As the sound of the harp strings faded, the dark Nen formed into humanoid figures armed with spears, standing protectively before the woman.
Each of these shadowy figures shimmered and quivered like smoke, with no discernible facial features, only a vague form.
The woman opened her eyes, yet her gaze did not fall upon those around her. Instead, she slightly lowered her head, looking at the stone harp in front of her.
Her actions seemed to convey either remembrance or sentiment, but her brilliant blue eyes, which were lifeless and vacant, made her gestures utterly useless.
When the woman revealed her eyes, coupled with the features on her body, her identity was obvious.
The female city lord who left her name in history: Stargie.
Inside the hall, everyone looked at the black humanoid Nen Beasts summoned by Stargie. Even from their Aura alone, it was evident these creatures would be difficult to deal with.
As the humanoid Nen Beasts remained motionless, Uncle Bill sat cross-legged, then placed the conjured laptop on his lap. His cold gaze turned toward Atomu as he spoke in a deep voice: "You think you can use us? I won't let you have it easy."
Before he finished his words, all the Aura surging from his body was retracted into his body, forcing him into Zetsu state.
Then, he began typing on his keyboard, activating the trojan horse buried in Atomu's body database. Uncle Bill ignored Stargie's threats and launched his attack on Atomu first.
With his dominant right hand injured, Uncle Bill's typing speed was significantly reduced, even disrupting the rhythmic coordination of his left hand. To minimize errors, he was forced to slow down his pace.
Luby and Aya consciously stayed by Uncle Bill's side, because when Uncle Bill used the [Hacker's Methods], he would be forced into Zetsu state. In this state, he had no Aura to protect his body and would be seriously injured or even die if he was hit by a punch of a Nen User.
Mark was also injured in his right arm, and even more seriously than Uncle Bill and Aya. He could see the situation clearly and thought that sticking together with Uncle Bill and the others was the best option.
'He's really not simple, but his decision-making is too irrational.' Biscuit first observed the humanoid Nen Beasts for a moment, and then noticed Uncle Bill's actions. Although she was an outsider, she could see that Uncle Bill conjured the laptop in order to target Atomu.
Biscuit acknowledged Uncle Bill's skill because a device like a laptop is notoriously difficult to conjure, and any conjured object typically has unique abilities.
Stargie had summoned seven Nen Beasts, precisely matching the seven individuals present. Just looking at the Aura of the Nen Beasts, they cannot be underestimated, not to mention Stargie herself had yet to make a move.
Given the situation, addressing the immediate threats should have been the priority, rather than weakening one's own side over a personal grudge.
Biscuit didn't know about Uncle Bill's Nen Ability, but based on the scene, she made her judgment. Now, it was clear she couldn't lazy off anymore, and at the very least, she needed to deal with one of the Nen Beasts.
Law also didn't know about Uncle Bill's Nen Ability. As outsider, he also refrained from interfering in the confrontation between Uncle Bill and Atomu.
Watching the humanoid Nen Beasts spring into action, Law considered whether the white smoke font ability could absorb them. But ultimately, given the potential dangers, he decided against doing so recklessly.
The humanoid Nen Beasts dispersed and charged swiftly toward the group.
At the same time, Stargie lowered her head and played the harp, producing a wave of sound.
Atomu looked at the situation in the hall coldly. He didn't know what the ability of Uncle Bill's laptop was. While the Nen Beasts took action, he just sat there and watched.
Everyone present was cannon fodder for him to obtain information about Stargie's abilities.
Uncle Bill endured the pain, gritted his teeth as he typed, with his forehead drenched in cold sweat.
The trojan horse implanted in advance can directly break through the firewall, but the infiltration process required time, as Atomu is now in Ren state, so his Aura becomes the only obstacle.
"Let's take an arm first!"
Uncle Bill had a cold expression on his face and he fiercely pressed the last key.
In the distance, Atomu's eyes suddenly narrowed, and the Aura on his right arm retracted into his body. Though his Aura Nodes remained open, he inexplicably entered Zetsu state.
