Chapter 38: Tearing Apart
While Kurapika and the others were talking, Melody beside them had her eyes tightly shut, as if listening to something.
Melody was a girl, but her appearance was hard to praise, very much like a humanoid rat. If the Rat Lord from the survival trial saw Melody, the Rat Lord would certainly be interested in having a go.
Melody was originally a cute-looking girl, but she became what she is now after listening to the flute part of the "Dark Sonata." However, she also gained an ability: to hear the heartbeats of others, from which she could judge their emotions, mental state, and even good or evil.
At this moment, Melody's expression wasn't good. She heard a very unpleasant heartbeat, one that represented malice.
"Everyone be careful. Without realizing it, there's an extra heartbeat."
Although Melody's appearance was ugly, her voice was sweet. After hearing her warning, the others became alert.
Just as they were on guard around them, a patch of ground bulged, and the Shadow Beast Earthworm emerged from underground. Seeing the grotesque appearance of Shadow Beast Earthworm, Kurapika and the others were startled, and Melody frowned deeply, as if very uncomfortable.
"I am Shadow Beast Earthworm. Which side are you people from?"
Earthworm looked around. He didn't really want to come, but the higher-ups gave orders for him to test the strength of the Troupe. The Ten Dons and Su Xiao themselves were in a relationship of extortion and being extorted, so such an order was perfectly normal.
"We are bodyguards hired by the Nostra Family."
Dalzollene spoke up. Earthworm's appearance clearly indicated he was not to be trifled with, so he immediately stated their identity.
"Is that so? Although you are also Nen users, it's better if you don't intervene."
No sooner had Earthworm finished speaking than Disease Dog walked out from the darkness. He had his hands in his pockets, his pace steady, exuding an air of arrogance, completely unlike the sickly dog he appeared before Su Xiao.
"They are not ordinary thieves. They have already made killing a part of their lives."
"To put it correctly, these are all murder experts."
Shadow Beast Porcupine also emerged from the darkness. Kurapika and the others' expressions weren't good. The enemy had gotten this close without them even noticing.
"Experts should be handled by us."
Shadow Beast Bat also appeared, flying in.
"So, you just watch."
Shadow Beast Hedgehog glanced at Kurapika before looking away.
Because of the auction house incident, five Shadow Beasts were dispatched, just to test the Troupe's strength. For the Ten Dons' forces, this was already a very cautious move.
"To deal with these guys, they actually gathered us all together. I hate the stench of a certain sick dog."
Shadow Beast Bat flapped his wings, seemingly having some grudge against Disease Dog.
"Bat, I don't want to have an internal conflict with you here."
The 'addict' Disease Dog had his hands in his coat pockets. He actually didn't want to come fight the Phantom Troupe either. His injuries hadn't healed—over a dozen knife wounds.
"Heh, a sick dog scared out of its wits by someone. You sure talk big."
Bat snorted lightly, his contempt for Disease Dog more than obvious.
"That guy... is a monster. I sincerely hope you show that attitude in front of him."
Disease Dog looked towards the valley, in the direction where Uvogin was.
"Don't fight among ourselves. First, figure out the enemy's strength. If things look bad, we retreat."
The five Shadow Beasts moved towards Uvogin in the valley, largely ignoring Kurapika and the others.
It must be said that Kurapika and the others' strength wasn't really that great; they might not even be a match for the Shadow Beasts. Kurapika himself relied on the power of 'Restriction X Oath' to be able to fight the Troupe.
Without the power of 'Restriction X Oath,' he would be no match for a Troupe member. He had only mastered Nen for a short time; Nen abilities require training and development to become stronger.
Inside the valley, the five Shadow Beasts fought Uvogin, sending gravel flying and making quite a commotion. The result was predictable: Uvogin was overwhelming the five Shadow Beasts. If not for Earthworm and Bat harassing him from underground and the air, they wouldn't have been a match for Uvogin.
Bang.
Earthworm was kicked flying by Uvogin, the kick twisting his face. His mollusk-like body barely allowed him to withstand the blow.
"Everyone be careful. This guy is a human tank. Disease Dog, find a way to bite him a few times."
Earthworm burrowed into the ground, while Disease Dog had unspeakable troubles. Although he hadn't been hit by Uvogin's terrifying fists, blood had already soaked through his clothes. Because the fight was intense, all the sutured knife wounds had burst open.
Uvogin stood in the middle of the five Shadow Beasts. Though surrounded, he was smiling. This rough-looking, beast-like brute was getting excited.
