Originally, the massive Ethereal had already charged toward the group.
But it seemed to sense a powerful threat. It suddenly halted its attack and, like everyone else, looked toward the sky behind it.
The golden light was already upon them.
The Ethereal made a split-second decision to dodge, leaping to the side.
The golden stone pillar, as if it had eyes, slightly adjusted its angle and came crashing down on the dodging Ethereal with a thunderous boom.
The violent explosion shocked everyone present.
Especially the members of Victoria Housekeeping, who had no idea what was happening—much less why a massive stone pillar had just descended from the sky.
As the pillar struck, it exploded against the Notoriety Ethereal.
Golden light surged outward, engulfing everything nearby in an instant.
Billy spread his arms, basking in the radiant light.
He was ecstatic. "I almost forgot Sam Li had this move! Not only can he use it in the C97 Hollows, but he can pull it off in the Imperial City Hollows too? Could this be a power tied to Sam Li's attributes?"
Anby was equally stunned. "It's Nekomata—she's here too!"
Off to the side, the director clutched his camera tightly, grinning from ear to ear as he watched the footage he'd just recorded.
He'd captured it.
He'd done it.
No time to admire the playback—he quickly raised the camera again and started filming the golden stone pillar and the Ethereal pinned beneath it, adjusting angles nonstop to capture every detail.
"This is amazing! It's the Golden Knight—I caught the Golden Knight on film!"
"Hey, hey, hey, director! That Ethereal's not dead yet—don't get too close! Back off and let us finish the job!"
Billy had already drawn his twin pistols.
He was just waiting for Nicole's command to launch his attack.
Nicole quickly stopped him. "Wait! Let Sam Li and Nekomata come out first—we don't want to hit them by mistake."
Then she shouted toward where the pillar had landed:
"Sam Li! Nekomata! Are you two okay?"
"We... we're good, meow. Hey! The Ethereal's still alive! Nicole! Billy! Anby! Come help..."
Hearing Nekomata's voice, Nicole grabbed her briefcase and charged forward. "Billy, Anby—let's move!"
Billy let out a loud laugh. "Yoo-hoo! Starflare Showtime is here! Director, don't waste your film—make sure your lens is on me!"
Anby drew her blade and followed close behind.
Seeing the Hare's House team charge in, the Victoria Housekeeping group wasn't about to just sit around.
Lycaon rolled his wrist and spoke seriously, "Rina, Ellen, Corin—get ready for the final hunt."
In an instant...
Rina floated into the air, and with a wave of her hand, several bolts of lightning came crashing down.
Ellen gripped her scissors, now coated in a layer of frost.
Corin revved her chainsaw and rushed at the Ethereal.
In a flash, countless attacks struck the Ethereal.
It seemed provoked.
A massive surge of Ether burst from its body, forming a storm centered on the Notoriety Ethereal.
The surrounding Ether activity skyrocketed.
The Ethereal began to shift—quietly transforming into its second form.
With a deafening roar, the Ether storm exploded outward, sweeping up everyone nearby.
When the storm finally dissipated, the golden pillar that had pinned the Ethereal was gone—it stood free once more.
Now even larger, the Ethereal had burst out of its costume. Its monstrous form expanded from nearly ten meters to almost fifteen.
Everyone except Sam Li was stunned:
"No way... It actually has a second form?"
"Yeah, its power's gone up, but its defense is weaker. Keep your distance and move smart!"
"Careful—it's about to unleash something big..."
Under their astonished gazes, the massive Ethereal stretched out its arms and began condensing an ultra-dense ball of Ether.
The density was so high, the sphere had turned black.
Just as everyone backed away...
The terrifying sphere was hurled toward them, on the brink of detonation.
If it exploded...
Everything nearby would be consumed by Ether.
Even with high Ether resistance, Nicole and the others couldn't survive a hit like that.
At the critical moment...
Sam Li raised his hand, issuing a command to the Geo elements he had long since brought under control underground. The earth trembled.
One stone. Two stones. Three stones...
Countless rocks shot up from below, instantly wrapping around the Ether sphere, forcibly altering its trajectory—redirecting it back toward the Ethereal.
In the next moment...
The Ether sphere exploded. The stones and Geo surrounding it swelled to double their size, then collapsed inward under the pressure.
Witnessing this...
Even Nicole, Anby, and the others, who already knew Sam Li's strength, couldn't help but cheer for him.
As for the Victoria Housekeeping crew, they were visibly stunned.
Ice users could control ice...
Fire users could wield flames...
But no one had ever seen someone manipulate rock like this.
Seeing Sam Li nullify the Ethereal's attack...
Lycaon's fighting spirit ignited. "Rina, give me air support—I'm going in."
Rina smiled slightly. "Leave it to me."
Corin clutched her chainsaw carefully. "I'll cover you too..."
Just as they expected...
While the Notoriety Ethereal's attacks had become fiercer, its defense had dropped noticeably. Even Lycaon could now break through.
But...
After just a few hits, the Ethereal seemed to snap. Twisting sideways, it charged with its hardest shoulder straight at the group.
At over ten meters tall, it couldn't hit the nimble fighters.
But it slammed into a nearby high-rise.
With a single blow...
The building was split in half, collapsing with a thunderous crash.
Everyone narrowly dodged.
But the Notoriety Ethereal didn't stop—stomping through the ruins like it was dancing, eyes locked on the group as it relentlessly trampled toward them.
Each step shook the earth.
It had to be said...
Compared to the Notoriety Ethereals they'd faced before, this high-level one—called "All-Powerful Actor"—was on another level. Just like its name implied, it was a near-perfect hexagonal powerhouse.
Maxed-out defense, physical might, and Ether firepower.
It had both long-range Ether attacks and close-range trampling. Whether you got in close or stayed back, it was nearly impossible to gain the upper hand.
As its massive foot came crashing down...
Corin didn't have time to dodge. All she could do was clutch her chainsaw tightly and brace for impact...