Before he could think any further, the Dead End Butcher below formed an ether energy ball above its head. Then an ether laser beam as thick as a thigh shot out of it, aimed straight at him.
"Spinning Teeth!"
At his single word, the large round shield, Spinning Teeth, detached from his left hand on its own and flew into the beam's path.
It raised a translucent, dark yellow barrier large enough to cover his whole body, blocking the attack sweeping up from below. Like washing a car with a water gun, it dealt zero damage.
"Wit of a mouse, strength of a worm."
Spinning Teeth, which had just blocked the attack, retracted its barrier. As its edge aimed at the Dead End Butcher, it split open to reveal two rows of sharp teeth, which began spinning rapidly in opposite directions.
Seeing that it had failed to knock him down, the Dead End Butcher below furiously snapped off a large chunk of black ether crystal by the roadside and hurled it at him.
The rapidly spinning Spinning Teeth shot out at the same time, gliding smoothly through the ether crystal and splitting it in two, leaving a clean, even cut.
Barely managing to react, the Dead End Butcher brought all four hands in front of itself just in time. Then half of each of its four forearms was sliced off.
Deflected slightly off course by the four arms, Spinning Teeth only grazed its left shoulder in the end, carving a smooth, deep wound.
The Dead End Butcher had been severely wounded in an instant, but fortunately, Ethereals felt no pain, and their wounds and severed limbs could regenerate. The man above, however, would not wait for it to heal.
The casing on his back and calves transformed, exposing hidden thruster nozzles one after another. Then he aimed his entire body at the Dead End Butcher below, like a leopard poised to pounce.
This time, the Dead End Butcher could not react at all. In less than the blink of an eye, the man was already right in front of it.
The thrusters behind his calves blazed fiery red, unleashing powerful thrust. A whipping kick sent the Dead End Butcher flying, smashing straight through two buildings, but he was not finished.
"Rope Python!"
The iron rope, Rope Python, covered in blue electrical arcs, immediately grew longer and thinner. Like a living, vicious snake, one end instantly burrowed into the torso of the Dead End Butcher as it was still flying backward and latched on tight.
At the same time, the combined man wrapped both hands around the other end of Rope Python and gripped it tightly. He planted his feet and lowered his body, while several thrusters emerged above his shoulders to provide the downward force his body weight lacked.
With a forceful tug, he sent the Dead End Butcher flying back even faster. Then he swung it around like the head of a meteor hammer, smashing it into everything.
Buildings shattered, the ground shattered, trains shattered, platforms shattered, crystals shattered, Ethereals shattered... After swinging it around for quite a while, he seemed to have had his fill. He released its connection to Rope Python and flung it into the air overhead.
The airborne Dead End Butcher had all seven appendages broken off at their roots, battered into a limbless stump. Even its remaining torso was covered in wounds and utterly mangled.
"Flame Horn!"
The man standing on the ground took the spear, Flame Horn, as it floated over, holding it in one hand and aiming its tip at the Dead End Butcher in the sky.
The spearhead split backward into four sharp prongs, exposing a tiny gun muzzle inside. Electrical arcs flashed wildly within, condensing into a fiery red mass of energy.
The temperature around him rose sharply, vaporizing the falling rain a meter away. The spearhead also began spinning, letting out an engine-like roar.
"Pierce the Sky!"
After a full two seconds of charging, a white-and-red pillar of energy five meters in diameter, threaded with dense electrical arcs, shot from the disproportionately small spear muzzle and surged into the sky.
It completely engulfed the Dead End Butcher as it slowly lost speed in midair, instantly vaporizing it. Then it pierced the dark clouds within the Hollow and punched through its boundary wall, sticking a "thin needle" through the top of the Hollow for a full three seconds.
Like a balloon punctured and then promptly patched, the Hollow shrank, spitting out the route it had previously covered. With that, the mission was successfully completed.
The beam from the spear muzzle slowly faded. He put away the scorching spear in his right hand, shaking it a few times to return it to its normal state. The rain had stopped, but the sky remained pitch-black.
He surveyed the devastated surroundings, then went online to report the mission's completion.
Heili: My lord, the task you commanded is complete.
Master: Hmm? Hah, looks like those three colors went off slacking again! They really need a good sorting out...
Heili: ...
Master: ...Never mind. Since you're already out and even took care of their mission while you were at it, take a few days off. Just remember to give me those three's chips when you come back.
Heili: Thank you, Master.
Master: Mm, that's all. I'm logging off. Go do whatever you like.
Heili: As you command.
Heili went offline and twisted his neck, which had inexplicably become a little stiff. Then, with a thought, he controlled the nimble Rope Python, instantly impaling the Thanatos that had teleported behind him in an attempted sneak attack.
Piercing through its chest to the core in its head, Rope Python blazed with electricity, blasting the Thanatos apart into ether particles that dissipated in the air.
Heili swept his gaze across the surrounding ruins, where Ethereals of all shapes and forms kept emerging. He said disdainfully:
"Since ye all come to surround me, I shall hone my skills upon ye."
"Hey, just what does your master want? I said I don't want to meet them, and I mean it. What's the meaning of not letting me leave?"
"..."
Sitting cross-legged on the ground with her arms folded, Nekomata hissed and warily watched the iron guards surrounding her.
She had been ready to leave, but these iron men had suddenly surrounded her and refused to let her go. They said their master and young lady had specifically asked to see her in a little while.
But Nekomata had no desire to deal with those two people, who were obviously members of high society. She did not want to meet them at all. Yet they did not even give her the option to refuse. When she disagreed, they surrounded her and would not let her leave.
No matter how Nekomata tried persuasion or threats, she could not budge these lumps of iron. They simply stood around her with their hands behind their backs, forming a wall with gaps too narrow for her to squeeze through.
Though Nekomata hated it, she did not want to fight them. After all, they had helped her. She could only give in, fuming. Now she wanted to see just who had asked for her by name.
Resting on the ground, Nekomata scratched her cat ears in boredom and habitually licked her hand. Her ears twitched as she heard the sound of rotors overhead.
Looking up, she saw many transport aircraft and helicopters circling in, their bright lights shining down. At the same time, a chorus of sirens sounded outside, rapidly approaching.
Large numbers of Public Security officers and television station vehicles streamed through the main entrance. Before long, the entire site was packed with people, bustling like a market.
Through the gaps, Nekomata could see what was happening outside. She could also see the large crowd of civilians who had been trapped in the demolition zone walking out of an abandoned tunnel.
Her annoyed mood immediately improved considerably. At the same time, she seemed to hear a familiar voice.
"Make way, excuse me, coming through! Where's Nekomata?"