Chapter 151: The Fall of Bonolenov
The pain from the bullet was secondary. The black flames erupting from the entry
wound were the true source of Bonolenov's despair.
He desperately funneled his Nen into the hole in his side, trying to use his
aura as a buffer to "push" the Amaterasu away, but it was useless. The fire
simply fed on the energy he provided, burning hotter and deeper into his vitals.
He snapped his head up, eyes burning with a dying light as he looked for the
shooter.
Standing at the edge of the clearing was a blonde teenager. His eyes were the
most striking feature—a pair of brilliant, glowing Scarlet Eyes.
Kurapika.
The name hit Bonolenov like a physical blow. The flames chose that exact moment
to fully breach the wound, spreading across his torso.
Kurapika's original target hadn't been Bonolenov.
But when Ronin hit the Spider with Amaterasu before the teleportation, Kurapika
saw the opening. He had used [Magnetic Force] to follow Bonolenov to Antokiba.
Even then, he remained cautious. He didn't approach. He waited until the fire
had weakened the Spider's defense, then delivered a lethal sniper shot to the
most vulnerable part of the body.
Enveloped in the black fire, with his hope for recovery turned to ash, Bonolenov
went berserk.
He lunged toward Kurapika, his double-headed spear raised. He intended to drag
his kin's killer to the grave with him.
But his effort was in vain.
Before Bonolenov could take a second step, Kurapika pulled a card from his
Binder.
[Return].
The spell transported Kurapika back to the starting point. Although the distance
wasn't immense, it was a chasm Bonolenov could never cross. He didn't have the
stamina left to run, nor the aura to cast a pursuit spell.
Kurapika's scarlet gaze remained fixed on the Spider until the light of the
spell whisked him away. He watched as the monster who had participated in the
massacre of his people dissolved into a screaming pillar of black fire.
Bonolenov let out a final, mangled laugh. Amidst the holes in his body and the
flayed skin, he became a pyre on the outskirts of Antokiba.
Nen can briefly delay the inevitable, but it only served to prolong his agony.
Bonolenov didn't want to die. He fought for every second of life until the very
end. But that persistence was his greatest curse, ensuring he felt every
micro-second of the Amaterasu's heat.
Kurapika felt a profound sense of satisfaction. It was a cold, clinical kind of
relief. Even though the execution was gruesome, the weight of the "Spider" in
his heart had lightened.
He hadn't killed Bonolenov alone, but he had provided the final stroke.
I hope you can see this, Father. Mother. Pairo.
Tears fell as he turned away from the starting point. There was no joy on his
face, only a reinforced, icy resolve.
The Forest of Trials.
The forest was an unofficial training ground for high-level players, infested
with Rank-A monsters.
A Rank-B monster was equivalent to a 200th-floor fighter at Heavens Arena. A
Rank-A monster was something even a professional Hunter would avoid if they
could.
In Greed Island, these monsters didn't drop Restricted Slot cards; they were
simply obstacles used to farm Jenny or trigger specific quests.
Ronin and Feitan landed in the heart of this dangerous woods.
The area was silent. No monsters approached, sensing the two predators in their
midst. Only the occasional bird call or the rustle of leaves broke the tension.
"Choosing this as your cemetery? You have good taste, kid," Feitan sneered.
He maintained a tight Ken (Fortify). From his low, coiled stance, it was clear
he was ready to blitz Ronin the moment a flaw appeared.
"You're very confident," Ronin said, his tone mocking. "But you should know—I've
analyzed your Hatsu from every angle. I know exactly how you work."
It was a half-truth.
He knew the mechanics of Pain Packer. The destructive output of the technique
was directly proportional to the amount of damage the user had sustained.
The reason Ronin considered Feitan a major threat was the "Post-Mortem"
variable. If Feitan were on the brink of death, he would unleash his most
terrifying form.
It was a tactical paradox.
The best way to deal with Feitan was a one-shot kill. But if you failed to kill
him instantly and only dealt heavy damage, you triggered a "Boss Phase" where he
became a walking sun.
If you survived that and beat him, did you kill him? If you killed him, would
his death-vow trigger an even more catastrophic explosion?
Ronin had a plan specifically for this.
"Heh," Feitan chuckled. "One-on-one, I don't fear anyone."
"Shall I go first?" Ronin smiled with the grace of a gentleman. "I didn't
realize your courage was as small as your height."
The insult hit a nerve. Feitan's aura spiked with pure, concentrated malice.
He vanished.
Ronin's lips curved. He didn't use Ninjutsu. He didn't need the lightning armor
yet. He exploded into motion, meeting Feitan mid-air as the Spider appeared at
his flank.
Ronin threw a punch.
Feitan dodged. He could feel the wind pressure from Ronin's fist; it was every
bit as heavy as Uvogin's Big Bang Impact.
This brat is a physical freak!
But Ronin's Sharingan saw everything. Every twitch of Feitan's wrist, every
shift in his center of gravity.
As Feitan moved, Ronin adjusted. He stayed on the Spider like a shadow,
relentless.
Feitan was the initiator, but within seconds, the roles reversed. He was forced
onto the defensive, his rapier dancing to parry Ronin's overwhelming strikes.
After a minute of high-speed trading, Feitan felt a wave of frustration.
Every time Ronin's fist was about to land a crushing blow, it would "slip" or
"miss" at the last second, grazing him instead of breaking his bones.
It felt like Ronin was deliberately avoiding causing significant damage.
Does he... really know my ability? Feitan thought, a sliver of doubt entering
his mind. Is he refusing to feed the Packer?
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you