The Poultry Scarlet Knife pierced through Machi's life.
A ghastly bloom of crimson, like fireworks, burst forth before scattering and falling.
In the end, it stained those amber eyes that had lost their luster.
With Machi's death, Morrow's Tree Rings absorbed the experience points, directly leveling up from Lv.64 to Lv.65, restoring a portion of his potential aura in the process.
Without even sparing a glance at Machi's corpse, Morrow immediately charged toward Kurapika's battlefield.
This race against time was far from over...
Kurapika stood alone against the combined assault of Chrollo, Uvogin, and Nobunaga, his life hanging by a thread.
Even as he gritted his teeth and fought with everything he had, he still couldn't withstand the trio's relentless onslaught.
Within moments of their clash, he was grievously wounded by Chrollo and the others.
Yet, at the cost of burning through a significant portion of his lifespan, he used the Holy Chain's ability to heal his injuries in an instant, forcibly dragging himself back from the brink of death. This bought Morrow the crucial time he needed.
However, healing wounds was merely a temporary solution, nothing more than a way to prolong Kurapika's endurance.
So when Chrollo, Uvogin, and Nobunaga witnessed Kurapika's extraordinary healing ability, they naturally refused to give him another chance to use Holy Chain.
After analyzing the automatic defensive effect of Kurapika's Dowsing Chain, Chrollo simply utilized the corrosive bubbles emitted by the Fragile Item to create another opportunity for Uvogin and Nobunaga to deliver the killing blow.
Uvogin and Nobunaga seized the moment when Kurapika swept away the corrosive bubbles with his Dowsing Chain, attacking from both flanks simultaneously.
Meanwhile, Chrollo closed his Skill Hunter and flipped to another page.
Due to the Vow and Limitation of the Fragile Item ability, even after dismissing the bubble gun, the previously fired corrosive bubbles continued to exist.
And so, in that instant, Kurapika faced death head-on.
This... is my limit.
Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes reflected the cold killing intent radiating from Uvogin and Nobunaga. He no longer had the strength to fight for even a sliver of survival.
But he didn't give up resisting.
To Uvogin and Nobunaga, however, such struggles were futile.
A massive fist imbued with red aura and a blade wreathed in razor-sharp intent struck toward Kurapika almost simultaneously.
At the critical moment, Morrow arrived.
Seeing Kurapika exhausted from defending and cornered by Uvogin and Nobunaga's pincer attack, Morrow had no time for further deliberation.
Insidious Shooting Star.
Acting purely on instinct, Morrow pressed both hands against the ground, intending to use the faster Insidious Shooting Star to break Kurapika free from the encirclement.
In the blink of an eye, a stellar cross materialized out of thin air at the positions where Uvogin and Nobunaga stood.
But there was still one most dangerous variable on the battlefield.
Chrollo.
Machi...
The moment Morrow moved, Chrollo lowered his eyelids, shadows shrouding his face as he silently uttered his comrade's name.
He had already anticipated Morrow's intent.
His reasoning stemmed from having witnessed Morrow's Insidious Shooting Star earlier in the battle.
Thus, the instant Morrow crouched to activate his ability, Chrollo acted in tandem.
In Another's Shoes.
Chrollo seized that fleeting opportunity, his bloodlust boiling in silence.
Swish, swish!
In an instant, Morrow and Kurapika's positions were swapped by Chrollo's ability.
Pop, pop...
The sound of corrosive bubbles bursting suddenly reached Morrow's ears.
It was the noise made by Uvogin and Nobunaga shattering the corrosive bubbles.
Indeed.
The corrosive bubbles from "Fragile Item" were indiscriminate.
But to ensure Kurapika's instant death, Chrollo had already prepared for Uvogin and Nobunaga to bear the cost of having their aura output partially corroded by the bubbles when organizing this assault.
All of this was to guarantee Kurapika's immediate demise.
However, Morrow's sudden intervention forced Chrollo to alter his strategy on the spot.
The killing move originally intended for Kurapika was thus transferred to Morrow.
Moreover, due to the difference in strength between Kurapika and Morrow, Chrollo immediately made a follow-up judgment after using his ability to swap their positions.
In this prearranged killing moment, Uvogin and Nobunaga could absolutely eliminate Kurapika instantly.
But with Morrow as the new target, the expected outcome had to be adjusted to only severely injuring him.
Chrollo was certain of this.
After anticipating this result, Chrollo's next consideration was to limit the effectiveness of Kurapika's Holy Chain ability.
