September 3rd.
After taking Uvogin's life, Hyūga Akira used his Transformation Jutsu to change his appearance once more. From a high vantage point, he looked down at the deserted streets below.
He was on the phone with Kurapika.
"Gon and Killua have been captured."
"Yeah, I know," Akira replied calmly, then hung up.
He had already seen it.
Akira sat cross-legged, the Dark War Blade resting across his knees, eyes closed, quietly gathering his focus.
Below him, on the lowest floor of the abandoned building, the Phantom Troupe were discussing what to do with Gon and Killua. Nobunaga wanted to recruit them into the Troupe. Some agreed, some didn't care, and some suspected the two boys might be connected to the Chain User.
They were right.
Akira was hiding directly above them—on the top floor of the same building.
Only when night fully fell did he open his eyes.
"The hunt begins."
Gon and Killua managed to escape the Troupe's temporary hideout using a trick.
"Tch… we got played," Nobunaga muttered, finally realizing that neither of them had ever intended to fight him—they had only been buying time to flee.
"Damn it. I should've joined this operation from the start."
Because of the Mafia's actions, Shalnark was dead, Uvogin had disappeared, and Chrollo was already furious.
This operation was meant to be pure, unrestrained slaughter.
Suddenly, Nobunaga stopped.
A thin steel wire lay across the ground—he'd almost stepped on it.
"…What's this?"
He turned around.
A figure slowly emerged from the darkness.
"Hey," Nobunaga called out, his En rapidly expanding to envelop the area. "Who are you?"
Akira stood there, Dark War Blade in hand, smiling faintly.
"Take a guess."
"You're using the same kind of weapon as me," Nobunaga's dead-fish eyes narrowed. "Revenge or money—it doesn't matter anymore."
Because the moment Akira appeared in front of him, his fate was already sealed.
Nobunaga lunged forward, En fully deployed.
Akira took a deep breath.
This would be the most expensive fight of the night.
It had to end instantly.
Tonight, he was very busy.
Brain Caffeine — Activate.
A faint blue light flashed through Akira's Byakugan.
The world changed.
Every movement, every flaw—Nobunaga, who moments ago seemed airtight, was now riddled with openings.
For these three seconds—
Akira was a god.
Shadow Clone boost.
Transformation Jutsu to increase arm mass.
Demon Back activated.
Nen reinforcement layered on top.
His muscles swelled visibly.
"Three seconds?" Akira thought calmly. "Plenty."
He gripped the blade with both hands.
He didn't know swordsmanship.
But speed and power were enough.
Slash.
They crossed paths.
The wind stirred.
Akira flicked his blade, shaking the blood free.
Behind him, Nobunaga stood frozen, disbelief etched across his face—his head separating cleanly from his body.
[Experience Gained: 12451]
[Consumable: Nobunaga's Swordsmanship]
[Weapon: Nobunaga's Sword (+200–300 ATK)]
[Enhancer +1]
Akira's face went pale. He staggered.
"Level up."
His body instantly returned to peak condition.
"No time to waste."
He bolted out.
Tonight was the night the Phantom Troupe and the Mafia went to all-out war—the night the Troupe scattered across the city.
Akira returned to the city center, standing atop the highest structure nearby.
The entire city was burning.
The Phantom Troupe rampaged through the streets without restraint.
His Byakugan locked onto the next target.
Kortopi.
The owner of Gallery Fake stood on a high vantage point, observing the chaos instead of participating.
First target acquired.
Shuriken throw.
Substitution Jutsu.
Brain Caffeine. Shadow Clone. Transformation Jutsu. Demon Back. Nen.
Five abilities stacked.
Three seconds of transcendence.
Akira passed Kortopi in a blur.
[Experience Gained: 5421]
[Skill Acquired: Gallery Fake]
[Conjurer +1]
"Fourth."
He leveled up again.
From Kortopi's position, Akira spotted Pakunoda, moving alone.
He leapt from the rooftop.
Five abilities again.
Instant execution.
[Experience Gained: 5011]
[Skill Acquired: Memory Bomb]
[Specialist +1]
Next, he found Machi.
Akira transformed into a Mafia member, picked up a submachine gun, and charged toward her position in a park.
Unlike Pakunoda, Machi sensed danger immediately.
It didn't matter.
Five abilities.
Three seconds.
He brushed past her.
[Experience Gained: 5998]
[Skill Acquired: Nen Stitching]
[Transmuter +1]
"Sixth."
Hopefully Hisoka wouldn't take this personally.
If he did—well, in this state, Akira could probably kill him too.
"Level up."
Without leveling, his chakra would have run dry and killed him.
This state burned life itself.
His Byakugan scanned the battlefield.
Closest was Feitan.
Too dangerous—if Feitan survived even once, Akira would die.
Nearby was Phinks, also an Enhancer, and too close to Feitan to isolate.
Further away—
Shizuku and Franklin.
Franklin wasn't frontline Troupe—more of a rear heavy artillery unit.
"Busy night," Akira muttered.
There was no way to wipe out the entire Troupe tonight.
After tonight, he would be fully exposed, and the Troupe would start laying traps.
Just like the prophecy's final verse.
Akira blended into the crowd.
Suit jacket on. A gun picked up from somewhere.
No one suspected him.
Behind a car, Mafia members desperately fired at Franklin.
Franklin ignored the bullets, blocking them effortlessly with Nen, while the Nen bullets fired from his fingers obliterated everything in front of him.
The Mafia were being slaughtered.
"Hard to get close to that guy," Akira thought.
He infused chakra into a bullet and fired.
It bounced off Franklin harmlessly.
Franklin noticed him instantly and redirected his fire.
The car shielding Akira was torn apart.
But Akira was already gone.
He reappeared at Franklin's side.
Franklin and Shizuku both reacted immediately—
Too late.
Five-Skill Breathing.
"Double kill."
Two heads flew into the air.
Akira's grin widened.
"Eighth."
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