Chapter 15 - 12: An Unseen Salvation
The endless corridors of Hollow Zero twisted around Ellen and Mira, their steps echoing in the eerie silence. Mira clutched Ellen's sleeve tightly, her glowing eyes darting nervously at every shadow that flickered across the warped, Ether-saturated walls.
"This place never ends," Ellen muttered, her voice tinged with frustration. Her shark-like tail flicked restlessly, betraying her unease. Her frost-laden scissors rested against her shoulder, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking in every corner of this accursed Hollow.
Mira glanced up at her. "Do you think we'll find a way out soon?"
Ellen hesitated, unwilling to lie but also not wanting to crush the young girl's hope. "We will," she said finally. "We'll get out of here."
A low growl reverberated through the air, making them both freeze. From the shadows emerged a hulking Ethereal, its grotesque form pulsating with malevolent energy. Ellen stepped forward protectively, her scissors glinting with frost as she prepared for yet another fight.
Before she could engage, a sudden gust of wind swept through the corridor, carrying with it a flurry of cherry blossoms that seemed utterly out of place in this twisted dimension. The petals danced around the Ethereal before coalescing into a blade that struck with precision, severing the creature in half. Ellen blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected assistance.
From the shadows stepped a figure clad in white and blue, her fox-like ears twitching as she sheathed a shimmering katana. Hoshimi Miyabi's serene yet commanding presence filled the corridor. Her outfit, reminiscent of a miko, fluttered gently as she turned her golden eyes toward Ellen and Mira.
"Are you two unhurt?" Miyabi asked, her tone calm but authoritative.
Before Ellen could respond, a boisterous voice cut through the air. "Whoa, looks like we found some strays!" Soukaku, the oni with a childlike demeanor, bounded forward, her oversized Oni Blade Banner slung casually over her shoulder. Her mask, adorned with kanji referencing the wind, glinted ominously.
"Soukaku, stay focused," came the sharp yet steady voice of Tsukishiro Yanagi. The deputy chief of Section 6 strode forward, her naginata-like weapon held with practiced ease. Her presence radiated a disciplined strength, her sharp eyes scanning the corridor for additional threats.
Bringing up the rear was Asaba Harumasa, his laid-back demeanor at odds with the tense situation. He adjusted his longbow, the two wakizashi blades that formed it gleaming faintly. "Looks like we made it just in time," he said lazily, though his sharp gaze betrayed his readiness.