An ability gained through a condition paid for with one's life, capable of delivering a sure-kill blow to the Spider.
Once bound by the chain, there was no possibility of escape, unless influenced by external factors.
Chrollo was checkmated, that was an undeniable reality.
If there was still a chance, it lay with Pakunoda, who was willing to sacrifice her life for him.
But Pakunoda, whose combat performance had always been weak during the Troupe's operations, what could she possibly accomplish now?
When Pakunoda's body moved faster than her thoughts, the gaze from Law seemed to freeze her feet in place.
Thus, her body paused for a moment.
Law merely glanced at her, then simply looked away.
At that moment, Kurapika raised his arm, pulling Chrollo right in front of him.
Bound by the chain, he was like a fish on a chopping block, entirely at Kurapika's mercy.
In other words, even though he could still think and breathe, he was already as good as dead.
It wasn't one foot in the grave, it was both feet.
Why?
Looking closely at this Kurta Clan's survivor, even a single exhaled breath carried the intensity of a volcanic eruption of anger.
Let alone... those Scarlet Eyes stained with the blood of vengeance.
Deeply aware that escape was impossible, Chrollo's face remained calm.
It wasn't feigned. At this moment, his heartbeat was terrifyingly steady, as if he didn't consider death a matter of consequence.
In fact, most members of the Troupe were largely like this.
They were a group... indifferent to life and death, regarding others and themselves alike.
Chrollo looked at the possessor of the Scarlet Eyes before him and said flatly, "You could have crushed me instantly, but you didn't. Do you intend to use me to restrain Pakunoda, or do you not believe the answer to the initial question and want further confirmation?"
"Most likely the latter. But I did not deceive you."
"If I must name a location, it seems... at some point, I casually donated them to some hospital whose name I don't remember."
"Presumably, those Scarlet Eyes weren't used for treating eye diseases but were privately sold as commodities."
Whoosh!
The chain abruptly tightened.
The powerful constricting force made Chrollo grunt, then spit out a small mouthful of blood.
Without Aura protection, relying solely on physical strength, he naturally couldn't withstand it.
Kurapika's expression at this moment was more ferocious than any he had ever shown in his life. It was as if countless black lines formed parallel shadows, obscuring his face.
Pakunoda's face tightened. Disregarding Law's presence, she charged towards Kurapika and Chrollo.
Kurapika's eyes, filled with endless killing intent, swept over her.
Swept by that gaze, Pakunoda felt as if a bullet had struck her heart. Her body jolted violently, forced to stop.
Because Chrollo's Aura was sealed, his life or death rested entirely on Kurapika's whim.
Acting rashly would not only fail to save Chrollo but would also hasten his death.
'Is there any way to turn the situation around... Is anyone else alive?'
'Even just one, please, quickly.'
'Let one person come, just one person!'
Pakunoda's hand holding her gun trembled slightly.
Watching this scene, Law knew the Phantom Troupe was only one step away from complete annihilation.
He heard Chrollo's words and felt that someone like Chrollo was sometimes truly unreasonable.
He wanted the Scarlet Eyes so much that he even violated the established agreement.
Viewed this way, Chrollo's desire for the Scarlet Eyes must have exceeded ordinary fondness.
Yet, after obtaining them, within who knows how long, he passed them on, even donating them free of charge to a hospital unworthy of a place in his memory.
That was purely acting on personal whims. The term 'fickle' was insufficient to describe Chrollo.
Law took one last look at Chrollo, who was terrifyingly calm, then walked into the Cemetery Building.
In the distance, the sound of police sirens could faintly be heard.
Chrollo, meanwhile, watched Law's retreating back, seeing him enter the Cemetery Building until he disappeared from sight.
His gaze towards Law held no resentment, no hatred, only the stillness of stagnant water.
In nature, there exists an ecosystem.
The human world is also like this.
If one dies at the hands of another one day, the blame shouldn't be placed on the other's cruelty or indifference, but on one's own insufficient strength, unable to avoid this outcome.
This was Chrollo's personal view. He hadn't defeated Kurapika, so he was about to embrace death, while Kurapika would have his bloody vengeance.
This was a result taken for granted, formed by a combination of various factors.
Paying no mind to the chain binding him, continuously bringing pain.
Chrollo slowly tilted his head back, wanting to look at the stars and the moon. Unfortunately, the night sky held only clouds reddened by the reflected firelight.
"That's right, the weather forecast said it would rain after midnight, perhaps all day."
He muttered to himself, slightly turned his head, and calmly met Kurapika's gaze, which seemed ready to devour him. He said flatly, "Do you think the weather forecast will be accurate?"
Seeing Chrollo's state of mind so calm, Kurapika abruptly clenched his fists, once again increasing the chain's force.
Chrollo spat blood again, but not a trace of pain showed on his face.
Nearby, Pakunoda watched Kurapika torment Chrollo, gritting her teeth hard, her mind spinning madly, trying to find a glimmer of light in the darkness.
But Kurapika completely disregarded Pakunoda. He stared fixedly at Chrollo, his voice so low it was like a pair of hands, pale and covered with corpse spots, breaking through the earth.
"I wish I could pull out your tendons, strip your bones, cut your skin off inch by inch."
"Make you taste what bone-deep pain feels like before you die."
"But, I am not a beast like you all."
"Go properly... to hell and repent."
With each sentence, the chain's force increased another level, squeezing Chrollo's body fiercely. The sound of bones cracking could be frequently heard.
It was clear these words were a death countdown.
Yet, Chrollo still looked calmly at Kurapika, who was so close. Faintly, a trace of pity appeared in his eyes.
'Humans are such creatures...'
He didn't speak this sentence aloud, only muttered it in his heart, without even a ripple.
But Kurapika saw the pity in Chrollo's eyes. For a moment, it felt as if their positions had been reversed.
Without any hesitation, he raised his power to its maximum, watching with his own eyes as Chrollo's body was crushed into several pieces by the chain.
A large amount of blood exploded right before his eyes, splashing onto his face and body.
Initially, he had disgust at the sensation of blood touching his body.
Now, Kurapika accepted it calmly.
He would walk further and further down this path of blood.
"Chrollo!"
Pakunoda cried out in grief-stricken anger, suddenly raising her revolver. But she didn't point it at the blood-soaked Kurapika… instead, she pointed it at her own temple.
This action of hers wasn't a love-suicide-like act. It was to stake everything to avenge Chrollo.
Inside the Cemetery Building.
Law heard Pakunoda's cry, filled with grief and rage.
"Dead, huh..."