Chapter 220: Where is Nobunaga?
The Shadow Clone collapsed into a surge of pure energy, the residual Chakra flowing back into Ronin's body. Ronin's gaze hardened.
He had known that Chrollo, given another chance to prepare, would come armed with abilities specifically designed to neutralize his arsenal. The "Clone Problem" was the Spiders' biggest hurdle, and it was clear Chrollo had found the solution.
The phone Chrollo held was the key. He kept the lens fixed on Ronin, clearly checking to see if the person in front of him was another duplicate.
By revealing the ability so openly, Chrollo had exposed his hand, but he seemed unbothered. It was a statement of confidence. The "Truth Lens" didn't just identify clones; it forcibly dispelled them.
Ronin noted a secondary detail: the energy drain on Chrollo for maintaining the device seemed minimal. However, as long as Chrollo held the phone, his ability to use other stolen Hatsus would be restricted—unless he had already mastered the Double Face (Bookmark).
Without the bookmark, Chrollo was essentially a "demon-revealing mirror" for the rest of the unit, sacrificing his own offensive power to ensure the others didn't waste their strength on decoys.
Ronin knew he could exploit this. If he used a clone now, it would be a trap within a trap.
But he had no time for more theories. Through his En, he sensed a sudden anomaly directly above him.
Ronin's eyes flared into the Mangekyō pattern. The crimson aura of the Susanoo erupted around him, and the giant skeletal hand lunged toward the ceiling.
Chrollo "snapped" a photo of the Susanoo with his phone, but the construct didn't vanish. It wasn't a clone; it was an externalized manifestation of Ronin's own energy.
The Susanoo's hand reached for the ceiling, only to be met by a rain of high-velocity Nen bullets that pulverized the masonry.
Franklin.
The Troupe's strategy was clear. They were using a variation of the same formation they had used against Saiyu.
But Ronin was a different beast. The Susanoo provided him with an absolute defensive layer that Saiyu lacked. Chrollo knew this from their clash in Yorknew; raw firepower wouldn't be enough.
As Franklin retreated to avoid the Susanoo's reach, dozens of translucent silver threads whipped through the air, coiling around the skeletal arm.
Machi.
The Susanoo's hand slowed, then stopped. The Nen threads were wrapped in a dense, multi-layered web. Ronin looked closely through the gaps in the ribs and realized the trap's true scale.
The other ends of the threads weren't held by Machi. They were anchored to several massive, reinforced pillars that now lined the hallway.
Ronin didn't remember seeing these pillars when they entered the villa.
Kortopi, he realized. The "Architect" had used Gallery Fake to create a forest of structural anchors within the building.
The threads were taut. For the Susanoo to move, it would have to drag the entire foundation of the villa with it.
Ronin narrowed his eyes. He saw the play.
They weren't trying to destroy the Susanoo; they were trying to immobilize it. They were forcing him to deactivate the armor to regain his mobility. And the moment he dropped the ribs, he would be vulnerable for a split second.
Ronin turned his gaze toward Chrollo.
He ran a quick headcount. So far, only Chrollo, Franklin, and Machi were visible. Kortopi, Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Nobunaga were still missing.
Abaki's text earlier had mentioned gunfire. That suggested Shalnark and Pakunoda were the ones acting as the "Lure" to keep the rest of Team Ronin occupied.
That left the combat specialist: Nobunaga.
And the support: Kortopi.
Ronin scanned the room. The "extra" pillars proved Kortopi was nearby, reinforcing the battlefield.
As for Pakunoda? Her ability required physical contact for its full effect. Using her revolver for long-range support was possible, but against Ronin, it was a waste of Nen. He could track the bullets with his eyes and substitute before they even touched his skin.
Pakunoda isn't a threat in a direct brawl. So why is she here?
Then he thought of Shalnark.
The Black Voice antenna was the real kill-shot. If Chrollo or one of the others could plant a needle in the second Ronin dropped his guard, the fight was over.
But how to get the antenna on me?
Ronin watched Chrollo's hand on his book. The Spider's Head looked ready to flip a page at any moment.
There was still one missing piece: Nobunaga. Where was the swordsman? And how would he enter the fray?
Ronin knew Shalnark had two antennas.
A feint followed by a lethal main assault. Typical Spider logic.
Ronin's hands came together, weaving a seal. Simultaneously, he prepared his left eye.
The moment of the transition arrived. Ronin deactivated the Susanoo.
The red aura vanished. Machi's threads snapped back, empty.
Suddenly, Franklin lunged forward, ripping his own shirt open. His chest was no longer covered in skin. In its place was a gaping, dark circular orifice—a specialized spatial cavity.
Swoosh!
Something was launched from the dark hole in Franklin's chest at incredible speed.
Ronin's Sharingan tracked the projectile. His heart skipped a beat as the object resolved into a human form.
Nobunaga.
The swordsman emerged from the "Hand Cannon" cavity, his hand already on his hilt, his eyes squeezed shut, his En already expanding to its full four-meter radius.
It was a biological missile. An Iai-draw launched from a point-blank range Ronin hadn't anticipated.
But Nobunaga wasn't the primary threat.
Ronin's gaze flickered to Chrollo. In the leader's hand, the pages of Skill Hunter had shifted. The phone was still in his other hand, but a new item had appeared, tucked between the pages.
The Bookmark.
Chrollo had finally activated Double Face. He was now capable of using two stolen abilities simultaneously—and the second one was about to trigger.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you