Zenless Zone Hollow

by AbyssalV1

Summary:

The Knight is dragged out of the Void of Hallownest, ending up in a bright and noisy city called New Eridu.
Although he failed in his quest to become a Hollow Knight, can he find a new one here?

Chapter 1: Chapter 0 Episode 1: Business × Strangeness × Knights

Darkness.

It was all the little vessel ever knew.

It was all it had ever been.

The Void was the only thing surrounding it as it fell to its death, just as its siblings had before it—an infinite sea of writhing shadows whispering in silence. Its body simply awaited its end, or so it should have.

A pull. A tear in the very fabric of the Void in the form of a portal.

And suddenly, the vessel vanished along with the portal.

A torrent of light and color engulfed it. Its tiny body was flung through the air, disoriented, until the fall ended abruptly as it crashed onto a solid surface.

Debris flew around, and dust covered the ground from the impact, but its shell remained intact.

Slowly, it picked itself up, its large, empty sockets staring at the dim light of the place. The surroundings were strange—half-destroyed metal structures, twisted pipes, distant mechanical noises.

This shouldn't be Hallownest, and it was definitely not the Void.

It was somewhere new.

 

Meanwhile, outside the Hollow – District of Jano, New Eridu, in the skyscraper of Neighborhood No. 14...

"To the left!" shouted a pink-haired girl with twin tails, holding a safe in her hands while being followed by another white-haired girl and a yellow-eyed robot, before hiding behind a peculiar statue.

The strange trio emerged from the statue and ran again as they were pursued by a group of men, until they reached a room with a large window.

"A window! Nickie, we can get out through here!" the robot exclaimed.

"But there's a Hollow down there. Well, an exit is an exit. Billy, can you break the glass?" said the pink-haired leader.

"Easy! Leave it to me!" the robot, known as Billy, shouted enthusiastically before his bullet ricocheted off the glass and hit the ceiling, causing a television to fall and strike Billy on the head.

"It bounced. The window seems really strong," the white-haired girl calmly remarked.

"The Cunning Hares, the odd-jobs agency..." came a voice that seemed to belong to the leader of the armed group chasing them.

"Why... Why are you stealing in Red Fang Gang's territory? You have no idea what my men have been through..." the gang leader said, starting to cry.

"This safe was stolen from the lab! We're just returning it to its rightful owner! Stop acting like we're the bad guys!" the pink-haired girl shouted back. "Besides, bringing your whole gang for just three people? Is this what they meant by Silver's Tears? You're even weirder than the rumors say!"

Suddenly, a helicopter arrived from behind. "This is Hawk 4, we've detected movement at the location. We've found the Red Fang Gang, awaiting orders..."

"Alright, do you want to stay and fight us and get arrested with us, or are you going to retreat so we can all escape?" the pink-haired girl with twin tails taunted.

"They found Red Fang? Use the biggest gun!" a reporter on the television Billy had knocked over exclaimed.

With that, the helicopter fired a missile, sending the safe, Billy, and the white-haired girl flying into the Hollow below.

 

Inside the Hollow...

"...Headset working, good. Recording status: normal. My name is Anby Demara. I'm an official member of the Cunning Hares. I accidentally fell into a Hollow. I don't have a Carrot or Proxy support. Probability of getting lost in the Hollow: 96.4%. I'll record my misadventures in case I die or turn into a monstrous being," the short-haired girl, now identified as Anby, spoke.

"Ah! It's you, Anby! Great! I knew you'd be fi—" Billy was cut off as he dodged a sword strike from Anby. "What are you doing with that sword?! You almost cut me in half!"

"I encountered another rational being. It looks like my partner, Billy Kid. Once, a researcher found ethereal beings capable of speech and mimicking human behavior. When he rescued it and they left the Hollow, the ethereal being revealed its true identity," Anby spoke quickly.

"You're joking, right? The ethereal would've died upon leaving the Hollow... Wait a minute, wasn't that the plot of a recent movie?" Billy exclaimed.

"The victim list was very long..." Anby added.

"Anby, those were the credits. Anyway, it's been a while since we fell down here. Nicole must be looking for a way to get us out. Though... do you think she'll be willing to pay for our rescue? You know how she is... Haha... Let's just find an exit. As always, you take the front, I'll cover the rear," Billy responded.

Thus, the duo made their way through the ethereal beings until they arrived at a strange place.

"The air here is more unstable than usual," Anby remarked in her usual calm tone.

"Yeah, well, it's not like Hollows are the most stable places in the world," Billy replied, gripping his pistols.

They reached the leader of the Red Fangs, and next to him was the safe—but to their shock, the leader started to mutate.

Billy tensed. "Yep, looks like the ether's corrupting him. The mutation is really severe. This guy clearly has no ether compatibility."

A curtain of smoke rose.

"Tell me that's not what I think it is..."

"One of the strong ones. And it's coming right at us," Anby replied.

"Great," Billy muttered under his breath.

The two prepared for battle, but before they could act...

The ground trembled.

A few meters away, amidst the rubble, something moved.

Both agents turned quickly, ready to attack. But what they saw was not an ethereal.

