Unsatisfactory

Kids who understood "Nen abilities" weren't exactly rare.

But kids whose abilities suited combat and whose overall combat strength was exceptionally high were especially uncommon.

This was something every experienced Nen user knew.

Besides, Cole had been decapitated.

So from the very start—

Genbul had never underestimated Moyu.

Even so, he'd taken a heavy loss under that three-way coordinated assault.

Now, as he charged at Moyu again, though furious, Genbul's focus was razor-sharp.

His gaze locked onto Moyu, while not missing Hawk's presence or that shadow-like Nen ability.

In the previous exchange, if not for Hawk's two Nen bullets, he definitely could have guarded against the shadow attack and killed Moyu outright.

This time, he just needed to factor in everything, including those black Nen arrows, and close the distance!

"You won't get a second chance!!!"

With that thought burning in his mind, Genbul's eyes saw only Moyu and Hawk.

He would finish both of them in one go with his next attack.

"Pat."

And then—

He suddenly heard that pleasant, adorable sound ringing right by his ear.

Before he could react, his neck went cold, and he felt his whole body flying into the air, his vision spinning wildly.

"What... happened to me...?!"

Genbul, sensing himself ascending, wore a blank, bewildered expression.

As his vision rotated, he suddenly saw his own body frozen mid-sprint on the ground, and plastered all over it were glowing red straight-line marks.

"That's—"

Confused and dazed, Genbul tried to see more clearly, but the encroaching darkness drowned his consciousness.

Thud.

A massive head fell from midair to the ground.

He'd accounted for every factor he should have guarded against, yet died miserably under a sudden, out-of-the-blue ability.

Truly tragic.

"Pat, pat..."

Rat Treasure padded over on silent, tiny steps to Genbul's severed head.

Exhausted, it tilted its head slightly, studying the head.

After a moment's thought, it scooped the head into its arms and trotted happily toward Hawk, who was leaning against a tree trunk.

"Pat!"

Reaching Hawk, Rat Treasure held up the head like a trophy, the air mass at the tip of its tail forming an excited expression.

"Ah, right..."

Seeing this, Hawk raised his blood-drenched left hand and gently stroked Rat Treasure's head, saying softly, "Sorry, Rat Treasure, it's been so long since I took you 'treasure hunting.' You must have been bored out of your mind."

"Pat!"

Rat Treasure lifted the head again, its tail wagging back and forth.

Hawk gave a helpless smile and reached out to take the head.

Seeing Hawk accept it, Rat Treasure bounced around happily on the spot, its short little paws hitting the ground without making a sound.

Right now, it was truly exhausted.

But no longer having to labor over suppressing the "Post-Mortem Nen" made it feel light all over.

Moyu watched Hawk and Rat Treasure from the side, his expression quite grave.

"Hawk, what do you mean?"

From the moment Rat Treasure appeared and killed Genbul, Moyu had understood the meaning behind Hawk's earlier words.

This was throwing caution to the wind...

"I can't care about that anymore."

Hawk slowly met Moyu's gaze, his voice soft but filled with resolve: "Moyu, to me, you living well matters more than anything... cough."

As he spoke, Hawk coughed violently, bright red blood spilling from his mouth.

He was too badly injured...

Hawk finally stopped coughing and said in a low voice:

"Listen, Moyu... In a moment, I'll have Rat Treasure open a passage to send you two out. Since my 'aura' is running low, the passage won't last... more than three seconds, and the distance it can cover is very limited... Still, it's enough to get the two of you out..."

"Hawk."

Moyu looked at Hawk and said in a deep voice, "Don't go making decisions on your own over there. If we're leaving, we leave together."

"Ah, you brat... Born just as clever as your mother, so don't be stupid at a time like this. What I'm saying here is my dying wish."

Hawk grinned, showing a mouthful of bloody teeth, his face utterly relaxed.

"..."

Moyu pressed his lips tightly together.

Yes.

There was no other way.

But he still clung to a sliver of hope.

"Rat Treasure it..."

Before he could finish, Moyu suddenly felt a surging, powerful aura, and his body instantly tensed.

He snapped his head toward Cheadle, only to see Sivir, enveloped in that overwhelming aura, charging straight at them.

"So she couldn't be stopped after all..."

Moyu's expression shifted.

With his current physique, if he were so much as grazed by an Enhancer's aura of that level, he'd either be dead or crippled on the spot.

Hawk also saw Sivir's astonishing aura.

"Elena... that 'Nen space' you left behind back then should be able to protect our son one more time..."

A resolute light slowly welled up in Hawk's eyes, leaving no room for anything else.

"I can't stop her!"

Cheadle's face twisted in shock.

That even greater Manifestation Aura gave Sivir an even stronger burst of speed.

As a result, Cheadle simply couldn't intercept Sivir in time, and could only watch helplessly as she barreled toward Moyu and Hawk.

"Finally, a proper opening appears, Dog of the Zodiac."

Kane stepped forward, and at that moment, he slashed at Cheadle with his fastest and strongest strike.

Cheadle's pupils sharply contracted.

Because Kane's previous fighting style had been so insidious and vicious, Cheadle had remained highly vigilant against him, and had even anticipated that Kane might have hidden techniques.

This incoming slash was certainly stronger than any before it, but Cheadle was mentally prepared. She took a small leap backward, dodging at the very last moment.

However—

After his slash missed, Kane actually let go of the hilt, letting the long blade fly toward Cheadle.

If one strike fails, discard the blade and attack.

In the varied battles of Nen users, this kind of move, while uncommon, wasn't anything special.

Besides, Cheadle could react with just her insight. A simple sidestep was enough to avoid the flying blade.

"Excellent."

Kane smiled, raising his arm. The Nen缠绕 on it underwent a change in性质, extending in the form of a blade.

Just as the thrown long sword swept past Cheadle, Kane used his palm as a blade and slashed through Cheadle's body from a distance.

Chii!

Blood splattered!

Cheadle let out a muffled grunt, suddenly retreating to create distance, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

"Sigh."

Kane stopped in place, looked down at the sharp extended aura blade on his palm, then turned his gaze to Cheadle, who had been cut open by the aura blade. He sighed, "Truly worthy of being one of the Zodiacs."

This was his second sigh of admiration.

So much setup, so many contributing factors.

All of it was preparation for this killing blow, and yet at the very last moment, Cheadle still managed to avoid fatal damage.

"How did you detect it?"

Kane looked at Cheadle and asked with a smile.

Cheadle's face was slightly pale, and she said word by word, "That line of yours, 'We're both Enhancers,' was too deliberate."

"I see."

Kane's smile deepened.

"Though the result isn't ideal, it's enough. The Zodiacs are about to lose one member, it seems."