Chapter 151: Since That's the Case, Let's Fight

I suddenly realized.

Looking back, Hai had already admitted he was joking about it being a "prank," but Kurapika noticed he didn't refute that statement as a joke or a lie.

(... Really, all the nonsense is just like you. Sisters.)

Hami said this while looking down on Kurapika, because Kurapika believed there was a limit to escaping reality.

"You have enough space."

I can't afford it.

When I first recovered, I was forcibly drained of my aura twice, my brain was shaken by a gorgeous and dynamic sound, my neck was strangled, my heart was soft until the very end, and I was disturbed until the end.

It wasn't because he had spare time that he realized this, but because it was the only thing Kurapika could think about right now.

What she was facing, and the rage Hami couldn't explain, made Kurapika lose the willpower to "fight," rather than her terrible whale-eater's Mana.

Because I thought there was no point in being angry or even being killed.

Because I thought she was qualified to do so, I faced the fact that I knew nothing.

That's what I thought. I couldn't forgive myself. Ordinary—

"……Go away."

He grabbed his own hand, which was so hot it burned at a touch, struggling to tear it off his neck.

The willpower that said "I must fight" was taken away. From the beginning, it was an opponent I had no reason to want to fight, and now I had an even clearer reason to think, "I don't want to fight, I don't want to fight."

But even so, I was forced to fight.

If you don't fight, if you don't fight, you have to show off.

Just as she said, she was weak, and not only could she not give her "normal," but she was one of the few war criminals who decided to abandon her "normal."

That is why I must work hard and show it off.

"……Move aside! I have to go help Sora…… Who cannot hurt the Flame Soldier!! Leave there immediately!!"

I got lost, so I was robbed.

No matter how difficult it is, I want to choose both.

But even so, if forced to choose, Kurapika would not be "silent."

I speak my mind, whether it is wrong or I regret it for a lifetime, I will not let it go.

Despite being mocked, despised, and disappointed, Kurapika answered.

"My number one is Sora!!"

To this, Hami sneered and said, "Only your mouth is pretty."

His face, which had always been mocking and expressionless, looked like lips slightly parted.

I still don't know what that smile meant.

＊＊＊

"Kurapika!!"

Screaming and running.

When fighting the Flame Soldier, he was very cautious, but Sora himself thought he was "using a limited range by setting up barriers," but his use of Replacement Magic came at a price. My opinion.

When Kurapika fell to the ground, he calmed the heart that wanted to rush toward him, forcibly breaking through the sword dance that was like the Flame Soldier dancing.

However, this was already the second time, and since Kurapika had fallen, the Flame Soldier and the Shadow could see Sora's next move.

The sea was the same.

Suddenly, the sea also moved away from Kurapika, or rather, it leaped away with the momentum of a spring, truly agile and acrobatic, it was hard to believe its body had been shattered. It rushed toward her sister and Kurapika.

In an instant, Kurapika brushed away with her aura-covered arm again, while Sora ignored it, picked up a gem that was also thrown to his sister, and ran over.

However, Kurapika got up and left the gem he had thrown away, and Sora unleashed his own gem, with a speed exceeding the activation speed of the Sea Magic.

"Wealth is to beasts, love is meaningless to people."

The thrown black gem-like stone melted in the language of the sea, turning into several planes of "Shadow Hand," entangling Kurapika and Sora together.

"What!?"

The moment he tried to stand up, the Mana that took away Kurapika's breath had a will of its own, moving and clinging to Kurapika's legs without letting go.

What's more, it looked like just a "shadow," and even if you wanted to pull it away, you couldn't grab it. Life Energy Aura taken away.

The aura around her body grew weaker and weaker, the Wooden Sword that didn't have time to use "Ten" shattered with a bang, and finally, the parts of her clothes touched by the shadow gradually darkened and shattered, as if slightly corroded.

I was afraid of what would happen if this were an unarmed body without aura, so I squeezed out aura to protect myself while enduring the disgust of the arms crawling around like insects and the despair of losing my aura.

However, that disgust and emptiness were suddenly released.

The Shadow Hand, which had already receded, but at that speed, seemed to take dozens of seconds to disappear, vanished as if it had withstood what the hand had touched.

Kurapika's back gently touched Kurapika's back, and Kurapika had already clumsily fallen to the ground, struggling to break free from his arms.

I didn't even have to think about who wiped it out, who killed it.

"Sora!?"

Kurapika raised half of his body to look back, making a sound similar to a scream.

There was Sora, like him, entangled by the Shadow Hand thrown from the sea, his aura taken away.

Unlike Kurapika, the Shadow Hand was still carelessly crawling over her body, entangling her, and I knew at a glance that I had killed the Shadow Hand.

It would have been more rational and efficient to kill the thing attached to me first, but I didn't do that.

He had no reason not to do so. Perhaps she just couldn't think of it. If I wasn't good at it, I didn't even notice this Shadow Hand was clinging to me.

I didn't even realize that something like Kurapika was wrapped around me.

Even if my aura was taken away, even if I was struck by a sense of emptiness that made it impossible to stand, let alone run, my heart was about to run over. With that heart, I just crawled up and reached out to kill him.