Swoosh~
A sharp sound of breaking air came as Bat in the air dove down at high speed. His leathery wings tensed, becoming thin as cicada wings. He intended to use the high-speed dive and sharp wings to slice off Uvogin's head.
Clang!
The sound of metal striking metal rang out. Uvogin stood firm, and Shadow Beast Bat's wing blade struck his neck.
A few drops of blood slid down his skin. Uvogin was somewhat surprised that the enemy had actually injured him. Bat, maintaining his dive posture in mid-air, was utterly shocked. He had used this move to cut a Nen user in half, and now it had only broken the enemy's skin.
Just as Bat flapped his numb wings to fly up, Uvogin's large hand shot out, firmly grabbing Bat's wing.
Bat only felt a brutal force transmitted; his other wing was also grabbed.
Uvogin stood behind Bat, holding one of Bat's wings in each hand.
"This feeling is a bit like tearing apart a butterfly, hahaha."
Uvogin exerted force with both hands. With a tearing sound, one of Bat's wings was ripped off alive. The other was only half attached to his body. His back was a bloody mess, even revealing pale ribs.
"Ah!! Save me!"
The thirty-something-year-old Bat had tears, snot, and saliva all flowing. Being torn apart alive was definitely the cruelest way to die.
Rip. Rip...
Uvogin seemed addicted to tearing. After grabbing Bat's neck, the other wing was also pulled off.
After feeling a heart-wrenching, lung-tearing pain, Bat knew nothing more, because his head was yanked off by Uvogin.
Uvogin looked at the dense blood holes on his left fist. This was the counter-damage from punching Shadow Beast Hedgehog. Now his arm was a bit numb; the spines had poison on them.
Tossing Bat's head, Uvogin seemed to be finding the right feel.
"Hedgehog, dodge!"
No sooner had Disease Dog spoken than Uvogin's hand clenched, and Bat's head shattered with a crack. Uvogin threw it forward with all his strength, and over a dozen pieces of broken skull flew out.
With a slap, Shadow Beast Hedgehog stood frozen in place. Over a dozen blood holes appeared in his chest, as if hit at close range by a shotgun.
Thud. The expressionless Hedgehog fell to the ground, blood staining the rocks beneath him. From tearing apart Bat to killing Hedgehog, Uvogin had taken less than five seconds, giving the other three Shadow Beasts no time to rescue him. They were beaten into fear by Uvogin, not daring to approach this beast. Yes, Uvogin was a humanoid beast.
On the distant hillside, Kurapika's eyes were wide open. Uvogin in battle was bare-chested, the spider tattoo on his waist very conspicuous.
Just as Kurapika's emotions were extremely unstable, the roar of a car engine came.
A black sedan screeched to a halt near them, performing a drift before the door opened. An arm holding a sheathed longsword reached out of the car door.
"Rose, next time you drift while parking, I'll kill you."
"Sorry, Mr. White Night... Mr. White Night."
Black Mary, wearing a black women's suit, stockings, and high heels, shrank her head. After a bit of grooming, Black Mary could only be described as tempting enough to commit a crime.
Kurapika and the others looked at the newcomer. It was a man holding a sheathed longsword.
"Kurapika, I... we should retreat first."
Melody whispered in Kurapika's ear. At this moment, Melody's pupils were constricted, her legs trembling. As a Nen user, she was hiding behind Kurapika.
"What's wrong?"
Kurapika had never seen Melody so terrified.
"I've never heard such a terrifying heartbeat. Killing, sharpness. If it were full of madness, that would be normal, but this person's heart is very firm. We'll be killed, we..."
"Melody."
Kurapika patted Melody's shoulder, signaling her to calm down.
Su Xiao glanced at the people around him, then looked towards the direction of the Phantom Troupe members. As for the contractors watching the show near the valley, he wasn't going to bother with them for now.
"Woof."
Bubu Wang inside the car barked, smelling a familiar scent.
"Oh? Those three idiots are here too? No need to worry about them for now. The Shadow Beasts are almost dead. Three combatants from the Troupe have arrived. I need these Shadow Beasts to help me hold off one person."
Su Xiao rolled his shoulders. His mana had recovered a bit. If used sparingly, it would be enough to finish this fight.
This was a good opportunity. If things went smoothly, he could take down two to three Troupe members. If not... there was no 'if not.' If things didn't go smoothly, it meant he was already dead.