Chapter 67: A Spider's Leg

Phinks savored the aftermath of his victory.

Bloodied, he methodically broke Aldama's bones. Though Aldama had lost the ability to fight, he remained conscious and refused to scream.

Gradually, Phink's interest waned.

This kind of torture was Feitan's specialty.

Feitan excelled at such things.

Phinks had simply wanted to make Aldama regret his earlier arrogance.

Suddenly he stopped when he heard footsteps behind him.

That presence had been there the whole time.

Just watching

Phinks had kept the suited man in his perception.

"Hm?"

He shifted his gaze from his dying victim to glare at Oboro's approach.

"Excuse me, but I'd like to take this person with me. Would you mind?"

Oboro scratched his head and gestured to the examiner.

"What did you say?"

Frost filled Phink's eyes.

"No?" Oboro sighed.

"You seem pretty confident. Want to save him? Try," Phinks grinned. The man in the suit had been one of his targets for a long time. Perfect timing that he'd come forward just as he'd told Chrollo that he and Shalnark would be enough for this year's test.

But before Phinks could finish speaking, his pupils contracted as time and air seemed to freeze.

A black shadow passed him, scooping up Aldama in one fluid motion. Then it dashed to an open space ten meters away and set the injured man down.

Veins bulged on Phink's forehead.

His face burned.

Such speed!

He hadn't reacted, his body instinctively tensing in defense, expecting an attack. Instead, the man in the suit had simply saved Aldama!

"That's better. Hey, still alive?" Oboro patted Aldama's cheek, trying to wake him up. Completely dismissing Phinks.

Such arrogance!

Not only Aldama, but this man as well.

Phinks' blood boiled, he hadn't expected such entertainment at the Hunter's Exam.

"Then die together," Phinks muttered, eyeing Oboro's exposed back.

The man seemed completely unprotected.

Oboro heard Phinks' whisper, took off his sunglasses, straightened up and turned with a smile: "If it were you two little spiders, I might have refused the old man. But with you alone, I'm quite confident."

At "Spider," Phink's expression shifted with interest: "You know us? Are you here for us?"

"No."

Oboro hopped to his feet and stretched. "Just a coincidence, I won't interfere with your business. By the way, I'm also from the underworld. Heard you've been quite active there lately."

Underworld

As Oboro spoke, his mask button made a strange sound.

"Another underworld rat?"

Mentioning the underworld only deepened Phink's sneer; since the troupe's underground debut, they hadn't faced any real challenges - all weaklings.

"Here I come!" Oboro smiled.

He stepped forward and charged.

Phinks raised his arm. Though he looked down at the man, his injuries were significant and the suit's skill was obvious. Better use his ability to be on the safe side. A direct hit should kill him.

The aura around Oboro rose like flames and transformed.

It formed a massive shadowy figure that enveloped him.

The hero, Wukong!

"Subduing Strike granted 1.5 seconds of increased speed!

Oboro's acceleration caught Phink off guard. He'd barely gotten his arm halfway around before the suit grabbed him. Oboro grabbed Phinks and jumped into the air, reaching a height of nearly twenty meters.

Phinks rose helplessly with Oboro's movement.

The ultimate technique was stunning!

Phinks struggled to free himself, sensing danger. The man's aura had become overpowering!

But resistance proved futile.

Control the game!

Without any means to break or purify it, the effect of the technique was absolute!

"Even your second awakening cannot overcome your current state."

Phink heard the words as if through a mist.

Desperately, he focused all his aura on defense.

If he could survive this attack, he could counter!

The opponent wasn't an Enhancer, the power should be.

Before Phink could finish his thought, his back slammed into the ground as Oboro knocked him down.

Though the sand was soft, the impact felt like cement. The massive force shattered Phinks' sternum and spine, tearing through muscle. Blood-soaked saliva spewed from his mouth as his vision blurred.

When Oboro released him, Phink's body bounced like a ball from the impact, surrounded by streams of sand.

"Oh?" Oboro's eyes hardened.

Time to end this.

In an instant, as the forced control was released, damage coursed through Phinks' entire body. Still in the air, before he could escape, Oboro's fist approached.

Incredible!

Such will and vitality!

"I'll take the spider's leg first." Oboro whispered.

Pure heroic aura erupted from within.

Decisive Strike!

The attack generated both ranged damage and a protective shield!

Their fists collided, and the falling sand exploded outward like a hurricane, sweeping away Phink's bloody form.

He tumbled like a broken doll, blood pouring from every orifice.

He lay still, his vision darkening as a figure blocked the sun above.

Losing as an Enhancer

Had the previous battle with Aldama not weakened him, he might have won.

Just bad timing

Through fading vision, he watched as the suited man replaced his sunglasses.

The last blow hadn't even scratched him.

So strong.

"Be careful, you two! We're deliberately limiting our hunting grounds, growing stronger while staying safe. Though most trial hunters haven't awakened yet, some share our goal. Watch for the Association and stay low. Once you have your licenses, return quickly."

Chrollo's words echoed in memory.

"With Shalnark here, it's all right."

Uvogin had smiled.

"Shalnark," Phinks whispered.

Right, Shalnark wasn't here.

Originally, Shalnark had urged caution.

What a mess!

"The underworld has someone like you."

Phinks forced his eyes to the suited man.

"No, at the moment I'm unique, you had bad luck to meet me."

Oboro showed his white teeth.

The aura still flickered in his hands.

The normal effect of "Subduing Strike" lingered, attacks could deal additional damage equal to maximum health.

"Time's up, Shalnark's smart, he'll have figured it out. Probably on his way here, maybe nearby," Phinks gathered his last breath to shout.

The voice carried information to Shalnark!

He would understand!

Stay away. Coming here, Shalnark couldn't keep up with this man!

Among the Spiders, Shalnark was the strategist.

Phink's chest swelled for the warning cry.

But when he opened his mouth, no sound came out.

"Even in the end, protecting your friend is admirable."

These devastating words reached his ears.

Out of the corner of his eye, Phinks saw the man pierce his chest and lungs with one hand, having read his intentions perfectly.

Then he turned and walked away without looking back.

Oboro lifted Aldama onto his shoulders, glanced back at the motionless Phinks, then disappeared into the horizon.

He hurried, Aldama needed immediate treatment or he wouldn't survive.

If someone died, the old man might change his mind.

Phink's breath faded to nothing.

He died with his eyes open, his blood staining the sand.

Flies, drawn by the blood, landed on the body, one crawling over his unseeing eye.