This is the only reason I prioritized Kurapika over myself.

I just didn't realize it, I didn't even put myself on the scale. He prioritized Kurapika, calling himself "that kind of thing." Because it was too important.

For Sora, Kurapika is "number one," so even though he rationally knows this is a foolish move, he can only do this.

"... Really, you silly child."

Facing his sister's actions, Hami makes me vomit.

I cannot confirm if it is Kurapika's fault; I hear his voice trembling so much that I feel if I do not vomit, I will cry.

Nothing will wait for Kurapika.

"Ah! I'm sorry! Kurapika! Sora-kun!!"

The Flame Soldier, whether due to the pain of Sora appearing or the guilt of having to hurt the person most important to his best friend in front of his best friend, bites his lip, feels remorse, and apologizes in a voice that makes him look like he is about to vomit blood, saying this as the Wooden Sword swings down toward the fallen Sora.

However, if he kills the Shadow attached to Kurapika, there is no reason to ignore the Shadow wrapped around himself, so Sora quickly kills his own part just like Kurapika did, then squeezes them out. I do not even have the strength; I lift my bare leg, which is lying there uncovered by Aura, and use the thick sole of my Engineering Boots to flip the Wooden Sword swung down by the Flame Soldier.

Sora does not hesitate. No matter how stupid, foolish, or meaningless your actions are, you will continue to struggle. I cannot stop, so I do not stop walking.

And no matter how much you despise your own life, wasting it, even if you commit an act that can only be considered voluntary suicide, it is because of the weakness of the bystander who would immediately give up, so always seeking a Compromise. It only looks that way because it exists.

This woman will not take things lightly. Although the only purpose for which I came to this world is not wanting to die, there is no reason to despise that life either.

So no matter how much you look down on your own life, no matter how much you seem to want to obtain something at the cost of your own life, that is not the case.

First of all, this woman is not such an auspicious person. Her rudeness is even more shocking.

I will not try to trade my life for anything. She always grabs something with her life and does not let go. Does not give up.

So, so... I know she is angry.

I know that if I do not treat her as a stranger, she will cry and hug me in front of Leorio, shouting and scolding me, so I know she has this attitude.

Kurapika is "the one who was exchanged for my lifespan." Sora, who cannot forgive himself for obtaining the ability of Absolute Time, does not let himself go.

Kurapika herself thinks it is right for Sora to be angry and refuses to forgive him; she regrets giving him such an ability, sacrificing the time spent Together with her.

However, if you just stop walking and thinking with regret, then everything you have done will be meaningless.

Because this is the only thing I can think of, and it is the only method I can achieve.

Therefore, at the very least, Kurapika offering herself again is so that even if it is severed, she can find meaning and value in what is obtained, rather than throwing it away meaninglessly.

The way she least wants to continue being hurt in order to survive is to be like her sister; she is very similar to her, but the exact opposite of her.

While Kurapika devours her own life with scarlet eyes, she chooses to protect the "number one" she declared, shaking off hesitation and throwing it away.

"Don't get in the way!!"

I do not want to fight. I want to know her true intentions. I want to ensure that the part of her anger I noticed and the whole picture are correct.

I want to give that "answer" to Sora.

I want to take them all away, and although I have the guts to do so, I realize this is nothing more than an arrogant act, so I throw it away.

Wanting to give Sora an "answer" is presumptuous.

Kurapika does not know which aspect she will lower to give this "answer," even though she herself says "this is not something I should receive."

Thus, Kurapika calculates and amplifies the remaining Aura being taken away, screaming as she turns and Shoots into the sea.

The point where the Materialization Chain connects is the Finger.

Following Izunavi's Suggestion, Yorkshin has not yet Attached any ability to this Finger chain; it just moves according to Kurapika's will, changing length and size, no different from an ordinary Chain.

However, because of the answer he gave, the Chain on his little Finger, although self-sufficient, was considered by him to be used for attacking and had too much lethality, almost losing its function, so he replaced the colorless Chain on the index Finger. A new Finger. Added the ability to be used as an "attack."

This is a very annoying job, but it is the most versatile skill I know. It was created with reference to the ability of lucilleful.

Simultaneously with Kurapika, Hami again Throws the crow's feathers like darts, dodging the other's Throw.

However, the Chain shot by Kurapika, under Kurapika's will, ignores physical laws such as gravity, moves and Tracks him, and the needle-like tip at the end of the Chain pierces her thin shoulder.

(Although it is far from complete, it should be able to recover some of the stolen Aura, and might even stop the movement a little!)

Kurapika's Chain ability is backward compatible with Chrollo's.

As long as the conditions are met, one can steal infinitely, and as long as the conditions are not met, one will always steal from the opponent. The thief's instinctive skill "Hunter," assuming it returns to the opponent's form immediately after one use to take away the opponent's ability, due to the adjustment of restrictions, etc., even if it is your own ability, it is actually effective. It is still unknown.

However, it is very likely that "stealing the opponent's ability" will not start because we have not decided on any restrictions. No, but if it applies the effect of the Chain on the middle Finger, this is an auxiliary effect "steal the opponent's Aura, forcibly 'Zetsu'," and at this stage, it is estimated that it can also work.