It was something different.

Small. Covered in dust and debris.

Its body resembled a bipedal insect, with a mask of empty sockets and a long weapon clutched in its tiny hands—like a Knight.

It moved slowly as it got up, shaking the dust off its shell.

Billy blinked. "What... the hell?"

Anby remained silent, carefully observing the strange being.

It wasn't an ethereal. It didn't seem like a rogue AI or a Bangboo either.

It was something organic... but not entirely.

The Knight looked at them. Its posture was low, defensive, as if unsure whether they were enemies or not.

Billy raised his gun.

"Do we shoot?"

"No."

"No?"

"It hasn't attacked us."

"Fine."

The Knight tilted its head. It didn't understand their words, but it understood their movements—they weren't immediate threats.

But then, the roar returned, and this time, it was right above them.

A tall ethereal entity was charging at full speed, shattering metal and stone around it.

Billy tensed. "Ah, great. Here we go."

Anby prepared to fight. Her sword glowed with energy, but before she could strike, someone moved first.

The Knight.

Without hesitation, the Knight leaped forward.

Its Nail gleamed with a faint glow as it slashed the ethereal leg with a precise strike.

The ethereal roared and tried to swipe at it with its massive claws, but the Knight agilely dodged with a sideways jump.

"That bug is fighting it... alone?" Billy muttered in disbelief.

Anby was already moving. "Let's not leave it alone."

Billy sighed and opened fire, his bullets striking the ethereal's shoulder, drawing its attention away from the tiny warrior.

The Knight seized the distraction, dashing forward at incredible speed and slashing at the creature's torso. The ethereal howled and swung its claws, hitting the Knight with force.

The small warrior was sent flying but got up immediately, showing no signs of pain.

Billy blinked. "Hey... what is that thing?"

Anby didn't respond. She was focused on the battle.

The Knight spun its Nail skillfully and charged once more.

But this time, it wasn't alone.

Anby attacked from the right, using her agility to dodge the creature's strikes and deliver quick blows to its weak points.

Billy kept firing, coordinating his shots with his allies' movements.

The Knight, meanwhile, leaped high into the air. As he descended, he struck directly at the creature's core.

Anby saw the opportunity. "Billy!"

Billy fired a precise shot at the exposed core. The ethereal roared, sending the trio flying back slightly.

"Is it recovering? Its ether activity is increasing," Billy said tensely.

"Do we keep attacking?" Anby asked while the Knight emerged from the rubble after being thrown by the roar.

"We don't have the endurance for a prolonged fight," Billy exhaled deeply before shooting at two fire extinguishers nearby, while Anby grabbed the small Knight to escape...

Chapter 2: Chapter 0 Episode 2: The knight and the Proxy

The faint hum of the screens, the rhythmic click of the air conditioner, and the soft murmur of a TV in the background were the only sounds filling the small video rental shop known as Randomplay, a modest video store on the corner of Sixth Street, over in the Janus Quarter.

Inside, surrounded by shelves packed with movies, VHS tapes, and DVDs, two siblings were glued to the screen of an old TV broadcasting live news.

"We're returning now to the scene on Fourteenth street, where an explosion occurred on one of the upper floors of a residential building shortly after the appearance of a Companion Hollow" announced the anchor, while aerial footage showed smoke rising from a partially destroyed building.

Just then, the shop door burst open, letting in a rush of cold air and the sound of hurried footsteps. Nicole, still with traces of dust on her clothes and a visibly exhausted face, stormed in, clearly agitated.

"Hey, listen up! I was there when that explosion took place. It's an emergency! Billy, Anby, and the mission target fell into that Hollow! I need urgent help from a Proxy!" she shouted, completely ignoring the usual greetings.

"Hello Nicole... It'd be nice of you to knock next time." said a boy with ash-gray hair, casually sitting on the couch in front of the TV.

"I feel like I hear of your urgent needs at least three times a month, Nicole..." added a short girl with short, dark blue hair.

"You can make fun of me all you want after you help me deal with this crisis. Please, legendary Proxy Phaethon!" Nicole pleaded as the three headed towards the entrance of the video store.

The two siblings, now revealed to be Phaethon, stood in front of the door and said in unison, "Alright, What trouble did you get yourself into this time?"

 

Outside the Hollow in Fourteenth street

Nicole stood near one of the Hollow entrances, holding a Bangboo. Bangboos were small rabbit-shaped robots. Although initially designed to assist residents during disaster evacuations, Bangboos had evolved into "intelligent, versatile, and complete individuals," indispensable helpers in the daily life of New Eridu.

"Hey, Nicole, can you hear me? You can send Eous now," said a voice coming from Nicole's phone.

"Okay, little one, you're up. All set — your Bangboo is on the move," Nicole replied, releasing the Bangboo. Its eyes lit up even brighter as it pulled out a small bomb-like device and began entering the Hollow.

 

Inside the Hollow

The situation was critical. Billy, Anby, and the Knight were running across a narrow bridge, chased by a group of Ethereals. Billy's ammo was down to his last few magazines, and the Knight — being carried like a plush toy by Anby — was torn between attacking or staying sheltered as they leaped close to the train tracks below.

