The scene opened on a the face of a young boy, the area around him was dark, too dark to really make out details, his face was sweaty, he was panting, like he had just been running for hours. The sounds of screams and explosions could be heard around him, cars crashing into each other, it was like....an apocalypse.

Suddenly a hand grabbed the boys shoulder as he was whipped around towards a man.

?- We need to go, now.

He helped the boy up and grabbed his arm as they began running, the scene then cut to them in the street as crowds of people ran for their lives, cars were crashed into each other, some on fire, light poles were flickering, the boy then turned to the man.

?- dad, where's mom.

The man didn't turn to face him as they keep running, but his face slightly deepened.

?- She's not coming buddy.

" BOOM"

The fround suddenly rocked as people screamed, the boy then fell from his father's grasp as he fell to the ground.

?- KAZUO!!!

Kazuo slowly got to his feet and looked up....as a skyscraper broke in half and began to fall towards the crowd, he tried to move, but his legs were frozen, suddenly he was grabbed and tackled as the building came crashing down, kicking up a cloud of dust and debree. Kazuo looked up to see the man, panting and wheezing as he hugged him.

?- Thank God, your okay, your okay.

He hugged Kazuo and looked up as his eyes went wide.

?- No.

Kazuo turned.....as a giant glowing dome loomed over them, growing bigger and bigger, as it grew it seemed to swallow the streets, buildings....people, everything, the man looked around, but saw the collapsed building was blocking the road, he then looked down at Kazuo scared face as he hugged him.

?- It'll be alright Kazuo, I won't let it hurt you.

The dome got closer and closer to them as the man covered his son, the dome was mere feet from them as Kazuo stared in horror.

Kazuo- DADD-

His voice suddenly went silent....as the dome sucked the two in as it contiued its growth.

" ???"

Kauzo- "GGGGAASSSPPP"

Kazuo, now looking a lot older woke up with a start, he was in what looked like a bedroom, his hair was messy and his eyes wild as he scanned the room, his heart feeling like it was trying to burst out of his chest, sweat pouring down his face.

" Imagine him wearing black pajamas with sharks on them"

Slowly he gained his composer as his breathing slowed, he held his head in his hands as he took a deep breath.

Kazuo- Just a nightmare......just a nightmare.

He then sighed as he plopped back down onto his bed, he slowly rolled over and reached over for his phone, trying to feel around for it in the dark.

Kauzo- Where...is...that.....stupi-ah.

He then grabbed it and turned it on.

"6:30"

Kazuo- "mind" Great, another early morning, weeeelllppp, time to get up.

He then slowly got up and turned to the edge of his bed, stretching and yawning as he slowly got up and headed for the bathroom.

He flipped on the light and sighed as he looked at his reflection.

?- Ehn-na.

Kazuo looked over to see a little black robot that looked like a chubby rabbit walk in.

" He can switch from his gun head to regular rabbit ears"

?- ehn-na, ne ne ne ne (I heard you wake up, what's wrong).

Kazuo smiled as he bent down and patted his head.

Kazuo- Nothing, I'm all good slick.

Slick- Ne ne ne ne, ehn-na, ne na (that would make this your 4th night of waking up early, are you having nightmares again).

Kazuo got up as he grabbed his toothbrush and squirted some toothpaste on it.

Kazuo- "brushing his teeth" Im fine, really, a good morning jog will get my head right.

Slick just sighed as he wobbled away.

Slick- ne ne ne ( ill get the toast and jam ready).

Kazuo- Thanks little buddy "spits into the sink" Your the best.

Slick hopped down the stairs and wobbled over to the counter, hopping up a stepping stool and placing some toast in the toaster.

Slick- eha-na ehn-na (Why do I feel like today's gonna be very, very interesting).

Kazuo is then seen grabbing some ear buds and placing them into his ears, linking them with his phone and pushing play on a song.

" Woowo wooo, woowo woo, woowo wooo, woowo woo"

Kazuo is seen slipping on running shoes, thin black pants and shorts over them, he slipped on a watch and a black hoodie, he itched under his nose and grinned as he walked through the kitchen and grabbed the jammed toast, shoving it into his mouth as he headed for the padio.

