The place where the airship descended was not far from where Uvogin had crashed down. After all, the battle had erupted just as the airship was taking off; in such a short time, the vessel had not traveled very far at all.
Luo Ning did not wait for the airship to touch down completely. Instead, while it was still over ten meters above the ground, he leaped directly off. With a heavy thud, he landed safely on the ground.
The sound of sirens could already be heard ahead. Uvogin's fall had caught the attention of the airfield staff. However, the fact that the first responders were police rather than doctors confirmed that word of Uvogin's killings on the airship had reached the ground ahead of him.
Police were always patrolling near the airfield. Now, as they rushed over alongside the ground security team, they likely intended to take Uvogin into custody once they confirmed he was still alive. But Luo Ning knew that even if Uvogin was heavily injured, he was not someone these ordinary people could handle. Even with guns, it would be useless!
Luo Ning's movements did not attract much attention. He quickly approached the outer edge of the gathering crowd and slowed his pace to blend in. He was not yet certain of Uvogin's exact condition. If the internal injuries were severe enough to leave him immobile, it would be the perfect time to kill him. If it was merely a concussive shock and he could still resist, Luo Ning had to consider if he would be facing the desperate struggle of a cornered beast.
The impulsive thoughts that had surfaced while he was descending from the airship began to fade. More calculated considerations filled Luo Ning's mind. He even had to consider whether killing Uvogin here would cause the Phantom Troupe to hunt him down next. If he were facing only Uvogin's pursuit, he could find ways to resist or escape. But if the entire Troupe came after him, could he handle it given his current strength?
However, this thought only circled his mind for a moment before he discarded it. The two sides were already sworn enemies. If he had the chance to kill Uvogin and failed to act, he would only be letting a tiger return to the mountain. Uvogin would return with more information and better preparation for a far more lethal confrontation. There could be no hesitation. He had to kill him!
The police and security were cordoning off the area, but many people had still gathered. Some were reporters, while others were merely curious onlookers. Luo Ning blended into the crowd, his gaze piercing through the people to see Uvogin lying on the ground. The police had already restrained him, but from their conversation, it was clear they were waiting for the hospital staff to arrive to transport him first. They were certainly adhering to humanitarian principles.
Luo Ning's eyes quietly shifted into the Sharingan state. He began observing the changes in Uvogin's Nen. Because of Uvogin's monstrous physique, it was difficult to judge the extent of his injuries from the outside, but Nen would not lie. Under the insight of the Sharingan, he could clearly see the withered state of Uvogin's Nen. It was not a disguise; the Nen inside Uvogin's body was in total disarray. It seemed the fall from several dozen meters had caused him immense damage.
This was the best opportunity to strike. Luo Ning scanned the surroundings, planning how to end it. Uvogin's defense was extremely high; he would need to unleash his full power on a vital spot to have a chance at a kill. To prevent a final desperate counterattack, the best approach would be to cast a Sharingan Genjutsu while Uvogin's Nen was chaotic. A Genjutsu could significantly weaken Uvogin's defenses. It was a pity he did not have a proper weapon—if only he had a kunai or a dagger.
Thinking this, Luo Ning prepared to create an opportunity for Uvogin to see him. The moment their eyes met, the Sharingan's Genjutsu would activate.
But in the next second, Luo Ning's pupils constricted. He saw Nen on one of the nearby police officers! It was Nen attached to an antenna, and that antenna was currently stuck into the officer's body. The officer's hand remained on his holstered pistol as he walked toward the crowd. Though his movements seemed casual, Luo Ning sensed a sudden crisis.
He had been spotted! It was Shalnark!
Luo Ning immediately recognized the origin of that antenna. A member of the Troupe who was close to Uvogin and possessed an extremely sharp mind. His Nen ability, Black Voice, allowed him to control targets by placing an antenna on them.
But why was Shalnark here? If he were acting with Uvogin, he should have been on the airship. His sudden appearance caused Luo Ning to pause his plan to kill Uvogin as new possibilities raced through his mind. He carefully scanned the area, trying to spot Shalnark's hiding place or see if other Troupe members were nearby. Usually, the Troupe operated in pairs. While Uvogin being alone on the airship had been surprising, Shalnark's appearance made sense. The question was whether Shalnark had another partner with him.
Furthermore, based on the officer's movements, Shalnark had clearly found him. Had he been watched since the moment he jumped off the airship? Most likely.
Shalnark had not acted immediately, likely because Uvogin had shared information about the abilities Luo Ning used to escape earlier. Shalnark was not confident in intercepting him easily, which meant there were likely other partners nearby. Or perhaps Shalnark was waiting for a chance to plant his second antenna.
Luo Ning felt a chill. Although he did not see another antenna approaching, his hands did not hesitate to form hand seals. They were the seals for the Hidden Mist Technique!
The moment his seals were complete, the police officer drew his gun. Disregarding the surrounding crowd, he emptied the magazine with a series of bangs. Blood splattered as no one expected a police officer to suddenly fire into a crowd.
Chaos erupted at the same time the mist began to spread across the airfield. Luo Ning was not hit; the insight of the Sharingan allowed him to see the trajectory of the bullets clearly, and he was not standing in an open area.
The sudden gunshots also caused the fallen Uvogin to turn his head toward Luo Ning's position. Their gazes collided instantly. Luo Ning held the seal for the Hidden Mist with one hand while raising the other to make a throat-slitting gesture toward his neck. Even if he could not kill Uvogin now, he would not let his momentum waver!
The chaotic aura on Uvogin's body turned violent as he forced himself to try and sit up. But the thick mist spread rapidly, and Luo Ning soon vanished within it. This caused blood to trickle from the corner of Uvogin's mouth again—this time, it was not from his injuries, but from sheer rage!