Hunter X Hunter: The Phantom Troupe's Carnage.

Chapter 36: The Queen's Judgment....

Shizuku wandered through the desolate ruins, her steps echoing eerily against the crumbling walls. The oppressive silence was broken only by the occasional creak of metal or the distant rustle of debris stirred by the wind. Her glasses reflected the dim light filtering through the cracked structures, her face a mask of detached curiosity. Yet, her mind raced as she tried to piece together the events that led her to this point.

The lingering aura she had felt earlier still made her skin crawl, its malevolence unlike anything she had experienced before. "Hmmm," she mused aloud, her voice soft but steady, "I wonder if the boss is fighting that Chimera Ant yet."

She adjusted her vacuum, her trusted weapon, slung casually over her shoulder. The thought of her comrades crossed her mind, and she frowned slightly. "I guess it was a good thing I lost those two thanks to Jason," she muttered, her tone laced with a hint of annoyance. "But now I'm lost too."

As she turned a corner, her heart skipped a beat. Standing in the middle of the street was a figure, a woman, or at least what seemed like one at first glance. Her unnervingly large, glossy eyes reflected the dim light, and her presence exuded a predatory calmness. Her features were sharp and insect-like, with a sleek, almost mechanical precision to her movements.

"Hello, human," the figure spoke, her voice smooth but dripping with an unsettling cheerfulness. "Lost, are we? Well, not to worry, because you'll be coming with me."

Shizuku froze, her body tensing as she instinctively tightened her grip on her vacuum. Her usually calm demeanor cracked as she took a hesitant step back, her breath hitching. "W-Who... what are you?" she stammered, her voice trembling despite her attempt to maintain composure.

The creature tilted her head, her smile widening to reveal unnervingly sharp teeth. "Oh, how rude of me," she said, her tone mocking. "I'm Angel, and I've been looking for you."

Shizuku's mind raced, her logical side battling the primal fear that clawed at her chest. She had faced countless enemies before, but there was something profoundly wrong about this woman—this thing. Her instincts screamed at her to run, yet she stood rooted to the spot, her legs unwilling to obey.

The cockroach hybrid took a step forward, her movements smooth and deliberate, like a predator closing in on its prey. "Don't look so scared," Angel cooed, her tone sickeningly sweet. "This will be fun. For me, at least."

Shizuku swallowed hard, her hands shaking as she adjusted her glasses. "I... I don't think so," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Angel let out a rare, unsettling chuckle, her glossy black eyes gleaming with amusement. "Now, now, human," she said smoothly, her tone dripping with false kindness. "If you cooperate, this will be quick and painless. A breeze, really."

Her smile widened, revealing sharp, predatory teeth. "But if you decide to make this difficult," she continued, her voice taking on a sinister edge, "things might take a turn for the... psychological. And if that happens, well..." She leaned forward slightly, her tone dropping to a cold whisper. "I might just have to say goodbye to one of your legs."

Shizuku's blood ran cold, her grip on her vacuum tightening as she took a cautious step back. Angel straightened, her demeanor shifting back to that unnerving cheerfulness. "Don't worry," she added with a casual wave of her hand. "Where I'm taking you, I have no intention of killing you. In fact, there's someone who knows you very well, and she’s been dying to see you in person."

The hybrid's smile never faltered as she tilted her head, her tone deceptively sweet. "Now, human, you’re not going to make this difficult, are you?"

Angel's disquieting smile remained as she advanced, her shadow stretching unnaturally over the fractured earth. Her glossy, obsidian eyes fixed on Shizuku, unblinking and inscrutable.