Reborn in This Life

(This is a meme chapter, don't take it seriously.)

Hello, dear readers!

I, the first Beast Ghost to make a dazzling appearance in Zenless Zone Zero's story, may be affectionately called Beast Ghost No. 1!

I possessed world-destroying power, and my slaughtering efficiency was off the charts.

Electronic devices?

Intelligent constructs?

They were all child's play before me. Infecting them was as easy as playing around!

In my previous life, the moment I was born, I was ruthlessly suppressed by that damned Hors and his Prototype Machine.

So, I lay dormant for over a decade before finally breaking free from my seal once more. I even absorbed three intelligent constructs in one go, avenging the blood feud of Hors sealing me away!

But who would have thought that fate would toy with me? I ran into Hors's daughter again—Koleda!

Bakayaro!

That woman, once you've been knocked down, shouldn't you just obediently accept your death?

She was driving that Prototype Machine too, shouting things like "bonds," "family," and "don't underestimate me" as if she were chanting a spell...

Then, as though her cosmos had exploded, she slammed me hard against the monument!

A massive spike pierced straight through my kidney...

No, my Ether Core!

The pain killed me right on the spot...

But in this life, I was reborn!

To avoid repeating my mistakes, I even broke free from my seal several days early and secretly swore to myself: I would reclaim everything that belonged to me!

But... why did something seem a little off?

I still ran into that bunch of annoying brats.

Strictly speaking, though, there was one more little girl this time and two fewer intelligent constructs.

Whatever, none of that mattered!

What mattered was, could someone tell me what the hell these three Ethereals in front of me were?!

The one at the front was hunched over and ugly as sin. What kind of Ethereal looked that hideous?

It was ugly on a whole new level—so ugly I wanted to gouge out my own eyes!

The one in the back, though... hmm, not bad, not bad. She was pretty cute, totally my type!... But why did she look so much like Fumina? (The Ballet Tower twins' alternate title)

Wait, was I seeing things?

Was that Gepetto flying in the sky, all long and stretched out?

No, why was Gepetto here?

There was someone riding on its back too. Who was that?

Could she be its new partner?

What a bizarre combination!

Enough nonsense. I would definitely reclaim everything that belonged to me and let you all know that Beast Ghost No. 1 was not someone to be trifled with!

"Is that some kind of Ethereal?"

The instant Beast Ghost appeared, Grace raised her tablet to scan it. Its Ether readings immediately shot off the charts.

"It doesn't look like an Ethereal, nor is it an ordinary human corruption."

Belle frowned and gently shook her head. Clearly, she could not identify it right away either.

"What a disgusting monster. This must be the Calamity the Mentor spoke of." Friday stepped forward to Griseo and said fervently.

"Your Highness, please bring down your sacred arrow of judgment and eliminate this nightmare that dared to defile the Nethernight Pure Land!"

Hearing Friday's request, Griseo gently nodded. After all, she truly disliked the colors of that ugly monster.

Griseo looked ahead with a solemn expression and issued her command in dramatic chuunibyou fashion!

"I hear fate's murmurs, softly calling my honored name..."

"My retainers... in the name of The Stars."

"Bring me the eternal nether night, sing for me the song of victory, and sound the death knell of its destruction!"

As Griseo's words fell, Ether energy around the three summons instantly began to boil.

If Grace had checked with her instruments at that moment, the readings would certainly have been even higher than Beast Ghost's.

The painting, "The Wheat Reaper," suddenly straightened its hunched body. The claws on its arms gleamed coldly as it charged at Beast Ghost first.

The painting, "Girl with a Wide-Brimmed Hat," was a step slower and bowed politely toward Beast Ghost.

That was what it meant to be courteous before resorting to force. Then the blades in her hands flashed coldly as she ghosted around behind Beast Ghost and launched a fatal strike.

The painting, "Madame Mallier on a Sheep's Back," had her mount spread its wings and carry the girl into the sky.

The girl's lance and several clusters of light beneath the mount's wings continued gathering power. Then all the attacks plunged down like meteors.

Thus, Beast Ghost suffered fierce attacks from several directions at once.

For a moment, Memorial Square blazed with light as Ether energy scattered wildly... Sensing danger, Beast Ghost let out a piercing shriek.

Its body flashed, and it actually evaded what should have been a guaranteed kill. However, several long wounds were left on its body, leaking purple Ether energy without stop.

Sacrificial Ghost threw back its head and shrieked again. ~(Bakayaro! No sense of martial honor! You actually ambushed me!)

"No way! That monster actually dodged it!" Anton stared at the scene in disbelief. If it had been him, he would have been reduced to ashes already.

Grace wore a grave expression as she explained.

"That's normal. This monster's Ether concentration is abnormally high, so there must be something unusual about it. We don't know exactly what happened, but Uncle Hors probably left in order to seal it."

"Then, Boss, can you beat it?" Anton looked at Eous and asked, "Should we go help?"

Ben: "Um, Anton. Are you sure we wouldn't just get in the way?"

"Uncle Ben, Uncle Anton, you don't need to help. I can do it!"

Griseo shook her head, signaling the people behind her to relax. She gently patted Mr. Knight beneath her, then leaped down.

She had clearly gotten serious.

"Everything I think and feel lies beneath my brush; everything my heart yearns for lies within color."

"Colors spread through painted dreams, weaving together my world."

Griseo's [Stars] shone.

Mr. Knight drove the greatsword in his hand into the ground. Colors of every shade spread and dyed the surroundings, like a painting unfurling across reality all the way to the end of the Hollows.

At the center of the square, Beast Ghost already sensed overwhelming danger. It tried to turn and flee, but it was too late.

The painting's domain had already surrounded it. Within the domain, it had no chance to evade.

"Now!" Griseo shouted, issuing the final command.

"The Wheat Reaper" leaped high into the air, its claws viciously raking toward Beast Ghost's head.

"Girl with a Wide-Brimmed Hat" crossed the scissors in her hands and cut toward Beast Ghost's chest.

"Madame Mallier on a Sheep's Back" raised her mount higher once again before diving down with her lance.

Under their combined attack, Beast Ghost could only let out a despairing shriek. Its body slowly fell as Ether particles scattered and dissipated!

"We won! As expected of Your Highness!" Friday jumped up excitedly, waving her arms and shouting.

Grace, Belle, and the others behind them finally breathed a sigh of relief, smiles appearing on their faces.

Koleda watched Beast Ghost fall, then ordered, "Anton, Ben, scout the surrounding area for any remaining danger. Sis, organize Friday and drag the Prototype Machine back."

"Proxy, thank you for your help. Please give me the coordinates here. Leave the rest to us!"

"Alright!"

Belle controlled Eous and nodded. Compared to prying into Koleda's private affairs, bringing Griseo back first was the priority.

Using her power so relentlessly had taken a heavy toll on her body.

As Phaethon's directly affiliated agent, Belle and Wise had never doubted Griseo's combat strength. They only worried about the burden on her body.

Therefore, over the course of their many commissions, the siblings had continuously raised their evaluation threshold for Griseo's condition, though never all at once.

Unless there were special circumstances, once her condition dropped to a certain point, she or her brother would suspend commissions as soon as possible.

Alright, this book has officially entered recommendation verification at eighty thousand words.

To help it get a rating, let's play a little game. Before the rating opens, for every ten additional valid book reviews, I'll post an extra chapter. We're currently at fifty-eight.

As for bonus chapters through rewards, that hasn't been decided yet. I'll discuss it with the group after we reach one hundred thousand words.