I-Is that thing still there?" he asked instead of firing. "Who are you?"
Ignis's massive frame unsettled him. Fortunately, the earlier rescued soldier stepped forward.
"Allies."
"Thank god you're here!" Relief was palpable. "Ahead—there's a high-risk upper-tier Ethereal."
"This autonomous unit escorted me here… then failed." His voice faltered. "I intended to repair it and push through again, but…"
A massive gash scarred the mech's logic core—internal systems visibly destroyed.
"Good thing you arrived. I didn't know what to do." He steadied himself. "What next? Rescue the others?"
"Affirmative. The sergeant called for Hollow Raider support to save us," the calmer soldier said. "We extract as many as possible."
The nervous one nodded. "Follow me. I don't want to face that thing again—but we must."
They burst through a heavy door. Silence suffocated the hall.
"Quiet. Contact imminent."
Ignis heard it too. He lunged forward, hammer raised—
And stopped.
Before him stood another Defense Force soldier, weapon raised in mirrored readiness.
"How many remain?" Ignis asked.
"Four total," Belle replied. "One left. But there's another squad."
"Reinforcements. Good. Strong enemy. Nearby. High threat. Alone—defeat. Together—victory." The soldier spoke in clipped words, eager rather than afraid. "Coordinate. Advance."
Without hesitation, he kicked open the next door and charged inside.
"Is he always like that?" Ignis asked the other two.
Their expressions turned awkward.
"Not always," the nervous one admitted. "But… he does enjoy a good fight."
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