Squelch!
[Leader Catfish] bit down on a [Fish Fry], then flicked its tail to scatter a Nen Bullet.
At the same time, it curled its body around like a city wall, blocking most of the bullets and trapping them firmly in its back.
But the remaining unprotected [Fish Fry] were all struck by bullets or Nen Bullets.
The difference was that some were hit in the head and immediately dissolved into white light, while others merely had their bodies shattered, leaving them half-dead in an instant.
Overall, however, this surprise attack had failed to decisively alter the course of the battle.
Instead, Qi Peixin, forced back onto the defensive, began feasting without restraint.
Why does this idiot keep sticking to me? Doesn't he know what that fish will do once it's finished eating?
Dio's face darkened as he darted through the thick fog, occasionally firing a bullet through a gap in [Leader Catfish]'s defenses. A suspicion crept into his mind:
Does he have some backup plan that'll let him get away unscathed?
Behind him, Lakshya stuck to him like glue, matching his movements and staring intently at him.
During a brief break in the thick fog, Lakshya had already gotten a clear look at the man's face-he was none other than the target Lakshya had come to kill!
I never expected to run into him here...
While seizing every moment to replenish his aura, Lakshya pondered how to make these two men fight until both were badly injured.
Of course he knew that, once Qi Peixin finished devouring everything, the two of them would be next.
But he wasn't worried. He and Marol had a carefully rehearsed tactic they had practiced for a long time, one that could keep them alive even against an unbeatable enemy.
This building couldn't remain sealed forever. In other words, as long as he reunited with Marol and used their tactic to evade the enemy, surviving would be no problem!
That guy called Dio... I need to find a way to feed him to that stupid fish...
A vicious gleam flashed in Lakshya's eyes. That way, he could complete his mission and seize the chance to pull the Thread End and flee!
Dawn seemed to have arrived already. Lakshya was certain he was about to score an enormous victory!
Although Dio sensed the malicious gaze behind him, he paid it no mind. Or rather, most of his attention was focused on [Leader Catfish].
It's changed. The mechanism controlling it...
It's no longer vibration. Then what is it?
He stared fixedly at the enormous fish as it chewed madly. After losing the initiative, every bullet he fired had been blocked.
The Ripple vibration source he had used to draw its attention had accomplished nothing. It kept him firmly in its sights as though it had wall hacks.
It's not vision. I've been in the fog the whole time... It's not heat either. It didn't react to Crimson Ripple Overdrive at all...
Dio was starting to get irritated. The wild dog behind him kept clinging to his heels, waiting to feast on his corpse, while the ugly fish ahead wouldn't take the bait and seemed able to see through everything.
Suddenly, an inconspicuous detail caught his attention.
[Leader Catfish] made a small but distinctly deliberate sweep of its tail, brushing the bullets it had just blocked out of firing range.
Why sweep those bullets away?
Were those bullets threats in its "field of vision" too? Or was there something on them drawing its attention?
Dio glanced at the scattered bullets. What could possibly be on them?
Suddenly, a thought forced its way into Dio's mind, making him pause.
No way. Could it really be that simple and crude?
The next moment, he deftly loaded a magazine-an ordinary magazine!
Bang! Bang! Bang!-
He expertly emptied the magazine, sending bullets flying toward [Leader Catfish]. This time, however, it didn't react at all!
Just as I thought. What it senses now is-[Nen]!
That made sense. After all, a genuine Nen user was hiding inside [Leader Catfish]. With him controlling it directly, it could probably achieve something on the level of [Gyo].
Moreover, since it constantly emitted Nen Aura itself, it essentially eliminated the possibility of a Nen user entering [Zetsu] to escape its field of vision.
Its only flaw was that it couldn't react to attacks that contained no Nen Aura.
That might have been a major problem for an ordinary catfish, but it was no problem for [Leader Catfish], which had Nen Aura Defense.
But what if someone had a way to withstand the oppressive force of [Nen] even while in [Zetsu]?
Dio was just about to act.
"Raaah, hungry-!!"
A terrifying roar, seemingly born of the wilderness, suddenly rang out.
Dio's pupils contracted. Not far away, [Leader Catfish] suddenly unleashed a savage presence, as though it had instantly transformed into an enraged beast.
Its [Ren] surged abruptly, its terrifying presence exploding outward and making Lakshya's eyes widen.
Then its entire body began thrashing like an earth dragon, paying no heed to the few remaining [Fish Fry] that its terrifying strength smashed to pieces on the spot.
Its frenzy was almost palpable.
Something's wrong. It's definitely different now! ×2
Dio and Lakshya reached the same conclusion almost simultaneously. Some unknown change had definitely occurred in [Leader Catfish].
Now it was nothing more than a mindless beast, acting entirely on instinct!
With that presence, that strength and speed, there's no way to fight it head-on!
The thought had barely formed in Lakshya's mind when he saw the terrifying beast turn toward him and Dio.
"Hungry-!!"
At that instant.
The instant that horrifying presence locked onto him, every shred of hope vanished from Lakshya's mind, leaving only one thought-run!
Without hesitation, the terrifying beast charged toward him... toward the spot in front of him!
Good! My tactic worked. It's going for that guy!
Now's my chance! I've already won!
Without hesitation, Lakshya reached out and pulled free the Thread End Marol had left on him. Instantly, he felt an immense force drag him backward.
His entire body abruptly flew backward, as though some invisible rope were tugging at his back, hurtling toward the doorway far faster than [Leader Catfish]'s headlong charge!
Feeling himself already airborne, Lakshya finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Then, with a hint of smugness, he turned to look at the spot where Dio had been standing.
Just one last check that the fish killed him...
Lakshya suddenly froze. Within his field of
vision, the place where Dio had been standing was completely empty!
At the same time, he suddenly felt his body grow heavier, as though something weighty had latched onto his back.
An arm abruptly swept across his vision and locked tightly around his throat!
What?!
Lakshya's pupils contracted sharply. Instinctively, he turned his head and looked straight into a pair of ice-cold eyes!
Before he could react, a voice reached his ears.
"Hey, making a getaway? Take me along."
Before you continue