'The binding effect of Cross Game actually failed...'
'Was it forcefully broken free from?'
Mizaistom had never encountered such a phenomenon.
Even Netero, once the ability took effect, had to obediently be restrained.
But the yellow card shattering and the restrain failing were facts right before his eyes.
The bloody, scattered flesh pieces of Zoey and Lyu on the ground silently stained Mizaistom's vision crimson.
'It's my fault!'
Mizaistom gritted his teeth.
His comrades trusted his ability, but he had betrayed that trust and caused their sacrifice.
Guilt, remorse.
Many negative emotions mixed together, instantly affecting Mizaistom.
The Masked Man slightly nodded and coldly stepped over the blood and flesh of Zoey and Lyu.
They were two Nen Users with strong combat abilities, yet they were killed in one round.
The key reason lay in a deviation in ability understanding.
From Mizaistom's side's perspective, their decision was correct.
However, they hadn't anticipated the Masked Man could break free from the rules and framework imposed by a Nen Ability.
Their high trust in the [Cross Game] ability effect was actually the main culprit leading to their deaths.
Watching the Masked Man approach again, Mizaistom raised his hand, his expression uncertain.
The failure of the yellow card made him question his own Nen Ability.
This was self-denial after suffering a blow, equivalent to losing his reliance.
If his Nen Ability had no effect on the Masked Man, what role could he play in this battle?
This self-questioning, like a dark cloud, struck Mizaistom's heart.
"Mizaistom?"
Cheadle noticed his abnormality.
Hearing Cheadle's voice, the dark clouds in Mizaistom's eyes slightly dispersed.
The current situation was urgent. Regardless of whether his Nen Ability was useful or not, he couldn't just stand there foolishly doing nothing.
'Judging from the earlier situation, the Masked Man did indeed break free from the binding effect of Cross Game.'
'However, before breaking free, there were indeed about two seconds of control effect.'
'Not completely ineffective, just a very brief restraining time.'
'No matter what, as long as there was an effect, it was fine.'
'Even one second would do!'
Mizaistom's expression turned resolute. Aura released through his Aura Nodes flowed across his body surface, then converged on his right hand, materializing into a yellow card.
"Restraint!"
The yellow card was aimed at the Masked Man.
The ability activated, and the Masked Man's figure froze again, restrained by the invisible secret room.
"Cheadle, take Ginta to the center of the formation," Mizaistom said gravely.
Cheadle nodded heavily, intending to help Ginta up, but saw the yellow card in Mizaistom's hand shatter once more...
'Less than a second...?'
Cheadle and Mizaistom's pupils contracted.
The Masked Man breaking free from the Cross Game's restraint effect again clearly showed some displeasure.
Restricted by the [Core Energy] he held, his advancement speed was limited, nor could he recklessly charge forward.
Again, he flicked his dominant hand, flinging out all five fingernails growing on his fingers.
The fingernails capable of piercing Ginta's defenses were definitely not something Mizaistom and Cheadle could block.
Moreover, if they dodged, the fingernails might hit any teammate behind them.
"Step aside."
At that moment, a clear female voice sounded from behind Mizaistom and Cheadle.
Accompanied by a fragrant breeze, Menchi, holding two knives, passed them and moved toward the incoming fingernails.
The kitchen knives in her hands sliced through the air, drawing several downward-curving arcs of light.
Clang, clang...!
The fingernails thrown by the Masked Man were forcibly redirected by Menchi's kitchen knives, falling to the ground and deeply piercing the bricks.
"Tch."
Menchi glanced at her numb wrists, a flicker of wariness deep in her eyes.
Seeing Menchi appear in time and block the Masked Man's fingernails, Mizaistom and Cheadle's hearts slowly settled.
"Please bring Ginta to the back," Sanbica also arrived. Beside her were Saccho and Pyon.
"Let me do it."
Saccho proactively helped the burly Ginta up.
"What is this guy? He actually injured Ginta? Where are Zoey and Lyu..."
Pyon, arriving at the scene, fired off several questions in succession, but halfway through her sentence, she saw the finely chopped flesh pieces not far behind the Masked Man, her expression instantly changing.
From the clothing on those flesh pieces, some traces could barely be discerned.
Plus, the amount of flesh roughly corresponded to two people, and Zoey and Liqiu were nowhere to be seen. The conclusion was obvious.
"Pyon, come help," Saccho called.
Only then did Pyon snap to attention. Her grave gaze shifted from the flesh pieces. Together with Saccho, she helped Ginta retreat to a safe distance.
Immediately after, Sanbica and Cheadle began treating Ginta's wounds.
Both were elites. Combined with their abilities, their joint treatment efficiency was extremely high.
In the brief moment Mizaistom and Menchi resisted the Masked Man's assault, with Sanbica's ability assisting, the treatment quickly concluded. Next was waiting for Ginta's injuries to recover, which would certainly require some time.
Although Saccho and Pyon weren't main combatants, they were still Zodiacs' members, possessing basic combat ability.
Together with Mizaistom and Menchi, four in total stood at the rear of the team, constructing a defensive line that wouldn't allow the Masked Man to cross.
The Masked Man didn't want any accidents to happen to the [Core Energy], so he had been very conservative, using long-range attacks rather than actively closing the distance to bring the swallowtail butterflies' sharp threads near the enemies.
Originally, he intended to sweep away the Association team this way. But Menchi's appearance directly countered his long-range attack methods.
Moreover, he had just used the threads to eliminate two obstacles. So, he couldn't expect the opponents to actively attack again either.
This way, his methods for removing obstacles became very limited, and also...
The Masked Man looked at the copper mechanical lifeforms attacking from three directions.
What needed to be cleared wasn't just the Hunter Association's team but also the copper mechanical lifeforms targeting the [Core Energy].
From the beginning, the situation was very unfavorable for the Masked Man.
But...
The Masked Man set down the [Core Energy], and the three swallowtail butterflies flew around it.
"Protect it."
The Masked Man whispered to the three swallowtail butterflies.
As soon as he finished speaking, the Nen Threads connecting the butterflies and the mask silently severed.
And the copper mechanical lifeforms charging toward the [Core Energy] were once again, without exception, sliced into pieces by the butterflies.
Because he was restricted by the Core Energy, the Masked Man decided to set it aside first.
Thus, his mobility was no longer restricted, and he freed up his other hand.
With no more concerns, the Masked Man took the initiative to attack.
His hands, covered in sharp fingernails, were held horizontally before him. His figure shot forward like lightning, pressing toward Menchi and the others.
All Mizaistom could do was continuously flash yellow cards to restrict the Masked Man's movements.
"Restraint!"
He raised the yellow card again, using it on the Masked Man.
But this time, it only produced a slight staggering effect.
The Masked Man's charge arrived in an instant. The first to meet him was Menchi.
When the fingernails collided with the kitchen knives, producing intense sparks, a powerful force struck. A dazzling spray of blood appeared in the air, and Menchi was sent flying backward.
Watching this, Mizaistom felt a deep sense of helplessness, his eyes slightly losing focus.
Cross Game was the only Nen Ability he could rely on, but the Masked Man was almost immune to it.
"Mizaistom!"
Pyon suddenly shouted.
Light returned to Mizaistom's eyes, but several shadows entered his line of sight.
Still the Masked Man's thrown fingernails!
Mizaistom struggled to dodge, but the fingernails still pierced his body, spraying blood in arcs.