The concept of Zetsu refers to closing one's Aura Nodes, sealing Aura within the body, thereby eliminating their presence, which is also equivalent to removing one's own armor.
Atomu took a look at his right arm, on which strange, indecipherable code had appeared. He then looked at Uncle Bill, who was sneering coldly, and realized that this was the opponent's Nen Ability, which had forcibly put his right arm into Zetsu state.
Losing the ability to use Aura in his dominant hand wasn't a fatal weakness, but it was definitely a significant inconvenience. However, if all four limbs were forced into Zetsu, it would be dangerous in battle.
After realizing Uncle Bill's troublesome ability, Atomu's face turned cold, and his previously composed demeanor started to waver. However, he was not an amateur. Observing Uncle Bill's complete lack of aura, he quickly devised a countermeasure.
This Nen Ability, which forcibly placed body parts into Zetsu state, was certainly tricky. However, since Uncle Bill himself had to remain in Zetsu state while using it, he was left utterly defenseless, hence requiring protection from others.
With a strategy in mind, Atomu's eyes glinted with killing intent. Since his opponent's ability was troublesome, eliminating one of the 'pawns' wouldn't be an issue.
"Next is your left arm. If my hand weren't injured, I'd be even faster!"
Uncle Bill ignored Atomu, as well as the approaching humanoid Nen Beasts. With Luby and Aya guarding him, and his calculated plan in motion, he could fully focus on the infiltration process.
Biscuit had criticized his actions as irrational, but that was simply because she didn't understand his Nen Ability.
His actions were meticulously calculated.
First, in order to block the stone door, Atomu kept a distance from them. Second, Stargie was also far away from them. Third, he had the protection of Luby and Aya. Fourth, burying the trojan horse in advance could speed up the efficiency, and he only planned to disable Atomu's two arms.
Since the distance is long enough, he had a relatively safe window of time.
Uncle Bill wanted to use the gap before the battle officially started to overturn Atomu's boat, and then concentrate on dealing with the crisis at hand.
'You didn't expect this, did you, Atomu?'
'Your act of blocking our retreat is only pushing yourself into a dead end!'
'The infiltration of Atomu's left arm was underway...'
'Before the humanoid Nen Beasts attacks, before Atomu rushes over to stop it, there's still in time!'
Uncle Bill clenched his teeth and continued typing despite the. He stayed calm to ensure precision rather than rushing and making mistakes.
Law and Biscuit both noticed the abnormality of Atomu's right arm and Uncle Bill's Zetsu state. Because of this, they had a rough guess of the nature of Uncle Bill's Nen Ability and then felt that this Nen Ability was quite scary.
Just then, the melody of the harp quickened abruptly!
Sound of Seven Verses: Speed Play, Rapid Tones!
The humanoid Nen Beasts' legs dissolved into wisps of smoke, transforming into genie-like forms that hovered in mid-air, making their speed increasing dramatically!
"Uncle Bill!"
Seeing the Nen Beasts changing and speeding up, Luby couldn't help but warn him.
Uncle Bill did not respond. At this moment, he was fully concentrated on infiltrating and disabling Atomu's left arm, 'There's still time, definitely enough time!'
Whoosh!
Just as the infiltration was about to succeed, a massive boulder hurtled towards them at high speed!
"What?!"
Luby, Aya and Mark's expressions changed drastically.
Mark jumped to the side, while Ruby and Aya quickly grabbed Uncle Bill and pulled him out of harm's way.
Boom!
The boulder crashed onto the ground, shattering into fragments!
The infiltration process was interrupted...
Law and Biscuit frowned and glanced at Atomu, who stood in front of the stone door with an expressionless face, before turning their attention to the advancing Nen Beasts.
The number of Nen Beasts summoned by Stargie matched the number of enemies present, or perhaps, she was only capable of summoning seven.
However, the reason didn't matter anymore.
Because, the seven humanoid Nen Beasts did not adopt a surrounding tactic, but instead dispersed and each targeted a single opponent.
Inside the hall, the sound of the harp, which had been speeding up, gradually slowed.
The first round of engagements between the group and the humanoid Nen Beasts had begun!