December 31st.
Perhaps due to the clear weather during the day, after nightfall, the sky resembled a vast curtain, adorned with twinkling stars. Tonight's moon was exceptionally bright, its pure white moonlight, like a sacred veil, gently cast over the entire village.
The village was no longer as quiet and peaceful as usual at night; instead, it was immersed in a festive carnival. All the villagers gathered in the square and surrounding streets, cheering and singing and dancing. Various decorations purchased from outside were meticulously displayed around the square. Colorful lanterns, brilliant garlands, and other festive ornaments decorated the place anew, visible everywhere.
Kevin and the others did not participate in the lively festival below, but stood on the highest rooftop nearby, quietly overlooking the celebration below. At this moment, Menchi felt more at ease than before, and the tension she originally had in her body had greatly diminished.
The reason for this was naturally the small figure beside Kevin—Bisky.
"You really know how to time your arrival, Master Bisky."
"Mm."
Bisky responded, not even lifting her head. Normally, she would first correct Kevin's form of address, but today she was not in the mood. Her gaze was completely drawn to the gem in her hand. Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she held the gem, turning it over and over, occasionally holding it up to the moonlight, and every now and then letting out a strange giggle.
"My precious, my precious—how can you be so beautiful? Ahhhhhh! You are simply too beautiful."
Bisky's strange cries completely broke the slightly serious and tense atmosphere at the moment. Kevin helplessly rubbed his forehead, regretting somewhat that he had given the gem to Bisky as soon as they met. But he couldn't resist Bisky's demeanor; if he hadn't given it to her, she might have actually bitten him. He had never seen Bisky when she obtained a gem, and he had no idea she would act like this.
"Bisky, there will be plenty of time to admire it later. That's enough."
Bisky ignored Kevin's complaints, still immersed in her own world.
Unlike Menchi, who grew more at ease, seeing Bisky like this, cold sweat appeared on Gowen's forehead, and he became even more nervous. Is this really the powerful external aid Kevin invited? Or Kevin's teacher? His heart was filled with doubt.
"But how did you get this? It doesn't look like something that should be here."
Bisky suddenly calmed down and asked.
Kevin looked down at her, pointed to the now-arranged festival altar, and said, "It's like what I'm about to face—both come from the outside world."
Hearing this, Bisky immediately understood, her eyes widening slightly, showing a hint of surprise.
"But it's not as powerful as you imagine. That monster is still—"
"Ah, so this is a gem from the Dark Continent? No wonder it's so beautiful."
Kevin was speechless. Was she more concerned about the gem? Shouldn't she be worried about her student's safety at this moment? Or the terror of what they were about to face?
Bisky seemed to sense his thoughts and said without lifting her head, "You are already very powerful. In just two years, you've grown from someone who couldn't even control Nen freely to this point. You've surpassed the most talented people I've ever seen."
"Just like a flawed jade, you have undoubtedly polished your flaws into a unique beauty. And your Nen ability, compared to fighting people, is clearly more suited for fighting these monsters, isn't it?"
Kevin nodded. It was indeed true. What he pursued now was simple and direct—enhancing his powerful destructive force and speed. Compared to fighting those with a variety of Nen abilities, fighting these large, straightforward monsters clearly suited his fighting style better.
Actually, there was another reason Bisky didn't voice: resentment. Although she hadn't deeply understood this aspect, she was well aware of Kevin's uniqueness. Resentment was the root of Kevin's uniqueness, and now he was facing another creature born of resentment. Wasn't this exactly to Kevin's "taste"?
So Bisky wasn't worried at all. She further comforted him, "I also checked when I came. The curse here has been almost three hundred years old, and I know some inside information."
"To be honest, it's not as formidable as you think. Beings from the Dark Continent are either terrifyingly abnormal, causing irreversible destruction in an instant, or they are malnourished specimens. This one here is one hundred percent malnourished—am I right?"
Kevin nodded.
These words also put everyone at ease. An expert. Her Two-Star Hunter status also allowed Bisky to find more in-depth information before coming. And the old man had even visited when he was young, so there was nothing to worry about.
Everyone waited in silence.
The festival officially began. Everyone was empty-stomached. A large amount of exquisitely cooked food was placed on huge trays. These delicacies were not only tempting in taste but also carved with beautiful patterns, achieving both aesthetic appeal and deliciousness. Then, they were placed on the altar in the center of the square.
The two stands that Kevin and the others had initially considered ordinary sights were now rearranged. Several chains hung from them, and undoubtedly, these chains were Nen constructs.
"I didn't expect there to be a village full of Nen users. Although the intelligence mentioned it, seeing it in person is quite shocking," Bisky exclaimed with some surprise.
"You didn't know?" Kevin asked, a bit confused.
Bisky glanced at him sideways. "A person's energy is limited. I can't pay attention to everything."
Before this, she knew nothing about this Secret Realm, let alone this village.
