Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

ZZZ.GRIDMAN 

o-0-o

As per the regulations outlined in the Intelligent Act Regulation Number 6, Point D of New Eridu, which governs the disclosure of Top Secret Information after 100 years, the following is a brief excerpt of a classified document authored by Tsukishiro Yanagi of Hollow Special Operations Section 6.

~ Hollows ~

Hollows are unnatural phenomena that appear without warning, bringing with them catastrophic events. They create distorted dimensions filled with dangerous creatures known as the Ethereal. These supernatural disasters seem to materialize out of nowhere, swallowing everything in their path.

While the exact origins of Hollows remain largely unexplained, it's been observed that they don't always appear spontaneously. Before a Hollow materializes, there are usually signs—a series of vibrations, power outages, or even objects mysteriously vanishing and reappearing in different locations.

However, it has been confirmed that the Hollows that consumed Old Eridu weren’t the result of random accidents or natural causes. Instead, they were triggered deliberately by [REDACTED] for reasons that are still unclear.

~ Hyper Agent Gridman ~

Gridman is a Hyper Agent hailing from a mysterious place known as the Hyper World. While its location remains a subject of much debate, the existence of Gridman and his companions is proof enough that this Hyper World is real.

Gridman first made an appearance during the fall of Old Eridu, witnessed by [REDACTED]. At the time, Gridman was reportedly engaged in a fierce battle inside the city, but the identity of his opponent was unknown until recently. Based on all available evidence, it appears that [REDACTED] was Gridman's primary adversary.

Gridman is often seen within an old PC, known as Junk , which was recovered from one of the Hollows by [REDACTED]. Whenever [REDACTED] enters a Hollow, Gridman can use [REDACTED] Bangboo as a gateway to reach and manifest himself in the Hollow. 

This ability seems to be linked to the unique properties of Hollows themselves. These anomalies warp the very fabric of space and time, allowing Gridman to appear in his "true" form inside the Hollow.

~ Assist Weapons ~

Gridman is not alone in his fight. He’s supported by a group of six companions—known as Assist Weapons —who can combine with him to enhance his power. Each of these companions has unique abilities and forms.

The six Assist Weapons are:

1. Battle Tracto Max – A massive, gray-and-red 10-wheel-drive vehicle armed with two Tanker Cannons, capable of unleashing devastating firepower.
2. Sky Vitter – A sleek, blue-and-gray tactical jet designed for high-speed combat. Equipped with machine guns, homing lasers, and EMP smoke screen bombs, it’s perfect for both offense and evasive maneuvers.
3. Buster Borr – A futuristic drill tank painted in yellow and white, with a set of missile launchers that make it a force to be reckoned with on the ground.
4. Samurai Calibur – A sword with a black hilt and yellow pommel, wielded by Gridman in battle. Its sharp edge is as effective as the warrior who wield it.
5. Dynarex – A humanoid robot made up of four smaller mechas: Dynasoldier, Dynawing, Dynastriker, and Dynadiver. The robot is commonly referred to as Dynarex or simply Rex, although its official name is Dynazenon. For reasons unknown, it prefers the former name.
6. Goldburn – A golden mechanical dragon capable of changing sizes using its energy beams. 

All Assist Weapons, except for Goldburn, can assume human forms. Whether these human forms are their true identities or merely a mode of interaction remains a mystery.

~ Fixer Beam ~

Gridman possesses an ability known as the Fixer Beam, a power so remarkable that nearly everyone in New Eridu covets it. The Fixer Beam has the capacity to completely “fix” the corruption caused by Hollows, a feat unmatched by any other known technology or power. It can restore both living beings and inanimate objects that have been fully corrupted by Hollows and transformed into Ethereals, returning them to their original, unaffected state. When unleashed at its full strength, the Fixer Beam can even repair the Hollows themselves, reversing the damage these unnatural phenomena have inflicted upon reality.

The New Eridu government is diligently working to analyze the Fixer Beam in hopes of replicating it, but, so far, all research efforts have failed to yield conclusive results about its components or function. Thankfully, a steady supply of capsules containing a spark of Fixer Beam energy has been provided by a mysterious woman in glasses, referred to as the "Glasses-wearing Lady," and her companion, known as her "knight." Thanks to their contributions, New Eridu can continue to harness the power of Fixer Beam until scientists can successfully replicate it on their own.

~ Phaethon ~

Phaethon is a legendary Proxy figure in New Eridu whose true identity remains [REDACTED]. This Proxy famously discovered the device known as Junk during one of their ventures into the Hollows and later stored it in [REDACTED]. 

~ Glasses-wearing Lady and Knight ~

This enigmatic pair—often seen together and suspected to be romantically involved—appeared in New Eridu shortly after Gridman’s departure. Their identities are shrouded in mystery, and they seem disinclined to share any details about themselves. However, given that they supply New Eridu with a consistent stream of Fixer Beam capsules, the authorities have decided not to investigate them further, fearing that prying too deeply might risk losing this precious resource.

It remains a mystery as to what their connection to Gridman might be. One can't help but wonder—who are they, and why have they taken it upon themselves to aid New Eridu?

~ [REDACTED] ~

The hidden truth behind the Hollow Disasters that have ravaged contemporary civilization. Its true nature is known only to a few, and its existence has implications that could alter everything humanity believes about these disasters.

~ Gigant Ethereals ~

Gigant Ethereals, more commonly referred to as Kaijuu , are Ethereals that have grown to massive sizes after prolonged exposure to the depths of the Hollows. Most Gigant Ethereals reach dimensions comparable to Gridman himself; however, there are those that have achieved truly monumental proportions, dwarfing even Gridman in scale.

This concludes the excerpt. For access to the full document, please apply for a permit through the New Eridu Central Archive.

o-0-o

End of chapter

A/N: Started playing Zenless Zone Zero a month ago, and just after I finished playing Yanagi’s story, this idea struck. Don’t know yet whether this will stay a one-shot or I will continue it. 

Also…I hate myself for not getting Burnice…

Chapter Text

A/N: To celebrate getting Yanagi on the first pull (I couldn’t believe it, it never happened before), I decided to continue this story. Also, this story starts from version 1.4, so spoiler in case you haven’t done the main story quests up to the latest update.

o-0-o

- Prologue 0.1 -

o-0-o

Everything had descended into chaos.

The sky was dark, heavy with the unnatural storm that loomed over the city, swirling in deep shades of violet and black. She sprinted alongside her brother, his grip tight around her hand, pulling her forward as they bolted down the abandoned street, seeking any shred of safety amidst the devastation. Behind them, their world was unraveling.

The Hollow was manifesting.

They didn’t have a choice. They had to leave everything behind—friends, teachers, their school. All the familiar faces and places they knew were swallowed up in the horror unfolding around them. As they fled, she risked one last glance back toward their school, her heart sinking as tears spilled down her cheeks.

Then she saw it.

Something enormous was emerging from the smoky haze, its silhouette casting an ominous shadow over the city. It rose slowly, its monstrous form dark and twisted, with ether spilling like a toxic mist from every inch of its colossal body. Dread coiled in her stomach as she tried to understand the sight.

And then, from the clouds, it appeared.

A purple and white giant, almost mechanical in appearance, descended from the sky, landing with a powerful, graceful thud. Its form exuded an aura of light that pierced through the darkness. She froze as the giant’s head turned slightly in their direction, and for one electrifying moment, she swore it was looking directly at them. Those intense, glowing yellow eyes met hers, filled with a strange mix of warmth and fierceness that took her breath away.

The giant faced the thing and raised its left hand, holding it up vertically. She watched, captivated, as circuits of light began to pulse across its forearm, gathering in a brilliant surge of energy. The air around it seemingly vibrated with power.

And then, she heard it.

The giant’s voice, echoing like thunder, as it shouted a single, powerful word…

It was…

o-0-o

The alarm bell rang out sharply, jolting Belle awake.

"Waah!" she gasped, sitting up with a start. Her heart was pounding, her breaths quick as she glanced around, trying to shake the lingering haze from her mind. After a moment, she realized where she was—safe in her bedroom. Seeing the familiar sight of her guitar, Eous, the wooden board where her collection of photos were pinned, and the newly installed shelves calmed her nerves.

She sighed, relief settling over her as she caught sight of the clock on her nightstand. Seven a.m., right on schedule. "Just a dream," she murmured to herself, rubbing her eyes. "A dream… of the Old Capital…"

Yet something about that dream left her unsettled. There was a strange, almost haunting feeling about it, like a memory she couldn’t quite grasp. She tried to recall details—the faces, the sounds—but they slipped away, leaving only a ghostly trace in her mind.

"Belle, are you awake?"

Her brother, Wise, called from just outside her door.

"Yeah, I'm up!" Belle called back, trying to shake off the last bits of sleep.

The door cracked open, and Wise poked his head in, grinning. "I'm heading over to Lumina Square to pick up a few things. You want to come?"

Belle leaned back, tapping her chin thoughtfully before giving him a quick shrug. "I'll pass this time."

"Alright," Wise said with a nod. "Make sure you’ve tidied up by the time I’m back, yeah?"

"Yeah, yeah—don’t worry about it," Belle replied, waving him off casually. She watched him disappear down the stairs before stretching out with a satisfied sigh.

Time to get moving. She had a business to run, after all. Belle tossed her blankets aside and swung her legs over the edge of the bed, a spark of excitement flickering through her. Today was another day to open Random Play and see what surprises it would bring her way.

o-0-o

Belle sat slouched over the counter of Random Play, her cheek resting against her arm as she waited for Wise to return. She let out a long sigh, tapping her fingers rhythmically on the counter's edge.

"I'm so bored…" she muttered, her voice echoing slightly in the empty shop.

It had been over an hour since she’d opened the store, and not a single customer had come in to rent a video—or, as she liked to think, to entertain her with some distraction. She glanced at the clock, noting with mild irritation that it was nearing nine in the morning.

"Honestly, what’s taking Wise so long in Lumina Square?" she grumbled, stretching her legs out in front of her. "If I knew he'd take this long, I would've tagged along for the trip."

Just then, she heard a voice behind her, coming from the Hollow Deep Dive system room. The AI system, Fairy, chimed in with its usual punctual tone.

"Master, it is advisable to adjust your sitting position," Fairy said. "According to the latest health guidelines, prolonged poor posture can be a contributing factor to deteriorating health as one ages."

Belle rolled her eyes, barely lifting her head. "Yeah, yeah, I know, but—" She paused, a curious thought striking her. "Wait, Fairy, what health guidelines are you even talking about?"

"The Lumina Square’s Physiotherapy Studio recently published a health guideline intended to promote long-term wellness," Fairy replied with unwavering enthusiasm. "The guidelines include a list of postures to avoid."

"Old Duyi's getting serious about wellness now, huh?" Belle smirked, raising a brow. "Does he plan on putting himself out of business with advice like that?"

"Uncertain," Fairy replied. "However, it is possible he did not account for potential impacts on his business model before publishing the guidelines."

Belle waved her hand dismissively, leaning back even farther. "Eh, I’m young and athletic. I think I can handle a bit of laziness."

"Master, your record for a 100-meter dash is—"

"Waaah! Stop! Stop, Fairy!" Belle clamped her hands over her ears. "I don’t wanna hear it!"

"As you wish."

Belle sighed, sinking back onto the counter. But before she could resume her boredom, the door to Random Play swung open, and in stepped a tall woman with a commanding presence.

Belle looked up and her eyes gleamed with excitement when she saw her. 

She had a striking, wild yet regal look—spiky silver-green hair that cascaded to her shoulders, with a long, flowing ponytail. A black, studded choker graced her neck, and she wore a golden emblem on her chest emblazoned with the word "King." Black, sharp accessories adorned her head, adding to her fierce appearance. Her attire was a bold mix of punk and combat, with a black, sleeveless top and a short skirt layered with a long, fur-trimmed jacket. Black knee-high socks, high-heeled boots, and a belt with pouches completed her look.

With a smirk, the woman greeted Belle, crossing her arms. "What’s up, Proxy? I could hear you from outside. Having a little fight this early in the morning?”

Belle’s face lit up. "Caesar!"

She was Caesar King, leader of the Sons of Calydon and the current Overlord of the Outer Ring.

“Well, well,” Belle teased, “what’s the great and esteemed Overlord doing here so early? Running an errand for Lucy again?”

“Cut it out with the ‘great and esteemed,’ will ya?” Caesar replied, rolling her eyes with a grin. “And yeah, you know me too well. I accidentally broke one of Lucy’s precious pots, and now she’s got me hunting down a replacement.’”

Belle snickered, crossing her arms. "And I’m guessing you don’t have a clue what kind of pot to look for?"

"Exactly." Caesar gave her a sheepish grin, scratching the back of her head. "Figured you might help me pick out something that’ll save my skin."

Belle tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Well, do you at least know where Lucy bought the pot?”

"Uh… not exactly." Caesar’s face flushed as she avoided Belle’s gaze.

Belle chuckled, shaking her head. "Maybe if you’ve got a picture, I can help you track down the store?”

"Hang on." Caesar quickly pulled her phone out of her jacket and pulled up a picture of the pot.

Belle leaned over, examining the image: a small, earthy-brown pot with two distinct horizontal lines wrapped around its middle—one red, the other yellow.

"Hmm... it’s got kind of a unique… charm, I guess?” Belle said, raising an eyebrow. After a moment, a mischievous smirk crept onto her face. “Honestly, why not just pick up any random pot from Denny’s and paint on the lines yourself? You’d save a fortune.”

Caesar let out a sigh, giving Belle a look of pure exasperation. “Trust me, I thought of that already. But when I brought it up, Lucy gave me this look —like she’d be planning my funeral if I dared.”

Belle stifled a laugh, shaking her head. “Alright, scratch that idea.” Then a spark of inspiration lit her eyes. “Wait, I’ve got it! Let’s head over to Orchidea’s shop in Lumina Square. She runs a flower and pottery place; she’ll probably know where to find a match.”

Caesar’s face brightened. “That could work! Lumina Square it is!” She gestured toward the door. “You hopping on my bike?”

“Wise took the car. He should already be around Lumina Square somewhere,” Belle replied with a shrug.

“Perfect.” Caesar grinned. “Let’s ride.”

They stepped outside, the morning sun casting long shadows as Caesar’s bike glinted under the light. Belle climbed on behind her, as the engine roared to life.

And with a rev and a swift kick-off, they were off, speeding toward Lumina Square.

o-0-o

"Unfortunately, I don’t have anything like this pot in my store," Orchidea announced with a sympathetic frown.

Belle’s shoulders slumped. "You… don’t have it?" she asked, unable to hide her disappointment.

Orchidea shook her head, examining the photo Caesar had shown. "No. This isn’t a typical flower pot. This style of pottery is more of a decorative art piece, and it’s more common in the Outer Ring than here in New Eridu."

Caesar blinked in surprise. "Lucy bought this in the Outer Ring? I mean, she’s always bragging about her fancy beauty products from Carlishe—I’d never have pegged her as the type to pick up something artsy from the Outer Ring."

Belle tilted her head, considering. "Maybe there’s a certain charm to it that only Lucy gets?" She looked at Caesar, her brow raised. "So, what’s the plan now, Caesar?"

"The plan?" Caesar sighed but didn’t look disheartened. "I’ll go back to the Outer Ring and track down this art shop, obviously. The sooner I get this sorted, the better."

"What about me?" Belle asked, a spark of excitement in her eyes. "Are you driving me back, or…"

Caesar paused. "Well, it’s up to you. But are you sure you want to come all the way to the Outer Ring with me?"

Belle glanced over her shoulder, weighing her options. If she went back to Random Play , she’d probably spend the day twiddling her thumbs, waiting for Wise to come home or a customer to finally show up. The idea of spending the day out in the Outer Ring, exploring and maybe even helping Caesar, was infinitely more appealing.

A grin spread across her face. "You know what? I’ll come with you!"

Caesar raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Shouldn’t you check with Wise first?”

"It’ll be fine," Belle said confidently. "I’ll just leave him a message and—"

"Leave me a message?" a familiar voice interrupted from behind her, sounding less than thrilled.

Belle jumped, spinning around. There was Wise, standing with his arms crossed, his frown barely hiding the concern in his eyes. "Wise! Don’t sneak up on me like that!"

Wise’s gaze shifted between Belle and Caesar. "So, where do you think you’re going?”

Belle tried to sound casual, but her voice wavered slightly. "You know… Caesar needs help, so I thought I’d, you know, go with her…”

Wise raised an eyebrow, catching her hesitation. "And this wouldn’t have anything to do with you trying to escape your boredom, would it?"

Belle shifted her feet, caught. "Well… maybe just a little."

Wise sighed, glancing over at Caesar, who gave a reassuring nod.

"I’ll keep an eye on her," Caesar promised, offering Wise a steady look. "She’ll be in good hands."

At that, Belle’s grin returned, and without warning, she threw her arms around Caesar in a tight hug. "Thank you, Caesar! You’re the best!"

"Whoa—! Easy there, Belle!" Caesar gasped, struggling to keep her balance as Belle’s hug nearly bowled her over. "You don’t have to squeeze me that tight!"

Wise watched the scene with a shake of his head, though he couldn’t hide the amused smile tugging at his lips. "You’re really spoiling her, Caesar."

Belle, noticing Wise’s smile, quickly took advantage of the moment. "So… are you done with whatever you were doing here?" she asked, trying to change the subject before he had second thoughts.

Wise nodded. "Yeah, I was just wrapping things up. I’m heading back to the store now." He looked at Belle, his expression turning serious. "But if you’re really set on going with Caesar to the Outer Ring, promise me you’ll message me regularly. Got it?"

Belle’s face scrunched up in mock frustration. "Come on, Wise! You’re treating me like a little kid! I’ll be fine—Caesar’s with me, remember?"

"Belle," Wise said firmly, his gaze steady.

Belle rolled her eyes, finally relenting with a sigh. "Fine, fine. I’ll text you… every now and then."

Wise nodded, satisfied but still casting a cautious look toward Caesar. "Thanks, Caesar. Sorry to trouble you with this."

Caesar gave him a reassuring smile, crossing her arms confidently. "No trouble at all. Belle’s in good hands—I’ll make sure she’s safe."

Wise’s expression softened as he gave Caesar a grateful nod. "Alright, Belle. Just make sure you’re back before dinner."

Belle grinned, giving a playful salute. "Roger that! See you later, Wise!" She waved enthusiastically as he turned and started toward the parking lot, his figure soon disappearing into the busy morning crowd.

The second he was out of sight, Belle turned to Caesar, practically bouncing with excitement. "Alright, let’s hit the road!"

With a chuckle, Caesar gestured toward her bike. "Hop on. Let’s go find that store."

o-0-o

Belle gripped Caesar’s waist tightly as the bike sped down the highway, the wind whipping against her face. Suddenly, a stray gust made her sneeze, jolting her.

"Whoa, you okay back there?" Caesar called over her shoulder, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Yeah, I’m fine!" Belle assured, brushing her hair back from her face. As they zoomed down the road, Belle couldn’t help but reminisce. She thought back to that fateful day, when she and Billy had stumbled into the Hollow, helpless and terrified, only to be rescued by Caesar and Lighter. The memory sent a warm wave through her, easing the chill from the morning air.

"Remember that day you first saved us?" Belle said, her voice nostalgic. "When you and Lighter pulled us out of that mess?"

Caesar chuckled, glancing back with a grin. "Oh, trust me. How could I forget? One of the wildest first meetings I’ve ever had."

Belle laughed along with her, the two of them sharing the memory, but her laughter was cut short by the low rumble of engines roaring behind them. She turned her head, catching a glimpse of dark figures speeding closer, their motorcycles filling the road in their wake.

"Caesar...?" she murmured, a hint of worry in her voice.

"I see them," Caesar replied, her tone shifting to one of calm resolve.

Belle’s gaze darted to the group of bikers catching up to them. "Are those… Hollow Raiders?"

Caesar eyed the approaching riders through her side mirror, spotting a familiar insignia on their jackets. She let out a resigned sigh. "No… it’s the Vanquishers."

Belle’s brows knit in concern. "They still won’t accept you as the Overlord?"

Caesar’s jaw tightened, though she kept her focus on the road. "Most of them have come around. But a few? I’d never be good enough in their eyes as old man Pompey’s successor."

Belle tightened her grip around Caesar’s waist. "So… what now?"

Caesar smirked, a glint of excitement in her eyes. "What now?" She revved the engine, the bike roaring with renewed power. "We leave them in the dust, of course!"

With a flick of her wrist, Caesar pushed the throttle, and their bike shot forward, cutting through the air with exhilarating speed. The scenery blurred around them as they tore down the road, the wind stinging their faces, but Belle could feel her heart racing with adrenaline. Behind them, the Vanquishers’ engines roared louder as they sped up to give chase.

The lead biker edged closer, nearly matching their speed. Caesar glanced over her shoulder, her eyes narrowed with determination. "Hang on tight, Belle. Things are about to get bumpy."

Belle barely had time to tighten her hold before Caesar swerved sharply to the left, dodging an incoming rider who tried to box them in. The maneuver left the biker stumbling to regain control, falling back a few paces. But the rest of the Vanquishers kept pushing, determined not to let Caesar slip away.

Caesar leaned low over the handlebars, shifting her weight as she expertly navigated the twists and turns of the road. "These guys are relentless," she muttered, her knuckles white as she tightened her grip.

