Price

Even without that fleeting burst of aura, Ken's group could still determine the direction.

Because their companion Genbul's Conjuration ability, "Gambler's Rhapsody," had a mechanism that ensured "absolute wish fulfillment" within reasonable limits when redeeming prizes.

There was no reason it would refuse to "redeem" a jackpot prize in exchange for a desired direction.

That was also why Ken's group had been confident they could determine the direction.

"Location confirmed."

In the driver's seat sat a burly, dark-skinned man with a buzz cut.

This man was Genbul, the owner of the "Gambler's Rhapsody" ability.

"Then we don't need this anymore."

Controlling the steering wheel with one hand, he glanced toward the scenic area before extending his other hand out the window and flinging away a handful of blood.

Ken, seated in the passenger seat, noticed Genbul throwing away the blood and smiled as he praised him. "Genbul, confidence is a good thing."

The blood Genbul had thrown away belonged to Hawk.

"Blood, return to your master."

That was what Genbul had redeemed with a jackpot prize.

They had then followed the blood's guidance to this place, but before reaching their destination, they had sensed that sudden eruption of Grudge aura.

Although it had only lasted about a second, it had been enough for them to determine the location.

That was why Genbul had so confidently discarded Hawk's blood, ending the ability's effect.

Seeing this, Ken could not help praising Genbul's confidence, even as he cursed Genbul internally for randomly losing his mind.

How could Genbul have noticed Ken's true thoughts? He grinned and slammed his foot down on the accelerator.

Accompanied by the engine's beastlike roar, the black car suddenly accelerated and sped forward.

Seeing this, the five black cars following behind could only step on the gas to keep up.

"What the hell is Genbul losing his mind over this time? Leading us down this shitty road was bad enough, but he's still flooring it? Did that brain of his never consider something like a blown tire?"

Inside one of the cars, a long-haired man in sunglasses, who was responsible for driving, cursed under his breath.

Sivir, still dressed as revealingly as ever, sat in the passenger seat.

Already used to Genbul suddenly going crazy, she did not echo the Long-Haired Man's complaints.

Bang!

A deafening crash sounded from ahead.

The Long-Haired Man and Sivir looked toward the sound.

Genbul's car had crashed into a rock wall, and the entire vehicle had been crushed out of shape.

Under the violent impact, Genbul and Ken, as Nen users, were unharmed. However, the three armed members seated in the back of the car were not so fortunate and died on the spot.

"That idiot..."

The Long-Haired Man sighed and then braked to a stop.

He and Sivir got out of the car, while the cars behind them stopped one after another.

"What kind of shitty tires were those?"

Unharmed, Genbul kicked the severely deformed car, utterly unconcerned about the three accompanying armed members who had died inside.

Ken stood beside him.

He held a long black-sheathed blade in his hand, his expression calm and unruffled, as though Genbul's infuriating stunt had not affected his mood at all.

The Long-Haired Man walked over, too lazy to even look at Genbul, and said to Ken, "There aren't any extra seats in the other cars. You two can walk."

"It's fine. We're not in a hurry."

Ken smiled faintly, pointed at the sky, which had yet to darken, and said seriously, "Surely no one thinks we're going to act in the 'daytime,' right?"

The Long-Haired Man looked up at the sky, then nodded.

Sivir, who stood behind him, forcibly swallowed the words that were about to leave her mouth.

At the mountaintop of the scenic area, in the Temple courtyard.

It was hard to imagine—

That a zombie face resembling tree bark could display such an abundance of expressions at this moment.

In the end, only Nen Exorcists could truly understand the terror of "Grudge."

Because most Nen Exorcists removed Grudge by first transferring it onto themselves, then sublimating and digesting it.

Such close contact, along with the risks involved, constantly reminded Nen Exorcists what danger truly was.

Arieser had merely taken a close look at the aura emitted by "Balance" and had completely lost the courage to make any further contact with it.

Grudge at that level was absolutely beyond his reach.

Thus, despite subconsciously believing himself superior to others, he had openly admitted his inadequacy after being frightened.

However—

Hawk then pointed out the true target that needed Exorcism to Arieser.

It was not the "Balance" that had just erupted with terrifying aura, but the gaseous expression on Rat Treasure's tail.

The terror on Arieser's face had yet to fade as he slowly looked toward Rat Treasure's tail under Hawk's guidance, saying nothing.

After calming down, Moyu and Cheadle also looked at Rat Treasure.

To them, the strand of aura at the end of Rat Treasure's tail seemed unremarkable, and they could not sense any threat from it.

Hawk did not explain and directly deactivated his ability.

"Accelerator."

The Go Straight Marker above Rat Treasure's head suddenly shimmered with green light.

At the same time, fine blood vessels quietly emerged across the surface of the "aura cluster" at the tip of its tail, rapidly covering the entire mass of aura.

"Paji."

Rat Treasure let out a soft cry.

Before the sound had faded, the aura cluster covered in blood vessels shrank like a deflated balloon, withered, and finally vanished.

At the same time.

Wormlike strands of black Grudge quietly emerged from Hawk's face, neck, arms, and other parts of his body, spreading outward.

Immediately afterward, Hawk's body began to show signs of aging.

The flesh on his face sagged, numerous wrinkles appeared on his forehead, and his thick beard turned white.

In no more than a second or two.

His originally sturdy body had visibly lost a great deal of weight.

Moyu, Cheadle, and Arieser all wore shocked expressions as they watched Hawk's instant transformation.

Aging, death, ashes.

That was the Price "Balance" had imposed upon Hawk.

What was even more terrifying was—

This Price would continue to be passed down through the bloodline.

In other words, once Hawk died, this aging phenomenon would transfer to Moyu.

"Mr. Arieser, I'll have to trouble you with this Grudge attached to me..."

Hawk's voice had become much hoarser, but it did nothing to hide the anticipation in it.

Arieser's eyes trembled as he stared blankly at Hawk.

Everything he had seen and heard today had severely shaken his senses.

"I..."

Arieser hesitated.

He wanted to refuse, but the pride he had cultivated over many years tugged at his thoughts.

"I'll give it a try..."

In the aged state, Hawk immediately let out a sigh of relief. At least there was hope now.

"Hawk."

Moyu strode over and supported Hawk's aged arm, his gaze complicated.

Whether to perform Exorcism—

The choice arising from the depths of his consciousness seemed like an inborn instinct, without the slightest sense of discord.