"Hahaha! Uvogin, if it doesn't work, maybe you should give Ronnel's idea a try!" Nobunaga laughed loudly, barely containing his amusement as Uvogin's face twitched in irritation.
"Shut up, you bastard! Shalnark, is there really no other option?"
"There are other ways, but honestly, Ronnel's plan is pretty spot-on…"
"Like hell it is! Quit messing around and just spill it!" Uvogin barked, clearly embarrassed, which only encouraged Shalnark to push his buttons a bit more.
At last, Shalnark relented and suggested a more workable plan, prompting Uvogin to breathe a sigh of relief as he realized a beer could solve the problem.
"That nerve poison in your system, Uvogin—Rabid Dog likely has an antidote."
As Shalnark rallied the brigade members across the hillside to search for beer, Ronnel managed to fish out a small bottle from the Rabid Dog's bag.
"There's an antidote," he announced, casually pocketing it. He glanced up just in time to see Uvogin get yanked away in a flash by Kurapika's chains.
"What the—?!" The entire brigade stared, equally startled.
"Well, looks like Uvogin won't be needing this antidote right now," Ronnel remarked, tucking the bottle and the Rabid Dog's body into his pack.
"Are there any other Shadow Beasts out there? That would be a pain," Shalnark sighed, hands on his hips.
Feitan scoffed. "Just more trouble."
Machi chimed in, "No worries—I've got Uvogin patched up with needle and thread. I'll keep up."
"Right. If it comes down to it, Uvogin might actually have to try Ronnel's plan after all!" Nobunaga said, half-concerned, half-amused at the thought.
Being the tight-knit group they were, though, none of them would let Uvogin go down that path alone.
"So here's the plan: Franklin, you go, I'll handle the leader's request to check on Nostrade's daughter. The rest of you, go after Uvogin. Sound good?"
The group nodded in agreement, and after splitting into three teams, they vanished into the night, leaving behind a scene strewn with broken bodies and a gaping crater—a testament to the fight that had taken place.
Under the moonlight, the breeze drifted over the remnants of battle, giving the desolate scene a strangely haunting beauty.
In the quiet car ride that followed, Nobunaga broke the silence.
"Hey, Ronnel, you mentioned meeting a Shadow Beast before. What kind of creature was it?"
"Bat-like, with arms that doubled as wings," Ronnel replied, focused on the road.
"Their code names often match their appearance and powers, like the Zodiac Twelve of the Hunter Association."
"The Twelve what?" Nobunaga asked.
"They're the strongest Hunters chosen by the Association's chairman, Netero—the most powerful Hunters in the world."
"Oh, right. I think I've heard of them. The gang's most elite Shadow Beasts versus the Zodiac Twelve—it's like they're made to clash!"
"If Uvogin were here, he'd want to challenge them, no question. But as it is…" Nobunaga trailed off, suppressing a smirk at the memory.
"Watch out—we've been spotted," Machi warned, watching a thread attached to the car.
"No problem, we're already in range," Feitan muttered from the back seat.
Just as Ronnel laughed and launched himself out the window, Nobunaga and Machi shot each other a quick look of confusion. Feitan, however, narrowed his eyes, clearly expecting trouble.
Outside the vehicle, Ronnel and Feitan landed on the road, only to find themselves facing a man with slicked-back hair and small, round glasses. The stranger held out a cloth that seemed to expand, wrapping around the car like a net.
"Ahead of the game, huh?" Feitan muttered, observing Ronnel's quick response with a new appreciation.
Nobunaga, having just escaped, shot the man a glare. "You're one of the Shadow Beasts, aren't you?"
"There's one too many of them," Machi noted. "Ronnel killed one, Uvogin killed four, so only five should be left. This one isn't a Shadow Beast?"
"Let's just ask directly!" Nobunaga's hand shifted toward the hilt of his sword. "Hey, does one of your friends look like a bat?"
Across the road, the Shadow Beasts gathered, sizing up Ronnel's group. One was covered in air sacs like life rings, another bristled with spiked quills like a hedgehog. One seemed neither male nor female, sporting an androgynous appearance, while another had arms extending into razor-sharp claws.
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