Even if it is impossible to be "Absolute," with the help of friends in the Nostrade group, he has successfully stolen the target's Aura, so he is very confident.

"Even if it's a whisper, is there anything else that can be done!?"

Kurapika's expectation was not overconfident, and sure enough, he stole Mana and Aura from Hami, making a joke that made people cry and laugh.

However, his joke was different from before, so he spoke a little faster, so he had a strong bluff.

Realizing this, Kurapika responded to her light words and took action.

Before pulling out the Chain on Kurapika's index Finger, throwing the crow's feathers and gems, and chanting the Spell to activate it, I was sure that this time I would be able to activate it.

When I responded to Hami's whisper, it had already been Materialized.

The little Finger chain that should have been useless, which should have been the reason for creating a new chain, added ability to the index Finger.

I intended to Shoot the chain and pierce it.

Since it is a Puppet, it is impossible to hit the heart, but in that case, it would be fine to wrap this chain around the body of the Hami girl.

If any rules favorable to them are established, Kurapika will win.

If you break it, the Chain wrapped around your whole body will tighten until it destroys your body. With this, I thought I could use this chain to kill a Puppet without a heart.

... The thought of "killing" makes my heart ache.

I remember her wish was that even if she lost so much, she would still try hard to protect, and she asked me not to let go.

"——You... do not kill."

Kurapika responded to this request.

I did not kill; from now on, those I Shoot with the chain are Puppets, dead. Kurapika told him this was not "murder," and made an excuse saying, "The rule's little Finger chain Judgment Chain" goes to the sea... m.

"——Are you going to kill me?"

Enduring the emptiness of having his momentum taken away, Hami seemed to ask softly and defenselessly while pulling out the Chain stuck in his shoulder.

The eyes that had been tightly closed from the beginning, as if sewn together, opened.

There was nothing there. Empty eye sockets. A temple cave filled with Pitch Darkness.

The same emptiness as the tragedy that might have happened to her that day, that dream...

"You're going to kill me instead of that girl?"

The little finger chain that should have been shot out shattered before it even reached the sea, disappearing without a trace.

That was an "answer" that Kurapika could not deceive.

＊＊＊

"Sora!? Kurapika!?"

Seeing the two of them fall into the hands of the Shadow, Killua raised his voice.

Because Sora killed the Barrier and cast the sea-changing Magic, and because she pointed out that "the body of the sea is already tattered," he optimistically thought things would succeed; this was a mistake. I was reminded.

On the contrary, I don't know why I have become optimistic now. Last night, when we were ordered to do things we were not good at, we were such Demons, but there is no need to continue to Stick to things we are not good at. It would have been fine to follow him, but I regretted my clumsiness; I could not do it.

"Can you look away?"

Not only that, I couldn't help but feel sad for myself for not being able to go and support the two of them, and for being toyed with by the Doll Illumi.

"Sticky stuff!"

"Killing!!"

Killua tried to rush toward Sora, but Illumi ran in front with a bored expression and kicked him back to his original position, intensifying Killua's sense of helplessness.

"Don't you know yet, Killua? You can't beat me."

Illumi repeated this sentence over and over, as if disappointed in her younger brother who was kicked away and cared for by the blind Gon.

I cannot defeat myself. You are a murderer; I am not qualified to make friends.

Those words still stab my heart to this day, hurting like hell.

Illumi's ominous aura could not stop the cold sweat; no matter how I pressed it down with my arms, my knees honestly started to laugh.

But I did all of this.

Without a doubt, the real Illumi would say the same thing, but right now, Illumi's words are not the words of the real Illumi.

I know these are all my own weak and selfish words.

Killua has no right to blame Omokage for what happened to Retsu.

This is by no means a complete Copy of the "real Illumi"; it is the Illumi of Killua's imagination. From the perspective of someone other than Killua, I learned and understood that it is completely different from the real thing.

Every word and action of this Illumi is mine.

This is nothing more than an excuse to betray Gon, his friends, and his comrades for the sake of self-preservation.

I realized that I used Illumi as an excuse to betray my friends.

Because Illumi told me, because Illumi trained me that way, because Illumi was afraid of me.

This is a fact. Without a doubt, this is the reason for his dullness and obsession with the thought of running away, but Killua's repeated betrayals of Gon were absolutely his own will.

Killua already knows that it was he who weighed his friendship with Gon against his own protection.

But even so...

"No! You don't want to know, Killua!"

Gon retorted to the Doll Illumi.

Gon himself pointed out, "That is Killua's Illumi!"

Illumi is Killua himself, who has abandoned Gon many times, ignoring Gon's rebuttal and continuing to speak.

"Even if you make friends, you still want to kill them."

I am making excuses by saying this.

As an excuse for betraying friends again and again, because you want to live, because you don't want to die, so you betrayed Gon, because you want beauty; all the sins of betraying Gon are for Illumi. It is urgent.

Illumi will not satisfy Killua's own will or desires; his love is indeed twisted and annoying, but I am sure that Illumi, like Gon and the others, does not want him to die. I know.