Slick- Eha-na, ne ne ne ne (remember, be back in time for the stores opening).

Kazuo- "swallows" Oh come on slick, I'm samurai, I'm always on time.

He opened the padio door and stepped out.

" Okay, wake up in the morning to the clear blue sky, turn up the music when I hop in the ride, the windows down let the whole world see, can't nobody rock it like little old me, I'm the bomb and I'm 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and I'm 'bout to blow up".

As he opens it, the camera pans out over a shot of new eridu, the last city on earth, a city that looked like any other........except for the giant black domes here and there.

" Title card: Zenless zone zero: The hollows proxy"

The camera then panned down as kazuo is seen jogging down the street, jamming to his tunes.

" I got my chucks and my dickies and I put it on black, banging sinatra in the black Cadillac, my old lady leaning out the whole window, everybody lookin' when we walk in slow, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and I'm 'bout to blow up"

The camera then panned over as a robot with a metal mustache wearing an orange apron was flipping the sign on the front door of a shop from closed to open.

Kazuo was then seen running by when he looked over.

Kazuo- Morning tin master.

Tin master- " eyes turn into a happy expression" Good morning kazuo, I see your on your daily run, could I interest you in a new peppermint coffee I've whipped up.

Kazuo- Absolutely, to go please.

The scene then cut to a fast pace montage of tin master whipping up the coffee before cutting to kazuo as he ran down the street, sipping it from his cup, he then looked at a nearby store as a hand unlocked the front door, kazuo smiled as he jogged off, unblocking the stores sign.

Random play

" Woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo".

The camera then cut to a group of people hopping out of a car, their faces above the camera line, one was a tall guy wearing a red jacket, dual revolvers hung at his waist, another was a white haired girl wearing green body armor, a black skirt and a large green pack on her back, a sword strapped to her waist at her back and the third was a pink haired girl wearing a white top, short black jacket and ripped jean shorts, a black suitcase hanging in her hand, the three nodded at each other as they headed for a skyscraper.

" Woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo (everybody singing now), woowo woo (everybody singing now)"

The camera then shifted to a wide view of a construction site as kazuo ran by it, a guy with black hair with red highlights wearing a white jacket was seen giving orders to some workers while a girl wearing orange lensed goggles, a zipped up tank top and a jacket around her waist was seen typing on a tablet, kazuo looked at the site in awe.

?- HEY WATCH OUT.

" Okay one for the money and a two for the show, but three to be a legend even if I'm poor"

Kazuo quickly ducked as he slid under a large steel beam being carried by two large bears wearing construction worker uniforms.

Kazuo- "raises hand" Sorry.

He then jogged off as a girl with bright orange haired in pigtails watched the scene from from one of the top floors of the under construction building.

" I ain't chasin' nothin' you gon' have to catch me, and if you want a taste you gon' have to pay a fee, im the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up"

The camera then cut to two guys wearing dome helmets being chased by a trio of police (or as their called in this world, pubsec) officers, it then cuts to them slamming the duo up against the hood of a squad car as kazuo jogged by, on the rooftop nearby, a female figure watched them as she spun a blade on the end of her long tail, the camera panning up to her mouth as her lips grow an eerie smile.

" Call my mama, in-laws and my little scarecrows, when they hear my record well they all hit the floor, baby rock a pose c'mon fill the whole front row, the homies in the back tip their hats real low".

The camera then cut to the inside of a cafe as two floating bangboo place some food in front of some people, a tall woman dressed as a maid walks by carrying drinks for another pair of customers, meanwhile a large white wolf man looked down at his pocket watch, he then noticed kazuo jogging by as he closed it.

" Im the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and 'bout to blow up".

The camera then cut to a girl wearing similar gear to the girl with the green gear, but orangeish-yellow, leaning against a wall in an alley looking over something on a tablet when she noticed kazuo jogging by.

" Woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo (everybody singing now), woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo, woowo woo (alright now), woowo wooo, woowo woo".

The camera then cut over to a gas station where a pair of bikes and a giant truck where a gang dressed as bikers where chilling at, one short girl with blonde hair was filling up the truck while lazily leaning against it, a few other girls were leaning against their bikes, one guy against the truck and one girl was laying on the roof of it, the gray haired girl of the group then looked over to see kazuo jogging by.

