The night was as thick as ink that would not dissolve.
Not a single star was visible.
Peijin, the capital of the East Gorteau Republic.
It was now a monster fortress through and through.
Unidentifiable wreckage floated in the outer moat.
Mutated vines covered the towering palace walls.
Knov pressed himself against the cold, damp wall.
He kept his breathing as shallow as possible.
He even forcibly suppressed his heart rate with Nen.
He pushed up the glasses on his nose.
Tiny beads of sweat covered the lenses.
He had been lurking in this area for three full hours.
To place a Hide and Seek exit as close to the throne as possible.
He had to skirt every Soldier Ant patrol route.
Ahead lay the final stretch of corridor leading to the central hall.
An ornate red carpet covered the floor.
Only now, it was littered with dried, dark-red clots of blood.
Four Chimera Ants with mantis forelimbs patrolled in crossing patterns.
Knov hid in the shadow of an enormous stone pillar.
His stomach began to spasm.
It was a physical reaction to extreme tension.
He took a handkerchief from his pocket.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I can't make a mistake.
If I'm exposed, there's no coming back...
Ten seconds later.
At the instant the two patrol groups passed each other.
A blind spot opened up for a full two seconds.
Now!
Knov drove hard with both legs.
His whole body skimmed low across the floor.
Without a sound, he slipped behind a pillar halfway down the corridor.
He extended his right hand.
Highly concentrated Nen aura gathered in his palm.
He pressed it against the wall and quickly traced a quadrilateral.
A ripple passed through space.
A small exit marker was successfully set.
Knov let out