[Mousa Jama]
You know, whenever I got lost somewhere, I always had my trusted partner–Google Maps.
That guy never failed me. Stuck somewhere? Handled. Wrong street? Handled. In a completely different country where I didn't even speak the language? Still handled. As long as I had Wi-Fi, I was safe.
But this?
This was something else entirely.
I looked around again, slower this time, stupidly hoping I'd notice something different, but no it was the same place for what had to be the third time now. Same broken structures, same layout, same everything repeating like I was stuck in some kind of glitch.
"I'm fucking lost…"
I frowned, rubbing the back of my neck.
"No… not even that."
"I'm stuck."
And that wasn't a guess anymore I knew it.
I had already tried changing directions multiple times, going left, then right, even backtracking just to test it, but it didn't matter. Every path somehow led me back here, like the place itself was folding in on me.
Then, as if mocking me for finally catching on, a notification popped up.
For getting lost: 1 Random Bronze Ticket
I blinked.
"...Seriously?"
I stared at the screen for a second before letting out a tired sigh and dragging a hand down my face.
"Arschloch."
Still… I wasn't about to complain too much. I mean, if I was going to be stuck in some looping nightmare, I might as well get paid for it.
"Damn it," I muttered, grabbing the ticket. "But I'll take it."
I ripped it without hesitation.
The paper tore cleanly in my hand as it dissolved into light.
Rolling
At the same time, that familiar sound echoed again.
Shrrrk
I didn't even need to turn around.
"They're back."
More Ethereals were forming from those cocoon-like masses of energy, their bodies pulling themselves together like something straight out of a nightmare.
"Another fight… great."
I exhaled slowly, my shoulders sagging a little.
God, I was tired of this.
They weren't just appearing randomly, they were respawning. The Ether in this place had to be circulating, reforming them over and over like some kind of broken system that refused to stop.
"…Fantastic."
So not only was I stuck in a labyrinth
I was stuck in a labyrinth with infinite enemies.
"Love that for me."
The rolling began to slow, and I kept one eye on the screen while watching the incoming Ethereals from the corner of my vision, silently hoping for something useful this time.
The light flickered, growing brighter for a moment
Then it stopped.
And I got
[Yellow Chocobo]
|Common Familiar|
Final Fantasy – Chocobos are fiercely intelligent birds that serve as excellent mounts. They can run for long periods without tiring and are as fast as horses. If needed, they can defend themselves with powerful kicks. You receive a breeding pair.
"…No way."
I blinked at the screen, then read it again just to make sure I wasn't hallucinating.
"Chocobos?"
From Final Fantasy?
Of all things?
I paused for a second, letting out a quiet breath as the realization settled in.
"…Actually… why am I even surprised anymore?"
I already had Invisible Air from Fate, so it wasn't like this was the first time something ridiculous had shown up. At this point, pulling things straight out of fiction was apparently just how this whole thing worked.
Still
This?
This was insane.
Two flashes of light suddenly appeared in front of me, and before I could even react, they took shape.
"Piee!"
"Kwee!"
Two bright yellow birds stood there, completely real and very much alive, each with small brown leather seats already strapped onto their backs as if they had always been meant to be ridden.
I just stared at them for a moment, trying to process what I was actually looking at.
" For real."
They tilted their heads in unison, looking at me curiously. One scratched at its feathers while the other let out a soft chirp, like it was waiting for me to do something.
"…Okay."
I slowly pointed at them, still not entirely convinced this wasn't some kind of hallucination.
"You're real."
They chirped again.
I let out a small breath, running a hand through my hair.
"…Yeah. I've officially lost it."
Still…
This was actually kind of amazing.
Carefully, I stepped closer, making sure not to startle them this time.
"Alright… just stay calm…"
Instead of backing away, the two Chocobos suddenly rushed toward me, closing the distance far faster than I expected. For a split second, I thought I had done something wrong and they were about to run me over, but that thought disappeared immediately as they pressed themselves against me with surprising affection.
"Hey–wait—hold on—!"
I couldn't help but laugh as one of them nudged its head against my shoulder while the other leaned in from the side, their soft feathers brushing against my arms and face. The sensation caught me completely off guard.
"Hey, stop that—that tickles!"
They didn't listen.
If anything, they got worse.
