Before seeing the Ethereal, the director still wore a look of complete confidence.
Seeing Nicole and Anby running for their lives, he shouted at them:
"Stop! Stop right there! What are you two running from? With the great Star Knight here, what's there to be afraid of? Just tell me where the Ethereal is, and I'll call the Star Knight to take it down!"
He had just found out that Billy was the legendary knight.
After decades, seeing his idol again, the director was glowing with pride—completely fearless in the face of Ethereals.
But in the very next moment...
A towering Ethereal burst into view behind Nicole and Anby, like a giant tank rolling through buildings and grinding everything in its path to rubble.
The director's eyes went wide. He stood frozen in shock.
What kind of Ethereal was this?
Why was it so massive?
Nicole shouted, "Don't just stand there! Get Billy! We need to fall back!"
That snapped the director out of his daze.
Even so, his faith still outweighed his fear.
With the great Star Knight on their side, they could definitely win.
He sprinted into the warehouse, yelling at the top of his lungs,
"Billy! Star Knight! Another Ethereal's here—get out here and take it down!"
Whether it was the director's call or Nicole's voice, Billy soon came rushing out, a burlap sack slung over his back.
"Star Knight blazing in! Where's the Ethereal? I'm locked and loaded—let's see which unlucky fool I'm up against!"
As he stepped out, he spotted the director—and the exhausted Nicole and Anby.
"Boss Nicole! Anby! You're finally back! Where is it?"
"Behind us. See for yourself..."
Billy pulled a beat-up rocket launcher from his sack and turned around.
The moment he saw it, he froze.
What the hell?
Wasn't the Imperial City Hollow supposed to be in decline?
Where did this monster come from?
Wait... that's not just any Ethereal.
It's a high-level one.
"Boss Nicole... Director... you want me to take that on?"
He hefted the launcher onto his shoulder, completely dazed.
Seeing Billy show up, the director's eyes lit up.
"Great Knight, now's your time—just like earlier, wipe that thing out!"
Billy was speechless.
"????"
Old man, are you even hearing yourself?
This Ethereal was bigger than the Dead End Butcher and looked meaner than anything from C97.
You expect me to fight that?
He ignored the director and turned to Nicole.
"What's the plan?"
Nicole, still panting, snapped, "What do you think? Run!"
Billy answered without hesitation.
"Got it."
He started packing up, ready to bolt.
But then—
Shouts echoed from ahead.
The Victoria Housekeeping crew had caught up.
"Help! Corin can't run anymore!"
"Miss Nicole, running won't solve anything. Let's take this thing down together!"
The massive Ethereal was nearly on top of them.
Billy hesitated for a brief second—then fired.
Boom!
A rocket burst from the launcher, soaring nearly 100 meters before slamming into the Ethereal's head.
It didn't stop it for long, but it bought a few precious seconds for the Victoria crew to flee.
Billy turned to Nicole.
"So, team up?"
Nicole nodded firmly.
"First, we find Sam Li and Nekomata. Make sure they're safe. Once we're all together, we'll handle the Ethereal."
"Understood."
But that brief delay had already cost them their window to escape.
Victoria's people had caught up and joined them.
And the Ethereal was closing in fast.
On top of that—
They had to dodge debris it was hurling, all while enduring its Ether attacks.
This was the worst kind of Notoriety Ethereal they'd ever encountered.
"Boss Nicole! That thing just jumped! What the hell kind of ability is that?"
"Seriously?! What was it in life, a pro high-jumper?"
"Corin, move!"
"Damn it, we're out of options. Everyone—hit it with everything we've got!"
Under the group's stunned gaze,
the enormous Notoriety Ethereal leapt into the air like a meteor and came crashing down in front of them.
It completely blocked their path.
The impact shook the ground.
Ellen had had enough. She raised her massive scissors.
"Boss, let's go. Time to show it what we're made of!"
Corin clutched her chainsaw nervously.
"We're really doing this? I'll do my best...!"
Lycaon didn't charge in right away. Instead, he looked to Nicole and her team.
"Well? Shall we take it down together? It's the only way we're getting out of here."
Nicole let out a sigh and raised her suitcase.
"Looks like we don't have a choice."
Anby spoke up.
"What about Sam Li and Nekomata?"
Billy rummaged through the sack and pulled out another scavenged launcher.
"After all this noise? No way Sam Li and Nekomata missed it. They'll come."
Right as he said that, his eyes widened.
He pointed up at the sky.
"Look—something's glowing! Could it be another pillar like last time?!"
As he spoke—
The Ethereal let out a thunderous roar and charged.
Lycaon stayed focused.
"No need to tell me. I know Ether emissions flash yellow when they attack—it makes them easier to block and counter."
Billy clarified,
"I wasn't talking about the Ethereal. Look—up there. Could that be Sam Li again?"
Everyone followed his gaze.
A glint of gold streaked through the sky.
Just like last time—like a golden meteor slashing through the heavens.
The glowing object was moving incredibly fast.
In the blink of an eye, they could make it out more clearly—
It was a colossal stone pillar.
And two figures were standing on it.
Ellen raised her scissors, ready to strike, but froze as she stared skyward in shock.
"Boss! Someone's riding that meteor! Is that even a meteor?!"
"It's gonna crash—get out of the way!"
"Wait... is it like Lady Rina? Someone who can fly?"
Not just the Victoria crew—
even the non-combat-savvy director saw it.
A massive stone plummeting from the sky, two figures glowing in golden light.
It was breathtaking.
"Camera! Where's the camera—get ready!"
No time to think.
The director dove to the ground, scrambling for his camera. He couldn't find the tripod, so he cradled it in his arms and aimed it forward.
As soon as he powered it on—
Before he could even adjust the lens—
the golden meteor came crashing down.
...