Hisoka's Game Begins!

A sinister and eerie mist drifted before their eyes, and what sent chills down the spines of the Phantom Troupe members were the ghosts that seemed to be alive, clinging to them like maggots.

Some climbed onto them, some tugged at their trouser legs, and some circled around them, emitting eerie howls... However, these ghosts had no physical form, so they posed little threat, and many of their movements passed through their bodies like smoke.

But... this scene is too bizarre.

A blurry, featureless ghost face pressed against Pakunoda's eyes, staring directly into her gaze... Despite having no eyes, she seemed to sense the ghost's emotions—its mockery, its ridicule... It kept waving its hands, grabbing at her hair, as if trying to drag her into the thick fog.

Move! Run! The same thought crossed the minds of every Spiders member. Without Chrollo's orders, the moment Oboro appeared, they were to immediately evacuate the battlefield... This was Chrollo's command! He hadn't told them this in front of Hisoka, but had prepared for the worst.

Although... this operation, in any case, seems to have ended in victory for their Phantom Troupe.

But Chrollo still made responses and decisions for everything he could think of, and even things he couldn't.

Yeah... we should run.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Pakunoda's cheek, from his chin... The man standing on the palace dome was terrifying.

It exceeded their expectations...

This difference in aura is perceptible not only to those Nen user, but also to an ordinary person.

It is simply an existence that cannot be reached.

She stiffly turned her head and found that her companions were also frozen in place, just like her. Although everyone's expression was different, their trembling pupils all revealed their unease.

Panic...

Having weathered many storms in the past, and possessing exceptional mental fortitude, they would never have faced such a predicament... These brief few seconds were enough for the group to make a dozen different reactions, and some even scattered and ran far away.

The reason they stayed in the same place was because... they were just like her.

The brain is urging you to perform certain actions... but your body is malfunctioning.

"I have to do something... remind my companions."

In an instant, Pakunoda saw Chrollo slowly closing his eyes, as if resigned to his fate, and another thought flashed through her mind.

"We can't stay like this... completely intimidated by the opponent's aura. Our comrades need some stimulation."

"We need a signal to restore body temperature and get the mind back on track!"

At this moment, a sense of awareness or mission led the woman, whose strength was not the most outstanding in the Phantom Troupe, to be the first to respond.

With a whoosh, she raised the silver Pistol in her hand and aimed it at Long, who was standing high in the sky.

The trigger was pulled.

A bullet pierced the barrel and shot towards the target.

She knew... that her shot wouldn't be able to harm Oboro.

But... she had already achieved her goal! As soon as the gunshot rang out, the Phantom Troupe members, whose limbs had been numb and stiff, snapped back to their senses in an instant, as if the thick layer of ice that had been binding their bodies had melted and shattered.

Above, Long casually extended two fingers, a slight smile playing on his lips. He pinched the air with his fingertips, precisely catching the bullet aimed at him. A wisp of smoke rose from his fingers as he flicked them, sending the spent cartridge flying.

Pakunoda's move was a signal to the other members! An unspoken understanding.

The Shalnark and their companions turned around quickly and ran away.

After firing, Pakunoda didn't even check if the bullet had hit its mark before turning his head away...

Everyone's movements were remarkably synchronized.

But the next second... time stopped.

Because... the obscurity above the dome disappeared.

Without a sound or a bang, the man appeared out of thin air right in the middle of them.

She landed lightly, one hand in her pocket, not even the sole of her shoe fully touching the ground... The world in the eyes of the Phantom Troupe had already lost its luster.

The scene seemed to freeze at that moment.

Feitan, Shalnark... everyone's pupils slowly dilated as Oboro appeared.

The hand of Oboro, exposed to the air, resembled a black whip, and swung it with Inazuma... Then, the space where everyone was located was like a torn photograph, stirred up by a sharp blade.

Pfft!

Pakunoda suddenly felt weightlessness and exhaustion. She saw that her chest cavity had been ripped open by several scratches, bursting out a dazzling spray of blood.

She could clearly see that her internal organs were being torn apart by the tearing sensation.

Her mind went blank.

The Shalnark was still in the raised-foot position when half of his face was sliced off...