You can honestly accept it as Illumi's only love wish, and even Killua uses this as a selfish excuse.

I cannot help but hate myself now.

I cannot help but hate myself.

Despite this, Gon raised his voice and insisted.

"Killua is not a murderer!"

Even though he had betrayed him countless times, he felt he could no longer stay there, but even so, Gon denied even Killua's own guilt, saying: "Do you know?"

"He is my best friend!"

Just because I like myself, because I want to be by your side, because I want you to be there.

This is not much different from Illumi's one-sided overprotection and education.

Compared to Illumi, her nature is worse because she is pure and innocent.

But even so... for Killua, Gon's selfishness... Gon put protecting him above his own eyes, which is something he does not want to let go of...

"Hmm..."

Faced with Gon's assertion, Illumi countered nonchalantly. Of course, Gon's claim did not reach the level of this revelation.

That is why I didn't even have half-interested eyes to look at Gon. Turning my head to look at my brother who was still sitting behind Gon holding his kicked stomach, he seemed tired of repeating the same thing over and over, but unexpectedly patiently persuaded Killua again.

"Do not fight an enemy you cannot beat. This is what I taught you."

It can be said that it is carved into the flesh, instinct, and soul; it is the foundation of Zoldyck and Illumi's education.

The biggest reason I cannot fight against Illumi.

This Curse teaching—I don't know if I can one day release and overcome it. First of all, this teaching method itself is neither wrong nor bad, so Killua does not know if he can overcome it.

However, the answer I have given to "this" Illumi has already been decided.

"There is no chance of winning!!"

Killua endured the pain in his stomach where he had been kicked, braced himself firmly on his trembling knees, put on a servile face, and bowed his head to show his opposition.

I have no confidence that I can cut off the same resentment toward the real Illumi, but I can say that this Illumi is a symbol of the cowardly, weak, and lowest self that I created.

I do not think I have a chance of winning.

So, "Are you okay?" I answered worriedly to Gon, whose face looked as painful as if he had been kicked.

"No problem! Hmph! Lend me your power! Next time I'm going to blow that Noh mask to pieces!!"

Is it that Killua is unwilling to stand up in front of his greatest trauma, or does his pride demand his cooperation, or is it both?

Killua did not know why, but although Gon's face was almost entirely covered in bandages, Gon responded with a smile—a smile that was almost cruel because it was so pure and innocent.

"Yes!!"

Seeing that smile, which made him believe in himself so much that it made him angry, Killua was dazzled, tears slightly seeping out, but he also began to smile.

Smiling, he suddenly released an exquisite Aura.

I do not consider the future, nor do I use it, because I know I lack experience in the "beginning" of "converting Aura into electricity" that I am Training. Like his best friend, Killua simply turned all his Aura into simple "power" and looked at the Illumi in front of him.

Illumi looked at Killua's "Death God" expressionlessly and carelessly, gathering Aura in his right hand.

This kind of leeway usually exacerbates Killua's anxiety. During the day, I succumbed to anxiety.

But now I cannot take my eyes off Illumi.

Unknowingly, my cold sweat and trembling knees had stopped, and the warning ringing in my mind was Illumi's Curse words, "Do not fight an enemy you cannot beat."

Originally, the opponent Killua could have defeated with his power was Illumi's Puppet, but Killua lost his fighting spirit because the opponent was Illumi; it sounds like a false alarm, have you stopped crying because you were corrected?

Or—

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Beside Killua, Gon worked even harder than Killua on the platform, raised his voice, and released the Aura he had honed.

The shadow and Illumi, along with his eyes, stole most of his Aura, wanting to use it all up in one blow and squeeze it out.

This was not a resolution, because I thought that if I did not go that far, I would not be able to defeat it.

It was just that he wanted to hit him with that much power.

Gon risked his life too recklessly because he could not forgive the person who hurt his best friend.

It was light and natural. Because he believed and did not doubt.

If he was Together with Killua, he could win, so he probably thought that even if he used up all his power here, there would be no problem.

When Killua felt his best friend relying on someone else, he smiled unconsciously.

Smiling, he said.

"Let's go! Go!!"

"Yes!"

The two of them, with their Aura released at full power, plunged into Illumi's range.

Illumi's gaze drifted for a moment, as if comparing the two, and then her gaze shifted from Killua to Gon. I waved my disfigured right hand.

It seems it is better to take the eyes out while the dead person is still alive, so perhaps he wanted to steal Gon's eyes first and then kill Gon, because he was useless to the shadow, or he had to use his left leg like a whip against Killua. I just wanted to kick him.

Killua jumped onto Illumi's long leg, gripped the side of the Sword, and swung it toward Gon.

"!?"

Illumi opened his eyes wide, as if saying "I can't believe it," when he saw his brother clutching his right hand tightly.

Even Killua could not believe it.

I was terrified that I could do such a thing to my brother, by his human-like surprised expression, especially this Puppet, whose movements were much slower and simpler than I remembered. It was truly unbelievable.

That is why Killua was still smiling; Illumi used all his strength to shake him off, and his back hit the Wall with that momentum.

