Boom!
The bullet struck one of the smaller fish-like creatures, causing it to explode into a mess of flesh and blood that splattered across the ground.
Wendy blinked, quickly regaining her composure.
"Thanks," she murmured, glancing toward Kaizen.
It was only then that Wendy noticed the state of the battlefield. The fish-like monster had been completely subdued by Kaizen. His body was riddled with insect eggs, his aura flickering and growing weaker by the second.
Meanwhile, the enormous fish-like monster—the "Big Fish"—was locked in a vicious battle, its dark, jagged jaws clashing repeatedly against Kaizen's Nen beast.
Wendy's pupils narrowed as she took in the scene, her surprise evident.
When the Big Fish had first appeared, Wendy and Dominica had made quick judgments about how to handle the situation: Dominica would take on the Big Fish, while Wendy and Kaizen would focus on the swarms of smaller creatures.
When Kaizen volunteered to fight the Big Fish instead, Wendy had been skeptical but agreed to the plan. After all, the Big Fish was clearly far stronger than its smaller counterparts. Taking it on alone seemed reckless.
Wendy's original strategy had been simple: eliminate the smaller creatures quickly, then assist Kaizen with the Big Fish.
But reality had defied her expectations.
The smaller creatures were proving far more troublesome than anticipated. Their numbers seemed endless, and their attacks were relentless. On top of that, their grotesque nature only added to the difficulty of dealing with them.
Exhaustion began to weigh heavily on Wendy, her stamina and aura nearing their limits.
At one point, a smaller fish managed to sneak behind her. She hadn't noticed it in time and was nearly blindsided.
The attack wouldn't have been fatal, but it would have left her injured—something she couldn't afford during such a grueling fight.
Just as the creature lunged, a bullet whizzed through the air, striking it down.
Relief washed over Wendy as she realized Kaizen had saved her.
I can't believe I needed his help… she thought, frustration and self-reproach gnawing at her.
She had planned to support Kaizen, not the other way around. Yet here she was, struggling to handle the smaller creatures while Kaizen was dominating the Big Fish.
Thousands of thoughts raced through her mind.
Real combat is nothing like training, she reflected. It's so much more dangerous.
And these monsters—created by those Nen users from the Taris Kingdom—are even more disgusting and difficult than I imagined. I let my guard down.
But one thought stood out above the rest: Why is Kaizen so much stronger than me?
Both she and Kaizen were considered C-rank nen users, yet his performance far surpassed her own. She had barely managed to fend off the smaller creatures, while Kaizen was singlehandedly overwhelming the Big Fish—a B-rank monster.
It didn't make sense.
But Wendy knew this wasn't the time to dwell on such questions.
The battle wasn't over yet.
With renewed focus, Wendy adjusted her position, putting some distance between herself and the smaller creatures.
She inhaled deeply, her aura surging visibly as she activated her ability.
Her aura condensed into a glowing sphere in her hands.
"Blade Storm!"
A whirlwind erupted in the midst of the swarm, sending out countless invisible blades that tore through the smaller creatures.
Shk! Shk! Shk!
The sound of the blades cutting through flesh filled the air as Wendy's attack decimated the swarm.
Kaizen observed her efforts with a faint frown.
Just as I thought… he mused. Wendy's ability is similar to Dominica's. Dominica eats earth, and Wendy eats air. That must be the specialty of the Fiora royal family's Nen style—a focus on attritional warfare.
Meanwhile, the Big Fish began to panic. It had realized its disadvantage, and the longer the fight dragged on, the more its position deteriorated.
I can't fail… Master's orders must be fulfilled!
A guttural roar escaped the creature, and its eyes glowed an ominous red.
Suddenly, the remaining smaller fish froze in place, as if responding to a command.
They abandoned Wendy entirely, rushing toward Kaizen in a coordinated assault.
Wendy's eyes widened. She tried to intercept them, launching another storm of blades to draw their attention, but it was futile.
The creatures ignored her attacks, their sole focus on Kaizen.
"Using numbers to overwhelm me?" Kaizen muttered, shaking his head. "How boring."
He hefted the javelin in his hand, a faint smirk playing on his lips.
"I thought you might have something more up your sleeve, but I guess I was wrong. If this is all you've got…"
Kaizen's aura flared, and his Nen beast, Akutagawa Ryunosuke, materialized by his side.
"Let's end this."
The dark, wolf-like beast let out a low growl. Its crimson eyes burned with an unrelenting hunger.
Kaizen handed the javelin to the beast, then stepped back.
Ryunosuke's massive claws glowed with nen as it activated its own circle.
The smaller creatures didn't stand a chance.
The moment they crossed into the range of the Nen beast's aura, they were instantly shredded by its claws.
Slash! Boom! Boom!
Ryunosuke moved with mechanical precision, its attacks too fast for the human eye to follow. No creature came within three meters of Kaizen.
At that moment, Kaizen raised his hand, gripping another javelin.
With a swift motion, he hurled it directly at the Big Fish.
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