NOVEL WEB Chapter 6: The Karym Ruins
Vance let out a strangled whimper, his body trembling like a leaf in the wind. He didn't dare meet Larry's gaze, his fear so intense that his entire body was drenched in sweat. "Please... I-I didn't mean it!" Vance stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I-I'll do whatever you want! Money... power... I-I can get you anything!"
Larry crouched down in front of him, resting his elbow on his knee as he studied Vance with an expression of mild curiosity. "You know," he mused, "I never really wanted to come back here. But you made me, Vance."
The gangster swallowed hard, his throat bobbing visibly. "You could've just handed over my ID, and I would've been on my way," Larry continued, his voice calm yet laced with undeniable menace. "But no. You had to get greedy. And now look at you—pathetic."
Vance knelt on the casino floor, his round, sweat-soaked face twisted in pure terror. His eyes darted between Larry and the mutilated remains of Hozan, strewn across the floor like a grotesque jigsaw puzzle. The gangster had seen death before—but never like this. The sight of a human body falling apart, piece by piece, left an indelible mark on his already fragile mind. Larry's voice cut through the thick tension like a blade. "Where's my identification?"
Vance' pupils shrank in horror, his body trembling uncontrollably. In his panic, he stammered, "I… I-I… I didn't… I mean, I—"
Larry's expression didn't change. He had expected this. If Vance had somehow managed to obtain the ID after spending the past week hunting for hired muscle, that would have been a real surprise. "I'll give you one hour," Larry said, crossing his arms over his chest. "If I don't have my ID by then… well, you'll end up just like him." He didn't need to elaborate—both of them knew exactly who he meant. And so, exactly one hour later, Larry stood in the casino, flipping through a freshly printed ID card. It contained all the necessary details: name, gender, and a fabricated birth address conveniently set within Yarudo City.
A satisfied smile played on his lips as he pocketed the card and turned to Vance, who was still kneeling before him. "See? Wasn't so hard, was it?" Larry's tone was light, almost friendly. "Pressure really brings out efficiency in people."
Vance, despite his exhaustion, forced a shaky smile. "Y-you're right, sir… I-I should have done it earlier…" Desperation was evident in his eyes. He was willing to give up anything—money, influence, whatever it took to save his own skin. "Sir, please," Vance croaked. "Take all my assets, just spare me…"
Larry gazed at him for a long moment before sighing. "Alright, fine. I forgive you."
Vance blinked in disbelief, unable to comprehend his sudden change of fortune. Then Larry turned and walked toward the exit, his hands casually in his pockets. Vance' face lit up in sheer relief. 'I'm alive!' He almost wanted to cry. But his joy was short-lived.
The moment Larry's foot crossed the threshold of the casino, Vance collapsed to the ground. His lifeless body lay motionless, face frozen in an expression of foolish hope, his blood slowly pooling beneath him. "I said I forgive you," Larry murmured without looking back. "But I never said I wouldn't kill you." Dusting his hands off, Larry turned to Gardevoir. "Nice work. Let's get out of here." With a graceful nod, Gardevoir vanished back into Larry's aura. As he stepped into the moonlit street, he stretched his arms with a satisfied grin. "Now... let's go see what this world really has to offer."
***
Yarudo City—an unremarkable urban sprawl located in the heart of the Eurubian continent, within the borders of the United States of Sahelta. Despite its lack of noteworthy features, the city saw a steady stream of travelers flowing in and out daily. The reason? The infamous Karym Ruins, a site shrouded in mystery. In fact, Yarudo City itself had been built around the ruins, capitalizing on their eerie reputation to attract adventurers, researchers, and thrill-seekers alike.
Standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his hotel suite—the one with the best view in town—Larry gazed out at the sprawling ruins in the distance. "So, these are the Karym Ruins... 'The Land of Death,' huh?" he mused, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. "The name fits."
To the ordinary eye, the ruins appeared to be nothing more than an unusually large, crumbling relic of the past. Dusty stone structures, overgrown vegetation, and remnants of an ancient civilization long forgotten by time. But under the scrutiny of Larry's Gyo-enhanced vision, an entirely different picture emerged. A dense, oppressive cloud of deathly aura swirled ominously around the heart of the ruins. The sheer concentration of negative aura was staggering—Larry could practically feel the chilling intent radiating from it, like an invisible force seeking to consume anyone foolish enough to venture too close. It was like staring into an endless abyss of darkness, a vortex of malice that threatened to swallow everything whole.
The Karym Ruins were divided into two distinct zones, forming a near-perfect circle when viewed from above. The Outer Zone, devoid of any Nen-related hazards, had been transformed into a bustling tourist destination under the control of the V5, the coalition of the world's five major nations.
It was a carefully curated attraction, filled with marked paths and informational displays, allowing sightseers and amateur adventurers to marvel at the ancient architecture without the slightest clue of the true dangers that lay beyond. Vendors lined the pathways, selling trinkets and supposedly "genuine artifacts," while tour guides spun elaborate tales of the ruins' history—most of which were heavily sanitized for public consumption.
In stark contrast, the Inner Zone was a completely different story. This forbidden area, shrouded in layers of oppressive death aura, was strictly off-limits to the general public. Only licensed Nen users with special permits were allowed entry, and even among seasoned ruin explorers and treasure hunters, few dared to venture deep inside.
The further one went, the more intense the aura of malice became, turning the very air thick with an unseen but unmistakable sense of dread. Those who underestimated the danger often found themselves swallowed by the ruins—never to return. Rumors had it that no one had ever reached the ruins' core. A strange phenomena appeared as one go deeper, the dense death aura start draining Nen at an alarming rate and crushing the will of even the most experienced hunters.
Larry's eyes remained fixed on the swirling darkness in the distance as he let out a thoughtful hum. "This world has no shortage of ruins like this," he muttered, recalling his knowledge from the Hunter x Hunter universe. "Given how vast the continents are... it's no wonder so many remain unexplored."
The Karym Ruins were just one of many sites scattered across the continent, remnants of forgotten civilizations that once flourished in the distant past. As he stood there, Larry felt a subtle shift in his mind. The Pokémon breeding progress bar within him crept forward ever so slightly. A gleam flickered in his eyes. "Well, well... it looks like the ruins are already working their magic."