There was nothing left to worry about; Killua could keep smiling.

The time from when Killua Attach to Illumi to when Illumi shook Killua off was about 5 seconds.

That was enough.

"Jan! Ken!!"

For Gon, sliding into Illumi's embrace was enough, even at zero distance.

"Okay!!"

The Aura Gon released at full power was concentrated in his right fist, and a high-density "Hardness" was thrown into Illumi's Puppet.

"Pah!"

The purpose of swinging the Wooden Sword was to smash the Flame Soldier's head, but Sora jumped up from the ground, flipping it with the rough soles of his engineer boots.

Just like that, I rolled over, and when I had some distance, I stood up because of the recoil of the roll.

The behavior was the same as usual. As always, it was a terrifying reaction speed; even if it was clumsy and never had a chance, it would not kill.

However, although I always did this easily, I sacrificed my sanity and went all out, but now I had no more leeway than usual.

The reason, of course, was the attack from the sea I saw earlier. The Fake powerful Fugura-drinking, a Void-attribute Magic that only steals and then disappears without producing anything, had deprived Sora of more than half of his Magic Aura.

That Magic was not "stealing and absorbing others' Life Force," it just complemented the surrounding Life Force with its own disappearance, so even if hit, the sea as the caster would be the only redemption, there was no reason to use it, but for Sora, who could not afford it, this waste of Magic was too painful.

The same was true for the Flame Soldier.

"... Enough... Sora-san, enough!"

With tears in his sky-blue eyes, the Flame Soldier swung the Wooden Sword again, launching a series of attacks.

Contrary to the attacks without the slightest hesitation or generosity, his face and voice were too painful, as if he had been hurt.

The Flame Soldier's plea was so painful that even if you did not know he was a Ghost Puppet, you could not tell which was real and what was true.

"Enough... Sora-kun, enough... don't be good to me!"

The Flame Soldier cried and begged Sora to attack him.

But Sora did not answer.

From the very beginning, he continued to dodge and block that familiar Sword with minimal movements and breath, but he only smiled faintly, as if troubled.

It was a fleeting smile, one that seemed as if it would disappear at any moment.

I do not want to see you smile like that.

So the Flame Soldier screamed even more intensely. This way, not only could Sora hear it, but Kurapika could hear it too.

"Mr. Sora! You know it! I... I am not the 'Flame Soldier'! Even my memories do not belong to the 'Flame Soldier'! They belong to Kurapika!!"

"I am not... the soul of the Flame Soldier that the Doll inhabits, nor am I a true replica of the Flame Soldier! I am nothing more than the Flame Soldier that Kurapika imagined within Kurapika's memories! You should know, you are a 'fake' who cannot live like the 'Flame Soldier'!?"

Reveal the "true identity" of your Omokage doll.

No, Omokage rarely hides this "truth." At a fairly early stage, even the most basic outline of Omokage being able to "enter others' thoughts and create Puppets from that person's obsessions" was enough for you to realize.

The Material of the Doll is simply "someone's obsession"; the person who makes the Doll has nothing to do with it. Not a single piece is of Material.

If the hollow eye sockets were filled with the eyeballs of the Doll model, the situation might be different, but at least for the current Flame Soldier, this hypothesis is meaningless. Not applicable.

So, if the Flame Soldier became a person, became the real Flame Soldier, became exactly the same, it could be called the realm of a "god," just like the Puppet Master designated to be under a Seal.

Unfortunately, although he will never admit it, Omokage has never been in that realm.

His Dolls are by no means "exactly the same as the original human." There is already a large amount of evidence to prove this.

Not only the Illumi doll I pointed out earlier, the Flame Soldier also realized this unconsciously, but I don't know if he said it because he wanted you to notice it, but he said it himself.

He said it, lamenting that he remembers everything.

About the elders, about that era when there were only beautiful forests in the world, and... he said he remembers everything about his parents.

He said he "remembered" his best friend's parents first, rather than his own parents.

Even if you don't think about it, it is unnatural.

If the Flame Soldier had no parents and was raised by Kurapika's parents, or if he had a bad relationship with his parents, then it would not be this way. Sora heard Kurapika say that Kurapika was also very good to him.

But he mentioned his best friend's parents instead of his own parents.

That is... evidence that his memories and the feelings he holds are based on Kurapika, not the Flame Soldier himself.

No matter how close Kurapika is, Kurapika's parents are his parents, not his best friend's parents; this is natural. So even if he says he remembers everything, the Flame Soldier cannot claim his parents.

"... So, it's okay, student Sora. You're welcome, you don't need to think 'I don't want to kill you, I want to save you'..."

Because I am Kurapika's Flame Soldier, because I am the Flame Soldier of Kurapika's desires... the close friend Flame Soldier Kurapika knows this is disrespectful to a real Flame Soldier... and he knows I shouldn't live as the Flame Soldier... so this is enough.

And no matter how hard I try, I am still a Puppet; if I completely break away from Omokage, I am a half-hearted existence, and when the breath remaining in me is exhausted, I will disappear. Do not try to help!"

The Flame Soldier cried while saying to Sora: "Enough."

