Even after everything he had seen, he was pletely mesmerized. Piyon, after taking another deep look at the Water Gze, pulled out her pink phone again. "Actually…" she said casually, "this isn’t the first of the Seveies I’ve seen." Both Larry and Satotz turo her in surprise. With a small smile, she tinued, "Before this, I had the honor of seeing White Fire—another one of the Seveies."

  She raised her phone so they could see the s. The image dispyed a deep, dark o, but in the ter of the photo was a brilliant, dazzling white fme. Ah that fme… Larry and Satotz could barely make out the outline of a small fish, its delicate body engulfed in the pure white glow.

  From its shape and the patterns on its back, it almost resembled the Pokémon Feebas—except far more majestic. Larry immediately recalled the White Fire infromation. A creature found in the deepest por seas, this fish was unique in that its entire body was fmmable—burning with ahereal white fme while still alive. It was said that this fme was unlike anything else in the world. A pure white, untarnished by any other color.

  The problem? The fish was incredibly difficult to capture. Not only was it rare, but its body began to decay immediately after death. Only a very few lucky people had ever withe beauty of its fmes firsthand. Even though they were only seeing it through a photograph, the image alone was breathtaking. It was no wonder White Fire was also known as "Absolute White." After letting them admire the picture for a moment, Piyon lowered her phone and shared the story of how she had entered it.

  It had been during a Hunter Association-saned mission—an expedition to iigate ges in the ruih the deep sea. The Hunter Association frequently took on tracts from govers, corporations, and private anizations, assigning them to lised Hunters. For some, these issioned jobs were their entire career, preferring the structure of Association-backed assigs over the uainty of indepe hunting. Such Hunters were often referred to as "tract Hunters," though some mogly called them "Association Lapdogs.

  Unlike free huhey weren’t necessarily the stro, but they were skilled professionals who thrived uhe Association’s structure. Of course, as one of the Zodiacs, Piyon wasn’t in the same league as them. Her assigs were on a whole different level—missions that only high-ranking members of the Association could uake. And it was during one of these high-stakes deep-sea expeditions that she had witnessed White Fire in person.

  Piyon hadn’t gone on that deep-sea expedition alone. She had been apanied by another member of the Zodiacs—Ging Freecss, known as the "Prodigal Son." Of course, it wasn’t like the Association had assigned him the job. They wouldn’t dare. Ging only took missions that piqued his i, and this just happeo be one of them. her of them had expected that, thanks to the accurate location of the ruins—right at the interse of two oic levels—they would be lucky enough to witness White Fire firsthand.

  But luly sted so long. The magnifit fme vanished as quickly as it had appeared, swallowed by the abyss before either of them could react. All that remained was this single, hastily taken photo. Piyon ’s voice softened as she stared at the image, lost in thought. "Before that moment, I had only ever heard stories or read books about the Seveies of the World… about how breathtaking they were. But seeing one in person? It’s impossible to put into words. It ure, extreme beauty."

  As the three tiheir discussion, Larry suddenly stiffened. His expression darkened as his gaze soward the cave entrance. A dangerous presence had appeared. He didn’t hesitate. "Gengar—Shadow Ball!"

  The moment Larry gave the engar immediately positioself in front of him, floating protectively. Its stubby hands came together at its chest, and its crimson eyes gleamed with a cold, dangerous light. Within seds, a dark purple sphere the size of a basketball materialized between its hands, its aura so ominous it sent a chill down the spio an uninformed observer, it would have looked like an enhanced version of Death Aura itself."Gen Ngar!" The Shadow Ball shot forward at blinding speed, crashing into the seemingly empty cave entrance.

  BOOM! The explosion rocked the cavern, sending dust and debris flying. Satotz and Piyon sheir heads toward Larry, startled by his sudden a. "What the hell just happened?" Satotz demanded.

  Piyon , still processing the situation, turo Larry with wide eyes. "Wait—yengar attack?!" They had assumed Gengar was nothing more than a Ne specialized in erasih Aura. To see it unch a direct attack was shog.

  "There are enemies," Larry said coldly, his gaze locked onto the thick cloud of dust. He didn’t eborate further, nor did he o. Just moments ago, Gardevoir had sewo ominous presences lurking at the cave entranes radiating unmistakable malice.

  Satotz and Piyon immediately activated Eending their aura into the smoke. Their faces instantly ged. The two figures cealed in the dust weren’t just strong—they were strohan them.

  A slow, cruel ugh echoed from within the swirling debris. "Hah… hahahahaha!"

  A deep, rough voice rumbled through the cave, thick with amusement. "Envy, This brat’s got some crazy dete skills… and that attack wasn’t bad either. Lust is gonna love him!"

  Another voice followed—a sickly, wheezing chuckle that sent a shiver down their spines. "Hehehehe…"

  Two figures slowly emerged from the smoke. Their bck robes wriggled unnaturally, as if alive. Only wheepped forward did the truth bee clear—their robes weren’t made of fabric at all. They were covered in is. A species of parasitisect that gs to human skin, suppressing all external presence—creating an effect identical to "Zetsu." Prolonged use results in the bug draining Aura, eventually leading to death.

  Envy lifted a bony hand, and the bck swarm that had cealed them was sucked bato his palm, spiraling like a vortex. With the is goheir true appearances were revealed. The one who had ughed so loudly was a massive, muscur man with wild red hair and an u beard. His powerful frame and imposing stanstantly reminded Larry of Uvogin from the Phantom Troupe—they shared the same raw physical iy. Judging by his build alone, Larry immediately suspected he was a Reinfort-type.

  ***Name: WrathStrength: A-ype: Reinfort Abilities: Bloodthirsty RageRestores physical stamina and Aura based on the damage inflicted on an enemy. When severely injured, strength temporarily skyrockets. In this enhaate, stamies rapidly. Once exhausted, the ability forcefully enters Zetsu for a full day***

  A dangerous ability. If they didn’t take him down instantly, he’d bee stronger with each hit he nded.