Huh? What…?
When I looked up, I saw Hisoka's free hand slowly descending toward my head — his fingers forming a blade, aimed to split me in half from top to bottom.
His movement grew slower and slower, while the heat in my forehead intensified and a painful throbbing pulsed faster and faster at the back of my skull.
So this is the end, I suppose?
I watched for a while — that madman's hand, steadily closing the distance to my head.
Closing my eyes, one final thought crossed my mind:
So this is what people feel in their final moments before death…
My forehead was burning unbearably now.
The throbbing at the back of my head no longer even registered as pain — just a rapid contraction and release, like a heartbeat hammering well over nine hundred beats per minute.
Then, suddenly, all sensations vanished — replaced by a cool, numbing chill spreading through my skull.
"Ha… ha… ha…"
I came to, staring at the bare yellowish soil beneath me, breathing deeply and unevenly.
"Mousse, what happened?"
"Mousse, are you okay?"
Those familiar voices reached my ears.
Despite the heaviness in my body, I quickly lifted my head and met the worried gazes of my teammates.
What?
I… I can't believe my eyes.
Ponzu and Bodoro… they're alive?
"Ha… ha?.. what… what's going on here?"
"Don't worry. It's just the effect of a strong burst of someone's killing intent."
Bodoro gripped my shoulders, kneeling in front of me so I'd focus on his face.
"Control your breathing. Follow me: deep inhale… slow exhale."
"Guys! Other participants are starting to run out from the forest!"
Even without Ponzu's warning, I could hear them — those same desperate screams as before.
No… no… if it goes the same way again, everyone will die…
Looking at their anxious faces, I saw that even though they were trembling themselves, they still smiled at me reassuringly.
No… I can't let them sacrifice themselves for me again!
System — give me the best possible way to survive this!
[ Optimal Path for Passing the Third Phase
Cost: 15'000 Nen ]
The screen suddenly flared gold, and the price multiplied — but I no longer had the luxury of hesitation.
At once, over a dozen glowing threads appeared in my field of vision.
Most stretched forward, a few toward the fleeing participants, and a couple linked to Bodoro and Ponzu.
After a brief scan, my gaze locked onto one specific thread.
It had two distinct traits: a bright golden glow… and unlike the others, it led upward.
When I tugged on it, a surge of power flooded through my body.
What the— did I just get stronger?
Damn it, it's getting harder to concentrate!
My heartbeat thundered in my ears, and instinct screamed at me to run — run now!
Then, out of nowhere, an insane yet strangely fitting idea flashed through my mind.
System, can you play the song "Hunting for Your Dream"?
[ Playing host's playlist
Cost: 5 Nen per song ]
Adjust playback speed to match my consciousness.
Tun, turu-tun-tu-tu-tu-dun-dun!
A grin crept across my face.
As I stood up, Bodoro looked at me, wide-eyed — he could feel the surge of power radiating through my shoulders.
Honestly, I don't believe I'll survive what I'm about to do.
Grabbing the thread connected to Ponzu, I gave it a pull — and she stumbled right into my arms.
"W–what?"
Since I'm probably going to die anyway…
You only live once!
I gently wrapped my arms around her, looked into her eyes, and closed mine — leaning in for a kiss.
"Ehh?!"
Of course, I'm embarrassed and ashamed for forcing her like this.
It probably sounds like I'm using an excuse to fulfill my childish dream…
But I really was grateful to her — for protecting me.
And there's no other way left to show it.
Smooch~
The kiss was innocent — barely a few seconds — but it gave me all the resolve I needed to dive headfirst into hell.
"Thank you guys. From here on, I'll handle it myself.
Please… let me protect you."
Casting one last gentle look at Ponzu — whose brain seemed to have short-circuited — I turned to Bodoro with eyes full of gratitude and determination.
He met my gaze with a solemn nod.
When everything was ready, the last — the eighth — participant emerged from the forest.
"Kyaaa!"
I dashed forward at full speed toward the oncoming contestants.
Hisoka wasn't moving as fast as I'd expected — or maybe my perception had simply sharpened.
Just as he raised his arm to strike the eighth one, I pulled that participant's thread to the side, dragging him several meters away from Hisoka's reach.
As I thought, Hisoka didn't even care — he simply turned and went for the next target.
Again and again, I interfered — until he finally realized someone was disrupting his fun.
He flicked a Nen-charged card at the youngest Amori brother. I did the same trick — pulled him out of the way — but immediately noticed the card's trajectory shift toward me.
Luckily, one of the threads connected to that very card — glowing crimson.
With great effort, I yanked it sideways, redirecting it just past my head.
Such monstrous Shu… even with my boosted strength, I barely managed to deflect it.
Looking ahead, I saw Hisoka charging straight toward me, that terrifying grin stretching across his face.
My entire body froze in fear.
Don't look at his face!
Focus on his hands and feet!
Biting my lip hard, I forced control back into my limbs.
As he closed in, I sprinted sideways — away from the remaining participants, away from Ponzu and Bodoro.
When he swung a card at my torso, I dodged just in time.
Top-left slash, right, bottom, kick.
I kept evading, circling him — surviving only because his attacks lacked rhythm and his usual meticulous planning, repeating patterns at random.
But each strike grew faster and faster, forcing me to twist and duck harder each time.
My forehead burned hotter, as I struggled to synchronize my thoughts with Hisoka's growing tempo.
Then I noticed — Hisoka's red thread was darkening.
I didn't need a hint from the System to know — his threat level was rising.
I was running out of time.
After hundreds of dodges, fearing his Bungee Gum, I was losing ground — cuts and wounds piling up.
The thread at Hisoka's waist had already turned pitch-black in places.
He's about to strike…!!!
My body can't keep up!
Misjudging my body capabilities, I tried to jump back with full force — but slipped, unable to take a proper stance in time.
The burning in my head flared again, and the card between Hisoka's fingers closed in — faster and faster, matching the rhythm of my racing mind.
I could clearly see the thread between the card and my forehead — glowing black.
Looks like this is it…
But I have no regrets.
I'm glad I could help the others — especially Bodoro and Ponzu…
I just hope my girlfriend doesn't hunt me down in the afterlife for kissing someone else…
Please, cleanse my soul — let the next me start anew, pure and unburdened!
I have no regrets… but damn, the unknown is terrifying!
To outside observers, the entire fight lasted barely half a minute.
When Ponzu finally came to her senses, she saw Bodoro standing beside her, jaw clenched tight as he watched the battle unfold.
"Oh no… Mousse, survive!"
BOOM!