Kamui's spatial teleportation could completely bypass solid structures, so as long as Zhong Yan entered his phasing state, he could dive straight into the interior of the Helios Academy.
Once inside, he immediately surveyed his surroundings. No one had been here for many years, and with it being inside a Hollow, Ether crystals had visibly grown all over.
Fortunately, the crystals had only taken root along the sides of the pathways, leaving the middle lanes relatively clear.
Zhong Yan began his exploration using the gaps along the central roads.
It was necessary here to mention the influence Helios Academy once held during the era of the Old Capital. It had been a research institution of great renown — arguably unmatched in all of Eridu.
In terms of Hollow research and exploration, Helios Academy had made outstanding contributions — an indisputable fact.
Yet no one could have anticipated how things would end up.
The abandoned research facility resembled the disillusioned hearts of those who once believed in it — broken beyond repair, scattered across the ground, impossible to piece back together.
"No valuable clues left at all..." After a thorough search, Zhong Yan discovered with some disappointment that the ruins of the research facility held no evidence related to the fall of the Old Capital.
Even the leftover experiment samples had long since eroded into Ether crystals with time — beyond recovery.
"Looks like Carole's actions were her own, with no real involvement from the Helios Academy. Or... maybe I missed something." Zhong Yan halted in place, murmuring to himself.
He looked up. In the darkness, his lotus-shaped, blood-red pupils glowed like those of a demon clawing its way from hell — chilling to the bone.
Thanks to the dynamic vision of his Sharingan, Zhong Yan could see everything clearly, even in pitch darkness — including the flowing Ether currents around him, their strength and direction precisely captured.
But... it didn't help at all. In the research facility's basement, there weren't even any beasts, let alone clues.
It looked like this trip would end fruitless.
So Zhong Yan thought.
But just as he activated Kamui to leave, a hand suddenly stopped him within the Kamui space.
"Wait, boss!" came Airi's voice next. Zhong Yan immediately halted his action and used Kamui to release her from the pocket space.
Inside Hollow Zero, this place was practically a paradise for a part-Ethereal like Airi. Letting her out to stretch a bit wouldn't be a problem.
More importantly — Airi seemed to have found something.
"You sensed something?" Zhong Yan asked, watching as Airi emerged and began scanning her surroundings.
At his words, Airi paused, then turned toward him with a smug grin. "Heh, some jobs are best left to the professionals, boss. Even you need my help sometimes."
As the only other member of Akatsuki besides Zhong Yan, Airi took her position very seriously. Who knew if anyone else would join in the future — if her rank got stolen, that wouldn't be fun.
"Speak plainly," Zhong Yan said, twitching at the corners of his eyes as he looked at her smug face.
Luckily, he was masked — if Airi saw his deadpan expression, she'd probably tease him for days.
"There's something in here," Airi said, her expression turning uncharacteristically serious. "I'm sure of it. That thing was created by the Exaltists — no doubt about it — and it's connected to that Creator."
Zhong Yan's heart skipped a beat at her words. As he watched, Airi followed the faint trail of energy.
Eventually, her eyes locked onto an Ether crystal.
Zhong Yan examined the crystal carefully, but no matter how he looked, he couldn't detect anything unusual.
Crystals like this were common — especially in the depths of Hollow Zero. Nobody would ever pay attention to any single piece of it.
Unless... its shape or position stood out. But this one definitely didn't.
Frowning, Airi approached the crystal. After observing it for a while, she reached out — her hand passing straight through the Ether on its surface, embedding her palm and forearm deep into the crystal.
Zhong Yan couldn't help but marvel at her. Part-Ethereals were built differently — the Ether crystals here, condensed from high-density energy, would severely injure a normal person if forced open by brute strength.
Back in the present moment, Airi, after some fumbling, finally pulled a small Ether crystal orb — no larger than a palm — from within the mass.
The moment she removed it, the entire crystal instantly crumbled, as though drained of its energy source.
"This thing..." Zhong Yan's eyes narrowed — clearly recognizing that this orb was far from ordinary.
Its Ether density was monstrous. Even the Ether cores of colossal beasts might not match its intensity when fully activated.
It was almost terrifying to imagine what kind of weapon could be forged if this were used in research.
Even more unsettling, Zhong Yan could unmistakably sense the exact same energy signature as the one left by the person who'd planted those three thousand bombs.
This was a fragment of the Exaltists' leader — meaning this orb also belonged to him.
Airi's guess had been spot on.
Yet, as she stared at the object she'd retrieved, Airi's expression changed — visible fear crept across her face, as though she'd realized something dreadful.
"That psycho... What the hell is he doing?" A moment later, Airi suddenly shrieked. Alarmed, Zhong Yan quickly snatched the crystal orb from her hand.
Just as he prepared to examine it, a sharp pain surged through his hand — he dropped the orb instantly.
When he looked at his hand, he was shocked to see that even the glove he wore had begun to corrode from Ether exposure.
The discomfort he'd felt had been caused by needle-like crystallization from the corrosion, stabbing into his hand.
Fortunately, his body rejected Ether naturally. Otherwise, his hand might have been completely consumed by now.