Chapter 165: The Arrival of the Hollow

Chapter 165: Chapter 165: The Arrival of the Hollow

The alarm continued echoing throughout the sanctuary.

Arden stood before the detection formation, examining the rapidly approaching energy signatures. His expression grew increasingly grim with every passing second.

"How long until they reach the fortress?"

"Less than ten minutes."

"Activate the outer defenses. Send everyone capable of fighting to the western entrance. The remaining personnel should evacuate the lower chambers."

The scout immediately left.

Arden turned toward Ronan.

"We need to leave."

Ronan raised an eyebrow.

"You’re abandoning the sanctuary?"

"We cannot defend it against this many enemies. The leading presence is beyond anything we’ve encountered before."

"How powerful?"

"I don’t know. The detection formation cannot accurately measure its strength."

Ronan glanced toward the entrance.

Thirty or more enemies, with an unidentified commander whose energy signature was overwhelming the detection formation.

It wasn’t an opponent he should underestimate.

However, leaving immediately would mean abandoning the refining equipment, the crystals, and the information stored within the sanctuary.

He had already invested considerable effort in reaching this place.

He wasn’t going to abandon everything without understanding the situation.

"How many fighters can you assemble?"

"Approximately twenty. Most are King Realm, although only four have reached the higher stages."

Ronan considered the numbers.

Twenty against thirty.

Not particularly favorable, especially when the enemy possessed a powerful commander.

"How many defensive formations remain operational?"

"Three. The outer formation, the underground barrier, and the central defensive array."

Ronan activated Formation Sense.

The energy channels beneath the floor became visible.

The outer formation was relatively weak, while the underground barrier had already been damaged by the Devourer’s emergence. The central array was the strongest, but its energy reserves were nearly depleted.

He examined the structure for several seconds.

"How much energy is required to activate the central array?"

Arden frowned.

"Why?"

"Answer the question."

"With our remaining reserves, we can activate it for approximately five minutes."

Ronan nodded.

"Then save it. Don’t activate anything until I give the order."

Arden stared at him.

"You intend to fight them?"

"I intend to find out why they’ve come here."

---

The first explosion occurred before the ten minutes had passed.

A section of the outer wall collapsed, sending stones flying across the courtyard.

Several armored figures emerged through the dust.

They wore dark clothing beneath pale armor, and their faces were covered by white masks bearing thin black markings.

Unlike the Ashen Covenant, their equipment appeared relatively simple.

Some carried long blades, while others wielded weapons resembling metal staffs.

However, the energy surrounding their bodies was unmistakable.

It was the same gray energy Ronan had encountered beneath the ruins.

"The Hollow..." Arden muttered.

The masked figures spread across the courtyard.

Then a second explosion shook the fortress.

The outer defensive formation flickered before collapsing.

Arden’s expression changed.

"They destroyed it that quickly?"

Ronan examined the approaching enemies.

Most possessed relatively ordinary King Realm auras. A few were stronger, but none seemed particularly remarkable.

Except for the figure walking at the center.

He was tall, dressed in a long black robe, and carried no visible weapon. His mask was different from the others, with a vertical opening running down its center.

His presence was difficult to measure.

Even from this distance, Ronan could feel the pressure emanating from his body.

The figure stopped outside the courtyard.

"Hand over the crystal."

His voice was calm.

Arden stepped forward.

"This sanctuary is under the protection of the Ashen Covenant. You have no authority to enter."

The masked figure tilted his head.

"Your protection has already failed."

He raised one hand.

The ground beneath the courtyard cracked.

Several dark spikes erupted from the stone, piercing through the defensive barriers and forcing the Covenant warriors to retreat.

One vampire wasn’t fast enough.

A spike pierced his abdomen, lifting him several meters into the air.

The masked figure lowered his hand.

The vampire’s body collapsed.

Ronan watched carefully.

The attack hadn’t relied on ordinary earth manipulation. The gray energy had altered the structure of the stone itself, transforming it into a weapon.