The moon hung high overhead, its cold moonlight unreservedly showering down on everyone. The celebratory festival seemed to be gradually reaching its climax. Kevin glanced at the clock in his hand; it was already past eleven.
As a strange tune and eerie music began to play, the sedan chair they had seen before slowly approached the center of the square, carrying Melusine. At this moment, Melusine was dressed in elaborate attire, entirely in white, making her appear incredibly sacred. On her clothing, silver decorations formed a snake-scale pattern, adding a touch of mystery. Her ruby-like eyes gazed straight ahead.
"Oh, what a beautiful girl." Seeing something beautiful, Bisky couldn't help but light up. She saw "gems" again.
At this moment, Melusine seemed to sense a gaze, and she slightly raised her head, looking toward the distant rooftop, immediately locking onto Kevin who stood at the very front. A brilliant smile bloomed on her face, showing no sadness about being sacrificed soon. This heartfelt smile added a moving radiance to her current demeanor.
The surrounding villagers were stunned by Melusine's smile.
"Is—is this sacrifice really necessary?"
"She's even smiling—"
Some villagers whispered, their moods becoming heavy. A feeling of guilt welled up in their hearts.
Kevin smiled and waved at Melusine in the sedan chair. At this moment, he felt an eager gaze from below. Looking down, it was Bisky, wide-eyed and full of curiosity. Now was not the time to satisfy her curiosity. Kevin pretended not to see her, ignoring Bisky's dissatisfied gaze, and refocused his attention on the festival.
Not far away, several of Melusine's maids embraced each other, weeping.
With the arrival of Saintess Melusine, those chains seemed to come alive, automatically lowering themselves to wrap around Melusine's arms, slowly hoisting her upward.
Melusine was suspended in mid-air. A gentle breeze blew, and her silver-white hair scattered with the wind, creating a desolate beauty. And the smile on her face, in the eyes of the villagers, was both a strong beauty and an added touch of desolation.
At this moment, the villagers no longer made any other movements, standing silently around the altar, saying nothing.
Suddenly, the sound of a bell ringing echoed. Strangely, no bells could be seen anywhere, and the ringing sound drifted with the wind. Everyone felt a chilling wind blow past.
Kevin, however, saw clearly that the resentment began to gather with the wind. More and more resentment gathered, forming a black sphere. Immediately after, the black sphere split open, transforming into a shadowy black snake shrouded in dark mist. However, at this point, ordinary people could not yet see this snake.
Thus, without anyone presiding, the festival seemed to proceed automatically.
Kevin leaped down from the rooftop, and the others followed closely behind.
Upon seeing Kevin and the others arrive, the villagers reacted in various ways. Some people seemed to have anticipated it, a smile on their faces; others appeared greatly surprised; and still others frowned, their faces filled with resentment.
"If you are guests here to participate in the festival, you are most welcome," the village chief announced loudly.
Kevin paid him no mind, looking up at Melusine and saying, "Just wait a moment. I'll come save you."
Melusine smiled and nodded.
"Are you trying to ruin the festival? You damned outsiders, always meddling with our festival according to your own will!" a nearby guard roared furiously.
"We're here to save you. Don't be ungrateful," Menchi replied, arms crossed.
"We don't need your salvation! Get out of the festival! You're not welcome here!" a radical villager shouted loudly. "That's right, get out!"
"Please don't destroy the sacred festival anymore!"
Some echoing villagers also started shouting loudly.
Kevin, irritated by these voices, bellowed loudly.
"Shut up!"
Along with his voice, his Nen, filled with strong malice, surged forth. Wherever the Nen swept, everyone instantly fell silent.
"What we do doesn't require your approval. And even if we're saving you, it has nothing to do with you."
Kevin's domineering words left the villagers speechless for a moment.
"What kind of twisted logic is that?" someone couldn't help but mumble softly.
"Ignorant people, all of you, kneel on the ground, cover your ears, and pray—pray that the god you fear won't be punched to death by me.
"Cowardly people, follow your inner fear now, hide, and wait until dawn to embrace the freedom I've fought for you.
"And brave people, rise up and resist, roar—this cage cannot hold you. Reclaim your freedom with me. Fighting for freedom is the reward for your courage."
In this quiet environment, Kevin's words, carried by his Nen, spread out, conveying his firm will into everyone's ears. At this moment, all eyes were focused on him.
"This is the moment! This is the moment I've been waiting for!"
Gowen roared in his heart.
He suddenly gripped his handsome greatsword with both hands, and before anyone could react, he knelt on one knee before Kevin. This was not part of the plan. Kevin had no idea what he was about to do.
Gowen held the greatsword high with both hands, lowered his head, and respectfully said, "Your courage, your benevolence, are precisely what I seek. I am willing to offer you my loyalty and serve you for life. I long to become your loyal knight."
