Led by Pakunoda, the group departed without delay.
In order to accelerate their pace, Uvogin effortlessly lifted Pakunoda by the waist, carrying her as though she were a ragdoll. The way she flailed slightly in his grasp gave the impression of being little more than a light accessory.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Empowered by Nen, their speed rivaled that of a cheetah sprinting across the plains. The sheer wind pressure created by their movement was enough to leave Pakunoda breathless.
---
Meanwhile, in another corner of Meteor City, Chrollo Lucilfer faced Kuro.
"You've awakened Nen too?" Kuro asked, his expression filled with curiosity and something darker—suspicion.
Over the past month, he had encountered no fewer than five children capable of using Nen. It defied logic; he could no longer believe it was mere coincidence.
Initially, he had only been seeking vengeance for his fallen brothers. But now, it seemed that something far greater was unfolding—something he could exploit.
"This information isn't difficult to obtain—provided you know where to look within the Elders' Council," Chrollo replied calmly.
Despite the palpable threat in the air, Chrollo's demeanor remained composed. He did not ask about Kuro's intentions. At this point, the motive had become irrelevant. The moment Kuro appeared, the confrontation was inevitable.
After a brief silence, Kuro muttered, "You're clever, I'll give you that."
"But do you truly believe relying on the Elders' Council will make me retreat?"
Boom—!
The pressure of Kuro's Ten was overwhelming, forcing Chrollo to step back instinctively. It was clear their power levels were not comparable.
"I'll give you a piece of advice," Kuro sneered. "In this world, brute strength determines the truth."
Those would be the last words Kuro uttered before falling unconscious.
---
"You bastard, put him down!!"
Before the group had even arrived, Uvogin's thunderous voice echoed across the battlefield.
"Stop them—open fire!"
"Da-da-da-da!!"
"Damn it! They're too fast!!"
---
This encounter was unlike anything ordinary men had prepared for.
Having undergone specialized training under Kai, even standard bullets posed no threat to them. All they had to do was raise an arm to shield their eyes.
"Death Thread!"
This was the latest technique Machi had developed under Kai's guidance. As a Conjurer, she had the ability to imbue Nen with unique properties—transforming her aura into ultra-thin threads of devastating sharpness.
The "Death Thread" had a diameter so fine it could be rendered invisible to the naked eye, and yet it could cut through nearly anything with minimal force.
With a flick of her fingers, Machi silenced the battlefield.
Only the coppery stench of blood remained as evidence of the massacre.
---
And yet, Kuro, still holding Chrollo by one arm, remained composed—almost excited.
"Fascinating," he murmured, licking his lips, his gaze locking onto Kai. "You've been in hiding for so long, and now you show yourselves… this boy must mean a great deal to you."
"Would you like me to release him?" he asked with a twisted smile, clearly addressing Kai, whom he had quickly identified as the leader.
Kai's expression darkened. "What do you want?"
"Ah, excellent. A negotiator—I prefer dealing with rational individuals."
"Tell me... how did you awaken to Nen?"
Kuro was confident in his skills as a killer. But dead men reveal no secrets. This time, he wanted answers.
---
That was all?
The group exchanged glances, confused by the simplicity of the request.
Machi looked at Kai, puzzled. Hadn't he said that forced awakening was common knowledge among Nen users?
Kai's brow furrowed as well. Could I have misunderstood? Or… is Kuro not as knowledgeable as he pretends to be?
"You mean to tell me," Kai asked cautiously, "you don't know how to awaken someone to Nen by force?"
Kuro's eyes narrowed.
"Enough games. I think it's time you learned that lies come at a price!"
With that, he casually tossed Chrollo aside like discarded waste.
"If I don't kill a few of you, you'll never tell the truth."
Boom—!!
An immense surge of aura erupted from Kuro's body.
Kai took a step back, then turned calmly. "Uvogin, he's yours."
"No problem!"
Slamming his fist into his open palm, Uvogin grinned. "I hate long-winded types. Let's get this over with!"
Without another word, Uvogin charged toward Kuro, fists raised. Machi and Nobunaga followed, joining the fray without hesitation.
---
"Can they win?" Pakunoda asked quietly.
She hadn't awakened Nen yet, but had absorbed enough from Chrollo to understand just how dangerous a veteran user like Kuro was.
From her perspective, Uvogin and the others were still novices.
"Even among ordinary fighters," she muttered, "experience can outweigh youth. Adding Nen to the mix just widens the gap."
Kai responded calmly. "If strength were determined by age, the world would belong to the elderly."
With that, he strode toward the unconscious Chrollo, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
As the enigmatic and charismatic future leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo Lucilfer held a special fascination for him. In another life, he might have been the protagonist of his own tale.
But Kai had another goal.
He wanted to compare Chrollo's innate Trait-type Nen with his own. If he could collect enough data, perhaps he could replicate the effects of Chrollo's Nen abilities using his own technique—Virtual Reality.
He had no need for Chrollo's Skill Hunter.
In time, he would master them all on his own.