AN: So like a lot of other authors I tend to use the last paragraph or sentence from the previous chapters to flow into the next chapter. Though this is a bit different due to recycling a good chunk of the last chapter as I wanted to rework it a bit as I was somewhat rushing through it. So a good half of this chapter may look familiar but with a few reworked bits. Also sorry for being an hour late but I noticed most people tend to read the chapters the next day regardless. Should I perhaps write on Saturday and Sunday night and upload the chapters at noon of the next respective day? Geeting an upload on Sunday and Monday at midday?
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Inside a dark abandoned building, there were faint signs of occupation scattered about, giving the decaying building a sense of life once again. The main contributing factor was the new occupants, who could be spotted if you looked in the right spot, one was sitting inside of a windowsill, another leaning against a pillar, and some were grouped together on piles of rubble. However, outside of their occupation of this destitute building, there were a few things of note, the tense atmosphere and wide array of emotions permeating the main room for one. Ranging from bored indifference, frustration, amusement, and grieving. Yet despite this, they sat in near silence inside the building, sitting in the dark room with only the moonlight through the broken skylight giving a glimpse at the occupants. Though another object of interest besides the idling people was at the far end of the building was a landing located up a few steps that were decorated with a few unlit candles and a stack of books. And judging by the looks the people were giving the area it seems someone was occupying the space previously.
*sigh* "Why can't we go as well?" musing out loud to himself was a man of regular height who was cloaked in the shadow of the room complained, breaking the delicate silence. And with his actions the room started to come to life, being roused from their various forms of time killing as they turned their attention to the blooming conversation.
*snort* "did you not hear the boss? We are laying low so we can get all the items from the auction when everyone thinks we are dead. Besides the clones should be enough to kill the chain user and that pink guy. " sitting across the room atop a fallen pillar a woman chides her comrade as she goes back to ignoring him in favor of the silence that she preferred.
"...about that, I just felt your clone get destroyed." slumped on the floor was a small silhouette who broke his comrade's valued silence in a quiet and uncomfortable tone. Catching the intrigue of the rest of his companions who began to ponder on the implications.
"?" peering over at the small silhouette in surprise, the woman slumps back on the pillar in defeat. Muttering her dissent under her breath.
"Hahaha! Looks like Machi is in charge of dinner tonight!" The Man began to laugh while he pointed at the now-identified Machi as the conversation began to shift to a more serious tone.
"I wonder who would have the ability to destroy the clone? Maybe the clone committed suicide like plan after it had killed everything around it…" Speaking up was a taller man who was leaning against a wall with both hands on his hips. In response, everyone began to mull on the thought and piece together what may have happened.
"Probably not the latter… You know how his Hatsu works, after imprinting my aura into it the clone copies my personality and can use my Hatsu until it runs out of aura. I wouldn't commit suicide in such a situation so it probably ran into someone who could drain the clone of its aura until it was easily killed…" the first to speak up was Machi who dismissed the notion of her clone's apparent suicide. Which then lead to everyone thinking about who had the ability to stall out her clone.
"Yeah…"
"Ah… another clone was destroyed." Interjecting into the conversation was the small figure who once again alerted everyone that another clone fell.
"Who's died this time?"
{Scene change}
Making haste to the commotion on the main street I snuck a glance around the corner before stepping onto the street. Continuing to make my way further down the street I noticed the smaller number of civilians on the street that had been evacuated during the short fight I had with Machi. Though the streets were looking a bit… rougher? The number of cars on fire, broken windows, shattered pavement and bullet holes had increased.
Seeing as I was no longer on the slick pavement that I was fighting on earlier I began to run faster no longer unhindered. Soon enough, I was nearing the main auction site where I came across an impromptu command site that was filled to the brim with a collection of Nen users and some mid-ranking mafia members buzzing about even with the debris of the skyscraper raining onto the street.
'Oh yeah, Chrollo is fighting the Zoldycks up there right around now… that was a pretty cool fight.' having a brief tangential thought as I looked around for anyone who was familiar while moving about. Since everyone was panicking or the chaos going about I could move around as long as I looked like I belonged. Sure there were a couple of heads that turned to look at me, mostly veteran mob members or a few experienced Nen users but they quickly turned back to what they were doing when they got a good look at me. With the numerous bounties posted and the less-than-subtle approach of the troupe, it was easy to determine who was an enemy and who wasn't exactly an enemy or ally in this whole mess.
"We got reports of a Troupe member on third street sir! Uh… and it seems most of our men on the scene have been killed save a few. Apparently, there are two boys fighting him off?" Overhearing an incoming report and assuming it was the boys I made my way toward their destination which was only two blocks away.
'Though I should have stuck around for a descriptor to see who it was exactly I am fighting…' Clearing the first block with ease I made my way into the second block which seemed to be a cooling engagement zone if the fresh bodies were any clue. Not to mention the few survivors who were a bit jumpy, it pissed me off when one of them tried to light me up with a machine gun he was carrying. Not that I took any damage with my Hatsu…
"Can you stop asshole? Unless you want to experience being mag dumped…"