Kaizen could understand if someone was in a dire situation.
But this wasn't the case.
The B-rank Nen user could clearly see that the others in Kroll's unit were doing fine.
Especially Kroll himself.
The people around Kroll were scattering like wild animals—but no one could pose a threat to him.
"Kroll-sama?"
"Why?"
"With your strength, it'd only take a moment to turn this fight around for me."
"Are you really unwilling to spare even that much time?"
"Would you rather finish off enemies who can't fight back?"
The B-rank user frowned in disbelief.
To him, his own survival should be the top priority. Was killing those defenseless enemies really so urgent?
Even if it was important, saving him first wouldn't take long. Once he was safe, he could help with the rest. Wasn't that more efficient?
...Unless—unless this was always the plan.
A dreadful thought struck the B-rank user like a lightning bolt.
In Kroll's calculations... had he been designated as expendable from the start?
It was the only explanation that made sense now.
"Was I just meant to die here...?"
The realization twisted his expression into one of disbelief.
He had followed Kroll from early on, loyal and hardworking.
He'd fought hard for the team.
And now he was being left to die?
Rage and frustration surged in his chest.
He was so caught up in those emotions that he let his guard down.
That was the moment Tessia struck.
In a flash, she appeared behind him.
Both her palms slammed into the B-rank user's back.
Her aura gathered with violent force.
BOOM!
An explosion of raw energy launched the man into the air.
Pfft!
He spat blood mid-flight.
He crashed into the sand with a heavy thud, sinking halfway in. But Tessia didn't stop.
She came again, relentless.
Glowing orbs of dark light materialized in her hands and rained down on him like bombs.
...
Seeing the danger, a massive mole-type Nen beast burrowed away from Sally and tunneled toward the B-rank user to assist him.
It reached him and tried to pull him deeper underground for safety.
But just then—
Kaizen flicked his wrist.
Shk!
Several crystal-needle projectiles zipped through the air and pierced into the sand. They didn't stop—continuing until they embedded deep into the giant mole's body.
The moment they landed, the toxin inside them burst forth.
The mole's eyes widened. It tried to burrow away, but its strength was fading fast.
Tessia had already wounded it.
Sally's previous attack had done further damage.
Now, Kaizen's poison was the final blow.
Its vitality drained rapidly. In moments, the mole collapsed, lifeless.
...
The B-rank user felt a sinking dread.
He was already fuming from being abandoned by Kroll, and now Tessia had taken full advantage of that lapse.
The giant mole had tried to save him—out of loyalty, perhaps. It had brought him underground, away from Tessia's attacks.
But now, deep underground, he faced a cruel problem.
He wasn't like the mole—he couldn't move freely beneath the earth. His aura was strong, but his abilities didn't allow underground mobility.
If he were uninjured, maybe he could've escaped.
But in his condition?
There was no chance.
And the longer he stayed buried, the sooner he'd suffocate.
His chest tightened with resentment.
To die like this? After coming so far?
He had status. He was someone. Among Nen users, he was above average.
This shouldn't be how he went out...
...
"En."
Kaizen activated his aura field.
Within its range, he felt it clearly—the mole was dead.
The B-rank user, too, was no longer clinging to life.
Four members of Kroll's squad had now died.
Out of eleven, only seven remained.
All four deaths had come at the hands of Kaizen's team.
Kroll's group wasn't weak. Their abilities were focused and lethal. But Kaizen's side was better coordinated—and more decisive.
As the B-rank Nen user's presence faded, Kroll stirred.
Kaizen noticed.
"Ponzu. Signal everyone—head south."
"Yes, Captain."
Ponzu's bee scouts zipped off to deliver the orders.
Soon, Tessia, Sally, Nina, Siper, and Shizuku—who was tasked with protecting Nina—had all shifted into high gear, moving rapidly away before Kroll could intercept.
Kroll narrowed his eyes.
But he didn't chase.
Instead, he stood tall like a living wall, blocking any attempt to flee west.
The desert sand churned behind him like waves crashing against the shore.
Kaizen glanced in his direction and raised an eyebrow.
"So... you're really this indifferent to your subordinates' lives?"
...
To the south, two fighters remained:
One B-rank and ten C-rank Nen users.
They were up against Tessia, Sally, and Nina.
The C-ranks dropped one by one in the onslaught.
Soon, only the B-rank user remained—and he was barely hanging on under Tessia's storm of attacks.
Kaizen didn't need to get involved. Aside from his sneak attack on the mole, he hadn't made any major moves yet.
That was intentional.
He had two A-rank opponents he hadn't revealed his hand to. Giving away his tactics early would only make the next fight harder.
And right now?
Tessia and the others were handling things just fine.
...
Still, Kroll didn't budge.
He watched, impassive, as more of his people were cut down.
Kaizen turned his gaze toward Kroll.
Behind him, the sand had piled high—forming what looked like a real fortress wall.
And in front of it?
Corpses. Piled high.
Then, Kaizen paused.
He sensed something.
The desert… was shifting.
Something strange was coming.
Silently, stealthily—above the dunes, change was in the air.
------------
Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)