The half of his head that flew off, with one eye that seemed to still have some function, was able to see the limp, fallen Shizuku, the blood-splattered kneeling Pakunoda in front of him, and... Feitan who seemed to have reacted and was dodging... but not completely avoiding it, with a third of his upper body flesh cut off from his left shoulder to his waist.

"Commander..."

Before his head hit the ground, the Shalnark caught a glimpse of Chrollo standing motionless in the same spot.

Then, he lost consciousness.

Everything happens in milliseconds.

When Oboro finally stood on the ground, the Spiders around him sprayed blood, as brilliantly as blooming fireworks, and fell backward one by one.

These people were all within his attack range... including the Shadow Beasts controlled by the Shalnark, which he also killed.

With his current finger strength, the use of combat techniques, and the power and critical hits of his Nen... the Phantom Troupe would be unable to withstand him.

Oboro used Flash.

Of the six people, three died suddenly... The only ones who were unharmed were Machi and Chrollo.

Feitan did not die immediately, but he was paralyzed on the ground, bleeding profusely from half of his body... He didn't have much time left to live.

Chrollo was the only one who didn't struggle.

Too fast...

Before Machi could even dash out, her companion was already dead before her eyes... This plunged her just-recovered mind back into an icy abyss, leaving her unable to move.

My fingers are so numb I can't feel anything...

The fear that arises in one's heart is magnified infinitely.

A very clear fact is at hand: in the face of absolute power, running away is useless.

Ghostly figures darted about like flies drawn to a stench, instantly swarming towards the corpses of Pakunoda and his companions... howling incessantly, displaying boundless excitement.

"Killing someone on my turf... there's no way you can get away unscathed."

Oboro slowly turned around, looked at Chrollo, and smiled slightly.

Chrollo felt a chill in his heart.

He opened his closed eyes and stared at the corpses of his companions. There was no panic, no fear... it was just death.

Just a moment ago, he and Machi should have died too...

The reason I let them go... wasn't out of Oboro's mercy.

It's because of Hisoka... Hisoka has already stated that Oboro will create a battlefield where no one will interfere for the two of them.

As for Machi... she probably benefited from Hisoka's fame as well.

Whether the Spiders were completely wiped out was of no importance to Oboro... because from beginning to end, they were not a threat to this man.

This is a game... a game that was designed long ago.

The Fills Family used them to eliminate the Ten Dons and the old gangsters... This made it easier for the Oboro to take over the world's underground forces.

Because if the Ten Dons were killed by the Fills Family, once the news gets out or arouses suspicion, it will have a huge impact and pose a hidden danger.

But if the blame is placed on the Phantom Troupe, and then the Fills Family acts like heroes, personally killing the murderer... avenging their colleagues and upholding the gang's dignity, then it's a different story.

The Fills Family's prestige will soar to unprecedented heights.

Coincidentally, at this time, the old gang forces that originally belonged to the other Ten Dons, that is, all these gang bosses, were dead... and the gang was leaderless.

This entire criminal organization would be easily taken over by the Fills Family.

In short... from beginning to end, they were all working for Oboro.

The Ten Dons and all the gang leaders who died today were merely bait to lure the Spiders. Oboro first fed and watered them, letting them revel in the victory of slaughtering the gangs, believing it had dealt a fatal blow to the Fills Family and to Oboro himself... At this seemingly perfect moment, this man reappeared... bringing... despair! There is a key point here: Hisoka! If Hisoka hadn't disguised himself so well and cooperated so cleverly... the Phantom Troupe could have avoided this disaster.

Thinking of this, Chrollo looked up at Hisoka.

But then they discovered that Hisoka's gaze was fixed on Oboro, his eyes unfocused...

Even Illumi, who had facial paralysis, was shocked.

"So... neither of them knew about Oboro's strength."

Chrollo suddenly realized.

As long as I don't die, I will eventually become stronger.

Every death is a step towards growth...

Chrollo muttered something to himself.

The "I" he refers to here is the Spiders, and the entire Phantom Troupe.

He had deduced from Oboro's actions and plans that if he could kill Hisoka... at least he and Machi could leave safely.

Oboro walked over to Chrollo's side, and seeing that he remained calm despite the situation, praised him, "Your composure is quite remarkable..."

Can I make some preparations?

Chrollo glanced at Hisoka and asked.

He was seeking Oboro's opinion.

He knew that Oboro would agree.

"Can."

