As the spatial vortex fully formed, Zhong Yan immediately contracted it. A sharp, crisp sound echoed through the air, like something being snapped.
With ether continuously expanding around him, Zhong Yan lost track of the woman's exact position, so he advanced cautiously under the protection of Susanoo.
Soon, he reached the area where the vortex had formed and found only scattered etheric residue on the ground.
His expression immediately hardened.
There was no corpse—which meant the attack hadn't finished her off. The lingering ether in the air further confirmed she was still nearby and hadn't escaped.
If it weren't for the nearby civilians, Zhong Yan would've already unleashed one of his devastating ethereal arrows and leveled the building completely—no questions asked.
Thankfully, with Susanoo's protection, it was almost impossible for the enemy to land a hit. In a prolonged standoff, the one who'd give in first would almost certainly be her.
Sure enough, after a long, tense silence, her voice echoed once more through the air.
"You know... you're strong, that much is undeniable—but man, you're seriously unreasonable when it comes to fighting. I told you I came to cooperate."
Half of the woman's body emerged atop a jagged spike of ether crystal that had risen from the floor. Apparently, she had fully integrated herself with the surrounding ether, which explained why Zhong Yan's Sharingan couldn't locate her.
Moreover, her continued refusal to launch a counterattack made Zhong Yan reconsider—maybe she really wasn't lying.
This woman, who by all appearances seemed like a member of the Exaltists, might actually be seeking to collaborate.
Considering this, Zhong Yan released Susanoo. Partly to lower her guard, and partly to test her reaction.
Without Susanoo's protection, he appeared vulnerable—just one well-placed strike could end him.
What she didn't know, however, was that Zhong Yan still had Kamui's phasing ability. If he wanted to, nothing could touch him.
"Oh? Cooling off already? Ready to have a proper talk?" The woman's eyes lit up as she watched Susanoo fade away.
She leapt down from the crystal spike, and as she landed, the wind blew off her hood, revealing a head of short pink hair and an exceptionally refined, beautiful face.
Zhong Yan hadn't expected that—she was strikingly beautiful.
Still, having just experienced an intimate encounter with Ellen not long ago, Zhong Yan was utterly composed. For now, anything romantic or sensual couldn't stir him.
This was what people call sage mode.
"Uchiha... I've heard a lot about you. You're the one who took down the Sacrifice and that Exaltist guy at Pioneer's Memorial Plaza, right? I remember the technique you used back then—it looked just like the one you used now."
The pink-haired woman bounced over to Zhong Yan, completely unaware that he was still ready to strike at a moment's notice.
But she meant no harm. That much became increasingly clear.
"As you can see, I want to work with you against the Exaltists. In return, you can ask me anything you want. If I know the answer, I'll tell you," she said with a carefree smile, her demeanor more like that of a teenage girl.
Zhong Yan didn't hesitate. "The Exaltists... What's their goal? And this 'god' they keep referring to—who is it?"
He fired off two questions in one go.
The girl thought for a moment and answered, "The Exaltists' goal is to spread the Hollows across the entire world and transform everyone into something neither human nor Ethereal—just monstrous hybrids."
"To them, this is 'ascension'—but in truth, it's nothing more than a deranged experiment by a mad scientist. That scientist is the so-called god they worship."
"Once he successfully transforms someone, he brainwashes them with twisted ideology—usually assisted by terrifyingly effective drugs to speed up the process."
"Most people end up fully indoctrinated. Those who are, serve him as a deity—but he's just a lunatic who even used himself in human experiments."
"As for me, I'm one of the few test subjects who didn't get brainwashed. I escaped before they initiated their 'cleansing plan.' Now they're trying everything they can to capture me—so I don't spill what I know to the New Eridu authorities."
Her explanation poured out all at once. After hearing it, Zhong Yan fell into deep thought.
A scientist who would use himself as a guinea pig, who could create such monstrous beings—his power must be immense.
Without overwhelming might, how else could he convince his creations to follow him with just brainwashing?
Zhong Yan asked the next logical question: "This scientist—he's the leader of the Exaltists? How strong is he? Any comparable Ethereal groups?"
"He was the first person to undergo body modification. Once it succeeded, he naturally became the leader of the Exaltists. As for strength... I honestly don't know. I've never seen him fight. But I do know this—he has lots of [Slices]."
"Each Slice is a version of him at a different age. From what I've seen, there are at least a hundred. And as long as one Slice survives, he can resurrect himself—maybe even create more."
Zhong Yan's face turned grim at the mention of these Slices.
So, it wouldn't be easy to kill this guy after all. If even one of those Slices stayed hidden, the leader could never truly die.
And as long as one Slice remained, he could always return—potentially even long after Zhong Yan had perished. The Exaltists would persist.
"Is there a way to—" Zhong Yan was about to ask if there was a method to destroy all the Slices at once when a deafening explosion suddenly rocked the entire building.
A high-powered missile smashed straight through, detonating with a thunderous blast. In seconds, the entire building was leveled. Thick black smoke rolled outward, engulfing everything—including the innocent civilians who lived nearby.