The camera then cuts away again to a noodle shop where a group of people were eating, a girl with blue skin, horns and a tail was scarfing down bowl after bowl, the other 3 were eating at a normal pace, one girl had a sword at her waist and fox ears, a glowing blue ball with an eye and horns floated next to her, her eyes were closed when she suddenly opened them and turned to see kazuo jogging down the road.

Kazuo then checked his watch.

Kazuo- I should head back now.

Kazuo then headed back the way he came.

" Ok, come on everybody won't you clap your hands, white folks do it on time if you can, sounds good, now here's the plan, let's all sing together like we're in the same band".

The camera then cut to a girl walking down the street, a lolipop stick poking out of her mouth, a black shark tail swung behind her rear and a phone in her hand, the camera then cut to kazuo jogging down the street, jamming out.

" Im the bomb and I'm 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up".

Kazuo- 🎵 I'm the bomb and 'bout to blow up.

He sung the verse over and over till he opened his eyes to see he was heading straight for a parked car.

" Now we're gonna reach another whole new level, grabbin' the light on the run from the devil (watch out), been downtown for too long, It's feel the sun risin' all up in my bones".

Kazuo then front flipped onto the car, then up into the air as he grabbed the railings of a padio and ran across it, parkouring his way across the buildings as he headed towards his store.

" Im the bomb and im 'bout to blow up, I'm the bomb and im 'bout to blow up".

Slick is seen placing stuff around the store as he set up, placing some cases on a shelf, turning on some signs, and booting up a tv.

" Woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo (everybody singing now), woowo woo (everybody singing now), woowo wooo, woowo woo (everybody singing now)".

Kazuo checked the time to see he had 15 seconds left before opening, he then sped up, flipping across the roofs before sliding down a pipe and leaping onto the ground, slick was seen walking to the door, seeing there was now 10 seconds left.

" Woowo wooo, woowo woo, woowo wooo, woowo woo"

Kazuo then reached his house, climbing up the drain pipe and sliding through a window as he raced downstairs, slick reached for the keys to the store.

5,4,3,2-

Suddenly kazuo slid down the stairs and snatched the keys, tossing them into the lock and grabbing them.

" Kill em all"

1.

He then flipped a switch as a sign that read "reboot games" lit up.

Kazuo- I told you slick-

He then opens the door.

Kazuo- -im always on-

?- Your sign is really bright.

Kazuo- HOLY-

He then went stumbling back as he tripped over some boxes and crashed onto the floor, slight chuckling could be heard.

Slick- "facepalms" ehn-na, na ne na (smooth boss, real smooth).

Kazuo- ow, ow my back.

He slowly gets up as he stares at the woman who startled him.

Kazuo- e-ellen, morning.

Ellen- "rolled the lolipop in her mouth" Hey "looks at slick" Hey slick.

Slick- ne ne ne ne (morning ellen).

She spoke in a tired voice, like she just woke up, she walked in and past kazuo as picked himself up. The camera then showed a clear view of the shop, it was large, shelves of games lined the walls, figurines placed in a glass cabinet, a couple shelves had comics and books, posters of games and animes were placed in empty spaces, slick was seen behind a glass counter top, playing cards placed inside it, above it, a TV showing the local news, and best of all, a mini-fridge packed with sodas and other fizzy drinks for sale.

Ellen walked over to a stack of games as she shuffled through them, kazuo walked over to the counter and placed a pack full of trading cards on it as slick placed them on the shelf behind him.

Kazuo- I'm surprised to see you here this early, usually you sleep till 8.

Ellen- "shrugs" Woke up early, no school or work today, so I decided to come in.

She then pulled a game out of the stack, mortal kombat 10.

Ellen- Wanna play.

Kazuo-.......you even gotta ask.

" Timeskip brought to you by chibi chibi Ellen sleeping"

Kazuo- NONONONO, HOW ARE YOU THIS GOOD.

Kazuo and Ellen were in what looked like the shops basement, more merch and stuff was down there, long with a lot of chairs, some beanbag chairs and a couch, along with a TV, the two played as Ellen was beating kazuos ass, though he tired face didn't show it.