"Eh?! We're back here again!" Billy shouted as a few Ethereals dropped down near them. "Damn it, another fight! I'm almost out of ammo!"

Anby came to a sharp stop, turning to face the enemies. "They're coming. Get ready for combat."

The Knight swiftly jumped down from her arms, landing lightly on the ground and drawing his Nail, ready to fight.

Then, small dispersal bombs suddenly dropped among the Ethereals, disorienting them before exploding with a muffled boom. A dense cloud of smoke covered the area.

From behind a train car, Eous emerged.

"Hey, guys! This way!" he shouted, his cheerful voice oddly out of place given the tense moment.

Anby blinked and glanced at Billy. "A Bangboo that talks... and wears a scarf?"

"Ooooh! You're... Phaethon!" Billy shouted, pointing excitedly.

The Knight slightly tilted his head at the sight of the small rabbit-shaped robot.

Billy grinned. "Haha! Never thought I'd be so happy to see that bunny!"

Anby simply muttered, "Welcome, Phaethon."

Without wasting any more time, the group followed Eous, running through the wreckage of the station toward a new escape route.

"Um, Anby... that little one... what is he?" asked the voice coming from Eous, looking at the Knight, who was about the same height as the Bangboo.

"About him... I don't know how to explain it. He's not any animal I know, not a Bangboo, and definitely not a normal human. He doesn't emit Ether signals, he has no registered ID, and he shows no vital signs."

"So... is he some kind of new machine or something?" asked a different voice — this one sounding like a boy — also coming from the little rabbit robot.

"That's what I thought at first. But no. He doesn't act like a machine. He has initiative, moves on instinct. And when he fights... it's more like someone desperate to survive. For now, he doesn't seem hostile. And he helped us."

While they talked, the Knight, who was running quickly, suddenly turned and veered off course, launching himself toward an Etheric creature that had just emerged from the metallic debris.

With a single leap, his nail pierced the enemy with a clean slash, causing the body to disintegrate into ether particles. The Knight landed without making a single sound.

"Wow... he only has that sword-like thing, but he's still super efficient at taking down Etheric creatures. I wonder where he comes from," said the voice coming from Eous.

"We can discuss that later," Billy interrupted. "Things are about to get really, really bad," he said, turning towards a fork in the path blocked by several overturned train cars.

From the other side, at least eight Etheric creatures emerged.

Billy raised his weapons. "Stop right there! Time to teach you a lesson!"

Anby moved forward without hesitation. "Billy, don't let them get close to Phaethon."

The battle erupted.

Anby danced between the enemies with clean, lethal movements, each slash of her sword cutting down the Etheric creatures, sparks of electricity flying with each strike. Billy fired in short bursts, repositioning with every reload, using the train cars for cover. The Knight, meanwhile, fearlessly threw himself straight into the center of the enemy lines.

One of the creatures charged him head-on, but the Knight slid under it, stabbed his nail into its torso, and used the momentum to launch himself into the air, landing atop another enemy and decapitating it with a single slash.

"Ha! This guy's full of pure rage!" Billy shouted, impressed as he backpedaled from two enemies.

"He shows no signs of fatigue... and he doesn't make any sound either," observed the voice from Eous, commenting on the Knight.

"Billy, behind you!" cried another voice.

The Knight heard it and turned just in time to intercept an enemy sneaking up on Billy, cutting it down before it could reach him.

"...Thanks, little guy," Billy said.

After an intense three-minute battle, the Etheric creatures began to dwindle.

Anby turned her head. "Everyone still alive?"

Billy gave a thumbs-up. "Scratched up, but yeah."

"Good," said the female voice from inside the bunny. "Keep moving forward."

"Full speed ahead! Huh?! Wait, wait... There's a wall in front of us, you want us to break through it? But I'm out of ammo!" Billy exclaimed, panting.

Eous approached the wall. "Don't worry, just do what my sister says. As you know, space inside Hollows is distorted. That means..."

"What looks like a dead end could actually be a way out, and vice versa," Anby completed.

"Exactly. So in other words, the escape route is already set. You can trust us. We're logging off now. Good luck, everyone," continued the other voice.

The little Bangboo's green eyes dimmed slightly, and its attitude suddenly shifted.

"HOW CAN YOU LOG OFF AT A TIME LIKE THIS?!" Billy yelled.

"Trajectory: straight line. Impact imminent. Get ready," Anby said to the others as she started running.

The Knight also started sprinting toward the wall.

"Hey, wait... we're gonna crash!" Billy tried to protest while looking at the others and holding Eous.

Anby took a deep breath and charged through the wall.

Billy cursed and followed, closing his eyes right before impact.

The Knight leapt directly at the wall... disappearing upon contact, as if he had been absorbed by it.

On the other side, the group emerged with a strange feeling of relief washing over them. Outside the Hollow, the city's blue sky could be seen through the clouds.

A car horn snapped them out of their trance.

"Right on time, just like Phaethon said! Hey, get in the car!" Nicole shouted, leaning out the window of a car parked near the Hollow.

