Nen Space

He had once said in front of Cheadle, "I'm an Enhancer, just like Sivir"...

Thinking back on it now, that was indeed deliberate, and it was only natural she would pick up on it.

In the ever-changing tide of battle, he had used every available condition and factor to set up a killing blow, and even if it hadn't achieved significant results, that was fine.

What mattered was—

Compared to the restriction of "cannot counterattack," the safety of that father and son in the distance was the far harsher restriction that this Zodiac member had to shoulder.

That was enough.

Otherwise, Keen wouldn't be naive enough to think that a single wound could decide Cheadle's final fate.

Without this crucial restriction, lacking "Gambler's Rhapsody" and "Harvest Time," he and Sivir would have been forced to tough it out, only to have Cheadle drain all their "potential aura" to no avail.

Two Heavenly Stems joining forces, yet it was this difficult to take down one Zodiac.

Maybe Sivir would roar in frustration over that, but Keen couldn't care less about such pointless feelings.

He only cared about the result.

Seize "King's Balance," kill a Zodiac.

A beautiful result.

"Aren't you going to save them?"

Keen smiled as he attacked Cheadle.

In that moment, his body—and even his "aura"—became incredibly sharp.

He was a Nen user who had the least need for a blade, yet he insisted on using one to disguise himself and mislead his enemies.

How could someone like that possibly be an Enhancer...

Cheadle's brow furrowed tightly, but instead of retreating, she advanced, actively meeting Keen's assault.

She had to get to Moyu's side no matter what.

"Once humans are bound by restrictions... they become so easy to read."

Keen's eyes narrowed into slits, but he wasn't surprised at all by Cheadle's decision to advance instead of retreat.

This way, his attack accuracy would increase accordingly.

"Then try to dodge this, my next strike..."

The vast Nen surging over Keen's body, in accordance with his will, granted him the greatest support.

Then—

His arm became a blade, like a fleeting arc of lightning, slashing straight toward Cheadle's body.

This strike, Keen gave it his all; in both angle and timing, it was the most perfect attack of his entire career against an enemy.

Unfortunately—

A doctor's existence... was a profession that picked out even the smallest flaws with meticulous precision.

The strike Keen considered perfect still had a path of evasion in Cheadle's eyes.

She crouched, then surged forward, dodging Keen's blow without any surprise, and continued her momentum toward Moyu without slowing.

"Dodged again."

Keen turned his head to look at Cheadle's retreating back.

On the other side.

Under War Rhythm, Sivir attacked Moyu and Hawk without restraint.

Her surging aura, like a waterfall, provided her with all-around protection.

Moyu's nerves were taut as he stared intently at Sivir.

"In a situation like this, how should I respond..."

As the one bearing the brunt, he deeply felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down on him.

Strategies, schemes.

Any tricks were meaningless at this point.

With all their trump cards spent, they were now helpless.

"No Entry."

Hawk's gaze swept toward Sivir, his voice low.

Hearing Hawk's words, Rat Treasure immediately stopped its bouncing movements, and both its round body and the vertical directional mark on its head glowed with Nen light.

"Plop."

Rat Treasure looked at Sivir, and streaks of red vertical marks appeared out of thin air, pasting themselves onto Sivir's body.

A binding force generated by the appearance of the red vertical marks forcibly halted Sivir's charge.

"Oh?"

Sivir raised an eyebrow, looking down at the red vertical mark bearing the number 3 that had appeared on her body.

Her flowing Manifestation Aura remained unaffected, but she couldn't move.

The instant he used his ability to restrain Sivir, streams of blood burst from various points on Hawk's body.

But he didn't care at all, instead turning to look at Rat Treasure, murmuring softly, "All these years... you've worked hard."

With that said, he turned his gaze to Moyu's back.

"Moyu, from now on... remember to eat your meals on time."

"Hm?"

Moyu spun around abruptly, only to have a green light fill his vision.

"Haw..."

His voice cut off.

His body vanished into the green light.

Hawk's eyelids drooped as he raised his index finger, slowly pointing it at Cheadle, who was charging toward him.

By now, he barely had the strength to speak.

But Rat Treasure understood the meaning of Hawk's gesture.

"Sniff."

Tears glistened in Rat Treasure's eyes, which took up half its rodent face.

"Sniff, sniff!"

Then, its body once again shimmered with the luster of Nen.

"Accelerator"

A vertical mark radiating green light materialized out of thin air before Cheadle.

"..."

Cheadle's gaze seemed to pierce through the green light, landing on the man she had always despised.

She wanted to say something, but before she could speak, the green light whisked her away.

Vanishing from the scene along with her were Rat Treasure and the red vertical mark stuck to Sivir.

This sudden turn of events caught Sivir and Ken by surprise.

"Hey, Ken."

After regaining her freedom, Sivir turned to look at Ken.

"Chase them first. They can't have gotten far."

Ken gave Sivir a direct, affirmative reply.

The items were always there, retrievable at any time, but if the people slipped away, they might never be found again.

Ken walked over, squinting at Hawk, who was slumped half-dead against a tree trunk.

An ability used in this state—how far could it really send its targets?

"Pointless struggle."

"..."

Hawk lifted his eyelids and let out a cold laugh.

Scenes from the past surfaced in his mind.

"Elena, I'm nothing but a useless piece of trash. I always mess things up."

"Hawk, how can you say that about yourself? I can tell you for sure—in my heart, you're absolutely not useless."

"Really?"

"Mhm, because even trash can be recycled, you know."

"..."

The corners of Hawk's mouth twitched upward.

Forgot to tell Moyu...

When it comes to finding a wife, you've got to do it early.

Just then—

From the Temple atop the mountain, an indescribably violent aura erupted without warning.

"!!!"

Ken and Sivir whipped their heads toward the Temple.

Even from hundreds of meters away, they could clearly feel the terrifying intensity of that resentment aura.

"This level of strength... doesn't match what the intelligence report said."

Sivir muttered to herself.

Kane's brow furrowed, a sudden ominous premonition striking him.

He instinctively looked toward Hawk.

But he saw Hawk lift his head. On that face smeared with blood and dust, a pair of eyes filled with deathly stillness stared back at him, as if they already saw him as a corpse.

Kane was familiar with that look.

Damn it!

At the mountaintop.

Amid the surging aura of resentment that shot into the sky, a black curtain dotted with a brilliant starry river abruptly appeared, blooming like fireworks, then descending like a birdcage over the mountain forest.

"Nen Space."

Kane stared at the descending curtain, his expression shifting drastically.