Kazuo- OH COME ON, FUCK NO, FUCK NO, FUCK N- OH COME ON.

Kazuo stared at the screen horror as Ellen finished him, she suddenly smirked slightly.

Ellen- Too easy.

Kazuo- Dammit.....best of 3.

He then booted up a new match.

Kazuo- So, how are things going.

Ellen-.....tiring.

Kazuo- I swear you need to work on your work/school/life balance.

Ellen then pulled her lolipop out of her mouth.

Ellen- That's what this is for.

Kazuo- "snorts" Your impossible.

Ellen- Yet I'm one of your best friends.

Kazuo rolled his eyes and chuckled, Ellen had been coming to his shop for 3 years now, her friends had dragged her in there to get something, he couldn't remember, he had tried to suggest some stuff to Ellen, at first she didn't seem into it until she asked about a specific game he knew, soon she was coming in every now and then to where they had become close.

Ellen-....So how's business.

Kazuo- Huh, oh, slow, but still making enough to sustain myself, how's that job you got, working at a maid Cafe right.

Ellen- oh, yeah, it's fine, long hours at night though, really draining.

Kazuo- You really need to get off the night shift.

Ellen- Well unfortunately my job requires me to work nights.

Kazuo- Yeah we- OH YOU SNEAKY-

He then mashed buttons...as Ellen's tail suddenly blocked his eyes.

Kazuo- OH, OH THATS CHEATING.

Ellen- Get on my level.

Kauzo kept moving his head when-

Tv- Fatality.

Kazuo- DAMMIT.

Ellen- Your really bad at this.

Kazuo just glared as Ellen yawned and stretched, pulling her now finished lolipop stick out of her mouth and using her tail to spike it into the trash.

Kazuo- So, how's your friends.

Ellen- Good, me and the girls are going to karaoke tommorow....you and I should go sometime.

Kazuo- I'd love that.

Ellen looked back at the screen as all she was doing was switch characters.

Ellen- This is getting boring, lets-

Suddenly her phone went off, she looked at it and sighed.

Ellen- Boss needs me to come in immediately, apparently there's an emergency.

Kazuo- Really, on your day off, thats-

" Bam"

Suddenly slick came hopping down the stairs.

Slick- Ne ne ne ne, eha-na eha-na (boss we are swamped, i need help).

Kazuo- Looks like the daily grind is never over.

Ellen- I'll see myself out.

Kazuo- Btw were still on for movie night on Friday right, your bringing the snacks.

Ellen- I never said that.

Kazuo- We agreed after I bought the snacks last time.

Ellen- I don't remember that.

Kazuo- Oh, well will this jog your memory.

He then pulls out a lolipop as Ellen's eyes suddenly light up.

Ellen- Oom.

She bites at it as kazuo moves it away.

Ellen- Really.

Kazuo- karma hurts huh.

" Whap"

Suddenly her tail knocks it into the air as it falls into her mouth.

Ellen- Wouldn't know.

She then walks upstairs.

Kazuo- So we're still on for the movie and snacks.

Ellen- I never said that.

She then walks out as kazuo chuckled.

Kazuo- Ah, she's always fun.

Suddenly the door flew open.

Slick- NE NE NE NE NE NE NE (BOSS, HELP, NOW, STOP FLIRTING WITH ELLEN).

Kazuo- " blushes" IM NOT.

Slick- ne ne ne (yeah, and I'm pink and wearing a tutu).

Kazuo- OH YOU LITTLE-

Out at the front a few people stood in front of the counter....as kazuo and slick burst in strangling each other.

Kazuo- TODAYS THE DAY YOU LITTLE-.

They then froze and turned to the customers.

Kazuo-........and how can I help you fine people today.

Slick- "slowly waves and sheepishly smiles"

Meanwhile Ellen watched this while trying to hold back a small laugh, she then checks her phone as she walks off.

" Timeskip brought to you by chibi kazuo playing trading cards games with chibi slick".

Kazuo was then seen helping multiple customers throughout the day, suggesting games and books to them, grabbing trading cards packs for them, even setting up a tv with old school Mario for people to play as they chilled there with their friends.