Interesting.

The figure’s attention shifted toward Ronan.

"You."

Ronan didn’t respond.

"You carry something that doesn’t belong to you."

The dark mark beneath his sleeve pulsed.

Ronan’s expression remained unchanged.

"So I’ve been told."

The masked figure stared at him.

"Give it to me, and I will allow the others to leave."

Ronan glanced toward Arden.

Then he looked back at the stranger.

"That’s a generous offer. Unfortunately, I’m not interested."

The figure remained silent.

Then he raised his hand again.

"Take him."

The Hollow attacked.

---

Ronan moved first.

Burst Acceleration propelled him forward, and he combined it with Wind Step to cross the courtyard before the nearest enemy could react.

His fist struck the first masked warrior’s chest.

BOOM!

The man’s body flew backward.

Ronan turned and caught the second attacker’s weapon before it reached his neck. He twisted his wrist, snapped the weapon, and drove his knee into the man’s abdomen.

Two enemies fell within seconds.

The others surrounded him.

Ronan activated Predator’s Perception.

Their movements became clearer.

Unlike the Ashen Covenant, the Hollow warriors didn’t rely heavily on coordinated formations. Their attacks were more aggressive, and each seemed capable of fighting independently.

However, they shared something else.

Every time one of them was injured, the gray energy surrounding their bodies intensified.

They were strengthening themselves through that energy.

Ronan smiled faintly.

That could become troublesome.

A masked warrior rushed toward him, swinging a heavy blade.

Ronan blocked the attack with his forearm.

The impact forced him backward.

The opponent was a Six-Star King Realm warrior.

Not weak.

Ronan adjusted his stance and activated Limit Break.

His strength surged.

He stepped forward, grabbed the attacker’s arm, and struck his chest with Annihilation Force.

The armor shattered.

The warrior collapsed.

A notification appeared.

[Target eliminated.]

[Insufficient target quality. No useful trait detected.]

Ronan ignored it.

He didn’t have time to examine every enemy.

More warriors were approaching.

Across the courtyard, Arden and the Covenant members had begun fighting as well.

The battle was gradually spreading toward the sanctuary entrance.

Ronan’s attention returned to the masked commander.

The man still hadn’t moved.

He was simply watching.

That bothered Ronan more than the enemies surrounding him.

The commander clearly believed the outcome was already decided.

And judging by his presence, he might be right.

Ronan shifted his position, using Burst Acceleration to evade another attack.

Then he noticed something.

The gray energy released by the fallen Hollow warriors wasn’t disappearing.

It was flowing toward the commander.

His eyes narrowed.

So that’s how it works.

The commander was absorbing the energy released by his subordinates.

He wasn’t merely watching the battle.

He was using it to strengthen himself.

Ronan glanced toward the battlefield.

If the fighting continued, the commander would only become stronger.

He needed to disrupt that process.

---

Arden’s voice echoed across the courtyard.

"The central formation is ready!"

Ronan immediately understood.

"Activate it!"

The ground beneath the sanctuary illuminated.

A massive circular formation spread across the courtyard, surrounding the battlefield with a crimson barrier.

The gray energy flowing toward the commander suddenly slowed.

For the first time, the masked figure moved.

He turned toward the ground.

"What have you done?"

Ronan smiled.

"Interrupted your meal."

The commander’s eyes turned toward him.

A powerful wave of pressure erupted.

The surrounding stones shattered.

Several Covenant warriors were thrown backward, while the weaker Hollow fighters collapsed beneath the force.

Ronan felt the pressure strike his body.

His knees bent slightly.

He immediately activated Gravitational Resistance.

The pressure became manageable, but it was still far beyond anything he had encountered from the ordinary warriors.

The commander finally approached.

Each step caused the ground to tremble.

Ronan activated Predator’s Perception.

His instincts warned him that this opponent was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

The commander stopped several meters away.

"You’ve interfered with something you don’t understand."

"Then explain it."

The man raised his hand.

A dark sphere appeared above his palm.

