While the members of Victoria Housekeeping were busy trying to crack open the safe...
Elsewhere in the warehouse...
Fueled by the thought of earning a million Dennies, Nicole was bursting with energy. She climbed over the towering stacks of boxes, digging through them one by one with Anby's help.
But no matter how many they opened,
all they found were performance props—no trace of any valuable treasure.
Anby spoke up.
"Nicole, these are all stage props. There's no way the treasure is here."
Nicole shot back,
"Then where do you think it is?"
"Probably in the other rooms."
Nicole let out a sigh.
"Those rooms are all taken by the Victoria Housekeeping crew. They're either swinging chainsaws or carrying giant scissors—not exactly people you want to mess with. We'll have to hope Sam Li or Billy finds the million-Denny prize first."
With that,
she went right back to digging.
"Anby, help me move this box. I've got a feeling there's something big underneath—maybe even the treasure."
"Alright, together then."
The two pushed hard,
shoving the huge box aside.
The moment they saw what was underneath, both Nicole and Anby froze.
Nicole blinked.
"What... is that?"
Beneath the box was a strange, pool-like substance.
Before they could react, it twitched.
Anby's instincts kicked in.
"Nicole, run! That's an Ethereal's eye!"
Ethereal's eye?
Nicole jumped.
"An Ethereal? How could its eye be that big? Why would there be one hiding under a box—"
She didn't even finish.
Suddenly,
the entire mountain of performance props began to shake violently.
Huge boxes started tumbling down from above. Nicole couldn't dodge in time and was about to be crushed—
At the last second,
Anby rushed in and slashed the box apart with her blade.
They both tumbled down the stack, crashing hard to the ground.
"Nicole, move!"
Anby shoved her aside and leapt back herself, narrowly avoiding another falling box.
No time to breathe.
They both looked up—and saw two massive arms clawing their way out from the pile.
It was an Ethereal.
A real one.
And not just any Ethereal—
a high-tier threat.
"Anby, we're getting out of here."
While retreating,
Nicole shouted back into the warehouse to warn the others.
"Hey, maids! A high-level Ethereal just showed up! If you want to live, get out—now!"
She barely finished yelling before—
Boom!
A massive explosion erupted from the prop mountain.
Splintered boxes, shattered stage props, and all kinds of debris were blasted in every direction.
Nicole raised her suitcase to shield herself.
Anby swiftly unsheathed her blade and slashed through the air dozens of times, cutting down every bit of flying shrapnel.
When the chaos finally settled,
they turned and saw it.
The enormous Ethereal had finally revealed itself.
It was nearly ten meters tall,
its body wrapped in a patchwork of performance costumes,
a hat made from assorted actor props sitting atop its head.
Its eyes were as large as well openings—utterly terrifying.
Before they could run,
the Ethereal suddenly raised its arms and began to dance among the piles of props.
It picked up a full box and twirled it effortlessly on its fingertips.
Then—
it slipped.
The Ethereal instantly snatched it again and hurled it straight at Nicole and Anby.
Nicole raised her suitcase.
Anby drew her blade.
Together,
they barely managed to block the incoming box.
Nicole's expression shifted.
"We've been duped by those people on the Forum. The Hollow isn't in decline at all. Anby, don't engage—retreat!"
They ran out of the warehouse just as the crew from Victoria Housekeeping emerged from the back rooms.
When they saw the towering Ethereal,
Corin gasped.
"Lord Lycaon, do we fight it?"
Lycaon frowned.
"That's the Notorious Ethereal—The All-Round Performer. It's still alive. Don't engage. Fall back!"
Rina's tone turned firm.
"You go first. I'll cover you."
Without hesitation,
she floated up into the air and flicked her hand forward. Bolts of lightning rained down, striking the Ethereal.
Seeing that it had locked onto them, the Ethereal charged toward Lycaon's group.
Rina swung again—
a bolt slammed into its head, halting its advance.
She seized the moment.
With a sharp turn, Rina flew out of the warehouse, quickly catching up to Lycaon, Ellen, and Corin.
Just as they regrouped to flee—
A chilling voice echoed from behind.
Like an ancient god whispering in their ears, the song sent piercing pain through their skulls.
"It's the Ethereal's attack—cover your ears!"
"Damn it! It's an Ether-type—the toughest kind. Don't get dragged into a fight. Run!"
High-level Ether Ethereals were notoriously difficult to deal with.
But they had one major weakness—
they moved slowly.
If you came across one, your best move was always to escape. Fighting brought no benefits.
Just as they started to run,
another thunderous crash sounded behind them.
Lycaon turned while retreating—
and saw something shocking.
The Ethereal had slammed its shoulder into the warehouse wall, shattering it completely like a battering ram.
Rina reacted instantly.
"Lord Lycaon, it looks like it also has physical traits!"
Lycaon's expression darkened.
"A dual-attribute Ethereal..."
It had both Ether manipulation and raw physical power.
These hybrids were far more dangerous than single-attribute ones—and Lycaon's resolve to retreat deepened.
Rina pressed urgently,
"Lord Lycaon, it's fast. We can't shake it. What now?"
If this went on much longer,
they risked repeating what had happened in the Dead End Hollow—scattered and isolated by a high-tier Ethereal.
Lycaon spoke in a low voice.
"Change direction. We're going after those two from Hare's House."
Maybe—
only someone from Hare's House could stop this terrifying foe.
Without delay,
Lycaon led them through an alley in the film studio, heading toward another warehouse—the same direction Nicole and Anby had taken.
They sprinted ahead.
The massive Ethereal lumbered behind them like a black tank, demolishing everything in its path.
...