Kazuo was seen sitting in front of a kid, both of them had playing cards on the table.

Kazuo- And that's how you make a really good deck, now let's play.

" 5 minutes later".

Kazuo-.......5 years of playing......and I lost to a kid in 5 minutes.

The kid then grabbed his cards and walked away with a smirk on his face, leaving kazuo flabbergasted.

Kid- Btw I've been playing for 4 years.

He them walks out.

Kazuo- LITTLE HUSTLER!!!

Slick- "trying not to laugh".

Kazuo was then seen placing some new games on the shelf, not seeing slick walking behind him, as he backed up after placing the last game he tripped and crashed onto the table, skidding back past a couple guys playing a card game and crashed into a shelf.

Kazuo- Ow my head, luckily that went smoother then it-

He then grabbed the shelf....as it wobbled and a figure of optimus prime fell.

Kazuo-.....oh nutterbutter.

" BAM"

Kazuo got one right to the nose.

Optimus prime toy- autobots, roll out.

Kazuo-....."in pain" Curse you optimus prime.

The day seemed to blur by as soon it was getting dark.

Kazuo passed a kid a game as he ran out.

Kazuo- Thank you, please come again.

He sighed and sat down as he looked around the empty shop.

Kazuo- How'd we do today slick.

Slick opened the cash register and checked the online payments.

Slick- Eha-na ne ne ne ne (pretty good, sold quite a few games, a couple books and some trading cards, even 2 figurines).

Kazuo- Ha, nice work.

Slick- Ne ne ne ne, ne ne (and you offically lost your pride and bruised your nose)

" Cling".

His phone then went off, he checked his messages, a contact labeled "belle" had texted him, kazuo grinned and checked it.

Belle text- "hey, you busy, cause messing and wise were thinking of watching a movie tonight and wanted to see if you'd join us".

Kazuo text- "sounds awesome, I'll be there in 15".

Belle text- "sounds awesome 🤩".

Kazuo- looks like we're closing up early slick.

He then locked the front door and flipped the closed sign as he headed downstairs, he walked up to one piece poster hanging up on the wall, he then begins tapping the faces of characters.

Kazuo- luffy, zoro, Nami, usopp, chopper, Robin, Franky, brook.

Suddenly a split appear in the poster....as the wall opens to reveal a secert room filled with rows of monitors, tech was lying around and hanging on the wall, a black and white jacket and a high tech mask.

Computer- Welcome samurai.

Kazuo walked up to his chair and sat down as he opened some files and began downloading them. Slick hopped up to his own little chair and sat down next to kazuo.

Kazuo- Did payment come in from our last commission.

Slick- Ne ne eha-na (just came in, looks like they left a tip too).

Kazuo- Nice, be sure to save them as a good client.

You see, kazuo was a proxy, for you to understand, you need to know about....the hollows.

It's not clear when or how they appeared, but hollows are this worlds way of life, supernatural disasters that can appear out of thin air as giant black domes, swallowing anything into them, but the real horror is the insides of them. Hollows have 3 main dangers to them, number one, spacial anomalies, don't think you can just walk out of a hollow, inside they can distort the space around you, making you run in circles when you runna straight line, create fissures or Rips in space and teleport you to another place in the hollow entirely.....or if your unlucky off the edge of a tall building.

Number 2, ether corruption, the hollows over time can corrupt people, everyone has a different tolerance, but some people are extremely suseptible to it, even machinery can be corrupted, which leads to the number 3 danger, ethereals, the monstrous flora and fauna of the hollows, comprised of living ether, and is the fate of those who stay too long in a hollow, turned into a living ether monster, machine, human, all are able to be turned, and ethereals are extremely dangerous, anything non-ethereal, they attack.

And that is the danger the people of new eridu live with, one day living in their homes till suddenly a random hollow appears, but more about the hollows, there are six main hollows around new eridu, from which, they can randomly spawn companion hollows.

But there are people, hollow raiders, who are willing to risk it all to go into hollows to search for wealth, resources or even research data, and that's where people like kazuo come in.