Uncertain whether Kurapika's Holy Chain could be used on others, Chrollo sought to eliminate this possibility...
After activating his "In Another's Shoes" ability, he didn't focus on the outcome of the killing move but instead charged straight toward Kurapika, who had been swapped to the other position.
By neutralizing the potential threat posed by healing abilities, the subsequent battle would hold no further suspense.
Chrollo's tactical thinking in this instant reached its peak.
Meanwhile.
Amidst the sound of bursting corrosive bubbles.
Uvogin and Nobunaga's attacks surged forward, landing squarely on Morrow.
Though Morrow had been on guard when his vision shifted, this ability to forcibly relocate others was overwhelmingly powerful when prepared for.
Morrow could only rely on the limited information he'd gathered as a spectator moments earlier, barely managing to twist his body slightly by instinct while maintaining his Ken state.
In the next instant, a flash of cold steel.
Nobunaga's blade sliced through Morrow's shoulder.
With a soft schick.
Amidst the spray of blood, Morrow's entire left arm flew into the air.
The trajectory of Nobunaga's slash had originally been meant to bisect Kurapika diagonally.
But after being forcibly swapped into position, Morrow had managed to shift his body in the extremely limited time available.
This slight movement caused Nobunaga's strike to deviate from its intended target.
Almost simultaneously with Nobunaga severing Morrow's arm, Uvogin's massive fist struck Morrow's right flank like a cannonball.
Boom!
With a dull, heavy impact, Morrow's abdomen caved inward as his body was sent flying sideways.
What a monster...
Nobunaga's gaze followed Morrow's flying form, finding it hard to believe that Morrow had actually reacted to this coordinated killing move and even managed some defense.
Yet the facts spoke for themselves.
Their combined killing move hadn't finished Morrow outright.
Though part of this could be attributed to the bubbles having corroded some of their aura output...
Yet Nobunaga still couldn't accept this outcome.
As Morrow was sent flying past him, Nobunaga pushed off the ground with explosive force, his body shooting toward Morrow like an arrow released from its bow.
His gaze locked onto Morrow with deadly intent, his sole thought being to deliver the finishing blow as quickly as possible and personally send the already grievously wounded Morrow to hell.
Meanwhile.
Kurapika, who had been swapped to safety, watched as Morrow took the lethal strike meant for him. His crimson eyes trembled violently.
He had to use Holy Chain...
To heal Morrow!
Without hesitation, Kurapika sprinted toward Morrow's landing point at full speed.
He was aware of Chrollo's movements, but at this moment, his mind was solely focused on extending his healing chain to Morrow.
Each person on the battlefield acted with unwavering determination, moving at breakneck speed to fulfill their objectives.
Only Uvogin reacted a beat slower.
As Morrow, blood spraying from his wounds, barely managed to stabilize himself midair and landed unsteadily, Nobunaga arrived with his blade, the chilling bloodlust crashing over Morrow like a tidal wave.
Facing Nobunaga's relentless pursuit, Morrow's expression remained eerily calm.
Even with one arm missing, even as the excruciating pain from his waist threatened to rob him of the strength to stand, his emotions remained untouched.
All of this was to ensure he could activate his Starlight Convergence ability in time.
In an instant, shattered starlight enveloped Nobunaga.
Seizing the moment, Nobunaga gripped the chain connected to his sword and hurled the blade straight at Morrow's chest.
Morrow's starlight scan detected this treacherous attack, and he twisted aside just in time to evade the airborne blade.
But his severe injuries left his movements stiff and sluggish.
Even after dodging, he left himself fatally exposed.
If his body couldn't keep up with his mind, even an ability like Starlight Convergence wouldn't save him.
A sharp glint flashed in Nobunaga's eyes as he pushed off lightly, closing the distance toward Morrow while yanking the chain to retrieve his sword.
He could already picture Morrow's death.
Clang!
The soulful chime of chains abruptly pierced Nobunaga's ears.
Just as he poured all his bloodlust into Morrow, a chain slithered around his body.
It was Kurapika's Chain Jail, extended with every ounce of his strength.
The moment the chains coiled around him, Nobunaga's pupils contracted violently.
What is this...?!
He realized his aura was draining away like a receding tide, his years of combat instincts screaming warnings.
This was a restraining ability that forced others into Zetsu!
As Chain Jail sealed Nobunaga's Nen, Morrow's right hand shot out and seized the still-retreating blade.
