Staring at the photograph before her, taken by a scout soldier who had risked their life to get close to Nineveh.
In the photo, Nineveh's upper body—that of a young girl—was bewitching and beautiful, while her lower body, shaped like a flower bud waiting to bloom, was a form belonging only to Nineveh's normal state.
If, during combat, the accumulated volatile Ether within her neared overflowing, she would change her form.
The flower-bud-like lower body would gradually open, blossoming like a flower to reveal her true 'Full Bloom' posture.
However, unlike her usual appearance composed of pure white mixed with scarlet...
The Nineveh in the photo had her armored shell dyed in a pitch-black hue that shimmered with a purple flow of light, varying in depth.
Unknown tissue resembling light gauze covered her entire body. Her lower body, originally like a flower, was woven and connected together by this tissue, as if weaving the original flower into a gauze dress belonging to a young girl.
It looked as if the young girl named Nineveh had put on her own wedding dress.
Only, this wedding dress was an incomparably bewitching black.
Within the black sheer gauze, purple light surged constantly, as if a living creature were breathing.
But how was that possible?
An Ethereal was not a living lifeform, let alone one that needed to breathe.
Ray shook her head, looking at the photo in front of her.
Although the image had undergone a significant transformation, Ray, who had dealt with her for a long time, could not be mistaken.
This Ethereal was Nineveh.
"What is going on? Why would Nineveh suddenly display such intense Ether activity? This doesn't make sense..."
Ray's voice involuntarily became somewhat stiff and dry.
Ray had no clue about these tissues that resembled black gauze.
As a scholar of the Huaisita Academy stationed at Scott Outpost and the person responsible for analyzing and investigating data from Hollow Zero, her first reaction upon seeing this intelligence was disbelief.
Her second reaction was to immediately start rummaging through the archive records for data recorded at Scott Outpost during previous operations.
As the solid intelligence was dug out from the archives by Ray...
The concrete data records indicated that her intelligence analysis had not been faulty.
According to records and predictions, the 'Slash-and-Burn' operation conducted just a month ago had successfully suppressed Nineveh's Ether activity to below Level 2. Because of Hoshimi Miyabi, her Ether activity had even infinitely approached Level 1.
This was practically no different from entering a dormant state.
Based on the experience accumulated over these years, waiting for her to fully recover her activity and wake up from the 'dormant' state should have taken at least a peaceful period of two to three months.
How could she recover so quickly?
How could it be this fast?!
This defied common sense. Some unknown accident must have occurred to cause Nineveh's premature awakening!
Could it be... that black gauze-like tissue was playing tricks?
She looked at the Ether energy concentration detector, which was still beeping constantly, emitting a crisp sound like a Geiger counter.
The current Nineveh had undoubtedly entered a state of complete activation.
Furthermore, according to the data transmitted back by the instruments, Nineveh was now even more active and powerful than during any previous resurgence!
As high concentrations of Ether energy surged across Nineveh's body...
The number of Ethereals in the surrounding area, either attracted or generated by the Ether energy, was already the highest in history just by a rough count. And this number was still increasing continuously as time passed.
Yet, the target she was heading towards was even more beyond her comprehension.
As an Ethereal with plant-like survival habits, even if she broke away from the dormant state and entered an active period, she should have just floated randomly within Hollow Zero, performing energy absorption akin to photosynthesis.
How could this kind of Ethereal have a movement target?
Let alone that this target was actually heading straight for the Shiyu Tower!
This completely violated common sense!
There were too many things she didn't understand, and incomprehensible points appeared one after another.
Nineveh's behavior this time was so abnormal that Ray involuntarily began to doubt her life choices, feeling as if she had studied fake science and researched a fake Nineveh before.
Why would such a situation occur?
The only difference Ray, currently caught in a brainstorm, could find was that body full of black gauze.
But what exactly was that black gauze?
It had never appeared on any Ethereal before.
"Ray! Don't overthink it! No matter what the reason is, stopping Nineveh from destroying the Shiyu Tower is the most important thing for us right now!"
As the frontline commander of Scott Outpost, Roland was not a scholar and didn't understand Ethereal habits or energy fluctuations.
He only knew one thing.
That was to stop Nineveh at all costs!
If Nineveh were allowed to destroy this Shiyu Tower, then everything in New Eridu would be finished!