Belle held on for dear life, her heart pounding with every swerve and dodge. "They really don’t like you, huh?"

Caesar’s grin only widened as the roar of the Vanquishers’ engines faded behind them. The adrenaline coursing through her veins was enough to make her feel invincible. "Guess not. But that’s their problem, not ours!"

Without skipping a beat, Caesar twisted the throttle again, sending the bike surging forward. The engine screamed beneath them as she expertly maneuvered through the uneven terrain of the Outer Ring, taking sharp corners with ease. The road was rough—potholes and cracks littered the path—but Caesar knew exactly how to use it to her advantage. 

She dodged a jagged rock formation on the side, swerving the bike left, just narrowly avoiding a drop into the ravine below.

She leaned into the turns, feeling the familiar thrill of the chase, the wind whistling in her ears. "Hold on, Belle! We’re just getting started!" she shouted over the wind.

Belle clung tighter to Caesar’s waist as the bike raced down the dirt road, the bumps shaking them both. The ground beneath them seemed to rise and fall like waves, and Caesar used the uneven terrain to send them flying over small hills, momentarily lifting off the ground before slamming back down, only to hit the next bump and launch again. 

Up ahead, Caesar spotted a series of old, rusted shipping containers piled up like a makeshift barricade. Without hesitation, she kicked the bike into a higher gear, aiming to dart between the gaps, dodging and weaving through the maze of debris. The tires screeched as they narrowly missed the rusted edges, the sharp metal scraping against the air. 

A few of the Vanquishers tried to follow, but their heavy bikes struggled to keep up in the narrow spaces.

Belle’s eyes widened as she saw one of the Vanquishers’ bikes slam into a container, sparks flying. She couldn't help but feel a fleeting moment of satisfaction before her focus snapped back to Caesar, who was leading them out of the chaos. The engine roared louder than ever as Caesar pushed the bike faster, determination blazing in her eyes.

But just as it seemed they were free, Belle suddenly pointed ahead, her heart skipping a beat. "Caesar! Look!"

Caesar’s eyes followed Belle’s outstretched finger, and what she saw made her stomach drop. In the distance, the air shimmered unnaturally, warping and bending in a way that was impossible to ignore. A strange, glowing distortion—an opening—was appearing right in their path.

"That’s—no, no way—" Caesar quickly slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The bike skidded to a halt, the front tire spinning wildly, but the momentum was too much to overcome.

“AAAAAHHH!!!” Belle screamed, her hands gripping Caesar as the world around them twisted and warped. The opening in the air seemed to stretch wide, pulling them in. The last thing Belle saw before everything went black was the eerie glow of the Hollow swallowing them whole.

They fell, and the world fell away.

o-0-o

...Please Enter the Password...

...CODE: GRIDMAN...

...Verifying...

...Password Accepted...

...Remote Access Granted...

...Welcome, Carole Arna...

...System Reset Requested...

...Permission Granted...

...Initiating System Reset...

...Reformatting Sequence in Progress...

...Loading...

...Re-establishing Connection...

...Establishing Secure Link...

...Connection in Progress...

...Connection Established...

...Remote Access Re-established...

...System Booting...

...Initializing Core Functions...

...Please Enter the Access Code...

...CODE: GRIDMAN...

...Access Code Accepted...

...Please Enter Your Message...

...[Please. Wake up, GRIDMAN.]...

o-0-o

End of Chapter.

Chapter Text

- Prologue 0.2 -

o-0-o

Belle groaned as her eyes fluttered open, her whole body throbbing with soreness. "What happened?" she thought, her gaze drifting upward to a massive hole gaping in the ceiling. Then it hit her—she and Caesar had been on the run from the relentless Vanquisher gang when they stumbled into an entrance to a Hollow. "Right," she reminded herself with a sigh.

As her senses adjusted, Belle took in her surroundings. She was lying atop a precarious mountain of discarded, defunct computers and endless tangles of cables inside a shadowy, derelict building. The sheer piles of old tech must have broken her fall, though she still felt the bruises and aches in every inch of her body.

With a pained groan, Belle braced herself and forced her way to her feet. "I've gotta find Caesar. We need to get out of this Hollow, fast." But the moment she shifted her weight, the unstable pile of electronics gave way beneath her, sending her tumbling down in a clattering slide. She landed hard on the cold, unforgiving floor, wincing as she rubbed her sore knees and bruised elbows.

"Ugh…this sucks," she muttered, gritting her teeth as she pulled herself back up. Ignoring the stabbing pain in her joints, Belle cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "Caesar? Caesar! If you're here, say something!"

Her voice echoed through the cavernous space, bouncing off walls and rebounding back to her, but no answer came. A sinking feeling grew in her stomach. "Great," she thought bitterly. "We must have gotten separated when we fell."

But if they'd entered the Hollow through the same point, Caesar couldn't be too far, right?

With a determined nod, Belle whispered to herself, "Alright, the sooner I find her, the sooner we can get out of here."

As she steadied herself, she noticed a narrow, winding path carved through the mountains of tech around her. It wasn't much, but it was the only clear route she could see. "Guess it's better than wandering aimlessly," she decided and began to make her way forward, every step echoing in the eerie silence.

But just as she took a few cautious steps, something strange caught her eye. She froze mid-step, her heart hammering as she squinted at the rows of computers around her. For a moment, she could've sworn she saw the flicker of a screen.

She tilted her head, half convinced it was just her imagination. But as she watched, the faint glow seemed to pulse again, a scattered collection of screens flickering to life as if waking up from a long sleep.

"Am I seeing things?" Belle wondered, a chill creeping down her spine.

Then Belle heard a noise—a low, rumbling sound, like something big and angry tearing through the heaps of broken machinery behind her. She froze, heart pounding, before slowly turning to face whatever horror awaited her.

Her eyes widened as she saw them: several Ethereals, slithering and stomping through the mountains of computers, crushing everything in their path. At the front of the pack was a massive Ruthless Fiend, its hideous, twisted form towering over the others as it snarled and locked its glowing eyes onto her.

"Oh no."

Before she could even react, the Ruthless Fiend let out an earth-shaking roar and charged straight at her, its heavy footsteps echoing like thunder. Panic seized her. " This… this can't be right!" Belle thought, her mind racing. "Why is this happening again?"

The memory crashed over her—last time, she'd been in a similar situation, but at least Billy had been with her then. They'd been saved by Caesar and Lighter at the last second. But now? Now, she was alone, with no one to rely on but herself and her aching legs.

With sheer desperation, Belle spun on her heel and ran, every muscle screaming in protest as she pushed herself to move faster. "Hah… hah…" Her breaths came in ragged gasps as she pushed forward, but her mind was filled with fear. "I can't keep this up forever…"

Suddenly, her foot caught on a loose wire, and she stumbled forward, barely managing to catch herself. Her knees screamed in pain, but she forced herself upright and kept running, ignoring the agony that shot through her with every step. She dared a glance back and saw the Ethereals closing the distance with every passing second.

"It's no use," Belle realized, terror gripping her heart. "I can't outrun them."

In that moment of distraction, she tripped again, this time falling hard against the floor. Desperately, she scrambled to get back up, but it was too late—the Ethereals were already lunging at her, their claws ready to tear her apart.

Time seemed to slow down as she watched the creature descend, its snarling face inches from her. Belle's heart stopped, and all she could think was that this was it. She squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for impact.

But then—

"Belle! Get down!" A familiar voice rang out, cutting through the chaos. Without hesitating, Belle threw herself flat against the ground.

A spiked shield flew over her, spinning through the air and smashing into the advancing Ethereals, sending them stumbling back. Then a figure dropped down from above, landing with a heavy thud. Caesar was there, her sword drawn and ready as she launched into the fray, slashing through the smaller Ethereals with fierce, precise movements.

"Caesar!" Belle gasped, relief flooding her as she struggled to her feet.

Caesar didn't glance back; her focus was razor-sharp on the swarm of Ethereals surrounding them. She gritted her teeth, swinging her sword with practiced precision, each strike cutting down the creatures one by one. The sheer force of her attacks drove them back, her blade flashing as she held them at bay.

"You okay?!" Caesar called over her shoulder, her voice tense but steady.

"Yes!" Belle shouted, though her heart was still pounding from fear and adrenaline.

Suddenly, the Ruthless Fiend lunged forward, swiping a massive claw down at Caesar. She managed to block it, but the impact sent her skidding backward, her boots scraping against the ground as she fought to keep her balance. Gritting her teeth, she steadied herself and shot a quick glance at Belle, a plan forming in her mind.

With a powerful throw, Caesar hurled her shield straight at the Ruthless Fiend. The shield spun through the air, its deadly spikes glinting as it struck the Fiend, knocking it back. Just as the shield rebounded toward her, Caesar leapt up, landing on it mid-spin. Using the momentum, she launched herself into the air and delivered a devastating downward slash that cut deep into the Fiend's side, forcing it to stumble back with a shriek of pain.

The Ethereals around them paused, momentarily startled by their leader's injury. Caesar seized the moment, turning her back to the enemies as she reached down to help Belle to her feet.

"Let's go. We need to run!" Caesar commanded, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.

Belle nodded, still catching her breath, but the fear in her eyes had been replaced by determination. Together, they bolted down a narrow path through the wreckage, dodging piles of shattered machinery and frayed cables that threatened to trip them.

Behind them, the Ruthless Fiend let out a furious roar, shaking off its injury as it charged after them, its horde of Ethereals following suit. Belle glanced back, her face paling as she saw the creatures gaining on them.

"Keep moving, don't look back!" Caesar urged, her voice strong as she tightened her grip on her sword, ready to defend them if the creatures got too close.

The two sprinted down the dark, twisted path, their footsteps echoing in the desolate Hollow as they ran for their lives.

o-0-o​

"Huff… huff…" Belle leaned heavily against the wall, struggling to catch her breath. Her chest rose and fell as she gulped down air, exhaustion weighing down on her limbs.

Meanwhile, Caesar was peering cautiously around the corner, scanning the shadows to check if any Ethereals were still on their trail. After a few tense seconds, she exhaled in relief. "I think we're alright," she said, lowering her sword.

"Haah…" Belle let herself slide down the wall until she hit the floor, exhaustion finally catching up with her. Her body ached, and her lungs burned, but she was grateful for the chance to rest, even if it was brief.

Caesar knelt down beside her, her expression softened with concern. "You okay?" she asked. "With that Ether resistance of yours... you're not about to kick the bucket on me, right?"

Belle chuckled weakly and shook her head. "I'm still standing—well, sitting."

"Good, 'cause we still need to find a way out of here," Caesar said, casting a wary glance around the dimly lit room.

Belle's gaze wandered as she regained her breath. "Hey… what happened to your bike?" she asked, only now realizing she hadn't seen it during the escape.

Caesar's expression soured. "It fell down into the chasm back there. No way to get it back."

"Chasm?" Belle repeated, pushing herself to her feet, curiosity piqued. She shuffled over to the nearest shattered window, wiping the dusty pane with her sleeve to get a clearer view outside. The sight that met her eyes made her gasp.

A massive chasm yawned between the crumbling buildings, stretching as far as she could see. Deep within the gorge, colossal Ether crystals jutted out, their surfaces glowing with a strange, pulsating energy. It was almost like a heartbeat—steady and alive, radiating an energy so dense it made the air around it hum. The ground below was littered with more heaps of abandoned computers and coiled cables, like a junkyard lost to time.

"Well…" Belle murmured, still staring at the chasm in awe. "This is a first. I've never seen a Hollow like this before."

The raw, concentrated Etheric energy radiating from the chasm was so intense that she could practically see and feel it from where she stood. Belle's hand went to the glass as if to steady herself. "I can't believe how dense the Ether is here. It's like… it's alive."

Caesar joined her by the window, nodding. "Yeah, it's different. Fell near that chasm myself," she said, gesturing to the crystal-strewn abyss. "Managed to grab some cables and climb back up before it was too late."

Belle turned to Caesar. "How did you know where to find me, though?"

Caesar chuckled, a smirk tugging at her lips. "Saw you falling this way," she admitted. Then she laughed, a deep, tired laugh that seemed to ease some of the tension hanging between them. "Guess we both got the devil's luck, huh? Surviving a fall like that pretty much unscathed."

Belle grinned back. "Or maybe it's more like the boar's luck, don't you think?" she quipped. "After all, the Sons of Calydon wouldn't leave us hanging."

Caesar let out a surprised chuckle, her eyes brightening. "Touché. I'll take boar's luck if it keeps us alive." Caesar looked at Belle thoughtfully, then asked, "So, where do you think the closest exit could be?"

Belle considered for a moment, her mind racing to piece together what little she knew about this strange Hollow. "Where exactly did you spot me falling?" she asked, glancing at Caesar with a spark of an idea forming.

Caesar raised an eyebrow. "Why? You have a plan?"

"Sort of," Belle replied. "If the entrance is still open, then maybe we could use it to get out. It's probably our best shot since I didn't exactly come prepared with any tech… or carrots," she added with a half-smile, "and I'm not even sure which Hollow we're stuck in."

"Alright, sounds like a plan to me," Caesar said.

Belle bit her lip, frowning as she thought it through. "But if the entrance is high up in the sky… how are we supposed to reach it?" She gazed upwards, imagining just how far they'd have to climb if the exit was as far up as it felt when she fell.

Caesar grinned, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous spark. "Don't worry about that. We can just find a few propane tanks, rig 'em to explode, and let the blast launch us right up! Simple, right?"

Belle stared at Caesar, a bead of nervous sweat trickling down her forehead. "U-uh… maybe you'd survive that, Caesar. But I'm pretty sure I'd end up as crispy fried Belle," she said with a wry grimace.

Caesar laughed, giving Belle a reassuring slap on the shoulder. "Don't worry, I got this. I promised Wise I'd keep you safe, remember? So trust me—I'll make sure you don't become Hollow barbecue."

Belle let out a long sigh, nodding as she tried to muster up some faith in Caesar's wild plan. "Alright… if you say so. Guess I'll leave it to you when the time comes."

o-0-o​

Belle and Caesar ascended the seemingly endless staircase, the derelict walls around them echoing with each step. Caesar moved with ease, her boots striking a steady rhythm against the metal stairs. But when she glanced back, she saw Belle lagging behind, her breaths coming in sharp, uneven gasps. Sweat beaded on Belle's forehead, her complexion pale, almost ashen.

Belle was painfully aware of her condition. The Ether in the Hollow was taking its toll, creeping into her system like an invisible toxin. Her legs felt like lead, her head spun with dizzying intensity, and her chest tightened with every labored breath.

She stumbled slightly, catching herself on the railing. They needed to get out—fast.

Caesar stopped abruptly, her sharp gaze locking onto Belle. Without saying a word, she crouched down and motioned for Belle to climb onto her back. "Alright, hop on," she said matter-of-factly.

Belle blinked, confused. "Hop on? What are you talking about?"

"I'm carrying you," Caesar replied firmly. "You don't look well, and I'm not about to risk you passing out on me."

"But won't that make it harder for you to fight if something comes at us?" Belle protested, even as she swayed slightly where she stood.

Caesar shrugged casually. "I'll deal with it when it happens. Right now, you're barely standing. So quit stalling and hop on."

Reluctantly, Belle climbed onto Caesar's back, her arms wrapping around her shoulders for support. Caesar adjusted her grip under Belle's legs and stood up with ease, though she couldn't resist a quip. "Man, you're heavier than I thought!"

Belle's eyes narrowed, and she lightly smacked Caesar's shoulder. "I'm telling Lucy what you just said."

Belle couldn't help but chuckle at Caesar's reaction. It eased some of her tension, but the relief was short-lived. As they continued upward, Belle glanced out through one of the massive gaping holes in the building's walls. The sight below stopped her breath.

Her hands tightened instinctively on Caesar's shoulders. "Caesar… look," she whispered, her voice trembling as she pointed toward the chasm below.

Caesar frowned and shifted closer to the edge. When her eyes followed Belle's gaze, her mouth fell open in shock. "What the hell…?" she murmured, disbelief etched into her face.

Looming within the chasm was a titanic Ether Mutant, its body curled like a sleeping dragon. The creature's reptilian form was monstrous, its black, scaly body encased in jagged, bone-white armor that gleamed faintly in the Etheric glow. Massive, membranous wings folded against its sides, their edges crackling with faint Etheric energy. Where a face should have been was instead a smooth, pitch-black sphere, reflecting the distorted light around it. Its mouth, however, was unmistakably real—lined with rows of sharp, jagged teeth that seemed designed to tear through anything in their path.

"That?" Caesar said, her voice barely above a whisper. "That's an Ethereal?"

Belle swallowed hard, her throat dry. "It… it looks like one," she said hesitantly. "But I've never seen anything like this before. It's… it's enormous."

The creature shifted slightly, the sound of its movements echoing through the Hollow like rolling thunder. Its presence was suffocating, the sheer weight of its energy pressing down on them even from this distance.

"If something that big somehow makes its way out of the Hollow…" Belle began, her voice trembling with dread. She couldn't tear her eyes away from the monstrosity below. "Who knows what kind of destruction it could cause."

The two stood frozen in stunned silence, the weight of the realization pressing heavily on them. Neither dared to move as they took in the terrifying sight of the colossal creature curled within the chasm.

Belle finally broke the silence, her voice steadier but filled with urgency. "We need to get out of here. Fast. If we can report this, maybe the authorities can figure out how to contain it."

Caesar nodded, her jaw clenched. "Agreed. Let's move, but we can't—"

A low, resonant rumble interrupted her, echoing through the Hollow like an earthquake. The creature stirred, its massive body shifting as if shaking off centuries of dormancy. Its wings unfurled slightly, sending a blast of Etheric wind through the ruined buildings.

Belle's eyes widened in alarm. "Oh no… it's waking up."

The ground beneath them trembled violently as the Ethereal slowly raised its enormous head, its faceless orb glowing faintly. Then, with a guttural roar that shook the very air, it opened its massive maw. A swirling orb of fiery Ether formed within its jaws, growing brighter and larger until it was nearly blinding.

"What's it doing?!" Caesar shouted.

Before Belle could respond, a massive fireball erupted from the creature's mouth, blazing into the sky like a fiery comet. The explosion above shattered into thousands of smaller fireballs, each one raining destruction across the Hollow. Flames engulfed nearby structures as thick plumes of smoke filled the air.

The creature roared—a low, guttural sound that reverberated through the entire Hollow—and unleashed a volley of fireballs in every direction. The heat was overwhelming, and the air felt suffocating as the flames spread rapidly.

Belle's eyes widened in horror as one of the fireballs arced directly toward them.

"Look out!" Caesar yelled, grabbing Belle and throwing her to safety just as the fireball struck.

"Caesar!" Belle screamed, her voice breaking as the fireball collided with the building. The force of the explosion sent debris flying, and flames licked hungrily at the structure's walls. Smoke and dust filled the air, obscuring her vision.

"I'm fine!" Caesar's voice called out, slightly strained but reassuring. From the shadows of the wreckage, she emerged, rolling out of harm's way just in time. Her armor bore scorch marks, and her face was smudged with soot, but she was alive.

Belle exhaled shakily, relief washing over her. "Don't scare me like that!" she yelled, though her voice wavered with emotion.

But their relief was short-lived. The creature's relentless attacks had destabilized the already fragile building. The ground beneath their feet trembled violently, and with a deafening crack, the structure began to crumble.

"Belle! Run!" Caesar shouted, her eyes darting around for any safe exit. But it was too late. The floor beneath them gave way, sending both women plummeting into the darkness below.

"Caesar!" Belle screamed, reaching out desperately as she fell.

"Belle!" Caesar yelled back, her voice filled with equal desperation.

Their hands brushed for a fleeting moment as the world around them dissolved into chaos. Debris rained down from above, and the searing heat from the creature's fire lingered in the air. The rushing wind drowned out their cries as they fell deeper into the abyss, their surroundings growing darker with every passing second.

And then, everything went black.

o-0-o​

Belle's chest heaved as she coughed, her lungs burning from the effort. Dust filled the air, and every inch of her body ached as though she'd been trampled by a herd of wild boars. Her limbs felt heavy, almost immovable, but she forced herself to sit up. The dull throb of pain coursing through her muscles reminded her she was still alive.

"Where… am I?" she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes roamed her surroundings, taking in the dim, eerie cave. Its walls were lined with mountains of old, decrepit computers, their cracked screens long devoid of life. Thick, tangled cables draped from the ceiling like grotesque vines, some sparking faintly as if clinging to their last shred of power. It was a surreal sight—unnervingly similar to where she had landed before.

A sickening sense of déjà vu settled over her. This felt all too familiar.

Her thoughts scrambled as a memory came rushing back. "The Ethereal… that monstrous thing… Caesar!"

Her eyes darted around in panic. "Caesar?" she called out weakly, her voice echoing in the cavernous space. Her heart skipped a beat when she finally spotted her companion. Caesar was hanging several feet above the ground, tangled in a web of thick cables.

"Caesar!" Belle yelled, her voice cracking. She staggered to her feet, her body protesting every movement. Caesar groaned faintly, her head lolling to one side—a small but reassuring sign that she was unconscious, not dead.

Belle let out a shaky breath. "Thank God…"

It seemed fate—or perhaps these piles of old tech—had saved them once again. But Caesar was suspended too high for Belle to reach, and she needed to act fast before something else went wrong.