Both of them surrounded me, chirping happily as they continued nuzzling me, practically smothering me in what I could only describe as aggressive affection. Their feathers were unbelievably soft–way softer than I imagined almost like pressing against a warm, living pillow.
"…Okay, yeah," I muttered, trying—and failing—to keep a straight face. "You guys are actually amazing."
Chocobos.
I had never really thought about them beyond being some iconic creature from a game, but now that they were standing right in front of me—real, alive, and apparently very friendly—I couldn't help but feel a bit attached already.
"I didn't even ask for you," I said, lightly patting one of them as it let out a pleased sound, "but I'm really glad I got you."
For a brief moment, things actually felt… nice.
Normal, even.
Which, of course, meant it wouldn't last.
A familiar sound echoed nearby.
Shrrrk…
I froze.
"…You've got to be kidding me."
More Ethereals were forming again, their bodies pulling themselves together from those same cocoon-like masses of energy. At this point, it was becoming a pattern and honestly, it was getting exhausting.
"Do these things ever stop spawning…?"
I let out a tired breath, already feeling the strain in my body from everything I'd done so far.
Before I could even decide what to do next, one of the Chocobos suddenly bopped its head firmly against my side.
"…Huh?"
It stepped back slightly and lowered itself, its posture making its intention painfully obvious.
"…Wait."
"You want me to get on?"
The Chocobo let out an eager chirp.
I didn't need to be told twice.
"Say less."
I grabbed onto the saddle and swung myself onto its back, still slightly surprised by how natural it felt. The moment I settled in, the second Chocobo moved alongside us, ready to follow.
Behind us, the Ethereals were already starting to close in.
"Yeah… we're not staying for this."
The Chocobo beneath me shifted its weight—
And then it moved.
Fast.
Really fast.
The ground blurred beneath us as it dashed forward, its powerful legs carrying us away from the approaching Ethereals with ease. The wind rushed past my face, and for the first time since I got stuck in this place, I wasn't struggling to survive every second.
I was escaping.
"…Okay," I muttered, gripping the saddle as a small grin formed on my face. "Now this is what I'm talking about."
"Kwee!"
The Chocobo let out an excited cry and pushed even harder, its speed increasing to the point where the world around us became little more than streaks of motion.
"Whoa—!"
The sudden acceleration nearly threw me off. I leaned forward instinctively, gripping the saddle tighter as the wind slammed into my face. My eyes watered instantly, and my hair whipped wildly behind me.
"Okay—-okay, that's fast!"
The ruins flew past us in a blur, broken debris and shattered structures barely recognizable as we raced through them. Behind us, the Ethereals gave chase, their distorted bodies scrambling forward—but compared to this speed, they might as well have been standing still.
"Yeah, good luck catching us!"
I glanced back just in time to see one of them leap forward, its jagged limb stretching toward us.
"Not today!"
The Chocobo reacted instantly, shifting its path with sharp precision. The attack missed by inches, and the creature slammed into the ground behind us.
"Okay… you're not just fast—you're smart too," I muttered, a grin forming despite everything.
The second Chocobo kept pace beside us as we weaved through the ruins, adjusting direction constantly to avoid debris. Somehow, the one beneath me handled it all effortlessly, like it had done this a thousand times before.
For the first time since I got trapped in this place…
I felt like I actually had control.
Then—
The ground ahead cracked.
"…Wait—"
A jagged fissure tore through the path in front of us, splitting the terrain wide open.
"Not again—!"
At this speed, there was no way we could stop in time.
For a split second, my mind raced, trying to figure out what to do—but the answer came just as fast.
"Jump!"
The Chocobo didn't hesitate.
It pushed off the ground with explosive force, launching us straight upward.
We shot into the fissure–
And just like before, that same strange, weightless sensation wrapped around me.
The world twisted.
Shifted.
For a moment, everything went silent.
Then
We dropped.
[Billy POV]
Bang!
"Another Ethereal down! Justice prevails once again!"
Billy twisted mid-motion, narrowly dodging a jagged strike before spinning on his heel and firing his revolver.
Bang!
The creature dissolved instantly.
"Phew… but man, this is getting out of hand!"
He rolled his shoulders dramatically.
"I seriously need to start counting my bullets… a hero can't fight evil on an empty chamber!"
Things had already gone completely off-script.
First the explosion.
Then getting separated from Anby.
And now this chaotic Hollow dropping him into a battlefield that just kept spawning enemies like some kind of nightmare loop.
