C3
A week had passed since Rex's first Hollow Mission. The following days showed him diligently training his new powers and venturing into Hollows to combat the Ethereals.
His peers within the HIA, as well as NEPS, all thought it was just an enthusiastic phase most rookies experience. There is always a need to excel in the beginning years, to be at the top, and to become a Void Hunter.
A Void Hunter is a title given to those who have proven themselves against Hollows—those who have shown time and time again that their strength is unmatched and unwavering.
As of now, no one else had claimed the title except the original holders.
But that wasn't Rex's goal. At least, not yet. He trained because it was required of him. Completing the daily tasks of the System rewarded him with 60 GP.
The Ability System functions like the Hoyo-Gacha, requiring 160 points for a single roll, and so on.
Unlike in the game, however, Rex couldn't buy more points with Dennies. He had to earn them, either by dispatching Hollows, training his powers, or walking 10 kilometers.
Many said his mindset would get him killed. His attitude could lead to arrogance, creating a difficult working environment.
They were just waiting for the right moment to humble him.
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The end of the week had arrived. Rex had recently completed most of his daily tasks and would soon receive his first weekly mission. If his memories and the system served as a reminder, Rex thought he'd head straight to Hollow Zero to fight Nineveh.
Hollow Zero was the largest Hollow recorded. It was the reason New Eridu had the word "New" in its name—it was the cause of the fall of the old capital.
Nearby stood the Shiyu Pillars—massive structures filled with Ether Crystals and explosives. These were a precautionary measure to ensure that Hollow Zero never expanded beyond the required area.
Inside were countless Ethereals and Elite Ethereals. Among them was a gigantic Ethereal that couldn't be killed, only pushed back.
Nineveh.
But for now…
Rex relaxed at a coffee shop in Lumina Square, enjoying some coffee while he waited for the timer on his system to finish. Soon, he would see his weekly mission.
[Weekly Mission]
Bounty Commission (Hollow Zero)
- Suppress Nineveh from Hollow Zero
[Hollow Zero certification I.D procured]
- Participate in Shiyu Defense
Attain at least Rank A
"So I have to follow what the game dictates to the player? I'm not a Proxy," Rex sighed. "Well, at least I have the ID to enter Hollow Zero. It's a better place to train my abilities than here."
Rex thought about how to reach Hollow Zero. The player enters through one of the many outposts stationed near it: Scott Outpost.
The best way to get there was by car. Rex could acquire one from the HIA, and showing them the certified ID would grant him access to Scott Outpost.
Rex finished his coffee and headed downstairs. Before he could leave for the HIA, a loud shout caught his attention. A drunken man, disheveled in office clothes, was holding an empty bottle with a flushed face and yelling at a girl.
The girl was small, wearing a unique maid outfit. Her bright green hair was tied in twin tails, and she carried a teddy bear on her back. The girl was shaking in fear as the drunken man continued to lash out at her with misplaced anger, directed at random.
The man, slurring his words, yelled, "You useless… thing! Can't even… clean properly!" He swung an arm wildly, nearly knocking over a nearby potted plant. The maid, her teddy bear shifting slightly on her back, flinched but remained silent, her eyes wide with fear.
Rex stepped forward. "Hey!" he called out, his voice firm and low. "Leave her alone."
The drunk man turned, his face a mask of drunken rage. "Mind your own business, you… you…"
He trailed off, swaying unsteadily. He tried to push Rex with a weak, ineffective shove. Rex easily sidestepped the attempt.
"I said, leave her alone," Rex repeated, his tone hardening. He moved swiftly, a controlled motion that was both precise and powerful. A single, well-aimed strike to the drunkard's jaw sent the man sprawling to the floor, unconscious.
The maid, still trembling, looked up at Rex. Her eyes, though still filled with fear, held a flicker of gratitude. Rex knelt beside her, offering a reassuring smile. "Are you alright?" he asked gently.
"Oh—Oh… yes." The maid weakly said and bowed to him. "Th-Thank you very much."
"It was no problem. People like him deserve what's coming to them," Rex replied. Now that he took a closer look at the maid, a flicker of recognition appeared on his face. He knew exactly who she was.
This was Corrin Wickes, a member of the [Victoria Housekeeping Service], a high-end service for the rich and powerful, as well as a strong independent team of Hollow Investigators approved by the HIA. Their entire theme revolved around horror tropes, with Corrin's design inspired by Frankenstein. This was evident by the bolts in her maid outfit and the teddy bear with a heart that seemed to pump.
"Corrin!" a voice called out, causing Rex to turn.
An elegant woman came running toward them. She wore the same maid uniform, but with the regality of a noblewoman. Her long, ashen hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and her gown had a long slit on the side, revealing her pristine, covered legs. Her massive bust swayed with her movements and beside her were two small floating robots that playfully flew around her.
The tall woman stopped before Corrin and inspected her. "Are you alright? Did they do anything to you?"
Corrin, flustered by the woman's concern, spoke in a high tone. "I-I'm alright! I'm fine, Ms. Rina!"
"Thank goodness for that," the woman, Rina, sighed in relief. "That man has been nothing but trouble for us. His subscription will be declined forever for the way he handled you. Good work, Corrin."
Corrin nodded at Rina's suggestion.
Rina noticed Rex standing nearby and walked up to him. She bowed her head elegantly.