Eous hopped onto the roof of the car.

"Nickie!" Billy yelled as he and Anby jumped in without a second thought. The Knight, however, hesitated for a moment... but eventually sat next to Anby, who offered him a seat as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Eh?! What the heck is that thing?!" Nicole asked, staring at the Knight through the rearview mirror.

Anby didn't answer right away. She looked at the small warrior, who was now gazing out the window as if he didn't understand anything that was happening.

"I don't know," she finally replied, annoying Nicole with her vague answer.

While Nicole and Anby argued — with Anby remaining completely calm — the Knight kept staring at the sky, particularly at a large orange orb hanging above everything, which filled him with a vague sense of unease.

 

Chapter 3: Chapter 0 Episode 3: Knight Emergency

Route from District No. 14 to District No. 6

Nicole's car glided through the streets of Jano District. The sky was clear, but the tension inside the vehicle stood in stark contrast to the calmness outside...

As usual, Anby wore her serene expression, while Billy was half-asleep, slumped against the seatbelt. The little knight sat beside Anby, quietly watching the world go by through the window.

"I don't get how he can be so calm after everything that happened yesterday..." Nicole muttered, glancing at the Knight through the rearview mirror.

The Knight tilted his head slightly, curious, as he saw a bird flying alongside the car. Since his arrival in this place, he had seen many strange creatures unlike anything he'd known before... though to be fair, he had only ever known his father and siblings.

While the Knight was lost in thought, the car finally pulled up in front of the Random Play video store — a modest little shop that went unnoticed among the flashier businesses of the district.

Nicole opened the garage door, allowing the vehicle to enter. The car rolled slowly to a stop at the back entrance of Random Play, where two familiar figures awaited.

The car door opened with a soft clunk. Billy was the first to hop out, stretching dramatically, as if even his nonexistent eyelashes needed a break.

"Ahhh, finally, fresh air! I mean... video store air. But still better than the Hollow," he huffed, brushing dust off his pants. Anby stepped out next, as calm as ever, followed by Eous with a light hop.

The Knight was the last to exit. He took a few cautious steps onto the garage floor, his hollow, expressionless eye sockets scanning the area.

"You got back fast, Nicole. So this is the little critter you found in the Hollow, huh?" said a boy with ash-gray hair, a cold expression, and a somewhat tired look. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt under a short-sleeved gray jacket.

Next to him stood a short girl with dark blue short hair and intense eyes. She wore a black long-sleeved shirt under a large sleeveless jacket with orange and white details, oversized for her frame, giving her a laid-back vibe.

"Nicole, now that we got them out alive, it's time to pay up," the girl said bluntly.

"Wait, Wise, Belle! We're not done yet! You agreed to get my team and the client's item out — you've only finished the first part," Nicole replied, crossing her arms.

While Wise and Nicole argued, the Knight tilted his head, silently watching the girl called Belle.

"...You're so cute!" Belle finally said with a bright smile. "And surprisingly stealthy, too. Well, if you don't have a name yet... I'll call you Ghost. How's sound?"

The Knight — now Ghost — didn't respond, but turned his head slightly, as if accepting the name. Belle nodded, satisfied.

"Then, welcome to the video store, Ghost."

Back to the other conversation—

"Based on what we saw before we left, the strongbox should be where that dangerous ethereal is. The White Star Institute classified it as a 'Dullahan'. It's a superior ethereal entity," Anby reported.

"Anby, the little guy and I tried to recover the box, but that thing was super mega powerful — we barely scratched it before retreating... by the way, Nicole, what's in the box? Is it really worth it?" Billy asked.

Nicole chuckled. "Hehe, you'll find out soon. Look!"

She pulled out a pendant shaped like a red fang.

"Huh? Looks like a flashy necklace, but it's actually a USB drive," Belle said, now holding Ghost gently in her arms like a pet, the two of them staring at the USB.

"Exactly. It belonged to Silver — I grabbed it before leaving the building in District No. 14. He always carried it, so there must be something important on it. I'm sure it's connected to the strongbox!"

"...But it's damaged," Anby added.

"Phaethon, think you can work some of that tech magic with your fancy computer?" Nicole asked.

A brief silence followed while Wise considered.

"Sis, we can use the Proxy Network to try recovering the data," the gray-haired boy said to his sister, who nodded.

"Deal! We'll try to find the location of the strongbox. We'll be back once we have a lead! Good luck~" Nicole said to the two Proxies before heading off with her team, leaving the little knight behind...

"Nicole, wait—...and she's gone. Well then, Ghost, would you like to stay with us?" Belle asked the little creature, who simply walked into the video store without a word.

Some time later, inside Random Play, Ghost silently watched a Bangboo sitting behind the video store counter. The small rabbit-like robot stared back without moving, its glowing green eyes steady and unblinking. It didn't seem to judge him—Ghost simply turned his back and began walking around the store, memorizing the layout.

By nightfall, Wise let Ghost stay on the couch. He quickly noticed that the little one had fallen asleep just seconds after sitting down. Belle, finding the scene too cute to ignore, snapped a photo and left him to rest peacefully.