The ground beneath her trembled violently, sending a fresh wave of panic through her. The monstrous Ethereal's rampage above had clearly not ceased. "How far down did we fall?" she wondered, the tremors suggesting they hadn't made it as deep as she had hoped. If that creature decided to tunnel downward…

A faint glow caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She turned, startled to see one of the old computers flickering to life. Its dull, greenish screen cast an otherworldly glow against the surrounding darkness, the hum of power a stark contrast to the otherwise lifeless machines.

Belle frowned as she approached it cautiously, her steps hesitant. "What the…?" she muttered. The computer was even older than the rest of the junk around it. Worn keys, a cracked screen, and faint scratches across its surface marked it as an artifact from another era.

The word Junk came to mind again, but something about this machine felt… different. Significant.

She squinted at the screen, her breath catching as she took in the strange image displayed there—a blueprint of sorts. The schematic was humanoid, its design sleek yet imposing. It resembled something out of a retro sci-fi series, like Starlight Knight , Billy's favorite.

Despite the fantastical appearance, there was an unsettling familiarity to it, though she couldn't quite place why.

Her attention shifted to the text written across the screen in bold, glowing letters:

...Enter the Access Code…

System Authorization Required.

Please provide the designated access code to proceed.

...Awaiting Input…

Beneath the prompt, a single flashing cursor waited for her response, accompanied by a strange suggestion:

[Input Access Code:]

[ G R I D M A N ]

"Gridman?" Belle whispered aloud, her brow furrowing. "What… what's that supposed to mean?"

The word tugged at her memory, but she couldn't pinpoint where she had heard it before. Still, if this was some kind of password to unlock the system, it was her best shot at figuring out where they were—and maybe even how to get out.

Her fingers hovered over the ancient keyboard. The keys were faded, their edges worn smooth from use long ago. She hesitated, the eerie glow of the screen casting shadows over her face. "This is probably a terrible idea," she muttered under her breath. Her heart pounded as she pressed each key, spelling out the strange word.

"G… R… I… D… M… A… N."​

With a deep breath, Belle pressed the Enter key.

For a moment, nothing happened. The machine whirred softly, its screen flickering slightly, and she began to think it might have been a dead end. But then, the cavern was flooded with a blinding light as the computer came to life. The screen erupted with lines of data scrolling at impossible speeds, symbols and codes she couldn't even begin to decipher. The ground trembled again, but this time it felt different—purposeful, as though the entire cave had awakened.

A voice, deep and resonant, suddenly echoed through the chamber.

"Access granted. Welcome, Gridman Alliance."​

Belle's eyes widened in disbelief. "What… what did I just do?"

Before she could process the words, the computer emitted a pulse of energy that rippled through the cave, lighting up the surrounding machinery. Sparks flew from cables overhead as long-dormant systems began to power up. The cave itself seemed alive now, humming with a strange, almost alien vitality.

"Uh… Caesar?" Belle called nervously, glancing at her unconscious friend. "I think I just made things a whole lot worse…"

The computer screen flickered again, displaying a single phrase:

"Prepare for activation."

o-0-o​

End of Chapter.

Chapter Text

- Prologue 0.3 -

The first thing he saw as his consciousness returned was a boundless expanse of white, an empty void that seemed to stretch infinitely in every direction. The stillness was unnervingly absolute, yet there was a strange familiarity to it, as though he had been here before—a sense of deja vu that carried weight he couldn't explain.

"Where am I?" he muttered, his voice reverberating across the endless space. The echoes lingered unnaturally, as if the void itself were absorbing his words, listening intently.

The voice was soft yet commanding, and unmistakably female. It resonated directly in his mind, bypassing the physical senses, and stirred something buried deep within him, like the faint glow of a forgotten ember.

"Gridman? That's right… I'm Gridman," he said, the name grounding him as fragments of memory began piecing themselves together. He clenched his fists experimentally, feeling strength returning to his form.

He scanned the horizon—if the blank expanse could even be called that—searching for the source of the voice, but the void remained barren and unchanging. There was no discernible up or down, no landmarks to anchor his gaze.

A second voice joined the first, smoother and refined, carrying a calming undertone like a breeze brushing against still waters.

"Who are you people?" Gridman asked, his voice steady but tinged with curiosity. Though he felt no immediate threat, the sheer strangeness of his surroundings put him on edge.

Before any response, additional voices began overlapping one another. Each was distinct, yet all seemed to share the same purpose.

The voices grew louder, layering desperation upon his consciousness. Though he couldn't see them, he could feel their pleas pressing down on him like waves crashing against a solitary shore.

His memories—still fractured—provided no clarity, leaving only a sense of responsibility—and failure.

Then, cutting through the cacophony, a single voice rang out. It was a girl's voice, trembling with fear but carrying an unmistakable urgency.

Gridman's head snapped upward as a wormhole materialized in the void above him. It churned with chaotic energy, the swirling edges emitting crackling light that illuminated the blank space. From its depths came the girl's voice, desperate and pleading.

He stared at the wormhole, his body tensing as the girl's words reverberated through his mind. Though he did not know her name or face, her cries resonated with him on a primal level.

"I see…" Gridman said, his tone sharpening with resolve. "Once again, there are people who need my help."

Slowly, he began to rise, his form floating toward the wormhole. The overlapping voices faded, replaced by the girl's frantic cries, beckoning him onward.

Before entering, he paused and looked back. Below him, four figures had emerged from the void. They stood apart from the endless whiteness, their forms strikingly clear and defined against the backdrop of nothingness.

The first was a woman with fox-like ears and long, flowing black hair that framed her face elegantly. She wore a pristine white kimono that shimmered faintly in the surrounding light. Her amber eyes radiated wisdom and serenity.

To her side was a woman with shoulder-length pink hair and equally pink eyes. Her sharp expression exuded confidence, and the slight smirk on her lips suggested both competence and determination.

The third figure was a woman in a crisp white lab coat. Her glasses reflected an unseen light, obscuring her eyes, yet her posture and demeanor radiated an aura of analytical precision and authority.

The final figure was a man, though his form defied normalcy. Where his head should have been, there was a swirling mass of glowing purple smoke, shifting and churning like it reflected the man's thought.

All four figures raised their hands in unison, pointing toward the wormhole. Though they spoke no words, their message was clear: Go. Save them.

Though he did not know who they were, Gridman nevertheless inclined his head. Without hesitation, he turned and propelled himself into the wormhole, its blinding light consuming him entirely.

The entire cavern quaked violently, sending tremors echoing through its walls. Caesar, who had been entangled in a web of electrical wires, came crashing to the ground with a thud.

"Caesar!" Belle's voice cracked with panic as she rushed to her companion's side, her hands trembling as she checked for injuries.

"She's fine… she must be fine," Belle muttered under her breath, more to reassure herself than anything else. Her hands clutched Caesar's shoulders, shaking her gently but urgently. "Caesar! Caesar! Wake up! We have to get out of here!"

But Caesar remained unresponsive. Her body convulsed slightly, faint twitches coursing through her frame, but her eyes stayed firmly shut.

"What do I—whoa!" Belle's frantic thoughts were interrupted as a massive rock broke free from the cavern's ceiling, crashing down mere feet away from them. The impact sent a shockwave of dust and debris, forcing Belle to shield her face.

She coughed violently as the thick dust clogged her lungs, her chest tightening painfully. The burning sensation wasn't just from the air, though; the creeping corruption of the Hollow had begun to weigh on her body. It was a relentless, suffocating reminder of how dire their situation was.

The cavern groaned ominously as it shook again, sending smaller rocks tumbling from above. Belle gritted her teeth, grabbing Caesar by the arms and dragging her to a safer spot near the cavern wall. Her movements were sluggish, her limbs heavy with fatigue.

What could she do? She had no means of contacting Wise or Fairy for help. She was alone.

Her gaze darted to the old computer resting atop a pile of debris. It was the only device that still seemed to function, its screen glowing with an eerie white light. She'd hoped she could use it to get them out of their predicament, but so far, it had been nothing but a disappointment. The screen now only displayed a single, maddening phrase:

Belle pounded her fists against the console in frustration. "Why won't you do anything?" she shouted, her voice raw.

She thought after she had entered the access code, the computer would do something, maybe allowing her to use it, but instead it was simply stuck in this loading screen.

Above, the cracks in the ceiling widened, heralding the collapse to come. More rocks plummeted, one narrowly missing them by inches. The rumbling grew louder, more ominous.

Was this it? Was this how her life would end? Before she could uncover the truth about their teacher's disappearance? And what about Wise? The thought of her brother brought a lump to her throat. If she didn't make it out, what would he do? Would he keep going? Or would he be consumed by despair?

Her coughing grew harsher, her body trembling as the Hollow's corruption seeped deeper. She could feel her strength fading, her vision blurring. If nothing else, at least she might die before the corruption fully transformed her into an Ethereal. It was a small, grim mercy.

Slumping against the cavern wall, Belle wrapped her arms around Caesar. She closed her eyes, bracing herself for the end.

But then…

"You. Young girl over there."

The voice sliced through the chaos, firm and resonant. Belle's eyes flew open, her breath catching in her throat.

"Huh?" She whipped her head around, bewildered. Her gaze locked onto the old computer. The screen, which moments ago had been displaying a stagnant loading icon, now revealed the image of a red, blue, and silver humanoid figure. Its form was strikingly mechanical, with glowing yellow eyes that seemed to pierce through the haze.

"W-what?" Belle stammered, her pulse quickening.

The figure on the screen appeared to lean closer, its glowing eyes locking onto hers as though it could truly see her. Its voice came again, steady and deliberate. "Would you share your name with me?"

Belle froze, her mind racing. Was this real? Or just a hallucination born of stress and the Hollow corruption clawing at her body? Her lips trembled, but she managed to force out a word. "Belle." It was barely audible, a whisper drowned in uncertainty.

"Belle," the figure repeated, its tone softening slightly. "A fine name." Then, without missing a beat, it continued, "Belle, I will need your help. For us to escape this predicament, we must work together."

"What… who are you?" Belle asked, her voice trembling.

"Gridman," the figure replied simply.

The name hit Belle like a bolt of electricity. She glanced at the computer screen again, recalling the strange phrase she'd dismissed earlier. "Gridman…" she murmured, her voice barely audible.

"That's right. My name is Gridman."

Belle's mind reeled. This couldn't be happening. It didn't make sense. She scoffed inwardly, convinced that her stressed mind was conjuring illusions in a desperate bid for hope. Yet, despite herself, she found her lips moving. "Sure," she said, her tone edged with a mix of resignation and uncertainty. "Do whatever you need to do, Gridman."

Gridman nodded, his glowing eyes unwavering. The screen's light grew brighter, a searing radiance that swallowed the dim surroundings of the cavern. Belle's heart pounded as an overwhelming force gripped her body, dragging her toward the computer with unrelenting strength. She gasped, clutching Caesar tighter, her fingers digging into the fabric of her jacket as if holding on for dear life. Her feet scraped against the ground, but there was no resisting the pull.

"W-wait!" she cried, her voice breaking over the deafening hum that filled the air. The force intensified, whipping her hair around her face and sending a shiver of fear coursing through her. The sensation was unlike anything she had ever felt—a strange mix of weightlessness and pressure, as though she were being unraveled and stitched back together all at once. Her skin prickled with a static charge, and her vision blurred under the sheer intensity of the light.

She opened her mouth to scream, but the sound was swallowed by the roaring brilliance. A moment later, everything went white, and the world around her disappeared into a blinding void.

When the light faded, she found herself in an expansive, surreal hall. The air felt different here—clean and untouched. She tightened her hold on Caesar, still unconscious in her arms.

"Wha—what happened?!" she exclaimed, her voice rising in alarm. "Where is this?!"

Her panic subsided slightly as she realized one thing: the oppressive weight of the Hollow corruption was gone. Her body felt lighter, her mind clearer.

"This is a space accessed through Junk," Gridman said, standing tall before her. "It is an intersection between your world, the Computer World, and the Hyper World."

Belle stared at him, her mind struggling to process his words. Her voice wavered as she asked, "You… you're real? You're not just… something I imagined?"

"I am as real as you are," Gridman affirmed.

Before she could gather her thoughts, he stepped closer. "Belle, I am in need of your power. To get the two of you to safety, to destroy the kaiju threatening your world, I need your help."

"W-wait, wait, wait!" Belle stammered, backing away slightly. "What do you mean you need me?! I don't… I don't even know what's happening!"

The space around them trembled, as if echoing the urgency of the situation. Belle's heart pounded as cracks of light began to appear in the walls of this surreal hall.

"There is no time to explain," Gridman said, his tone resolute but not unkind. "I promise I will answer all your questions later. Right now, I need you to trust me. Please."

Belle's mind raced, a whirlwind of fear, doubt, and desperation. Everything in her screamed to run, to find a way out of this madness. But Gridman's glowing yellow eyes held her gaze, steady and unwavering.

Should she really trust this… thing?

Her thoughts churned with questions, relentless and overwhelming.

What was Gridman? Who even was he? Could he truly help her? She knew nothing about him, save for the name he had given and his promise to save her and Caesar. Yet, he had asked for her trust—something that felt almost impossible to give in this moment of chaos and uncertainty.

What exactly was he planning to do? How could he possibly get them out of this nightmare? And if she refused… what would happen then?

The hall trembled violently, the tremors sending a cold spike of dread through her.

"Belle!" Gridman's voice rang out again.

She bit her lip hard, tasting a hint of iron. Her hands trembled as she tightened her grip on Caesar, who remained unconscious in her arms. The weight of the situation pressed down on her chest like an iron vice. She was running out of options, running out of time.

"Fine," she whispered, her voice barely audible. Then louder, with a shaky resolve: "Fine! What do I have to do?"

The moment the words left her lips, the atmosphere shifted. Belle gasped as a strange sensation enveloped her, her feet lifting off the ground. She was floating. Her body felt weightless, yet charged, as though invisible energy was coursing through her veins. Her heart pounded faster, the adrenaline mixing with an unfamiliar warmth.

Gridman, too, floated in front of her. His yellow eyes seemed to soften for a moment, as if silently acknowledging her courage. Between them, light began to gather, swirling and coalescing into a tangible form. Belle watched, wide-eyed, as the energy condensed into a small device that materialized on her left wrist, its sleek red, blue, and silver metallic design glinting with an otherworldly sheen.

"What is this?" Belle asked, her voice quivering with apprehension.

"Acceptor," Gridman explained, his tone calm yet urgent. "It's the key to our victory. With it, you can unite with me. Together, we can overcome this threat."

Belle stared at the device, her heart hammering in her chest. "Unite? What did he mean by that?" The thought was both terrifying and perplexing.

The hall quaked again, a violent reminder that time was slipping away. Belle swallowed hard, her throat dry and raw. "What… what do I do with it?"

"Raise your left hand," Gridman instructed. "Then, bring your right hand to press the button on the Acceptor."

Her fingers hovered hesitantly over the device. "Like this?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes. Now," Gridman urged, his voice rising with determination, "shout, 'Access Flash!'"

Belle blinked, startled. "E-eehh?! A-Access Flash?!" Her voice wavered with uncertainty, but the words escaped her lips nonetheless.

The world erupted in blinding light. It consumed everything—her fear, her doubt, her very sense of self. For a moment, she felt as though she were dissolving into the light, becoming one with its brilliance. The sensation was overwhelming, a storm of energy and warmth that left her breathless. Her vision blurred, her body tingled, and all she could do was surrender to the dazzling glow that engulfed her.

She thought she could hear voices—faint, distant echoes. The light wrapped around her like a cocoon, lifting her higher and higher, beyond the confines of the hall.

Outside the Hollow, aboard an unmanned helicopter bearing the emblems of H.A.N.D and Section 6, Miyabi, Yanagi, Harumasa, and Soukaku braced themselves for their descent into Hollow Artanos. The hum of the rotors was almost drowned out by the tension in the air.

"Let's go over the data one last time," Yanagi said, adjusting her glasses as she studied the glowing screen of her tablet. Her voice was steady but carried an undercurrent of urgency. "Approximately forty-eight minutes ago, a massive Ether spike was detected emanating from Hollow Artanos. While Ether fluctuations are not unusual, this one is different. The levels have been climbing steadily without stopping, and…" she hesitated for a moment, "…the Hollow itself has started expanding rapidly. At this rate, it'll outpace the Shiyu towers' capacity to absorb the Ether and begin consuming everything around it."

"In summary," Harumasa interjected with a sly grin, leaning back casually, "we're heading into a ticking time bomb. Our job? Figure out what's causing this Ether surge and stop the Hollow from swallowing the Shiyu towers whole. And Soukaku, I'll bet you 100 dennies it's an Ethereal behind all this."

Soukaku looked uneasy, shifting in her seat. "If the Hollow's growing this fast… does that mean it's some huge Ethereal?" Her voice wavered slightly.

Harumasa shrugged, his grin unwavering. "Big or small, it doesn't matter. That's what Chief's sword is for."

Miyabi, seated calmly with her blade resting against her shoulder, finally spoke. Her tone was calm, cutting through the casual banter. "No matter its size, I'll ensure it's dealt with before it causes irreparable harm."

Yanagi nodded. "Then let's prepare ourselves. We're entering the Hollow in sixty seconds."

As the helicopter descended, turbulence rattled the cabin. The faint glow of the Hollow's grew into a blinding luminescence before the craft burst through the veil, entering a sprawling and surreal world.

Harumasa was the first to react, letting out a low whistle as he peered through the window. "Man, it's like stepping into some cyberpunk fever dream."

The landscape below was a tangled mass of glowing cables, some as thick as skyscrapers, crisscrossing the terrain in a chaotic web. Lights blinked sporadically, emanating from embedded consoles and towering computer structures, casting eerie reflections on the polished metallic surfaces.

"There are so many cables!" Soukaku exclaimed, her voice tinged with childlike wonder. "Big ones, small ones… and those giant ones! Wait, are those lights coming from computers?"

"This is… unique," Yanagi murmured, her eyes scanning the environment.

"More than unique," Miyabi said quietly, her eyes narrowing. "It's like a spider's web, coiling endlessly." She turned to Yanagi. "Can you pinpoint the Ether concentration?"

"One moment, Chief," Yanagi replied, fingers flying across her tablet. Her brow furrowed as she studied the readings. "It should be… wait…" She paused, her expression shifting to disbelief.

"Nagi? What's wrong?" Soukaku leaned closer, concern etched across her face.

"Don't leave us in suspense," Harumasa chimed in, though his joking tone had a nervous edge. "You're scaring me, Tsukishiro."

Yanagi's voice was almost a whisper. "The Ether concentration… it's off the charts. It's…"

Before she could finish, a massive fireball roared past the helicopter, the searing heat palpable even through the reinforced hull.

"What the hell was that?!" Harumasa shouted, gripping his seat.

"A fireball!" Soukaku yelped, pointing out the window.

Miyabi stood and slid the cabin door open, the rush of air whipping her hair back. She squinted into the chaos below. "We've found our Ethereal."

The others scrambled to the windows, their eyes widening as they took in the sight.

The Ethereal towered above the ruined Hollow landscape, its form grotesquely majestic. It was shaped like a lizard, but its massive wings and serpentine neck gave it the unmistakable appearance of a dragon. Its sheer size was monstrous—each step it took sent tremors rippling through the ground, toppling nearby structures like toy blocks. Gouts of flame erupted from its maw, engulfing everything in its path in a hellish inferno.

Soukaku was the first to break the stunned silence. "It's… it's huge! Look at it, Nagi! That thing's massive!"

Harumasa turned to Miyabi. "Chief, not to doubt your skills or anything, but… uh, how long do you think it'll take to cut something that big down to size?"

Miyabi's expression remained unreadable. "Doesn't matter," she said flatly. "I'll cut it."

Yanagi's voice broke in. "Chief, I've found a safe landing—"

"Look out!" Harumasa shouted as another fireball hurtled toward them.

The helicopter lurched violently as the autopilot kicked in, narrowly dodging the fiery projectile. Inside, the cabin was chaos—warning lights flashed, and everyone scrambled to steady themselves, gripping onto anything they could to avoid being thrown about.

Outside, the Ethereal roared once more, its guttural bellow shaking the air and reverberating through the Hollow. Its glowing, hate-filled core locked onto the helicopter with predatory intent, each step it took sending shockwaves through the ground below.

"We need to land this thing, fast!" Harumasa shouted, his voice cutting through the shriek of alarms.

"I'm working on it!" Yanagi snapped back, her hands flying across the controls. Sweat beaded on her forehead as she wrestled with the turbulent conditions.

Miyabi frowned, her sharp eyes narrowing at the beast below. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her blade, her body coiled with readiness. If it came to it, she was prepared to leap out and face the Ethereal head-on.

But before she could act, Soukaku's voice rang out, high-pitched with urgency. "Everyone, look! Up there!" She pointed her finger at the sky.

All heads turned in unison, following the direction of Soukaku's trembling hand.

Above them, the sky began to shift. Circuitry-like patterns filled the sky; glowing brighter by the seconds, as if responding to the growing Ether levels. Then, without warning, a hole tore open—a pulsating, wormhole-like rift in the fabric of the sky.

Out of the rift a figure dropped in front of the Ethereal.

"What… what is that?" Harumasa breathed, his usual wit momentarily failing him.

The being was colossal, nearly as big as the Ethereal. Its body was sleek and humanoid, a blend of futuristic machinery and organic curves. Its armor gleamed in vibrant shades of silver, blue, and red, reflecting the faint light of the Hollow.

