Leaving the Dark Continent [2]

'Shit!' Isaac yelled inwardly.

Netero stared at the black skeleton, soon dropping the book and getting into a stance, ready for battle.

Isaac's eyes shot between the two. He'd surely die just by being near the two if they fought.

Seeing the massive and suffocating Aura exuding from the skeleton, and knowing what Netero was capable of, he instantly knew he was nothing more than an ant amongst two raging mammoths.

However, Isaac noticed something.

Catching a glimpse of the skeletons eyes which resembled a dark abyss, the red pupils were fixed on blue book in Netero's hand.

It didn't take a genius to figure out what was happening.

Without saying a word, Isaac snatched the book from Netero's hand and tossed it toward the skeleton.

Grabbing the book in midair, in the blink of an eye, the skeleton was no more, changed back to a clothed Don who soon took a seat, flipped his book open and continued writing.

Seeing this, everyone in the room, including the attentive Monet, all calmed down.

"It's a Post Mortem Nen with the sole goal of completing his journals. I guess it'll do everything its its power to do so." Isaac explained, sighing in relief.

"Is that so?" Netero asked rhetorically, while Isaac witnessed a glimpse of displeasure worn on his face for a second.

'This crazy old man…was looking forward to that battle.' Isaac could only sigh in defeat while wondering how'd they'd made it this far.

"Then how can we read the book?"

"I'm not sure."

Netero and Isaac fell into deep thought, presenting ideas, even testing some.

But each scenario would end in the Post Mortem Nen awakening.

With the knowledge the both of them had aquire from both the Diary and the East edition of the journal, any normal person would turn back, satisfied with what they had.

Especially after witnessing the black skeleton that stood in their way.

However, for some reason, the master and student duo didn't once have this thought.

They'd sacrificed their lives coming this far. They'd be damned if they were to leave empty handed.

"I'm stumped. We've tried everything."

After an unknown amount of time, Isaac slumped onto the ground, mentally fatigued.

They'd tried everything, yet to no avail.

As Isaac said this, Netero stayed quiet.

"There is one way." Netero muttered.

Isaac furrowed his eyebrows.

"There is? How likely is it to work, because honestly, I'm not too fond of se-"

Before Isaac could finish his words, something shot toward him, smacking him straight in the face and dropping to his lap.

"What the…"

Looking down, he noticed a familiar blue book.

Widening his eyes and looking up, he witnessed Don's skin melt, however, before he could complete his transformation, a clap was heard.

A Golden hand appeared from thin air, swatting Don like a fly as a loud BANG shortly followed.

Don was propelled through the air, smashing through the door and disappearing into the dark abyss as Netero stood with a menacing smile.

"Quickly read the book. I'll hold him off." Netero glanced at the starstruck Isaac with a grin, dashing to where Don was launched without waiting for a reply.

"Crazy man." Monet muttered, going back to her nap.

Isaac moved his lips up and down, like a goldfish, trying his best to speak but no words came out.

However, it wasn't long until he snapped out ot his trance, putting all this thoughts and emotions aside, he flicked through the book, starting on the first page.

His heart beating rapidly, he resisted the urge to inwardly curse at the old man.

Isaac read as fast as he could. The constant loud explosion like noises and what he could only explain as thunderclaps didn't help his focus either.

Minutes passed, or at least, Isaac thought.

But he suddenly noticed something.

After an unknown amount of time, he could feel Netero's Aura becoming dimmer and dimmer.

Meanwhile, Don's Aura raged more than ever as loud screeching screams could be heard echoing through the cave.

'Quickly quickly quickly.'

As Isaac flipped through the pages, reading faster than he'd ever before, he wanted to turn around and snap at Monet to help Netero, but he knew he'd only be wasting his breath.

Besides, he needed as much time as possible. He couldn't waste any peeking in on the fight or making useless requests.

But just as he thought this, he heard footsteps behind him.

Thinking the worst, he darted his head backwards, only to notice the back of a familiar figure.

"You…you're awake. Are you…?" Isaac didn't know how to finish his sentence, but luckily, the old short man finished it for him.

"No, I'm not the Ai. That pesky creature… it prays on my emotions and before I know it, I'm giving into my desires and wants." The old man spoke with a hoarse voice.