Even so, Sora continued to dodge and parry the Wooden Sword with movements much worse than the first time, his breathing heavy, without counterattacking at all.

"... Even so, your 'heart'... the 'feelings' you create and feel are real."

The Flame Soldier denied his thoughts, saying: "This is just Kurapika's wish."

"It is true... no one knows what the real Flame Soldier thought of Kurapika, or what he thought of Kurapika in the end... and it is also true that you were born from Kurapika's desires.

... But Flame Soldier. The reason you like Kurapika, and the fact that you want to live like the Flame Soldier... that was just Kurapika's wish, but now all of this is yours."

"... No... why... such a thing..."

Although he affirmed the Flame Soldier's argument, Sora did not back down.

"... You truly understand, don't you? You look at 'her' and you understand, right?

When you got the Container, Kurapika's heart had already been cut off. You are no longer an Ambiguity wavering according to Kurapika's desires and image; you have established your own personality.... So, even if Kurapika thinks 'the Flame Soldier must hate me,' you still love Kurapika. That is no longer the wish that Kurapika wanted to 'think so,' but your own true feelings...

That is why... do not say that you are not doing it on purpose."

Like Illumi, the Flame Soldier might indeed be a fake, and to anyone who knew him other than Kurapika, he would not look like him.

If Kurapika understood what the Flame Soldier was saying, if the Flame Soldier himself wanted to be freed from Omokage... and wanted to die, he would cut off his own wish and kill him.

Otherwise, I have trampled on the dignity of my best friend for my own selfish desires.

Because he could not portray his memory of the real Flame Soldier with the image he might have distorted for his own convenience, he felt guilty for surviving alone for five years after losing his brother. I am in pain.

Even so, Sora did not deny his thoughts. He continued to claim it was real.

Sora told the Flame Soldier that his birth was Kurapika's wish, and even if it didn't seem real, his friendship with Kurapika was real.

"... And, it's not like that. I want to help Kurapika, not you."

Denying the reason why the Flame Soldier did not attack him, telling him that this was enough.

"Even if you break ties with Kurapika and become independent, you still love Kurapika. I hope my sense of guilt will disappear, so... I..."

Sora said he wanted to save Kurapika, not the Flame Soldier. Even though, as Sora said, he was isolated from Kurapika, the Flame Soldier was still worried about Kurapika.

Instead of aiming for Sora's torso, head, and the lines along the body, he lowered his stance and swept the Wooden Sword across Sora's feet, stopping the movement first.

However, even for this strike, Sora's Dream World of death had already been measured.

As if he knew, his left leg lifted to dodge, but then he lowered his leg and stepped on the Flame Soldier's Wooden Sword, destroying it.

The Dream World of death was measuring.

However, the Thought Calculation that kept accelerating in the measurement, the body could not keep up.

"Ah..."

The Flame Soldier's Wooden Sword was shattered and destroyed, but Sora, who was stepped on by the thing that slashed sideways and was exhausted, having his Mana, breath, and Life Energy taken away by the sea, could not stand firm; he slipped on his own destroyed Wooden Sword.

For those who know Sora, Omokage did not overlook such an impossible opportunity.

"! No... stop... please..."

The Flame Soldier's own body ignored the Flame Soldier's faint screams, rode on Sora's fallen body, and raised another Wooden Sword that had not been destroyed.

My body was already exhausted and could not keep up with my thoughts, to the point that I destroyed my own weapon, stepped on it, slipped, and my mount was taken away.

However, even if the mount was removed, as long as Sora's hands were free, Sora would not be at a disadvantage. In fact, the Flame Soldier was a foolish prey.

Right now, her line of sight was surrounded by "death," to the point that even a light touch required extra caution so as not to kill anyone or anything.

Therefore, "instinct" made the body that should have been exhausted move.

The instinct that kept screaming "I don't want to die" and ran over, raised Sora's arm, and used his fingertips like a death scythe to pierce the largest "point" on the Flame Soldier's chest... or that was how it should have been.

"... Why?"

The Flame Soldier asked, crying with Sora's eyes and sky-blue eyes.

Facing the "death" signal emitted by Sora, Omokage flinched. This is all I can do with the gap of freedom.

And Sora, I didn't spend time killing the Flame Soldier or running away, just answering.

"... I'm sorry, Flame Soldier... Actually, it's not for Kurapika either."

The hand that should have been raised instinctively fell to the floor.

Sora's hand, which should not have given up, should have continued to struggle, and the Sora hand that should have been broken until he couldn't live without giving up, stopped.

Sora answered the Flame Soldier's "Why?"

"... Even if separated and independent... it still can't kill Kurapika's heart."

Receiving this answer, the Flame Soldier's eyes widened for a moment, then she smiled awkwardly.

"... I understand."

Strong enough to overwhelm instinct, as if envious of someone thinking of their best friend, squinting as if looking at something dazzling, he swung the Wooden Sword down, aiming at the "line" that pierced his field of vision.

In the Yorkshin era, just like in the Uvogin era, the "Rule's little finger chain, Judgment Chain" faithfully followed Kurapika's true feelings, unable to maintain its original form, collapsing and disappearing.