The Shiyu Tower was not only the most important observation point inside Hollow Zero but also the key structure for the Ether energy reserves and transmission of the entire New Eridu.
Not just within Hollow Zero, but the entire underground of New Eridu possessed small-scale Shiyu Towers used for transmitting Ether resources, along with a transmission pipeline network as precise and complex as blood vessels.
And the Shiyu Tower at Scott Outpost was different from other Shiyu Towers.
If Shiyu Towers in other places were damaged, they were just damaged. After a period of time, the military would clear the dangerous Ethereals in that area and then send specialists to repair them.
Even if Shiyu Towers in other places suffered massive damage, it wouldn't make Roland face it like a formidable enemy like this.
But the Shiyu Tower built here at Scott Outpost beneath his feet was different.
The reason Scott Outpost always had a dedicated Shiyu Defense was not only to suppress the activity of Hollow Zero but also because all Ether pipeline networks of the entire New Eridu would eventually connect here.
In other words...
Inert Ether energy extracted from other areas of Hollow Zero would first gather here, and then, after being activated in the Shiyu Tower to a degree where it wouldn't cause harm, it would be transported out.
And the Shiyu Tower here was equivalent to an incomparably huge Ether energy battery that was charging and discharging simultaneously.
This Shiyu Tower was the Ether energy supply point for the entire New Eridu, and also the super battery used to power the entire city.
Since this Shiyu Tower could serve as the battery powering all of New Eridu, there was no need to say how much Ether energy was contained within it.
An unimaginably massive amount of Ether energy was gathered in this Shiyu Tower.
If this Shiyu Tower were destroyed by an Ethereal, the consequences generated would simply be unthinkable.
New Eridu directly losing Ether energy temporarily because of this would be a minor matter. The truly terrifying part was that after so much re-activated and volatile Ether energy was released, Hollow Zero, which had been desperately suppressed all along, would very likely enter an active state again because of it.
At that time, The Breach would also be unable to stop the footsteps of Hollow Zero.
New Eridu, clinging to the edge of Hollow Zero, would once again recall the pain brought to people by Hollow Zero during the Fall of the Old Capital seven years ago.
This matter was something no one wanted to see.
Ray, who had come back to her senses under Roland's reminder, immediately realized again what the most fatal issue was right now.
Seeing her snap back to reality, Roland first asked immediately:
"At the current speed, how long until Nineveh reaches the Shiyu Tower?"
Although, due to the urgent time, it was impossible to wait for the scout squad to send back intelligence...
This could not stump Ray, who was a technician.
Checking the icons representing small-scale Shiyu Towers that were constantly going black along Nineveh's advance route in Hollow Zero, Ray quickly calculated Nineveh's average speed based on the time interval between two icons going black.
Then, based on the current location and the distance to the Shiyu Tower, she calculated the final result.
"According to the current average speed, it should be close to fifty minutes before Nineveh arrives."
After understanding the time, Roland had a baseline for the specific arrangements.
So he didn't delay and immediately began the specific arrangement of the combat troops to deal with Nineveh.
"All Autonomous Mechs in Scott Outpost are to be activated. All squads currently stationed at the outpost are to assemble urgently and prepare to head into the interior of Hollow Zero. The specific mission is to coordinate with the Autonomous Mechs to reduce the large number of ordinary Ethereals surrounding Nineveh!"
"But pay attention to Nineveh's position at all times. Do not get close no matter what!"
After speaking...
Although there were actually still some independent investigators left inside Scott Outpost, he did not issue combat orders to those people. Instead, he turned and said:
"At the same time, immediately summon all nearby troops capable of support. Require them to immediately put down all tasks at hand and head to Scott Outpost for combat support at the first opportunity!"
If the truck representing danger truly lost control, it should be the Defense Force rushing up to intercept it first.
In Roland's heart, this was his own code of conduct.
Such a dangerous situation was not for these ordinary people whose actual identity was just citizens.
Accompanying Roland's arrangements, Ray was synchronously using the computer to issue missions and query data.
Upon hearing the last sentence, Ray looked at a somewhat special squad on the screen in front of her and asked:
"There is an elite squad from the Obsidian faction named Obols in the nearby area. They are currently reorganizing because their establishment hasn't been fully replenished. Do we also require them to come for support and join the battle?"