There are two types of ways to enter hollows, the legal way, but that's only for investigators or the defense force, or the illegal way, aka proxy work, proxies supply hollow raiders with hollow data so they can get to their location and find a way out, without a proxy or a carrot, also know as a hollow map, it's extremely unlikely to find your way out of a hollow on your own, and kazuo.....kazuo is one of the best, a top rank proxy known as samurai.

Suddenly a chime sound rang out as kazuo pulled a USB drive from one of the ports.

Kazuo- Latest hollow data copied, let's head off slick.

He and slick then walked out as the wall closed behind him.

" later"

Kazuo- Ah, random play.

He stood in front of the yellow shop from before, a video shop.

Kazuo opened the door as he and slick walked inside, inside was a small store, to the left was racks of movies on shelves and to the right was a counter, behind it sat a bangboo, it was white with one black ear, wore a black jacket and an orange scarfing with the number 18 on it.

Bangboo 18- eha-na. (hey kazuo, slick).

Kazuo- Hey 18.

Slick- Ne ne ne ne (what's up).

?- Hey kazuo.

Kazuo then looked over as a guy got up as he picked up a stack of movies, he had gray hair, wore a black t-shirt with a logo on it and a blue and orange jacket.

Kazuo- Hey wise, it's been a while.

Wise- Yeah it has, how's the shop.

Kazuo- Good good, totally haven't been getting smacked din the face with robots.

Slick- eha-na (optimus prime would beg to differ).

Kazuo- Zip it wabbit season.

Slick- "chuckles".

Wise- Belle is in the other room.

Kazuo followed wise as they walked up to the door next to the counter, a slide visor opened on it as bangboo eyes looked at them before it closed and the door swung open, the room looked similar to kazuo secert base, just bigger with an added tv and couch space, some lockers and a desk, rows on monitors covered the wall, a laptop placed in front of them all.

Kazuo- Got any new commissions lately....patheon.

Wise- A few, what about you, samurai.

Kazuo chuckled, he, wise and Belle were all proxies, working together and sharing intel for years.

?- Kazuo.

Kazuo grunted as he laughed as someone ran up and hugged tackled him, her turned to see a girl with blue hair with a pink with an orange "N" in it and wearing a black and orange jacket and a black shirt with writing on it.

Belle- God it's good to see you, you need to come over more.

Kazuo chuckled as he pulled out the usp chip.

Kazuo- Well I hope this present makes up for that.

Belle smiled as she took it and walked over to the computer, plugging it in as she downloaded the data.

Belle- This is amazing data kazuo, well have the best routes for the hollows for at least the next 3 weeks, thanks.

Kazuo- No problem, always happy to help my partners in crime.

Wise- Anyway, i was just about to grab the movie, you can make yourself at home till I grab it, i just gotta move some movies into here.

Kazuo nodded as he walked over to the couch and sat down, wise then tossed him a drink as kazuo coached it and opened it, sipping.

Kazuo- Thanks.

Belle then ran over and leaped up before crashing back down, placing her legs on kazuos lap.

Kazuo- Really.

Belle- What, your comfy, what, would your rather it be my head.

Kazuo turned red and he looked away and turned on the news, Belle giggled as she slipping in her earbuds, slick then walked over, climbed up and laid down on top of belles head.

Belle- "looks up and snorts" You comfy.

Slick- Eha-na (amazingly so).

Belle giggled againbas she turned on her music, suddenly the news turned to footage of a hollow.

Reporter- We interrupt your regular programming for this breaking news, and companion hollows has suddenly appeared on fourteenth street, and has already breached level 3 containment.

Kazuo- God these things have been popping up like flies recently.

Suddenly another bangboo walks over, this time with a number one on his scarf.

Kazuo- Hey eous.

Eous- "smiles and waves".

Reporter- The hollows investigation association has dispatched a team to the scene to carry out emergency protocols, evacuation of residents in nearby blocks is underway.

Kazuo- belle you seeing this.

Belle took out her earbuds and looked at the tv.

Reporter- Please stay away from fourteenth street.

Belle- Wise, come check this out.

Wise then walked back in carrying a stack of movies.

Wise- Whats that.

He then looked at the report.

Wise- Fourteenth street, i think the news mentioned it earlier.....give me a sec.

