Menchi was defeated in the frontal collision with the Masked Man, sent flying several meters before heavily crashing to the ground.
Simultaneously, Mizaistom, due to the repeated failures of [Cross Game], was caught off guard in his dazed state. The Masked Man seized the opportunity, driving several fingernails into his body.
In just one exchange, the Hunter Association's side gained two more casualties.
Freed from the psychological burden of the [Core Energy], the Masked Man attacked recklessly, clearly delivering a heavy blow to the Association side.
Two fingernails pierced Mizaistom's chest, and one more hit the area near his right hip.
The powerful impact force from the fingernails threw his body over two meters away.
Although the two fingernails in his chest didn't hit vital organs, they still inflicted massive trauma on Mizaistom.
He fell to the ground, instantly losing combat capability.
The Masked Man's cold gaze first swept over Menchi before settling on Mizaistom, who was closer.
This battle wasn't a boxing match… there was no waiting for you to get up before pursuing.
The Masked Man charged directly toward Mizaistom lying on the ground, wanting to finish off an obstacle.
At this moment, Mizaistom not only lost combat capability but also the ability to struggle.
Still conscious, he could only watch helplessly as the Masked Man charged.
However, his eyes reflecting the Masked Man's figure held no fear or despair.
Instead, it was filled with helplessness and unwillingness.
"Mizaistom!"
At this moment, the person closest to Mizaistom was Pyon, while Menchi had just gotten up from the ground.
Thus, as the Masked Man charged toward Mizaistom, Pyon also moved.
Bearing the title of Rabbit, she pushed off with her legs, making an action befitting her name.
Her somewhat petite body shot toward Mizaistom.
If the rescue failed, Mizaistom would certainly die.
If she could delay the Masked Man's speed even slightly, it could create time for teammates to provide timely support.
Pyon actually hadn't thought that far, but she felt she had to do this, otherwise Mizaistom was done for.
The Masked Man noticed Pyon's movement, but he sensed no threat from her, so his target remained Mizaistom lying on the ground.
At the very least, eliminate one first.
This might be the Masked Man's thought.
Pyon arrived just in time thanks to her jumping ability. Her close-quarters combat capability was limited, and what she could rely on was only the Nen Technique, Gyo and Ryu.
She closed in, mobilizing fifty percent of her Aura, gathering it into her right hand, then slapped toward the Masked Man.
In her estimation, the first slap was a feint. As long as she forced the Masked Man to dodge, she would abruptly drop down, using [Ryu] at her fastest speed to transfer Aura to her lower body, then sweep the Masked Man off his feet.
However...
The Masked Man simply didn't dodge, directly taking Pyon's palm strike.
Thump!
A palm strike gathering fifty percent of her Aura not only caused no damage to the Masked Man but didn't even make his body shudder.
This impactful scene made Pyon's pupils contract sharply.
At that moment, the Masked Man's right hand swept upward from below, aiming for Pyon's chin.
If it hit, the fingernails on his fingers would directly pierce through Pyon's chin into her brain.
Pyon felt a chill run up her spine. At this critical moment, her right palm pressing against the mask forcefully pushed, the resulting reaction force pushing her body backward.
Swish!
The Masked Man's upward sweep missed. But he had another hand, directly thrusting toward Pyon's vitals.
Now, Pyon had no way to avoid it. In that split second, she could only watch helplessly as the Masked Man's overwhelmingly powerful fingernail stabbed toward her.
"Res...train..."
Faintly, Pyon seemed to hear Mizaistom's voice.
And at that moment, she saw the Masked Man's movements stall.
But in less than a second, the Masked Man's stalled movements resumed their original speed.
The fingernail capable of easily piercing through Ginta's defense still stabbed toward her.
But it missed.
Because a figure arrived just in time. As the Masked Man's fingernail was about to pierce Pyon's vitals, the figure moved the airborne, helpless Pyon to the side.
That figure was Saccho.
"That was close."
He held Pyon, his feet tapping a few times, quickly creating distance.
If not for Mizaistom's crucial yellow card restraint, he wouldn't have had time to take Pyon away.
But...
Saccho looked back at Mizaistom, a shadow flashing in his eyes.
At that moment, Mizaistom propped up his upper body with difficulty. In his slightly trembling hand, he tightly held a yellow card.
This was the only thing he could do earlier.
Pyon regained her senses and also saw Mizaistom's condition. Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
Their escape meant Mizaistom lost any chance of survival.
"No need to feel guilty..."
Mizaistom's gaze passed over the Masked Man, meeting Pyon and Saccho's eyes.
Then, he revealed a helpless, unwilling smile.
'Ultimately, I didn't fulfill my duty,' He thought to himself.
Then, he saw the Masked Man charging toward him again.
There was absolutely no room for rescue now.
The Masked Man arrived before the completely helpless Mizaistom, in front of Pyon and Saccho who had abruptly stopped, Menchi who was quickly approaching, Cheadle and Sanbica who had just reached the edge of the combat area, and Mizaistom himself.
Still those seemingly ordinary yet invincible fingernails.
Swept toward Mizaistom's head.
That helpless, unwilling expression froze in that final instant.
Squelch!
Mizaistom's head shattered like a watermelon, splitting into several pieces flying backward.
The headless corpse slowly collapsed, blood flowing from the neck cavity.
Everyone witnessing this scene showed expressions of grief and anger.
'One.'
The Masked Man silently counted in his heart.
'Next...'
The Masked Man fixed his eyes on Menchi, whose hands were split and bleeding nonstop.
The reason was still proximity.
However, he was slightly surprised the fingernails hadn't shattered Menchi's kitchen knives.
'But it didn't matter. Killing this woman held no difficulty.'
He stepped on Mizaistom's corpse, accompanied by an exploding burst of blood mist, his tall, thin body charging toward Menchi.
Menchi suppressed the anger rising from within, intently watching the Masked Man's movements, her mental focus never so concentrated.
She had roughly familiarized herself with the Masked Man's speed. If she could keep up, even if she couldn't harm him, she could create a restraining effect.
The only thing to worry about was the Masked Man's strength.
Facing the charging Masked Man, Menchi slightly raised her bleeding hands, adopting a defensive posture.
She didn't expect to injure the Masked Man… a defensive stance was the safest approach.
However, she clearly overestimated her own resilience.
Facing the Masked Man's storm-like close-quarters assault, Menchi's defensive rhythm was immediately disrupted.
Retreating repeatedly, blood from her split wounds continuously dripped onto the ground.
Simultaneously, Pyon and Saccho hurried over.
But Menchi's resistance grew increasingly feeble.
Strength-wise, there was a clear gap between her and the Masked Man.
Just as her defense was about to collapse, the Masked Man's body suddenly shuddered.
His hand movements became jerky, like gears jammed with pebbles.
First puzzled, he immediately sensed the change in his body.
"Death Pattern?!"
He abruptly looked toward Sanbica.
The sturdy mask suddenly cracked open two eye slits.
Faint red light spilled out from within.