The unenhanced metal screeched against Morrow's Nen defense.
Nobunaga's face twisted in shock.
Morrow stepped forward, his right hand sliding along the blade before reversing his grip on the hilt, and slashing it across Nobunaga's neck.
Slish!
A crimson arc erupted into the air. Nobunaga's widened eyes froze in disbelief as his head traced a parabola through the sky.
「Lv.65→Lv.66」
Morrow's level rose once again, the aura output surrounding him increased slightly, and his potential aura also recovered a bit.
Well done, Kurapika...
Morrow silently praised in his heart, but the next moment, he saw the Chain Jail on Nobunaga's headless body dissipate into thin air.
Hmm?
A sense of foreboding struck Morrow as he sharply turned his gaze toward the direction from which the chains had extended.
What met his eyes was Kurapika's chest pierced through with a bloody hole, his body flung backward limply.
In his haste to bind Nobunaga with the Chain Jail, Kurapika had completely neglected to defend against Chrollo's attack.
Thus, the moment he succeeded in restraining Nobunaga, Chrollo struck him down as well.
Kurapika felt his body grow lighter and lighter, as if he had become a feather that could drift anywhere in the world.
With great effort, he turned his eyes toward Morrow, who had just cut down Nobunaga. His vision, stained red with blood, gradually blurred, and voices from the depths of his memory surfaced in his mind.
Elder: "Go and explore the outside world as you wish... though I don't really want you to leave."
Father: "Be careful in all things."
Mother: "Don't rush when you're out there; you'll only regret it."
Pairo: "Kurapika, the reason we want to see the outside world is because of the book D. Hunter, because we want to experience adventures like that, to enjoy everything the world has to offer."
Pairo: "So, Kurapika, promise me this: when you come back, you'll answer one question for me."
Pairo: "I'll ask you... Were you happy?"
In his dimming vision, the figures of his clansmen flickered past like scenes from a lantern show.
"Kurapika, you're back..."
Pairo's smile was as warm as ever. He reached out, his fingertips bathed in an illusory glow. "Was the outside world... fun?"
"..."
The Elder's wrinkles were filled with rare tenderness. "You must be exhausted after traveling so far."
"..."
Mother held a glistening bowl of salad, the fragrance of spiral-fiber fruit seeming to pierce through memory itself. "I just happened to make your favorite spiral-fiber fruit salad today."
"..."
Father smiled softly. "You've worked hard, Kurapika."
Pairo waved at him. "What's wrong? Come here, Kurapika."
"..."
Kurapika murmured, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I can't go with you like this..."
Suddenly, his blurred vision sharpened.
Kurapika struggled to open his eyes, meeting Morrow's gaze.
Faintly, he could hear Morrow's voice.
Kurapika, follow your heart. Do what you believe is right. No matter what, Kalluto and I are here; right by your side...
"...Mhm."
Kurapika's consciousness sank into an abyss of darkness.
His body collapsed to the ground, his eyelids falling shut, concealing the last glimmer of crimson light.
Kurapika...
Morrow looked down at Kurapika's lifeless form on the ground.
The starlight that had once shimmered around him now silently dissipated under the effect of his Limitation.
Meanwhile, Chrollo and Uvogin turned their attention to Nobunaga's severed head as it fell from midair, an indescribable grief and fury rising within them once more.
Thud.
Nobunaga's head hit the ground with a dull sound.
As the sound faded away, an aura abruptly surged within the arena.
It emanated from Kurapika's corpse.
A dark aura rose from his lifeless body.
Chrollo's pupils constricted sharply.
Before striking Kurapika, he had witnessed firsthand how the chains sealed Nobunaga's Nen.
Now, with the emergence of this Post-Mortem Will, he naturally anticipated the worst possible outcome.
"Uvogin, be careful!"
Suppressing the grief and fury in his heart, Chrollo warned Uvogin.
However, instead of targeting Uvogin or Chrollo, the Post-Mortem Nen that separated from Kurapika's corpse flew straight toward Morrow.
Morrow pressed his lips together, allowing the death-infused Nen to cling to him.
Within the ink-black aura, an incredibly gentle green radiance bloomed.
Morrow's injuries rapidly healed; even his arm regenerated...
This was the ability of Holy Chain.
Strengthened through death.
In his final moments, rather than vengeance, Kurapika wished for Morrow to live on.
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Bonus chapter @50 power stones and next one @100
o7 Kurapika