Zenless Zone Zero: I'am a Dullahan!

One of the rebels spoke.

"I'm not sure, but... I feel like they've noticed our surveillance."

"Huh? You're overthinking it. That clearly looked like they were just clearing out Ethereals. No way they were targeting us—"

Before he could finish, a flash of black light rapidly expanded in their field of vision...

...

"Zane! What the hell was that just now?! That thing flew right past my head! What if it hit me?!"

Nicole stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at Zane, full of righteous indignation.

"Not worried."

Zane shook his head flatly, completely ignoring the usual social rules.

Nicole opened her mouth but couldn't come up with a retort.

That's not how this was supposed to go!

But Zane didn't pay her expression any mind. His gaze followed the wisps of Ether energy surging toward him, eyes flickering faintly.

These Ether currents came from the Ethereal he'd just taken down.

Ether energy... or more accurately—chaotic world energy wrapped in Ether.

If the Hollows were about stealing the world's energy, then what Zane was doing now was reclaiming what had been taken.

No—he was taking back the Hollow's own power along with it.

"Logically, I should be able to absorb energy outside of Hollows directly. So why have I never noticed this before...?"

He pondered as he walked.

Moments later, he figured it out.

The world was vast. He was small. His energy, negligible.

The faint energy diffused throughout the world wasn't enough to trigger any kind of absorption instinct—it was too weak to even notice.

If he wanted to absorb it, he saw two options:

First—find a location rich in world energy.

Second—expand his absorption radius enough to make it worthwhile.

That's when the idea hit him.

The Hollows could drain the world's energy.

And he just so happened to control the Hollows.

Let the Hollows plunder first, then he'd absorb it afterward.

Perfect.

After all, that's exactly how he'd absorbed the Ether tornado earlier—using the Hollow as a conduit. That meant it should definitely work.

Things were escalating fast. Getting stronger was the only way to stay ahead of it all.

And as for being a "child of the world"...

Who cares?

There's a saying—"whoever feeds you is your parent." If the world couldn't spare even a bit of energy, he didn't mind being a little "rebellious"...

...

Belle had stayed at the old Brant Street construction site for a while. After getting a handle on the situation, she returned to the video store with Eous, Panta, and Zane.

It was already evening.

At the store entrance, Zane didn't go in right away. He raised a hand, and two small black spheres floated up, barely noticeable against the night sky.

Since actions spoke louder than words, he figured he'd run a test.

But energy absorption required expansion—definitely not something he could do inside New Eridu. Even at night, it would be way too conspicuous, not to mention dangerous to civilians.

Zane was still pretty tolerant toward the innocent.

"Go outside New Eridu. It's better for you two out there. Even if someone spots you, it's fine."

"Find a good spot and do your thing."

"But be sure to come home on time."

With a soft smile, he finished his instructions. The Cretan Hollow and Lamia Hollow shot off into the distant sky.

Watching them disappear, Zane finally walked into the video store. Belle was just about to start discussing Belobog Heavy Industries with Wise.

She swung the door open and looked inside—but before she could say anything, No. 6 launched a counterattack from behind the door.

After two prior "lessons," it had been waiting for this moment!

Now's the time! This instant!

Shield Counter!!!

The door bounced back with a thud.

Just as No. 6 stood proudly, arms akimbo—bam—another loud crash sounded.

Belle had fallen flat on the floor, her eyes spiraling like cartoon swirls.

She looked... peacefully unconscious.

"Mmm!"

"Mmm mmm mmm! (Master! Master, are you okay?!)"

In that moment, No. 6—panicking over Belle—looked exactly like Belle had when she once panicked over No. 6.

Behind them, Zane quietly facepalmed.

...

"Khors Belobog... Former president of Belobog Heavy Industries…"

Belle had come to, rubbing her reddened forehead while carefully reading the information on screen.

"Embezzlement and escape? Tsk…"

She and Wise both frowned at the data Fairy had pulled up. The situation was more complicated than expected.

"So? Any leads?" Zane asked from the sofa.

He definitely knew more than the two in front of him—but now wasn't the right time to talk.

"Nothing for now… We'll have to wait and see. Maybe that so-called 'prototype' will tell us something…" Belle said, shaking her head.

She had only looked into Belobog Heavy Industries out of concern—after today's mission, she truly saw them as friends.

"Right. Waiting's fine."

Zane nodded, smiling faintly.

Belle narrowed her eyes. Why did it feel like there was something more behind his words? Was it just her imagination?

"Zane…"

She wasn't the type to keep her suspicions to herself. With a playful smile, she leaned in closer and asked quietly,

"You sure you're not hiding something?"

"Huh? What could I possibly know...?"

"Zane! Spill it!"

"I refuse. What—gonna try and beat it out of me?"

"Zane, this could be tied to a major case involving Belobog Heavy Industries. Don't you want to help them out?"

"Talk... or else… I'll go snitch to Qingyi!"

"Tch. What are you gonna tell her?"

"Hehe, guess."

...

Outside New Eridu's Outer Ring.

Desolate. Remote.

Cold.

This was where law and morality thinned out.

Where civilization clashed with savagery.

Along the straight, empty highway, a convoy rolled forward.

Eventually, a mechanical fault forced them to stop and rest.

Taking advantage of the rare break, Lucy wandered off on her own. Her boots made light taps against the pavement.

She glanced at her teammates, who were giving their busted tire the "Outer Ring Friendly Gesture," and sighed helplessly.

Then she felt it—something off.

She scanned the surroundings. Nothing out of place. But the weird feeling wouldn't go away.

She looked up at the sky—and suddenly froze.

Her pupils shrank sharply.

She instinctively backed up several steps, then shouted,

"Caesar! Look at that!!"

Her alarmed cry shattered the quiet of the Outer Ring. Everyone in the convoy turned their eyes to the sky.