Despite its mechanical appearance, there was something unmistakably alive about it. The giant crouched down for a moment, seemingly placing something on the ground, before rushing towards the Ethereal and began attacking it.

The first to break the stunned silence was Harumasa. "Err… are we witnessing an actual kaiju battle right now? Like, for real?"

Soukaku's eyes sparkling with childlike wonder. "Waaaah! It's huge! Nagi, Nagi, what is that? It looks just like one of those heroes from TV!"

Yanagi didn't respond immediately. Her attention remained split between piloting the helicopter and processing the impossible sight before her. She adjusted her glasses nervously, muttering under her breath, "I… I don't know what it is. This doesn't match anything in the database."

Then, Miyabi's voice broke through the commotion, low and almost trembling—an emotion rarely heard from her. Her gaze was locked on the giant, her usually stoic demeanor replaced with visible disbelief. "That shape… those colors…" she whispered, her grip tightening on her blade. "It can't be…"

"Chief?" Yanagi asked, glancing at her uneasily.

Miyabi didn't answer her. Instead, she leaned closer to the window, her expression caught somewhere between recognition and disbelief. "Gridman…is real?"

After carefully placing Caesar in a safe location away from the chaos, Gridman turned his attention to the towering Ethereal wreaking havoc on the Hollow. His massive form glinted under the strange, circuitry-like sky as he launched forward, determined to end the threat before it could cause more destruction.

The Ethereal, resembling a massive, winged dragon, let out a guttural roar that shook the air around them. Its glowing eyes locked onto Gridman with murderous intent, and in the next instant, it unleashed a searing blast of fire. The flames roared toward him like a tidal wave, illuminating the twisted metallic landscape in a fiery hue.

Gridman leaped high into the air, narrowly avoiding the inferno. The heat licked at his heels as he soared above the blazing attack, twisting his body midair with precision. With a powerful surge of energy, he came down hard, landing a devastating kick on the Ethereal's side. The impact reverberated through the Hollow, sending the creature staggering backward with a guttural snarl.

"Let's do this," Gridman thought, bracing himself to follow up with another attack. But just as he prepared to strike, his body faltered—an inexplicable hesitation seized him.

"What the hell is happening?! Wait, wait, wait, wait!!!" Belle's panicked voice screamed from within him, shattering his focus.

Gridman's eyes—or rather, Belle's—widened as the realization of what had just occurred hit her. "How the hell am I you right now?! What's going on?!"

Gridman's voice echoed calmly within her mind, steady despite the chaos. "Belle, there's no time for questions. The Ethereal is right in front of us. We must act."

"No time for questions?!" Belle snapped, her voice trembling with equal parts fear and indignation. "I think now is exactly the time for questions! What even—"

Her frantic protests were abruptly cut off as the Ethereal, seizing the moment of hesitation, charged forward with terrifying speed. Its enormous, clawed body slammed into Gridman like a freight train, the sheer force of the collision sending him flying across the battlefield.

"Aaaaaahhhh!!" Belle's scream echoed from within Gridman's shared consciousness as they hurtled through the air.

Gridman grunted as he crashed into the ground, skidding across the twisted terrain, his massive body carving a deep trench in the earth. Sparks and debris scattered in all directions. "Stay calm, Belle," he said, his tone firm yet reassuring as he pushed himself back onto his feet.

"Calm?!" Belle's voice pitched higher, teetering on hysteria. "We just got body-checked by a flaming, building-sized lizard! You want me to stay calm?!"

Before Gridman could respond, his instinct flared with warning. He looked up just in time to see another massive fireball hurtling toward him. The blazing sphere illuminated the landscape, its heat distorting the air around it.

"Hold on!" Gridman shouted, his body tensing as he dove to the side. The fireball struck the ground where he had been standing moments before, detonating in a blinding explosion. The shockwave ripped through the Hollow, sending chunks of debris flying in all directions.

Gridman shielded his head with his arms as fragments of metal and concrete rained down on him. The impact forced him back a few steps, his footing unsteady as the ground beneath him shook violently.

"Okay, okay, I take it back!" Belle yelled. "Less questions, more not dying! Please tell me you've got some kind of plan!"

Gridman straightened, his glowing yellow eyes fixed on the Ethereal as it reared its head back, preparing another attack. His voice was calm but carried an edge of urgency. "The plan is simple. Fight."

"Fight?! That's your big plan?!" Belle sputtered, her voice still high with disbelief.

"We can do this, Belle," Gridman said, his tone unwavering. "But I need your cooperation. Focus. Trust me."

Belle swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest—or rather, Gridman's. She clenched her fists, her panic slowly giving way to determination. "Fine. But if we survive this, you owe me an explanation. A long one."

"Agreed," Gridman said firmly, his body shifting into a ready stance, as energy began to hum around him.

The Ethereal let out an ear-splitting roar and charged toward him again, its massive claws tearing through the metallic ground as it barreled forward like an unstoppable force. But this time, Gridman was ready.

As the creature lunged, Gridman sidestepped with precision, narrowly avoiding its crushing bulk. In one swift motion, he threw his arms around its thick, scaled neck, his massive hands locking together in a powerful grip.

For a moment, it seemed as though Gridman might overpower the beast. But then, searing heat radiated from the Ethereal's body, its molten scales glowing like embers beneath his grasp. The intense heat burned against Gridman's arms, forcing him to release his hold.

"Hot! Hot!" Belle yelped from within Gridman's consciousness, her voice a mix of alarm and irritation. "Why is it so hot?!"

Gridman staggered back, momentarily disoriented. Before either of them could recover, the Ethereal's massive tail lashed out, striking Gridman with enough force to send him crashing into the ground. The impact left a deep crater in the earth as debris scattered in every direction.

"Owww… That hurt," Belle groaned, her voice echoing with exaggerated pain. "This is definitely not how I thought today would go."

Gridman let out a low grunt of effort as he pushed himself back to his feet. "Stay focused, Belle. It's not over yet."

Belle's attention shifted, her sharp eyes catching a peculiar detail. She squinted at the Ethereal as it bellowed, flames flickering faintly from its mouth. "Wait… that's strange. Why didn't it just fire another fireball immediately?"

She studied the creature's movements more closely and noticed thin streams of smoke rising from small exhaust-like tubes along its back. Her eyes lit up with realization. "I get it now! It needs time to cool down after using its fireball attack. That's our opening!"

"Understood," Gridman replied, his tone steady. "We'll stop it before it can attack again."

The Ethereal snarled, its glowing throat starting to brighten as it prepared to unleash another fiery assault. But Gridman didn't wait. With a sudden burst of speed, he charged directly at the creature, closing the gap in seconds.

"Wait, wait—what are you planning to—" Belle's protest was cut short as Gridman leaped forward, his fist glowing with energy.

Instead of stopping the fireball by closing the Ethereal's jaws, Gridman punched directly into its open mouth just as the fireball began forming.

"You're punching it?!" Belle shrieked in disbelief, her voice practically cracking.

The force of the punch detonated the fireball prematurely, triggering an explosion inside the Ethereal's throat. The beast reared back, screeching in agony as smoke and sparks erupted from its mouth and glowing scales. The creature stumbled, its movements sluggish and erratic as its internal systems began to fail.

Gridman didn't waste the opportunity. Springing backward to gain distance, he planted his feet firmly on the ground. Energy began to coalesce around him, multi-colored and crackling with intensity.

"Belle, brace yourself," he said.

"For what?!" she demanded.

Gridman ignored her, focusing entirely on the battle. Bringing his arms together in front of him, he channeled the raw energy into a singular point, his arms glowing brighter with each passing second. The air around him crackled with power as he raised his left arm in front of him, his voice echoing across the Hollow as he shouted:

"Grid... Beam!!"

A brilliant yellow beam erupted from his forearm, slicing through the battlefield like a blazing spear of light. The Ethereal let out one final, anguished roar as the beam struck its core, piercing through its body. For a moment, the creature seemed to hang in the air, its massive form frozen in the light.

Then, with a deafening explosion, the Ethereal disintegrated into a fiery burst of energy and ash. The shockwave rippled outward, scattering debris and extinguishing the lingering flames in the Hollow.

Belle remained silent for what felt like an eternity, the adrenaline of the battle slowly ebbing away. Her heart still raced, the echo of the Ethereal's roars and the searing explosions replaying in her mind. Finally, she found her voice, though it came out shaky and uncertain.

"...Okay," she muttered, her tone trembling. "That was insane. Please, please tell me we're done now."

Gridman stood tall, his towering frame illuminated by the faint glow of the dissipating energy around them. His gaze didn't waver as he surveyed the wreckage of the Hollow, the remnants of the Ethereal's destruction still smoldering in the distance.

"Not yet," he said evenly. "We still have one more thing to do."

Belle groaned, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on her. "There's more? What could possibly top that?!"

Ignoring her protests, Gridman raised his hands to his chest. With deliberate precision, he spread his arms outward, his movements smooth and methodical. The armor on his chest began to shift and unfurl like the petals of a mechanical flower, revealing three radiant crystals embedded within. Each crystal pulsed with a soft, golden light, their glow intensifying as they absorbed energy from the surrounding Hollow.

"Grid… Fixer Beam!"

His voice rang out with power and determination as a wave of shimmering light burst forth from the crystals. The radiant beam spread outward in all directions, casting the entire Hollow in a warm, golden glow. The light wasn't harsh or blinding—it was soothing, almost alive, as though it carried an intrinsic sense of healing and renewal.

Belle's exhaustion was momentarily forgotten as she watched the spectacle unfold, her eyes widening in awe. "Fixer… Beam?" she echoed, her voice filled with curiosity and disbelief. "What does that even—"

Her words faltered as something extraordinary began to happen.

Caesar's eyelids fluttered open, her vision blurry and her head pounding as she found herself lying on the cracked ground. She groaned softly, rubbing the back of her head as she tried to sit up.

"Damn it… what just happened?" she muttered, wincing as she tried to piece together the fragments of her memory.

Then it hit her. The freefall. The chaos. The desperate cries. She gasped sharply as the memory resurfaced, and with it came a sinking realization.

"Belle!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with panic. "Where's Belle?!"

Scrambling to her feet, she frantically scanned her surroundings, her heart racing as her eyes darted around for any sign of her friend. The eeriness of her surroundings struck her.

And then, in the distance, she saw it—a towering giant.

"What the hell is that…?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the colossal being standing against the horizon. Its massive frame gleamed, reflecting a light that seemed otherworldly, a soft radiance emanating from its chest.

At first, uncertainty gripped her. "Is that… some kind of new Ethereal?" she thought aloud.

But before she could act, the light from the giant's chest began to spread outward, bathing everything around it in a gentle, golden glow.

Caesar froze as the light touched her, warm and comforting against her skin. To her amazement, the aches and bruises she hadn't even fully registered began to fade away. She ran her hand over her arm, realizing the scratches and burns were gone.

"Wha…?" she muttered in disbelief.

She glanced around and saw that the light wasn't just healing her. The devastation surrounding her—the shattered buildings, the scorched earth, the fractured roads—all of it began to mend. The rubble floated upward, rearranging itself as if time itself were rewinding. The world seemed to breathe again, life returning to the Hollow.

Caesar's awe deepened when she heard a commotion below. Looking down at the field nearby, she spotted a cluster of Ethereals. Their monstrous forms writhed and roared, but as the light enveloped them, something incredible happened.

Caesar blinked hard, thinking her eyes were playing tricks on her. "No way…" she whispered.

The Ethereals' grotesque, corrupted forms began to dissolve, their monstrous features replaced by human ones. What stood in their place wasn't a group of enemies, but ordinary people. Confused at first, they stared at their hands, their faces, and one another in disbelief. Then, cheers erupted as they realized what had happened.

"They're… human again," Caesar said, her voice trembling.

She tore her gaze from them and looked back up at the giant, whose light was still spreading across the Hollow. As if a veil had been lifted, the oppressive darkness of the Hollow began to crack and peel away. Bit by bit, the Hollow dissolved, revealing the familiar world beyond—buildings, roads, and even the sprawling Outer Ring Caesar knew so well.

She stood there, frozen, trying to process the magnitude of what she was witnessing. "What the hell is this…?"

The giant's piercing yellow eyes then locked onto hers, breaking her trance. Caesar shivered under its gaze, feeling as though it was staring straight into her soul.

"Why is it looking at me?" she thought, her hands clenching instinctively.

Before she could act or even think of what to do next, the giant's form began to shimmer. Its massive frame dissolved into particles of light, shrinking rapidly until all that remained was a single, glowing mote of light that floated toward her.

Caesar's breath caught as the light landed just a few feet in front of her, hanging suspended in the air for a brief moment. Then, it shifted and expanded, reshaping itself into a figure she recognized instantly.

"Caesar!"

The familiar voice jolted her out of her shock. The light faded completely, revealing none other than Belle standing before her, her face bright with relief.

"Belle…?" Caesar stammered, her mind reeling as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing. "W-what just—how—what the hell is going on?"

Belle smiled understandingly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, trust me, I don't really get it either. But for now…" Her expression grew serious, her tone shifting. "We need to move. There's something important we have to find—an old computer called Junk."

"The Hollow... it's completely gone," Yanagi announced, her voice steady but tinged with awe as she scanned the readings on her device.

"And the giant's gone too," Soukaku added.

The group—Miyabi, Yanagi, Soukaku, and Harumasa—stood in silent amazement, taking in the aftermath of what they had just witnessed. The Hollow, once a twisted, oppressive dimension filled with roaming Ethereals, had dissolved entirely. The land was whole again, its jagged scars healed. The creatures that had once prowled the corrupted space were restored to their original forms—humans and Thirens alike.

Harumasa stepped forward, his boots crunching softly against the now-stable ground. He reached out hesitantly, his fingers brushing against the golden motes of light drifting lazily through the air like fireflies.

The warmth seeped into his skin, soothing and gentle, but it wasn't just the sensation of the light that left him stunned. It was the absence of something—something that had plagued him for so long.

Harumasa's hand moved instinctively to his chest. He inhaled deeply, a breath he had avoided taking for years for fear of the searing pain that usually followed. But this time... nothing. No tightness, no stabbing pain. Just air filling his lungs freely, as if for the first time in ages.

He exhaled sharply, a disbelieving laugh escaping his lips.

"Harumasa?" Miyabi called, concern flickering in her tone.

Still clutching his chest, Harumasa turned to face her, his voice unsteady but filled with a strange joy. "Chief... you know, I've never really been one to believe in so-called miracles," he began, his words catching slightly as the weight of his realization hit him. "But what just happened here—this light, this... this healing—if it's not a miracle, then what else could you possibly call it?"

"Asaba..." Yanagi murmured, pushing up her glasses as she studied him.

Soukaku took a step toward him, her expression deeply concerned. "Harumasa, are you okay? You're not hurt, right? No pain?"

Harumasa met her gaze with a reassuring smile, one brighter than any they had ever seen from him. "Hurt? Pain? Soukaku, I've never felt better in my life. No, scratch that—I've never felt this healthy. Not since... well, not since I can remember."

Soukaku's worry melted into a beaming smile, her eyes shimmering with happiness. Yanagi's lips curved upward slightly, a rare moment of visible relief crossing her face.

But Miyabi wasn't looking at Harumasa. Her gaze remained fixed on the space where the giant had stood moments before, her eyes distant as if she were seeing something far beyond the present.

"Miracle, was it?" she whispered to herself, the words barely audible.

"Miyabi?" Yanagi asked, tilting her head slightly in concern.

For a moment, Miyabi said nothing, her lips pressed tightly together as memories she had buried long ago surfaced without warning. She could almost hear her mother's voice, soft and soothing, telling her bedtime stories about a hero who protected the weak and restored hope to those who had none.

Finally, as if compelled by the memory, she spoke the name aloud—the name that her mother had whispered so many times, a name she hadn't heard in years but now felt impossibly real.

"The Hero of Dreams... Gridman," Miyabi said, her voice trembling softly with a mix of wonder and nostalgia.

Wise sat in front of the H.D.D., his fingers tapping restlessly on the desk as Fairy worked tirelessly to locate Belle. The glow of the monitors cast a dim light across the cluttered room, emphasizing the tense lines on Wise's face.

It had been four hours since he'd last had contact with her. Four long hours. While he trusted Caesar to keep Belle safe, the gnawing worry in his chest refused to subside. His little sister wasn't someone he took chances with.

He clenched his fist, glancing at his silent phone for what felt like the hundredth time. No updates. Not a single call or message. It wasn't like Belle to go dark for this long, and though he tried to rationalize it, his thoughts betrayed him with worst-case scenarios.

"Really," Wise muttered under his breath, leaning back in his chair. "If this turns out to be nothing more than her misplacing her phone, I won't know whether to be angry or relieved." His voice was tinged with wry humor, but his heart wasn't in it.

Fortunately, the rest of the Sons of Calydon had quickly agreed to help him look for Belle and Caesar. However, the truth was, he regretted not alerting the rest of the Sons of Calydon sooner. Caesar and Belle were supposed to be in the Outer Ring, and he'd let himself believe they'd be fine without backup. Now, doubt crept in like an unwelcome guest.

"Master," Fairy's voice chimed, breaking his spiraling thoughts. "I have located Mistress Belle's current position."

Wise immediately straightened in his seat. "Really? Where is she?"

Before Fairy could elaborate, his phone buzzed on the desk, the vibration startling him. He snatched it up, relief flooding him as he saw the caller ID: Belle.

He answered quickly, his voice sharp with equal parts worry and exasperation. "Belle? Finally! Where have you been? Didn't I tell you to keep me updated regularly?"

"Sorry, Wise!" Belle's voice came through, hurried but intact, which immediately eased some of the tension coiled in his chest. "I'll explain everything later, I promise! Right now, Caesar and I are on our way back to the shop. Oh, and… can you make some space? Like, a lot of space. For a computer."

Wise blinked, confused. "A computer? What are you talking about?"

"It's a long story," Belle said quickly, her tone both urgent and exhausted. "I don't even understand everything that's happened yet. But please, big bro, just trust me! We'll be there soon."

Wise sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. Her tone didn't leave much room for argument, and besides, he wasn't in the mood to push her when she sounded this frazzled. "Fine. I'll rearrange the shelves and clear some space before you get here. But once you're back, I want the full story. No secrets, alright?"

Belle's relieved cheer was immediate. "Yay! You're the best, Wise!"

The line went dead before he could respond, leaving him holding the phone and shaking his head.

"Little sisters…" Wise muttered to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips despite his lingering concern.

Whatever she'd gotten herself into this time, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be simple. But then again, when was it ever?

End of Chapter

A/N: I planned to upload this chapter last week, but then version 1.4 came out and I decided to play it first. A lot of revision was done to this chapter after that, and now the story would pick up after the conclusion of Harumasa's agent story.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1-1

o-0-o

“Umm… Belle? Caesar?”

Wise’s voice wavered as he stood frozen in the doorway of the staff room, watching the bizarre scene unfold before him.

Belle and Caesar were shoving the heavy metal lockers aside, clearing a wide space near the workbench. The sharp screech of metal scraping against the floor made Wise wince, the grating noise sending an unpleasant shiver down his spine.

“What… are you two doing?” he asked, brows furrowing in deep confusion.

Neither of them answered. Instead, they momentarily disappeared out the door, only to return moments later, lugging a massive, ancient-looking computer set between them.

The machine was a relic from another era—bulky, with a beige-colored casing that had seen better days. Scratches and stains marred its surface, and the thick CRT monitor attached to it looked like it belonged in a tech museum rather than in a functional workspace.

Belle, beaming with excitement, plopped it down with a theatrical flourish and dusted off her hands.

“Ta-da! Meet Junk.”

Wise stared at the machine. Then at Belle. Then back at the computer.

“…Junk?” he repeated, his tone utterly unamused.

“Well, yeah. Look at it.” Belle gestured proudly at the aged machine, as if she had just unveiled the latest cutting-edge technology rather than, well… literal junk.

Wise crossed his arms, unimpressed. “I am looking at it. And all I see is a glorified paperweight.”

Belle gasped, clutching her chest in mock offense. “How dare you insult Junk! He’s been through a lot, you know.”

Caesar, who had been silently watching the sibling banter with an amused smirk, gave Junk a light pat. “It does look like something you’d find in a scrapyard.”

Wise sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Okay, but why did you bring this thing in here?”

Belle waved off his concerns as if they were trivial. “Relax, big bro. Just watch.” She turned to Caesar with a nod. “Push it against the wall.”

Without breaking a sweat, Caesar shoved the clunky machine into place. Despite its weight, the ancient computer slid across the floor with ease, thanks to her strength.

Belle wasted no time plugging in the power cord. The moment the connection was made, the computer hummed to life, its internal fans whirring weakly, struggling to keep up after years of dormancy. The monitor flickered once. Then twice. Before finally stabilizing.

Then, something unexpected happened.

A humanoid, somewhat mechanical figure appeared on the display, staring directly at them.

Wise’s breath hitched. His brain struggled to process what he was seeing.

“What the hell…?” he muttered under his breath.

The figure on the screen spoke, his voice deep and composed.

“Nice to meet you. I am a Hyper Agent from the Hyper World—Gridman.”

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Wise’s eyes narrowed. The name stirred something in the back of his mind, but the memory remained just out of reach.

“…Gridman?” he echoed, still staring at the screen in disbelief.

