Impossible, absolutely impossible!
How could the King possibly be defeated by a human?
But why was this human here?
Even with his life completely in the hands of the human before him, Shaiapouf's entire focus remained solely fixed on the King.
He couldn't use Spiritual Message to verify this matter, nor did he want to believe the answer faintly emerging in his heart.
An intense sense of contradiction, like tidal waves, battered his thoughts at this moment, even overwhelming his fear of death.
"You don't believe it... understandable."
Morrow observed Shaiapouf's reaction, then glanced sideways at the countless motionless clones suspended around them, saying:
"You are a race born from the constraints of genetic information, imprinted from birth with the belief that 'the King is the strongest.' In that case... do you want to see it with your own eyes?"
He paused, his voice clear and calm:
"Go see the corpse of the King, whose defeat you refuse to admit."
"Huh?!"
Shaiapouf's bloodshot eyes widened instantly.
Not far away.
Morel and the others were closely watching this scene.
During their confrontation with Shaiapouf, they had never been able to truly threaten his main body, which was precisely why the battle had remained deadlocked.
Now, seeing all of Shaiapouf's clones suspended motionless in mid-air while Morrow firmly controlled one of them, they could essentially confirm...
The Shaiapouf in Morrow's grasp was the main body they had failed to capture all along.
This meant that, with Shaiapouf unable to immediately recall his clones at this moment, Morrow had the full capability to eliminate him in one strike.
But why was Morrow, who was always decisive in action, wasting words on his opponent at such a critical moment?
The same doubt arose simultaneously in Morel and the others' minds.
However, upon hearing the content of Morrow and Shaiapouf's conversation, their confusion was quickly replaced by joy.
In their view, Morrow's appearance here meant that the King had already been defeated by Morrow.
Now, with further confirmation from Morrow's words, it essentially declared the complete victory of this extermination campaign.
Everyone's gaze focused on Morrow and Shaiapouf, awaiting the final outcome.
After saying his last words to Shaiapouf, Morrow fell silent, allowing the other's expression to shift unpredictably.
Using simple yet brutal words to provoke this emotionally volatile Royal Guard would undoubtedly increase the likelihood of him leaving behind a Post-Mortem Will.
However, it was also possible that upon seeing the King's corpse with his own eyes, he would become so heartbroken that he would completely lose the will to leave behind a Post-Mortem Will.
So...
Morrow lowered his eyelids, effectively concealing the malice unique to humans.
Since Spiritual Message had no effect on Morrow, Shaiapouf naturally had no way of knowing what Morrow was thinking.
He refused to believe that the King had been defeated and killed, but he also needed to see the situation for himself.
So when Morrow asked him, "Do you want to see it with your own eyes?" he secretly manipulated one of his clones, turning it into scale powder as it quietly drifted toward the palace.
However, how could such a subtle movement from Shaiapouf escape Morrow's notice?
"I was just speaking casually. You didn't actually think..." Morrow stared into Shaiapouf's eyes and said calmly, "that I would go out of my way to give you this kind of 'opportunity,' did you?"
"You...?!"
A flicker of astonishment suddenly appeared in Shaiapouf's widened eyes.
It wasn't entirely because of Morrow's seemingly unnecessary actions, but because he knew his covert manipulation of the clone had been detected by the other party.
Before he could ponder further, he abruptly felt an immense crushing force emanating from Morrow's palm.
Damnable human bastard...!
Squelch!
Realizing what was about to happen, Shaiapouf didn't even have time to voice his resentment before Morrow crushed him to death with his bare hand. Bits of flesh and blood instantly sprayed out from between his fingers.
Simultaneously.
With the death of Shaiapouf's main body, the astonishing number of Pouf clones surrounding them also lost their vitality, falling from the sky toward the ground.
「Lv.103→Lv.104」
Morrow flicked the blood and foam from his palm and casually glanced at the level-up notification.
Only one level.
But it was acceptable.
Moreover, the change in level confirmed that Shaiapouf was truly and utterly dead.
After all, abilities like 'Beelzebub' were indeed difficult to counter, and given the innate talent of the Royal Guards, it wasn't impossible for their abilities to evolve suddenly in a life-or-death crisis.
The level-up change from Tree Rings allowed Morrow to dismiss such concerns.
"Next... let's see if you'll leave behind a Post-Mortem Will."
Morrow shifted his gaze to the countless Shaiapouf clone corpses scattered across the ground.
For Nen users of Shaiapouf's type, as long as their emotional fluctuations were intense enough before death, it was highly likely they could leave behind a Post-Mortem Will, leveraging the traits of Manipulation.
So, given the current 'progress,' it was still something worth anticipating for Morrow.
He waited patiently.
He didn't even glance toward Morel and the others.
Soon...
An anomaly abruptly occurred on the battlefield.
Wisp after wisp of black aura, resembling scale powder, rose from the clone corpses littering the ground. Clearly visible, they spread out and then swiftly began gathering in one place.
This sudden phenomenon made Morel and the others halt in their tracks, stopping their approach toward Morrow.
"Post-Mortem Will..."
