NOVEL NEXT Chapter 29: Solvren Ruins
The next day, Larry followed through with his plans and arrived at the Solvren Ruins. Unlike the Karym Ruins he had explored before, these ruins were perched on the mountainside of Mount Kira'Zan . The terrain was rough, and collapsed buildings lay scattered, with only a few structures standing intact. Despite its unremarkable history, rumors about one of the Seven Beauties of the World being hidden within the ruins had attracted treasure hunters from all over.
Larry scanned the crowd with a discerning eye. Multiple groups were scattered across the area, some clearly amateur thrill-seekers, others with more refined tactics and equipment. With his ability, he identified several B-level Nen users among them. Just as he was about to move deeper into the ruins, an energetic voice called out to him.
"Hey! Mr. Larry, hope you haven't wait for long!" Larry turned to see Piyon bounding towards him, her rabbit ears bouncing with every step. Beside her stood a tall, lean man in a black suit, exuding an air of professionalism. His lavender hair and perfectly groomed beard were unmistakable.
Satotz... Larry recognized him immediately—the first examiner of the 287th Hunter Exam. Though not as well-known as others, Satotz was a respected figure in the Hunter Association, known for his dedication to preserving ruins.
Piyon beamed, introducing him enthusiastically. "This is my colleague from the association, Mr. Satotz! He's a relic hunter here to help explore the ruins."
Satotz extended a polite hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Larry."
Larry shook his hand, noting Satotz's firm grip and composed demeanor. Despite his polite exterior, there was an undeniable strength beneath.
***
Name: Satotz
Strength: B+ to A-
Nen Type: (Unknown)
Abilities: (Unknown)
***
Larry wasn't surprised to see that Satotz's strength hovered between B+ and A-. The gap between major ranks in Nen was vast, and many users found themselves plateauing before reaching the next stage. Satotz smiled warmly, sensing Larry's scrutiny. "I've heard about your skills from Piyon. I must say, it's rare to meet someone with such a sharp eye for antiques."
Larry waved it off modestly. "Just a hobby."
With the introductions done, Piyon wasted no time chatting excitedly. "So, Mr. Larry, why are you looking for Water Glaze?"
Larry nodded. "It's not every day you hear about one of the Seven Beauties. Figured I'd see it for myself."
Satotz adjusted his tie. "It's an extraordinary find if the rumors are true. The Solvren Ruins have been hiding secrets for centuries, but few have ventured deep enough to uncover them."
After some discussion, Larry, Pyorn, and Satotz shared their reasons for exploring the Solvren Ruins. Pyorn and Satotz had dual objectives: personal curiosity about the ruins and fulfilling a mission assigned by the Hunter Association.
The sudden disappearance of the death aura from the Karym Ruins and the discovery of hints about the Dark Continent had put the Association on high alert. Their concern was that these mysterious ruins, often brimming with malicious aura, might one day unleash an uncontrollable disaster. With only a handful of Exorcist in existence—and all stretched thin—Pyorn and Satotz had come prepared to navigate the dangers of the ruins themselves, despite the overwhelming presence of Nen-infused death aura.
As Larry listened to their concerns, he remained calm. Then, he said something that left the pair stunned. "Actually... I can take care of the death aura for you."
Pyorn tilted her head, her rabbit ears twitching in confusion. "Wait, you can remove the]m? Are you serious?"
Larry gave her a confident smile, and before either could ask further, a burst of purple-black energy erupted from his shadow. "Geng Ar! Geng Ar!" Out leapt Gengar, its mischievous grin widening as it opened its gaping mouth. In an instant, a powerful suction force surged through the air.
The deathly aura that had blanketed the area began swirling toward Gengar, funneling into its mouth. It wasn't just consuming the aura—it was devouring it with almost gluttonous delight.
In mere moments, the oppressive death aura that had haunted the ruins was gone, leaving the space eerily clean. "Th-This is..." Satotz's eyes widened in disbelief.
"A... Exorcist?" Pyorn stammered, barely able to process what she'd just witnessed. For both seasoned hunters, seeing a Exorcist in action was akin to witnessing a miracle. In the entire Hunter Association, only one elderly Exorcist was known to exist. Now, a casual acquaintance had just casually erased a large swath of death aura as though it were nothing.
But that wasn't the most shocking part. Gengar was still going, eagerly devouring the lingering traces of death aura as though it were a delicacy. The area of clear space around them continued to expand rapidly, as if Gengar were carving out an oasis in the middle of a cursed land. Pyorn rubbed her eyes furiously. "This... this has to be some kind of illusion, right? There's no way..."
Satotz, however, had a more composed response. After the initial shock, his mind raced with connections. "Wait," he murmured. "Could it be? Mr. Larry... were you involved in the disappearance of the death thoughts at the Karym Ruins?"
Larry, still calm, nodded. "That's correct. Gengar removed all the death aura there as well."
Satotz's jaw dropped, and for a brief moment, the stoic relic hunter's professional demeanor cracked. "Incredible," he whispered. "You're not just a Exorcist. You might be... the strongest Exorcist in the world!"
Pyorn, meanwhile, was completely stunned. It took Satotz explaining the significance of the Karym Ruins incident for her to fully understand the magnitude of Larry's abilities. One man, erasing all the death aura in an entire ruin in record time? Such a feat was unheard of in the Hunter world. To possess such power wasn't just rare—it was practically divine.
Satotz's voice trembled slightly as he asked the question both were desperate to know. "With a Nen ability this powerful, there must be some kind of cost, right?"
Pyorn's ears drooped slightly as she echoed the sentiment. "Yeah... something this extraordinary must come with a huge price..."
Larry pretended to consider the question, stroking his chin dramatically. "Well, the price is... pretty significant."
The solemnity in his tone made their hearts sink. Satotz and Pyorn exchanged worried glances, already imagining the worst. 'Was it life force? A drastic reduction in lifespan? The cost of living with such power surely had to be immense...'
"The price is..." Larry began, before pausing for effect. "...Gengar's belly gets bigger. And, of course, it gets stronger too."
"..." "HUH?!" Both Pyorn and Satotz yelled in unison, their voices echoing through the now-cleared ruins.
"You're telling me... there's no real cost?!" Pyorn exclaimed, pointing at Gengar, who was now lazily patting its rounded belly and licking its lips, clearly satisfied with its feast.
Larry nodded with a smile. "Yep. Gengar just gets stronger. That's it."