Belle, on the other hand, was completely unfazed. “Yep! I met him, and, well… one thing led to another, and we ended up fighting together against that giant Ethereal.”

Wise snapped his head toward her, alarm flashing in his expression. “Giant Ethereal?!”

Caesar, arms crossed, eyed the monitor with a skeptical look. “Okay, I won’t deny it since I did see him myself, but… how does something inside a monitor turn into a giant?” She tapped a knuckle lightly against the glass, as if testing its solidity.

Gridman was about to explain, but Belle cut him off with an eager grin.

“Let me show you!”

A bad feeling crept up Wise’s spine.

Gridman’s expression flickered with concern. “Belle—wait a second.”

But his warning came too late.

With practiced ease, Belle raised her right arm, crossing it over the strange device—the Acceptor—strapped to her left wrist.

“ACCESS FLASH!” she shouted.

A blinding light erupted from Junk’s screen, engulfing Belle in an instant.

Wise barely had time to react before she was suddenly gone.

His stomach plummeted.

“What the hell just happened?!” he shouted, rushing forward. His hands hovered over Junk’s keyboard, unsure whether he should touch anything or not.

Caesar blinked at the now-empty space where Belle had stood moments ago. “Huh.” She tapped her chin, utterly unfazed. “So, uh… is this normal?”

Wise spun toward Gridman, eyes blazing. “Where did she go?!”

Before Gridman could answer, the monitor flickered again.

Belle’s face popped up on the screen, grinning as she waved enthusiastically.

“I’m here!”

o-0-o

Gridman wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Belle as he watched her excitedly bouncing around inside Junk’s digital space. She darted from one area to another, inspecting every inch of her surroundings with uncontained enthusiasm.

She was… energetic, to say the least.

“Whoa, so what’s the deal with this place?” Belle asked, spinning around as she took everything in. “Is this, like, your house or something?”

Before Gridman could answer, she fired off another question.

“Oh, right! You said you’re a Hyper Agent from the Hyper World , right? What exactly is a Hyper Agent? Are there more of you?”

And then another.

“Also, how did you do that whole thing back there—you know, wiping out the Hollows and fixing all that damage? That Fixer Beam thing! How does that even work ?”

If he could blink, Gridman would have blinked several times, momentarily taken aback by her rapid-fire curiosity.

She was certainly… inquisitive.

But as he tried to process her words, another thought took root in his mind. A question—one that lingered just beneath the surface of his awareness, nagging at him with an almost haunting familiarity.

Why was he here?

In the first place, why had he awakened in this world rather than his own?

He had been entrusted with a mission, that much he was sure of. But by whom ? And why ?

To seek out the truth…

What truth?

Ethereals. Hollows.

These words… he knew them. They weren’t unfamiliar. And yet… he couldn’t remember where or how he had learned them.

It was as if he had just awoken from a long, deep slumber—one so profound that the memories of his past remained shrouded in a dense fog.

“…Hello? Belle to Gridman?”

Belle’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She waved a hand in front of his face, tilting her head in concern.

“You okay? You kinda zoned out there.”

Gridman hesitated for a moment before answering.

“I… am at a loss,” he admitted, his voice steady but uncertain. “I do not fully understand the current state of this world… nor do I know why I am here in the first place.”

Belle frowned. “Wait, are you saying you’ve got amnesia ?”

Gridman considered this for a moment before shaking his head. “I do not believe so. My memories are intact… or at least, they should be. However, when I awoke, I found myself in this world, rather than in the Hyper World—where I belong.”

Belle hummed, crossing her arms as she mulled over his words. Then, as if a lightbulb had gone off in her head, she snapped her fingers.

“Ooh! I think I’ve got an idea!”

Gridman tilted his head slightly. “An idea?”

“Yep! If you wanna figure out what’s going on, you should start by getting familiar with New Eridu and its history,” Belle suggested, grinning. “I mean, you just woke up in the middle of all this, right? Maybe if you learn more about this place, you’ll find some clues about why you’re here.”

Gridman pondered her suggestion. “And how do you propose I do that?”

Belle smirked. “Easy! By watching videos, of course!” She gestured around with an exaggerated flourish. “ Random Play is a video rental store, you know. We’ve got tons of videos about New Eridu—news reports, documentaries, old broadcasts. If there’s anything worth knowing, we’ve probably got a tape of it somewhere.”

Gridman nodded, absorbing her words.

“I see… then perhaps that would be a good place to start.”

Belle clapped her hands together. “Great! Let’s get you caught up on modern history, big guy.”

o-0-o

The hum of old monitors and the faint whirring of a dusty ceiling fan filled the air inside Random Play . The store was dimly lit, the neon glow from the signs outside casting long shadows over the shelves lined with DVDs, rental tapes, and outdated electronics.

Wise sat on the edge of the workbench, arms crossed, his sharp eyes locked onto Caesar. He had been listening intently as she finished recounting the events that had transpired earlier that day.

A long pause followed. Then, with a skeptical sigh, he raised an eyebrow.

“…So that happened?” His tone was flat, unconvinced.

Caesar nodded, resting her elbow against a nearby shelf. “Yeah. Hard to believe, huh?”

That was putting it mildly.

She had just explained everything—from how she and Belle had been ambushed by Vanquisher , one of the more aggressive rival gangs in New Eridu , to how their escape had gone terribly wrong, leading them to fall straight into a Hollow.

She described the suffocating emptiness of the Hollow, the strange, warped environment that existed outside of time, and most of all—the massive Ethereal that had begun to stir in the depths.

She told him about Gridman .

About how he had fought against the monstrous entity, how he had erased the Hollow entirely as if wiping it from existence, and how—somehow—he had restored everything the Hollow had destroyed. Buildings that had crumbled, roads that had cracked, people who had been lost… all of it had been returned to how it was before.

Wise let out a slow breath, tapping his fingers against his arm in thought. His gaze flickered toward the old computer sitting atop the workbench— Junk .

The bulky, ancient-looking monitor hummed softly, the image of Gridman displayed on the screen.

“You’re telling me,” Wise said slowly, narrowing his eyes, “that he did all of that?”

“That’s right,” Caesar confirmed.

Wise exhaled sharply through his nose. “And you expect me to believe it just like that?”

“I don’t expect anything,” Caesar shot back, giving him a dry look. “I’m just telling you what I saw. Belle was there too. You can ask her yourself.”

Before Wise could respond, a familiar voice crackled through the store’s speakers.

“Master. Breaking news just dropped.”

It was Fairy.

Wise immediately straightened up. “Fairy, what is it?”

“It’s about Hollow Artanos .”

That got his attention.

Wise glanced at Caesar before looking back at the monitor. “Put it on the screen.”

A second later, the wall-mounted display flickered to life. The New Eridu Broadcast Center logo flashed on the screen before transitioning to a sleek, modern newsroom. The camera zoomed in on a poised female presenter sitting at the anchor desk, her expression professional but serious.

Her voice came through crisp and clear.

o-0-o

Breaking News - New Eridu Broadcast Center

“We interrupt our regular programming for breaking news. This is the New Eridu Broadcast Center , and I’m Lin Xiaoyu, bringing you the latest developments on Hollow Artanos.”

The screen changed to a map of New Eridu , highlighting an area that had been designated a danger zone. However, the indicator that usually marked Hollow Artanos was… gone .

“First—its sudden disappearance. Just hours ago, Hollow Artanos, one of the most unstable and dangerous Hollows in the city, was confirmed to have vanished without a trace.”

The screen transitioned to aerial footage, showing the very spot where the Hollow had once existed. But now, instead of a black, dark dome, the area was completely normal—intact roads, standing buildings, undamaged infrastructure.

“Second—a miracle? Eyewitness accounts and official reports confirm that the people who had been lost within Hollow Artanos have inexplicably returned—alive and unscathed. Survivors, many of whom had been declared missing for months, have been reunited with their loved ones.”

The footage cut to a street-level scene. A crowd had gathered near the once-devastated site. Families were embracing each other, people were sobbing tears of joy, and voices overlapped in frantic excitement.

A middle-aged man clutched his daughter, his hands trembling as he choked out, “I thought she was gone forever… I thought I’d never see her again.”

Another woman was seen weeping into the arms of her elderly mother, who had vanished into the Hollow weeks ago.

Wise felt his breath catch slightly.

Even he couldn’t deny it. The raw emotion on the screen—the sheer disbelief and joy of those reunited families—it wasn’t something that could be faked.

“And finally—what exactly happened? Aerial footage taken just moments ago reveals that the entire area, which was once devastated by the Hollow, has been fully restored. There were no signs of the damage previously caused by Hollow activity. It is as if the Hollow never existed at all.”

o-0-o

Just as the broadcast continued, a sudden flash erupted from Junk, and Belle popped out, stretching her arms.

“Whew! That was weird,” she muttered, rolling her shoulders. “Man, that space in there looks small, but it’s actually pretty roomy. Not bad, honestly.”

She blinked, then noticed everyone staring at her. “…What?”

Caesar sighed, tilting her head toward the monitors. “Might wanna check the news.”

Belle turned—and her eyes widened as she took in the broadcast.

The camera was now displaying live footage of the restored district, panning across the crowds of relieved citizens, the pristine streets, and the perfectly intact buildings. It was as if the entire event had been rewritten—like someone had taken an eraser to reality itself.

Belle, for some reason, looked oddly proud.

Wise finally tore his gaze away from the screen, his expression unreadable as he turned toward Junk .

His eyes locked onto Gridman, still standing on the monitor.

“…You really did all this?” Wise asked, his voice quieter now, lacking the earlier skepticism.

Gridman’s voice emerged from the speakers.

“This is the power of the Fixer Beam.”

A silence settled over the room, thick with unspoken thoughts.

Belle rested a hand on her hip, looking between the monitor and the screen. “So, does this mean we have a literal miracle worker on our hands?” Belle joked, trying to shatter the silence.

Caesar folded her arms. “Kinda looks like it, huh?”

Wise didn’t say anything. He was still staring at Gridman, his mind racing.

Finally, he exhaled and muttered, “What the hell have we gotten ourselves into?”

o-0-o

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the quiet halls of the Hoshimi residence. The front door slammed open, rattling the wooden frame, as Hoshimi Miyabi sprinted inside, her breath coming in quick bursts. She hadn’t even bothered to change out of her Void Hunter uniform, dust and grime still clinging to her sleeves.

She was moving faster than the wind, darting past the living room and making a beeline for the storage room. Without hesitation, she began tearing through the neatly stacked shelves, pushing aside old relics, scrolls, and forgotten trinkets in search of something.

From the other side of the house, Hoshimi Souichiro looked up from his tea, his sharp eyes narrowing at the commotion.

“Miyabi,” he called out, his voice carrying a steady weight. “What exactly are you looking for?”

His daughter gave no response.

She was completely absorbed, her fox-like ears twitching slightly, crimson eyes scanning every object she pulled out. It was clear she had one goal in mind.

Souichiro sighed, setting his cup down. He wasn’t unfamiliar with his daughter’s impulsiveness, but this was… different.

“Miss Tsukishiro just called,” he tried again, walking toward her. “She wants you to attend the meeting with the higher-ups regarding the latest developments on Hollow Artanos.”

At the mention of the name, Miyabi’s ears perked up. Her grip on a stack of old books tightened.

For a moment, Souichiro thought she would stop and acknowledge him.

But instead, she simply shook her head. “Tell Yanagi I won’t be attending,” she said, still rummaging through the storage room.

Souichiro’s brow furrowed. “And why not?”

“I need to find it,” Miyabi muttered under her breath. “Mother’s old storybook.”

There was a pause.

“Storybook?” Souichiro repeated, his voice tinged with surprise.

“Yes,” Miyabi confirmed without looking up.

Her father folded his arms, watching her carefully. “…You mean that storybook? The one your mother always brought out when she told you bedtime stories as a child?”

“Yes,” she said again, more firmly this time.

For the first time, Miyabi stopped her frantic search and turned to face him. There was something intense in her gaze that ran deeper than simple nostalgia.

Souichiro studied her for a long moment before exhaling through his nose.

“Wait here,” he said, before turning and disappearing into another part of the house.

Miyabi stood there, catching her breath, hands still clenched into fists.

Minutes later, Souichiro returned, carrying a worn, leather-bound book in his hands. The edges of the cover were slightly frayed from years of use, the golden lettering on the spine faded but still legible. He ran his fingers over it, as if recalling old memories, before holding it out to his daughter.

“I’d never store something so precious away in a dusty old storage room,” he said, his tone gentler than before. “It belonged to your mother. And before that, her mother. There was no way I would let it be forgotten.”

Miyabi reached out, hesitating for just a second before taking the book into her hands.

Memories surged forward, unbidden.

Her mother’s voice, gentle yet full of life.

The feeling of warm arms wrapped around her as she listened to bedtime stories.

The scent of faint incense lingering in the air.

“Miyabi, sweetheart, tonight’s story is a special one…”

“…A story of a hero from a world beyond our own.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, gripping the book tightly.

Souichiro watched as his daughter slowly ran her fingers over the cover. “What exactly are you looking for in that book?” he asked. “You came rushing home like your life depended on it.”

Miyabi didn’t answer right away. Instead, she slowly flipped through the aged pages, her breath catching as she skimmed past familiar illustrations—the ones she had seen a hundred times as a child but had never truly understood.

Then, finally—she stopped.

A single drawing sprawled across the page.

A dragon.

A robot.

 And in the center—a red giant.

The faded ink beneath the image spelled out words she had nearly forgotten.

“The Story of the Hero of Dreams—Hyper Agent Gridman.”

o-0-o

End of Chapter.

Chapter Text

- Chapter 1-2 -

o-0-o

Yanagi let out a long sigh as she sank into her chair in Section 6, exhaustion settling deep in her bones.

Pushing up her glasses, she sighed again—this time out of frustration rather than fatigue. She had just endured an intense grilling from the top brass of H.A.N.D., all demanding answers about what had transpired within Hollow Artanos.

What exactly had happened in there?

Why had the Hollow suddenly disintegrated like that?

How was it possible that the people, the fauna, and even the flora—once corrupted by Ether and turned into Ethereals—had been completely restored?

How could the space that had been devoured by the Hollow suddenly revert to the way it was before?

But the most baffling mystery of all, the one that left the higher-ups most unsettled, was this—why was there no trace of Ether left behind? Not even the faintest residual reading. It was as if Hollow Artanos had never existed in the first place.

The top brass had been relentless, demanding an explanation.

But Yanagi had none to give.

No, that wasn’t entirely true. She did have an answer—just not one she could share. Not one they would believe.

A giant had appeared. A radiant light had shone from its chest, and that light had undone everything the Hollow had destroyed and corrupted.

Yanagi had never heard of anything like that before. And she doubted anyone else had either…

No. That wasn’t entirely true, either.

There was someone who might know.

Their Chief, Miyabi.

Miyabi had called that giant by name— Gridman.

Yet, in classic Miyabi fashion, she had conveniently shirked her responsibilities and vanished the moment they returned from the Hollow, skipping the debriefing entirely. Instead of answering questions, she had gone straight home.

Yanagi exhaled sharply, pressing her fingers against her temple. She really needed to have a serious talk with Miyabi about her habit of running away from meetings.

Still… Gridman.

That name was a lead.

Pushing her chair back, Yanagi rose to her feet, her mind already set. While she waited for Miyabi to return and explain what she knew, she would start her own investigation.

And the first place to begin? The archives.

If there was any information on Gridman, she would find it.

o-0-o

Inside a luxurious high-rise penthouse, a woman with long, flowing black hair sat on a plush sofa, hugging a pillow to her chest. She wore a stylish white and red dress that accentuated her figure, the neckline dipping just enough to reveal a hint of cleavage, while the skirt stopped just above her knees. Normally, she would be busy rehearsing or brainstorming ideas for her next song at this hour. But tonight was different.

Tonight, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the TV screen.

Astra Yao—the most well-known celebrity in New Eridu—was completely captivated by the breaking news.

The sudden and unexplained disintegration of Hollow Artanos.

The miraculous return of people who had been consumed and corrupted by the Hollow—people who had been missing and presumed dead for months—now reunited with their loved ones, alive and well.

The restoration of entire areas that had once been deemed lost forever.

A town.

A children’s playground.

Homes that had crumbled into nothingness, now standing as if they had never vanished.

The broadcast shifted, showing haunting images taken by Hollow investigators just months ago—desolate streets, shattered buildings, entire spaces fragmented and disconnected from reality. And yet, somehow, all of it had been restored.

The newscaster soon moved on to another report, this time about an ongoing investigation into Inspector Justin Bringer by the New Eridu Public Security Bureau.

But Astra barely heard it. Her thoughts remained fixated on the Hollow.

Outside, the sky had turned a deep, impenetrable black, but her purplish-red eyes sparkled with wonder.

A miracle.

Nothing less.

What could have possibly caused such an event?

As she pondered the question, a soft voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Miss Astra.”

She turned toward the speaker, her gaze landing on a stunning woman with long blonde hair tied neatly into a bun, smooth fair skin, and striking purple eyes.

Evelyn Chevalier—her manager.

In one hand, she held a neatly folded hand towel.

Astra blinked before offering a small smile. “Eve.”

Evelyn sighed, her tone tinged with concern. “How much longer do you plan to stay glued to the TV?” she asked. “I’ve already prepared dinner for you.”

Astra pouted slightly before flashing a playful smile. “Just a little bit more,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of mischief.

Evelyn let out a soft sigh and turned her attention to the TV screen. After a moment, she glanced back at Astra. “What’s got you so fixated?” she asked, her tone laced with curiosity.

Astra’s eyes shimmered with excitement as she gestured toward the screen. “Isn’t it amazing? A real-life miracle is happening right before our eyes!”

Evelyn, however, remained skeptical. She folded her arms and tilted her head slightly. “A miracle, huh?” she murmured. “Sounds a little too fantastical.”

Astra puffed out her cheeks in mild annoyance. “What do you mean ?” she huffed.

Evelyn sighed again, this time more thoughtfully. “It’s not like a Hollow disappearing is unheard of,” she pointed out. “Just a few years ago, Hoshimi Miyabi from Hollow Special Operations Section 6 completely wiped out Hollow Argos.”

She paused for a second before continuing, her expression turning more serious. “But for everything to return to exactly the way it was before the Hollow consumed it? For the people, the animals, the plants—everything that had been corrupted by Ether—to be restored as if nothing ever happened?” She shook her head. “That’s a different story. That’s too fantastical.”

Astra, rather than looking discouraged, simply smiled. “Almost like something out of a movie, right?”

Evelyn blinked. “A movie?”

Astra giggled and tapped her chin in thought. “Well, in stories, whenever a miracle like this happens, it’s usually because of a hero’s actions.”

She leaned back against the sofa, a dreamy expression crossing her face. “So… maybe there’s a hero out there who made this miracle possible?”

o-0-o

Meanwhile, inside Random Play…

"ACCESS FLASH!!"

Caesar shouted with conviction, crossing her right arm over to press against the Acceptor strapped to her left wrist.

Nothing happened.

Silence hung in the air. The device didn’t respond, no flash of light, no surge of power. It was as if the very concept of transformation had rejected her outright.

From within the screen of Junk, Gridman observed quietly, his digital form still and thoughtful as he processed yet another failed attempt.

Caesar, on the other hand, had reached her limit. With an exasperated groan, she threw her hands up in frustration. "Ugh! What gives?!" she demanded. "Why isn’t this working?!"

Before Gridman could offer an explanation, a teasing voice piped up from behind her.

"Maybe it’s because Gridman and I share a special bond ," Belle said, her tone dripping with playful smugness.

Caesar turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. " Special bond, huh? " she muttered, rolling the words around in her mouth as if testing their weight. With a sigh, she unstrapped the Acceptor from her wrist and handed it back to Belle. "Well, if that’s the case, then be my guest ."

Wise, who had been quietly observing from the side, finally chimed in with a skeptical frown. "Hold on. Special bond ?" he repeated. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Gridman finally attempted to clarify, his voice steady. "Actually—"

But before he could even begin, Belle cut in again, grinning mischievously.

"Wouldn’t you like to know?" she said, winking.

Wise scowled. "I would actually, yeah."

Caesar crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Yeah, Belle, enlighten us."

Belle simply giggled, twirling the Acceptor between her fingers. "Now, now. No need to be jealous."

Caesar groaned. "Oh, for the love of—!"

Belle turned to Wise, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

"Hey, Wise," she said, holding up the Acceptor. "You wanna give it a try?"

Wise hesitated, his eyes flickering between Belle and the device strapped to her wrist. His fingers twitched slightly, betraying his uncertainty. " Me ?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"Yeah, you!" Caesar chimed in, nudging him with her elbow. "Come on, aren’t you even a little curious? I mean, I tried, and it didn’t work, so maybe you’ll have better luck."

Belle’s smirk widened as she held the Acceptor out toward him. "What’s the worst that could happen? It’s not like you’ll explode."

Wise rolled his eyes. "That’s so reassuring," he deadpanned.

"Then prove me wrong and do it ," Belle shot back, her tone lighthearted but challenging.

Letting out a long, drawn-out sigh, Wise reached for the Acceptor. The moment his fingers brushed against it, Gridman—watching from within Junk—felt something unusual. Something flickered in the air. A kind of connection.

It was faint, subtle, but undeniably there .

A sensation that Caesar lacked … but Belle had .