The next afternoon, Nicole contacted the Proxy siblings, and they met again in the garage behind the store.

"There you are. We've located the strongbox. What about the USB?" Nicole asked, stepping out of her car.

"The USB drive? We've recovered the data," Belle replied. "Just as you thought, it contains the password for the strongbox."

Nicole nodded. "Good. The preparations are complete. Time to take the next step. Anby, explain the plan."

"Understood. Take a look at this map of New Eridu," Anby said, as Ghost leaned in curiously to study it. He found it fascinating — it confirmed without a doubt that this place was nowhere near Hallownest. He silently hoped his brother would succeed in their mission... but his thoughts were quickly interrupted again by Anby's voice.

"The plan is as follows: enter the Cretan Hollow, defeat the superior ethereal entity, and retrieve the strongbox."

A short silence followed.

"That's it?" Wise asked flatly.

Anby nodded.

"Then... what's the map for?"

"Nicole said we have to act like professionals. We can't let our partners underestimate us — otherwise, we'll lose all leverage when—" Anby was quickly cut off by Nicole covering her mouth.

"Talking too much again?! And you, Billy, weren't you paying attention?" Nicole snapped at the pair.

"Not my fault! How was I supposed to know that's what Anby thinks a professional meeting is supposed to look like?" the albino robot shot back at the pink-haired girl. "Well, at least now I know why she binge-watched all those detective movies before we got here..."

"Uh, guys, we can hear you, you know," Wise chimed in.

"Ahem," Nicole cleared her throat. "As Anby said, the goal is simple: find the strongbox and recover it. We'll leave navigation in your hands."

Suddenly, Ghost gave Nicole a few light taps on the back with his tiny hand — he wanted to go back into the Hollow too. Nicole, not one to turn down free help, accepted without hesitation.

And so, the Cunning Hares, Eous, and Ghost hopped into the car and headed to District No. 14, where they parked in front of the Hollow's entrance. Back at the video store, Belle and Wise watched as the HDD connection stabilized.

"Connecting to Eous in 3... 2... 1..."

"Connection established," Belle announced, her eyes fixed on the screen.

For now... everything was going smoothly.

Chapter 4: Chapter 0 Episode 4: Reconnected

Hollow of District N.°14

"Excellent! We made it into the Hollow—now let's find that strongbox!" Nicole shouted with excitement.

"By the way, Nickie, who gave you the location of the strongbox?"

"Heh heh, Billy, that's confidential! I can't just spill it like that, can I? ...But since we're on the same team, I'll let you in on a little secret."

"Nicole, you just want to show off, don't you?" Wise's voice crackled through Eous.

"Come on, don't make her look bad. Nicole's sensitive about these things," Anby replied, Ghost perched on her back. The little figure just looked at Nicole with what could only be called pity.

"Anby! I told you not to talk too much—and you…" she turned to point at Ghost "don't look at me like that!"

"Nicole, can't you let it slide this one time?"

"Don't look at me like that!"

"Nicole, can't you let it slide this one time?"

Belle flinched. "Uh... did you just repeat the same thing twice?"

"Proxy? Why are you standing still? Come on, I know the location of the strongbox, so I'm counting on you to get us there!"

The trip continued without incident—until a group of Ethereal beings blocked their path. Ghost didn't hesitate.

With a swift twist, he drew his nail and lunged at the first of the Ethereals. The weapon sliced the air with a sharp whistle before driving straight into the creature's core, right where its head would have been. It shrieked before shattering into drifting motes of Ethereal light.

He didn't have time to land before another shadow dropped from above, long arms stretching as if to wrap around him. Ghost spun midair, slipping past the attack with fluid grace. Then, with a firm push, he drove his nail upward, cleaving the Ethereal in half just before touching down.

To his left, a much larger one charged straight at him.

"My turn!" Nicole's voice rang out from behind.

Without waiting for an answer, she stepped forward, suitcase in hand. In a single motion, she intercepted the charging Ethereal and snapped open part of the case. The mechanism inside activated instantly, unleashing a compressed burst of Ethereal energy—an orb of purple light—that engulfed the enemy. It froze in place for a few seconds before detonating with a muffled boom.

The blast was powerful, stunning the nearby foes that had closed in. Billy picked them off with efficient shots, clearing the field. Silence settled over the Hollow once more. Nicole lowered her suitcase slowly, the metal still warm from the discharge, and looked over at Ghost.

"Hey, bug—you don't have to rush in alone all the time. We're a team, remember?" she said. Ghost only stood there, staring back at her.

"Uh, guys, the air here feels denser," Anby cut in.

"Yeah... the resolution on my video sensors just dropped," Billy replied.

"That means we've á̸̙̦̿l̷͉͙̀̌r̷͙̓̾ȅ̶͍ȧ̸͍d̷̟̑ÿ̵́͠ͅ ă̷̼͂r̶̡̎̍r̷̫͠i̵͔͌v̴̢͐ë̸͇́d̶̘̍.

"Nicole? Sorry, I didn't hear you well" said the Proxy sister " Did you say something?

