The corpses offered little of value to Ronnel beyond some relevant documents and materials—not a trace of aura worth noting.
As they pressed onward through the thick fog, it was hard to tell how much time had passed before an unexpected sight emerged ahead. A faint light pierced through the dense gray, standing out starkly against the oppressive gloom.
"Is that an exit?"
The same thought crossed both Ronnel's and Ging's minds. Yet, their expressions remained cautious. The light was intriguing, but neither man let their guard down. Instead, their eyes gleamed with wariness, their postures instinctively defensive.
"Shall I take a look?" Ronnel asked, glancing at Ging.
"No need. I've prepared for this." Ging grinned, shrugging off the cloth bag from his shoulder.
Reaching into the bag, Ging rummaged for a moment before pulling out an odd-looking object. Ronnel raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. It was a small white mouse, appearing no different from those commonly found in labs. Its blank eyes betrayed no life, and a tiny clockwork mechanism was attached to its tail.
"This is a wind-up toy mouse," Ging explained. "Once activated, it becomes indistinguishable from a real mouse. It performs all the usual physiological functions, follows orders perfectly, and even allows for shared vision." He paused, twisting the clockwork mechanism deftly. "A friend of mine made this as a way to pass the time. Turns out, it's perfect for reconnaissance."
With a faint clicking sound, the mouse began to glow faintly as Nen enveloped it. Within seconds, the lifeless toy transformed into what seemed to be a living creature.
"Squeak!" The mouse twitched its nose, appearing utterly alive.
"Go," Ging whispered, setting the mouse down. The small creature darted toward the distant light, its movements unnervingly lifelike.
"Nen really is an extraordinary power," Ronnel mused, watching the mouse disappear into the fog. The ability to transform an inanimate object into something seemingly alive, imbued with unique effects and abilities, was nothing short of miraculous. Even with its inherent limitations and conditions, Nen's system of exchange fascinated him.
The two men watched intently as the mouse vanished into the glowing light. Ging's eyes glimmered with Nen as he shared its perspective.
"What do you see?" Ronnel asked after a moment.
"The sky… it's dark, as if perpetually shrouded by thick clouds. Even during the day, it's like night. But visibility is decent enough," Ging began, his tone contemplative. "The canyon walls are tall and oppressive, narrowing as you go further in. The path ahead is lined with bones—large bones. Some must have belonged to enormous creatures. The road itself is barely passable because of them."
Ronnel frowned. "Large creatures? That's unsettling."
Before Ging could respond, the aura surrounding his eyes abruptly dissipated. He let out a soft exhale, meeting Ronnel's questioning gaze.
"Resentment. The Nen I poured into the wind-up mouse was consumed almost instantly by the overwhelming malice in the area," Ging explained grimly.
Ronnel stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Did you sense anything else threatening, aside from the resentment and death energy?"
Ging hesitated before shaking his head. "No. If there were other powers at play, I'd have noticed in those two seconds."
"Then we're likely dealing only with resentment and death. That should be manageable," Ronnel said, though his tone remained cautious.
Ging shrugged. "We didn't come this far just to turn back now, right?" Without waiting for a reply, he tightened the straps on his bag and strode toward the light.
"This guy," Ronnel muttered with a faint smile, quickly catching up. Like Ging, he knew retreat wasn't an option.
They both steeled themselves, reinforcing their bodies with aura before stepping into the brightness ahead. For a moment, the light was blinding. Then, Ronnel's breath caught as an intense wave of malevolence washed over him.
"This… this is no ordinary resentment," he murmured, his voice tinged with unease.
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