Uvogin's muscles swelled, veins bulging as raw power flooded through him. His aura pulsed violently, exerting overwhelming pressure. Realizing it was about to be torn apart, the earthworm immediately uncoiled and retreated underground.
Seizing the opening, Uvogin roared and channeled a massive amount of aura into his fist. "Big Bang Impact!" His punch slammed into the ground with the force of an explosion. The impact sent shockwaves rippling outward, shaking the entire canyon. The sheer force shattered the terrain, sending debris flying in all directions.
At the center of the destruction, the ground caved in, leaving behind a massive crater. "Hahahaha!" Uvogin threw his head back and laughed. "Not even a scrap left! That ugly bastard's done for!"
But Rabid Dog and the other Shadow Beasts remained unfazed, their expressions indifferent. They knew better.
In the original encounter, the Earthworm had barely survived Uvogin's attack, clinging to life just long enough to deliver a final message before succumbing to his injuries. But this time, it was different.
This time, the creature had managed to escape underground before the blow landed. And sure enough.
BANG!
Without warning, the earthworm shot out from beneath Rabid Dog, lashing out and slamming straight into Uvogin's face. The earthworm wasn't unscathed, it had sustained several wounds in the fight, but compared to its previous state, it was in much better shape after its enhancements.
"Tch, damn slippery bastard," Uvogin growled, his beast-like eyes glaring at the creature that still refused to die. His frustration was clear.
"How the hell is this thing still moving?! Why won't it just die already?" He was done playing around. "Heh, you really think an attack like that is enough to kill me?" the earthworm sneered. "I've survived blows a hundred times stronger than that!"
It spoke with a sense of pride, recalling the time it had endured the devastating shockwaves of two monstrous fighters. That battle had completely reshaped its perspective. Compared to the overwhelming power it had witnessed, Uvogin's so-called 'super-destructive punch' was nothing special.
"And compared to Lord Larry," the earthworm continued, its tone intensifying, "you Phantom Troupe guys are nothing more than little spiders, easy to crush underfoot."
As it spoke, its voice grew more fervent, and the glint in its eyes turned almost worshipful, like that of a devoted believer.
The more it grew in strength, the more it came to understand just how terrifying Larry truly was. The images of those two towering figures, their presence blotting out the sky, were forever burned into its mind. Even in sleep, it could see them.
Lord Larry was the strongest being in existence. And the earthworm believed that with absolute conviction.
Feitan, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes slightly. He wasn't particularly fond of the earthworm's grotesque appearance, but its mindset? That was something he could respect. Strength deserved acknowledgment.
Larry, who had been quietly observing from a distance, was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected the earthworm to hold him in such high regard. 'Is this… a fanatic?' The realization felt oddly surreal. Was this thing actually worshipping him?
Meanwhile, above, Machi's sharp eyes flickered as she caught a name that sent a chill down her spine. "Larry… You mean that Larry? The one from the Sky Arena?" she asked, her voice colder than usual.
"Heh, that's right," the earthworm confirmed, lifting its head proudly. "The strongest fighter in the Sky Arena, Lord Larry."
To the earthworm, it was only natural that Machi would know the name. A figure like Larry wasn't someone you could ignore. He should be remembered by everyone. "Hmph. So it really is that Larry…" Machi muttered, her expression darkening.
"I've heard of him," Shalnark chimed in, nodding. "Now that I think about it, he has made quite a name for himself."
Shizuku, however, furrowed her brows in confusion. "Is he really that strong? I've never heard of him."
Not one to miss an opportunity to show off his knowledge, Shalnark smirked and took it upon himself to educate her. "Well, if we're talking about Larry, then yeah, he's a big deal," he explained. "He first made waves last year, but he really blew up after what he did in the Solvren Ruins. He singlehandedly wiped out the lingering malice that had cursed the entire ruins, something that should've been impossible. And if that wasn't enough, he also took down two members of the S-Class criminal group, the Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath and Envy."
He let that sink in before continuing.
"Oh, and before that? He had already purified the Karym Ruins. That one didn't get as much attention at first, but it makes sense in hindsight."
The more Shalnark spoke, the more Machi's expression twisted. A sinking feeling was creeping into her gut, an instinctual warning screaming at her that something bad was coming.
But he wasn't done yet. "In the past year alone, Larry's racked up quite a few titles."
Shalnark lifted his fingers, counting them off one by one. "The Strongest Nen Exorcist in the World. The Bane of the Seven Deadly Sins. Two-Star Ruins Hunter, One-Star Bounty Hunter. The Strongest of the Sky Arena."
With each title, the weight in the air grew heavier. The previously indifferent Troupe members found themselves paying closer attention. They were an arrogant bunch, but they weren't foolish enough to ignore true power.
And Larry? He clearly belonged in the category of "there's always someone stronger."
"Hahaha! That just makes me want to fight him even more!" Uvogin bared his teeth in a grin, his excitement flaring. "A guy like that sounds fun!"
"Heh, maybe you'll get the chance," the earthworm chuckled darkly, a cryptic edge to its voice. There was something unsettling about the way it said that, like it knew something the others didn't.
Machi, already on edge, felt her irritation spike. Something about this whole conversation was rubbing her the wrong way.
"So Larry…" Kurapika, hidden in the shadows with the others, repeated the name under his breath. His crimson eyes burned with an unreadable emotion as he turned his gaze toward the car where the man in question sat.
Shalnark had been speaking loudly enough that even those who had been eavesdropping from afar had heard everything. Dalzollene swallowed hard. Even among them, the reactions were the same, one by one, they all found themselves staring at the car.
Inside, Larry exhaled slowly, a strange feeling creeping over him. There was something bizarre about sitting back in the dark while people openly marveled at his achievements. 'This is weird.' But the feeling didn't last long.
Because something had shifted. He could sense it, new presences had appeared on the battlefield. A smirk played at the corner of Larry's lips. "Well then…" he muttered, his gaze flickering with intrigue. "Let's see just how far you all can go."
The fully enhanced Shadow Beasts vs. half of the Phantom Troupe. Now this was going to be interesting.