Kevin immediately realized that this must be Gowen's Nen ability. Regardless, time was short now. Kevin trusted the other party, so he took the sword from Gowen's hands. He imitated the scenes from the stories Gowen had told him earlier, gently tapping Gowen's shoulder three times with the sword tip. He wasn't sure if he was doing it right, but Gowen had indeed talked about these things with them before—perhaps laying the groundwork then.
Then, Kevin handed the blade back to Gowen, saying, "I accept your fealty."
Gowen took the blade back. A certain ritual was completed, and Gowen's Nen visibly increased. But there was no time to ask for more details now.
A large amount of resentment continuously gathered behind them. Cold winds howled around, and even the cries of wailing ghosts could be heard. The pure white moonlight seemed to be obscured by something, becoming dim.
All the resentment converged, and a massive giant snake appeared out of thin air before everyone's eyes.
This was the largest creature Kevin had ever seen—a true behemoth. Its silver scales were covered with black patterns and spots, like some mysterious design. Its enormous triangular head and blood-red pupils, like two large blood-colored lamps, shone down on everyone. It opened its gaping maw, emitting a "hissing" sound.
"Another group of overconfident ants."
The giant snake spoke, its voice sharp and hoarse, yet exceptionally loud. But it didn't sound like a voice; it was more like a special sound wave that allowed one to understand its consciousness.
"Attack!"
As soon as the words fell, Kevin charged forward at top speed, with Gowen following closely behind him.
The exaggeratedly grotesque giant snake directly swung its tail, its momentum like a high-speed truck crashing in, extremely oppressive.
"That's not enough!"
Kevin roared, channeling Nen into his fist, and slammed it hard into the swinging snake tail. The violent collision was like an explosion, and the resulting wind pressure surged outward.
Gowen, close behind, gripped his greatsword and swung twice at the chains suspending Melusine. The blade, capable of cutting Nen, easily severed the chains. Melusine fell, and Bisky was already waiting below, easily catching her and returning outside the altar with a few leaps.
Seeing its offering snatched away, this resentful snake, which hadn't encountered such a situation in nearly a hundred years, was instantly furious.
After the battle began, the villagers instinctively retreated to the side, watching from a distance. But they did not flee; even those who had been shouting earlier kept their eyes fixed on the center of the battle. Some villagers even used their Nen ability, holding weapons in their hands.
As the battle continued, the light in the villagers' eyes became increasingly clear. Younger villagers might not have experienced such a festival even once, but slightly older ones had experienced it at least once. They had seen outside Hunters before, and they had also seen people try to disrupt the festival, but without exception, those Hunters couldn't even last two moves against this giant snake. They were often dealt with by a single sweep or a single devour, appearing utterly powerless.
To some extent, these seemingly overconfident Hunters had also, to a certain degree, extinguished the hope of resistance in their hearts.
Kevin, currently in battle, shook his hand and secretly cursed, "Damn it. This snake's scales are too hard, and its strength is beyond imagination."
Moreover, every strike against the giant snake would cause a certain amount of resentment to attach to his body, which was similar to a continuous weakening state. This meant that the more he clashed head-on with it, the faster his condition would decline. Now, he had to carefully choose the timing and method for clashing head-on with the giant snake.
Furthermore, ordinary punches and powerful swings simply couldn't break through its defense, instead making his fists red and sore.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss!"
A sharp sound wave came, which many villagers didn't hear at all, but Kevin detected it. He frowned, seemingly realizing something, and suddenly roared, "It's signaling! The monsters outside are coming!"
This giant snake is truly shameless.
Kevin thought to himself. He had originally expected it to only summon aid once he gained an advantage in battle or injured the giant snake. But unexpectedly, after only a few clashes, this giant snake unhesitatingly began calling for its companions.
After all, this giant snake was still a juvenile, and it had been attacked countless times during the initial ritual. Essentially, it still lacked a sense of security.
Understanding this, Kevin knew he couldn't delay any longer. He had to finish the battle quickly. The longer it dragged on, the more monsters would be called. Although the number of monsters that could rush into the village was limited, once he won and the barrier disappeared, those monsters that were originally blocked outside would swarm in, and that would be a serious problem.
Without hesitation, Kevin took out a needle and injected himself.
[Wind Rider Potion] .
Then, he gave himself another injection.
[Blazer Potion] .
Given his current physical condition, injecting these two potions was already his limit, but he could still take something orally. He grabbed the [Surge Potion] and poured it directly into his mouth.
It was his first time taking so many potions, but his body could still handle it.
Boom!
The effects of the three potions stacked, combined with Kevin's own abilities. His Nen surged like erupting flames, becoming dazzlingly bright. At this moment, Kevin's face was flushed, his entire body like a cooked shrimp. The surging Nen was even visible to the naked eye; due to the extremely high temperature, even the surrounding air was distorted.
The wind howled, and a hot gust swept outward. The sudden wind made everyone instinctively raise their hands to shield their eyes.
"I really... underestimated you," Bisky murmured to herself.
This was truly a big surprise.