A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 25: Blackout

In silence, Hisoka retreated back to the penthouse alongside Raine along the street's lining. Finally, out of the underground haven, chilling winds pushed dust clouds over the stars. A cavernous deep blue sky began to darken into purest black. It was almost strange how these past few nights became more livelier than any day the sun could provide. For three days, Hisoka kept track. The amount of nights he was fairly entertained this week. Ahead of him were the rest of the Troupe members, distraught and anxious. Something happened over such a short period of time that Hisoka could only hope the mission wouldn't be postponed.

"What the hell is this?" Phinks started. They stood shadowed at the entrance of the high-rise building. Everyone surged Gyo around their eyes, only to see its entirety encased in a black glare. Pure Nen. A strong enhancer had disrupted their night.

"Darnell," Machi snapped. "Will you tell us what's going on already?" The Spider's breaths fell heavy in apprehension, waiting for his call.

Darnell balled his fist, listening with such a pin-struck expression, he could have been frozen in time.

While he stiffened, lost in thought, Hisoka stepped back to take in the view of such aura pulsing unstable energy—Nen that was able to shroud a building as large as a skyscraper. He shuddered feeling its beams humming along the walls, wondering who could have picked a fight with the Spiders. His eyes skimmed the ground, the dirty lampposts, the distant street. His head turned from side-to-side, noticing an empty presence. Had Raine left already?

"Shit. I can't even use En to detect anyone inside," Darnell started, releasing his breath. "Chrollo said the lights went out. The bystanders think it's a power outage but really there were attackers going after our object." He threw a rock at one of the windows with a force expected to shatter the walls but it only bounced off the sheer aura that acted as some sort of barrier. "They've already secured it and are looking to escape. The rest of the members are currently chasing them down inside."

"Damn it," Phinks cursed. "What does Boss want us to do?"

Darnell cracked his knuckles. "Either find a way in or secure the perimeter so the infiltrators don't get out." Shadows warped his eyes into that of black marbles, desperate to find his precious Chrollo. "Boss wants every one of their hearts in a jar. Go!"

Within a flash, they scattered about, leaving dusts of bloodlust here and there. Hisoka seized the tallest building nearby, in his Zetsu state, and scaled the tower using the balconies. A single flick of his Bungee Gum sent him flying to the sky in seconds. The roof was a deadend, but that was all the more reason to escape from there. A plentiful space of exits and entrances lead from their rooms. And within the hunch of a particular reason, it was where the moonlight felt most promising.

He settled on the ledge of their penthouse, the others noticeably below them. Machi and Phinks stopped at some flickering lights along the first twenty-fifth floors. Hisoka held his breath to examine the fluorescent glimmers of Nen parked outside their balconies. The empty terrace. The dim windows. The screen doors. It was awfully quiet, while each entrance seeped in that dreadful black aura.

Hisoka sighed and dialed his phone, unwilling to wait for the hunt. "Illumi?~ What happened?"

"Isn't it obvious? We are under attack."

"Yes, yes, I can see that. But what are you doing?~"

A sickening slosh of liquids and screams knotted together before he responded. "Gathering some extra back up. Do you need to get inside?"

"That would be nice~"

Hisoka whisked his head to the edge of the roof, almost discerning a sharp movement. But there was nothing visible that he could see.