Parallel Paths, One-Punch Victory

The roars from the Snake Nest finally faded into the distance.

The five leaned against the damp rock wall, gasping for breath.

Every one of them was a mess.

The muscles in Gon's fists were strained, and his hands trembled slightly.

Kurapika's internal injuries had yet to heal, and blood still stained the corner of his mouth.

Killua had pushed Godspeed too far, leaving his breathing ragged.

Leorio's legs were weak, and he had no strength left.

Even Genos's armor bore several new scratches.

"Ha... ha..."

Leorio braced his hands on his knees, struggling to catch his breath.

"We... we finally got out..."

Even his voice was shaking.

That giant serpent had nearly swallowed him.

The thought still sent a chill through him.

Gon lowered his head and looked at his trembling fists.

Fivefold Spinning Rock.

A new move he had struggled so hard to develop.

Against that serpent, it hadn't even counted as a scratch.

The wound he had finally managed to inflict had healed in three seconds.

He had never felt so powerless.

"Don't dwell on it."

Killua patted him on the shoulder.

"That thing was never something we could handle yet."

"A level 11 Fierce Beast with endless regeneration."

"Anyone else would've had the same problem."

That was what he said.

But his brow was tightly furrowed too.

This was only a cave on the First-Layer Coast.

In the Second-Layer Inland, even the weakest beasts started at level 20.

How terrifying would that be?

Kurapika took a deep breath and forced down the blood surging in his chest.

"All right," he said. "Keep moving."

"The Underground River is just ahead."

He pointed toward the end of the passage.

A faint light shone there.

They could hear running water clearly, too.

Damp air washed over them.

The Abyssal