Chapter 79: A Competition
Since the Hunter Association couldn't be trusted, Haze had to find a solution on his own.
Assassinate the king?
Impossible… Although Eastern Gothor was a small nation, the king was undoubtedly surrounded by numerous Nen users—like the Enhancer who had fought against the beast tide in that small village, whose power had been extraordinary. There wouldn't be just one such expert… especially within the royal quarters.
Even if Haze could somehow succeed alone, escaping alive afterward was uncertain. Moreover, Eastern Gothor was an isolated nation. Few outsiders had entered recently, and their entry records remained on file. If they were exposed, even if they completed their mission, they would inevitably be hunted down by the V5.
That was the most troublesome part of having an identity and status.
So… no matter how one looked at it, dealing with the Bozwas was the best option.
"Have you made your decision?" Hisoka asked with a smirk, lounging lazily to the side.
"The Bozwas," Haze replied flatly.
He then left Dangeri and the other two at the base.
Using Nen to conceal their presence, the four of them infiltrated the country once more and set off toward the Sawtooth Mountains.
A week later, the four-man team led by Haze stood at the foot of a vast and majestic range. Sharp rocks and dense forests surrounded them—but behind them lay heaps of bones…
Eroded corpses, both animal and human.
In just a few days, the battlefield had expanded again. The village where they had last rested was now a desolate graveyard, bearing the same brutal scars of war. They had seen no trace of the Donggudo army along the way.
"Stay close. Don't break formation. If you detect any parasites, conceal your aura immediately to avoid detection," Haze ordered, his voice calm but firm. "These lifeless creatures possess telepathy, but they're controlled by insects. They lack full consciousness and have limited perception."
He turned specifically to Kanji and Lance. "Our target is the Bozwa village. If our presence is discovered… we'll become the prey."
"Understood," both replied.
At once, the four transformed into dark silhouettes and vanished from sight.
High in the forest canopy, Haze led the way, darting swiftly through the branches. Hisoka followed close behind, while Kanji and Lance flanked them, keeping within ten meters.
Haze and Hisoka deliberately slowed their pace; otherwise, Kanji and Lance wouldn't have been able to keep up.
"Did you leave a marker?" Haze asked Kanji without turning.
"Yes."
Landing on a tree trunk, Kanji placed his hand against the bark. A faint tremor pulsed through it before the bark cracked open, morphing into a single eye that quickly shut again.
It was Kanji's Nen ability—"Patch."
He could create his own sensory network in specific objects, though the range and number of these "patches" were limited. Still, it was highly effective for surveillance and reconnaissance.
Haze gave a curt nod, and the group pressed on.
Moving along the higher branches was far safer than the forest floor.
Moments later, they reached the forest's edge. A vast open plain stretched before them.
The Sawtooth Mountains covered an enormous area, filled with rugged terrain. Without the cover of vegetation, their figures would be fully exposed under the sunlight—easy targets.
Standing beneath the shade of the trees, Haze raised his hand, signaling them to stay still.
Through the gaps in the foliage, he spotted several birds circling overhead. Their flight patterns were strange—their wings jerked unnaturally, as if they could crash at any moment, like broken toys.
Yet their routes remained consistent…
"There are parasites nearby, but not many," Haze murmured. "They're not gathering."
He turned toward Kanji, who closed his eyes, focusing with his telekinesis. When he opened them again, he whispered,
"These birds are probably the Bozwa tribe's surveillance units. All the insects share the same origin—there's a link between them. If we make our presence known, they'll react instantly."
Haze nodded. "Then let's distract them. Lance—draw them away."
Lance crouched, then leapt from the forest with a burst of psychic energy. The ground cracked beneath his feet as he shot into the air like a cannonball.
The birds overhead immediately noticed him, screeching in eerie unison as they dove down.
Lance's Nen ability was "Temporal Trade."
In simple terms, he could borrow aura or physical strength from his future self, amplifying his current power. However, each activation left his future self weaker for a duration equal to three times the borrowed period.
A powerful ability in critical moments—but not without consequences.
Once Lance had lured the enemies away, Haze and Hisoka resumed their rapid advance. After crossing the flatland, they reached a towering cliff—a dead end.
But hundreds of parasites writhed across the rock face, forming a grotesque living wall.
The Bozwas were using them as a barrier of flesh to protect their base.