'What an unhealthy relationship.'

Isaac could only assume the Ai fed off his desires, and seeing as how this man was no better than Netero and thrived off violence, Isaac was lucky the previous commands were light.

"Netero needs your help, Mr…" Now that Isaac thought about it, he didn't know the man's name, or really anything about the man.

Not even if he was strong enough to be of any help to Netero, but he was all they had.

"How long has it been since someone has asked my name?" The old man asked, tilting his head up as if he were reminiscing.

Soon, the old man continued in a tone similar to that of a strict grandpa.

"No matter. I'll only say it once, boy. Remember it well. Zigg Maha Zoldyck."

***

A man man with long white hair in a ponytail, as well as a white beard floated in the air in a stance as an enormous buddha like figure with countless arms stood behind him.

Opposite him was a black skeleton with red pupils, exuding a orange like aura that resembled flames.

It was clear the two were engaged in a fierce battle, however, it was vastly more evident Netero was in the disadvantageous position.

As he breathed heavily, sweat poured down his face.

10, 20, 30 minutes, he didn't know how much time had passed. However, he knew he couldn't keep going for long.

His moment of respite was short as the black skeleton dug its feet into the ground, cracking the earth below and shooting toward Netero like a bullet.

"42nd Hand."

In the blink of an eye, one of the large golden hands behind Netero, moving just as fast, blocked the black skeletons path.

Bringing back its arm, the skeleton let out a powerful punch, smashing into the golden hand as a loud BANG was heard.

Netero winced, however, as the skeletons momentum was now disrupted, it had nowhere to go.

In the blink of an eye, countless golden hand appeared from every direction, diminishing any hope of escape as the skeleton could only succumb to the fate of being squashed like a bug.

In an instant, the hands all came together with the skeleton in between.

Netero exhaled, succeeding in his attack, however, he knew it was far from over.

A few of them hands slowly moved further and further from the middle as a black figure emerged, pushing the golden palms away from him.

His red pupils glowed as the figure used any footing it had to shoot toward Netero.

Once again, a golden hand smacked the skeleton away.

Netero and Don had now engaged in a viscous back and forth, as Don would dash toward him and Netero would swat him away.

If it weren't for the fact the black skeleton didn't seem to have any form of intelligence, its one goal being to only retrieve the book and destroy anything that stood in its way, Netero was sure he'd have a far harder battle.

However, it didn't change the fact he could keep up for long.

This was soon proven as a heavy fist from Don landed in Netero's gut, sending him soaring through the air and crashing into the solid earth behind him.

Netero spit a river of blood as his buddha diminished.

He dropped to the ground, looking up to witness Don speeding toward him.

Despite being closer to his prime and feeling far more powerful than a few hours ago, it proved insufficient as Netero heaved loudly.

Before Netero could have a chance to respond, the skeletons pursuit suddenly came to a stop as it dropped to the ground.

Netero had noticed this, as well as the skeletons legs which were seemingly detached, laying beside it.

"You're losing your touch. I can't believe you were ever a match for me." A hoarse voice emerged from the darkness as one could see a short wrinkled man standing with his hands behind his back.

Netero's lips curved upwards.

"It's about time you started pulling your weight. It's your fault we're even in this mess. And don't think I didn't notice you pretending as if you were asleep all this time." Netero replied, getting to his feet.

"Oh please, I didn't ask you to come back for me. Besides, when you've lived in this noisy hell for this long, you'll take any chance you can get to get some shut eye."

The two soon came face to face, grinning at each other without saying a word.

To most, after seeing a long lost companion, they'd express more emotion. However, for Zigg and Netero, that grin was enough.

An ear piercing screech brought them out of their conversation as they glanced toward the black skeleton who'd seemed to regenerate its legs.

"How noisy." Zigg stuck a finger in his ear and spoke with an annoyed look.

"Right? It's like he has no consideration for the people around him." Netero stretched his aching back.

"What do you say we teach this youth some respect?" Zigg bent his legs and raised his open palms before him.

"I'm pretty sure he's older than both of us combined, but why not." Netero grinned as he placed both palms together.

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