NOVEL WEB Chapter 8: It Does Work
The streets of Karym City carried an unmistakable charm, steeped in a uniform, orthodox Western style reminiscent of Gothic architecture. The city's meticulously arranged brick and stone roads painted a picture of elegance and precision—an absolute paradise for anyone with an obsessive need for order.
Houses lined both sides of the street, each a proof to the city's historical aesthetic. Standing two or three stories tall, these buildings, with their stone frameworks and imposing flying buttresses, bore an uncanny resemblance to churches. The grayish-white color palette added to the city's neat and pristine aura, giving passersby an unconscious sense of cleanliness and tranquility.
As Larry wandered through the city, he found himself unconsciously comparing it to the cities of his past life. While the architectural style was unique to this world, the ambiance felt strangely familiar. The bustling market streets reflected the city's close ties to the Karym Ruins. Shops and vendors alike catered to adventurers and tourists, selling all sorts of relics allegedly excavated from the ruins. However, with the passage of time, the outer city had been picked clean of anything valuable, and ordinary citizens were forbidden from entering the inner city.
As a result, most of the so-called "antiques" were nothing more than well-crafted fakes, and it was a well-known fact that nine out of ten items sold here were scams. Walking along the brick-paved streets, Larry's leisurely stroll came to an abrupt halt. "Huh?" A sudden change in his Nen ability caught his attention. The Pokémon breeding progress bar that had been slowly inching forward suddenly... stopped. It had been progressing steadily up until now, albeit slowly, but now it was as if it had hit an invisible wall.
Larry narrowed his eyes, instinctively glancing toward the looming Karym Ruins in the distance. A moment later, his figure flickered and vanished, reappearing in an open space outside the ruins. As soon as he arrived, the progress bar resumed its movement, accelerating as though it had been given a shot of adrenaline. "So that's how it works..." Larry ran a hand through his hair, staring at the towering wall of intricate reliefs beside him.
It was now clear—the breeding progress had a proximity limit within the city. Once it reached a certain threshold, he needed to physically get closer to the ruins for further advancement. 'Does this mean I'll always need to approach the central point of each breeding location?' Larry wondered. This was his first real experience with the Pokémon breeding mechanic; Gardevoir had appeared instantly when he first awakened his Nen ability, making this his first proper attempt at the process. His musings were soon interrupted when the progress bar came to another halt—this time at exactly 50%.
Without hesitation, Larry stepped into the Karym Ruins, and sure enough, the progress bar resumed moving forward. The interior of the Karym Ruins was a sprawling maze of winding corridors and towering walls. Pale yellow stone surfaces stretched in all directions, creating an eerie yet majestic atmosphere. Scattered throughout the ruins were remnants of statues and collapsed walls, left untouched for years.
The reliefs adorning the walls were breathtakingly detailed, each one a testament to the extraordinary craftsmanship of the ancient sculptors. Despite the damage from time, their artistry remained undeniable. According to local legends, the Karym Ruins were once the grand palace of a fallen kingdom, its destruction shrouded in mystery. Ruin hunters and archaeologists had long been fascinated by its secrets, but much remained unknown. From the intricate carvings, it was evident that this was once a kingdom of romance and artistry. The citizens were said to have been deeply emotional, with art forms such as painting and sculpture flourishing to an unparalleled degree.
The royal family, in particular, was said to possess immense strength. Each ruler was revered as the kingdom's strongest protector, ensuring their people's safety in the war-torn times of the past. Surprisingly, despite the chaos of those days, the kingdom had never faced an existential threat—something attributed to the kings' mysterious power. Statues scattered throughout the ruins depicted these monarchs in various heroic poses, immortalized in stone by their devoted subjects.
The government had declared these cultural artifacts off-limits, imposing strict regulations to protect them. Ordinary scavengers could take gold trinkets and jewelry, but touching the statues or reliefs was considered a serious offense.
Larry meandered deeper into the ruins, his footsteps echoing against the ancient stone. With each step, the progress bar in his mind climbed higher and higher—60%, 65%, 70%... Then it happened. His progress halted at 70%, and no matter how long he waited, it refused to budge.
Larry sighed, his gaze shifting toward the swirling black mist that marked the boundary between the outer and inner ruins. Death Aura... The ominous black fog slithered and writhed like a living entity, its tendrils flickering in and out of existence. It exuded an aura of malice, as if it was eager to consume anyone foolish enough to step beyond the boundary.
Larry stood at the precipice, arms crossed, deep in thought. "So... the progress stops here, huh?" he muttered, staring into the abyss. "I'm already at 70%, and walking away now would be a waste."
Death Aura, known more accurately as Post-Mortem Nen, was the lingering will of the deceased. When a person with strong emotions or unfinished business died, their intense grudge or determination could cause their Nen to persist, often taking on a violent and uncontrollable form—much like a vengeful spirit driven by a singular purpose.
In many ways, it was reminiscent of zombie lore from horror movies; just as a grudge-filled soul could rise from the grave, the will left behind by a powerful Nen user could manifest as an ominous presence after death.
However, Post-Mortem Nen wasn't limited to an eerie presence; it could be weaponized in lethal ways. Larry recalled how Chrollo Lucilfer demonstrated the deadliness of Nen in his battle against Hisoka in Heavens Arena. Using stolen abilities such as Order Stamp to manipulate bodies and Convert Hands to switch objects, Chrollo transformed an entire audience into deadly projectiles, forcing Hisoka into a desperate battle of survival.
Although not true Death Aura, it showcased how Nen could manipulate life and death in terrifying ways. Staring at the swirling black fog in front of him, Larry considered his options. "How do I get past this?" he murmured, tapping his chin. He had no desire to risk direct contact with Death Aura—not without a plan. And yet, the allure of discovering what lay deeper in the ruins tugged at him.
Suddenly, an idea struck him. "What if... Gardevoir's aura could counteract it?" Psychic and Fairy-type Pokémon were known for their protective abilities. Summoning Gardevoir, Larry watched as she emerged gracefully, her presence radiating an overwhelming sense of purity. "Use Misty Terrain."
Without hesitation, Gardevoir extended her delicate arms, and a shimmering veil of translucent aura formed around her. The soft, misty glow enveloped her entire body like a protective barrier. As soon as the barrier took shape, something fascinating happened— the Death Aura visibly recoiled, retreating slightly. Larry's eyes widened. "So it does work." A smirk tugged at his lips. "Looks like I've got my way in."