Nicole just looked at the Bangboo "Hey! Don't get distracted while guiding us, we paid a good amount of money to hire the best Proxy! So be careful if you don't want a bad review on the Proxy network"

"So be careful if you don't want a bad review on the Proxy network.

"Wise, can you hear me? The HDD connection isn't very stable. 

"...Let me see, Belle... Hmm, that's strange, there's an error message next to the server. Wait a moment, I'll try to fix it.

Meanwhile, Billy crouched down and touched the small rabbit-shaped robot "Hello? Are we moving on? Even the little bug is starting to get bored.

"Guys, listen carefully, it seems the Hollow's activity is affecting the HDD signal, don't wander o" Suddenly, Belle was expelled from the HDD system "Huh? Belle, are you okay?

"The HDD kicked me out. The connection between the system and the Hollow has been cut!

"Run the emergency diagnostic!

"Understood!... Uh. Wise? It's not working. I can't restore the connection!

"That's strange, Hollows shouldn't affect the HDD system" Wise sighed in concern "What matters right now is Nicole and the others, we have no other way to contact them except through the HDD system.

"Without Carrots and without a Proxy... No matter how much Ether compatibility they have, they'll get corrupted if they stay too long" Belle muttered as she approached the HDD system "Looks like there's only one solution left... Restart the system!" she shouted while pressing the power button hard.

"Belle..."

"Brother, you know the saying, 'Turn it off, turn it on, and it's fixed' hehe."

"Wait, why is the screen still on!?"

From the main screen, a new logo appeared alongside an unfamiliar voice "I thought you'd never find out, Phaeton. Though, is this all the so-called 'legendary proxy' can do? As you can see, the system is entirely mine."

"Who are you?" Wise quickly replied.

"What does it matter? What I want is simple: the password to the strongbox."

"We don't know what you're talking about, we can't give it to you."

"Wrong answer. If you want to play it this way, so be it. "

[System notice: Database formatting in progress...]

[Formatting complete.]

"Damn it, there's no way to recover the database."

"Now you get it? For now, I only erased a part of it. But remember, from now on, your fate is in my control. Your clients meddled where they shouldn't, and I know you recovered the password with Silver's USB, so think carefully about what you're going to say. And speaking of your clients, looks like they're still wandering around the Hollow aimlessly."

The screen flickered until it showed the Cunning Hares and the small knight in the middle of a group of Ethereal beings. Ghost was the first to strike, sliding across the ground with his nail and attacking from below, cutting the legs of one of the enemies with a speed no human could match. The being fell without making a sound.

"More enemies behind us" Billy muttered, firing his pistols like a machine gun. One of the ethereals swerved to dodge —Left flank— only for Anby to intercept it with a kick, followed by a combo of slashes that split it cleanly.

Nicole charged and launched a projectile that burst into a sphere of ethereal energy, trapping the two nearest enemies.

"Ghost, your turn!"

The Knight needed no further cue. He dashed across the battlefield, leapt over Billy "Hey!" and dove straight down with his nail extended. He struck right in the chest of one of the ethereal beings, pinning it to the ground. The other tried to circle around them, but Nicole trapped it in another sphere and Billy finished it off with a double shot.

"Hey, Phaeton! You sure this is the right way?" Nicole called out.

Billy approached while still shooting at more ethereal beings pouring in "What's wrong with the boss? He's been real quiet and ignoring the fight."

"Maybe he got mad because Nicole tried to haggle the price?" Anby threw out her guess as she and Ghost regrouped with the others.

"ANBY!... But, weird, he stopped guiding us since we entered the Hollow. You think something happened out there?" she said with concern. "Phaeton, you okay?" Nicole asked Eous, who just ignored her and headed straight for the ethereal beings. Just as one was about to hit him, Ghost stepped in, deflecting the attack with his nail and then slicing the attacker apart. "Damn it, stop them, protect the proxy!"

Nicole rushed forward, charging an attack from her briefcase, which released a larger ethereal sphere than before, damaging several beasts in the area and slamming them against the walls. Billy took the opportunity, firing precise bursts into the enemies' bodies, reducing them to nothing. Anby dove into the horde, her sword cutting through everything in sight, releasing blue waves of electricity all around her.

Ghost emerged from the crowd, using his small size to dodge every attack. Sliding between bodies, he drove his nail into one enemy after another, not letting them recover.

Then, an ethereal colossus appeared. Its huge, rocky body was made of dark and white crystalline fragments with some green details. Its grotesquely muscular arms tore up the ground each time they moved, like a massive hammer ready to crush everything in its path.

The Hares regrouped. Nicole struck the giant with her briefcase, firing small bursts of projectiles that drew all of the monster's attention. It tried to crush her, only for Anby to interrupt with a massive blow, unleashing an electric burst that crackled against its corrupted skin.

Ghost quickly approached from behind, leapt, and delivered a spinning slash that tore through its side, then slid under its guard, piercing its torso precisely while Billy fired steady bursts from a crouched position, finishing off what remained of the ethereal creature.