I cannot kill, I cannot kill him. For example, she is a Doll, a dead person, even if "killing" her does not constitute "murder," even if this does not mean losing the "right to commit suicide."

But Kurapika cannot be killed.

I knew from the beginning that this was not a problem.

Kurapika himself could never have imagined that the girl before his eyes was a "Doll" or a "dead person." I myself cannot believe this is not an excuse for "murder."

Most importantly, Kurapika has already lost.

I gave up the right to commit suicide one day at my own final moment.

For the sake of living together, for the vow to die together, I pierced it, pushed it over, and threw it away.

This is how I make you sad and hurt you, but I still want to live, I want you to live, I want you to live.

Therefore, I cannot fulfill her wish, but decide for myself.

I only kill one person in my life.

I decided this is just Sora.

If I used my one-time right and threw it away, I cannot take it for granted that no matter how many people I kill, it is the same. I don't think so.

Most importantly, such a thought is like pushing the guilt I should bear in the future onto the girl killed by him, saying: "Because I killed you."

This is the reason why Kurapika cannot kill him.

Shikioriumi cannot be killed.

"It's okay."

To Kurapika, Hela extended the chain on her index finger and took out a raven's feather.

Kurapika's undecided resolution affirmed the present; this is just a remake of Yorkshin.

Without irony, she said with a smile on her eyeless face, that face similar to yet different from Sora's, like a calm sea rather than a sunny blue sky.

"If you break your promise and kill me, I will use all my strength to kill you."

When I confirmed the choice of only killing my sister, I smiled; she will kill my sister.

While laughing loudly, her slender body blew the raven's wings to the side, and then shot out the Mana of Eat Demon Whale Drink.

A balloon the size of a soccer ball was thrown out, and the sea was blown away.

"Su, you idiot!!"

"!?" Leorio!?"

Leorio, who seemed to be trapped in ice vines, was shooting, or throwing Aura at the jewel of the sea.

He hasn't passed the background test yet, it seems he was able to release a blow sufficient to become power.

Umi couldn't believe it, from Killua's story and the power he received from Sobat, but "the body itself is as strong as it looks" didn't seem to be a lie; he was blown away and rolled a considerable distance. After all, the price of replacing Magic and Kurapika's Magic Aura was plundered, so even if he wanted to stand up, his limbs had no strength.

Omokage being in such a state should be disadvantageous, but he just watched with a smile, did not follow up to order other Dolls to help, nor did he supply his own Aura to the sea.

He seemed to be venting his resentment over her making him drink plain water. Everywhere there were insidious and sinister little things.

But because Omokage is a small item, I have time.

What Leorio did during that time was not to give Umi a final blow or a finishing move.

Leorio, who had temporarily blown the sea away, strode close to Kurapika.

At the very least, Leorio grabbed the collar of the dumbfounded Kurapika and yelled at him, because he might have forgotten him.

"Why do you always worry alone! Sora idiot, you don't have to look like that! I mean, he is the oldest among us, so I still understand how he doesn't rely on anyone, but you are younger than him, younger than me, why don't you hold me alone!!"

Like Killua, the restraint wasn't very strong, probably releasing an Aura to release the binding, but compared to Killua, Leorio still lacked Training, was immature, and didn't have much Aura; presumably, it was extremely difficult to destroy those ice vines within about a minute.

In fact, although he managed to release the binding, his body was still covered with ice vine fragments, and the parts where the ice vines directly touched his bare skin actually turned red and caused frostbite.

Even so, Leorio still yelled at Kurapika, scolding him without thinking.

Instead of giving up the chance to kill Umi, he scolded Kurapika for always doing what he didn't want to do.

"Your first Sora person, I know what you mean! So, my first is him and me!!"

"But! Even if you aren't the best, it doesn't change the fact that you and others are important, so I will do my best to lend you my power, but why do you always want to be the one who isn't important? Don't want to be the one who gets hurt the most? I'll go alone!! Hey, you big idiot!!"

Although he didn't want to kill Umi, he also wanted to defeat Umi as soon as possible and go help Sora, but even so, he didn't ask anyone for help or assistance, but tried to do what he least wanted to do. Especially Leorio, who was really upset by not relying on himself, was furious and yelled at him.

Kurapika stood with his chest out and on tiptoes, listening to the sermon with a confused face, still answering blandly.

"... I'm sorry, Leorio."

"Don't be so honest at a time like this! If someone like that idiot sister or you were involved with that guy, wouldn't that idiot who can't read the situation get infected!?"

Leorio became even angrier and slapped Kurapika on the head.

Perhaps it was more Emission than Enhancer; Leorio's attack was the only one in the Zoldyck family with the physical strength to open the Testing Gate with a bare body, a devastating blow to Kurapika, comparable to Sobat; however, unlike the sea, this blow swept away everything churning in Kurapika's head and chest.

So Kurapika clutched his head in pain, apologized sincerely once more, "I'm sorry," and then raised his head.

With eyes of dawn that had cast off hesitation, he told Leorio of his resolve to never hesitate again.

"——Please, lend me your strength."

