They weren't Nen users, so they couldn't even perceive the presence of Baki.
Moreover, the power gap between the two sides was immense.
So much so that when Hanma Baki killed the first of them, they didn't even notice that one of them was dead already. Baki had ample opportunity to strike them again.
In an instant, all of the members of the Underworld Mafia were taken down by Hanma Baki.
It wasn't until then that the first Underworld Mafia member began to lose their footing, toppling to the ground.
One after another, like a row of dominoes.
Ron continued forward.
He moved further and further from the area until he was far from Aurean.
In the distance, a village appeared.
Ron stopped in front of a small cabin.
This was a Hunter's cabin, but no one was inside.
Ron opened the door and checked the interior.
Afterwards, he gathered some wood from the side and piled it up in the Mantel.
Ron sat by the fire, surrounded by walls that kept the heat in.
As the flames crackled, Ron skinned a wild rabbit he had caught along the way and roasted it over the fire.
Before long, the rabbit started sizzling, releasing its oils.
The scent of roasting meat filled the air.
Footsteps approached, growing closer.
A young man appeared outside the cabin.
The young man pushed the door open.
Ron looked up, and his eyes flickered for a moment.
He recognized the young man.
He had seen him from afar back at the Shadow Beast Manor.
He was one of the members of Shadow Beast.
Ron didn't know his real name, only his codename: Rage.
This wasn't the same Rage from the Seven Deadly Sins.
This was the Rage from Shadow Beast.
Because this member had once been part of the Seven Deadly Sins, he was their former Rage. After his outstanding performance, and with vacancies in Shadow Beast, he had been promoted.
Even after joining Shadow Beast, he hadn't changed his codename.
Among the members of Shadow Beast, his strength ranked near the top.
Greed had mentioned this to Ron before. The Rage from Shadow Beast had some connection to the current Rage from Seven Deadly Sins, but not much was known about the specifics.
"Where are you from?" the young man asked, sitting across from Ron.
Unlike the regular members of the Underworld Mafia, Rage kept his attention sharp, immediately noticing the aura surrounding Ron.
Thus, it was clear that Ron wasn't an ordinary teenager.
Whether using the Ren or Zetsu state, the difference was obvious to an experienced Nen user.
In Ren, a large amount of aura surrounds the body.
In Zetsu, the aura was condensed and sealed.
However, a normal person constantly exudes small amounts of life energy. Thus Zetsue could out a person as a Nen user if they didn't know how to use it properly.
The states of Ren and Zetsu are worlds apart.
A Nen user would need training to fully mimic a normal person's state.
Ron didn't answer Rage's question but instead countered with a question of his own.
When Rage entered, Ron had already sensed his blatant hostility.
Ron knew that no matter how he answered, Rage would attack.
"You're right. It doesn't matter. Whether you're from here or there, or what your intentions are, if you're here right now, I have to bring you back."
The sound of blood pumping filled the air.
Rage's skin turned red at a visible rate.
His hair stood on end, like someone in the midst of a rage.
There was a sonic boom.
In an instant, Rage was in front of Ron.
Suddenly, the sound of clapping echoed.
Just as Rage closed in on Ron, his figure vanished.
In his place stood Hanma Baki.
Hanma Baki swung a wooden stick towards Rage with great force.
An ordinary wooden stick.
Rage glanced at it but didn't pay it much attention.
But the moment the stick came down, his expression changed dramatically.
A silent explosion erupted.
Rage's entire shoulder vanished. (t/n man Killer Queen is OP)
The powerful impact sent Rage staggering to the side, barely managing to steady himself.
One arm, half a shoulder—gone.
Blood and flesh spilt from the wound.
However, Rage's aura did not weaken. If anything, it grew even stronger.
Rage was even angrier now.
This emotion seemed to fuel his power.
Ron couldn't help but recall his battle with Gluttony from the Seven Deadly Sins.
Even after losing his head, Gluttony hadn't died completely.
Instead, he had revived thanks to Kyler's body.
The Rage from Seven Deadly Sins, too, became stronger the more he fought.
With every wound, his rage grew, and his power surged.
"It seems that the two Rages' Nen abilities are similar," Ron thought.
Hanma Baki didn't stop attacking. Instead, he immediately closed in on Rage.
Using reckless abandon, he entangled Rage.
Ron swung his rotting life blade, a faint glow landing on Rage's body.
After absorbing Dandins's death aura, the blade had been strengthened.
With a single strike, countless insect eggs appeared on Rage's body.
Far more than when Ron had used it on Dandins.
Killer Queen picked up a rock and threw it at Rage.
Because of Hanma Baki's entanglement, Rage couldn't dodge.
Another silent explosion erupted.
Rage's body became even more disfigured, but his emotion and aura didn't waver!
Only his rage continued to increase.
Ron furrowed his brow slightly.
"This Nen ability is suited for desperate battles."
"Compared to the Rage from the Seven Deadly Sins, as well as Greed and Gluttony... this Rage from Shadow Beast is definitely much stronger."
"Even stronger than Dandins."
"But it's still within my ability to handle."
"Calmness is actually his weakness!"
Rage's ability to maintain his balance and momentum came at the cost of serious injury. For now, his anger kept his aura strong.
But with time, the toll of his wounds would catch up.
Time was on Ron's side.
When it came to stamina, no Nen user at his level could compare to him.
Soon, Rage's body was covered in insect eggs.
Killer Queen's attacks hit repeatedly, leaving Rage battered.
One arm, one leg, his chest caved in, a massive hole in his abdomen, both ears gone, nose collapsed, his face covered in blood and wounds.
A drop of blood slid from Rage's eye.
Rage seemed distracted.
Hanma Baki noticed this and seized the opportunity. With a low crouch, he slammed his wooden stick into Rage's leg.
Immediately, Rage lost his balance and fell to the ground.
Killer Queen threw a wooden stick at Hanma Baki.
Hanma Baki grabbed the stick and thrust it fiercely into Rage's caved-in chest.