Chapter 296: Hollow Echoes
"It’s because...?"
I found myself repeating the line, waiting for what felt like an eternity as Zephyr drew out the dramatic pause. His stoic expression somehow managed to become even more serious, if that was possible, as he stared into the distance with the weight of impending revelation.
The silence stretched between us like a taut bowstring.
Finally, he turned back to me, his voice grave and measured.
"It’s because... You got on his nerves."
I stared at him blankly.
"Oh, come on!"
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of Zephyr’s lips.
"You-! You did it intentionally, didn’t you!" I accused, narrowing my eyes. But he just shrugged. Taking a deep breath, I asked. "What was it then? Tell me the truth."
Zephyr sighed, the brief moment of amusement fading from his features. "It’s because your homeland’s main source of problems might be related to this."
My eyes widened slightly, but the pieces quickly fell into place. "You mean... that the Hollowlands might be hiding a tear to another realm, too? Perhaps... the Abyss?"
Zephyr nodded slowly. "At least Master said so. I’m not sure of the exact details either."
I found myself nodding as well, muttering under my breath. "No, this actually helps a lot." In fact it would explain many things related to the Hollowlands. "Now I understand why the Hollowlands keep expanding. It must be a ’scar’ as well. But according to history, it has been only around 200 to 300 years since it came into existence."
"Which means convergence hasn’t stopped yet," Zephyr continued, tapping his saber. "Or... The other realms have found another way to connect with Alverria."
"And maybe, the effects of the Resonance Pillars couldn’t fully reach that region, hence its existence and continuous expansion." I added, picking one of the reasonable guesses from my mind.
"Could be the case," Zephyr nodded, his expression thoughtful. He paused for a moment, his brows ceasing slightly. "...Let’s continue it later. We have company."
I nodded, having already sensed the approaching presences. Both of us looked up at the darkening sky, where shadows moved against the churning clouds with predatory grace.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Should we have a competition to see who can knock down the most?"
Zephyr hesitated for a moment and gave a curt nod.
"Great," I grinned, storing the Echo of Remorse back in the inventory and taking out my bow along with a quiver of arrows. "Any intel?"
"Ashwings," Zephyr said tersely. "Flying predators with hollow bones that make them incredibly agile in the air. They can breathe superheated ash clouds that will burn through skin and corrode metal. Their talons are sharp and coated with paralysis toxins."
He paused as more shadows circled overhead.
"Their style and weaknesses are similar to the Bonehounds."
I nocked an arrow, testing the bowstring’s tension. "Noted. Ready when you are."
"Be careful."
As Zephyr vanished from view, the first wave dove toward me - eight Ashwings cutting through the air like living missiles, their chest cavities already glowing as they released superheated ash clouds mid-dive.
I immediately started moving, sidestepping as the gray haze billowed around me. The acrid stench of burnt bone filled the air as I drew back my bowstring and released into the murk.
The arrow struck something solid but deflected off with a metallic ring.
"Tougher than expected," I muttered, rolling to avoid a diving talon strike that whistled past my ear.
They’re smarter than they look as well.
The Ashwings were using the ’fog’ as camouflage, their forms barely visible as they swooped in for silent attacks. My Foresight kicked in just in time to duck as another set of claws raked the air where my head had been.
I spun, nocking another arrow and firing at the retreating shadow. This time, I heard a satisfying screech as it connected.
Good! What about...
Through the obscuring haze, I caught glimpses of Zephyr’s combat style.
Teleport. Strike. Kill. Land. Repeat.
He was as efficient as usual.
I’m gonna lose pretty badly at this rate, I thought, feeling the urge to change back to the sword. But this was too good an opportunity to test my archery in real combat. So, I forced myself to focus instead.
As more ash clouds fell and accumulated around us, obscuring the battlefield further, something nagged at my mind. The way the ash was settling, the pattern of their attacks, the faint orange glow beginning to pulse through the gaze...
Not good!
"Zephyr!" I called out urgently.
He must have realized it, too. In an instant, he teleported to my side, his hand already weaving through the air as a shimmering portal opened around us.
"Move!" He barked.
We dove through just as one of the Ashwings above released an ominous orange light into the accumulated ash clouds below. The entire area erupted in a massive explosion of fire and toxic fumes, the very air itself becoming a weapon.
We emerged from the portal onto a rocky outcropping about fifty meters away, but the Ashwings were already on our tail.
"Keep moving straight while attacking!" Zephyr ordered, his blade flashing as he deflected a diving talon strike. "Don’t get caught up in their individual attacks, maintain distance and momentum."
I nodded, immediately breaking into a sprint along the ridge while nocking another arrow. The remaining Ashwings were regrouping, but one stood out among them - two times larger with wings that gleamed a deeper crimson rather than the ashen gray of the others.
It was the one that fired the orange light.
... Let’s check it out.
Drawing back my bowstring, I aimed for its wing joint and released. The arrow struck true, but instead of punching through the membrane, it bounced off harmlessly with a metallic hang.
"That’s a Red Ashwing," Zephyr called out, teleporting past me to intercept two regular Ashwings. "Their leader. It has much higher defense - your arrows can’t pierce it."
"SCREE-!"
Suddenly, the Redwing let out a piercing shriek that seemed to coordinate the remaining pack. They spread out in a hunting formation, the queen hanging back while the others prepared for synchronized strikes.
"Then, I’ll have to use the one that can pierce it."
I shouted back, opening my inventory.
There it is.
I couldn’t help but smirk as I nocked the arrow that cost me almost 10 million.
"Let’s see it in action now."