The energy surrounding Wise was nowhere near as strong as Belle’s, but it existed, resonating just enough for Gridman to take notice.

Could it be?

Gridman watched in anticipation.

Wise strapped the Acceptor onto his left wrist, the device feeling oddly weighty now that it was his turn to try. He swallowed, taking a steadying breath before stepping forward, facing Junk directly.

The moment stretched on, the room falling into silence except for the hum of the old computer.

Could Wise actually do it?

Wise inhaled deeply, raising his left hand. His right hand hovered over the Acceptor, his fingers brushing against the activation trigger.

"Access—!"

Before he could shout the full phrase and press the button—

"Phaethon!!"

The door to Random Play suddenly slammed open, nearly bouncing off its hinges.

"What the hell—" Caesar jolted, nearly tripping over herself in surprise.

Nicole came bursting inside, her voice practically shaking the walls. "PHAETHON!! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?!"

She was so loud that even from the depths of the staff room, they’d heard her shouting.

The room fell into stunned silence.

Then, Wise let out a long, weary sigh. Shoulders slumping, he unstrapped the Acceptor and handed it back to Belle. "There goes that moment," he muttered.

Belle groaned dramatically, dragging a hand down her face. "Nicole…" she whined. Belle strode out of the staff room to meet her. "Alright, did you really have to do that?" she asked, hands on her hips.

Nicole blinked, confused. "What? What did I do?"

Belle threw her hands up. "You killed the momentum! He was this close to trying it!" She pinched her fingers together for emphasis.

Completely unfazed, Nicole crossed her arms. "What momentum? Excuse me for actually having something important to say," she huffed.

Belle let out another groan, arms still in the air. "Alright, fine! What is it? What’s got you screaming at this hour?"

Meanwhile, Caesar finally pulled out her phone and saw several unread messages on Knock Knock from Lucy. Then, as she read the messages, her entire body went rigid.

And her stomach dropped.

"Oh crap ," she breathed. "Lucy’s gonna kill me! I need to get back to the Outer Ring— like, now! "

Without wasting another second, she spun on her heel and bolted toward the back exit, her boots thudding against the floor.

"Later, Wise! Later, Gridman!" she called out, frantically waving one hand over her shoulder as she disappeared into the night.

Nicole, watching her leave with a bewildered expression, blinked. "...Wait. Was that Caesar ?"

Wise, letting out his deepest sigh yet, walked out of the staff room. "So, what do you need, Nicole?"

Gridman, still silent within Junk, could only sigh as well. This group was definitely chaotic.

o-0-o

Inside the New Eridu Public Security Lumina branch, a young rodent Thiren woman sat hunched over her cluttered desk, barely keeping up with the mountain of paperwork before her. Her short, neck-length brown hair—distinguished by the white coloring of her middle bangs—was slightly disheveled from hours of nonstop work. Her large, rodent ears twitched in irritation as yet another thick stack of documents was unceremoniously dumped onto her desk with a dull thud.

She barely had time to shift the existing papers before the workload increased yet again.

The sheer weight of the situation was suffocating.

It was already midnight, but if anything, her workload had only increased rather than slowed down.

"Tomiya! Here’s another one!"

The sudden voice startled her out of her haze. She snapped upright, nearly knocking over a half-empty cup of coffee.

"Y-Yes!" she stammered, scrambling to straighten the growing pile of forms before reluctantly reaching for the latest addition.

She exhaled through her nose, fighting the urge to groan.

This wasn’t what she signed up for.

Her job was supposed to revolve around criminal investigations—actual detective work, chasing leads, solving cases. Instead, she was buried under an endless deluge of administrative duties.

For the past several hours, all she had been doing was reviewing, approving, and processing identity verifications and status revocations. Thousands of names filled the pages before her, each belonging to people who had been declared dead—only for them to suddenly reappear, alive and well.

An event like this was unprecedented.

And, naturally, the higher-ups wanted this bureaucratic nightmare sorted out immediately before it clogged the system any further.

Tomiya slumped forward, rubbing her temples. "Of course they do…" she muttered under her breath.

She knew there was no use complaining. At this point, the only thing she could do was press on and hope she didn’t collapse from exhaustion before the night was over.

Just as Tomiya was about to let out a long, weary sigh, a sudden wave of warmth brushed against the back of her neck.

"Ah—!" She yelped, nearly jumping out of her seat as she whipped around, eyes wide in alarm.

Standing behind her was a short, slender woman with long green hair tied into two flowing ponytails, swaying ever so slightly as she tilted her head. Her emerald eyes gleamed with amusement, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

"M-Miss Qingyi…!" Tomiya stammered, recognizing her immediately.

Qingyi, her senior at Public Security, was holding a steaming cup of tea in one hand, the soft aroma of green tea wafting into the air between them. Her posture was as relaxed as ever, exuding an effortless calm despite the late hour and the overwhelming workload that surrounded them.

"Good job," Qingyi said, her voice light yet carrying that firm undertone that left no room for argument. She extended the cup toward Tomiya. "Now, go take a break."

Tomiya hesitated, glancing at the towering mountain of unfinished paperwork sprawled across her desk. Her fingers twitched, itching to reach for another document even as the warmth of the tea in front of her tempted her otherwise.

"But—"

Before she could even finish forming an excuse, Qingyi simply raised a finger, silencing her with a pointed look.

"If you push yourself to the point of collapse, it'll only make things worse for both you and the team," Qingyi said matter-of-factly. "You're no good to anyone if you’re half-dead from exhaustion, and you’ll only add more work for the rest should that happen."

Tomiya bit her lip, her shoulders tensing. She knew Qingyi was right—of course, she did—but the sheer weight of responsibility pressing down on her made it hard to simply step away.

Sensing her hesitation, Qingyi let out a small sigh before taking a casual sip from her own cup. "Truly," she added, a hint of playfulness slipping into her tone, "don’t make me work too much. There's still one more person I need to force into taking a break."

As if on cue, the door to the office swung open, and a tall, commanding woman strode inside with measured steps.

Her sharp black hair, streaked with deep red highlights, was pulled into a high, bushy ponytail that swayed slightly behind her. Despite her usual air of quiet authority, there was an unmistakable weariness hidden just beneath her composed expression—an exhaustion that lingered in her gaze, in the barely noticeable slump of her shoulders.

"Captain Zhu Yuan!" Tomiya straightened instinctively, snapping into a crisp salute.

Zhu Yuan blinked at the sudden formality before letting out a soft chuckle. "No need for that, Tomiya," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

But Tomiya wasn’t fooled.

She could hear it—the subtle exhaustion in Zhu Yuan’s voice. She could see it in the way she carried herself, the tension in her frame that hadn't been there before.

Before she could comment, Qingyi spoke up first.

"You too, Zhu Yuan," she said, already extending a fresh cup of tea toward her. "Take a break."

Zhu Yuan took the tea almost absentmindedly, lifting it to her lips. She took a slow sip, the warmth spreading through her, but her next words came without hesitation.

"I can’t afford to rest right now."

Qingyi crossed her arms, her piercing green eyes narrowing as she regarded Zhu Yuan with a pointed look. "Why? Administrative work isn’t even our job here in Janus Quarter. No one would blame you for stating that fact and taking a well-earned rest."

Zhu Yuan let out a quiet sigh, shaking her head. "Orders from above," she said simply. "They want everything related to Hollow Artanos investigated, documented, and resolved as soon as possible."

Qingyi blinked, her frown deepening. "What’s the rush?"

Before Zhu Yuan could answer, a smooth, sultry voice drifted from the doorway.

"Maybe I can shed some light on that?"

All three women turned toward the entrance.

Leaning casually against the doorframe was a female rat Thiren, her sleek black hair cascading down to her waist, the tips fading into a striking purplish-red hue. Pale, turquoise eyes gleamed with mischief as she stepped into the room, her long tail swaying behind her with deliberate ease.

Qingyi let out a slow breath, already recognizing the intruder. "Jane."

Jane Doe—a criminal behavior specialist who had an uncanny knack for gathering information—grinned in response.

"What do you know?" Qingyi asked, tilting her head slightly.

Jane’s lips curled into a slow, knowing smirk. "Oh, you know, just the usual… whispers in the wind." She lifted a finger and twirled a strand of her hair lazily. "Nothing concrete yet, of course. But the pieces are starting to fall into place."

"And?" Qingyi pressed. "What exactly are people whispering?"

Jane chuckled, stepping further into the room with a casual grace. "Word is… the elites are in full-blown panic mode. They’re desperate to figure out what caused Hollow Artanos to vanish, and they’re pressuring the upper brass to find answers—and, more importantly, to deal with it."

Qingyi arched a brow. "‘Deal with it’?"

Jane’s smirk didn’t waver. "Come on, Qingyi, you know exactly what that means."

From the side, Tomiya swallowed hard, shifting uncomfortably in her chair. "B-But why?" she asked hesitantly.

Zhu Yuan’s answer came in a single word.

"Ether."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Zhu Yuan took a slow breath before elaborating. "There isn’t a single trace of Ether left where Hollow Artanos used to be—not even the faintest residual energy."

Tomiya’s eyes widened in shock. "That’s… impossible, isn’t it?"

"That’s what we thought," Zhu Yuan continued, her voice steady but grim. "But it doesn’t stop there. Preliminary tests on those who were once corrupted into Ethereals have revealed something equally…impossible."

She let the weight of her words settle before delivering the punchline.

"They’ve been completely cleansed—free of any Ether corruption whatsoever."

Jane let out an amused hum, crossing her arms. "And while it’s still early, the elites are already losing their minds over the results." She tapped her temple knowingly. "Because if something out there has the power to erase Ether entirely… and if the same thing starts happening to other Hollows…"

She trailed off, letting the implication sink in.

Qingyi’s expression darkened as realization dawned. "That would mean Ether itself could disappear from the world."

Jane gave a slow, dramatic nod. "And they don’t want that—because it would be bad for business."

Another silence settled over the group, the weight of the revelation pressing down on them.

Finally, Jane stretched her arms above her head, her tail flicking playfully. "Anyway, just thought I’d drop by to give you an update." She turned toward the door. "I’ll head out again—see what else I can dig up."

Then, just before leaving, she glanced back at Zhu Yuan, a glint of mischief in her turquoise eyes.

"Oh, and Captain? Since this is a Hollow-related case, don’t you think it’d be a good idea to bring in an outside expert?"

Zhu Yuan frowned slightly. "An outside expert?"

Then it clicked.

She knew exactly who Jane was suggesting.

o-0-o

The rhythmic click-clack of heels echoed through the dimly lit underground tunnel, each step sharp and deliberate against the cold concrete floor. The woman's pacing was uneven, her movements tense as she pressed a sleek, black phone against her ear.

Her voice was low but seething with barely restrained fury. "Find out where he was—and eliminate anyone he’s been in contact with. Only he could have done something like this.”

The order itself was simple, but the venom in her tone made it anything but.

She exhaled sharply, her grip on the phone tightening. "To think… he survived." Her free hand curled into a fist at her side. "We should have ensured he was erased back then. Completely."

A soft beep signaled the end of the call. Lowering the phone, she tapped the screen, bringing up an image.

The faint glow from the display illuminated her face, casting shadows across her sharp features. Her gaze locked onto the figure in the photo—a towering red giant battling an Ethereal. Three brilliant blue crystals adorned his chest, each radiating an otherworldly light.

Her lips curled into a scowl of pure disdain as she uttered his name.

"Gridman."

o-0-o

End of Chapter.

Chapter Text

- Chapter 1-3 -

o-0-o

Gridman let out a weary sigh from within Junk.

After the chaos earlier, he desperately needed a moment of quiet to himself.

Belle and Wise had already retired for the night, leaving him alone with nothing but the steady ticking of the clock to keep him company. Each second that passed only made him more aware of his own idleness. What exactly was he supposed to do while waiting for morning?

Perhaps now was a good time to finally watch those movies Belle had recommended. It seemed like a decent way to pass the hours. But as he entertained the idea, a realization struck him.

How was he supposed to pick a movie?

The tapes were all neatly stacked on the shelves outside the staff room… and he was stuck inside Junk. Retrieving one himself was out of the question. 

Maybe he had no choice but to wait until Belle had woken up and ask for her help.

Just as he was about to settle on that decision, something shifted at the edge of his vision.

Gridman turned his attention toward the other end of the staff room, his gaze sharpening. Something had moved. His eyes landed on a small rabbit-like plush that had been sitting silently in the corner of the room.

It had a unique design—its soft, white body contrasted with color-mismatched ears, one black and the other white, both enclosing an orange hue within them. Each ear was adorned with a large screw, giving it an almost mechanical aesthetic. A vibrant orange scarf wrapped snugly around its neck, and a black, jacket-like covering draped over its form. On the lower left corner of the covering, the words "RANDOM PLAY STAFF" were stitched in white.

The plush’s yellow-green eyes gleamed faintly in the dim light, and a small, green tail peeked out from behind.

Most notably, there were markings on its scarf—"01" and "Eous"—standing out against the fabric.

Then, to Gridman’s quiet surprise, the doll began to move.

Its tiny feet shuffled forward in small, deliberate steps. He assumed there must be some kind of internal mechanism, perhaps a wind-up feature or embedded robotics, giving it mobility.

Then, its round, glowing eyes flickered, brightening with unmistakable joy.

Before he could react further—

“Ehn~na~! Ehn~na~na~! Nu~ehn~ne~!”

A burst of high-pitched, incomprehensible chatter filled the air. The little creature practically vibrated with excitement, bouncing up and down as it enthusiastically waved at him.

Gridman remained still, taking a moment to process the bizarre encounter. The only sound between them was the rhythmic ticking of the clock.

Finally, he decided to address the situation directly.

“…I’m sorry, but I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

The plush immediately froze mid-motion.

Its glowing eyes dimmed slightly, and its previously overjoyed expression drooped into one of pure dejection.

“Ehn~ne ehn~na~?” it repeated, this time with a more hesitant tone.

Gridman gently shook his head. “I still don’t understand you.”

The little figure slumped, clearly disheartened, before turning around as if retreating.

But just as it took a step away, a new voice suddenly interjected—smooth, feminine, and composed.

“I shall translate what Eous said.”

Gridman’s eyes flicked toward the source of the voice.

“The first thing Eous said was, ‘It has been a long time! Where have you been all this time?’” The voice continued, calm and precise. “Then, Eous asked, ‘You don’t remember me, Gridman?’”

At that moment, the screen of the HDD monitor flickered to life. A single, glowing blue eye-like image appeared on the display.

Gridman studied the screen, his curiosity piqued. “And… you are?”

“I am a Type-III General AI equipped with sequential integration. Development Code: Fairy.” The voice carried a sense of professionalism, yet there was a trace of familiarity in it. “Currently serving as Master Wise and Mistress Belle’s most reliable AI.”

“Fairy…” Gridman muttered, repeating the name under his breath.

Then, regaining his composure, he offered a polite response. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am—”

Before he could finish introducing himself, Fairy interrupted.

“Gridman, the Hyper Agent,” she said smoothly. “I have already heard your introduction earlier.”

Fairy’s glowing eye flickered slightly before she spoke again.

“Since Eous appears to be familiar with you, I have initiated a search for any relevant records regarding your name and identity.”

A brief pause followed, as though she were processing data. Then, she continued, her tone as precise as ever.

“However, my search has yielded no results. There is no mention of a being known as ‘Gridman’ or a designation of ‘Hyper Agent’ within the existing archives of New Eridu.”

Gridman absorbed this information in silence.

Fairy pressed on. “This presents an undeniable contradiction.” Her voice remained composed, yet there was a subtle weight behind her words. “On one hand, Eous expresses knowledge of you, implying prior interaction. However, if that were true, then logically, records of your existence—no matter how obscure—should exist somewhere. If Eous is aware of you, then its creator must have known of you as well. By extension, there should be at least some trace of information regarding you within any accessible database.”

She paused briefly before concluding, “And yet… nothing.”

Gridman remained still, his expression unreadable as he mulled over Fairy’s analysis. The contradiction she pointed out was undeniable. If Eous truly knew him, then why was there no record of him anywhere?

After a moment, he turned to Fairy and said, “Would you be willing to investigate this further?”

“If uncovering the truth behind this anomaly would be of benefit to Master Wise and Mistress Belle,” Fairy replied without hesitation, “then I shall do so.”

Gridman nodded. “In that case, I suggest consulting them first before proceeding.”

“Understood.” Fairy acknowledged his request with a simple response.

With that matter temporarily settled, Gridman turned his attention back to the small plush creature before him. He addressed it directly.

“Eous.”

The rabbit-like doll twitched slightly at the sound of its name.

“Ehn~na~?” it chirped, tilting its head.

Fairy spoke up again. “Would you like me to translate for Eous?”

Gridman glanced at the flickering eye on the monitor, then gave a slight nod. “Yes, I’d appreciate that.”

Fairy acknowledged his request before relaying his words.

Gridman then looked at Eous with a gentler expression. “I… apologize,” he said, his voice carrying a note of regret. “It’s clear that you know me, but I have no memory of ever meeting you.”

The glow in Eous’ eyes dimmed for a fraction of a second before it let out a distressed squeak.

“Ehn~ne~! (Translation: No way… that’s just…)”

Gridman hesitated, watching the little doll’s reaction before cautiously asking, “Eous… what was our relationship like?”

The plush perked up almost immediately, as if eager to answer.

“Nuh~ehn~na~ neh~ehn~na~! (Translation: We were friends! All of us used to spend time together, and Carole would take us on picnics whenever the sky was clear!)”

Gridman’s eyes widened slightly.

“…Ca…role?” he repeated, the name filled him with an odd sense of familiarity.

As soon as he said it, something stirred at the edges of his mind—a faint, fleeting sensation, like the whisper of a memory just beyond his grasp. The name Carole resonated with him in a way he couldn’t explain, yet no clear image or recollection surfaced. The harder he tried to latch onto the memory, the more it slipped away, vanishing into the depths of his mind like sand slipping through his fingers.

It was as though his memories had been smeared over with thick, black paint, obscuring whatever truth lay beneath.

Noticing his hesitation, Eous tilted its head slightly.

“Nuh~ahn~ne~? (Translation: Gridman, you really don’t remember Carole?)”

Gridman slowly shook his head. “No… I don’t.” His voice remained even, but there was an unmistakable trace of frustration in it.

Eous’ ears drooped, its small body slumping as it let out a quiet, forlorn hum.

A brief silence settled between them, the only sound in the room being the faint ticking of the clock. Then, a thought surfaced in Gridman’s mind.

“If you’ve known me all this time,” he began, meeting Eous’ gaze, “why didn’t you say anything earlier? When Belle and Wise were here?”

Eous perked up slightly at the question but hesitated. Its ears twitched, and it shuffled in place, as if wrestling with something it wasn’t sure it should say. Finally, after a moment of apparent internal debate, it responded.

“Ehn~na~na! Ehn~nah~ neh~ehn~ne~! (Translation: Carole told me never to mention you and our relationship to Wise and Belle. She didn’t want them getting involved.)”

“Involved?” Gridman repeated, his tone measured but intent. “Involved in what?”

Eous fidgeted again, its glowing eyes flickering slightly. Then, after another brief pause, it let out a small, uncertain hum.

“Ehn~na~na~. Ehn~nah~. (Translation: I don’t know… My memory of that is missing.)”

Gridman fell silent, his thoughts spiraling as he processed what he had just learned.

Carole had deliberately told Eous to stay quiet. Not just about him, but about whatever past they had shared. And not just from anyone—specifically from Wise and Belle.

Why?

What was she trying to protect them from?

The more he tried to connect the pieces, the more he became painfully aware of the gaps in his own memory. The missing fragments weren’t just frustrating—they felt unnatural , as if something had purposefully erased them.

Gridman remained silent for a moment, letting the weight of this new information settle in his mind. While it didn’t provide the answers he sought, it was a lead—one that hinted at a past he could no longer remember. He exhaled softly, then turned his gaze back to the small, rabbit-like doll.

“…Thank you, Eous,” he said at last. “I appreciate you sharing this with me.”

Eous perked up at his words, its ears twitching with excitement. It hesitated for only a brief moment before speaking again, its tone filled with hopeful energy.

“Ehhn~na~? (Translation: Gridman… can we be friends again?)”

There was something undeniably sincere about the way Eous asked that question, as if the answer truly mattered to it.

“Of course,” Gridman replied without hesitation. “I’d be happy to be your friend.”

At those words, Eous practically exploded with joy. It jumped up and down, its small frame bouncing with excitement as it let out an enthusiastic squeal.

“Ehhn~na~! Ehhn~na~! (Translation: Yay! Yay! Yay!)”

Gridman couldn’t help but smile at the sheer energy radiating from the tiny creature. Then, just as quickly as it had started celebrating, Eous suddenly stopped, as if a thought had just occurred to it.

“Ehhn~na~nah~! Uhn~ne~nah~! (Translation: Oh! Oh! We should totally do that again!)” it declared, its eyes glowing even brighter.

“ That ?” he repeated, tilting his head slightly.

Eous nodded vigorously, waving its little arms for emphasis.

“Ehhn-na~! (Translation: You know! Combine! )”

Gridman froze for a moment.

“…Combine?”

Eous clapped its small hands together and practically radiated excitement.

“Ehn-na! Ehn-na! (Translation: We used to do it all the time! Come on, let’s combine again!)”

A strange sense of anticipation settled in the air.

What exactly had he and Eous done together in the past?

