Troublesome Black Runes

Unlike Hunter Associations.

The Exorcism Team is a special department targeting things with abnormal Nen Abilities.

However, such organizations that favor government departments often share a common problem: internal power struggles.

This is contrary to the Hunters ' innate adventurous nature, which drives them to seek the unknown.

Each captain in the Exorcism Team immense power.

Power does not simply come from appointments by superiors, but must be backed by real strength, namely... the team members under their command.

In this first tentative exploration of the Ruins.

One of the team leaders, whose team consisted of twenty men, lost six of them. Another member of the rescue team was also killed.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see the high risks associated with this "Gandor Ruins"!

In their line of work, this often happens.

High risk doesn't necessarily mean high reward...

This situation is different from the cases they've handled before; past experience is no longer relevant, and continuing to explore will undoubtedly result in significant losses.

Out of aversion to loss, they also hoped that the Hunter Association would share these losses.

Kannari Rin noticed what her subordinates were thinking.

Even though she was very indignant, as a leader, she understood that this matter couldn't be forced.

Then...

The Hunter Association members who had been driven away were "invited" back.

Jin followed in the group, his eyes calm, but he had already guessed what was going on.

It seems... they've already scouted the area below...

Were there any casualties during the battle with those monsters?

Throughout the entire ordeal, Netero's expression remained unchanged. This old man, who had experienced so much, was not surprised by this and remained calm and composed.

Kannari Rin meets Netero again.

Although he was not as arrogant as before, he spoke in a deep voice right from the start.

"Netero, the information the Hunter Association gave us was incorrect. The way these monsters spread their infection isn't just through cannibalism..."

Netero raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Group Leader Kannari Rin, could you please tell me in detail what happened...?"

"My sixth squad just organized a team to explore the cave and encountered monsters. Moreover, they discovered that the monsters are currently evolving, having grown fleshy wings and the ability to fly. The monsters are not very strong; even ordinary weapons can kill them."

"But... we still haven't figured out how they spread."

"Seven members of my squad were infected after just one encounter with them, becoming part of the monsters in mere seconds."

As she spoke, Kannari Rin clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and she said in a deep voice.

"Next, I hope the Hunter Association members can get involved and work together to find the vector of the monster; otherwise, we cannot afford this kind of loss."

Even Netero frowned upon hearing Kannari Rin's words.

He was also aware of the Exorcism Team members.

Unexpected.

Seven Nen users have been killed in such a short time; this Ruins is truly dangerous.

"The Hunter Association naturally has an inescapable responsibility in this matter."

"However, we also need to investigate further..."

"I'm speaking slowly, "Netero said.

Kannari Rin nodded; she had no command authority over the Hunter Association.

The group quickly arrived at the cave entrance and got closer.

"For some reason, these monsters dare not leave the entrance of this Ruins, which is good news for us, at least for the time being, we don't have to worry about the monsters running away and spreading."

Kannari Rin spoke up, but Gin, who was standing next to her, was not as optimistic.

Based on what Egina had previously reported to him...

These monsters have clearly undergone a further transformation through "worship," and the fact that they can fly further confirms this hypothesis.

So... let's just leave it like this.

If they continue like this, no one knows how it will eventually evolve.

Jin touched the backpack behind him, which contained "Dark Sonata".

He originally intended to use this item, combined with the sealing technique of the God Script), to temporarily seal this place.

However, things have already changed, and simply sealing it away is only a last resort. It would be better to try and see if the Hunter Association and this Exorcism Team can completely eliminate it.

"Meng, you go and scout ahead!"

At this moment, Netero sensed the Malice emanating from the entrance of the Ruins cave, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke to a Hunter behind him.

Hearing his words.

A burly man carrying a long, rectangular pottery jar came out, his expression remarkably calm, and nodded.

"Yes, Chairman!"

The next moment, under everyone's watchful eyes, he took the pottery pot off the ground, placed it on the ground, wrapped his Nen around his palm, and opened the lid of the pot.

"Buzzing..."

The next moment, swarms of locusts flew out from the sky. If one were to observe them with a condensation technique, one would discover that these locusts all possessed Nen.

"Go!"

The Hunter named Meng narrowed his eyes, pointed forward, and then closed his eyes.

He is a manipulator-type Nen user, but he also possesses emission-type abilities.

Although his combat capabilities have been significantly reduced, his reconnaissance capabilities have increased by more than one level; locusts are his eyes.

