"No value? I'm curious about your definition of value."
Zane smiled, then shook his head.
"I see... trying to reason with people like you is foolish on my part."
As his words fell, the researcher's face darkened. He cursed his useless teammates—if they had just kept quiet, none of this would have happened.
The armed personnel, helmets on, didn't notice the researcher's expression and grew even more impatient.
"Enough talk, kid. We—"
Pfft—
Crimson flowers of ice crystal bloomed in the air. Zane's hand lightly rested on the researcher's shoulder.
"Tell me everything you know."
His voice was light, but the researcher's legs trembled. The blood-dripping tip of the ice crystal still glinted at the edge of his vision. He forced himself to stay calm—he had clearly underestimated this man.
Some people sought death—he couldn't stop them. For now, he needed to save his own life.
With that thought, the researcher began to spill everything he knew, rapid and unfiltered.
He didn't dare lie. He was certain that if he tried, this man would have ways of extracting the truth.
After a moment, Zane had the full picture.
"Sacrificial Ghost... it's been a while since I've heard that name."
Zane blinked, recalling a certain woman he'd met in Dead End Hollow—one who had been no fun at all.
Sarah.
"I wonder who's involved this time..."
Setting the thought aside, Zane glanced at the researcher and spoke softly.
"Take me to where you released it."
The researcher froze. After all this effort to escape, now they had to go back? That was suicide!
He opened his mouth to protest, but Zane's quiet voice came again.
"I don't like repeating myself."
Feeling the threat in his words, the researcher knew he had no choice. Silently, he turned to lead Zane back the way they had come.
He had no doubt—if he didn't do this, he'd be dead. All he could do now was pray they didn't run into any spatial rifts along the way...
...
Some time later.
Deep inside Lamia Hollow.
"Since you're born here in Lamia Hollow... I'll call you Lamia."
A researcher stood beside a massive eggshell, faintly translucent and glowing with a shifting rainbow of colors. Something stirred inside.
"Recovered remains... combined with our latest research breakthroughs. You'll be an incredible child."
"I will make history. Our names will be remembered forever. Lamia... break free of your shell!"
The researcher was barely able to contain his excitement. Part of him even wanted to thank the "fire picker" who had forced this plan into motion.
If it weren't for the pressure that figure had brought, this project wouldn't have been approved—this honor wouldn't have been his.
"I hope one day you can fight the 'fire picker.' I'd love to see the faces of those stubborn cowards when that happens."
He stroked the eggshell with one hand, gaze fanatical.
This was the result of countless brilliant minds pursuing the unknown.
This was the crystallization of scientific wisdom.
This was humanity's greatest creation!
"The glory of mankind—my beginning!"
Just as he muttered to himself, a sudden noise caught his attention. He calmed, turned his head—and frowned.
"I told you to leave. Why did you come back?"
Glory, shared, would be diluted.
"And who is this? Weren't outsiders forbidden at such a critical moment?!"
The researcher's gaze locked on Zane, voice full of displeasure.
"I told him to bring me here."
Zane stepped forward, one arm across his chest, the other hand on his chin, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"The Sacrificial Ghost—is it in there?"
At these words, the researcher by the eggshell tensed. He could already tell Zane wasn't here as a friend. Turning angrily to his companion, he shouted,
"You told him everything?!"
The man beside Zane didn't dare speak—he lowered his presence as much as possible, hoping not to be casually wiped out by this monster.
"Since you know, you should leave. Don't ruin such a glorious event."
The researcher fixed his gaze on Zane.
"It is an honor to step aside for greatness."
"And what about the civilians who'll die from the Hollow's expansion?"
Zane's voice was laced with dark amusement.
"What's a little sacrifice? I'm saving humanity—saving civilization. They should feel honored."
"Boy, I'm warning you—opposing us will be a disaster for you."
Zane shook his head and sighed.
Such grand, pompous words—he found it all quite laughable.
Their mindset was no different from the man who had led him here. Zane had no desire to waste more words.
"Forget it. I won't argue. You're not worthy of hearing it. Keep your so-called glory for yourself."
He raised his hand and clenched the air.
Wisps of blue-green flame rose, frost spreading out beneath his feet. As the temperature plummeted, the flames surged into a massive, terrifying firestorm.
The researcher who had led Zane was instantly consumed—Zane couldn't leave witnesses to his transformation into an Ethereal.
As the flames died down, a towering dark-gold figure emerged in the heart of Lamia Hollow.
A crushing pressure swept through the space.
"F-fire picker!"
"You... you're the fire picker!"
The researchers were stunned—and terrified. Lamia hadn't fully emerged yet, and the arrival of the fire picker was a catastrophe.
Zane said nothing. He simply raised his palm and pressed down gently.
Two crystalline spikes of Ether dropped from the air, pinning the researcher to the ground—unable to move.
Agonizing pain twisted his face—gone was his earlier arrogance.
Zane didn't strike again. Instead, he turned his gaze to the soft, glowing eggshell and slowly descended.
As he moved, Ether crystals wove beneath him like vines, shimmering with color and pulsing with energy.
Zane sat down. A throne of Ether crystal formed beneath him. One hand rested on the armrest, the other supported his chin, his expression calm.
His gaze locked on the eggshell. This was what had truly caught his interest.
According to the researcher... this thing was about to be born.