Chrollo's brows furrowed. Something felt wrong.
"What is he trying to do?"
The next moment, Chrollo had his answer.
The ground trembled again. Cracks spread outward—and this time, something emerged from within them. White bones, sharp like blades, burst forth and grew rapidly. In an instant, they transformed from barely visible tips to towering structures dozens of meters high. One. Two. Three. Then dozens.
In a flash, the area turned into a forest of white bones.
Everyone was caught within the range—Phantom Troupe members and the biological experiment squad alike. This was clearly the doing of the white-haired youth.
Kortopi, who had collapsed on the ground and couldn't move, was impaled by one of the bone blades and carried dozens of meters into the air. Blood ran down the bone in streams.
Phinks, hindered by his injured right arm, couldn't dodge in time and suffered a deep gash. Shalnark and Pakunoda were both wounded to varying degrees.
The Troupe members stared wide-eyed at the scene before them.
"This is terrifying."
"Can a human really do something ?"
Even the woman and the two-headed one were shocked. They hadn't expected the white-haired youth to possess such a monstrous ability.
For the Phantom Troupe, who had just gained a slight edge and renewed their confidence, the tide of battle once again turned uncertain. But the woman and the two-headed man grew excited.
"As expected of our captain!"
The white-haired youth vanished—suddenly disappeared—then reappeared just as suddenly.
A bone blade drove into Phinks's abdomen, worsening his already critical injuries. In the next second, the white-haired youth appeared behind Pakunoda.
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Another successful strike.
Feitan tried to support them, but the moment the white-haired youth sensed him, he vanished again.
"He can move through the bone structure itself."
"Everyone, be careful!"
Chrollo's expression darkened. A cloth appeared in his hand. He poured all his aura into it, expanding its size to the maximum limit. Then he flung the cloth over part of the bone forest.
The moment it made contact, the cloth began to rapidly contract, compressing the bones with it. This was Chrollo's improvised counter. If the white-haired youth could travel through the bone forest, then removing it would block his movement.
But Chrollo's stolen ability could only affect part of the battlefield. Compared to the vast range of the bone forest, it wasn't enough. And the white-haired youth could simply create more.
Chrollo's voice rang out.
The Troupe members instinctively tried to move toward the source of the voice, but the white-haired youth wouldn't allow it. He cut off the path.
Meanwhile, the woman and the two-headed man attacked from the shadows, harassing the Troupe at every turn.
Hisoka's eyes gleamed with interest.
"To think you could use such a Nen ability…"
"I really underestimated you before."
His face twisted into an expression of mania.
"Ninety-nine points!"
The white-haired youth's sudden burst of power threw the Phantom Troupe into crisis. For a moment, Chrollo even began to question his previous decisions.
He had done it to create a chance for the Zoldycks to assassinate the Ten Dons.
He had done it to avenge Meteor Street.
He had done it for Sarasa.
But had it really been worth it—to drag the Phantom Troupe into this state?
Uvogin was already dead.
Kortopi likely wouldn't survive.
Most of the Troupe was seriously injured....
Ron's brow lifted slightly.
"Not only are his basic abilities like Kimimaro's, even his strongest techniques resemble Kimimaro's."
Just then, a phone rang.
Ron took it out and answered.
"Are you still in Yorknew?"
"Can I ask you for a favor?"
"it depends on what kind of favour we are talking about."
"The Phantom Troupe seems to be under attack. The enemy is strong. I've received intel that things are looking really bad for them. Ron, can you check on them? You don't have to intervene—just observe from afar."
Her voice sounded urgent.
"And if you think it's within your power to intervene… can you help them? Please? I can't go myself right now."
"I can pay you with everything I have."
Ron looked toward the direction of the bone forest.
"I can go. And I can step in. But Machi—I don't want your money."
"No money? Then what do you want?"
"Me? What do you mean?"
"Exactly what it sounds like," Ron said. "Machi, I'll help you—but I want you to join my team. Once you're in, you don't leave without my permission."
He had made the offer before, but she had declined, saying she didn't want to join another team for the time being.
But now, Ron saw the opportunity.
Machi was silent for a while. Then sighed.
"Good," Ron said. "When this is over, I'll give you an address. Come find me."
He hung up and pocketed the phone.
Truthfully, even without Machi's request, Ron had been planning to step in.
The Phantom Troupe was part of his plan to lure out Oster. If they were wiped out here, Oster would never show himself.
That wasn't something Ron could allow.
As for disappointing Hisoka—Ron didn't care.
While Hisoka was his current partner in crime, he was not a friend. There had been no prior agreement on this point.
Ron would act in his own interest.
Machi's call had just made the timing more convenient.