Chapter 120: The Recording, the Bald Man, and a Little Scheme

Under Hao Ren’s persuasion, the girls finally returned to the dimensional space. Given their current attributes, facing any seasoned martial artist in this world would likely result in defeat within a single exchange. It seemed that earning enough to boost their stats had become Hao Ren’s top priority.

Having already secured three numbered badges, Hao Ren decisively heeded the girls' advice—or rather, their threats—and decided against further adventuring. He hid obediently on the Gray Rock Peak. If it weren't for the fact that the badges could not be stored in the dimensional space, the girls would have undoubtedly imprisoned Hao Ren in the basement of the Crossbell City Hall.

"Master... no, Ren. If you abandon us again to go courting death... I will sever your four limbs—no, your five limbs!"

Hao Ren still remembered Shiki pulling out her blade not long ago, staring at him with her large, blue eyes as she delivered that threat. Her entire demeanor screamed, "I am not kidding, you bastard! Try it if you have the guts!" It was enough to make Hao Ren’s extremities go cold and his groin tighten in terror.

"Mystic Eyes of Death Perception" versus "Mutilation Mechanism"—Hao Ren definitely didn't want to test which one took precedence. What if the "death" inflicted by the Mystic Eyes took priority over the "cannot be mutilated" rule of the mechanism?

Heh.

As night fell, Hao Ren gave a dry laugh and sent the girls back into the dimensional space one by one. Just as he was about to further practice "Zetsu," the communicator on his neck—a derivative device from Sharp—suddenly rang.

"Master! Master! I caught something special on camera! Get online, quick!" Sharp’s slightly excited voice chirped.

"Hmm? Did you film some field combat?" The thought of training vanished instantly, and Hao Ren excitedly logged into the Mobius Ring network.

He didn’t bother to consider how many women were even left on the island. With only Orube Anna, Saya, the Sniper, and the Wasp Woman remaining, his anticipation for "field combat" was purely the delusion of a frustrated virgin who hadn't watched a movie in ages.

Watching the projection Sharp transmitted from inside a hollow tree at a super long range, Hao Ren’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

"Th-this is!"

Meat! Meat! Meat! In that regard, it was similar to a movie, but the passionate collision of flesh was vastly different from anything Hao Ren had imagined.

In the infrared projection, two iconic, blindingly shiny bald heads came into view: Ninja Hanzo and Ninja Kazemaru, both formidable martial artists. In the original plot, Killua had once remarked that if Hisoka’s strength was a 100, Hanzo’s was around a 75. Given Killua’s professional assassin’s eye, even if the assessment wasn't perfectly accurate, it shouldn't have been far off. As his brother, Kazemaru’s strength was likely on par, and with his ability to fire Nen-energy cannons from his palm, he might even be superior in terms of burst power.

Yet, these two powerful NPC-level characters were in a truly wretched state.

Ragged clothes and bloodstains were secondary; the real issue was that their bodies were no longer whole. For Kazemaru, who required celibacy to master his "Boy's Kung Fu," tasks like writing, using chopsticks, sexual activity, and throwing shuriken were all supported by his girlfriend (the right hand). Most importantly, his signature move, the Nen-energy cannon, could not be released with his mistress (the left hand). Yet, at this moment, there was a gruesome wound where his girlfriend joined his arm; it looked as if a creature with sharp teeth had bitten off more than half of it, leaving only a sliver of skin still attached.

It looked agonizing. Hao Ren felt goosebumps.

Comparing him to his brother Hanzo’s current state, Hao Ren felt Kazemaru was actually doing a bit better. As for Hanzo, Hao Ren wasn't even sure if the creature—now a mass of flesh and tentacles—could still be called human. Seeing the whites of Hanzo's eyes, Hao Ren knew his worst fears had come true.

Amidst the flesh-tentacles, the large white dog, and a dozen other strange, flesh-mutated creatures that barely resembled humans, Hao Ren realized: Saya had unleashed her power.

The white dog didn't move, acting only as a deterrent while standing on a rock, watching the bald men. However, the other flesh-mutated humanoids charged at Kazemaru with no regard for their own lives.

Kazemaru couldn't rely on his brother, Hanzo, who had practically lost all combat ability—if he even retained any consciousness at all. Keeping some distance was mandatory. For Kazemaru, dying in a frontal battle wasn't shameful, but getting killed by having his rear end exploded would be tragic; he would surely die with regrets.

The flesh-mutants were weak, unable to withstand the Nen-infused strikes of Kazemaru, and would shatter after three or four hits. But what brought Kazemaru despair was that their shattered bodies would automatically reassemble, and within a minute, they would lunge at him again.

Were they immortal? No.

Kazemaru had fired a Nen-energy cannon earlier, blasting a mutant into slag, and indeed, it did not regenerate. But the moment he landed that blow, he was ambushed by the white dog hidden among the mutants.

One bite.

His "Ten" defense was like paper, easily pierced by the sharp teeth.

Severed limbs and a ruined girlfriend—this was a grudge beyond measure. But the endless waves of mutants created an insurmountable barrier for Kazemaru, who had lost the ability to fire his Nen-cannon.

It looked like it was time to run.

Just as Kazemaru turned to flee, the video ended.

"Master, that’s all. I didn't dare film any longer because that dog seemed to glance in my direction," Sharp said, sounding genuinely shaken.

Logically, while recording, Sharp was in a state of "Zetsu." Without using eyes, but relying purely on perception, it should have been no different from a pebble on the side of the road. But Sharp didn't know that "Shiro," having inherited some of Saya's traits, possessed a sensitivity to life energy that was top-tier in the Hunter world.

A dog with a built-in radar.

Fortunately, Sharp was fast. Before it flew away, a tentacle had nearly brushed its feet, missing by only five centimeters.

Hao Ren remained silent for a long time after watching the video.

It was a moonless night, and the sky was thick with dark clouds, limiting visibility—which was perhaps why the small skirmish hadn't escalated.

"Sharp, what is the maximum resolution of this video?" Hao Ren suddenly asked a strange question.

"It can reach about a thousand times the quality of a Blu-ray disc in your world. Why?" Sharp replied, its bird head tilting.

"I didn't finish much school, don't try to bluff me!" Hao Ren’s computer classes had always been for sleeping.

"Master, the technology behind my body comes from a very advanced technological plane. Why would I lie to you?" The bird’s face looked disdainful.

"Then what is the maximum range of your projection?"

"As long as there is sufficient energy, I can project from any distance."

"In that case..."

"No, no, no, no! That’s too dangerous! Are you trying to get me killed, Master!? I won't!"

"Twenty size-one carbon batteries!" A flash crossed Sharp’s bird eyes; clearly, its internal components were running at high speed. This 21st-century product was the bird-shaped Sharp’s favorite snack, and it felt miserable if it didn't munch on a few every day.

"Ten size-one carbon batteries!" Hao Ren haggled habitually.

"Eighteen!" Sharp insisted.

"Twelve!" Hao Ren countered.

"Sixteen!" Sharp.

"Fourteen!" Hao Ren.

"Fourteen!" Sharp.

"Sixteen!" Hao Ren put on an expression that suggested he would walk away if Sharp bargained any further.

"Deal!" Sharp made a face that suggested it had suffered a massive loss, making Hao Ren want to smack it.

Watching Sharp flap its wings and fly away, Hao Ren suddenly felt something was off, but upon reflection, he couldn't pinpoint the reason.