"Who said I could hold back?!"
Nobunaga snapped back, "If your punches weren't so fast, I would've sliced that guy up already!"
"You think you could?" Uvogin cast a side-eye at him. "You've never even killed a chicken!"
"I told you, there are no live chickens in Meteor City! None!!" Nobunaga roared furiously.
Even locked up in the dungeon, the two couldn't resist bickering.
"Your friendship is really something else, huh?"
A teasing voice drifted in from nearby.
"That voice…" Uvogin's face lit up. "Morin!"
Morin appeared before them, casually tossing a cuckoo egg in his hand. Both Uvogin and Nobunaga exclaimed in unison, "You're here!"
"Surprised?" Morin smiled slyly. "Caught off guard?"
He glanced at the cuckoo egg, noting its lack of reaction—proof that neither Uvogin nor Nobunaga harbored ill will toward him anymore. Morin felt a warmth in his heart. It seemed his risky venture—well, not that risky—was worth it.
"You came to rescue us?" Nobunaga asked, voice full of hope.
"Of course. What else?" Morin approached the cell door. "Did you think I got caught and thrown in here like you two?"
The cell door, made of some high-grade metal, was sturdy. Morin could use Nen to force it open, but it would take effort and drain his energy. Fortunately, he had snagged the keys from the jailer beforehand—earning a friendly pat on the shoulder as he left.
"I heard everything you guys said just now." Morin remarked while unlocking the cell. "Care to repeat who's mocking me and why?"
The two exchanged awkward glances and let out sheepish laughs.
"Well?" Morin pressed as he swung the cell door open. "You've already dragged me into this mess. Spill it."
Uvogin, now breaking free of his chains, reluctantly explained, "Some jerk had his eye on Machi. After she brought you back to the hideout, he started spouting insults in public. I couldn't take it, so I… debated with him."
Nobunaga winced at Uvogin's use of the word "debated." It sounded utterly wrong coming from him.
"Continue," Morin said, motioning for him to go on.
"Things escalated, and we ended up here," Nobunaga added. "The elder scolded us but was about to let us go when that guy started running his mouth again. He said all sorts of vile things about Machi and you."
Uvogin's face darkened with rage. "Filthy words. Stuff I can't even repeat."
Morin listened quietly, his expression unusually calm—a calmness that made Uvogin and Nobunaga uneasy.
"The elder heard this?" Morin asked.
"Pretty sure," Nobunaga replied after a moment. "The guy wasn't exactly quiet, and the elder's hearing is sharp."
"And this guy? What happened to him?" Morin asked.
"Nothing!" Uvogin spat. "He's the one who threw us in here! Even had the nerve to kick me in the face. Arrogant bastard."
"I see." Morin turned and headed for the exit. "Let's go. Take me to him."
"Wait…" Nobunaga hesitated. "This is his turf. If we march out like this—"
"I've been wanting to tear this place down!" Uvogin interrupted, eyes gleaming with excitement. "Perfect opportunity!"
"You're crazy!" Nobunaga said, though his fingers twitched, readying his blade. "Fine. But after I get my sword back, we're leaving. Got it?"
"Understood." Morin's eyes glinted coldly. "But first, we'll leave a mark."
"Hell yeah!" Uvogin roared, his blood pumping with excitement.
With Morin in the lead, the three burst from the dungeon, ready to wreak havoc.
Burn It All
The elder's residence, filled with skilled Nen users, seemed an impossible place to escape—or to attack. But Morin had a plan.
Inside an ornate, dimly lit room, the elder sat on a plush chair, draped in the hide of some unknown beast. He swirled his wine glass, savoring its aroma, a rare moment of peace.
"If those idiots hadn't ruined one of my prized possessions…" he muttered, his mood darkening. "I'll sell them to the black market. At least I'll recoup some of my losses."
As he downed the rest of his wine, a thunderous crash shook the building.
"Cough! What was that?!" he choked, nearly spilling the drink.
A voice outside yelled, "Prisoners have escaped and are causing chaos!"
"Escaped? Chaos?!" the elder roared. "What do I even pay you for?!"
"We're on it, sir!" came the hurried reply. "We'll capture them immediately!"
"You'd better! And when you do, break every bone in their bodies!"
Below, Uvogin reveled in destruction, smashing everything in sight. Furniture, walls, guards—nothing was safe from his fists.
"Found your sword yet?" Morin asked Nobunaga.
"Got it!" Nobunaga emerged from a side room, holding his blade. "They just tossed it aside like garbage."
"Let's pick up the pace," Morin urged. "Enemies are closing in."
"You're leaving already?" Uvogin grumbled.
"Not yet." Morin's smile turned cold. "We've got one more target."
"And this building…" He glanced around. "It'd be a waste not to burn it down."
"Burn it?!" Uvogin's grin stretched wider. "I love it!"
As they searched for flammable materials, an intense aura surged toward them.
"A strong one's coming!" Nobunaga said, adopting a defensive stance. "This one's no joke!"
"Fight?" Uvogin asked, cracking his knuckles.
"No need," Morin said calmly. He pulled out a bamboo skewer with four white dumpling-like balls attached.
"What's that?" Nobunaga asked. "A snack?"
"You idiot," Uvogin sneered. "It's not food!"
While the two bickered, Morin detached the top dumpling and tossed it toward the approaching aura. It hit the ground, releasing a pinkish smoke.
"Let's go," Morin said, wasting no time.
Without hesitation, the three vanished into the chaos, leaving behind a scene of destruction—and a building soon to be engulfed in flames.