A Worthy Opponent (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 53: Fear of Unknown

Lua flew me down to the chopped field, landing behind a tree as I anticipated Bisky's launch. The thick stream of webs precariously tangled above my head. I spotted Hisoka and Illumi finishing off the Spider, slicing its legs. Causing me to flinch.

"Benny. Lua." I turned to the beasts, Benny floating beside me. "There's nothing left for you here anymore. I know you want to leave and I know..." I eyed both their auras. "I know you don't want to kill anymore." I leaned against the branch, resting my injured leg. "Wait at the edge of the jungle and we'll free you from Riv's conditions. Once they kill him, you shouldn't be bound by the jungle anymore."

Lua cooed a small melody but Benny scratched the floor stubbornly.

I wiped my face sighing. "I wish I could free the others but I can't. Payak is," I peaked back to the two men pummeling her and I whipped my head back around, "...probably done for. And Aariv is in too much pain to move with Lilith under his complete control. She'll be paralyzed soon."

Lua fluttered her wings before flying away blissfully, without turning back. But Benny only disappeared, his presence still in the same spot.

I faced the field again. "I'll do my best to see it through. We'll protect Ahmad while he starts his power. Now, don't act like it doesn't bother you, Benny. I don't want you to watch anymore. Leave." I instructed but was taut by remembering his past.

His body floated against me, a warm wind before he too left with Lua.

-

Hisoka crouched beside the Spider's limbless body. They had torn off leg after leg, leaving only its flowering head. It twitched slightly but remained unmoving. "Mmmm, is it really dead?~"

Illumi leaped onto it, another pound with his legs into the center, causing Hisoka to sneak a glance at Raine who sat by the edge of the field.

"I don't see why not." Then Illumi picked up the web. "This venom is strong." He quickly dropped it. "It leaves my body tingling, you would do well not to touch it yourself."

Hisoka smirked. Blood trickled down their skin and seeped their clothes from the deep cuts slashed by the Spider. "Thanks for the heads up. I always knew you cared~"

A large shadow loomed over near the field. The giant skeleton fish floating above under the moonlight. Raine called them over, the second phase set in play. Release Bisky and take down the fish. She leaned against the bark of the tree scanning the area. Her body hunched slightly.

"The others should be here by now. Bisky will give us time," she said.

Hisoka tilted his head. She was out of breath, holding her chest though he was sure he saw her ride the bird back here.

"We're here," Ahmad tussled over also breathless. Feral collapsed by their feet, his body entangled in vines.

"This is it. I'm dead...go on without me," Feral stammered.

Hisoka rolled his eyes.

"Feral..." Raine sucked in a breath and reached for him, lifting his arm slowly. A large red burn had slashed his skin, splotch of droplets scattered over his shoulder to his neck, his top clothes burned off.