They watched as countless scale powder-like black aura converged in one place, their expressions turning grave.
But then, recalling Morrow's Nen exorcism ability, their tense nerves relaxed slightly.
"Wait, could it be that Morrow's actions just now were..."
A thought almost simultaneously crossed the minds of Morel, Gel, and the others, followed by an indescribable sense of absurdity.
Intentionally provoking Shaiapouf to make him leave behind a Post-Mortem Will after death.
And then exorcising it?
This...
Morrow didn't know what Morel and the others were thinking, and even if he did, he wouldn't care.
He kept his eyes fixed on the gathering scale powder-like black Nen aura.
Before long, these scale powder-like black Nen aura coalesced into the silhouette of Shaiapouf's form from when he was alive.
The moment the silhouette took shape, the entirely black Shaiapouf Post-Mortem Nen did not attack Morrow. Instead, it abruptly shot toward the palace at high speed.
「Astral Step」
Morrow instantly teleported into the air, intercepting Shaiapouf's Post-Mortem Nen.
He reached out, grabbed it, and absorbed it in an instant.
This action was one he had long since mastered with utmost proficiency.
The next moment, Tree Rings abruptly surged with power, erupting with a gravitational pull akin to a black hole, tearing apart and devouring the outline of Shaiapouf formed from Post-Mortem Nen.
As energy continuously converged, the energy bar of the fifth Tree Ring climbed once more.
60%, 70%…
Finally settling at 74%.
"Only about 22% conversion, still far less than Neferpitou."
Morrow silently assessed in his heart.
Although the experience points and Post-Mortem Nen energy provided by Shaiapouf fell short of Neferpitou's, given his current level and the number of Tree Rings, such gains were already quite remarkable.
Not to mention, he had effortlessly taken down both Neferpitou and Shaiapouf.
This was truly exclusive experience.
Far from disappointed, Morrow felt thoroughly satisfied.
After all, considering his original motivation for intervening in this incident, his current gains had far exceeded expectations.
Though he had used up the third Tree Ring's rewind opportunity, the ability system was enhanced after the rewind, and he could still extract Post-Mortem Nen from the Royal Guards anew.
All in all, it wasn't a loss.
Moreover, the fourth Tree Ring was now fully charged, and the fifth had reached 74%.
This was equivalent to earning an extra 74% of Post-Mortem Nen energy.
As for his level, the gains were explosive.
Starting from Lv.77, he had leveled all the way up to Lv.104.
Before this, Morrow had thought reaching Lv.95 would be good enough.
After all, constrained by innate limitations, the difficulty of leveling up beyond that was indescribable.
If not for the Royal Guards and the King being born with astonishing aura output, Morrow wouldn't have even dared to hope for Lv.95.
But he never expected that, with the massive experience gains, he would not only break through his innate limitations and rise to Lv.100, but in the end, he even shattered the human racial limit, gaining an opportunity to 'cease being human.'
Looking at the outcome, his decision back then to exchange 'Stellar Collapse' for experience gains was simply the wisest, most brilliant move he had ever made.
That said…
His resolute choice to ensure Youpi's death, even at the cost of his own life, when the assault on the Chimera Ant Nest failed, was the true step that shifted fate.
And fate never stints in rewarding the brave.
Just as Morrow was lost in reflection, the negative effects of absorbing Shaiapouf's Post-Mortem Nen arrived as expected.
Once again, it wasn't a mental impact or burden.
Instead, he was passively drawn back into that consciousness space.
Morrow stood upon the black water, ripples spreading out in circles once more.
As the ripples extended into the distance, Shaiapouf's figure emerged from beneath the water.
"What is this place...?!"
Shaiapouf only took a quick glance at the bizarre surroundings before immediately locking eyes with Morrow, who shared the same space.
The confusion and uncertainty on his face vanished in an instant.
Replaced by a complex mix of worry and resentment.
Naturally, he acted just as Neferpitou had back then.
Driven by hostility, he launched an all-out attack, intent on tearing Morrow limb from limb.
Faced with Shaiapouf's aggression, Morrow once again tossed a Poké Ball.
And once more, the King materialized beside Morrow.
"Your Majesty!"
Shaiapouf abruptly halted his attack, his slightly distorted face instantly filled with disbelief.
The King expressionlessly glanced at him, then turned his gaze to Morrow who was close at hand, subtly furrowing his brow.
Although he no longer cared about the continuation and future of the species, being repeatedly disrupted by Morrow like this left the King feeling utterly helpless.
Shaiapouf observed the King's reaction.
Understanding everything, his heart instantly turned to ashes.
"How could this be... how could it be like this..."
Tears streaming down his face, Shaiapouf looked up with utter despair.
Seeing this, Morrow nodded inwardly, thinking the effect was exceptional.
This would minimize the potential risks brought by the negative effects of Post-Mortem Nen.
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Bonus chapter @3200 powerstones
I'll soon have no more bonus chapters to offer in exchange for powerstones, despite my attempts to slow the process down. I hope you'll keep supporting the story even without bonus chapters in return...