Postwar A-Rank

The battle is over.

The village was in ruins, covered in sores and phlegm.

Many buildings tilted and collapsed, and even those that still managed to stand were riddled with all sorts of holes and damage.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood.

The ruins were littered with the carcasses of wild animals of all sizes; not a single one of the animals left in the Village was still standing.

The enormous Biscuit threw the giant wolf she was dragging onto the ground with a loud "boom," kicking up a cloud of dust.

She looked around, and the villagers on both sides, caught by her gaze, unconsciously took a few steps back.

"Tsk."

Biscuit clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction; this was why she hated her true self.

As a Gem Hunter, and a female Hunter x Hunter with a persistent pursuit of beauty, her true appearance is hardly pleasing to the eye.

She spent a lot of time and effort to hide her true appearance and transform herself into her ideal self.

The Griffin slowly descended from the sky.

Men Qi leaped down from above, and the Griffin vanished instantly.

"It's finally over," Men Qi said, panting.

Fortunately, the [Surging Potion] usually restores all Nen Aura when its effect ends.

Buhaci also came over, and at this moment his physique had undergone a dramatic change.

After all the fat was burned off, she no longer had that round, chubby appearance. Her body became angular, with large muscles faintly visible.

His gaze fell on Biscuit's muscles, sizing her up and down.

Sensing Xiahara's gaze, Biscuit clenched her fist, sending him a silent threat.

Buhaci gave an awkward laugh and quickly looked away.

The change in her physical appearance seemed to have even made her personality a bit rougher.

"Phew, it's over." Melusina, who was being dragged along by the White Snake and sitting next to Kevin, muttered to herself.

She almost never fought.

And since this Nen ability was newly generated, she simply issued commands.

This put a lot of pressure on her.

Kevin, who was in a state of "absolute" despair, smiled and said, "Congratulations, you're free."

When making potions, Kevin is generally quite free except when he is in a "perfect" state and needs to continuously supply Nen Aura, but he cannot be too far away.

"The Curse... has the Curse disappeared?"

A villager looked at his hands and murmured to himself.

"It's gone! That feeling of being Curse is gone! We're free! We're free!"

Another villager shouted excitedly, his voice growing louder and louder.

Oh, oh, oh! Freedom!

"Are we allowed to get out now? Are we?"

"Whispering..."

"Haha, that's great!"

The villagers were emotional, their cries and shouts mingling together, creating a cacophony of sounds.

At this moment, they desperately needed to release their pent-up emotions. Seeing this scene, Melusina couldn't help but shed tears. She hugged Kevin tightly, burying her head in his back, and said in a muffled voice, "That's wonderful—"

Soon, the villagers, having vented their emotions, began to clean up the battlefield.

Biscuit and the others also came over.

Looking at Biscuit, who was as large as a wall, Kevin couldn't help but focus his attention on her.

"What are you looking at?! Never seen this before?" Biscuit asked in an unfriendly tone.

Kevin gave an awkward laugh and quickly added, "He's quite handsome."

Although Kevin had known for a long time that Biscuit was hiding her true size, he never expected that her original body would look like this.

He used to think that Biscuit only looked older because of her original physique, and that her transformed, smaller body was very deceptive, which was why she chose to hide it.

But to everyone's surprise, his original body was that of Devil Muscleman.

Given Biscuit's personality, it's perfectly normal for her to dislike this body type.

However, this is ultimately her true self, which she can only conceal using her Nen ability.

Moreover, judging from her previous fighting style, it's clear that her combat effectiveness is greatly reduced when she's concealing herself.

Are you alright?

After making a threat, Biscuit looked at Kevin, who was covered in sweat, and asked with concern.

Kevin waved his hand casually. "It's nothing, it's just that the effects of the potion have worn off, and my own Nen Aura is being rapidly depleted, that's why I'm like this."

When crafting high-level potions, if your own Nen Aura is insufficient, the [Surging Potion] is an excellent choice.

Because during the duration of this potion's effect, the consumption of Nen Aura is not a major concern.

This potion, in addition to increasing potential energy levels, also continuously replenishes them over its duration. As long as one doesn't deplete their Nen Aura instantly, normal use through manifest energy will generally provide replenishment.

In other words, although Kevin's potential energy level could barely reach the threshold of 100,000 after drinking the potion, the actual energy level provided during the potion's creation was around 120,000 due to the potion's effects.

Seeing that Kevin clearly needed some time to recover, the group stood up and began to examine the enormous snake body.

Gowen, who had recovered, also joined them.

After all, this is a young creature from the Dark Continent.

However, Kevin didn't have high expectations for the body.

Because it's very simple: before reaching adulthood, the body used by [Resentful Eater Snake] is a product of aggregation.