Silence returned for a moment before the sound of more ethereal beings echoed in the distance, prompting the group to hide. Ghost perched on Billy's head while Nicole carried the Bangboo in her arms, moving until they reached a section of the train station where they were well-covered.

"Those ethereal beings just keep coming" Anby said as she spotted the new wave approaching.

"They're like the landlord when rent's due" Billy joked, then took on a more serious tone "There goes the timer again. We've been in a Hollow for at least four times the recommended limit..."

"Hey, Phaeton, if you don't come back soon, I'm never paying my debts" Nicole scolded the still-unresponsive Eous.

"Hide" Anby suddenly said, alarming Billy. "W-what? More of those monsters?"

"No, it's the Hollow Research Association."

"Ah, just researchers... Wait, researchers!? Nickie, we're saved! They're members of the Research Association. They must have Carrots! We can ask them to take us out of the Hollow" Billy excitedly approached Nicole at the thought of leaving, while Ghost slowly climbed down from his head in silence.

"What nonsense are you talking about? They're accompanied by Public Security Bureau officers. We're Hollow scavengers. If we leave with them, it'll be under arrest."

"That would be the case if it were just us, but we have this..." He said, pointing at the rabbit-shaped robot. "Remember? If we report the proxy to the Public Security Bureau, we'll be cleared."

"Given the circumstances, Billy's proposal is viable" Anby replied from behind. "Hand over the proxy in exchange for our safety, or stay here until the Bangboo comes to."

Billy spoke again. "Nickie... You decide. Whatever happens, we'll follow your orders."

"Enough talking, let's keep moving. We can't stay here for long, come on... Where's Eous?" Nicole asked in surprise, only to see Ghost carrying the Bangboo far away from the place. "Wait, Ghost, come back here!"

 

Back in the Janus District, District No. 6, Video Store Random Play

 

"I have to say, it's pretty funny, especially that weird little robot you've got. Never seen anything like it. And also... something touching about not reporting them to the officials. For the Research Association, proxies and Hollow scavengers are like wolves stealing from each other" said the voice from the computer while removing the group's image from the screen. "But you gave up the chance to escape just to protect Phaethon's identity. Unfortunately, it seems you don't plan to return the favor."

"Alright, we get it" Wise replied with a sigh. "We'll give you the password."

"Wait, bro, what are you...?"

"But first, we'll need you to give us access to the system."

"Are you trying to negotiate with me? Seems you haven't learned your lesson."

"Don't worry, the backup copy of the password is there, so we can recover it if you return system control to us."

"No way! Proxies and Hollow scavengers can't be trusted, and that includes you, Phaethon... Wait, there's a backup on the proxy network? Give me the account; I'll do it myself."

"...Alright, I'll give you the account."

 

A few moments later

 

"You even sent the authentication page from the source. Well, looks like you've given up."

"There's something we want to ask you— this time Belle spoke to the screen."

"I'm in a good mood only because you've been so cooperative. Go ahead, ask."

"What's in the strongbox?"

"It's something people like you will never get your hands on. But I suppose it doesn't hurt to tell you. As you obviously know, Hollows are labyrinths in constant flux. The Carrots used to exit them are created by calculating massive volumes of Hollow data. However, Hollow observation equipment accumulates errors, so to ensure the accuracy of the data, they must be recalibrated regularly using special master data. In other words, the 'Rosetta Data' held by the city's leaders. The contents of the strongbox are something similar to Rosetta Data, with which you could enter and exit Hollows at will."

"I see. So it's very valuable."

"For proxies and Hollow scavengers, it's like a dream come true. But it's none of your concern. Enough talk—tell me where the password is."

"I've got another question!"

"Hey, we're not friends, so don't abuse my patience."

"My question is, if you're such a great hacker, why not just steal the password from our system? If you know the backup is on the proxy network, why not hack it and take it?"

"I'm warning you, drop the subject or I'll retract what I promised."

"Now that I think about it, aside from taking control of our system, you haven't done anything else like a hacker would. Instead, you've used Nicole and the others to extort us like some kind of kidnapper" Belle said, folding her arms.

"Shut up! Just tell me the backup directory" he said, with a faint trace of desperation in his voice.

"Don't worry, my brother and I are doing everything we can to help you" Belle replied with a mocking tone."

"Listen closely... is that the sound of sirens?" Wise continued the taunting.

"What have you done!?" the hacker yelled at the proxy siblings.

"We're just doing our duty as citizens of New Eridu" Belle commented sarcastically. "With the elections right around the corner, the authorities are urging citizens to report criminal acts by proxies and Hollow scavengers. There's even a direct hotline, so all it took was calling it to report a certain individual on the proxy network."

"Ah, I see, you've even abandoned Phaethon's identity to trap me!" Belle cut him off. "We haven't abandoned our identity, just our account."

"This isn't over. You'll pay for this" After that, the screen turned off, then on again with the system restored.

"We've got the system back! Time to rescue Nicole and the others!"

 

Inside the Hollow

 

"Roaaar. Corruption has turned me into a monster. Grrr" said the albino with a hint of monotony in her voice "Anby, don't bite my hand or you'll hurt your teeth" Billy told her while Nicole watched them with a tired expression, holding Ghost very tightly in her hands to keep him from escaping.

