A moment later.
Illumi helped Hisoka out of the deep pit created by Bonolenov's "Jupiter" manifestation. Hisoka had a broken arm, bruises, and blood all over him.
"Yo," Hisoka spat blood on the ground, showing a creepy smile with bloody teeth. "I'm not dead. Are you disappointed?"
He said this to everyone present. Even Germain and Illumi had thoughts in their hearts – perhaps it would be better if he died here.
Chrollo's coat was torn apart in the battle with Hisoka. In the cold grassland wind, he wore a thin white shirt with his hands in his pockets, frowning at Hisoka.
Hisoka struggled against Chrollo, Bonolenov, and Kortopi's attacks. To thin their numbers, he sacrificed his arm to instantly kill Kortopi.
This gave Hisoka some relief and made him feel more relaxed, but he was still in danger.
Later, Chrollo and Bonolenov chased Hisoka, causing him to bleed profusely from the exertion.
Chrollo set another trap, briefly restraining Hisoka before Bonolenov finished him with "Jupiter."
After such relentless attacks, Hisoka shouldn't have been able to survive. So why was he still breathing?
Chrollo was puzzled.
"Chrollo, it's because of my Curse against you," Hisoka explained, sensing everyone's confusion.
"I wanted a one-on-one fight to determine the winner. But you had so many 'guards' prepared. I fell into your trap."
"So, when I was dying, I implanted a 'Curse' within myself."
"After my death, if someone uses 'nen' to examine my body, it triggers the 'Curse,' making my heart and lungs function again..."
"It seems my 'nen' revived me," Hisoka concluded calmly after Illumi helped him to the ground and released his hand.
"I wondered why you wanted me to inject 'nen' into your body after you died. Now I understand."
Hisoka discovered his broken arm and used "Bungee Gum" to mend it, reattaching it to the broken end. He then removed the cloth from his back, which was disguised as a twelve-legged spider tattoo, and wrapped it around his arm to cover the wound.
Next, he employed "Texture Surprise" to disguise the cloth as skin on his arm, concealing the original wound marks.
"I've heard that a person's 'Curse' after death can be powerful, leading to extraordinary 'nen' abilities. So, I decided to give it a try. I didn't expect to actually be resurrected."
He lifted his head, narrowed his eyes, and grinned.
"Chrollo, perhaps my obsession with not wanting to lose my plaything brought me back from hell. That's what I think, and I truly wish to continue our fight..."
"Hey." Illumi patted Hisoka's shoulder, gestured towards him and Germain, and shook his head. "Let me clarify upfront that we're not interested in fighting anymore; our mission is complete."
Hisoka turned to look at Germain.
He noticed Germain had Machi hostage. Machi had awakened by now, her hands tied behind her back by Germain, though she remained calm.
Initially negotiating with Chrollo, Shalnark, and Bonolenov, they now faced complications. Pakunoda had been struck by Illumi's "Nen needle," and she now shielded Germain.
Machi didn't know the outcome of their struggle, uncertain if another ally might perish, so she remained silent.
"I see..." Hisoka's eyes briefly glanced over, understanding the situation. "Without you holding back the 'guards,' continuing the battle with Chrollo isn't feasible."
Hisoka was not one to misunderstand the circumstances.
"Okay, that's enough for today," Hisoka declared, eyeing Chrollo with a smirk. "There will come a time when you'll be alone, or I'll make sure you are."
Chrollo's expression remained stoic. He brushed off Hisoka's threat and turned to Germain and Illumi. "Is everything settled?"
"Yes," Germain replied, releasing Machi's hand first.
Machi pushed Germain lightly, shooting him a glare. Just as she started walking towards Chrollo, Shalnark and Bonolenov, Germain interrupted.
"Wait," Germain insisted, rolling up his pants to reveal his twelve-legged spider tattoo. "Use your Nen to help me remove this."
Machi looked reluctant, wearing a dark expression.
"Help him," Chrollo interjected. "From now on, Hisoka and Germain are no longer part of the Phantom Troupe."
Machi hesitated briefly, then removed the tattoo she had placed on Germain herself. She returned to stand beside Shalnark and Bonolenov.
Chrollo turned to Illumi.
Illumi shrugged, retrieving his Nen-controlling needle from Pakunoda. Her eyes slowly regained their natural color as she woke up, confused by the situation and not remembering anything from the mind control, a typical effect of manipulative Nen attacks.
Shalnark gently guided the bewildered Pakunoda back to their camp.
"Hisoka, Germain," Chrollo's smile faded, his eyes cold. "You'll pay for Phinks' and Kortopi's deaths."
Germain remained silent. Since refusing to participate in the Troupe's activities, he harbored no illusions.
The Phantom Troupe allowed outsiders to kill members, viewing it as a 'selection,' but Chrollo ultimately held the final say.
At the same time, he couldn't tolerate internal rebellion and had no room for negotiation.
Instead, Hisoka approached with interest and chuckled, "Crafty, Chrollo. You never hold back on those ruthless words, even after Silva Zoldyck killed the original 8th."
"Yet, it's me now. Starting tomorrow, any encounter with a Phantom Troupe member means life or death."
"Let's make a bet. Will the Spider's legs die first, or Germain, or me?"
Chrollo looked at Hisoka coldly and replied, "I bet on us winning."
"I bet on myself."
With that said, Hisoka walked away into the distance. West.
Soon shrugged, said no more, and slowly walked toward the two.
The Phantom Troupe members stayed put, watching their figures fade into the distance at the edge of the grassland, then began to handle Phinks and Kortopi's bodies.
Machi's "Nen Stitches" was inspired by the female teacher who taught her "Nen"—a mortician.
Little did she expect to use this "Nen Stitches" on her fellow Phantom Troupe members today.
She helped stitch Phinks' head back onto his neck and sewed Kortopi's shattered body together, making them presentable even after death.
This sight brought back memories of her childhood friend Sarasa's death.
The Phantom Troupe members once visited tragedy upon all they encountered—those they hated, resented, or ignored—just like what happened to Sarasa.
Was this what people outside Meteor City called "retribution"? If so, why didn't those who harmed Meteor City face retribution?
Machi shook her head, clearing the fog from her mind.
The "Battle of Stonehenge" dealt a heavy blow to the once notorious Phantom Troupe, with two members killed and two leaving.
Originally 13 strong, the Phantom Troupe now numbered only 9.
********
Support me on my patreon and read upto 15 early chapters.
https://www.patreon.com/Unique_Writer