As soon as Long raised his hand, a gap appeared in the swirling Ghost Mist, revealing a path.

At the end of the road stood a person.

Quake arrived late.

"Is it him?"

"Long asked."

"That's right, it was originally prepared for you... but now it seems it's useless," Chrollo said calmly.

The scene was something Quake couldn't understand... The captain was standing side by side with that man.

Machi appeared unharmed, but the woman seemed dazed, keeping her head down the whole time.

Feitan, on the other hand, was bleeding from his mouth and barely breathing...

Supporting his slumped body with only one arm, he seemed to be losing consciousness.

The blood gushing from the wound pooled into a crimson puddle beneath Feitan.

"Let's begin."

Chrollo said something to Quake.

The latter came to his senses, though his mind was in turmoil and he couldn't sort out his thoughts, he still walked up to the corpses of his companions... Then, under everyone's gaze, he watched as Quake took a hair from each of Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Shizuku, put it in his mouth, and chewed it.

He then activated his Nen.

A moment later, he opened his mouth and spat out several Candy Bean of different colors.

He got up, walked over, and handed it to Chrollo.

Oboro discovered that after using his Nen, Quake's own Nen had become extremely Exhaust.

Specialization...

Long's heart stirred.

Chrollo swallowed the three Candy Bean one by one.

"Amplification-type abilities?"

He asked with a long smile.

"Although in my opinion, there is a 99% chance that you won't make it in time for this operation... there is still a 1% chance that you will appear due to unknown factors. If you do show up, you will be my trump card against you... at the cost of the lives of several comrades."

Chrollo didn't hide anything, glancing at Quake, "But... your strength exceeded my expectations, so... you won. Otherwise... the outcome would have been uncertain."

"That's very thoughtful..."

Oboro smiled faintly and looked at Hisoka, "You're in trouble!"

Yes... the methods Chrollo originally intended to use against him are now being used on Hisoka.

"Let's go."

Chrollo looked calmly at Hisoka, then turned and left first.

Find a place to fight Hisoka to the death.

In this game, the Phantom Troupe has run out of resources... He must act according to the script planned by Oboro.

Chrollo spoke calmly, but his murderous intent was palpable.

Hisoka bears undeniable responsibility for the disastrous outcome of this operation! He must pay the price for the deaths of the Shalnark.

Hisoka, shirtless, readily agreed with a smile and followed.

"Be careful, I'm not going to save you."

As Hisoka passed by, Oboro teased him.

"I never expected... your strength to have reached this level."

Hisoka stopped in his tracks and looked into Oboro's eyes. "I was actually looking forward to today's battle... but I've realized that you're always the most surprising gift to me."

"Watch closely, this battle is for you... In order to achieve the same level as you in our final performance, I will elevate our show to a new level."

"I'm afraid there won't be that chance... I'm not kidding, you might die at his hands."

He said in a low voice.

"Hehe..."

Hisoka smiled without saying a word.

Then, he looked at Machi, whose body was still trembling, and said, "Don't be nervous, this isn't like you usually are... Hmm... Do you have anything to say about my upcoming battle with your captain?"

"Get out... get out of here!"

Machi's fear came from Oboro, not Hisoka.

Machi had always believed she had become indifferent to life and death, and she was indeed prepared to sacrifice herself... but witnessing several of her companions die before her eyes in the blink of an eye, the feeling of helplessness...

And the impact that Oboro's strength had on her.

The combination of flavors made it irresistible to her.

She kept crying blankly... her mind was completely empty.

Oboro ignored Feitan and Machi and followed Chrollo and Hisoka.

Illumi too.

The farce involving the Phantom Troupe has come to an end.

As for the entire palace, the souls of those Nen who died and fell away were no longer picked up by Oboro himself... because, as the mist and ghostly figures spread, all the souls that had not yet disappeared would be automatically swept away and absorbed by the ghosts.

"Not bad..."

Long chuckled.

The Nen user around the Ten Dons, including the Shadow Beasts, and the few members of the Phantom Troupe who died... these were all the nourishment he gained from this game.

The quantity was considerable, and the enhancement he received was quite substantial.

After the others had gone some distance, Kurapika, looking slightly haggard, finally emerged from the palace.

Hisoka's game has only just begun...

His game of hunting Spiders continues!

Kurapika's reddened eyes saw the dying Feitan...