"On behalf of Victoria Housekeeping, we thank you for aiding our member. We owe you a debt of gratitude. Thank you, Sir Rex," Rina said dutifully.
Rex, his eyes flashing with surprise, replied, "You know me?"
Rina giggled lightly, covering her mouth with a gloved hand. "Ufufufu… Our sources run deep, and an upcoming, special Agent like you is naturally within our sights."
The two robots, Anastella and Drusilla, repeated her words with playful chimes.
"It means you're still a rookie to us!"
"Within our sights! Within our sights!"
Rex chuckled at the playful banter from the floating robots, feeling a mix of pride and embarrassment at being called a "rookie." He straightened up, brushing off the adrenaline from the confrontation. "I appreciate the recognition, but I'm just doing what anyone would do," he replied modestly.
Rina smiled, her eyes sparkling with intrigue. "Oh, but not everyone would have the courage to step in like that. It takes a certain kind of bravery to confront someone like him." She gestured toward the unconscious man on the floor, now snoring softly and oblivious to the chaos he had caused.
Corrin, still clutching her teddy bear, looked up at Rex with admiration. "You were really brave! I thought he was going to hurt me," she said, her voice trembling slightly but filled with gratitude.
Rex knelt to her level, his expression softening. "You don't have to worry anymore. He won't be bothering you again." He glanced at Rina, who seemed to be assessing the situation with a keen eye. "What happens now? Will he face any consequences for this?"
Rina nodded, her demeanor shifting to one of authority. "Yes, we have protocols in place for situations like this. The HIA will be notified, and we'll ensure he's dealt with appropriately. We take the safety of our staff very seriously." She paused, then added with a hint of mischief, "And perhaps we'll have a little fun with his subscription cancellation."
Anastella and Drusilla chimed in again, their robotic voices harmonizing, "Fun with subscriptions! Fun with subscriptions!"
Rex couldn't help but smile at their antics. "It sounds like you have a well-oiled machine here," he remarked, glancing at the two robots.
"Anyway. I have somewhere to be soon. Be well, Corrin."
"O-Of course. Be well to you as well, Sir Rex," Corrin beamed at him with a pure smile, and Rina bowed again.
As Rex made his way to the HIA, Corrin and Rina walked back to base. Corrin, the ever-loving and curious agent, asked the Head Maid of VHS:
"Do you think we'll see Sir Rex again, Rina?"
"Oh? Has our little Corrin finally found her knight?" Rina teased as Corrin's face blushed a slight red.
"N-No! I-I mean… Uhm…" The maid's swirling emotions and words tangled in her head as she tried to save face while also speaking her thoughts.
Rina, taking on the elder sister role in her faction, gently patted Corrin's head. "Ufufufu. I'm sure Sir Rex, with his meticulous training in the Hollows, will no doubt encounter our work now and then. We just have to be patient, alright?"
Corrin broke out of her thoughts and nodded at Rina enthusiastically.
Rina giggled again as the two met up with their colleagues.
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Hollows are dangerous. But they are contained within their own space, so as long as no one enters one willingly, they are relatively safe. Doesn't make the dread of being consumed by one lessen.
Most Hollows can be contained or brushed away due to their size. Hollows have appeared and stayed for quite a while that a mere sight can be desensitized to normal people.
But Hollow Zero is one such case nobody makes light of.
"You're cleared to proceed, Agent. Welcome to the Scott Outpost."
Rex nodded and entered the Defense Force outpost. His attitude was aloof, but his eyes remained on that largest Hollow he had ever seen.
Blocking out the horizon, shaping eerily similar to a black hole, and just close enough to feel its dreadful aura, Hollow Zero was one to never take lightly.
Rex moved to the edge, his hands gripping the bars as the wind whipped in his face. The Hollow didn't feel far for him, it felt so close that he could brush past its exterior.
"Hollow Zero," Rex called out the name. "Why?"
"Why indeed?" A woman's voice had Rex turn to a blue-haired scientist with a robotic arm behind her shoulder. She had a white tuft of hair on the front, wore blue gloves, and her scientist coat was tied at her waist. "Why have Hollows started to appear? Why do they continue to grow no matter what we do? Why do we keep fighting for a cause that seems inevitable? Questions like keep my brain grounded and ready for the mountain of work you and I are going to do."
Rex fully turned to the woman and held out his hand. "Rex Harlow. HIA Hollow Investigator."
The woman reciprocated and shook his hand. "I'm Ray. Welcome to the Scott Outpost. I hope you aren't here for the sightseeing?"
"No, Ma'am. I'm here to assist the Defense Force to alleviate some of their burden and to suppress the many Ethereals from within." Rex calmly said.
Ray nodded and brought him inside the main tent, where scientists like her and others do their work.
"Good. We need some fresh blood here. Just earning that ID says you've been a whole lot. I won't keep you any longer, so here's the current situation."
As Ray explained the situation to Rex, it all mainly boils down to what the system tasked him with doing. Suppress Ninevah and to participate in the Shiyu Defense, alongside other agents like him.
Investigators from the HIA and Defense Force will work alongside Agents to manage their routes and to lead towards the fastest path to Ninevah.
As Ray finished her explanation, she directed Rex to where he would enter Hollow Zero and join the task force in suppressing the many Ethereals and to defend the Shiyu Pillars.
And that is how Rex's sudden first mission started.