That is, the flesh and blood body that is formed only when needed is not its true body in essence.

At this stage, it is purely a creature of Resentment. Only after reaching adulthood will it gather a suitable snake body and solidify it. In this way, it increases its chances of survival during its juvenile stage.

At the beginning of the Succession Ceremony, it would almost always discard a body. This behavior is similar to the natural phenomenon of "shedding one's tail to survive," so the body seems to serve no other purpose besides being extremely delicious.

This may be the way to survive in the Dark Continent.

"Are you alright, Kevin? You're getting paler and paler," Melusina said worriedly, holding Kevin beside her.

Kevin smiled weakly and comforted her, "Don't worry, this is normal. I haven't felt like this in a long time."

Finally, the potion was completed.

Kevin collapsed into Melusina's arms, his eyes half-closed in weakness.

The side effects of the previous overdose of medication began to appear; my body became increasingly fatigued, and I slowly fell asleep.

When Kevin woke up again, it was the next morning.

He slept in a relatively intact building. Outside the window, he could hear a lively, bustling noise.

"My back and waist are aching; I haven't felt like this in ages," Kevin complained as he got out of bed.

A vial of medicine was placed in a box on his bedside table.

The liquid in this potion is white, with black lines floating within it, forming a pattern-like shape.

"A-Rank potions, or rather, A-Rank materials, what a pity, they're pretty useless now."

Kevin's current potential Nen Aura energy is far from sufficient, and he will need a long period of training before he can meet the requirements for its use.

Not to mention using this method to convert A-Rank materials into pharmaceuticals for storage.

If you want to recreate it, you might need to upgrade the [Moment's Dream] Nen ability to achieve the effect of secondary creation; otherwise, it will be impossible to use.

However, in any case, it was better than any of the outcomes we had anticipated.

Ultimately, there are gains to be made, rather than achieving the goal through production failures and interruptions.

Kevin put the medicine away and looked out the window.

The area around the square had been transformed into a dumping ground for goods. Large numbers of wild animal carcasses were laid out there, and a makeshift slaughterhouse had been erected nearby.

The Giant Snake's body was being processed. Men Qi and Xiahara were busy nearby.

Judging from Buhaci's physique, he clearly hadn't rested after yesterday's battle and had been busy processing these ingredients.

Looking into the distance, large amounts of building debris were being cleared, and villagers' various belongings and furniture were piled up on the other side of the square. A makeshift stove had also been set up nearby.

"You're awake!" a cheerful voice came from behind.

Kevin turned his head and saw Melusina being held aloft by the White Snake. Lorraine and a Nen Beast Maid were also standing at the door.

At this moment, Lorraine was constantly scrutinizing the Nen Beast Maid.

Melusina suddenly threw herself into Kevin's arms.

Kevin hugged her and then sat down on the edge of the bed.

How were you feeling after the Succession Ceremony was interrupted? Did you experience any problems?

Kevin's knowledge in this area was very limited, so he could only ask Melusina, the person involved.

Melusina shook her head, clenched her fist, and made a bodybuilding gesture.

"It's nothing, in fact, I've become even more capable than before, I don't really understand why."

"Even more powerful?" Kevin asked, puzzled.

Melusina couldn't explain it either, and could only nod helplessly.

"Are you hungry? I made you breakfast."

As she spoke, a white-clad Nen Beast dressed as a maid walked in, dragging a tray.

Kevin looked at the Nen Beast, then glanced at Lorraine.

What I saw yesterday was indeed not an illusion. The four Nen Beasts that Melusina materialized were indeed modeled after the Four Maids, Lorraine and the others, in terms of their outlines and sizes.

It was clearly the emergency situation at the time that led Melusina to choose her closest friends and family, perhaps even subconsciously.

This may have endowed these four Nen Beasts with abilities beyond just combat.

After finishing their meal, Kevin and the two men went downstairs together.

The scene outside remains bustling with activity.

Biscuit sat in the chair, still holding the gem in her hands, turning it over and over incessantly, as if she could never get enough of looking at it.

Is she really that beautiful? That she can make you so captivated?

Upon hearing Kevin's somewhat unappreciative remark, Biscuit turned around and glared at him fiercely.

"Look at the pale red gemstone's outer shell, and the crystalline flow within, as if life itself is bursting forth. Such a beautiful and transparent gemstone is simply among the finest. This raw beauty doesn't even need polishing—"

As Biscuit began her long and detailed explanation, Kevin didn't interrupt; he simply walked over and sat down quietly beside her.

However, when she saw Kevin and Melusina, who was holding Kevin's arm, her attention immediately shifted. She put away the gem, jumped off the chair, and sat down next to Melusina with a curious expression.