That meant they were close—very close—to the Bozwa nest.
"Fall back," Haze ordered coolly.
Kanji stepped back, giving space to Haze and Hisoka.
"Wanna make this interesting?" Hisoka asked with a sly grin, eyes glinting with excitement.
He was looking for fun.
To Kanji's eyes, the aura radiating from both men resembled twin infernos—wild and violent. Even the grass beneath them rippled under the force of their energy.
Without a word, Haze crouched and launched himself upward, scaling the cliff in powerful leaps. In seconds, he plunged into the swarm. His limbs moved like a blur, tearing through the parasites. Flesh and blood splattered across the stone.
"Heh…" Hisoka chuckled softly and followed suit.
Cards glinted in his hands as he ascended, spinning and slicing through the horde like a dancer in a slaughterhouse—graceful yet drenched in gore.
Haze was raw destruction, every strike and kick a devastating blow.
Hisoka, on the other hand, cut and dismembered.
Watching them, Kanji swallowed hard. Facing this plague of parasites head-on, even after seeing them fall, was nerve-racking. They still emanated a sickly aura, crawling and twitching after death.
And though Kanji's Nen wasn't as refined or his aura as deep, there were simply too many.
Yet neither Haze nor Hisoka faltered.
Within fifteen minutes, hundreds of parasites were reduced to filth—cleanly, completely, and terrifyingly fast.
Kanji could only stare in awe.
"You killed more than me! You're cheating! We agreed to go together!" Hisoka whined half-seriously, standing in a pool of blood, clothes soaked and spattered.
Haze didn't reply—he simply gave him a glance and walked ahead.
Kanji followed quickly, climbing up the cliff after them.
They were now completely exposed.
More parasites appeared along their path, launching ambushes—but against Haze and Hisoka, they were little more than annoyances.
The creatures of the Sawtooth Mountains were limited in number. Even with the parasites' rapid propagation, the mass slaughter of wildlife during this conflict would soon thin their ranks.
Haze suspected that many of the remaining Bozwa tribesmen had already moved to the front lines, sacrificing themselves to stall the military. Only a handful of parasites remained behind to guard the main nest.
Their purpose was clear—keep the army away from their sacred ground. The Bozwas' true goal was the King.
As long as his safety was ensured, they would continue to attack relentlessly to secure victory in the ritual.
They never expected a foreign Nen user to climb their mountain.
Hours passed.
The sun sank below the horizon.
After countless battles, Haze and Hisoka were filthy and exhausted, drenched in blood and grime. Strips of flesh clung to their clothes, the stench unbearable.
Kanji, however, was in even worse shape. He couldn't hide behind them forever—he had to fight too. Even with their protection, he'd slain dozens of parasites himself that afternoon.
Now his body ached, his aura nearly drained, and his mind teetered on the edge of collapse. Every noise around him made him flinch.
Then, ahead, the trees parted—revealing a glimmering blue lake.
It was beautiful, serene—a rare sight in this cursed land.
It must have been one of the Sawtooth Mountains' freshwater sources. That meant they were close—very close—to the Bozwa settlement.
As they reached the shore, Kanji knelt down, ready to scoop some water to wash his face—but Haze's hand shot out, stopping him.
Across the lake, several figures emerged.
Their faces were blank, their movements stiff and unnatural—like puppets with broken strings. They weren't dead, but neither were they truly alive.
Among them—was Lance.
The team member who had separated earlier, now infested with insects.
Haze and the others had hoped to reunite with him after he lured away the birds, but they'd never seen him again… until now.
Six parasitized humans stood before them—two of whom were Nen users, judging by their aura.
Behind them stood a Bozwa tribesman with waist-length braids, a white robe, and totemic tattoos on his face.
He spoke angrily, his voice sharp and foreign. None of them understood the words—but the fury and killing intent were unmistakable.
"How about another competition?" Hisoka laughed, eyes gleaming.
From his expression, it was clear—he was counting kills again, eager to challenge Haze's dominance.
"I've got four. You've got two."
Haze passed him without a word, his tone flat but mocking.
"They're all mine," he said coldly.
"HAHAHAHA!" Hisoka burst into laughter, his excitement flaring.
Before Haze could move, he sprang forward, aura swirling around him like a cyclone. His manic grin stretched wide as he dove toward the enemy—his laughter echoing through the forest.
(End of Chapter)
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