He then walked over to the computer and began typing on it.

Belle- Yeah, in the janus quarter, they say it's already breached level 3 controls.

Kazuo- I feel bad for those people, could be months before their able to shrink it back down.

Belle- Yeah, it's horrible.

Wise- Here, public security was were conducting a manhunt there today, evacuation may not be going as expected.

Kazuo- Hey isn't that red fang gang turf.

Wise- Yes it is.

Kazuo- Yeah it's definitely not going as they planned, the red fangs are nasty.

Eous then hopped into belles lap as she turned to wise.

Belle- So your saying?

Wise- We should all get ready, we'll be seeing some buisness coming our way soon.

Kazuo- So we just play the waiting game.

He then sips his drink.....before suddenly spit taking.

Belle- HOLY-

Kazuo- OH SHIT, I FORGOT, I SHOULD WARN THEM.

Wise- What.

Kazuo then turned to them.

Kazuo- The cunning hares are on fourteenth street.

"Chapter 000: Buisness x Strangeness x Justness"

" Fourteenth street, skyscraper, red fang gang territory".

The scene then cuts to a hallway as an alarm is going off, the three people from earlier were seen running as a spotlight shone on them.

?- GO LEFT.

The trio run down the hall before taking another left, the ran down the stairs with one of the girls sliding down the pole as they continued to run, one guy was the guy who wore a red jacket, Billy.

The other was the girl who wore green armor, anby.

And the third was the girl with pink hair, Nicole.

In her arms was a small safe, she clung to it as they ran down the hallway....before slowly walking back after noticing something.

?- Hmm.

She then chuckled.

Suddenly the sounds of people were heard coming down the hall.

?- Over there.

?- Go, go.

Shadows of a bunch of people running by went by...as the cunning hares poked their heads out from behind a bangboo statue.

They then snuck out with billy clinging to the statue when-

?- CATCH THEM.

?- STOP.

The gang booked it back down the hall up some stairs before turning left down a hallway full of tvs.

Suddenly the camera panned over to a TV where a guy was giving a live interview.

?- Ahem, um, yes..., citizens, I'm the head of the janus quarters public security, currently conducting an operation on fourteenth street, i-i regret to inform everyone that our operation has been disrupted due to the appearance of a hollow, i-id like to remind the public we are in pursuit of the red fangs gang, the group responsible for the terrorist attack on the research institute, these are dangerous dudes- uh, I mean criminals, particularly their leader, Miguel silver, everyone should remain vigilant.

The cunning hares were then seen running by as a reporter stepped in next to the pubsec officer.

Reporter- I AM "BLEEPING" PISSED, AS THIS STATIONS REPORTER I CANT LISTEN TO THIS ANYMORE, THOSE CRIMINALS NEED TO GET "BLEEPING", AS SOON AS WE FIND THEM WE SHOULD JUST "BLEEPING BLEEP" THEM ALL AND THEN "BLEEP" THEM AGAIN.

" BAM"

A door was then kicked off its hindges as the cunning hares walked into another room, he camera panning to a TV above them.

Pubsec officer- E-excuse me mister reporter, I'm still giving a briefing on the case, let me-

Reporter- I DONT GIVE A MOTHER"BLEEP", LISTEN HERE YOU RED FANG MOTHER"BLEEP", DONT THINK THE HOLLOW CAN PROTECT YOU, THE PUBSEC AIR FORCE IS ON THE WAY, YOUR "BLEEPED" is that right officer.

The camera then panned to the cunning hares walking up to a window, anby walked up to it and tapped on it.

Billy- There's a window, boss, we can get out this way.

Nicole- But that's a hollow down there "sighs" fine, a way out is a way out, can you break the glass Billy.

Billy then took out one of his revolvers, spun it before aiming.

Billy- Easy, leave it to me.

" BLAM"

He fired his gun.......as the bullet hit the glass and pinged off.

Nicole- uh-

Suddenly the bullet hit the wire holding up the TV above Billy....and-

" BONK"

Billy- UHH-

He then fell back and collapsed onto the floor.

Nicole- 😑

Anby- It bounced off, this glass must be tough.

