Chapter 907
Ron stood silently nearby.
The boy's body had been split clean down the middle—from collarbone to groin. His spine was severed, ribs broken, and a length of intestine lay coiled across the ground, slick with blood. His lower half twitched faintly, the last sparks of nerve response flickering out.
Even with Law's Ope Ope Fruit ability, there was nothing he could do.
He waited until the girl stopped crying before finally asking a question.
"What attacked you just now?"
"It was a Crimson Splitjaw Serpent."
The girl looked up at Ron, suddenly noticing that he didn't wear the mark of a Delver.
"You're not a Delver, big brother?"
"I am."
In Ron's view, since he had already descended into the Abyss with the intention of exploring its depths, he could be considered a Delver. The badge wasn't everything.
The girl's mood sank again.
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't insisted on coming today, Yaro wouldn't have died. But… that thing shouldn't have been here. A Crimson Splitjaw Serpent isn't supposed to appear on this level."
Ron searched his memory.
The Crimson Splitjaw Serpent was a creature that lived in the Abyss, but under normal conditions, it nested on the third layer. It absolutely wasn't something that should appear on the first.
"For a Delver, the moment they decide to enter the Abyss, they must be prepared to die. This isn't your fault. Don't keep blaming yourself."
"Maybe you can tell me what happened."
The girl hesitated for a moment before speaking slowly.
She and the boy had grown up together. They were close friends, and both dreamed of becoming great Delvers, inspired by the legendary White Whistles. After reaching the level of Red Whistle, they began exploring the first layer together—searching for treasure and sharing their findings. Everything in the Abyss fascinated them.
But today, all of that was shattered.
Ron also learned the girl's name: Mona.
"What do you plan to do next? Give up being a Delver and return to the surface to live a normal life? Or keep going, deeper into the Abyss?"
Mona remained silent for a while.
"I'll carry Yaro's wish forward. Thank you, big brother. I've made up my mind. I won't grieve anymore. Yaro is gone, so I'll bear his dream and keep moving. I'll find that Crimson Splitjaw Serpent and kill it to avenge him!"
Ron waved a hand.
"No need to thank me. By the way, Mona—how about a trade?"
"A trade?" Mona blinked.
Ron focused his aura, simulating the energy of a sealed object fused with the Dark Sonata.
"Have you ever felt an aura like this before? Just be honest, whether yes or no. Either way, I'll help you bring Yaro's body back to the surface for burial."
Her condition wasn't good. Ascending the Abyss came with side effects. Given her current state, carrying Yaro's body back up would be nearly impossible.
In a normal situation, she could probably manage to carry something that heavy—but not now.
Mona concentrated carefully. After a long pause, she shook her head.
"No."
"I see."
A trace of disappointment flickered in Ron's eyes, though he had more or less expected it. If Acenstion Relics were that easy to find, the world wouldn't be this complicated.
"I'll help you take Yaro's body to the surface. Shall we go now, Mona?"
"Yes. Thank you, big brother."
Ron glanced to the side and picked up an enormous leaf from a nearby plant, using it to wrap the boy's half-torn corpse. Then, he bound it tightly with vines.
"Let's head up."
Mona led the way, climbing. Ron followed her from behind.
As they ascended, Ron felt a force press down on him—like a taut strip of leather stretched to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.
"When it snaps… that's when the side effects kick in."
But this was only the first layer's backlash. For Ron, the strain was negligible.
Mona, however, was in a worse state. The main issue wasn't just her condition—it was her strength.
When they returned to the surface, a wave of intense backlash hit.
Mona swayed with severe dizziness.
But for Ron, it was so light it barely registered.
"Still, even as an S-class Nen user, I can feel the side effects of just the first layer. If I go deeper… even I might not overcome it so easily. This Abyss is truly dangerous."
Mona recovered from her dizziness.
"Thank you, big brother."
"No problem. I'm heading back down now. I hope someday I'll see you become a White Whistle Delver."
"I'll do my best."
Ron watched as Mona left with Yaro's body. Once the area was empty, he leapt back down.
This time, Ron descended a full two hundred meters.