Chapter 40

Children who understand "Nen ability" are not uncommon.

However, children whose abilities are well-suited for combat and who possess exceptionally high overall combat skills are particularly rare.

This is something that experienced Nen users all know.

Moreover, Cole was beheaded.

So from the very beginning—

Genbu never underestimated Moya.

Even so, he suffered a significant loss under the combined attack of the three.

Now, as he attacked Moya again, despite his intense anger, Genbu's attention was very focused.

His gaze was locked on Moya, while he did not overlook the presence of Hawk and the Nen ability that resembled a shadow.

In the previous exchange, if it weren't for Hawk's two Nen bullets, he would have definitely been able to guard against the shadow attack and take out Moya directly.

Now, he just needed to consider all the factors, including the black Nen arrow, and then close the distance!

"You won't get a second chance!!!"

With this thought in mind, Genbu's eyes were fixed only on Moya and Hawk.

He intended to resolve the situation with these two in one go in the next attack.

"Pa-ji."

Then—

He suddenly heard this pleasant and cute sound ringing in his ear.

Before he could react, his neck felt a chill, and he felt himself flying into the air, his vision spinning.

"What... is happening...?!"

Genbu, feeling himself rising, was utterly bewildered.

As his vision rotated, he suddenly saw his body frozen in a sprinting position, and he could see the body covered with glowing red straight marks.

"That is—"

Genbu, confused and puzzled, tried to see more clearly, but the darkness that followed engulfed his consciousness.

Thud.

A large human head fell to the ground from mid-air.

Despite considering all the factors he needed to guard against, he was brutally killed by an unexpected ability.

Tragic, indeed.

"Pa-ji, pa-ji..."

Rat-treasure took silent, small steps and approached Genbu's head.

Already exhausted, it tilted its head slightly to examine the head.

After a moment's thought, it picked up the head and walked happily toward Hawk, who was leaning against a tree trunk.

"Pa-ji!"

In front of Hawk, Rat-treasure held up the head like a treasure, and the gas ball at the end of its tail showed an excited expression.

"Ah, that's right..."

Seeing this, Hawk raised his blood-stained left hand, gently stroked Rat-treasure's head, and said softly, "Sorry, Rat-treasure, it's been so long since I took you 'treasure hunting,' you must have been so bored."

"Pa-ji!"

Rat-treasure held up the head again, its tail wagging.

Hawk smiled helplessly and took the head.

Seeing Hawk take the head, Rat-treasure happily bounced around on the spot, but its small feet made no sound when they hit the ground.

It was actually very tired now.

But not having to deal with the "post-death Nen" anymore made it feel much lighter.

Moya watched Hawk and Rat-treasure with a serious expression.

"Hawk, what do you mean?"

From the moment Rat-treasure appeared and killed Genbu, Moya understood what Hawk had meant earlier.

This was a last-ditch effort...

"I can't think about it anymore."

Hawk slowly met Moya's gaze, his tone light but filled with determination: "Moya, for me, your well-being is more important than anything... cough, cough."

As he spoke, Hawk began to cough violently, fresh blood gushing from his mouth.

He was severely injured...

Finally stopping his coughing, Hawk said softly:

"Listen carefully, Moya... I will have Rat-treasure open a passage to get you out. Since my 'aura' is almost depleted, the passage will last no more than three seconds, and the distance it can cover is limited... but it's enough to get the two of you out..."

"Hawk."

Moya looked at Hawk and said solemnly, "Don't make decisions on your own. If we're going, we're going together."

"Ah, you kid... you're as smart as your mother, so don't be foolish at a time like this. These words are my last will and testament."

Hawk smiled, showing a mouth full of bloody teeth, his face relaxed.

"..."

Moya tightly pressed his lips together.

Yes.

There was no other way.

But he still harbored a glimmer of hope.

"Rat-treasure..."

Before he could finish, Moya suddenly felt a powerful and surging aura, and his body instantly tensed.

He looked sharply toward Kido and saw Shiver, enveloped in a surging aura, charging over.

"Can't stop her, huh..."

Moya's face changed.

With his current condition, if he were to be hit by that level of enhanced aura, he would likely be crippled, if not killed.

Hawk also saw the astonishing aura of Shiver.

"Ilana... the 'Nen space' you left behind should be able to protect our son one more time..."

Determination slowly filled Hawk's eyes, leaving no room for anything else.

"Can't stop her!"

Kido's face changed dramatically.

The even more powerful aura gave Shiver greater explosive power.

This meant that Kido couldn't stop Shiver in time and could only watch as she charged toward Moya and Hawk.

"Finally, a 'qualified' opening, Dog."

Kain stepped forward and, at this moment, delivered the fastest and strongest slash at Kido.

Kido's pupils contracted sharply.

Because Kain's previous attack style was too devious and vicious, Kido had always been on high alert against Kain and had anticipated the possible hidden moves.

This slash was indeed stronger than any of Kain's previous ones, but Kido was prepared and managed to dodge it at the last moment by leaping backward.

However—

After the slash missed, Kain released the hilt of the sword, letting the long sword fly toward Kido.

Failing to hit, he discarded the sword and attacked.

In the varied battles of Nen users, such a move, while uncommon, was not unheard of.

Moreover, Kido could react with his insight and simply sidestepped to avoid the flying long sword.

"Great."

Kain smiled, his arm extended, and the Nen wrapped around it changed in nature, extending in the form of a blade.

As the thrown long sword passed in front of Kido, Kain used his palm as a blade and slashed through Kido's body from a distance.

Swoosh!

Blood splattered!

Kido grunted and suddenly retreated, leaving a trail of blood on the ground.

"Ah."

Kain stood still, looked at the sharp, extended aura blade on his palm, then at the wound on Kido's body, and sighed, "Truly worthy of the Twelve Earthly Branches."

This was his second sigh.

So much preparation, so many assisting factors.

All for this decisive strike, yet Kido still managed to avoid the fatal blow at the last moment.

"How did you notice?"

Kain looked at Kido and asked with a smile.

Kido's face was slightly pale, and he said slowly, "Your words 'both of us are enhancers' were too deliberate."

"I see."

Kain's smile widened.

"Although the result is not satisfactory, it's enough. The Twelve Earthly Branches will lose one member."