Nicole- Damn, I knew it wouldn't be that easy, this window is-

?- "Crying" Reinforced bulletproof glass, you won't be able to break it.

Nicole and anby turned to see the nearby door was blocked by a bunch of thugs.....and a guy sitting down, leaning his head against a bat.....as he cried.

?- "crying" The cunning hares, odd job agency.

He then picked himself up,

?- " still crying" Why-

He then walked past the thugs, he wore a leather jacket and a tie, tears streaming down his face.

?- -Why would you steal from the red fang gang, my men went through so much trouble to...

He then breaks down sobbing.

Nicole glared as she shoved the strongbox under her arm, anby stood in front of Nicole, her arm shielding her while her other held onto her draw sword

Nicole- You stole the strongbox from the institute, we're just returning it to its rightful owner, hey, don't make it sound like we're the bad guys.

?- "still fucking crying" We're all trying to get by on the same streets, why....why would you help the cops.

Nicole- Sorry, but it's not public security that commissioned us, and also that's none of your buisness anyway.

?- "turns aggressive" Of course it is, they had people steal from my territory, so I have to teach them a lesson.

He then threw his head back, tears streaming out again.

?- "crying" W-why don't you just give it back to me, it's so important to us that's im willing to exchance it for your lives.

Nicole- So you need the whole gang armed and ready to handle three people, this is the "silver tears" "snorts and giggles" it's even weirder than the rumors.

She then looked over to one of the gang members and noticed something hanging from his hip as she turned to anby.

Nicole- Wait, is that a flashbang.

Anby- Correct, it's a GS 2 high-lumen military flashbang, the blast is quite strong.

Nicole- Awesome, time to wake up Billy.

Gang member- What.

Suddenly a hand reached up and snatched the flashbang.

Billy- Eyes open everyone.

He then pulled the pin.

Billy- SAY CHEESE.

The flashbang then exploded as the room filled with a giant burst of light, the gang members stumbled back as they rubbed their eyes.

Gang member- WWWWAAAHHH, MY EYES!!!

Suddenly the crying guy got up, rubbing under his eyes.

?- Ahh, so....so you choose to resist, in that case, I have no choice but to-

He then pulls out a sword and rushes them.

?- -KILL YOU ALL!!!

Nicole just stood there....and laughed.

Nicole- Hahahaha, you've made a mistake mister, we aren't your enemy-

Nicole- -That is.

A pubsec helicopter was seen flying just outside the window, then crying guy and they other gang members froze in fear.

Pilot- Falcon 4 to commander, we've arrived at the source of the light and found the red fang gang, repeat we've found the red fang gang, awaiting orders.

Gang member- B-BOSS, ITS THE AIR FORCE.

Nicole then put her hands up to the helicopter.

?- That flashbang just now, IT WAS TO ATTRACT THE HELICOPTER.

Nicole- You finally noticed, "mocking" now it's your turn to choose you crybaby, you can stay and fight us and then get caught by public security or you can run and we all get to live.

The guy glared at them as he clenched his teeth.

?- Damn you, cunning hares.

Nicole- It's in a hares nature to avoid getting caught, don't hold it agaisnt me.

Reporter- What, your found the red fang "bleep".

Everyone then turned to the nearby tv on the ground.

Reporter- THEN WHAT ARE YOU "BLEEPING" WAITING FOR COMMANDER, PICK THE BIGGEST GUN AND RAIN DOWN JUSTICE!!!!

Everone- 0-0

Pilot- Falcon 4, attack order received.

It then fired a missile at the building.

Nicole- I'm done for...

Anby/billy- 😑

Nicole- I mean we're-

" KKKKKAAAABBBBBBOOOMMM"

The room exploded in a bright firey explosion, suddenly Billy and anby are seen falling out of the smoke as they fell down through the air towards the hollow below them.

Billy- I WANNA FILE A COMPLAINT!!!!!!!

As they fell...the strongbox Nicole was carrying was seen falling into another part of the hollow.

" To be continued".

Dj- WHAT AN OPENING, the world of zzz, meeting the proxies, the cunning hares, but how will Billy and anby survive such a fall, will they find their way out, where is Nicole, find out all this and more next to on zenless zone zero: The hollows proxy.