The System interface flashed frantically in Ryker's vision:
[S-Rank Trait Plunder Successful: "Shadow's End Slaughter Array"]
[Description: A fragmented ultimate technique of an ancient Hunter. Grants the ability to execute high-frequency instantaneous kills. Cooldown: 10 minutes.]
[Current System Energy restored to 96%.]
Ryker stood in the center of the shattered stone hall, panting slightly. He looked down at the floor, which was littered with the pulverized fragments of ancient Hunter badges. He understood now—these post-mortem Nen entities had once been genuine, elite Hunters. But during some forgotten expedition... they had been abandoned by "that thing."
Though their abilities were fragmented and incomplete, they provided an immensely valuable boost to his traits. He needed every ounce of power he could get to face the true, ultimate enemy—the "Will Projection" from the Dark Continent.
However, just as he stabilized his breathing, a brand-new, blaring red alert popped up on the System:
[EMERGENCY WARNING]
[Descent of an Upper-Tier Nen Organism Detected.]
[Estimated Existence Rank: ???]
[Target Coordinates: Arena Island Core Control Tower.]
"It's not over yet?" Ryker spat out a mouthful of blood-tinged saliva, lightning violently climbing up his body once more.
He looked back up the tunnel toward the surface, in the direction of the Control Tower.
Outside, Gon, Killua, Biscuit, and List were all staring at the sky. The slowly rotating dark portal had inexplicably split open, revealing a jagged, blood-red spatial rift!
A terrifying entity slowly stepped out from the bloody tear. It wore a tattered, ancient cape. Its head was entirely wrapped in a bizarre mask, and pair of wings composed of pure, blood-red Nen flames burned upon its back. Its silhouette descended like an ancient, abyssal god.
It had no eyes, yet it clearly "saw" everyone present. In the next moment, its mouth cracked open, and a chilling, completely emotionless wave of consciousness echoed directly into everyone's minds:
"Executing 'Vanguard Clearance Protocol'... Target: All living organisms."
Ryker sneered. Pushing his Lightning Core to its absolute maximum, the phantom of a Thunder God materialized behind him.
He whispered softly, "System, record this. The hunt begins."
The figure that had stepped out of the dark rift walked upon the empty void. The blood-red Nen flames spread behind it like wings, casting a suffocating, low-pressure aura over the entire sky that felt like death itself descending. It possessed no true physical body, yet its presence felt heavier and denser than any material object.
Gon clenched his fists. Killua's lightning surged. Biscuit instinctively stepped in front of the two boys.
But Ryker took a single step forward.
His Lightning Core thrummed softly, awakening every single plundered trait within his body. Blinding light gathered in his palm as the System interface fully expanded!
[Identifying Target...]
[Name: Unidentified Dark Vanguard (Suspected extension of the Dark Continent's Will)]
[Status: Incomplete Lifeform / Nen Parasitic State]
[Rank Evaluation: ???]
[Plunder Trait Privilege: Condition-Triggered]
"System, what is the trigger condition?" Ryker asked mentally.
[Hint: The host must strike the target's core three consecutive times before its "Consciousness Node" collapses.]
[Addendum: The target possesses multiple camouflage cores. Every successful hit will force a refresh and relocation of the core, requiring rapid trait adaptation.]
Ryker's eyes narrowed.
He knew instantly that he couldn't just brute-force this fight, nor could he afford to waste a single strike.
And the enemy clearly had no intention of giving him time to think.
The blood-red Vanguard took a single step sideways, and the void around it shattered like a mirror. It didn't utter a single syllable, yet its psychic fluctuation directly pronounced a death sentence upon everyone present!
BOOM!
The Vanguard raised its hand, and a heaven-piercing "Nen Flow Strike Wave" erupted! A blood-red, spiraling Nen bullet tore through the air at supersonic speeds, aimed directly at Ryker's head!
Ryker stomped the ground, his lightning circuits flashing blindingly. He vanished from his spot in a microsecond, leaving behind an afterimage that was instantly pulverized by the blood-red blast.
In the very next instant, he reappeared directly above the enemy, his right fist compressed to the absolute limit with the roaring power of the Lightning Core!
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