NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 9: Exorcist
With newfound excitement, Larry considered the potential applications of Gardevoir's abilities. If Misty Terrain could prevent the influence of death aura, then... what about Heal Bell? He quickly opened the Pokédex interface in his mind and scanned Gardevoir's skill list.
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Heal Bell "Removes negative effects from the entire team, including but not limited to status conditions such as curses and death auras."
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Larry's grin widened. "Bingo." While Misty Terrain acted as a preventive measure by repelling death aura, Heal Bell could actively cleanse it—making them the perfect combination. "In a way, I've just turned into a half-exorcist," Larry murmured to himself. "No, scratch that—I'm an exorcist with double protection."
In the world of Hunter x Hunter, the number of exorcists—specialists capable of removing lingering Nen effects—was absurdly low. Throughout the entire series, only three had ever been introduced.
There was Abengane, the dark-skinned man from Greed Island, who famously removed Chrollo's curse with his unique exorcism ability. Then there was Hina, a peculiar Chimera Ant with an innate talent for dispelling Nen. Lastly, an unnamed old lady working within the Hunter Association, known only to a select few, whose skills remained shrouded in mystery.
With such a limited number of exorcists in the world, their value was immeasurable, often sought after by Hunters and black market clients alike. Now, with Gardevoir's unique abilities, Larry had unknowingly positioned himself as a potential game-changer. Whether among reputable Hunters or the underworld's most dangerous figures, his newfound role could make him an invaluable asset—one that people would pay fortunes to seek out. "Alright, let's see how effective Heal Bell really is."
With a graceful movement, Gardevoir cast Heal Bell, her soothing voice resonating through the ancient ruins. The soft melody materialized into shimmering musical notes, which floated gently through the air. As the notes drifted forward and touched the dense death aura, the effect was immediate.
Like snow melting under the sun, the swirling black fog dissipated in patches, leaving behind clear, breathable air. The darkness was replaced by an eerie silence, as if the aura had never existed in the first place. But Larry wasn't fooled. Within moments, new waves of death aura rolled forward, filling the void left by the purified area. Gardevoir turned to Larry and spoke softly, "Shauna."
Larry glanced at her, noting the faint glow of strain in her emerald eyes. "The aura cost is higher for Heal Bell compared to Misty Terrain, huh?" he deduced. "That makes sense. Prevention is easier than cure."
Satisfied with the results, Larry nodded. "Alright, Gardevoir. Cast Misty Terrain on me as well."
A soft, pinkish mist surrounded Larry, clinging to his figure like an invisible shield. With the protective barrier in place, he took his first step into the deeper parts of the Karym Ruins.
Just as expected, the death aura recoiled from Larry's presence, sLarrying away like a predator deterred by a stronger foe. Step by step, he advanced deeper into the ruins, with Gardevoir by his side. The dark fog continued to retreat before them, creating a path where none had existed before.
At the end of the inner city of the Karym Ruins stood a dark, ominous door. It looked as if it was made of solid ink, surrounded by an overwhelming aura of death. If the thoughts of death swirling outside resembled a creeping black mist, then this door was a solid block of pure darkness. "We're just going to leave? Just like that?" The voice belonged to Neguro, a man with a middle-parted hairstyle and oversized sunglasses. There was a hint of unease in his tone, barely concealed beneath his usual aloof demeanor.
"And what else can we do? You think you can get rid of this death aura yourself?" The woman in the black leather coat snapped, her frustration evident as she glared at the door. Her clenched teeth betrayed her reluctance to give up.
"…Actually, I might know a way." The sudden voice made all six people turn their heads in surprise. The suffocating aura of death that filled the air around them trembled, as if disturbed by an invisible force. A few moments later, a figure emerged, stepping forward with an easy smile.
It was Larry. A faint, translucent barrier shimmered around him like a plastic bubble, effortlessly repelling the oppressive death aura. Beside him floated a graceful, humanoid figure with an air of elegance—Gardevoir. As Larry advanced, his eyes darted to his progress tracker. He noticed that it had stopped at 80%. This wasn't the true end of the ruins—whatever they were looking for was beyond that door.
The others watched in astonishment, their gazes fixed on Larry. As Nen users themselves, they immediately recognized Gardevoir as a Conjuration-type Nen Beast. However, what truly held their attention was Larry's complete immunity to the oppressive death aura surrounding them. "An Exorcist?!" The leather-clad woman crossed her arms, her sharp eyes narrowing in skepticism. "Hey, are you some kind of Specialist?" Her voice carried a mix of doubt and hope.
Standing in front of the massive door, Larry smirked and half-jokingly said, "To be honest, I'm a materialization-type Nen user. My ability lets me create a humanoid Nen beast." He gestured toward Gardevoir beside him. "It doesn't have any attack power, but it can generate a barrier that blocks the death aura."
"Well, you are a materialization type," someone muttered under their breath. No one could argue with that, especially with the Nen beast standing right there. Though most Nen beasts are usually associated with emission types, materialization users can also specialize in them.
No one questioned the defensive nature of his ability either. Nen powers often focus on a single purpose, and it made sense that his would prioritize protection. Despite the growing urge to comment, the group held back, choosing instead to exchange uneasy glances.
After a brief exchange, Larry pieced together their story. The leather-clad woman, the man with glasses, and the hip-hop guy were siblings. They had met Neguro and his two bodyguards in the outer city ruins. Both groups shared the same goal—to explore the depths of the ruins—and decided to team up temporarily to improve their chances of survival.
However, their biggest problem was the lack of exorcist. They had been relying on their own mental strength to fend off the death aura, a method that had taken a serious toll on their stamina. If the journey had been any longer, they wouldn't have made it this far. Even so, their aura was nearly drained, and the door before them was a far greater challenge than anything they'd encountered. The thoughts of death it radiated were ten times denser than what they'd faced so far. Unlike the outside, where they could resist in short bursts, coming into direct contact with the door would be fatal.
As Larry listened, he wasn't just standing idly. He discreetly scanned everyone using his ability. The results reassured him—most of them were around C-rank, with Neguro and the hip-hop guy standing out at B-rank. In other words, none of them posed a serious threat to him or Gardevoir.