The energy surrounding it distorted the air.

Ronan’s expression changed.

He immediately activated Burst Acceleration.

The sphere shot forward.

He barely avoided it.

The attack struck the ground behind him.

For an instant, everything within several meters turned gray.

Stone, debris, and even the surrounding vegetation lost their color before crumbling into dust.

Ronan stared at the destroyed section.

That wasn’t ordinary destructive energy.

It was consuming the surrounding material.

The commander raised his hand again.

"Your resistance is meaningless."

Another sphere formed.

Ronan didn’t wait.

He charged.

Burst Acceleration propelled him forward while Gravity Affinity allowed him to alter his trajectory.

The commander released the attack.

Ronan shifted sideways.

The sphere passed beside him, consuming a section of the courtyard.

He appeared in front of the commander and struck.

BOOM!

His fist connected with the man’s chest.

The commander barely moved.

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

The difference in their physical strength was enormous.

The masked figure lowered his head.

Then he struck Ronan with the back of his hand.

The impact sent him flying across the courtyard.

Ronan crashed through a broken pillar and landed among the debris.

Blood spilled from his mouth.

He immediately stood.

His right arm was numb.

The commander looked at him.

"Interesting. You’re weaker than I expected, yet the mark has accepted you."

Ronan wiped his mouth.

"You’re stronger than I expected, yet you talk too much."

The commander’s expression didn’t change.

He raised his hand again.

But this time, Ronan noticed something.

The energy surrounding the man’s body was concentrated around his chest and right arm. The gray substance wasn’t simply strengthening him. It was constantly circulating through his body, consuming and replacing his existing energy.

It was a process similar to the Devourer’s ability.

Ronan’s newly acquired trait stirred.

Energy Devouring.

He had been waiting for an opportunity to test it against unfamiliar energy.

This might be the perfect chance.

The commander released another attack.

Ronan evaded, but instead of completely avoiding the gray energy, he allowed a small portion to brush against his left arm.

Pain immediately spread through his flesh.

The energy began consuming the surface of his skin.

Ronan activated Energy Devouring.

For a brief moment, nothing happened.

Then the foreign energy slowed.

A small amount separated from the destructive substance and entered his body.

His eyes widened.

It worked.

However, the process was extremely unstable.

His arm trembled as the energy moved through his body, and a sharp pain spread toward his shoulder.

Ronan immediately stopped absorbing it.

He had obtained something useful, but attempting to consume the entire attack would have been suicidal.

The commander noticed the reaction.

"You..."

For the first time, his voice carried genuine surprise.

Ronan looked at his arm.

The damaged flesh was beginning to recover.

He smiled.

"That’s interesting."

The commander raised both hands.

The gray energy around his body surged.

"Then I’ll simply erase you."

The entire courtyard trembled.

Ronan’s expression turned serious.

He had discovered a way to absorb some of the Hollow’s energy, but the commander was clearly capable of overwhelming him through sheer strength.

His current injuries also made prolonged combat dangerous.

He needed another opportunity.

Then the central formation began flickering.

Arden shouted from the other side of the courtyard.

"The energy reserves are running out!"

Ronan looked toward the formation.

The barrier was weakening.

If it collapsed, the commander would regain access to the energy released by his subordinates.

And the battle would become even more dangerous.

Ronan glanced at the masked commander.

Then he looked toward the sanctuary’s central platform.

An idea formed.

The refining device.

The Devourer’s core.

If the central formation could redirect energy through the refining chamber, he might be able to use the remaining reserves to create a concentrated burst.

It was risky.

But remaining here and fighting the commander directly was worse.

"Arden!"

The vampire turned toward him.

"Can you redirect the central formation toward the refining chamber?"

Arden’s expression changed.

"That’s impossible! The chamber isn’t connected to the defensive array!"

"Can you do it or not?"

Arden hesitated.

"Perhaps, if we alter the secondary channels. But it will take time."

"Then do it."

The commander raised his hand.

The gray sphere above his palm grew larger.

