Screams filled the air. Gangsters fled in every direction, only to be cut down one by one. Bodies were torn apart like paper, limbs sent flying. Blood soaked the desert sand, turning the battlefield into a grotesque slaughterhouse.
From a distance, a terrified gangster's trembling voice barely managed to whisper, "That's... the Spider."
Dalzollene and the others had also arrived. Kurapika, holding a telescope, narrowed his red, anger-filled eyes as he focused on Uvogin, who was clearly displeased. "What exactly is this 'Phantom Troupe'?"
Dalzollene snatched the telescope from Kurapika, peering through it at the strange figures gathered in the canyon. His expression tensed.
There were wild-looking men built like gorillas, pale-faced individuals with unnerving baby-like features, and hulking figures that resembled Frankenstein's monster. "I didn't expect an A-rank criminal group to attack the auction this time..." Dalzollene muttered, his voice trembling.
Basho and Squala, standing beside him, felt the same unease.
They had just witnessed an entire gang of heavily armed men, equipped with high-powered guns and even rocket launchers, get wiped out effortlessly. The sheer brutality of it planted a deep fear in their hearts.
Sure, they were Nen users themselves, but compared to Uvogin, they were far from being in the same league.
Resisting a rocket launcher? That was something out of a fantasy.
'No... wait. Someone among them actually could.' Dalzollene 's thoughts drifted, and he turned to glance at Larry, who was sitting in the car, eyes closed.
Just that sight alone eased the anxiety clawing at his chest. They had Larry here. As one of Larry's admirers, Dalzollene knew better than anyone how strong he was. Larry was a one-star bounty hunter, someone who had taken down members of the notorious S-rank criminal organization, the Seven Deadly Sins.
Unlike in the original timeline, where retreat had seemed like the only option, things were different now. With Larry beside them, fear still lingered in the air, but at least they had the courage to stand their ground and wait to see how things unfolded.
Suddenly, Larry's lips curved into a slight smirk, his eyes still shut. "Hmm? The Shadow Beasts, huh..." He could sense four distinct auras rapidly approaching. It seemed that after their cooperation with the Seven Deadly Sins, the Shadow Beasts had undergone some significant improvements.
"I am Earthworm of the Shadow Beasts." A voice suddenly spoke from behind them.
Without Melody's keen senses to warn them, neither Kurapika nor the others noticed the approach until Earthworm had already revealed himself. A tall, slender figure stood before them, its black and purple skin completely hairless.
'Did he come from underground?' Kurapika's sharp eyes caught a raised portion of the ground, a sign that Earthworm had likely tunneled his way there. It was unsettling, he hadn't even sensed a flicker of his presence.
"We're bodyguards hired by the Nostrade family," Dalzollene answered after a brief moment of surprise.
Since the Shadow Beasts were part of the Mafia, that meant they were technically on the same side. "I see," Earthworm replied flatly. "Since you can use Nen, I'll give you some advice, stay out of this."
Just like in the original timeline, the Shadow Beasts didn't see them as capable of handling what was coming. And now that they were even stronger, their arrogance had only grown. "Yeah, these guys aren't just some random bandits," Earthworm continued. As he spoke, three more figures emerged from the shadows.
Kurapika's muscles tensed. If they hadn't chosen to reveal themselves, he wouldn't have even realized they were there.
Besides Earthworm, the others included Rabid Dog, a thin, mean-looking man with a vicious face, Leech, a rotund figure oozing an unsettling aura, and Porcupine, who appeared bald at first glance but clearly had some hidden tricks up his sleeve.
Something was off. The presence these four exuded was significantly stronger than what Kurapika had read about them.
Larry, still sitting in the car, silently activated his ability.
***
Name: Earthworm
Strength: B+ (Cannot be improved further)
Nen Type: Enhancement
Abilities: Can move freely through the ground while completely erasing his aura. Gains increased strength and speed when underground. When facing death, his power temporarily rises close to A-rank for one minute.
***
Larry's eyes flickered slightly. 'In just a few months, Earthworm had gone from B-rank to B+.'
His ability had improved, and his survivability had increased as well. He then checked the other three. Rabid Dog and Leech had also reached B+, though their Nen abilities remained unchanged.
Porcupine, on the other hand, was still at B-rank, but his ability had evolved, he could now launch his hair like projectiles. Despite their growth, one thing stood out in the analysis: "Strength cannot be improved further."
It was clear. Whatever method had been used to power them up came at the cost of their future potential. Earthworm had gained the most out of the four, likely because he had the highest latent potential to begin with.
What Larry didn't know was that Earthworm's desperation for power had been the key factor in his transformation. After witnessing Larry's strength firsthand, Earthworm had thrown himself into the enhancement process with reckless abandon, enduring unbearable pain to surpass his peers. And now, the results were showing.
Larry considered the method that had been used to enhance the Shadow Beasts. It wasn't entirely useless. In fact, in certain cases, it could be quite effective.
Sacrificing potential, severing the path to future growth, and focusing solely on immediate strength, it seemed like a short-sighted approach. But for the Shadow Beasts, who didn't have the natural talent to reach A-rank on their own, it made sense.
For them, even if they trained for a lifetime, they'd never break through their limits. So, exchanging that negligible, almost meaningless potential for a rapid power boost wasn't a bad trade. It was a choice that suited their circumstances.
While Larry was lost in thought, Earthworm, who was the most sensitive to aura among the group, suddenly stiffened. He sensed something.
His gaze shifted toward the car, his instincts screaming that there was another presence inside. His body tensed as he activated En, expanding his aura to explore. Then, he froze.
His breath caught in his throat.
"what's wrong with you?" the thin, sharp-eyed man beside him asked, frowning at his sudden halt. They were supposed to be heading toward the battlefield, why had Earthworm suddenly stopped moving?
But Earthworm didn't answer. His wide, disbelieving eyes remained fixed on the car, his entire body trembling. 'This feeling... No way...' His mind flashed back to that day. The overwhelming presence. The sheer, inhuman strength. 'Was it possible...?'
"...Is it... Lord Larry?" Earthworm's voice was hesitant, almost reverent, like a low-ranking soldier addressing a king.
A calm, familiar voice drifted out from inside the car. "Long time no see, Earthworm."
Earthworm's body went completely rigid. There was no doubt now. It was him.
Rabid Dog's pupils shrank. He turned toward the car, muttering to himself, "...Larry. You mean the same Larry who killed members of the Seven Deadly Sins?"