Hunter x Hunter 289

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Hunter x Hunter
#289: Condition
[insert text: A killing blow sweeps towards Morau... but...?!]
Yupi: ......... // (He's gone......!! // Blood...!! // .........What's going on here? // He wasn't teleported after all...?)

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Yupi: (He disappeared an instant before my attack connected.)
Flashback!Yupi: !!
Yupi: (I was under the impression that one of their group had the ability to teleport, but... // I didn't see anyone near him, even in the instant he disappeared!! // Besides which, if he teleported, then my attack couldn't possibly have wounded him after he disappeared... // He disappeared, but I still stabbed him...... I stabbed him, but I can't see him... which means... // He's just invisible...?! An invisibility technique!! // If he had that ability himself, though, he would have used it a long time ago!! // In other words, one of them has the ability to make not only himself, but other people invisible as well... // And just before I stabbed Mr. Shades, that's who tried to save him! // ......But he didn't make it in time!! ...That's what happened!!

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Yupi: I sliced him...... // Deep...!!

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Meleoron: ......... // (He knows!! // The blood...!! He can see the blood on the floor!! // Even if he can't see the actual body... the bloodstains reveal his location!! // And if he swings that sword one more time... // I have to get away, alone if I have to!! // I'm out of breath, too...!! // Dammitall!!

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Meleoron: ?! // Knuckle?! // Why are you showing yourself now?! // There's only one thing you have to do right now!! // And that's to hide yourself for every second you possibly can!!

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Knuckle: I'm not running or hiding any longer. // I'm fighting you. // So please... // Leave him alone!!
[Text: The reason why Knuckle let his words, and not just his fists, do the talking...]
Yupi: ......
[Text: ...is because Yupi's words had shaken him significantly.]
Yupi: Oh, come on. // How d'ya figure that's a fair deal?

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Yupi: My answer... // ...is no. // However... // Get rid of this thing, // and it's a different story.

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Yupi: This guy has something to do with why you've been running around this whole time, right? // I'm betting this is a good trade.
Morau: No... you can't!!! // Knuckle!!! Don't be a fool...!!
[Text: Thanks to the effect of "God's Accomplice", Morau's desperate cry could not reach Knuckle's ears. // However... // It did bring Meleoron to his senses.]

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[Text: He released Morau, and made his escape.]
Morau: Forget... // ...about me.........!!
Meleoron: (You mustn't!!! // That's the one thing you must never do!!! Knuckle!!!)
Morau: Just... // ...leave... me.

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Meleoron: (Everything!! // It will all have been for nothing!!!)
Morau: Don't forfeit......... everything you've...
Meleoron: (Everything Morau's done!! // Everything Shoot's done!! // Everything you've done!! // Everything you've put your lives on the line for!!!)

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[Text: "If Knuckle gives up on Morau, the two of us can carry on the fight." // "And for that reason, I still can't afford to show myself!!" // "Knuckle is sure to listen to what Morau says!!" // These were the thoughts that led Meleoron to make his decision to separate from Morau; a decision.........]
Morau: Knuckle...!
Meleoron: (Knuckle!!!)

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[Text: ...which had the opposite effect.]

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Yupi: ......
Meleoron: ......... // (Everything......) // No...... // (...is...lost. // Our only chance...)
Morau: Why...?!!
Meleoron: (...of defeating him...!!)

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[Text: The sight of Morau, soaked in his own blood, merged with Shoot's in Knuckle's mind... // ...and broke his will.]
Knuckle: There...... I've deactivated Potclean. // That's my side of the bargain...!! / Now leave my boss alone! // Fight me instead......!! // JUST KILL ME!!!

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Yupi: ...Screw that.
Knuckle: Wha... Hold it...!! // Where... are you going?!
Yupi: Huh? // To the King. What are you, an idiot? // What, you want to come along too? // Don't be ridiculous.
Knuckle: ...... // .........

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Yupi: That guy's ability isn't teleportation, right? // In which case you'd better get carrying old Shady there to a doctor pretty soon, or you'll have made that deal for nothing!!
Knuckle: ......
Yupi: Tch...
[Text: If he was truly prioritising the King's protection, then by rights he should have killed all three of them then and there.]
Yupi: It's not like I care!! // It doesn't matter how many times trash like you show up; I'll just kick your asses every time!!
[Text: Fully aware of this fact, and yet still failing to do the deed, Yupi felt a form of irritation at himself quite different from the wrath he was accustomed to.]
Yupi: Come back whenever. // Then this might border on "fair".
[Text: In the heat of battle, he had learned the true depths of his En ability from his enemies.]
Yupi: You're not even worth killing right now!! / That's all, all right?!!
[Text: This fact had profoundly shaken what little "self" Yupi actually had.]

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[Text: In learning to separate his wrath from his mind...]
Yupi: (Shit... / I must've caught whatever Pufu's got!!)
[Text: ...his calmed emotions had actually had the opposite effect, preventing him from seeing things in simple terms.]
Yupi: ...... // (They're the ones who caused all this wrath I've built up... so why...? // Why don't I feel like turning it on them...? // This wrath...)
[Text: Was this a form of growth?]
Yupi: (What... who... am I supposed to vent it on?!)
[Text: That, Yupi could not say.]

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[Text: Meanwhile... // Knuckle...]
Knuckle: (I lost... // Utterly...)
[insert text: Inescapable defeat...]