At this moment, Vega was sitting on a lounge chair inside the 200th floor of the Sky Arena, idly sipping his drink while watching a match below.
Two amateur Nen users were exchanging flashy blows in the ring, but it was clear to anyone with real experience that they barely grasped the fundamentals. Their aura manipulation was clumsy, their offense lacked refinement—just a light show for the untrained eye.
Bored, Vega leaned back further, letting the rim of his glass rest lazily against his lips—until his eyes caught two familiar silhouettes entering the viewing gallery.
"Hmm? Yin Beasts?" A cold smile tugged at his lips. "Well, well... Sick Dog and Leech, no less."
Vega's gaze swept the area, scanning for any additional reinforcements. But after a thorough glance, he saw only regular agents and a few hired killers hiding behind disguises. Amateurs.
No surprise there. The Ten Elders had only dispatched two of their living weapons to hunt him. Guess my bounty still doesn't scream 'emergency.' He chuckled inwardly.
Unbothered, Vega rose from his seat, took another sip of his drink, and casually made his way to the elevator.
The moment he moved, a ripple went through the crowd. Dozens of hidden agents and opportunistic assassins stirred, shadowing him discreetly.
Back in the stands, Sick Dog squinted at Vega's retreating back.
"Tch. Did you see that? The instant he spotted us, he bailed," he said with a sneer.
"He knows who we are," Leech replied calmly, smirking. "And more importantly, he knows we're here for him."
"Running already," Sick Dog muttered. "Guess he's scared. Doesn't even want a head-on confrontation."
"He's afraid," Leech said flatly. "That's the scent I get. Let's tail him before he tries to hole up somewhere secure."
"Agreed," Sick Dog growled. "Let's end this fast."
Without another word, the two elite killers moved out.
———
Vega exited the Sky Arena, walking calmly through the crowded plaza and veering into less populated streets. Behind him, a team of bounty hunters broke into pursuit, keeping their distance.
"He's moving toward the industrial district," one man whispered, dialing his comm.
Vega kept walking, passing through two side alleys before arriving at a fenced-off construction site—rusted steel, abandoned equipment, piles of rubble. Perfect.
He stopped suddenly and turned around.
"Really? We're all the way out here and you're still sneaking around?" His voice echoed coldly.
Five armed men emerged from behind a rusted cement mixer, pistols and clubs in hand. One of them grinned maliciously.
"So you did know we were tailing you. But you still came out here alone?" The man clicked his tongue. "You're either brave, dumb, or just asking to die."
"Kill him!" someone yelled. "That 100 million is ours!"
Several gunshots rang out.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
But before the echoes faded, the bullets stopped midair—stuck between Vega's fingers like toys.
"Amateurs," Vega said with a sigh.
He flicked the bullets back with a casual toss.
Pop! Pop!
Each warhead slammed into a bounty hunter's forehead with surgical precision. They dropped like puppets with cut strings, blood blooming behind them.
Dusting his hands, Vega turned to the shadows behind a nearby pillar. "That's enough noise. Come on out."
The two Yin Beasts stepped forward.
Sick Dog snorted. "So that's your game. Lure us out here on purpose?"
"Trying to get clever, huh? You'll regret that," Leech added with disdain.
"Cute stunt, kid," Sick Dog spat. "But your little trap ends here. You picked the worst two Yin Beasts to mess with."
"You'll see how stupid that decision was," Leech snarled.
The two lunged in simultaneously.
Vega's eyes gleamed.
With a swift motion, he drew the sheathed sword at his waist. "Awaken," he whispered. "Phantom severance."
A spectral dragon shadow roared around him before slamming into his body.
BOOM.
His aura flared violently as jet-black armor instantly encased his body.
The moment he activated the armor, the tide turned.
Leech and Sick Dog's expressions changed midair. Their instincts screamed at them—this wasn't normal conjuration. This was dangerous.
But there was no time to stop.
Crash!
The collision sent both Yin Beasts flying backward, slamming into the concrete wall behind them.
"Damn it!" Sick Dog cursed, holding his jaw. His teeth had struck the armor, but it felt like biting steel forged by hellfire. A sharp crack had sounded at the impact, and now his entire jaw ached.
Looking closely, he saw only a faint bite mark on Vega's armor.
"This… this armor is too durable," Sick Dog said, his voice tinged with disbelief. "My fangs and venom... completely useless!"
Leech's face darkened. "My leeches can't get through either. No wounds, no way in."
"This bastard's setup hard-counters both of us!"
The two exchanged grim nods. This wasn't going to be an easy fight.
Vega, meanwhile, pulled the Red-backed Shrike off his back, his eyes narrowing.
Without a word, he burst forward.
BOOM!
His Nen surged out violently, forming a fiery trail behind him. Ten meters from his targets, he focused his aura into the blade—compressing it until the sword glowed with a molten red sheen.
As he swung, a crimson arc tore through the air like a lightning bolt.
And the real fight had just begun.