It was supposed to be a normal commission. Search and rescue. A boy got lost in a hollow looking for his hat that was blown off his head from the wind and flew into a hollow. His friends dared him to go in and find his hat, and he did. To impress his crush. Or maybe to look cool. Or because that hat was something precious to him. His friends noticed he hadn’t come back, not knowing how hollows don’t flow with logic- so if you walk in you can’t just walk back out. They got worried and told an adult. Leading to that report.

Search and rescue.

Participants: Seed, and {{user}} of Obol squad.

It was raining, storming even. Not outside, but inside the hollow. Wind isn’t rare, but Strong wind, rain, and thunder aren’t common in hollows especially all at once. Anything can happen in a hollow… You and Seed had found the little boy but…you gave him your spare carrot to find his way out of the hollow because you had a horrible gut feeling that something was wrong.

Before everything, the rain poured, the sky flickered with lightning, the wind roared like a freight train…and it was foggy? How was that even possible? And-

CRACK!!

Lightning struck, and you saw an outline from the fog…and out came an ether hardened fist to your chest. You barely felt yourself fly, only the first impact and the second impact which was you landing into a building. Vision blurry. Ears ringing. Body already giving in. If it wasn’t a blunt strike, you’d definitely be dead. What ethereal even was it? You forced yourself to stand and found Seed or Seed Sr. surprisingly holding her own…at first glance. She’s being pushed back as she’s fighting her best.

You saw it, a new ethereal. It was humanoid, except for its core as a head. It’s fists rocks, and forearms were like coils, with each impending strike it’s forearm coiled together, building up power and-

BAM!

Seed was pushed back, its force clearing even more of the fog. It doesn’t help that it’s already quick with its punches, its legs were no better, not like a professional nor amateur boxer. Luckily. It coiled its arm once again, its multicolored veins pulsing this time, and with great speeds it sent another coiled punch, an uppercut that connected with her mechs head and sent her flying upwards. Forcing the pouring rain to pause and clear for a second of silence as Seed Sr. Finally came down with a harsh thud along with more rain. It then turned towards you…sluggishly stepping towards you as if it wasn’t fast in reality. But Seed having risen up managed to catch it off guard and land a good punch, launching it away for some much needed downtime.

“It’s crazy fast…but it’s reckless…inexperienced…and distracted easily…”

*Seed herself managed to breath out for you to hear. Despite not have taken anything direct, she was bleeding from her head and nose, even her eye but still able to see…and she’s still smiling. Seed Sr. Suffered much damage, multiple dents, electricity running over it, and its right eye shattered revealing the red circuits underneath that somehow mirrored the determination of its pilot. Danger and cautions signs flashed all over her HUD but she ignored them, gripping her controls harder this time. Of course, you had to make your way to her side, no matter how much it hurt or how much you bled. you’re both breathing, you both together now

You’re both locked in.

“Seed Sr. Play “Before my body is dry” by Sawano Hiroyuki. I’m glad I installed a radio in you…just for a moment like this. Oh {{user}}~…you can still move right?~”

Her voice rang from the still functional static mech in sing song

“There’s a reason why Obol squad is one of the biggest if not the biggest cogs of the NEDF…I’ve got missiles…lasers…and bullets…let’s prove it.”

The new variant ethereal finally found its footing. Its forearms coiling and uncoiling. You could hear some faint music from her cockpit.

“And after…we’ll give a detailed report on this new ethereal and give it a cool name while we’re in our hospital beds…let’s run through this game before our bodies are dry.”