"…Yeah. This is NOT how today was supposed to go."
He turned to leave—
Then the ground trembled.
Billy froze.
"…Oh come on."
A massive Ethereal rose in front of him.
Billy slowly looked up.
"…Seriously? You again? Or your big brother?"
He spun his revolver and snapped it into position.
"Alright then! If you insist on being on my way"
He struck a pose.
"Then I, Billy Kid, loyal follower of the Starlight Knights will stop you!"
The giant charged.
Billy dashed forward instead of back.
"Bring it on!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shots rang out as he weaved between attacks.
"Too slow! Way too slow!"
The fight escalated fast—
Then—
The air cracked.
Billy paused mid-movement.
"…Huh?"
A fissure opened above the giant Ethereal.
"AAAH—!"
"Kwee!"
"Piee!"
Billy looked up.
"…Did something just fall out of the sky?"
CRASH.
A boy and two yellow birds slammed onto the Ethereal.
"…Okay."
Billy blinked.
"…I did NOT see that coming."
The boy stood up and looked at him.
"…A robot?"
Billy straightened instantly.
"EXCUSE ME?!"
He pointed at himself dramatically.
"I am NOT a robot! I am a highly advanced android with personality, style, and heroic spirit!"
The boy tilted his head.
"…That sounds like a robot with extra steps."
Billy froze.
"…Wow."
He placed a hand on his chest.
"The disrespect… I'm wounded."
The boy shrugged.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
Billy spun, showing his jacket like a reveal.
"Billy Kid! Defender of justice! Loyal fan of the Starlight Knights!"
The boy nodded.
"Mo."
Billy immediately gave a thumbs-up, his usual energy snapping right back into place.
"Nice to meet you, Mo! Try not to fall from the sky again!"
For a brief moment, it almost felt like things had calmed down.
Then—
The ground shifted slightly.
Behind them, the giant Ethereal twitched.
Not dead.
Not even close.
It stirred, its massive body shifting as it slowly rose again, an agitated energy radiating from it like something deeply irritated had just been woken up.
Billy let out a sigh, rolling his shoulders as he turned back toward it.
"Yep. Evil never rests, huh? That means I, as a Starlight Knight, can't falter or let myself be defeated by villains like you!"
He spun one of his revolvers before glancing at me again, his tone shifting just slightly less playful, more serious.
"Alright, partner… can you fight?"
[Mousa POV]
"Can you fight?" my new ally asked, raising his guns slightly as he glanced at me.
I let out a short breath and tightened my grip.
"Absolutely."
The real question wasn't if I could fight.
It was how long I could keep it up.
I focused for a moment, letting the Invisible Air gather around my hands again. The pressure wrapped around my fists like unseen gauntlets, faint distortions forming in the air as the energy settled into place.
Behind me, the Chocobos let out sharp cries, shifting their stance as if they already understood what was about to happen.
"…Guess we're all in this together."
The Ethereal didn't wait.
It crouched slightly—then launched itself forward, raising both of its massive limbs before slamming down like a falling wrecking ball.
"Move!"
I threw myself to the side just as the ground exploded beneath it, concrete cracking and debris scattering everywhere.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Billy opened fire immediately, his shots tearing into the creature as he moved with surprising speed.
"Hey, ugly! Eyes on me!"
The Chocobos rushed in from both sides, striking its legs with powerful kicks before darting away again, forcing it to split its attention.
Good.
That gave me just enough room to move.
I stepped in, dodging another swing by inches before countering with a strike of my own, the compressed air around my fist cutting into the creature.
It staggered—
But didn't fall.
"…Yeah, figures."
The fight dragged on.
Billy kept firing, repositioning constantly, while the Chocobos harassed it from the sides. I did what I could up close, dodging and striking where I saw openings.
At first, it worked.
Then
My body started slowing down.
My movements weren't as sharp anymore.
My breathing got heavier.
Every dodge felt just a bit late.
Every step just a bit heavier.
"…Damn it."
One of the Ethereal's attacks came faster than expected, and I barely reacted in time.
Bang!
A shot rang out, forcing the creature to recoil just enough for me to stumble back.
"Dude, you okay?" Billy called out.
"Yeah," I exhaled, steadying myself. "We just need to finish this."
Because I couldn't keep this up much longer.
Dragging this out wasn't an option.
