What appeared before everyone was, without a doubt, a humanoid skeleton.
However, the skeleton's height barely exceeded one meter, and the diameters of its arm and leg bones were more than twice that of a normal human. Not only that, its white skull was even larger than Buhara's head.
A dwarf-like stature, yet paired with abnormally thick arm and leg bones, and a head large enough to rival Kurozumi Orochi's… overall, it gave off a bizarre impression.
Moreover, the skeleton held a man-made white bone weapon.
The material used seemed to be the leg bone of some creature, with a sharp tooth from another creature embedded at one end, wrapped several times with rope, giving a distinct prehistoric vibe.
Seeing this peculiarly-looking skeleton enter the light range, everyone quickly reacted.
Combatants like Ging, their bodies covered in Aura, moved to the front of the formation, while support personnel like Sheila consciously retreated to the back, avoiding adding protection pressure to the fighters.
There was only one enemy, and it appeared non-threatening, but no one would let their guard down.
Red, dot-like lights floated in the skeleton's eye sockets, and within the ribcage-enclosed abdomen was a red orb of light.
It stepped into the bright light emitted by the light algae, took only a few steps before stopping, seemingly because Ging and the others had opened their aura nodes.
Swoosh!
It swung its tooth-studded club several times. The strength wasn't weak… it actually produced whooshing sounds through the air.
"A show of force?"
Ging raised an eyebrow.
If it wasn't a display, then the skeleton's actions were meaningless.
Clack! Clack!
The skeleton's teeth chattered up and down, as if saying something.
But clearly, no one understood.
Seeing that Ging and the others showed no reaction, the skeleton seemed angered.
A small amount, yet dense and tangible, life energy seeped out from the red orb in its abdomen, covering its bones, forming a layer of white luster, even verging on milky white.
That was undoubtedly its Aura Output, Ken. But the idea that even a skeleton could release Nen was too far-fetched.
Yet the fact was right before everyone's eyes. Even if they didn't believe it, they had no choice.
After releasing Nen, the skeleton opened its mouth, giving the impression of a furious roar. Combined with the tangible Nen on its body, it emitted a not-weak intimidating presence.
It opened its mouth wide and took a mighty, imposing step forward.
Seeing the skeleton's action, the combatants immediately entered battle readiness.
Stargie took several steps forward, coming to the front of the formation.
Black-and-white Nen Energy swirled like a small whirlwind between her hands, then transformed into a black stone vertical harp.
Stargie's affinity leaned towards Emission, skilled in long-range attacks. So before the skeleton entered combat range, she could attack from a distance first.
Whether to weaken the enemy or outright eliminate it.
Both outcomes were acceptable.
Stargie's slender fingers lightly brushed the harp strings. Flowing melody emanated from her fingertips, carrying a swirl of black-and-white Nen, forming an air current that made her clothes and long hair dance in the wind.
The harp sounds shifted from a gentle stream to a sea of blood and corpses in an instant, carrying a noticeable murderous intent.
Stargie's cold gaze fell upon the skeleton, as if looking at a pile of broken bones.
Intimidated by Stargie's Aura, the skeleton's body visibly trembled slightly.
Just as the harp sounds were about to transform into the sharpest blades of air, the skeleton suddenly threw down its club, then dropped to its knees with all four limbs, and voluntarily retracted the Nen covering its body.
"???"
The skeleton's abrupt action left everyone bewildered.
'What the heck?'
'Was this surrender?'
'One moment imposing and majestic, the next moment cowering and kneeling?'
Stargie coldly watched the kneeling skeleton, unmoved. Her fingers poised on the strings swiftly plucked.
[Sound of Seven Verses, Resonance, Overtone]
Nen infused into the harp sounds, transforming into numerous arrows shooting towards the completely defenseless skeleton.
Just before impact, the Nen Arrows morphed into a black net, firmly binding the skeleton to the ground.
"Kill, or not kill?" Stargie's face remained aloof. If the skeleton hadn't surrendered, she wouldn't have used the binding Resonance Overtone, but the lethal Suppressed String Killing Tone.
"Uh..."
That question was truly hard for everyone present to answer.
If the skeleton wanted a fight to the death, then of course, kill it immediately.
But the skeleton surrendered without even fighting. Killing it outright now seemed somewhat morally uncomfortable.
"This dwarf skeleton seems quite human-like. Maybe communication is possible," Tonpa observed the skeleton bound by the Resonance Overtone net.
Perhaps understanding Tonpa's words, the skeleton struggled to lift its head, glaring fiercely at Tonpa, its teeth chattering incessantly.
"Hmm?"
"Because Tonpa called it a dwarf?"
"So it understands the common language?"
"Seems so."
"No way? This dwarf skeleton actually understands the common language?" Tonpa was incredulous.
As soon as his words fell, the skeleton seemed to have suffered some insult, struggling while still glaring angrily at Tonpa.
"It really understands," Ging's interest was piqued.
"Hey, hey, I wasn't belittling you, just stating a fact," Tonpa shrugged.
Clack! Clack!
The skeleton suddenly released its nearly milky-white Nen again.
Seeing this, Stargie's eyes sharpened.
The skeleton instantly cowered again, promptly retracting its Nen, just in time to halt Stargie's next action.
'Looks like the skeleton was really afraid of Stargie.'
'Probably not because of her Aura or Nen strength, but for some unclear reason.'
Ging glanced at Stargie, then maintaining his Ken state, walked within ten steps of the skeleton and asked, "You understand our language? If yes, nod once."
The skeleton's huge head, stuck in the black net, laboriously lifted and lowered, responding to Ging's question.
"Interesting."
Ging took a few more steps forward, crouching before the skeleton, his eyes full of unconcealed curiosity.
This skeleton of unknown origin was quite interesting.
Clack, clack...
The skeleton shrunk its bony frame. It could tell this human was also not to be trifled with.
'Speaking of which, why did I come to provoke these guys?'
'Oh right, I came to supplement calcium!'
"How about... you pretend I never came?"
The skeleton looked at Ging with a negotiating expression, but what came out of its mouth was a series of tooth-chattering sounds.
Realizing this, the skeleton hung its head in frustration.
"You want to communicate with us?" Ging smiled at the skeleton.
Hearing Ging's words, the skeleton perked up instantly. Its lowered head jerked up and nodded vigorously.
'Actually, I just came to get some calcium at first. Who knew your team had such a super troublesome person?'
"Since you understand the common language, you should be able to write too, right?" Ging gestured, tracing a character on the ground.
The skeleton shook its head.
Ging thought for a moment, then had Stargie reinforce the bindings to ensure safety before calling Bruna over.
Once Bruna's tentacles established a communication bridge between both parties, Ging's mind immediately received the skeleton's voice.
"Please let me go!"
"Please let me go!"
"Please let me go!"
The skeleton said it three times in a row.
"Sure."
Ging smiled, thinking maybe he could get some information out of this skeleton.
For some reason, the skeleton only felt a chill.