Pakunoda would fire a "Memory Bullet" at the demons. The demon hit by it would experience a brief moment of confusion, about a second of mental disorientation.
The unfamiliar memory inserted into their minds would create a brief period of memory confusion, and that was their opportunity.
This was essentially Pakunoda immobilizing the enemy, while the cleanup was left to Machi's nen threads. Machi's nen threads were not only flexible but also incredibly sharp.
Ssshhh—
Several demons, stunned by the memory confusion, had their heads and torsos severed by the nen threads. Blood sprayed into the air, dyeing the mist of rain red.
However, the number of demons was still overwhelming, and many still had familiar faces of the Meteor City combat unit members. They charged in, tearing apart the weakened soldiers.
The screams echoed through the rainy night as scattered soldiers fell one after another. Whenever they tried to regroup, they were hit by tank fire and rockets.
"We can't keep fighting!" Pakunoda fired another "Memory Bullet," hitting a demon and causing it to stop in its tracks. "The casualties are too high!"
Machi understood this too. After using her nen threads to rip off the heads of several demons, she shouted out another command, "Retreat! Retreat!"
However, a shadow rushed through the air, falling from above them. In the dim light, its large figure was revealed.
Spider-like legs clung to the slanted garbage mountain, revealing the demon's face, which resembled that of an elderly person.
"I, Pike, will never allow myself to lose the favor of 'Ant Queen'... Oh... Fortunately, 'Ant King' gave me this opportunity."
"The Ant King said that if I complete this mission, I will be able to advance further. The Ant Queen will surely look at me in a new light."
Boom—
A sound like distant thunder came from afar. Machi and Pakunoda turned instinctively, noticing a direction where flames were shooting into the sky.
Quickly, they understood what Pike meant by "mission," and their faces turned pale. That direction was the headquarters of the remaining forces from Meteor City.
Machi and Pakunoda had been misled to this location, while the real main attack began in another direction and had already reached the vicinity of the headquarters.
To break through multiple lines of defense and strike at the heart of the base in such a short amount of time—there must be at least the Royal Guards there!
"We have to go back!"
"There's only one fighter there; he can't hold them off for long!"
Thoughts racing, Machi and Pakunoda turned to run but were stopped when Pike suddenly jumped in front of them, blocking their way.
"You can't go back," Pike muttered, his hand, like puppet joints, holding a black pill, which he quickly swallowed. "You can't go back."
What did he just eat?! Machi and Pakunoda thought, bewildered.
In an instant, black, malicious Nen energy shot out from Pike's body. His outer shell cracked, and crimson blood and black pus splattered everywhere.
In the blink of an eye, his body expanded, and he grew into a massive spider the size of a two-story building. His elderly face shattered, revealing sharp spider mandibles.
His voice became deeper and more terrifying.
"After eating the Ant King's pill, I will become stronger... As long as I survive, I can advance further and become a Direct Guard!"
"I'll become a Direct Guard!"
He puffed out his swollen abdomen, and as if unable to wait any longer, he began to rapidly shoot thick webs from his body.
Each web was large enough to cover a tank.
The several Meteor City combat squad members who were unfortunately trapped in the tightening webs were crushed into countless pieces, their bodies turning into pulp and sauce!
Machi and Pakunoda quickly retreated, but Pike's webs were clearly aimed at them, and the "ammunition" he spat never stopped.
Boom—
Once again, a thunderous explosion echoed from afar, with thick smoke billowing and flames rising into the sky. Even in the rainstorm, the scene was clearly visible.
Machi and Pakunoda were both anxious, not wanting to continue fighting here, but they didn't have a good way to counter Pike.
If it were the old Pike, Machi could handle him alone, but now, Pike's physical strength was terrifyingly strong.
The Nen threads she threw out couldn't even cut or break through Pike's joints.
Meanwhile, Pike's ferocious aura was gradually affecting those around him, including Machi and Pakunoda, who both felt dizzy.
The sense of being enveloped and controlled was unpleasant, but they couldn't quickly shake it off.
Could it be that tonight, the ones with spider tattoos would really fall to a spider monster?
At that moment, the battle, which had been overwhelmingly dominated by the Meteor City combat squad in less than two minutes, suddenly changed.
Several black shadows moved back and forth, and more and more demons began to fall, followed by the destruction of the remaining two tanks, which exploded like cans, sending up smoke!
Machi and Pakunoda could finally see clearly.
Kurapika wielding silver chains, Shizuku striking with heavy blows like a hammer, and Germain slashing with devastating force!
At Sheila's repeated request, they made their move.
Germain and Shizuku, both orphans from Meteor City, had of course received aid from the cathedral and had been protected by the elders and combat squads.
Tonight, they were not only fighting for Sheila, but also to repay this kindness, even if Meteor City didn't welcome these two "traitors."
As for Kurapika, his purpose for coming along was obvious.
He could have stood by and let Machi and Pakunoda be killed, but after all, he was not a member of the "Phantom Troupe."
This is someone who, even knowing what Uvogin did to his own people, would still leave his corpse intact after death and personally bury him.
The three of them acted so quickly that they almost instantly turned the tide of the battle, making Machi and Pakunoda feel a sense of dizziness, as though the crushing defeat they had just suffered never happened.
The strength of Germain and Shizuku particularly surprised them.
Shizuku... is that really Shizuku?
Although they weren't close to Shizuku, they were both from Meteor City and had crossed paths a few times before, exchanging casual greetings.
Back then, Shizuku was merely a scavenger of the Meteor City nowhere near as powerful or well-known as they, the "Phantom Troupe members."
But now, Shizuku was completely different. Holding Blinky, she was nearly unstoppable. Demons fell before her, turning into the tragic corpses of chimera ants.
What truly frightened Machi and Pakunoda, however, was still the man in the black robe.
He had become even more terrifying than when they met him months ago at Stonehenge!
Their mortal enemy had grown to this point... and now, they had no choice but to look up to him, waiting for him to eliminate the enemies before them!
Humiliation and unwillingness filled their chests, almost suffocating them.
Germain disappeared in the flash of lightning and suddenly appeared above Pike after the flash.
Pike's spider-like roar quickly turned into a scream and whimper as the holy Moonlight Sword pierced through his back!
Boom—
The blast from the close-range explosion made Machi and Pakunoda's eardrums hurt, and the cyan light filling their view rose like a pillar, shooting up from the ground!
Boom—
In an instant, the expanding spider turned into dust scattered across the sky, blending with the unrelenting rain.
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