Chapter 13: Chapter 13: The Nen Combination of Three Brothers and Sisters
To most, the treasure before them seemed like a well-deserved reward after overcoming numerous challenges. But to Ronnie, it felt more like a trap set by a cunning hunter.
Among the glittering piles of gold and silver, the flat, smooth altar stood quietly in the corner. Its complex black lines marked it unmistakably as the same altar depicted in the murals.
Ronnie's thoughts swirled. Could the altar still possess the same power it once held? Was it still as dangerous as it had been all those years ago?
As he pondered this, his sharp peripheral vision caught sight of something ominous: a dark green wind, wrapped in fiery red flames, hurtling toward him. The attack came from both left and right, aimed directly at the hip-hop man, who was swinging the jade pot with exuberance.
The incident unfolded in an instant. Except for Ronnie, who was always alert to his surroundings, the three brothers and sisters were caught completely off guard.
The wind and fire intensified, their combined force creating a powerful attack that whistled through the air with a piercing sound. The shooters, Ronnie quickly realized, were none other than Peter's two bodyguards.
The first bodyguard, known as No.1, was a Conjurer, and his Nen ability was called "Son of the Wind." No.1 could turn his telekinesis into wind, using it to attack with devastating force. When combined with No.2's ability, their power increased exponentially.
No.2, also a Conjurer, wielded the "Son of Fire" ability, which allowed him to transform his Nen into fire. When combined with No.1's wind, the result was a fearsome force capable of overwhelming nearly any opponent.
Ronnie found himself reflecting on his own experiences with Nen users. He recalled Killua, whose Nen ability had been developed into lightning during his childhood. Killua had honed his Nen to enhance his speed and use his electrical abilities as an attack. Unlike Killua's specialized weapon—the electrified yo-yo—the two bodyguards didn't carry any weapons. Instead, they exhaled their fire and wind attacks directly from their mouths, with an ease that reminded Ronnie of the techniques used in the Naruto universe—specifically, Fire Release and Wind Release.
As the smoke began to clear, the hip-hop man stood there, slightly singed but mostly unharmed. His shirt was tattered, but the damage wasn't as severe as Ronnie had feared.
"Well, since they've decided to make a move, I guess we don't have to hold back, right, brother?" The hip-hop man grinned, tossing aside the ruined shirt. He revealed his muscular build underneath, the result of years of rigorous training.
Ronnie studied the hip-hop man closely, noting that his body seemed a bit larger than before. It was clear now—this was the effect of his Nen ability.
Name: Hip-Hop Man
Strength: B-
Nen: Scars are a man's medal, Enhancer
His Nen ability made him stronger the more he was injured. The more he was hurt, the more his attack power, speed, and other abilities increased. It could improve up to two small stages with each injury.
Ronnie couldn't help but think of the character Cheng Yaojin from Glory of Kings—the lower the health, the more devastating the attacks. It was a dangerous Nen, one that encouraged the user to keep pushing themselves beyond their limits.
Realizing the hip-hop man had been relatively unaffected, Peter narrowed his eyes. He addressed the three siblings in a cold, detached tone:
"If you three just retreat now, I won't kill you. But remember, you won't be leaving with anything."
As soon as Peter finished speaking, the whip-like sound of leather slicing through the air rang out. It was the leather-clad woman, her dark red whip aimed straight at Peter. The whip glowed faintly, as though it had been soaked in blood.
Peter sneered at the attack, his face full of contempt. He shifted some of his mental energy to his legs, and with a powerful stomp, the ground beneath him cracked like spider webs. The recoil sent him drifting back effortlessly, dodging the leather-clad woman's strike.
Name: Leather Woman
Strength: C+
Nen: Vampire's Whip, Manipulator
Her Nen ability materialized a whip up to four meters long. When the whip struck an opponent and broke through their defenses, it absorbed the enemy's blood and returned it to her in the form of mental energy.
As soon as she attacked, two silver-white chains shot out from the glasses man's hands, but oddly, the chains didn't target the siblings. Instead, they wrapped around the waists of both the leather-clad woman and the hip-hop man, without interfering with their movements.
Name: Glasses Man
Strength: C
Nen: The Shared Chain of Family Members, Trait System
He could create up to two white chains and connect them to the others, redistributing the energy of all three. This allowed them to share their mental energy, improving each other's abilities. The catch, however, was that these chains could only be used on family members, as agreed upon by a strict oath.
The Nen abilities of the three siblings were impressively coordinated. Ronnie could see how well their Nen abilities complemented one another—each of them played a vital role in the team's overall strength.
The fire, wind, and chains worked together seamlessly, as if they had trained for years to synchronize their abilities. Ronnie couldn't help but be impressed by their strategy. But the question was—how much longer would their coordination hold out against the fierce power of Peter and his guards?
Ronnie's mind raced as he considered the unfolding battle. The power dynamics were shifting, and the stakes were higher than ever. The treasure they had come to seek seemed almost insignificant now compared to the danger that loomed before them. As the siblings prepared to face off with Peter and his formidable guards, Ronnie couldn't shake the feeling that the real challenge had only just begun.