Combat ability is not a metric that every Nen user wants to improve.

Sometimes, for the needs of the team, some Nen users will even proactively develop their Nen Abilities into support abilities.

Nothing is absolute.

"Buzzing..."

The Exorcism Team were also watching, their expressions equally solemn, as they noticed the dense swarms of locusts flying into the Ruins.

They also hoped that there wouldn't be too many unexpected incidents.

At first, the locusts flew into the burrow, and everything seemed normal.

With its eyes closed, Meng kept relaying information to everyone present.

"Proceed fifty meters, no unexpected situations. The surrounding area mainly consists of stone carvings, with a very strange style. I'm not sure if they belong to the Gandor Dynasty."

"Advance one hundred meters, and we've spotted the monsters. They're ahead. As Group Leader Kannari Rin said, these monsters do indeed have fleshy wings growing from their backs, but there's no reaction yet."

"Advance 150 meters. My flying locusts are emitting Nen fluctuations. They seem to sense it, and several monsters have stood up."

"As for the rest... they seem to be... mating..."

"President, was this mentioned in the previous intelligence reports?"

Everyone present was startled upon hearing Meng's words.

These monsters, transformed from infected humans, are mating?

What are they trying to do!?

Do you still want to have children?

A chill ran through everyone!

Before Netero could answer, Meng's voice became slightly hurried.

"They've started attacking me!"

"Their attack methods are rather limited... pouncing, clawing..."

Suddenly, the grasshopper covered its ears tightly, its face contorted in pain. Seeing this, the surrounding Hunters quickly offered their concern.

"Hey, are you alright?"

Meng shook his head vigorously and said in a trembling voice.

"It's a decibel attack similar to that of bats. I'm not sure if I saw it correctly, but these monsters also seem to have Nen..."

His words startled everyone present.

In their understanding, Nen is a special ability that only humans can exhibit.

Even many humanoid or large Magical Beasts that live on the continent cannot master Nen!

Otherwise, government agencies would have already massacred those Magical Beasts.

"Meng, tell me in detail what you discovered..."

Netero inquired earnestly.

Meng frowned, closed his eyes tightly, and said in a deep voice.

"Yes... those black runes on their bodies, upon closer inspection, seem to have a flow of Nen within them."

"However, it's extremely faint, and it seems somewhat different from common Nen. I'm not entirely sure..."

However, he was unaware that danger was approaching.

Even locusts.

After prolonged contact with the monster, the black runes had quietly transferred to the locust's body.

"This is probably the best we can do. Most of my locusts have been wiped out, and there are too many monsters. Continuing to explore is pointless."

"These monsters are probably attracted by the fluctuations of Nen..."

"Compared to Nen, perhaps modern weapons are less likely to agitate them."

Upon hearing his words, Jin, who was standing to the side, thought of Ian had just finished a battle a few days earlier.

Regarding modern weapons...

Ian's cannons really impressed him...

After Meng finished speaking, a short while later...

Swarms of locusts flew out, and the monsters chased them to the edge of the cave entrance, but then retreated back inside.

Everyone present also saw their pale, ferocious faces.

In just over ten days, these monsters, originally humans who were infected, had their faces distorted to the point where they no longer resembled human features.

Just as the grasshopper was about to retrieve the locusts.

"Etc!"

At this moment, Jin spoke up to stop them. His expression was solemn, and his eyes shone with golden Nen as he carefully examined the flying locusts.

The grasshopper hadn't reacted yet.

"Whoosh!"

A rainbow-colored phantom flashed past Jin, and he controlled a flying locust in mid-air.

The crowd was puzzled.

Jin's expression turned somewhat grim, and he said in a deep voice.

"These locusts... are already infected..."

He gestured for everyone to watch.

Meng's expression changed slightly.

There, the black runes on the wings of locusts, which were controlled by a bubble of Nen in mid-air, twisted and turned eerily like leeches.

"Hiss..."

Everyone gasped!

And very quickly, when the black rune came into contact with the Nen bubble, the bubble burst rapidly.

The Nen user acted decisively, placing a finger in front of his mouth and spitting out a burst of Nen fire. Soon, the locusts were burned, and the black runes dissipated in the Nen fire.

Jin frowned upon seeing this and said...

"These black Seals can be spread through Nen; this must be the medium of infection..."

"Perhaps... fire can destroy them..."