Ronan activated Limit Break.

He rushed forward.

This time, he didn’t attempt to strike the commander.

He focused entirely on keeping him occupied.

His fists collided with the man’s arms, forcing him to defend himself.

Every exchange sent shockwaves through the courtyard.

Ronan’s body suffered under the difference in strength, but he continued attacking, using Burst Acceleration and Gravity Affinity to avoid direct collisions whenever possible.

He couldn’t win through raw strength.

So he would make sure the commander couldn’t use his full power either.

The battle continued.

And behind them, the Covenant’s remaining warriors desperately worked to redirect the formation.

---

Several minutes later, Arden finally shouted.

"Ronan! It’s ready!"

Ronan immediately retreated.

The commander looked toward the sanctuary.

For the first time, his composure cracked.

"What have you done?"

Ronan smiled.

"Let’s find out."

The central formation changed.

The crimson barrier disappeared, and the remaining energy rushed through the underground channels.

The refining chamber illuminated.

The black crystals embedded in its walls began glowing.

Then the Devourer’s core, which Ronan had left in the storage chamber, started vibrating.

A massive wave of concentrated energy surged upward.

The commander immediately attempted to absorb it.

But the energy didn’t flow toward him.

Instead, it struck the ground beneath his feet.

A violent explosion erupted.

The commander was swallowed by the blast.

The entire courtyard shook.

Ronan retreated behind a broken wall, shielding himself from the shockwave.

When the dust finally settled, the commander was standing several meters away.

His black robe had been torn apart, and cracks covered the armor beneath it.

But he was still alive.

Ronan’s expression tightened.

That attack hadn’t killed him.

Worse, the commander was now staring directly at him.

The vertical opening in his mask slowly widened.

"You have become more troublesome than expected."

He raised his hand.

The gray energy gathered around his body once again.

Then, from somewhere beyond the eastern ridge, another presence appeared.

It was even more oppressive than the commander’s.

The masked man stopped.

For several seconds, he remained motionless.

Then he lowered his hand.

"Withdraw."

The remaining Hollow warriors immediately retreated.

Ronan watched them leave.

He didn’t pursue.

His body was injured, his energy reserves had dropped considerably, and the new presence approaching the battlefield was something he couldn’t afford to underestimate.

The masked commander paused at the entrance.

"Enjoy your victory, bearer."

His gaze settled on Ronan’s palm.

"The next time we meet, the one who commands us will come personally."

Then he disappeared into the distance.

Ronan stood silently.

He had survived the encounter, but he hadn’t defeated the commander.

More importantly, someone even stronger had just appeared nearby.

Arden approached, his armor damaged.

"Are you alright?"

"Still alive."

Ronan looked toward the direction the Hollow had disappeared.

"What was that presence?"

Arden shook his head.

"I don’t know. But whatever it is, even the regional commanders of the Covenant avoid confronting it."

Ronan’s eyes narrowed.

He glanced at his left arm.

The flesh had recovered, but he could still feel traces of the energy he had absorbed.

Energy Devouring had worked.

Not perfectly, but enough to prove that the trait could interact with the Hollow’s power.

He had gained a valuable advantage.

However, the battle had revealed something else.

The Hollow weren’t simply searching for the ancient seals.

They were gathering energy, strengthening their warriors, and following the mark on his palm.

And now, someone much stronger than their regional commander knew he existed.

Ronan looked toward the distant mountains.

A faint smile appeared.

"Seems like I’ve attracted some interesting attention."

He turned toward Arden.

"How long will it take to repair the sanctuary?"

"Several days, at least."

"Then start immediately. I want the refining device operational before I leave."

Arden nodded.

Ronan glanced at the broken courtyard.

The battle had cost him energy and left several injuries, but he had gained valuable information about the Hollow and confirmed that Energy Devouring could absorb at least part of their strange power.

He wasn’t ready to confront their leader.

Not yet.

But the next time they crossed paths, he intended to be considerably stronger.

The hunt was far from over.