Just as Leorio said, Sora is my number one; if the time comes when I must choose, just like the test the old woman gave me, I believe I will always choose Sora.

But that doesn't mean I don't care about others. There is no reason to do so. The answer you truly want to choose, the answer you want to grasp, the person you want to protect—you will truly protect an important person and not miss a single one.

But I know I can't do that, so I think it's very dishonest to ask for help from someone who might abandon me, so I try to do something myself.

However, I was scolded that this was a mistake. I was reminded.

Everything is as Leorio said.

I never thought I was Leorio's number one, nor did I expect it. In an extreme situation like that old woman's test, even if Leorio chose to abandon Kurapika to save his own number one, even knowing it, one might feel shocked, but he was hurt and still held a grudge. This is a premise. Things that are taken for granted in our relationship have reached a level I cannot imagine.

However, even in such a relationship, even though I know I will never be number one, even though I didn't expect it to be this way, I don't think it's dishonest for Leorio to let me help him. No. Of course, it depends on what kind of help you seek, but Kurapika would certainly answer: "Leave it to me."

The reason he reacted immediately was the belief that he wouldn't seek help to escape from evil deeds he caused himself, but the reason he trusted him for the same reason was simply Leorio, his personality. Because I like it.

Even if he isn't the best, he is such an important friend and comrade that there is no way to replace him; even if he voluntarily abandoned him, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

I feel proud and happy to be able to ask such a person for help, but on the other hand, if I take everything on myself, I feel like I would lose my own value.

... I can't help but wonder why I think my dear ones and I don't have the same feelings, even if I think so.

And to Kurapika's self-mockery, Leorio laughed, "It's too late."

"Leave it to me!!"

This was a lighter, stronger, and more direct reaction than Kurapika had imagined.

Kurapika was almost moved to tears by Leorio's answer, but it was lucky that they had time to talk like this.

Reality caught up with them and took away their happiness.

"Ah..."

It wasn't just that the voice wasn't loud; it was a whisper. Nevertheless, it reached Kurapika's ears.

There was no impatience in his voice. However, this gave Kurapika a bad premonition.

Kurapika's voice sounded like he had given up on worrying, so Kurapika turned his gaze in the direction of the voice... looking at Sora, who should have been fighting the Flame Soldier.

"Sora!?"

"!? Abi!!"

Seeing Sora fall into a foolish predicament, shattering the Flame Soldier's weapon, the Wooden Sword, and falling backward because of it, Kurapika let out a scream, and Leorio ran.

What happened can only be described as stupid, but this situation usually doesn't happen to her, which speaks to the physical burden on Sora herself.

However, things were not that bad.

Considering this, Kurapika collapsed to the ground in despair, chasing Leorio, who rushed toward Sora so that the Flame Soldier would mount the fallen Sora.

Honestly, it would be faster for Leorio to throw an Aura ball at the Flame Soldier like hitting the sea, so Leorio's irrational behavior made Kurapika somewhat irrational.

However, the reason he didn't do that was because the attack just now wasn't for the firefighter, and Leorio himself was anxious and was blown away, so he temporarily ignored Leorio's movements. Kurapika tried to use the Chain on his index finger as the Flame Soldier, but before he could fire, he felt a chill on his neck and reflexively turned around.

"A beautiful friendship should be cultivated later."

Retsu, who should not have been able to even stand up, probably hadn't recovered yet, but even so, the figure that had been lying on the ground until just now stood firmly on her two thin legs as if it were a lie, throwing a sarcasm.

At the same time, that high-density Magic Orb floated along, lightly, elegantly, and gracefully throwing it in place.

Even if Leorio is still a layman, he can do it, so there is no reason Retsu couldn't perform this extremely simple "Magic Emission," which is more basic than Replacement Magic.

The reason he used it, rather than the whale-catching or Gander's Mana, was probably because it was the least burdensome and most powerful magic in the ocean, without as much space as it looked.

When she pushed Retsu to that point, it was more than enough for Sora, who knew her, but Kurapika didn't have the luxury to notice this, let alone feel happy about it.

For a moment, Kurapika hesitated about whether to prioritize the Flame Soldier or Retsu, and Leorio was already moving; although the mount was removed, the movement of her limbs was not completely blocked, and judging that there was no reason she couldn't do it, I prioritized Retsu and fired the materialized Chain at her again.

However, a high-density Magic Orb the size of a tennis ball had already been released from Retsu's hand.

And it was fast.

Faster than Kurapika's Chain, and faster than Leorio.

The Magic Orb was not aimed at Kurapika.

Kurapika passed by it without even having to dodge it.

Kurapika passed by him, understood what his goal was, let go of the control of the Chain, turned around, and shouted.

"Sora!!"

As the name of the chosen "number one" rang out, the Magic Orb landed, drawing a beautiful circle, looking as if it had been hollowed out, forming a hole in the torso.

However, even so, "he" smiled and muttered, with a happy face and a look of relief.

"………………Good. If you shout my name here, you'll be angry."

The Wooden Sword, swung halfway, loosened its weak Finger and fell to the ground.

It was not Leorio or Sora who was pierced by the Sea Demon Ball, but the Flame Soldier.