"So how did you two meet? Judging by your relationship, you're more than just close friends."

As she spoke, Biscuit, taking advantage of her status as Kevin's mentor, began to bombard Melusina with questions.

Kevin had no choice but to go to the square.

When the villagers saw Kevin, they would all bow to him in a gesture of respect, and everyone greeted him in this manner.

In some respects, Kevin currently enjoys the highest reputation in the Village.

Kevin smiled and greeted the villagers, then came over to Men Qi and the other man.

"You're awake. Take a look at the materials next to you; I took them all from this snake," Men Qi said.

Kevin nodded and touched and examined each of the materials.

As expected, neither the snake's blood, bones, nor flesh gave him that craving.

What's even more interesting is that this snake has no internal organs at all. It is driven purely by the original core and the Resentment entity hidden within it.

No wonder my punches were so weak during the previous fight. They couldn't break through the Scale Armor, and even if the force did penetrate, it wouldn't have any effect.

When I finally touched the scale, that feeling of longing washed over me.

B-Rank.

Sure enough, this was the most crucial element of every body—the tough outer scales. These scales were so hard that even when Kevin punched them, they didn't react at all.

Night fell.

A simple yet lively feast was set up in the square, with a dazzling array of food on display.

Surrounded by ruins, everyone sang and danced, their faces beaming with genuine smiles.

In the center of the venue was a huge piece of roasted meat, about three meters long, taken from a part of the snake, which was the real main course of this feast.

This grilled meat is absolutely delicious.

After tasting it, Kevin commented that he could completely understand why Gourmet Hunter would risk their lives for this one bite.

The deliciousness that Emission simple cooking and grilling is simply unimaginable. It's hard to imagine anything tastier than this roasted meat.

When you put it in your mouth, the texture is like both chicken and fish, tender and bouncy. The meaty aroma that comes with each chew is irresistible.

Simple baking and simple seasonings transform ordinary snake meat into a dish with layers of flavor. The wonderful taste brings happiness.

"A creature of Resentment, whose body produces food that brings joy and happiness when eaten," Gowen said quietly. It was indeed somewhat ironic.

The banquet gradually reached its climax.

Rabik, his face flushed from drinking, picked up his wooden cup, filled it with beer, stood on a table, and shouted excitedly, "The centuries-old Curse has been lifted, we are free, and all thanks to these Hunter x Hunter!"

They will be our friends forever! To our friends!

Everyone raised their glasses and cheered in tribute to Kevin and the others.

Kevin and the others responded with smiles.

The cheers brought the banquet to a climax.

At night.

"Now that the Curse on this Secret Realm has been resolved, the Association should send professionals to take over, and they should then be responsible for the reconstruction of the Village and related matters for the villagers."

"After that, we won't need to worry about it. If you have any further ideas or needs, you can communicate with the villagers yourselves," Biscuit said, looking at Kevin and the others.

She is quite experienced in handling this kind of situation.

Biscuit then looked at Kevin: "I've heard about the last [Spiral] incident, and with the lifting of the Curse this time, you'll definitely get the title of One-star Hunter."

"I've already reported the information here. If I vouch for you, perhaps they can resolve things for you before you leave, once they've finished dealing with matters in this Village."

Kevin nodded; he naturally wouldn't refuse a star upgrade.

Although it may sound like just an Honor title, One-star Hunter still has many hidden benefits.

For example, Hunter x Hunter will have more access to internal intelligence, Association will give priority to these Star Rank Hunter x Hunter for many important events or missions, if possible.

For example, Kevin claims to be Phantom Beast Hunter, and of course, he is undoubtedly Phantom Beast Hunter now.

So, if Phantom Beast causes a crisis or regional harm, the local authorities and the nation will report it to the Hunter Association for handling.

The Hunter Association would prioritize entrusting this task to Star Rank Hunter x Hunter like Kevin.

The greater the crisis and the more important the task, the more likely this consideration will be.

In other words, sometimes Kevin doesn't even need to seek out intelligence himself; relevant information and targets will come to him on their own.

Even the harm caused by various Rare Beast and Demonic Beast sometimes leads to him being asked if he would accept the task of dealing with it—these are all rare opportunities.

Biscuit finished speaking, she reached out and patted Kevin on the shoulder, giving him a thumbs up and laughing, "If nothing unexpected happens, you'll become the fastest One-star Hunter."

Keep in mind, Kevin only became Hunter x Hunter last year.

In some ways, it could even be said that Kevin became Hunter x Hunter and was promoted to One-star Hunter in the same year.

After all, it's only January 2nd.

"Ah, One-star Hunter! That's great. I need to work harder too," Men Qi said enviously from the side.

She became Hunter x Hunter a few years before Kevin.