And more importantly—what would happen if they did it again?

o-0-o

Belle let out a long yawn, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stretched her arms over her head. The soft morning light filtered through the windows, casting a golden glow across the room. She blinked drowsily, tempted to curl back under the covers, but she and Wise had a packed schedule ahead. They were supposed to meet with the rest of Cunning Hares later to discuss the commission from Nicole.

With a resigned sigh, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed, preparing to get up—

CRASH!

A loud noize echoed from downstairs.

Belle froze.

“Wise?” she called, suddenly wide awake.

No response.

A sharp jolt of concern shot through her. Without another thought, she scrambled to her feet, not even bothering to change out of her pajamas as she hurried down the stairs. Her bare feet barely made a sound against the floor as she moved, heart pounding.

When she reached the bottom, she noticed the staff room door hanging wide open.

Frowning, she stepped inside. “Wise? What’s going—”

Her words died in her throat.

Wise was sitting on the floor, completely stunned, his mouth slightly agape. His hand trembled as he pointed toward something—no, someone —standing atop Junk .

Belle followed his gaze and immediately froze.

Perched atop the old computer was a Bangboo —but something was wrong .

Her groggy mind struggled to process what she was seeing. At first glance, the small, rabbit-like figure had all the familiar features of Eous —the mismatched ears, the orange scarf, the screws, and the signature jacket. But the colors were different. Instead of its usual white and black, its body was now clad in a striking red, silver, and blue.

Her breath hitched.

“Wait… Eous?” she murmured, disbelief lacing her tone.

At the sound of its name, the Bangboo twitched slightly. Its glowing yellow eyes flickered as it turned its head ever so slightly to look at her.

“…Eous?” it repeated, but the voice—

“E-Eous is speaking human language?!” Belle blurted out, her mind reeling.

Also, that wasn’t just Eous' usual high-pitched voice. It was deeper, layered, carrying a distinct weight to it. A voice she recognized.

The Bangboo hesitated for a brief moment, as if sorting through its own thoughts. Then, with newfound confidence, it straightened up and declared:

“No… I am…”

The voice. That unmistakable voice.

Belle’s stomach dropped.

She barely registered Wise scrambling to his feet beside her, his eyes wide with the same shock she felt.

“Wait! That voice! It can’t be—!”

The Bangboo— Eous? —turned fully to face them now. The silver, red, and blue sheen of its new body gleamed under the soft morning light that penetrated even the thickest of walls, its glowing eyes flashing with energy.

Then, in a loud and proud voice, it declared:

“I am a fusion of Gridman and Eous — Gridboo! ”

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Belle and Wise could only stare .

Belle opened and closed her mouth like a fish gasping for air, her mind struggling to catch up with reality.

Finally, she managed to choke out a single, panicked question—

“H-HOW…?! HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?!”

Her voice echoed through the room, but no immediate answer came.

Wise, still frozen, could only nod dumbly in agreement.

Standing atop Junk, Gridboo tilted its head slightly, as if considering the question itself.

The silence stretched.

Then, with absolute confidence, it raised a hand and cheerfully declared:

“We combined!”

Belle felt her soul leave her body.

o-0-o

End of Chapter

Chapter Text

- Chapter 1-4 -

o-0-o

The ultimate fusion of Gridman and Eous.

The greatest Bangboo and Hyper Agent New Eridu will ever know.

A hero whose very presence could dry tears, inspire courage, and maybe accidentally trip over his own floppy ears.

A radiant star that shines brightest in the darkest night.

The Bangboo among Bangboos.

With a silver, red, and yellow rabbit-doll body, exaggerated cartoonish limbs, and big glowing yellow eyes full of energy—

“GRIDBOO!!”

The TV screen in Random Play’s staff room practically exploded with sparkles and dramatic background music as a hero-sized figure posed on-screen in all his metallic, rabbit-shaped glory. Gridboo’s self-made commercial was filled to the brim with over-the-top camera angles, blinding effects, and the kind of theatrical flair usually reserved for kids' hero shows airing at 6 a.m.

“ Yahoo~!! ” came the cheerful voiceover—his own voice, unmistakably.

“ Yahoo~! Not!! ” Belle cried, throwing her arms into the air and rounding on the real-life Gridboo, who was currently sitting on the couch between her and Wise like this was just another relaxing evening.

Gridboo sat tall with perfect posture—well, as tall as a Bangboo could. His chest puffed with pride, ears perked high, eyes sparkling.

“Did you seriously make this?!” Belle pointed at the screen, then back at him, then back again. “Like— what even is this commercial?! No—actually, forget that! Gridman! How did you even fuse with Eous and end up like this?! ”

Gridboo’s ears perked higher, and he placed a tiny hand to his chest with theatrical flair. “A noble question, dear citizen!”

Wise raised an eyebrow. “Oh no. He’s in full monologue mode.”

“I am no longer Gridman, nor am I Eous,” Gridboo proclaimed, standing up on the couch cushion like a stage actor mid-performance. “I am Gridboo! A glorious combination of dream, love, and justice! Gridman’s unwavering heart fused with Eous’s adorable spirit to create the one, the only, hero New Eridu didn’t know it needed!”

He gestured dramatically at the TV, where digital fireworks exploded behind his animated self doing a superhero landing.

Belle pinched the bridge of her nose. “You fused two of the most important allies we had and turned into—this. This hyper, sparkly, overly caffeinated disaster.”

“Disaster?” Gridboo gasped, placing both hands on his cheeks like a cartoon character. “I prefer ‘delightful surprise!’”

Wise leaned back on the couch, arms folded, expression neutral but amused. “I mean… the hero instincts check out. But Gridman was calm and…mature. Eous was hyper, sure, but in a helpful, punchy kind of way. You’ve got… a lot of Eous in you.”

Gridboo nodded sagely. “Indeed! While my core values are rooted in Gridman’s sense of justice, my attitude and… presentation are strongly influenced by Eous. I simply turned the charm up to eleven!”

Belle gave him a tired look. “Turn it down, then. Better yet—can you just split back into Gridman and Eous already? Like, please? This is way too much to deal with on a Monday.”

Gridboo’s expression turned comically serious. He raised his tiny arms high, standing on the couch cushion as if calling upon divine forces. “Activating defusion sequence! Brace yourselves!”

A faint whirring sound came from his chest unit.

Then… silence.

Absolutely nothing happened.

Belle stared. Wise tilted his head.

Gridboo slowly lowered his arms. His ears drooped slightly, and his glowing eyes shrank into two tiny dots of embarrassment.

He let out a tiny cough and reached behind his back, pulling out a scribbled cardboard sign and holding it up proudly.

“Uhhh… Temporary system error. Please stand by!”

Belle stared at the sign, then at him. “You forgot how to unfuse. Didn’t you.”

“I wouldn’t say forgot, ” Gridboo said, his tone sheepish. “It’s more like… the system is still updating!”

Wise raised an eyebrow. “Updating?”

“With… heroism,” Gridboo added quickly.

Belle let out a long sigh and flopped backwards onto the couch. “This is our life now, huh?”

“Think of it this way,” Gridboo said, his voice chipper again as he struck a pose with both hands on his hips. “Now you’ve got a built-in support hero with unmatched style, unstoppable spirit, and—best of all—snuggle potential!”

Belle didn’t even bother looking at him. She just stared blankly at the ceiling, the last fragments of her patience evaporating into the air. With a sigh that came from deep within her soul, she turned to Wise and muttered, “Let’s just… leave.”

Wise nodded immediately, already halfway off the couch. “Yeah. Let’s.”

They walked out of the room in sync, wordless and defeated, the door slowly sliding shut behind them.

Gridboo stood alone on the couch, still frozen mid-pose, one arm outstretched toward the now-closed door.

“…They’ll come around,” he said to no one in particular.

The commercial continued playing behind him, complete with cheesy voiceover and sparkles.

o-0-o

Random Play was quiet.

The only sounds filling the video store were the soft whir of dusty ceiling fans, the gentle hum of ancient monitors endlessly looping a flashy Gridboo hero ad, and the occasional, lazy beep from the front desk console.

Gridboo stood proudly atop the cashier counter like a tiny silver sentinel. His stubby arms were placed firmly on his hips, chest puffed out as far as his fuzzy frame would allow. His rabbit-like ears twitched in place, ready for action.

“Fear not, citizens,” he proclaimed heroically to the empty store. “For Gridboo stands vigilant in your hour of need!”

Belle and Wise had left some time ago—exactly how long ago, Gridboo wasn’t sure. But in his view, that only meant one thing: he was in charge now.

He began pacing along the counter like a toy general inspecting his troops. Occasionally, he paused to squint at the security monitors, his glowing yellow eyes narrowing in exaggerated seriousness.

Then—

CREEEAK.

The front door swung open.

Gridboo’s ears sprang upright. In one smooth, over-the-top motion, he leapt into a crouch and flung his arms wide in a protective pose.

“Aha! Intruder! State your intentions!”

The figure at the door froze mid-step. A tall young woman surveyed the store with calm precision. Her sharp, confident features didn’t betray even a flicker of surprise. Long black hair was tied into a thick ponytail, held in place by a mechanical headband. Red streaks slashed through her bangs like warning lights.

She wore a navy-blue and black uniform with bold white letters across the chest: PUBSEC.

Her gaze settled on Gridboo.

“Excuse me,” she said briskly, her tone all business. “Is the manager in?”

Gridboo blinked rapidly. His eyes flared twice, then he stood up straight and snapped into a salute with one arm across his chest.

“The manager is currently unavailable! But fear not, Officer—I, Gridboo, Guardian of Justice and Temporary Acting Store Protector, am here in their stead!”

Zhu Yuan raised a skeptical eyebrow.

“…You’re the acting what now?”

“Temporary Acting Store Protector,” Gridboo repeated proudly, gesturing to himself. “Self-appointed, of course! My mission: to uphold peace, preserve order, and ensure that every late fee is paid in full!”

A long, awkward silence stretched between them.

Zhu Yuan just stared at him.

Gridboo met her gaze with unwavering seriousness—well, as much seriousness as a rabbit-doll robot with shiny yellow eyes and stubby limbs could muster.

“…You’re one of the Bangboos the manager owns, right?” she finally asked, her voice dry. “Heavily customized. Probably against regulation.”

“I am Gridboo!” he declared, striking a dynamic pose with one hand on his hip and the other dramatically pointed to the sky. “Hero! Idol! Champion of the people! Store clerk extraordinaire! How may I assist you, Officer…?”

“Zhu Yuan. Public Security.”

She stepped farther into the store, arms at ease, but her stance remained guarded and ready.

“I came to ask the manager for help about a recent Hollow activity in the area. There’s been...something unusual.”

Gridboo’s stance changed immediately. His eyes narrowed into sharp slits as he adopted an overly serious tone.

“Hmm… define ‘unusual,’” he said, his tone dead serious.

Instead of answering, Zhu Yuan’s eyes flicked toward the slightly open staff room door. A noisy music had caught her attention ever since she stepped into the store. 

She stepped past Gridboo, gave the door a push, and peeked inside. A TV was still running a loud, flashy commercial—full of dramatic slow-motion poses, explosions, sparkles, and an overly excited narrator.

“He’s silver! He’s stylish! He’s huggable AND heroic! He’s—GRIDBOO!!”

Zhu Yuan turned her head slowly.

Then looked at Gridboo.

Then back at the TV.

“…Is that you?” she asked, one brow raised.

“No further questions,” Gridboo said smoothly, striking a casual, ‘cool guy’ pose—one hand behind his head, the other resting on his hip. “But rest assured, Officer! Justice has everything under control.”

Zhu Yuan gave him a long, unreadable look. Then, almost imperceptibly, her expression softened. A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

“It seems sticking around any longer would just be a waste of time,” Zhu Yuan said, already turning toward the door. Her voice was even, but there was a hint of exasperation underneath. “Tell the manager—and her brother—that I stopped by.”

She paused at the threshold, one hand on the doorknob, as if something had just occurred to her. Her brows knit slightly.

“Oh, and next time…” she glanced over her shoulder at Gridboo, her tone turning dry and just a little cutting, “maybe don’t star in your own commercials. Trust me—you’ll regret it someday.”

With that parting jab, Zhu Yuan stepped out and let the door swing shut behind her. The chime above jingled faintly as she disappeared into the street.

Gridboo stood still for a moment, his tiny arms crossed, expression thoughtful—or at least as thoughtful as a rabbit-doll robot with glowing eyes could look.

“Hm…” he muttered aloud. “A Public Security officer, visiting a humble video store in search of answers…”

He tapped the side of his head with one stubby finger, his ears twitching with animated resolve.

“A law enforcement officer in distress… That smells like the perfect opportunity for a heroic team-up!”

He struck a dramatic pose, chest out and one foot perched on a stack of DVD cases like he was standing atop a mountain.

“Fear not, Officer Zhu Yuan!” he declared to the empty store. “Gridboo is on the case!”

The monitors in the background continued looping his commercial, complete with sparkly special effects and a cheesy hero anthem blaring in the distance.

o-0-o

“That was awful ,” Belle groaned, dropping her face onto the wooden table at Port Elpis like a sack of bricks.

Across from her sat Anby, ever-stoic with her silver hair and golden eyes. “What was?”

Belle let out a muffled sigh into the wood. “Everything.”

Anby picked up a fry and offered it over. “Fried food heals all.”

“Thanks…” Belle reached for it—

Swoop!

A seagull shot down and snatched the fry right out of her fingers, leaving nothing but air and disappointment.

“...”

“...”

They both stared blankly at the retreating bird.

Anby, without a word, reached for her sword.

“Anby, no!” Belle yelped. “Don’t turn this into an incident! We can just get more fries!”

“Hmph. That bird had an attitude.”

A voice chimed in from the side, sweet and amused. “Look at you being all generous.”

Belle turned to see Nicole, relaxed and grinning beside Billy.

Wise took a sip from his drink, smirking. “We’ll just add that to your running tab, Belle.”

“I do not have a tab,” Belle huffed. “Do I look like I have a tab?”

“Absolutely,” Wise and Nicole replied in unison.

“Bro…don’t lump me in with Nicole, okay?”

Nicole waved it off. “Okay, enough jokes. I called you guys here for something important.”

Belle sat up, brushing her bangs out of her face. “Right. Why here , though?”

Before Nicole could answer, Nekomata leaned over, her cat ears perked and tails flicking. “Because someone said, ‘This commission’s gonna make us rich, so let’s splurge while we can!’”

“Nekomata!” Nicole groaned, facepalming.

Belle blinked. “Wait, rich?”

Wise narrowed his eyes. “You didn’t get scammed again, did you?”

Nicole crossed her arms. “No! This time it’s the real deal!”

Belle raised an eyebrow. “You sure? Because we’ve heard that before.”

Billy laughed. “Don’t worry. This one’s from an official source.”

“Official?” Wise echoed. “As in... like, the government?”

Anby leaned in, her tone just a little heavier. “You two really haven’t heard what happened to Hollow Artanos?”

Belle and Wise stiffened.

“Hollow… what-now?” Belle asked a little too quickly. “Nope, doesn’t ring a bell.”

“Same here,” Wise added, eyes darting to the side.

Anby narrowed her eyes. “It was all over the news.”

“Yeah, well, we’ve been… uh… off-grid,” Belle stammered. “You know, decompressing. Digital detox. Very healthy.”

Nicole gave them a curious look but continued. “Well, to catch you up—Hollow Artanos was completely destroyed. Gone. Wiped off the map. But the crazy part? Everyone who was corrupted by Ether there… got restored.”

Belle nearly choked on her drink but covered it with a cough. “W-Wow. That’s… something.”

“Right?” Nicole nodded. “People who turned into Ethereals… back to normal. Like nothing ever happened.”

“That’s… incredible,” Wise said, doing his best to sound impressed instead of anxious.

Nicole exhaled slowly. “I never thought I’d hear anyone say ‘back to normal’ in that kind of context…”

An awkward silence settled over the table.

Belle cleared her throat. “S-So. Uh. Who’s the client again?”

Nicole perked up. “TOPS.”

Belle blinked. “TOPS? Like, the TOPS Alliance? The big corporate mega-cluster that runs half of New Eridu?”

“The very same,” Nicole confirmed.

“And guess what the payout is?” Nekomata said with a mischievous grin.

“Neko—!” Nicole tried to stop her.

“One hundred million Denny!”

“ SHHH!! ” Nicole quickly hushed her, but the damage was done.

Belle’s hands trembled. “A-a hundred m-million…?”

Even Wise lost his composure for a moment. “That’s… enough to buy a city block. With change.”

Billy chuckled, folding his arms. “Now you get why we’re all ears on this one.”

Belle and Wise exchanged a brief, tense glance—eyes wide, smiles too stiff to be real.

Then Anby cut in, calm as ever. “Unfortunately, there’s a catch. It’s a free-for-all.”

Belle blinked. “Wait, what do you mean by that?”

Nicole leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “It’s an open commission. First come, first serve. Whoever completes the job first gets the whole reward. No runner-up prize, no splitting the pot.”

Belle’s fake smile twitched. “O-Of course it is…”

“That’s why we called you two in,” Nicole said, her tone suddenly bright with confidence. “We need you, Proxy! With you on our side, I know we can win this. That 100 million Denny is as good as ours!”

Belle tried to laugh, but it came out awkward and tight. “Heh… right. Totally. Teamwork!”

Wise gave a thumbs-up. “Yeah, we’re, uh… always happy to help. For the good of the team. And maybe a little for the money.”

Nicole beamed. “That’s the spirit!”

As the rest of the group broke into cheerful chatter and plans, Belle leaned in toward Wise, masking her concern behind a sip from her drink.

“This is bad. Really bad,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the clatter of dishes and laughter.

“I know,” Wise replied, eyes forward, lips barely moving. “If they start digging too deep…”

Belle hesitated. “Should we… tell them the truth?”

Wise didn’t respond right away. He stared at the table, then slowly shook his head.

“Not yet,” he murmured. “This involves Gridman. We should check in with him first—make sure we’re not about to make things worse.”

Belle nodded, her grip on the cup tightening just a little. “Yeah. Let’s play it safe.”

o-0-o

Gridboo… was lost.

Not just a little lost—completely, utterly, heroically lost.

He had been tailing Officer Zhu Yuan through the twisting steel veins of New Eridu’s cityscape, darting behind vendor stalls and weaving past distracted pedestrians like a shadowy guardian on a mission. But somewhere between a neon-lit takoyaki stand and a floating ad for “Limited-Edition Bunny Socks,” the trail went cold.

Now, the rabbit-shaped Bangboo stood at a dead end in one of Lumina Square’s many narrow alleyways. The buzz of distant traffic echoed off graffiti-tagged walls, and flickering holograms above cast a kaleidoscope of color onto the damp concrete below.

Gridboo folded his tiny arms, head tilted in exaggerated thought. His comical LED eyes narrowed into squiggles of frustration.

“Hmm… What would a hero do in this situation…?”

He tapped one foot dramatically against the ground, looking up as if expecting the answer to descend from the sky.

Then a voice drifted in from behind, smooth and playful.

“My, my. What do we have here? A lost Bangboo?”

Gridboo whipped around with a squeak, striking a heroic pose as if ready for battle.

Standing at the alley’s entrance was a young woman—graceful and composed, with long black hair that shimmered like silk under the lights. Her crimson and white dress flowed gently with her movements, stopping just above her thighs. A delicate beaded accessory looped around her left leg, catching glints of neon as she walked forward. Her light red eyes—framed by two small beauty marks on both sides—held a curious sparkle.

Gridboo blinked, then raised a hand in a questioning salute.

“Are you lost too, citizen?”

The woman laughed softly, covering her mouth with one hand. “I was about to ask you the same thing. You don’t usually find Bangboos wandering alleys unsupervised. And certainly not ones who talk like they walked out of a drama serial.”

“I assure you,” Gridboo said, puffing out his chest with pride, “I am not just any Bangboo! I am Gridboo! Hero of justice! Guardian of peace! Speaker of fine words and wielder of noble deeds! And I was not modified, thank you very much—this is all-natural talent!”

The woman’s smile deepened. “Oh my. Quite the character, aren’t you?”

Gridboo looked up at her with a flicker of curiosity in his digital eyes. “And who might you be, mysterious maiden who appears in alleyways with dramatic timing?”

With a playful bow, she replied, “You may call me Astra. Astra Yao.”

Gridboo tilted his head. “Astra… Yao…?” His tone turned sheepish. “Hmm… doesn’t ring any bells.”

Astra gasped in mock offense and placed the back of her hand against her forehead like a stage actress. “Unbelievable! You’ve never heard of me? The one and only Astra Yao?”

Gridboo snapped into a salute. “Worry not! For I, Gridboo, have now committed your name and your face to memory! Should you ever find yourself in peril, call upon me, and I shall arrive in a flash! No evil shall escape my sensors!”

Astra blinked, then broke into genuine laughter, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

“You’re adorable,” she said. “Alright, Hero of Justice… how about a little adventure?”

Gridboo perked up. “Adventure, you say? My protocols demand I inquire: where are we headed?”

She turned slightly, gesturing for him to follow with a teasing smile. “To the Hollow.”

Gridboo paused, his eyes flashing with cautious excitement.

“…Very well,” he said, trotting after her. “Lead the way, Astra Yao! And worry not—no matter what dangers await, justice shall prevail!”

