Uvogin stood breathing heavily. His battle spirit burned brighter than ever, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of exhaustion.
After all, he'd just unleashed nearly all of his Nen in one explosive strike. Even with his monstrous endurance, his limbs felt a bit unsteady.
Machi rushed over without hesitation. She grabbed hold of Uvogin's severed arm, and Nen threads shimmered into view, rapidly stitching muscle and tendon back together with uncanny precision.
Within seconds, the limb was completely reattached.
"Try moving it," Machi said, inspecting the connection with a serious expression. "Tell me if anything feels off. That guy's weapon might carry some kind of hidden ability."
Uvogin flexed his bicep and rotated his shoulder with a wide grin."Still works like new. Damn, Machi—your stitching's as clean as ever."
Despite Uvogin's reassurances, Machi kept her gaze fixed on the rubble across the battlefield.
She knew how terrifying that last blow had been. Uvogin's Super Destruction Fist had been charged with everything he had. But Vega's armor—infused with dark Nen and reinforced through unknown means—was no ordinary defense. Even a direct hit didn't guarantee a kill.
Dust and ruin still clouded the area where Vega had landed.
Suddenly, the man stirred.
Vega slowly pushed himself upright, debris cascading off him. His helmet had cracked, pieces clinking to the ground and revealing his bloodied, but still striking face. In one hand, he still held the Red Shrike.
He stepped out of the cratered earth, his expression calm... even amused.
"A worthy effort," Vega said with a grin. "You really live up to the Phantom Troupe's reputation. That strike actually cracked Phantom Severance's armor."
He tilted his head, cracking his neck as if shaking off a mild cramp.
"To think, after so many fights with skilled Nen users, none could even scratch it... until now."
Uvogin, Machi, and omokage didn't share in the compliment. Instead, a cold dread settled between them.
It had taken all three of them—combined—to land that blow. Uvogin's strength was nearly depleted. Machi's threads couldn't pierce the armor. omokage's puppets were practically useless offensively. They'd barely cracked Vega's helmet, and now his face—unprotected—was exposed. But if even that wasn't enough to finish him…
The three exchanged a glance.
They didn't need to speak. All of them knew: they had to retreat.
omokage acted first. With a gesture, he expelled the puppets stored in his body—four in total—charging them straight toward Vega.
Vega flicked his wrist. The Red Shrike swept once through the air.
All four puppets fell in pieces.
"Now!" Uvogin slammed his fist into the ground. The earth erupted upward, a cloud of dust and rock billowing in all directions, masking their movements.
Vega slashed through the haze with the Red Shrike, dispersing the smoke. But by the time his vision cleared, the three were already retreating in the distance, shadows fleeing into the horizon.
He narrowed his eyes.
As much as he appreciated the Troupe's notoriety in his previous life, now they were enemies. And if he let them live, the entire Phantom Troupe would eventually come knocking.
He gave chase.
But then—just a few paces in—he stopped.
The road ahead was laced with Machi's threads, forming an intricate web. It didn't matter how sharp the Red Shrike was; slicing through that many threads would take precious seconds—seconds the trio would use to vanish.
Vega's gaze hardened.
He lifted the Red Shrike, holding it between thumb and middle finger like a javelin. Then, with a burst of Nen and a flick of the wrist, he hurled it.
The spear shattered the sound barrier with a thunderous sonic boom.
In the distance, one of the fleeing figures jolted as the spear pierced through their chest and nailed them to the ground. Blood sprayed through the air as the body crumpled.
The other two stopped momentarily—turning just long enough to meet Vega's gaze—before vanishing at full speed into the ruins.
Vega lowered his arm.
His eyes, still sharp and cold, followed their disappearing silhouettes.
"Run. But next time, there won't be a next time."