Chapter 498 Let Me Give You a Piece of Advice...

Some people have a presence that chills others to the bone, instilling a fear that pierces the soul.

For example, Hisoka and Illumi.

The palpable malevolence they exude, amplified by their Nen, forms an Aura that ordinary people cannot hope to resist. This Aura was the root cause of why Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio found themselves unable to move.

Then, there are those whose presence brings a comforting warmth.

For example, Moses who walked out of the woods at this moment.

His arrival instantly dispelled the sense of danger Killua and the others felt. It was no exaggeration to say that he was the dawn of light that pierced through the darkness.

Illumi looked at the solid and stable Nen on Moses's body, and a slightly surprised expression appeared on his face.

During the first phase of the exam, he actually looked at Moses a few more times, partly due to his attention-grabbing Netero mask.

But at that time, he had dismissed Moses as just another ordinary person without Nen.

But now-

'Disguise?'

Illumi lowered his eyes slightly and felt cautious.

'Being able to disguise himself as an ordinary person so perfectly means that his control of Aura has reached a very high level.'

'This person… is strong!'

With just the difference between 'disguised' and 'true' Auras, Illumi could make a rough judgment of Moses's strength.

Or, more precisely, he had a minimum awareness of Moses's strength.

A Nen User capable of precise control over their Aura was unlikely to be weak. This was a fundamental truth.

'I miscalculated. It seems that I won't be able to get the Hunter License in this phase.'

A gloomy Aura like black smoke emanated from behind Illumi as he murmured in his heart.

He originally thought that the most unpredictable factor affecting his 'plan' was Hisoka, but he didn't expect that among the group of pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered, there was a fierce tiger hidden that even he didn't realize.

This miscalculation forced him to choose between the 'Hunter License' and 'bringing Killua home'.

That is to say...

The situation had spiraled out of control, and, on top of that, Killua had learned Nen.

For someone like Illumi, who have to keep the situation under control at all times, this situation was like a perfectionist staring at a shattered puzzle with dozens of missing pieces- a complete disaster.

"You're reminding me of some rather unpleasant memories."

Illumi's cold, pitch-black gaze locked onto Moses, who was wearing the Netero silicone mask.

Since the day he set foot on the path of an assassin, no matter how difficult the commission or whatever he needed to do, he had always kept the situation under control.

Except-

There was a name that he least wanted to hear… a name associated with the bitterness of unexpected defeat.

But more than the defeat, what he could not tolerate was the loss of control.

Just like now...

Illumi couldn't shake the memory of that name from his mind.

As a result, the killing intent rising from his heart grew even stronger and more intense, as if it was about to materialize, like a dark, viscous substance swirling around him with a silent scream.

Faced with Illumi's raw killing intent, Moses remained unaffected, though it was torturous for Killua and the others.

A Nen User's Aura filled with intense killing intent could, from a distance, kill those without Nen.

This was evident from Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, whose bodies shook uncontrollably, struggling to stand firm.

Even Killua, traumatized by Illumi's looming threat, trembled as sweat poured down his face.

"Mo… Moses..."

Killua involuntarily called out Moses's name.

But he quickly realized and clamped a hand over his mouth.

This reflexive call wasn't Killua fault.

After all, how could a boy, who had spent so long struggling in the shadows, possibly keep his cool when faced with a ray of hope?

"Moses?"

The intense killing intent emanating from Illumi wavered slightly.

That name- it was precisely the name he least wanted to hear.

And now, he had heard it spill from Killua's mouth.

"It's alright, Killua."

Moses spoke up at the perfect moment to reassure Killua. Then, with Illumi's icy, murderous gaze fixed on him, he slowly raised a hand and removed his Netero mask, smiling as he said:

"This mask is pretty fun, but it's not very breathable. Wearing it for too long does get uncomfortable."

"So, it's you..."

Seeing Moses taking off the silicone mask, Illumi's eyes suddenly gleamed with a predator's hunger, and his voice turned ice-cold: "You are the only person in the world who can actually get on my nerves."

From Killua's involuntary shout, Illumi had recognized Moses' identity, and then saw the true face under the silicone mask.

Illumi felt a mix of astonishment and wariness.

But more than anything, his killing intent towards Moses burned even hotter.

"So if you keep thinking about it, there will be a response. Isn't that why I'm here?"

Facing the cold killing intent that was directed towards him, Moses held the mask with his index finger, unfazed, and replied in a calm voice:

"Besides, people often say that 'third time's the charm'. Illumi, let me give you a piece of advice... Now, as long as you run away without looking back, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."

"…"

Illumi was silent for a moment.

Then-

An even more tangible killing intent erupted from Illumi, and the turbulent Aura expanding like a torrential wave, spreading violently and raising a gust that lifted his long, black hair. His normally pale face contorted slightly within the dark Aura.

This elite from the Zoldyck Family eventually lost his composure after being provoked by Moses's few simple words.

'Dark and twisted.'

'His Aura, laced with extreme killing intent, could destroy an ordinary person's will from a distance.'

Moses took a step forward, letting the Aura mixed with killing intent to fully envelop him.

"Can't help those who refuse to be saved."

With a soft sigh, Moses tossed the Netero mask to Killua behind him and said calmly: "Isn't the test still ongoing? Why are you still standing there like an idiot?"

"Ah…!"

Killua, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio snapped out of their daze, casting fearful glances at Illumi's terrifying Aura before looking at Moses's back.

Everything before their eyes-

Was far beyond what any of them, weaklings, could comprehend.

They had to get out of this terrifying place!

With that realization, the four of them finally took their first step to leave this place under Moses's reminder.

As for the boar lying on the ground...

Even leaving was hard enough, let alone carrying the prey.

Illumi noticed Killua and the others retreating, but he did nothing to stop them.

It wasn't that he didn't want to- it was that he couldn't.

Illumi kept his eyes fixed on Moses, recalling his father's warning to avoid provoking him again.

But now, it was Moses who had chosen to provoke him!

"I will absolutely, absolutely kill you."

Illumi let loose his murderous resolve toward Moses.

From the moment Moses appeared in his mask to the instant he removed it and spoke so arrogantly, a minute or so had passed.

During this period, Illumi had been radiating killing intent but hadn't taken action.

It's not that he didn't dare act rashly, nor is it due to fear, he was simply waiting for his Needle People to arrive.

Likewise, Moses had refrained from making the first move as he awaited the return of his shadow clones.