Investigator Training Course/Stages/Knowledge Theory Courses

Hollow Investigator combat courses are naturally accompanied by danger. When there are many Ethereals or large groups of enemies, projectiles and attacks can come flying at you like rain in a storm. How to dodge just when an opponent is attacking, or call for assistance from squad members to counterattack, is the first lesson that all investigators must learn.

The above process of turning from defense into offense, rapid offensives from investigators, chained attacks done in cooperation with each other, all these feats of teamwork will bring the squad into optimal condition and accumulate a battle spirit known as Decibels. When Decibels reach their maximum (usually 3,000) it means that the squad has reached an optimal battle condition. That's when you can internally decide on a tactic of advancing, selecting one squad member to consume all Decibels in a powerful, ultimate offensive.

Please don't think that the one who deals the ultimate or finishing blow is the MVP. Hollow investigation isn't a basketball match.

How to use Disorder reactions to rapidly clean up the battlefield is something all investigators must learn.

Physical strikes, burns, freezing, electrifying, and imbuing Ether particles all subtly affect the combat ability of individuals in the Hollows. When these influences stack to a certain degree, they'll cause a unit to enter an Anomaly status.

When opponents have more than one Anomaly, these different attributes will react, instantly erupting within. This causes a massive amount of damage in an instant. That's the principle of Disorder. That means if an investigation team possesses multiple attribute abilities, they can consider using Disorder as their core strategy.

Please note, turning lights on and off, blowing wind, and punching the ground are not considered Attribute Anomalies. Please do not be misled by fiction and attempt to use it in real combat.

Hollow Zero, along with Cretan, Lemnian, Hawara, Pursenas, Solove, and Papago, these are the names of the great Hollows that currently exist in New Eridu. All investigators should take note.

The new Hollows that appear in New Eridu are basically all Companion Hollows of these great Hollows. That's a basic truth that gives value to all these Hollow investigations and Hollow activity suppression operations. Investigators can often find fissures in Companion Hollows that lead to their parent Hollow, and eliminating powerful Ethereals in the parent Hollow can lead to lower activity in the Companion Hollow. During missions, apart from Carrots, this kind of knowledge can also help an investigator find a safe way out.

Though Hollow Zero isn't a place where any normal investigator would be allowed, but all investigators should keep in mind that Hollow Zero contains multiple pathways that connect different great Hollows together. If you accidentally enter Hollow Zero while exploring one of the great Hollows, please contact your Bangboo immediately.

That way, even if you can't find your way back, you can at least record your last words.

Among the many enemies investigators encounter in the Hollows, there's one kind that needs a special introduction: Ionized - Doppelganger.

They have some ability that allows them to read memories of lifeforms, and the special Ether particles on their surface gives their form extreme malleability. In other words, they can take on human forms to a degree where it's nigh impossible to tell them apart, and even nearly perfectly replicate that human's combat prowess.

There's an urban legend among investigators: while investigating a Hollow with teammates, one leaves for the bathroom, and a Doppelganger returns. Right now, let's set this straight — this is no urban legend but a common occurrence. Disguising itself as a friend to backstab you, or reading your memories and turning into what you fear most, these are all common tactics used by the Doppelganger.

Below are several methods to use to counter the Doppelganger's schemes:
* If a Doppelganger disguises itself as a friend, slap the friend as hard as possible across the face. If they don't react, it's a Doppelganger. If they're actually your real friend, immediately kneel down and apologize.
* If a Doppelganger transforms into your worst fear, immediately repeat to yourself, "Bangboo out of battery are terrifying." If successful, it will turn into a Bangboo that has ran out of battery. If unsuccessful, at least you will die thinking of adorable Bangboo.
* If a Doppelganger transforms into you, immediately strip yourself of all weapons and equipment and it will also become equipmentless. Then, I guess you can just punch each other or something.

The variety of monsters in the Hollow is extensive, and the types we've discovered so far are likely just the tip of the iceberg. Therefore, if you encounter an unknown type of creature in the Hollow, congratulations! You may have discovered a new species. Please immediately activate the recording function on your companion Bangboo to document the appearance, size, combat skills, and battle scenes of this new type. This will help HIA accurately recreate the virtual model of this species, assisting other Hollow investigators in defeating it.

HIA will award substantial prizes to each investigator who discovers and provides information about a new species. Of course, if a Hollow Raider discovers a new species, they will also receive a reward, along with a medal. However, Hollow Raiders usually don't wait for the staff to hang the medal around their neck; they leave as soon as they receive the prize, knowing that the medal often comes with Public Security personnel.

We must clarify that previous claims of seeing a giant Golden Bangboo in the Hollow are considered baseless fantasies and cannot be recognized as new species.

Additionally, self-produced performances cannot be recognized as new species either. Hiring an actor and disguising them with colorful hollow light bulbs to pretend to be an Ethereal is not a good idea.

The investigator course is coming to an end, so perhaps we should talk about the most important quality for an investigator: self-preservation.

Exploring the Hollow is no joke. Every small Hollow has swallowed hundreds or even thousands of people. Often, the supplies and treasures we find in the Hollow are simply remnants left behind by the unfortunate souls who perished here. Losing a Carrot (life support item) can render many investigators helpless in the Hollow. Those with good luck might get help from passing colleagues or Hollow Raiders, while those with bad luck may slowly turn into Ethereals in despair.

Therefore, when investigating the Hollow, always keep in mind the following: do not enter unknown areas unprepared, carefully manage your Carrot data, and avoid any form of Ether Corruption. The investigators who survive in the Hollow are not necessarily the strongest, but rather those who know how to ensure their own safety.