So instead—
I stepped back.
Focused.
And gathered the air between my hands.
At first, it was unstable.
Shifting.
Fighting me.
But I forced it together anyway, compressing it more and more until it formed a small, dense sphere between my right palm.
"…This again."
The pressure built quickly.
My arms trembled.
The air distorted visibly.
"Let's see if this works."
Which meant this had to work.
I took a deep breath.
"…Alright. That's enough."
I stepped forward.
Then I ran.
Straight toward the Ethereal.
"Wait—what are you doing?!" Billy shouted, clearly not expecting that.
"Trust me!" I yelled back, even though I wasn't entirely sure myself.
The creature noticed me instantly and swung one of its massive arms toward me, the sheer force behind it making the air feel heavy.
I forced my body to move.
My reflexes kicked in just in time as I ducked under the attack, feeling the pressure of it pass right over my head. I almost lost my balance, but I pushed forward anyway.
One step.
Two.
Three.
Now.
I thrust my hand forward, releasing everything I had built up.
"Take this!"
"Rasengan!"
…Yeah, I really just yelled that.
No regrets.
The compressed sphere exploded outward in a violent burst of pressurized air, slamming directly into the Ethereal's torso. The impact sent a shockwave through the area, kicking up dust and debris as the creature was forced backward for the first time since the fight began.
" Whooo Yes!" Billy shouted from behind it. "Now THAT'S what I'm talking about!"
But I didn't celebrate.
Because even through the dust
I could still see it.
The Ethereal was still standing.
Damaged.
Cracked.
But not gone.
"Oh no ," I muttered, my voice weaker than I expected.
The strain finally caught up to me, and my legs gave out as I dropped to one knee, my arms feeling heavy after releasing the attack.
" That took everything from me."
For a brief moment, it looked like the damage might finally be enough. The creature staggered, its body breaking apart further as glowing fragments peeled away from it.
"…We did it," I breathed out.
Then—
It moved.
"…No way."
Instead of collapsing, the cracks across its body began to glow again. The energy inside it surged violently, forcing its form back together like it was refusing to die.
And then—
It locked onto me.
" Damn it ?" I whispered.
Before I could react, it lunged.
Fast.
Too fast.
I tried to dodge, but my body didn't respond the way I needed it to. My legs felt heavy, my balance off just a fraction too slow.
"…Not like this."
The attack came straight at me.
For a split second, everything slowed.
The sound faded.
My thoughts sharpened.
Is this really how I'm going to die?
Before the strike could reach me
A blade pierced through the Ethereal's body.
Shhk.
The creature froze mid-motion.
Then, in one clean movement, the sword was pulled free and slashed across it again, cutting through its unstable form with ease.
The Ethereal didn't even get a chance to react.
Its body split apart
And dissolved completely.
Gone.
"…What?"
At the same time, a surge of electricity spread through the surrounding Ethereals.
CRACK.
One by one, they disintegrated, their forms collapsing into fading fragments as the energy tore through them.
The battlefield fell silent.
Behind me, Billy's voice rang out—loud, relieved.
"ANBY!"
I slowly turned, my vision still slightly blurred.
My Chocobos rushed to my side immediately, nudging me as if checking whether I was still alive. One pressed its head against my shoulder while the other circled me anxiously.
"…Yeah… I'm still here," I muttered, weakly patting one of them.
Billy walked forward, his tone noticeably lighter now.
"Man, you really showed up at the perfect—"
"Stop."
Anby's voice cut through the moment instantly.
Sharp.
Cold.
Billy froze mid-step.
"…Huh?"
She didn't lower her weapon.
Instead, she raised her sword slightly pointing it directly at him.
"Don't come any closer."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
The relief from seconds ago vanished, replaced by something tense and uncertain.
Billy blinked, clearly confused.
"…Uh. Anby?"
I frowned, trying to process what was happening despite my exhaustion.
We had fallen into a completely different kind of problem.
[End]
Author's Note
Finally finished this chapter. On one hand, I had exams and essays to deal with.
On the other yeah, a bit of procrastination and not always knowing what to write.
There also aren't that many ZZZ fics out there yet, so I couldn't really rely on inspiration
But honestly, since it's set in a Hollow, anything can happen so if something seems random or crazy, I can just blame the Hollow.
Anyway, enjoy the chapter!
Here is a picture of Nicole