"Uh, you guys okay?" Belle spoke from inside Eous.

"Of course not, proxy... Wait. Proxy!?" Nicole shouted, letting go of Ghost, who fell headfirst.

The group approached the Bangboo "Sorry for the wait, guys. We've actually been reconnected for a while now, but Anby and Billy were causing a ruckus and you were being dramatic."

"Quit fooling around, let's go get the strongbox!"

 

In the depths of the abandoned subway in the Hollow

 

"We found it!" Eous approached the strongbox.

"My strongbox!" Nicole shouted excitedly, shoving everyone aside before they could get closer.

CLANG!... chhhhrriiinnngggggg

A familiar etheric being tried to attack them from behind with a sweeping strike of its long sword, glowing with deep blues. Anby and Ghost managed to notice, but only Anby could try to block the attack, clashing her own sword while the rest of the group was pushed away. She was then dragged across the floor by the giant etheric, who launched another strike with his sword, sending Anby flying with the clash of blades.

"We found it" Anby murmured, barely recovering from the impact.

"Lucky us..." Billy said discontentedly, while Ghost helped him to his feet.

Nicole took the lead, aiming at the side of her briefcase while charging a shot "That's... MY strongbox!"

Dullahan, the etheric being, stood in front of the strongbox with sword and shield in place of where its arms should be, looking very intimidating for the fight about to erupt.

The next second, Dullahan charged a sweep toward the group, which Ghost managed to block while Billy started firing from the sides. Dullahan tried a horizontal slash across the floor, which Ghost avoided by jumping and striking Dullahan's sword with his stinger to propel himself higher.

Before the etheric could react, it was met by a frontal attack from Nicole's briefcase, unleashing a burst of projectiles that hit squarely across its crystallized torso. Dullahan staggered back before Ghost fell, attempting to impale it with his weapon. Moments later, Dullahan tried to charge an attack, which was interrupted by Anby.

But Dullahan slammed his shield into the ground, creating a mass of etheric crystals around himself to push the group away. Billy unleashed another volley of shots from his pistols, which the etheric monster tried to block with its shield—only to be struck by an etheric sphere from Nicole's briefcase. This left it open for Ghost to strike at Dullahan's legs, making it stagger, which Anby took advantage of by delivering an upward slash, sending sparks of electricity flying.

With a muffled roar, Dullahan rammed into Billy, who couldn't defend himself from the etheric's burst of speed, taking the full hit and being slammed into a nearby wall "Yeah... Looks like we made him mad" Billy joked while trying to catch his "breath" as Dullahan's formerly green lights shifted to deeper blues.

Nicole tried to charge an etheric attack before the monster could go for her, using its shield to strike her—only for Nicole to block it with her briefcase. Dullahan backed off, only to be intercepted on both sides by Ghost and Anby. The etheric barely blocked Anby's strike with his sword, while using his shield to halt Ghost's slash. Taking advantage of the opening, Billy fired several projectiles into the etheric's exposed torso, joined by more shots from Nicole hitting its back.

With a rage-fueled swing, the etheric monster tried to unleash a powerful slash with its sword, but its core was struck by a small bomb thrown by the little Bangboo, creating smoke and distracting it. Before it could act again, a powerful slash from Ghost's stinger tore into Dullahan's chest. The etheric being finally collapsed, leaving behind only etheric particles that vanished, the station left in complete ruin, marking the end of the battle.

"Ha, ha... HA, HA, HA!" Nicole laughed loudly and began running toward the group. Both Anby and Billy raised their hands to celebrate with her, while Ghost lifted both limbs for a hug... All three were ignored as Nicole ran past them to reach the strongbox "Finally! I found you!"

Before Nicole could touch the strongbox, Eous stopped her "I don't mean to be a buzzkill, but let's not celebrate just yet. Listen carefully, Nicole... Because of the hacker, we don't have the data for the escape route."

"Are you saying there's no way out!?" Nicole shouted, horrified at the idea "After all that effort, we're back where we started. I didn't think we'd end up like this" she said as she slumped in despair.

"Well, at least I'll die handsome" Billy tried to joke, only to get smacked by Anby "Ouch..."

"It's not that bad, guys. I've got an ace up my sleeve, but I'll need Nicole's approval."

Hearing that, Nicole sprang up with dramatic determination "Approved!"

"That was quick... The hacker said the strongbox has something like the Rossete Data, which allows you to freely enter and leave Hollows. If it's true, then we can get out—but I'll need permission to open it."

"I already said yes!"

"Just like that? What will you tell the client?"

"If we die here, who's gonna deliver the strongbox to the client in the first place? So do it!" Nicole shouted again.

After opening the box, they found a small black card with golden details. Ghost wondered how that thing was supposed to get them out, but couldn't speak to ask. The Bangboo simply placed the small card into its forehead, beginning to levitate and spin, generating a light. From Ghost's point of view, everything turned white...

Notes:

Sorry for the delay, but I'll try to be more active from now on.