Hearing this, Roland couldn't help but freeze for a moment. After hesitating for a moment, he still said very affirmatively:
"Join the battle! The current situation is no longer the time to fuss about being fully manned or not. The strength of an elite squad cannot be ignored. All available power must be utilized at the first opportunity!"
Ray nodded. With the help of the third hand on her shoulder, she issued all the tasks Roland had spoken of within just a few seconds.
According to calculations, although these forces would have a very difficult time blocking and sacrifices would be inevitable...
There was still an incomparably fatal problem.
Nineveh.
A Level 6 Ethereal.
As mentioned before, this was fundamentally not an existence that an army could deal with.
Although previous arrangements could eliminate many of the Ethereals symbiotic with Nineveh, regarding the biggest highlight of this battle...
How should the absolute core of the [Mutualist Symbiotic Ethereal Swarm], Nineveh, be handled?
Although new recruits might still harbor some unrealistic fantasies, the veterans without exception all understood that this was fundamentally not a gap the army could level by relying on numbers and equipment.
And as commanders, it was impossible for Roland and Ray not to know this.
And Roland was also prepared for this matter long ago.
He opened his mouth to confirm:
"In my memory, is Hollow Special Operations Section 6 currently in a window period with no missions?"
Regarding this most reliable external aid of the Defense Force...
Those high-ranking military officers might not pay attention to whether Section 6 was in a window period, but as a frontline commander, it was impossible for Roland not to pay attention.
Only after Ray gave an affirmative answer did Roland heave a light sigh of relief involuntarily.
Fortunately, no accidents occurred.
Reassured, Roland immediately arranged again:
"Immediately ask Section 6 for help. Issue an emergency support commission for the Shiyu Defense and request them to arrive at the scene for support at the fastest speed!"
Roland's tactical arrangement was impeccable and basically covered every aspect.
If no accidents occurred, presumably this new disaster in New Eridu would be solved methodically very soon.
The premise was that no accidents occurred from start to finish.
However.
Life was full of surprises everywhere, though for Roland, this was actually more like a fright.
"What do you mean Chief Miyabi has lost contact in Lumina Square?!"
"Where is that big Void Hunter?!! You can't just say she's gone and she's gone?!!!"
Listening to Tsukishiro Yanagi's apologetic yet equally slightly bewildered tone on the other end of the phone, Roland involuntarily began to feel a bit of a stomach ache.
Clearly he was still very young, so why did he start having stomach trouble...
And from the phone came Tsukishiro Yanagi's gentle voice.
"Apologies. The destination the Chief told us at the start was indeed to go to the HIA Club. However, I contacted and asked the receptionist, but the answer I got was that they hadn't seen the Chief from morning until now."
Hesitating for a moment, Tsukishiro Yanagi said:
"All members of Section 6 except for the Chief will move out in advance to head to Scott Outpost for support. As for the Chief..."
Silencing slightly, Tsukishiro Yanagi, who possessed incomparably sufficient confidence in Hoshimi Miyabi's strength, said without hesitation:
"Rest assured. As long as we find Miyabi, relying on the Chief's speed, she will definitely be able to catch up!"
As Roland, who had already cooperated a few times...
Tsukishiro Yanagi, knowing that he was an existence in the Defense Force who could be said to be a very reliable cooperation partner, also didn't quite know what to say for a moment.
After all, Hoshimi Miyabi's disappearance was a fact.
She didn't pick up the phone either. The only way to contact her was to let personnel from other sections of the Hollow Special Operations Department go out to search.
Next was a wait that was somewhat tormenting for Roland.
A short fifteen minutes felt as long as several centuries to him.
If it were any later, Roland would have to worry. Even if that Void Hunter was magically powerful, she wouldn't be able to make it in time to save the day.
Because of a very realistic problem.
Travel also took time.
Relying on Hoshimi Miyabi's speed, under the condition of conserving stamina for the subsequent battle, even sprinting at full power from Lumina Square to here would take twenty minutes.
Fortunately, the thing he worried about most did not happen.
But the speed at which Hoshimi Miyabi arrived also greatly exceeded his expectations.
Her time of arrival was only two or three minutes later than Tsukishiro Yanagi's group, who knew the situation from the start and rushed directly to Scott Outpost.
____
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