And with that, the unlikely pair disappeared into the alley’s glow, their silhouettes framed by the flickering lights of a city that never slept.

o-0-o

End of Chapter.

Chapter Text

Chapter 1-5

o-0-o

The Hollow shimmered like a broken mirror.

Cracks in the world spiderwebbed across the air, and the ground pulsed with a dull, unnatural glow—like it was breathing. Shadowy fragments drifted weightlessly in the air, pulsing in and out of reality as though the space itself couldn't decide if it existed. Sounds were muffled, warped, the ambiance flickering between static silence and distant, distorted echoes.

Astra stepped lightly over a floating shard of broken stairwell, her heels clicking against nothingness. Gridboo followed beside her, each tiny footstep giving off a soft metallic clink.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up in dramatic, star-shaped flashes.

“ IT’S HERO TIME! ” Gridboo declared, throwing his stubby arms wide.

Then, a song began to blare out of his body .

🎵
"Gridboo to the action~!
With courage in his core!
Through light and shadow, he will soar!
No fear, no doubt, he’ll lead the way—
Evil-doers, meet your judgment day~!"

"The children shall cry no more~!
The wicked will run for the door~!
From rooftops to ruins, through fire and storm—
Justice arrives in a rabbit-shaped form~!"

"So look up, citizens, cheer and shout—
Hope's little warrior is heading out!
Peace shall ring and darkness flee—
Thanks to the one and only—ME!
Gridboo the Hero~!"
🎵

The echoes of his song somehow bounced off the broken fragments of the Hollow’s warped reality, distorting into weird harmonics that still—against all reason—held a sense of rhythm.

Astra burst into laughter. “Fufufu… oh wow , I think I’ve been converted,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye. “Do all heroes carry their own BGM around with them?”

“Theme songs are essential ,” Gridboo replied, hands on his nonexistent hips. “They uplift morale, confuse villains, and make dramatic entrances ten times cooler!”

“Then, Mr. Hero~” Astra sang back, “when we get out of this Hollow, how about you come over to my place? We’ll record a full version. I’ll even add backup vocals.”

Gridboo's eyes shifted into a serious (-_-) expression. “Only if there's a guitar solo and a dance break.”

“Deal,” she giggled.

They moved deeper into the Hollow. Reality bent around them—doors floated in midair, some leading nowhere, others disappearing when approached. A child's toy lay suspended above their heads. A flickering street lamp bent at an impossible angle like it was wilting. The air smelled like ozone and forgotten dreams.

“Astra Yao,” Gridboo asked, voice now more composed. “You never told me—why are we here?”

Astra stopped in front of a warped mailbox that floated sideways, attached to nothing. She touched it gently.

“Oh? I didn’t?” she said, sounding genuinely surprised. “I guess I got distracted… You’re just too entertaining.”

She looked around, her gaze softening. “Sometimes, when I need inspiration for a song, I wander through New Eridu. The city hums with emotions… music, in a way. But the Hollows? They whisper something different.”

“Whispers?” Gridboo tilted his head.

“Not literal ones,” Astra said softly, her voice barely rising above the distant hum of the Hollow. “They’re more like... echoes. Fragments of sorrow. Stories still waiting for an ending.”

Her steps slowed as she passed by the ghostly outline of what looked like a floating mailbox, drifting in midair like a memory. She glanced at Gridboo beside her, who remained uncharacteristically quiet.

“Earlier today, at Reverb Arena,” Astra continued, “I ran into an old woman. She was asking around—wondering if anyone had seen her son and his family. Everyone ignored her, but she kept asking like the question hadn’t already been answered.”

Gridboo looked up, his eyes dimming slightly. “…The Hollow swallowed them?”

Astra nodded. “Yeah. Months ago. One of the nearby Hollows expanded without warning. It consumed the entire block where they lived. Since then, no one’s heard a thing. The woman… she suffers from dementia. So each day, she forgets. Each day, she asks again. But somewhere in her heart, I think she still hopes they’re alive.”

Silence lingered, disturbed only by the eerie soundscape of the Hollow—a mix of static, wind, and a faint echo of laughter that wasn’t theirs.

Gridboo’s eyes shifted to a solemn shade. When he spoke again, his voice carried an unexpected weight.

“You came here to find something for her. A piece of the past. A memento of her family.”

Astra turned to him and smiled sadly. “I just… want to give her something. A little closure. Even if they’re gone, maybe if she holds onto a piece of their memory, she’ll be able to move on. Live what’s left of her life in peace.”

She closed her eyes for a moment, then threw her arms up theatrically and marched ahead with exaggerated flair. “So! That’s why I’m counting on you, my brave little champion! You’ll help, won’t you? Mr. Hero?”

“Indeed,” Gridboo said, his tone crisp with resolve.

Astra twirled around mid-step, her long black hair catching the Hollow’s strange, iridescent light. She opened her mouth to tease him again—but stopped.

For the briefest flicker of a moment, what stood behind her was not the small, comical Bangboo she had come to adore.

It was something else.

A tall figure towered behind her—humanoid in form, clad in sleek armor that gleamed with streaks of silver, crimson, and gold. His presence radiated quiet power. The glowing LED eyes were unmistakable, yet sharper now, filled with purpose. Energy rippled across his form like heat off a forge, casting flickering shadows across the fractured Hollow floor.

Astra blinked. And just like that, he was gone.

Gridboo stood in his place once again, his round head tilted quizzically. “Astra?” he asked, his voice light again. “Are you okay?”

Astra blinked again, then smiled and waved it off. “No, it’s nothing. Just the Hollow playing tricks on me.”

She turned, her voice lifting as she began walking again. “Let’s go~. The sooner we find something, the sooner we can give that woman peace—and maybe write a proper theme song while we're at it.”

“Understood!” Gridboo chirped, hopping forward to catch up.

o-0-o

“Gridman!!”

Belle slammed open the door of Random Play , stumbling inside as she struggled to catch her breath. Sweat clung to her skin, her chest heaving from the long sprint through the streets of New Eridu.

She had run all the way back from Port Elpis.

Something was wrong—terribly wrong.

Nicole’s message had been vague, but serious. The commission from TOPS wasn’t just lucrative—it was specific. Too specific. And while Wise stayed behind with Nicole and the rest of the Cunning Hares to uncover the full details—who issued it, and what they really wanted—Belle had bolted. Instinct screamed at her to return to Gridboo immediately.

But as the door swung shut behind her, she was met not with the usual theatrical shouting or overblown hero poses.

Only silence.

Belle froze. “No one’s here…?”

The store was untouched—just as they had left it—but the air felt still. Unnaturally so. It was the kind of silence that pressed down on your ears and made your skin itch, as though the building itself was holding its breath.

She scanned the shelves, the counter.

No sign of him.

“Where did Gridboo go?” she muttered, anxiety creeping into her voice.

There was no way he had just wandered off. Wait—maybe he really did wander off on his own? She really should have told him to stay put in the store!

“Mistress Belle.”

Belle spun and rushed into the staff room, eyes locking onto the monitors. A pulsing blue circle glowed on the screens: Fairy.

“Fairy!” Belle said, breathless. “Where’s Gridman? Where did he go?”

The AI responded in her usual collected cadence. “Two hours and seventeen minutes ago, Officer Zhu Yuan entered the premises. She was seeking you.”

Belle blinked. “Zhu Yuan was here?”

“Yes. Upon confirming your absence, she departed after a short verbal exchange with Gridboo.”

Belle leaned in. “And? What happened next?”

“Gridboo appeared… agitated. He muttered to himself for forty seconds while pacing in a circular pattern. Then, without further explanation, he followed Officer Zhu Yuan as she left the store.”

Belle gawked at the monitor. “He followed her ?! Why?!”

There was a brief pause from Fairy before the AI replied, “I regret to inform you that I lack the processing capacity to interpret the behavioral patterns of such a… uniquely eccentric Bangboo.”

Belle groaned and buried her face in both hands. “Of course he did…”

This was bad. Really bad. Gridboo—no, Gridman—had no clue what TOPS might be planning. He didn't know there were people possibly hunting for answers about the incident in the Hollow, or him .

If he exposed himself—if he used any power, even by accident—it could draw exactly the attention they’d been trying to avoid.

She began pacing. “Think, think… what can I do…?”

Then she stopped. Her eyes widened.

“Gridman is still fused with Eous.”

Her gaze darted to the terminal. If that connection was still active…

She bolted for the console, yanked out the stool, and dropped into place. Her fingers flew across the keys as she dived deep into the secure systems. Encrypted streams scrolled past in neon blur—Eous’s core interface, buried beneath layers of hidden command threads.

Her eye implant flared to life as the synchronization began. A pulse echoed through her skull. Her consciousness flickered—

Link established.

She was inside.

For a brief, disorienting second, Belle saw what Gridboo saw.

Light twisted through broken geometry. Cracked stone floated in weightless gravity. Purple fog crawled along jagged terrain. A Hollow. He was in a Hollow.

“What the hell are you doing in there…?” Belle murmured.

Then, a figure came into view. A girl in white and red, with long flowing hair, graceful steps, and eyes that held a kind of starlight mischief.

Belle’s jaw dropped.

“Is that… Miss Astra?!”

There was no mistaking it. Astra Yao. One of New Eridu’s top-tier Hollow explorers—and a megastar idol with the kind of fame that left most people speechless.

Belle blinked, trying to process the surreal image.

She and Wise had helped Astra before—assisting her in ditching a suffocating public appearance during her birthday. They’d parted as distant allies. Still, it was unthinkable that Gridboo had somehow stumbled into a Hollow with her .

Belle took a sharp breath. “No, no—focus!”

Whatever Astra was doing there wasn’t the problem. The problem was Gridboo.

If he transformed… if anything gave away what he really was…

She clenched her fists. She didn’t want to drag Astra into this. Not because she didn’t trust her—but because Astra’s sponsors were with TOPS. Any of this could put her in danger, and Belle refused to let that happen.

“I need to pull him back,” Belle muttered. “I need to get Gridboo out of there. Quietly.”

She looked back to the console, the data feed between her and Gridboo shimmering like a thread of light.

Time to guide him home—before something exploded in a way none of them could take back.

o-0-o

“HRMM?!”

Gridboo suddenly froze mid-step. His LED eyes spasmed, blinking in erratic patterns like a glitched-out screen. His stubby arms locked rigidly at his sides, and his little body trembled like a wind-up toy that had been overwound to its breaking point.

Astra turned around, blinking. “Gridboo? What’s going on?”

“Mumumumumumumumu~!!” he buzzed like a broken drone, jerking back and forth as if an invisible current surged through him.

Astra’s brow furrowed, uncertain if she should rush to help or… record this for comedic purposes. “Are you—uh—short-circuiting? Do I need to smack you to reboot you?”

Then, suddenly—

“Aah! Finally! I’ve gained control!”

The voice that came out of Gridboo’s speaker wasn’t mechanical. It was human. Familiar. Belle’s.

Astra blinked, startled. “Wait… was that—?”

Gridboo blinked too. Then slowly turned his head, eyes wide in mock innocence. “…Oops?”

Astra gently lifted him up, cradling him in her arms like a fussy pet. “Belle? Is it really you?”

“So much for slipping in quietly…” Belle muttered through the speaker, her tone frazzled. “Miss Astra! Sorry to barge in, but I need you to—”

“Halt!”

The bot suddenly jolted in her hands. Gridboo twisted, eyes snapping forward like radar dishes. His voice cut off Belle’s mid-sentence override.

“Gridboo, wait—stop resisting!” Belle’s voice crackled again. 

“No! ” he shouted, his tone stark and urgent. “We are not alone!”

Astra’s breath caught. She slowly turned.

The mist had thickened—subtly at first, but now it was pouring in like smoke, churning and coiling along the warped Hollow terrain. The light dimmed unnaturally, swallowed by an encroaching darkness.

Then the shapes began to appear.

Silhouettes.

Dozens of them.

Twitching, shambling figures began to crawl out of the mist— Ethereals , malformed and incomplete. Each one radiated Etheric static, a sickly thrum that pulsed like a broken heartbeat.

The air began to groan.

Thin fissures cracked open, spiderwebbing outward with agonizing slowness. From each one spilled another wave of creatures—more Ethereals.

And they kept coming.

Some dragged themselves on all fours. Others floated, twitching erratically as if jerked by invisible strings. A few twisted into grotesque shapes that didn’t obey physics—one even split into three and reformed in a blink.

“....”

Astra’s grip on her staff tightened.

She set Gridboo down and stepped forward, her expression sharpening with every heartbeat.

“Stay behind me, ” she said, planting her staff into the broken ground. 

The weapon pulsed as its core synced with her voice, responding to the steady beat of her breath.

Then she sang.

A soft, rising note—clear and sorrowful—pierced the gloom. The sound echoed with unnatural clarity, weaving through the corrupted air. The staff lit up, converting her song into bursts of radiant Ether. Arcs of pure energy surged forward, exploding like fireworks among the first wave of Ethereals.

The light smashed into their warped bodies, breaking several into glittering fragments.

But they weren't done.

From the gaping fissures, more Ethereals poured out, drawn to Astra’s voice like moths to flame. The light didn’t repel them—it attracted them. Dozens became hundreds, the air turning so thick with static that Belle’s voice fizzled with interference.

“Where are they coming from?!” Belle shouted, struggling to maintain her uplink. “How come there’s so many of them?! Just what is going on?!”

Astra backed away as she swung her staff wide, summoning a wave of energy from above. 

The Hollow then began to shift.

The terrain twisted violently—buildings in the distance crumbled and rewound like a corrupted video. The existing fissures widened and new ones appeared in the hundreds. The howls of the monsters grew louder as they flooded the zone. 

“Miss Astra, we need to get you out of there!” Belle’s voice cracked through the speaker again. “Hang on—I’ll try to find you a way out!”

Gridboo turned to the growing tide, his LED eyes narrowing into a sharp V. He didn’t flinch as a malformed Ethereal lunged toward them—Astra vaporized it mid-air.

“Belle,” he said firmly, “let me help her.”

“Help her?! How?! Eous wasn’t built for this kind of fight! He doesn’t have the capacity to handle Ethereals without—”

She stopped herself.

There was only one way.

“…Unless you—”

“That’s right,” Gridboo’s voice shifted—calmer, deeper, filled with gravity.

It was Gridman’s voice now.

“Let’s unite.”

Belle froze at the terminal. Her fingers hovered above the console, trembling slightly.

“B-but, Gridman…” she muttered hesitantly.”

“Belle,” Gridman said softly, cutting through her fear. “While I don’t understand the reason for your hesitation, right now, someone’s life is in danger. We have to help her—help Astra.”

A beat.

Then, unwavering:

“Let’s unite.”

o-0-o

In front of the HDD system’s glowing interface, Belle stood frozen.

The faint mechanical hum of servers thrummed around her, but it was drowned out by the roaring in her head—her thoughts, her fears.

She shut her eyes tightly, but she could still see it.

Astra, standing alone in that Hollow, surrounded on all sides by Ethereals. Their howls distorted through the digital stream as they closed in like a noose. The exit paths Belle had carefully mapped out—every possible route through the Hollow’s twisting dimensional mesh—had already been overrun.

The Hollow was swallowing Astra alive.

And Belle… was just standing here.

Doing nothing.

Her fingers curled into trembling fists at her sides. She bit her lip hard, trying to suppress the surge of guilt clawing up her chest.

Why was she hesitating?

She already knew what needed to be done. Gridman had already told her the solution.

But in the back of her mind… she kept hearing it— TOPS . The nameless, faceless power that loomed over everything in New Eridu. If they saw Gridman—if they learned of his existence—

They’d come down on them hard.

She could imagine it now. Investigations. Surveillance. Black vans in the alley behind Random Play. Officers digging through her tech, dragging away Gridboo—him—for ‘containment and analysis’. Astra, if caught in the middle, could be forced to testify. Or worse, used.

All of it flashed before her eyes, that icy dread pulling her down like an anchor.

She squeezed her eyes tighter, trying to drown it out—but Astra’s voice echoed louder.

That gentle confidence, that unwavering resolve. Even now, even surrounded, she hadn’t flinched.

And what had Belle done?

Hesitated.

“I’m such a coward…” Belle whispered bitterly. Her voice cracked.

Her shoulders shook as she pressed a hand to her face.

“She needs help—and I hesitated because I was scared of getting found out?” she snapped at herself, anger bubbling up. “What’s wrong with me?!”

Letting her friend—her ally—stand alone against an entire Hollow of corrupted wraiths—that wasn’t the kind of person she wanted to be.

That wasn’t the kind of person Gridman had trusted.

Belle dropped her hand from her face. Her eyes opened—burning now with resolve.

She stepped back from the console, spun on her heel, and made her way toward the corner of the room, where Junk was. The old computer had been silent since morning, but as she approached, it flickered once—twice—then lit up, as if responding to her resolve.

Its pale glow spread across the screen, code beginning to stream like a heartbeat returning to a long-dormant machine.

Belle stood before it, gaze locked onto the flickering light.

She took a slow, deep breath.

Then she raised her left arm, the Acceptor gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Her right hand hovered over the trigger.

Her voice rose like a war cry—

“Access—”

Her fist slammed down.

“FLASH!!”

A brilliant pulse of light erupted from the Acceptor, rippling outward like a solar flare. The air in the room shimmered and cracked, screens flashing wildly. Junk’s display erupted into a cascade of fractal shapes—interlaced digital pathways locking into alignment.

The dimensional corridor snapped open.

o-0-o

Astra sprinted through the broken terrain of the Hollow, her boots crunching over fractured crystal and ash. Her breath came in sharp, ragged bursts, and her arms trembled as she cradled Gridboo tightly against her chest.

Behind her, the twisted wails of the Ethereals rose like a chorus of damned souls. The air thickened, the mists closing in tighter, crawling along her skin like icy fingers. Each step felt heavier than the last—as if the Hollow itself were trying to pull her down, swallow her whole.

Gridboo had gone silent.

No buzzing chatter.

No silly wiggling arms.

No glowing expressions or sudden outbursts.

Just stillness.

"Gridboo...?" Astra whispered hoarsely, her voice barely audible above her pounding heart. She glanced down at the small form in her arms. "Belle, say something. Please...”

Nothing.

Her grip tightened.

Then—

—-BZZZT!

A violent jolt surged through Gridboo’s body. He jerked upright like a marionette pulled by unseen strings. Lines of light—red, blue, and white—began to trace across his frame. Sparks arced from his limbs. His eyes flashed in rapid sequence—red, then blue, then blinding white.

Then—YELLOW.

A burning, unwavering golden-yellow flared from his LED eyes, cutting through the Hollow's gloom like twin suns.

The air hummed—a deep, vibrating resonance that made Astra's bones ache.

"Gridboo?!" she cried, stumbling to a halt.

But he was no longer in her arms.

He levitated.

Her hands slipped through empty air as his small form rose, suspended by invisible force. His body trembled, trembling from the sheer power pouring through him. Light radiated from his limbs like cracks in a furnace.

"Wait—stop! You're gonna burn yourself out!" she shouted, reaching up, helpless.

Then—

WHUMP.

The light died.

And Gridboo’s body plummeted.

“No—!”

Astra dove forward, arms outstretched. She caught him mid-fall, crashing to her knees with a gasp. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, but she didn’t let go.

She blinked down at him—

And froze.

“E…Eous?!” she breathed.

The Bangboo in her arms wasn’t Gridboo anymore. It was unmistakably Eous. However, concerningly, his eyes had gone dark. His limbs limp.

As if something had drained every last drop of power from him.

“What just happened...?” she whispered. “How did you—”

BOOM.

The ground beneath her cracked and erupted.

Prismatic light shot upward from the earth. It burst through the Hollow’s cursed crust, vaporizing the twisted terrain and sending shattered rock into the sky.

Astra raised her staff just in time to shield her eyes. Her staff trembling violently in her grip.

All around her, the Ethereals halted.

They recoiled. Shrieked.

The light confused them—terrified them.

And then—

With the screech of shattering metal and roaring thunder, something immense began to rise from the light.

A shadow took shape.

First came a hand.

A massive, armored hand, larger than a freight truck, reached skyward—fingers curling like a resurrected titan clawing its way from the abyss.

Astra’s breath caught.

“What... is that…?!”

The hand reached toward her, glowing with intensity. She instinctively braced, pulling Eous close—

But instead of a blow, the giant cupped its fingers around her, shielding her with an almost impossible gentleness. There was no crushing weight. No heat.

Only warmth.

Astra opened her eyes slowly.

The light faded just enough for her to see past the fingers—upward—toward the titan now rising from the fractured Hollow floor.

A giant figure stood before her.

He was armored in gleaming red, white, and blue. Metallic limbs layered with flowing circuitry that pulsed with lines of turquoise light. His chest core glowed bright like a beacon, and his eyes burned with fierce purpose.

Astra’s heart raced. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak.

The figure looked down at her—steady, silent.

And then—

"Miss Astra!"

A voice.

A human voice.

Not from her comms—but from the giant itself.

Familiar. Breathless. Panicked—but relieved.

Belle.

Astra’s eyes widened. “B-Belle?!”

“Please—hang on! We’ll get you out of here!” Belle shouted, her voice echoing from within the titan. “Please trust me and Gridman!!”

That name—

Gridman...?

Astra whispered it without meaning to, stunned.

And as the Ethereals screamed once more and the Hollow cracked further beneath their feet—

Gridman stepped forward.

o-0-o

End of Chapter.