Possessions Left Behind After Death

That curtain was like an inverted sky.

As it enveloped the forested mountains, it also suppressed the pitch-black Post-Mortem Nen surging up from the Temple.

No matter how violently that Post-Mortem Nen thrashed and charged, it could never cross the curtain reflecting the brilliant starry sky.

After several attempts, it retreated in silent opposition, then drooped down toward the ground.

In the forest.

Ken and Sivir no longer wore that calm, confident look of victory from before.

They were certain that the Post-Mortem Nen descending from the sky, radiating a terrifying aura, was surely the power attached to the "King's Balance."

But that intensity—

Was far off from the intelligence in the operation report.

Had it grown?

And what was that curtain reflecting the brilliant starry sky?

No time to ponder these things. Ken and Sivir exchanged a quick glance.

"Get out of here!"

In an instant, they reached a consensus.

Seizing the "King's Balance," eliminating the troublesome "Zodiacs"—

None of that mattered more than getting away from here right now.

Ken and Sivir decisively abandoned the mission and sprinted toward the foot of the mountain.

Yet—

The Starry Sky Curtain descending from above, and the Post-Mortem Nen falling toward the forest, were both far faster than them.

"Futile struggle."

Hawk watched Ken and Sivir fleeing in panic, a twitch at the corner of his mouth as he threw Ken's earlier words back at him.

Then, He strained to look up at the beautiful, moving Starry Sky Curtain.

"Elena... the 'Nen' you left behind has grown stronger again..."

No wind stirred the forest. No insect chirped. The silence carried his barely audible murmur far.

Under Hawk's gaze, the Starry Sky Curtain descended straight down.

Its unbreakable boundary, from this moment on, not only sealed off the entire scenic area but also sealed off Ken and Sivir's will to survive.

The Qinglin Squad was a legendary hunter group that believed the strong ruled.

After breaking away from the Hunter Association, they had kept a low profile for decades, quietly amassing power.

The Ten Heavenly Stems, the core members of this group, were essentially counterparts to the Hunter Association's Zodiacs.

Thirteen years ago, to seize the "King's Balance," the Qinglin Squad had sent two Stem members without hesitation, never expecting...

The operation ended in miserable failure, with both Stem members sacrificed.

Now, With the Starry Sky Curtain enveloping the entire scenic area, the outcome of thirteen years ago was being reenacted.

The Qinglin Squad had once again suffered heavy losses.

The bowl-shaped giant black curtain stood silently, the brilliant starry sky flowing across it suddenly freezing still, as if time had stopped.

At the foot of the mountain.

Moyu and Cheadle, who had tumbled out of the straight passage, both stared blankly at the black curtain sealing off the entire scenic area.

The frozen starry sky made it look like a night sky dotted with stars.

"Hawk..."

Moyu gritted his teeth, his emotions tangled like a ball of thread. Suddenly, he thrust his hand hard against the curtain.

Sizzle—

Where his palm met the curtain, black electric currents abruptly shot out, while a tremendous repulsive force sent Moyu flying backward.

Having already used up his Nen Exorcist opportunity, he no longer had absolute suppression over "Post-Mortem Nen."

And the Post-Mortem Nen standing before him, in terms of intensity, was no weaker than the "King's Balance" trapped inside.

Seeing Moyu sent flying, Cheadle flashed over in an instant, catching him in time and stopping his momentum.

"It's useless, Moyu..."

Cheadle held him tightly, speaking softly:

"That's Elena's 'Nen Space,' the type that requires meeting conditions to enter or leave freely. Now that it's grown stronger after death, the original rules no longer apply. Probably... only a Nen Exorcist can open it."

With that, Cheadle silently stared at the frozen stars on the curtain.

Seeing his friend's Nen again after more than a decade stirred complex emotions within her, and she couldn't help but think back to Hawk's final feat.

Given the situation at the time, it truly was the only choice that could protect Moyu.

"I was wrong."

Cheadle said to herself in her thoughts.

She reflected on the preconceived, harsh judgment she had once held toward Hawk.

At the same time, she also questioned whether it was truly a good thing to willfully squander Nen Capacity and talent solely for the sake of forging achievements in one's field of work.

"..."

After listening to Cheadle's explanation, Moyu fell silent, then broke free from her embrace and once again approached the Nen Space constructed from the Starry Sky Curtain.

"Squeak..."

A weak, feeble cry suddenly sounded behind them.

Moyu and Cheadle's expressions both jolted, and they swiftly turned around.

There, round and plump Rat Treasure was lying on the ground, the Nen swirling around its surface in an extremely unstable state, as if it could dissipate at any moment.

"Rat Treasure!"

Light shone in Moyu's eyes as he rushed over in quick steps, gently scooping Rat Treasure into his arms.

Cheadle followed to his side, looking at Rat Treasure, which still persisted, with considerable surprise.

This meant—

Hawk's "aura" was still there!

"Squeak, squeak..."

Rat Treasure looked up at the Starry Sky Curtain, its large eyes seemingly hiding some indescribable emotion, but the tip of its tail could no longer muster the strength to form an expression of gas.

Its cries were clearly growing weaker.

Moyu deliberately ignored this, holding Rat Treasure a little tighter, muttering to himself, "You're still here, which means Hawk is still alive..."

"Squeak..."

Rat Treasure withdrew its gaze, turning instead to look into Moyu's eyes, as if gazing at something familiar.

It slowly raised a small, chubby paw and gently pressed it against Moyu's chest.

Then—

Like a bubble bursting, Rat Treasure's round body scattered into dispersing specks of light.

Moyu's encircling arms suddenly closed on empty air.

Cheadle watched the dispersing specks of light, opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word, silently watching Moyu instead.

Ding, ding ding—

A sapphire-blue, crystalline bead fell to the ground, emitting a pleasant sound.

Moyu, in a daze, looked at the blue bead and instinctively clenched his fist.

What a remnant meant.

He knew all too well.

Cheadle also looked at the blue bead, realizing it was what remained after Rat Treasure's body had scattered, and naturally associated it with the conditions for generating a "posthumous remnant." Her face showed concern as she looked at Moyu.

Moyu silently picked up the blue bead, and the moment he touched it, he seemed to sense something.

He lowered his head, staring at this bead that he considered more beautiful than any gem.

"Cheadle."

Slowly closing the bead into his palm, Moyu suddenly looked at Cheadle, his tone so calm it betrayed not a single ripple. "Tell me more about Elena and the Qinglin Squad."

"Moyu, you..."

Cheadle frowned slightly, hesitating.

Then, She noticed the look in Moyu's eyes and was taken aback.

It was a look—

One that brooked no interference, a look of unwavering intent to destroy something.

"..."

Cheadle found herself momentarily speechless.

If she could read his thoughts, she would have heard the voice in Moyu's heart at that moment—

The bead left behind by Rat Treasure was not a posthumous remnant!