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221 HxH: Tombbound Power
🕑 Added 2024-11-24 06:01:01 +0000 UTCThe dimly lit room was filled with chaos and tension. Nobunaga's lifeless body lay sprawled on the ground, his eyes wide open, frozen in a mixture of shock and defiance.
Machi, usually stoic and cold, felt her composure shatter. Seeing her comrade—a trusted ally and friend—brutally killed beside her was too much to bear.
Her fists clenched tightly as she tried to suppress the grief and rage bubbling inside her. Nearby, Gon, tied up and powerless, winced in pain, his face flushed.
"The man with the sword… Nobunaga… is dead?!" Gon whispered, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Killua, ever the analytical one, quickly assessed the situation. His sharp gaze darted between Nobunaga's corpse and the room around him.
"Was this Kurapika's doing? No... the wounds don't match his chains. The clean cut on Nobunaga's neck—this was done with a sharp blade, not chain techniques," Killua muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Leorio and Melody couldn't have done this either. Neither of them has the skill or power for something like this."
He frowned, thoughts racing. "Then who? Who had the precision and strength to take out Nobunaga right here, surrounded by the rest of the Troupe?"
Before anyone could say more, a piercing scream erupted from the hotel lobby, echoing through the darkness.
"Killing! Murder!"
Panic swept through the crowd as guests and staff fled toward the exits, unwilling to remain in the eerie, blood-soaked atmosphere.
Pakunoda and Kortopi stood frozen, their faces pale as they stared at Nobunaga's severed head.
"Why? Why was Nobunaga killed?!" Pakunoda cried, her voice trembling.
Kortopi clenched his teeth, his usual calm demeanor cracking under the weight of the loss.
"Was it the Chain User?! Did he kill Nobunaga while capturing the boss?!" Kortopi's voice rose, tinged with despair and fury.
"No," came a calm, authoritative voice.
Ronnel stepped forward, his sharp gaze scanning the room as he addressed the group.
"It's unlikely Kurapika acted alone. From the way Nobunaga was killed, it's clear this wasn't done with chains. This was the work of someone else—a coordinated attack."
He paused, his words hanging in the air as the Troupe members focused on him.
"My guess? Kurapika had help. One accomplice kidnapped the boss, while another ambushed Nobunaga in the confusion. The timing was perfect—this was no accident."
Ronnel's calm explanation seemed to ground the group, giving them a moment to think beyond their rage and sorrow. Pakunoda, though still trembling with grief, nodded slowly.
"Paku," Ronnel continued, turning to her. "Did you find anything from Gon and Killua's memories?"
Pakunoda hesitated. "No... nothing that points directly to the murderer. I only saw fragments of their recent encounters."
Before she could elaborate, Ronnel held up a letter he had retrieved from the scene.
"Wait. Before you say anything, read this."
Pakunoda took the letter and activated her Nen ability. As she touched it, a memory embedded in the paper played out in her mind:
In the chaos of the power outage, a hotel staff member had rushed from the counter, throwing a chain directly at Chrollo. The suddenness of the attack caught Chrollo off guard, his reaction delayed just long enough for the chains to ensnare him.
The memory ended abruptly, revealing nothing about Nobunaga's death. Pakunoda's frown deepened as she moved to Nobunaga's body. Activating her ability once more, she touched his corpse to retrieve his final moments.
In the instant the lights went out, Nobunaga had instinctively gripped the hilt of his katana. But before he could draw, a shadow moved faster than his eyes could track.
Using Nen-enhanced vision, he managed to glimpse two hands—aiming directly at his neck. The strike was fast, precise, and overwhelmingly powerful.
Despite fortifying his aura around his neck, the blow tore through his defenses, severing his head in one swift motion.
Nobunaga's consciousness faded before he could utter a single word.
Pakunoda's fists tightened as the vision faded. The letter crumpled in her grip as she turned back to the group, her eyes blazing with grief and determination.
"This was no coincidence. Whoever did this knew exactly when and how to strike," she said bitterly.
The Phantom Troupe stood in tense silence, each grappling with their loss and the terrifying precision of the attack.
Far away, Kurapika's chains rattled softly, a promise of vengeance yet to come.
