NOVEL NEXT Chapter 30: Overpowered Exorcist
It took several moments for Satotz and Pyorn to process Larry's words. While their shock began to wear off, the weight of what they had just witnessed set in.
A Exorcist with no real drawbacks. Such an ability was unheard of. Even Alluka Killua little sister that already borderline a miracle require a cost for every use, with some exception. Satotz cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Mr. Larry, do you realize what this means? A Nen ability like yours... it's invaluable. Governments, organizations, even rogue hunters would do anything to control it."
Larry waved off the concern nonchalantly. "Let them try. Gengar doesn't take kindly to bullies, and I've got more than enough strength to handle myself."
Pyorn, still recovering from her earlier shock, added hesitantly, "But you'll still have to be careful. The Hunter Association would never use force against you, but they're bound to take an interest... and other groups might not be so polite."
As they talked, Gengar had already devoured a massive chunk of the Death Aura in front of them. And maybe it was just an illusion, but the overall density of Death Aura in the area seemed to have dropped significantly.
The commotion hadn't gone unnoticed. Other explorers quickly turned their attention toward them. "What the hell?! Why is the Death Aura disappearing so fast?"
"Are you blind? Look over there! A Exorcist is at work!" A murmur spread through the crowd. Soon, all eyes locked onto Larry and Gengar. Some were excited, some were uneasy... and some had a dangerous glint in their eyes.
In a shadowy corner, away from the prying eyes of the crowd, two figures in heavy black robes observed the scene silently. "Hey, Envy! That kid's ability to erase thoughts is incredible. Lust would love this!"
A deep, gruff voice came from the larger of the two men, his gaze filled with malice. "Hehehehehehehe..." The thin man beside him, who looked sickly pale—almost like a dried-up corpse—stared at Larry and Gengar with a twisted grin.
Once the attention on Gengar faded, people started realizing that Larry's companions weren't just any random nobodies. "Wait a second… That's Piyon, the Rabbit of the Zodiacs!"
"No way—yeah, that rabbit costume, it's really her!"
"I'd do anything to be Piyon's dog..."
"And that guy—Isn't that Satotz, the Relic Hunter?!"
A wave of recognition spread through the crowd. Larry, on the other hand, felt like he had misheard something. Did someone just say they wanted to be Piyon's dog? Still, he wasn't surprised that Piyon was recognized. She was a member of the Zodiacs, after all. But he didn't expect Mr. Satotz to be that famous too. Then again, considering the number of treasure hunters and relic seekers gathered here, it made sense that people would know about him. Before long, Larry and his group had become the center of attention.
Larry glanced at the crowd's mixed reactions, but Piyon and Satotz remained unfazed. Maybe they were just used to it. "Alright, let's go." Ignoring the others, Larry led the way deeper into the Death Aura-infested ruins. Gengar floated ahead, continuously devouring the sinister energy, clearing a path for them.
With every step, the oppressive presence of Death Aura lessened. For Piyon and Satotz, it was an entirely new experience. They had spent their whole lives battling against Death Aura, burning their own aura just to resist it. But now? With Larry here, they didn't need to do anything. The Death Aura simply… disappeared.
A strange sense of pleasure bubbled up in their chests. For the first time, they weren't at the mercy of the Death Aura—they were actively erasing it. Larry strolled along calmly, while Piyon and Satotz remained on high alert, scanning the surroundings for danger. Even though Larry hadn't asked them to, both instinctively took on the role of guarding him. After all, a Exorcist wasn't supposed to have any combat ability. Right?
Larry's Exorcist ability was already absurd—it had to come at the cost of offensive strength. At least, that's what everyone assumed.
Meanwhile, the crowd at the edge of the ruins grew restless. Seeing how effortlessly Larry's group advanced into the depths, some began to follow in hopes of discovering hidden treasures. And sure enough, they found them. But with the Death Aura no longer keeping them at bay, greed quickly took over.
Fights broke out almost immediately. The damage caused by these skirmishes far exceeded anything the Death Aura had done. Unlike the Death Aura— which would retreat once it met enough resistance—human greed didn't have a limit. People fought desperately over the artifacts they found, their clashes far deadlier than the very force they had feared just moments ago.
Unnoticed by the chaotic crowd, the two robed figures from before began moving. Thick swarms of insects clung to their bodies, suppressing their presence to near-invisibility, achieving a state as silent as "Absolute."
As fights broke out behind them, Larry and his team effortlessly made their way deeper into the Solvren Ruins. After a while, Satotz, unable to contain his curiosity, finally spoke up. "Mr. Larry… Have you ever reached the depths of the Karym Ruins?" Larry have confirmed he was the one clear the death aura there, this mean there's huge possibility Larry has finished explore the whole ruin.
Larry glanced at him and nodded. "Yeah, I've been there."
Piyon and Satotz exchanged glances, their curiosity intensifying. Seeing their expressions, Larry added: "And I found something inside… Something that will shake the entire Six Continents."
Both of them tensed. Under their watchful eyes, Larry slowly began recounting what he had seen. "Inside that cave, I encountered a creature from the Dark Continent." The atmosphere instantly grew heavy. "One of the Five Great Calamities… A Gas Lifeform known as Ai."
Satotz and Piyon's pupils shrank in horror. A creature from the Dark Continent? Larry had actually encountered one of the Five Calamities?
Larry connected the murals' history with what he had encountered in the cave and explained everything in detail. "So that's how it is..." Satotz and Piyon spoke in unison, their voices tinged with disbelief.
Larry's experience sounded incredibly dangerous, but what shocked them even more was the "purple nen beast" bouncing around in front of them. They had initially thought Gengar's ability was limited to absorbing Death Aura. But now, they realized—even creatures from the Dark Continent weren't safe from its appetite. And then there was the history of the Karym Ruins.
According to Larry, the kingdom that once stood there had used its own people as fuel for the royal family's power. Their greed for strength led to their downfall, and in the end, the entire kingdom was consumed. It was a chilling parallel to the nature of the Dark Continent itself. Was this all just a coincidence? Or was it some kind of deliberate design from the creative mind of Togashi?